Commissioners of the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation
The Texas Commission of Licensing and Regulation (Commission) is the governing board and policy-making body for the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation. The seven volunteer members of the Commission are appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Texas Senate.
Unlike advisory boards, which are industry-specific, Commission meetings may address topics that relate to all industries regulated by TDLR.
The purpose of Commission meetings is to set fees, adopt changes to administrative rules, impose penalties, and hear contested enforcement cases.
Rick Figueroa, Chair
Brenham, Texas
Term Expires 02/01/2027
- Appointed to TDLR Commission: 2016
- Appointed Chair: 2019
- Occupation: Managing Partner at Patron Partners
- Texas A&M University, B.B.A., M.S.
- Member, Texas Judicial Council
- Member, Memorial Hermann Hospital Board
- Member, Young Life Hispanic National Committee
- Board Member, American Leadership Forum, Houston/Gulf Coast Chapter
- Downtown Houston Kiwanis Club, past president
- International Leadership Institute, past council member
Thomas F. Butler, Vice Chair
Deer Park, Texas
Term Expires 02/01/2025
- Appointed to TDLR Commission: 2013
- President, USI Federal Credit Union, January 2019-present
- Chairman, TF Butler & Company, 2004-present
- Chairman, Texas Credit Union Commission, 2005-2013
- Director of Religious Education, St. Hyacinth Roman Catholic Church, 2010-2012
- President, Diesel Fuel Maintenance Services Inc., 2004-2008
- Systems Analyst, Butler & Company, 1998-2004
- Pre-Sentence Investigator, Harris County Adult Probation, 1993-1998
- Electrician, Brown & Root Industrial Services, 1989-1993
- Real Estate Sales, Realty World Real Estate, 1987-1989
- Past Board Member, Texas Community Services
- Former Vice-Chairman, Republican National Hispanic Assembly (Harris County)
- University of Houston: BBA - Accounting, BBA - Management Information Systems
Gerald R. Callas, M.D., F.A.S.A.
Beaumont, Texas
Term Expires 02/01/2023
- Appointed to Commission 2018
- Occupation: Physician anesthesiologist and partner for Anesthesia Associates
- Bachelor of Science in microbiology, Texas A&M University
- Doctor of Medicine, University of Texas Medical Branch
- Member, Texas Medical Association Board of Trustees
- President-elect for the Texas Society of Anesthesiologists
- Fellow of the American Society of Anesthesiologists
- Diplomate of the American Board of Anesthesiology
- Vice chairman for Texas Medical Liability Trust
- Member, First Financial Bank Board of Directors
- Member, Beaumont Chamber of Commerce Advisory Board
- Former gubernatorial appointee and past chairman to the Jefferson and Orange County Board of Pilot Commissioners
Nora Castañeda, M. Ed.
Harlingen, Texas
Term Expires 02/01/2025
- Appointed to TDLR Commission: 2019
- Occupation: Physician Relations Manager and Business Development, South Texas Health System
- Texas State University, B.A. Mass Communications
- Texas A&M University Corpus Christi, M.S. Education
- Trustee, Texas State University Development Foundation
- Former gubernatorial appointee, Advisory Council on Emergency Medical Services
- Former gubernatorial appointee, Texas State Technical College Board of Regents
- Texas State Hispanic Advisory Board, 1998-99
- Texas State Alumni Board of Directors, 1999
Sujeeth Draksharam
Sugar Land, Texas
Term Expires: 02/01/2027
- Appointed to TDLR Commission: 2022
- President of Sirrus Engineers, Inc. and a Professional Licensed Civil Engineer
- Nagarjuna University, India, Bachelor of Technology in Civil Engineering
- University of Houston, Texas, Master of Science in Civil Engineering
- State Commission on Judicial Conduct, Commissioner
- Fort Bend County Levee Improvement District No. 14 Board Member and President
- Lower Brazos Regional Flood Planning Group, Executive Committee and Public Member
Lori High, D.N.P.
Spicewood, Texas
Term Expires 02/01/2027
- Appointed to TDLR Commission: 2022
- Occupation: Retired Nurse Practitioner.
- Lamar University: Bachelor’s in Nursing
- University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston: Master of Science in Nursing Gerontology
- University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston: Post-Master’s Family Nurse Practitioner
- University of Alabama at Birmingham: Doctorate in Nursing Practice
- Former Advanced Diabetes Management Certification
- Former Member, Galveston Coalition of Advance Practice Nurses
- Former Member, North Texas Nurse Practitioners Association
- Former Member, American Association of Diabetes
- Former Member, American Association of Diabetes Educators
- Active Member of All Saints Austin
Gary Wesson, D.D.S., M.S.
Richmond, Texas
Term Expires 02/01/2023
- Appointed to Commission 2018
- Retired orthodontist
- Bachelor of Business Administration, University of Texas at Austin
- Doctor of Dental Surgery and a Master of Science in orthodontics from University of Texas Health Science Center Dental School at Houston
- Former assistant clinical professor at University of Texas Health Science Center San Antonio Dental School, Department of Developmental Dentistry
- Retired dental officer at Veterans Administration Dental Residency Program in San Antonio
- Member, San Antonio District Dental Society
- Former member of the Texas Dental Association Financial Review Council
- Former president, vice president, and secretary/treasurer for
Nueces Valley District Dental Society - Retired member of American Association of Orthodontists
- Former Vice President of Orthodontics at DentalOne Partners in Dallas
- Former elder at Covenant Presbyterian Church in San Antonio
- Former board member for Corpus Christi Metro Ministry
To contact the Commissioners, please send an email to commissioners@tdlr.texas.gov.