CAPCOG has promoted Charles Simon to Regional Planning and Services director in September; he brings 34 years of local planning and economic development experience and a passion for collaboration and local community involvement to the role. Simon will oversee CAPCOG’s community and economic development, criminal justice, solid waste management, air quality and GIS programs.
“I get the most joy from seeing a planning project progress from concept to implementation with public participation throughout the process,” Simon said. “I want to find out the best ways in which CAPCOG can continue to serve its member communities by listening to their needs and providing a collaborative environment. That, I believe, is the best aspect of local government.”
Simon arrived in Central Texas in 1994 from Louisiana to work for Georgetown as a development planner where he worked closely on the future Sun City community. From 1996 to 2011, he worked for Pflugerville as a planning director, assistant city manager and economic development director. He also served several other communities in various roles until joining CAPCOG as its planning and economic development manager in April 2022.
Andrew Hoekzema, who Simon replaced, was named deputy executive director in September; he will provide direction and oversight on CAPCOG administration functions including contract and grant management, budgeting and finance, personnel, and procurement. After working for the TCEQ, Hoekzema started at CAPCOG in 2010. He has served as the Air Quality Program specialist and manager, and Regional Planning and Services assistant director and director. He also has served on the EPA’s Clean Air Act Advisory Committee from 2015-21. CAPCOG also welcomed Anton Cox back to the agency in March as its Air Quality Program Manager. Cox worked for CAPCOG from 2016-20 as the Air Quality specialist until taking a role at Movability, a Central Texas transportation management association.
