GABRIEL DE OCHOA
Austin
Summary
Professional with over ten years of experience in planning, developing, and executing policy initiatives. Demonstrated leadership and stakeholder relations skills, fostering partnerships across diverse political affiliations. Business-savvy with expertise in strategic decision-making and team mentoring. Results-driven, consistently achieving maximum potential in all projects.
Overview
14
14
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Senior Vice President – Government Affairs
Citi
01.2025 - Current
Governor’s Advisor
Office of Texas Governor Greg Abbott
Austin
09.2022 - 01.2025
- Advises the Governor and executive staff on multiple key policy areas including banking, financial institutions, cryptocurrency, blockchain, consumer lending, housing and occupational licensing.
- Facilitated formulation, implementation, and oversight of state policy by coordinating with state agencies, the legislature, and various constituents and stakeholder groups.
- Supervises state agencies in policy development and provides guidance on operational and strategic matters.
- Liaised with members of the legislature and their staff to convey the Governor’s priorities and positions on key issues during the legislative session.
- Throughout the legislative session, reviews and provides recommendations to the Governor on key pieces of legislation.
- Collaborated with Governor’s Press Office to develop communication strategies and deliverables that effectively promoted the Governor’s policies and initiatives.
State Legislative Affairs Liaison
Texas Department of Transportation
Austin
10.2020 - 09.2022
- Communicated and coordinated with Texas Legislative offices, federal/state agencies and special interest organizations regarding transportation issues.
- Maintained direct communication with the Texas Legislature on the Department’s official position on time sensitive issues, concerns, priorities and activities.
- Coordinated information from Office of State Legislative Relations on transportation-related issues affecting Texas, ensuring timely and accurate communication.
- Monitored legislative hearings and sessions, along with state transportation organizational meetings, to stay informed on developments and advocate for Department interests.
- Represented the Department at various meetings, conveyed the Department’s official position on issues/concerns and fostered productive working relationships on behalf of the Department.
- Identified and initiated review and/or consideration of relevant issues with potential impact to the Department.
- Researched and analyzed complex transportation-related issues and legislation, assessing potential impacts to the Department to inform strategic decision-making.
- Through collaboration and leadership, The Texas Department of Transportation delivers a safe, reliable, and integrated transportation that enables the movement of people and goods.
Commission Policy Analyst
Texas Department of Transportation
Austin
08.2019 - 09.2020
- Reviewed and recommended policy actions to Administration and department leadership, aligning with Commission direction.
- Researched and analyzed proposed Commission actions, prepared briefing materials for Commission meeting agenda and briefed Commissioners on content and potential impacts in coordination with staff.
- Provided analysis and facilitated communications between Commissioners and Administration to support Commission policies and Administrative programs and projects.
- Researched and drafted reports for Administration and the Commission, presenting actionable recommendations and options.
- Attended meetings, provided analysis, written summary and debriefing of meeting activities to staff and Commissioners.
- Researched and compiled information and assisted Commissioners and staff in preparing for speeches, presentations and special projects.
- Monitored and analyzed TxDOT internal policies and initiatives, updating the Commission on status and validating outcomes and recommendations.
- Through collaboration and leadership, The Texas Department of Transportation delivers a safe, reliable, and integrated transportation that enables the movement of people and goods.
Policy Analyst
Transportation Committee - Texas Senate
Austin
12.2018 - 07.2019
- Delivered analysis and recommendations to the Chairman on pending legislation to inform decision-making.
- Analyzed and researched legislation referred to the committee during the 86th Legislative Session.
- Participated in all hearings and advised the Chairman and senior staff on issues before the committee.
- Developed and maintained close working relationships with staff in the offices of Governor, Lt. Governor, and legislators in both the Senate and House.
- Represented the Chairman in meetings with constituents, stakeholders, associations and state agencies regarding legislation and future issues.
- Represented the committee at transportation-related briefings and events to advocate for legislative priorities and gather stakeholder feedback.
- Gained valuable insight by working closely with staff from the Texas Department of Transportation, the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles, and the Department of Public Safety.
- Streamlined committee operations to enhance productivity and effectiveness in legislative processes.
- The Texas Senate Committee on Transportation oversees all issues, legislation, and agencies pertaining to transportation in Texas.
Legislative Director | Policy Analyst
The Blocker Group
Austin
01.2017 - 01.2018
- Led legislative research efforts by analyzing bills and drafting briefs for clients and the lobby team during the 85th Legislative Session.
- Engaged legislators and staff to address and resolve issues impacting clients.
- Developed expertise in various policy areas, including energy, agriculture, transportation, and state affairs.
- Monitored a variety of committees concerning upcoming bills and/or hearings.
- Communicated with clients on a daily basis.
- Monitored trade association meetings and streamlined communication between clients and trade associations.
- Cultivated and strengthened relationships with legislators and staff to enhance advocacy efforts.
- The Blocker Group is a full-service governmental affairs and ethics consulting firm. Relationships at all levels of state government allow them to work with members from both parties in developing creative solutions to complex problems. The Blocker Group’s ethics attorneys also advise elected officials, political action committees, and corporations to ensure compliance with the state’s intricate campaign finance and ethics laws.
Legal Assistant
Reeves & Brightwell
Austin
08.2015 - 01.2017
- Performed legal research for associate attorneys and partners.
- Attended court hearings alongside partner of the firm.
- Aided in depositions and mediations for ongoing cases.
- Monitored new incoming cases, along with reopened cases.
- Reeves & Brightwell is an Austin law firm that provides client-focused litigation services in commercial disputes. With unwavering dedication to their clients, Reeves & Brightwell offers innovative advocacy and a practical, experienced approach to litigating complex cases.
Senate Floor Correspondent | Policy Analyst
Texas Legislative Service (TELICON)
Austin
12.2014 - 06.2015
- Enable policymakers and relevant government stakeholders with the latest information regarding the Texas State Senate during the 84th Legislative Session.
- Tracked, analyzed, and recorded all Texas State Senate proceedings, enabling timely access to relevant information for policymakers and stakeholders.
- Cultivated relationships with Senate and House offices to enhance information flow.
- Train and supervise a team of committee correspondents.
- Firsthand insight on state-level democratic processes gained by sitting on the Senate floor for over 1000 hours of hearings.
- Provided administrative support to Office Manager; improved process flow for sensitive document acquisition.
- TELICON is the private source for legislative information for Texas. The web service provides access to real-time activity from the House and Senate; copies of official and unofficial bill text and amendments, bill analyses, fiscal notes; record votes; committee news stories for all standing committees; audio and video of floor and committee activity; live calendar activity with links to live floor amendments; automatic report generation with NIGHTWriter; campaign contributions; and an array of analytics to make sense of years of legislative information in ways to give clients an advantage.
Senate Messenger
Texas Senate
Austin
10.2014 - 12.2014
- Performed duties acting as assistant Sargent-at-Arms.
- Assisted and attended various committee hearings.
- Aided 31 senate offices with various tasks including but not limited to research, constituent outreach, committee work, etc.
- Executed projects and research for the office of Secretary of the Senate.
Legislative & Policy Intern
Focused Advocacy
Austin
01.2013 - 08.2013
- Attended committee hearings and provided support.
- Aided 31 senate offices with various tasks including but not limited to research, constituent outreach, committee work, etc.
- Executed projects and research for the office of Secretary of the Senate.
- Performed duties acting as assistant Sergeant-at-Arms.
- Focused Advocacy’s lobby team has more than 100 years of combined experience and boasts a tremendous record of success in achieving substantive legislative, regulatory and public opinion results at the local, state, and federal government levels. Their team includes a full range of seasoned advocacy and communications professionals, as well as experts in crisis management, coalition development, third-party communications, new media and social networking.
Education
Bachelor of Arts - Government, Spanish
The University of Texas at Austin
05-2014
Skills
- Policy development and writing
- Legislative analysis
- Strategic planning and goals
- Stakeholder engagement and relations
- Public speaking and corporate presentations
- Effective communication skills
- Network building and cross-functional communication
- Critical thinking and risk assessment
- Adaptability to change
Certification
- McCombs School of Business, Business Foundations Program, Austin, TX, 12/12
- Center for European Studies, European Studies Certificate, Austin, TX, 05/14
Languages
Spanish
Professional
Timeline
Senior Vice President – Government Affairs
Citi
01.2025 - Current
Governor’s Advisor
Office of Texas Governor Greg Abbott
09.2022 - 01.2025
State Legislative Affairs Liaison
Texas Department of Transportation
10.2020 - 09.2022
Commission Policy Analyst
Texas Department of Transportation
08.2019 - 09.2020
Policy Analyst
Transportation Committee - Texas Senate
12.2018 - 07.2019
Legislative Director | Policy Analyst
The Blocker Group
01.2017 - 01.2018
Legal Assistant
Reeves & Brightwell
08.2015 - 01.2017
Senate Floor Correspondent | Policy Analyst
Texas Legislative Service (TELICON)
12.2014 - 06.2015
Senate Messenger
Texas Senate
10.2014 - 12.2014
Legislative & Policy Intern
Focused Advocacy
01.2013 - 08.2013
Bachelor of Arts - Government, Spanish
The University of Texas at Austin