FRANK SANTOS, Founder and CEO

Frank Santos combines deep expertise in public policy, law, and strategic communication to help businesses and organizations achieve their legislative, regulatory, and business objectives. Since launching Santos Alliances, Santos has held the position as the state’s top Hispanic lobbyist. In April 2006, the San Antonio Express-News named Santos Alliances as the number two lobby firm in Texas and named Santos himself as the number three lobbyist in the state.

Santos has developed highly successful grassroots alliances and third party advocacy networks for numerous associations and corporations and is known for his extensive work with Hispanic opinion leaders. He served as chief national consultant and strategist for the National Hispanic Caucus of State Legislators (NHCSL), helping to enlist the participation of high profile leaders from states with significant Hispanic populations. He also was instrumental in developing a nationwide health care strategy for the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials (NALEO).

Prior to founding his own firm, Santos served as president of the health care business unit of HillCo Partners, director of state affairs for Monsanto Corporation, and associate director for legislative affairs for the Texas Medical Association. In 1996, Santos co-founded the Texas Health Care and Bioscience Institute, an organization formed to research, develop, and advocate policies and actions that promote biomedical science, biotechnology, and medical device innovations in Texas.

In 1990 he left a career as an intellectual property lawyer to serve as chief of staff for State Representative Christine Hernandez, where he first established his expertise in the health care arena.

Santos currently serves as Chairman of the Board of Directors for the Senate Hispanic Research Council and is a board member for Ballet Austin. He has also served as a board member for Hispanic Business Alliance, Texas Lyceum, the Coalition of Texans with Disabilities, and the American Diabetes Association.

LAURA MATZ

Laura Matz is a public policy strategist with extensive experience in governmental affairs and strategic communications. She manages comprehensive policy campaigns for corporations and non-profit organizations, leading targeted outreach efforts and representing clients before governmental agencies and the Texas Legislature. The San Antonio Express-News named Matz as one of the state’s top five lobbyists in April 2006.

Matz’s primary areas of practice include transportation, education, real estate, health care, environmental, technology, insurance, and property rights issues. In 2005 she led Santos Alliances’ work with a well-known nonprofit organization to pass legislation in Texas and secure over $5 million in funding for its programs.

Prior to joining Santos Alliances in 2004, Matz served in governmental relations for the international law firm of Thompson & Knight. In that role, she represented a client coalition in its successful effort to pass legislation authorizing the creation of a law to address groundwater contamination. She also represented a national education technology company before the Texas Legislature and Texas Education Agency; a railroad management company on legislation related to private-property rights; and a technology company on the development, drafting, and lobbying of electronic data-transfer legislation. Matz also planned and coordinated an international trade mission to Mexico, securing meetings for the Governor of Texas and his staff with top-level executives as well as state and federal officials in Mexico.

Matz previously served as the governmental affairs and real estate specialist for Stewart Title Guaranty Company and Stewart Information Services Corporation, where she worked on two successful constitutional amendments.

Matz received her Bachelor of Science in communication studies (with an emphasis in political communications) from The University of Texas at Austin. An active member of the community, she serves on the Elizabeth Ann Seton Development Board as well as the boards of the Governor’s annual Texas Round-Up Fitness Festival and the Umlauf Sculpture Garden and Museum. Ballet Austin recognized Matz for her ongoing community service with its Women on their Toes award.

GREGG KNAUPE

Gregg Knaupe is a lobbyist and attorney who combines strategic thinking with a deep understanding of the workings of the legislative process to help clients successfully achieve their policy agendas.  He represents hospitals, government entities, associations and corporations in several industries. Knaupe offers extensive public policy expertise and a range of contacts at the state, federal and local levels. 

Prior to joining Santos Alliances, Knaupe served six years as vice president of public affairs for the Texas Hospital Association, where he was responsible for state and federal lobbying and managing THA’s political action committee. While at THA, he gained a deep understanding of the complexities of hospitals and the health care system as a whole.   

Prior to joining the Texas Hospital Association, Knaupe practiced law and was also director of government relations for the Austin-based Davis & Wilkerson law firm.  While at Davis & Wilkerson, Knaupe represented a broad range of clients before the state legislature and Congress.  He received his undergraduate degree from the University of Texas at Austin and received his J.D. from the University of Houston School of Law.  Prior to attending law school, Knaupe worked for Texas State Representative Barry B. Telford.

Knaupe is an active member of the Austin community, serving on the Brackenridge Hospital Development Board, the United Way Capital Area Community Impact Cabinet and as Immediate Past Chair of the United Way Capital Area Young Leader’s Society.  Knaupe is also a member of the Texas Bar Association, the Austin Bar Association and the Austin Young Lawyers Association.  He also serves as an appointed commissioner of the Austin Electric Utility Commission.

LUIS E. GONZALEZ

Luis Gonzalez is a policy analyst and lobbyist with a deep understanding of the legislative and budget process. He works closely with clients to develop thoughtful government relations and communication strategies at the state and national level.

Prior to joining Santos Alliances in 2005, Gonzalez served for four years in the Texas House of Representatives as an analyst under the leadership of three different Appropriations chairmen. He was budget and policy analyst for general government, natural resources, regulatory, and business and economic development under Chairmen Robert Junell and Talmadge Heflin. Most recently, he served as the senior analyst for public and higher education under Chairman Jim Pitts.

Prior to his work in the Texas Legislature, Gonzalez served as a lobbyist in Iowa, working on behalf of the state’s teachers and developing legislation for the Iowa State Education Association. Gonzalez also worked at the Iowa Department of Natural Resources drafting rules and on the staff of Iowa State Representative Betty Grundberg, who chaired the Iowa House Committee on Education.

Gonzalez earned his Juris Doctor and Legislative Practice Certification at Drake University Law School in Des Moines, Iowa and holds a bachelor’s degree in English from Angelo State University in San Angelo, Texas.