About

With decades of experience in government and corporate relations, economic development and legislative affairs, Harold Oliver brings a wealth of experience to his long list of clientele. As the founder and managing principal of GAP Texas, he oversees the governmental relations, communications and business development processes for the firm. He is responsible for enhancing the public relations, marketing and outreach efforts that augment his client’s public image and brand. Oliver’s expertise is centered in the fields of public relations, government relations, economic development, community development and transportation. His clients range from local governmental entities and professional sports teams to national and global clients.

From 2013 to 2014, Oliver served as the chief external affairs officer for Accion Texas Inc., now known as Lift Fund. Accion’s footprint covers seven states and Washington D.C. In this role, he managed the communications and marketing department, the development staff, and the governmental relations function.

From 1994 to 2004, Oliver worked as a legislative assistant to the late Texas Senator Frank Madla, supporting the Senate Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and the Committee on Homeland Security, as well as the Senate Committee on Business and Commerce. Oliver’s extensive legislative work with Senator Madla included the creation and funding of the new Texas A&M campus in San Antonio, a project that he still works on today. He was part of the state’s negotiating team for the Toyota Motor Manufacturing project for San Antonio and helped draft the legislation that created Toyota’s $60 million plus, incentive package. He drafted the legislation that transitioned Brooks and Kelly Air Force Bases into commercial facilities, as well as drafted the legislation that allowed the San Antonio Spurs and the Houston Rockets to build their current arenas.

Oliver served as the Inaugural Chair of the Texas A&M University San Antonio Foundation. He also served on the board of the San Antonio Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. Other civic involvement included serving as the chair of the South San Antonio Chamber of Commerce, a director of the Texas Lyceum, the chair of the Greater Dallas Hispanic Chamber of Commerce’s Legislative Committee, and co-chair of the 2011 San Antonio March of Dimes Gala. He also served on the boards of the Friends of Big Bend National Park and the Jewish Family & Children Services organization.

He earned a Bachelor of Arts in history and political science from the University of the Incarnate Word and a Master of Science degree in public administration from St. Mary’s University. He also studied law at the University of Oxford in England and completed his juris doctorate (JD) degree from St. Mary’s University School of Law.

Roy Lopez is an experienced government affairs professional and business consultant with focused Texas ties. Lopez uses his background as a government/community affairs expert, entrepreneur and public servant to benefit his clients. He is a nonpartisan consultant specializing in lobbying, political strategy and business development. In his role as director for GAP Texas, he prides himself on being a connector and leveraging public resources to accelerate creative solutions that further the business interests of his clients.

For over two decades, Lopez has been a known commodity in Texas. His roots and career have taken him from the Rio Grande Valley to Lubbock, and many others in between. He has lobbied, consulted and worked for a range of clients that include banks, law firms, midsize companies and nonprofit organizations. Lopez has unique expertise in the policy areas of banking, public finance, education, digital inclusion, philanthropy, real estate, housing, transportation and workforce development.

Lopez has been recognized for his professional and civic achievements by the Dallas Business Journal, as a Presidential Leadership Scholar in partnership with the George W. Bush and William J. Clinton Presidential Libraries, and several civic organizations based in Texas.

Prior to joining GAP Texas, Lopez was an assistant vice president and community affairs officer for the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas, serving 15 years. He led their community development policy and practice group and served as a leading voice on their government affairs advisory board.

Lopez honed his political advocacy from years of working in the trenches on a variety of campaigns as a volunteer, including as a leading fundraiser for local candidates in Dallas. Roy’s first post-graduate assignment was with United States Congressman Frank Tejeda (South Texas) where he served as an assistant on constituent and local policy issues. Lopez also grew his network and policy experience by working for two municipalities – the City of San Antonio and the City of Fort Worth in their housing departments. He served as a government affairs staffer for the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs in Austin, where he worked on two Sunsets.

Lopez serves on several nonprofit boards, including the Trinity Park Conservancy, Impact Ventures, South Dallas Employment Project and Navicore Solutions. He is also a former commissioner on the City of Dallas’ Redistricting Commission and a member of the City of Dallas’ Comprehensive Land Use Planning Commission and a Social Venture Partner. Lopez also serves on the Dallas Mayor’s Committee on Federal Funding Opportunity.

Lopez graduated with a bachelor’s degree in political science from Texas A&M University-College Station and a master’s degree in urban administration from Trinity University in San Antonio. He is also in the Certified Financial Planner program at SMU in Dallas.

Bill Kelly is a government affairs professional with deep roots in Houston, Texas. With over two decades of experience in local and state government, Kelly brings a background in electoral campaigning, policy planning and non-profit advocacy. He has led federal, state, and local initiatives.

Kelly is currently a Director for Government Affairs Professionals of Texas (GAP Texas). He primarily focuses on business development, client relations and regional policy implementation. GAP Texas is a boutique minority-owned government affairs firm with offices in San Antonio, Austin, Dallas and Houston. Kelly manages the Houston office. GAP Texas is a full-service, Texas-based consultancy firm that focuses on state and local lobbying, economic development consulting for corporations and government, and government affairs strategic planning.

Prior to joining GAP Texas, Kelly served as the Director of Government Relations for the City of Houston in Mayor Sylvester Turner’s Office for almost 8 years. Kelly served as the lead for coordinating state and federal lobby teams in both Austin and Washington DC. He led efforts to enact landmark pension reforms which were eventually passed by the Texas Legislature and by Houston voters in 2017. Kelly also coordinated the administration, communication, and reporting of $607 million in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding for the City of Houston, as well as, the successful coordination in drawing down funding from the bipartisan infrastructure bill.

Kelly started his government affairs career working with Houston Mayor Bill White’s campaign in 2003. Later in White’s administration, he was the first event coordinator creating the “Tour de Houston,” bike ride and civic fundraiser that has since become an annual event. In 2004, Kelly served as the Field Director for State Representative’s Hubert Vo’s upset victory over the incumbent Texas House Appropriations Chairman. In his first role as a campaign manager in 2005, he led Peter Brown’s successful campaign for an open seat to the Houston City Council.

In 2006, Kelly again served as campaign manager for State Representative Ellen Cohen’s race that defeated a popular incumbent. Kelly went on to serve as Cohen’s Chief of Staff for both her 2007 and 2009 legislative sessions where she served on the Public Health, Higher Education, and Appropriations Committees. Kelly took time off from Rep. Cohen’s office in 2008 to run the Harris County Democratic Party’s Coordinated Campaign, where Democrats won an overwhelming majority of countywide offices for the first time in decades.

In 2010, Kelly again served in Bill White’s campaign, this time as the Political Director of his Texas gubernatorial campaign where he coordinated a team of 15 employees. Kelly began an assignment with Planned Parenthood Federation of America which began in 2011, serving as a Regional Field Manager. In 2014, Kelly became the Director of Public Policy and Government Affairs for Mental Health America of Greater Houston where he coordinated policy advocacy with diverse groups that included veterans, community activists, law enforcement, child advocacy groups, and mental health providers.

Kelly has been recognized for his service after being named a Rising Star by the League of Voters for Greater Houston. He serves on the board of the Houston Urban Debate League since 2019. Kelly holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Political Science from the Honors College at the University of Houston.