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New BRA Board chief takes water passion from past to future


Director Cynthia Flores remembers her father talking about the importance of water. He owns ranch land across from Possum Kingdom State Park. Water is, she said, vital to existence.

So in 2015 when Director Flores, of Round Rock, saw an opening on the Brazos River Authority Board of Directors, she submitted her name and was later appointed.

Her father was so proud, she said.

“One of the things my dad told me was water is very complicated,” Flores said, adding he told her to listen to the other board members and the BRA staff. “I’ll never forget him saying, ‘It’ll take you a year before you say anything because it takes a while to understand water.’”

Now four years later she’s been appointed to serve as presiding officer, a role she’s honored to take on.

Born and raised in Fort Worth, she received a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of North Texas. For the past 20 years she has called Round Rock home.

Flores has spent most of her life serving her community and those around her. “I followed my parent’s example by serving and giving back to my community”.

Flores works as a professional case manager and coordinates the social service programs at the faith-based Round Rock Area Serving Center, a local food pantry and social ministry serving the southern portion of Williamson County.

Flores said she started volunteering with the Round Rock Area Serving Center in 1998 and in 2007 became the organization’s second employee. Prior to that role, she worked in the field of Mental Health and Mental Retardation managing various Medicaid waiver programs.

Being appointed presiding officer by Governor Greg Abbott was an outstanding honor, she said.

“It’s an honor. I’m blessed and I look forward to my continued work with everyone on the board,” Flores said.

The members of the Board of Directors come from a diverse background and are passionate about developing, managing and protecting Texas’ water resources, she said.

Big projects are on the horizon for the BRA, including the proposed Allens Creek Reservoir, a water supply storage reservoir planned for construction near the city of Wallis in Austin County, Just as important as creating water, we must protect and expand the life of the BRA’s current reservoirs and educate the community about water conservation. We must remain transparent and continue communicating with our customers along the river basin, says Flores.

Over the years Flores has served as board member for the Round Rock Chamber of Commerce, Professional Women of Williamson County, Sacred Heart Community Clinic, Alan Baca “Senior” Center Advisory Board, Leadership Round Rock Graduate and planning committee member as well as on many other boards that serve Round Rock and Williamson County.

Flores has been married to, city council member, Rene, for 28 years. Their daughter, Cecelia, is a nurse at St. David's Round Rock Medical Center, and son, John Richard is a junior at Texas A&M University in College Station.

Though her term as a member of the board officially ends in 2021, Flores serves at the as presiding officer at the pleasure of the Governor.