Adrian Meander, a Vice President of Amarillo National Bank, is the newest member of the Amarillo EDC's Board of Directors. Adrian is very active in the community, having served on numerous civic boards including the Northside Toy Drive, Amarillo Museum of Art, St. Anthony’s Legacy Redevelopment Corporation, and Leadership Amarillo & Canyon. In the past, he has served in various board capacities with Amarillo Area CASA, Opportunity School, College Success Initiative, and the Center City Polk Street Block Party. Adrian is also a graduate of Amarillo 101, Potter County Sheriff Citizens Academy, and Randall County Sheriff Citizens Academy.

In an interview with Savannah Tarbet, Meander shares why he chose to apply to be a member of the Amarillo EDC Board of Directors and what he hopes to help the board achieve.

Tarbet: Tell me about your background, where you're from, where you grew up and how you got here in Amarillo. 

Meander: I’m an Amarillo native, born and raised in the Texas Panhandle. I'm married to my wife, Vette, we have two sons, stepson Kavaughn, and son Zerrian, and a little four-legged son named Mozzie. I’m a graduate of Tascosa High School and West Texas A&M University, and I work at Amarillo National Bank where I’m a Vice President, North Branch Manager.

Tarbet: What piqued your interest in serving on the Amarillo EDC Board?

Meander: I like and welcome the opportunity to work with other individuals that are willing to help enhance the well-being of the Amarillo community through economic growth.

Tarbet: You’ve previously served on several committees and boards such as Amarillo Area-CASA, Opportunity School, College Success Initiative, North Side Toy Drive, Saint Anthony Legacy & Redevelopment Corp., Amarillo Museum of Art, Leadership Amarillo & Canyon, Center City, and Polk St. Block Party Committee. How do you think these experiences will help you in your role at the Amarillo EDC? 

Meander: Serving on other boards and committees throughout Amarillo has enlightened me to the needs of individuals, organizations, and our community through open-mindedness. I feel my experiences from serving in other areas for the different organizations will help me in my role at the AEDC by helping make decisions that will better enhance the organization for future growth in the Amarillo area. I gained experience in asking questions that matter, approving and setting annual budgets, marketing business, fundraising, setting policy, and supporting personnel. I think this will help me in my role as an AEDC board member.

Tarbet: Where do you hope to see the organization long-term?

Meander: For the long term, I hope to see the organization accomplish great things for the Amarillo economy and continue to build and establish economic stability for the citizens and businesses for the surrounding area in the Panhandle.

Tarbet: Where do you hope to see the community long term?

Meander: Long term, I hope to see the community embrace the business and industry in Amarillo through support, diversity, and expansion.

Tarbet: What are you most looking forward to as an EDC board member?

Meander: What I’m most looking forward to as an EDC board member is the opportunity to learn about and evaluate the Amarillo economy on a different scale. In terms of why businesses chose to or not locate to Amarillo, the incentives EDC offers new businesses, how to retain the current businesses in the community, ways to promote diversity while building a strong economy, and mostly learning from the existing EDC board members.