Jesse Hereford

Jesse J. Hereford serves as Director of Institutional Relations and Communications at the North American Development Bank (NADBank). Since joining the Bank in February 2016, he has led NADBank’s outreach and communications strategy, cultivated collaborative partnerships with U.S. border state agencies and legislatures, and managed the Bank’s U.S. federal legislative affairs.

During his tenure, Jesse has played a central role in advancing NADBank’s institutional standing and resources. He successfully oversaw the U.S. portion of NADBank’s capital increase, which was included in the United States–Mexico–Canada Agreement (USMCA) and helped secure annual increases in U.S. federal funding for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Border Water Infrastructure Program, which is administered by NADBank.

In addition, Jesse has helped mobilize up to $100 million from the State of Texas to leverage with the Bank’s Water Resiliency Fund, supporting critical investments in the Rio Grande Valley’s irrigation districts. He also advocated for NADBank’s inclusion in California’s Proposition 4 Climate Bond as an eligible entity to match state funding aimed at improving water quality in California’s cross-border rivers, further expanding the Bank’s capacity to deliver binational environmental solutions.

Prior to joining NADBank, Jesse served as Director of Government Relations and Business Development for a nationally recognized engineering firm ranked among the Top 500 Design Firms by Engineering News-Record. In that role, he acted as the firm’s chief liaison to elected and non-elected officials at the local, state, and federal levels on transportation and infrastructure policy matters.

Earlier in his career, he served on two occasions with U.S. Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison of Texas, working in both her Texas and Washington, D.C., offices. In his final post with the Senator, Jesse served as Director of State Outreach and San Antonio Regional Director, managing regional stakeholder engagement and policy coordination across South Texas.

Jesse has also held longstanding leadership roles with the Border Trade Alliance (BTA). He initially served as a staff member and Director of Public Policy before serving as Chairman of the Board of Directors from 2013 to 2016. During his tenure as chair, he successfully drafted and advocated for multiple border infrastructure bills that became law and supported funding and policy frameworks to advance the development of border infrastructure.

He holds a Master of International Business Administration from the University of San Diego, as well as a Master of Public Administration and a Bachelor of Arts from American University in Washington, D.C. A native of Laredo, Texas, Jesse resides in San Antonio with his family.