The City is proud to announce the hiring of Tiffany Hutchinson-Padilla as Lockhart’s first Downtown and Tourism Director, with a start date of April 27, 2026.

Hutchinson-Padilla brings more than 10 years of experience in downtown development, tourism programming, stakeholder engagement, and small business support. She most recently served as Main Street Executive Director and Tourism Program Lead for the City of Gonzales, where she led integrated downtown and tourism initiatives, including destination marketing, event programming, and Hotel Occupancy Tax (HOT) administration and reporting. She currently serves on the Texas Downtown Board of Directors, providing statewide leadership on downtown revitalization efforts.

During her tenure, Hutchinson-Padilla managed annual budgets exceeding $675,000, coordinated events that attracted thousands of visitors, and secured sponsorships and partnerships to support downtown programming. In addition to her public sector experience, she owns and operates multiple downtown businesses, including a retail marketplace and café, and has experience managing short-term rentals and boutique lodging operations.

"I’m honored to join the City’s team and excited to work alongside local businesses, community partners, and residents to strengthen downtown, support tourism, and help create experiences that celebrate Lockhart’s story while contributing to its future," said Tiffany Hutchinson-Padilla.

In her new role, Hutchinson-Padilla will lead the City’s downtown and tourism strategy, including marketing and branding initiatives, coordination of major community events, administration of Hotel Occupancy Tax programs, and strengthen partnerships with local businesses and organizations. She will also oversee operations and programming at the City’s Visitor Center and serve as staff liaison to the Tourism Advisory Board, advancing initiatives that strengthen downtown vitality, visitor engagement, and Lockhart’s destination brand.

"The Downtown and Tourism Director position was established to ensure we have a dedicated leader focused on building relationships with our downtown businesses and tourism stakeholders as we continue advancing City Council and community efforts to share Lockhart’s barbecue heritage and small-town charm," said City Manager, Joseph Resendez. "Ms. Hutchinson-Padilla’s background in destination marketing, tourism strategy, small business operations makes her well-positioned to advance our tourism initiatives. I look forward to her joining our organization’s leadership team.”