The Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas has named two new regional executives whose focus will be deepening relationships with business and community leaders in North Texas and the Austin area to gain greater insight into the economy at the grassroots level. Donald Bowers has been named regional executive for North Texas and Guhan Venkatu has been named regional executive for the Austin area.

“Having our eyes and ears closely trained to the diverse corners of our economy is central to effective monetary policy,” says Lorie Logan, Dallas Fed president. “The Dallas Fed’s regional executives will strengthen our connections to the leaders in these areas and forge new ones where needed.”

Bowers previously served as vice president and deputy regional executive for the Dallas Fed’s Houston branch. His other roles there included corporate secretary and advisor to the Houston branch board of directors. He was also responsible for the Dallas Fed’s financial industry outreach efforts. Bowers has been with the bank since 1990.

“The North Texas region is one of the fastest growing in the country with an increasingly strong presence of financial institutions,” Bowers notes. “There is an opportunity for the Dallas Fed to expand and connect our grassroots network of business leaders and community groups in our home region.”

In addition to working with business and community leaders in the Austin area, Venkatu will also broaden the bank’s engagement with public officials and the area’s technology industry. He joins the Dallas Fed from the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland, where he served as senior principal and senior policy advisor. In addition to presenting the analysis of the local economy covered by the Cleveland Fed, he led the regional executive network and regional research group there.

“I look forward to leading the Dallas Fed’s presence in Austin as we expand our engagement with public officials, the technology sector and other stakeholders throughout Central Texas,” Venkatu says.

Bowers and Venkatu round out the five regional executive positions within the 11th Federal Reserve District. They join Roberto Coronado, senior vice president/regional executive in El Paso; Daron Peschel, senior vice president/regional executive in Houston; and Armida Riojas, assistant vice president/regional executive in San Antonio.