City Manager’s Office

Appointed by the Bryan City Council on Nov. 11, 2025.

Nelson founded the U.S. operations for Lisam Systems Group in 2010 and led its growth from a startup to the largest and fastest-growing branch of a 21-country global enterprise. Before that, he founded TomorrowNow, Inc. in 1998 and served as chief executive officer through 2007, guiding the company from inception to multi-million-dollar annual revenue before its sale to SAP, the world’s largest enterprise software company.

Nelson served as mayor of Bryan from 2016 to 2022, working with the City Council and staff to navigate major challenges, including the COVID-19 pandemic and Winter Storm Uri. During his tenure, the city completed the annexation of the Texas A&M-RELLIS Campus and advanced key initiatives such as Travis Bryan Midtown Park, Legends Event Center, Destination Bryan, and infrastructure improvements that created long-term benefits without raising the property tax rate.

Nelson grew up in Bryan-College Station and earned a Bachelor of Science in mechanical engineering, cum laude, from Texas A&M University in 1992. He returned to the Brazos Valley in 2001 and has lived in Bryan for 24 years.

Nelson has served in several city and utility leadership roles, including president of the Texas Municipal Power Agency, board member of Bryan Texas Utilities, and member of city committees such as Strategic Planning, the Bryan Business Council, the Animal Committee, and the Destination Bryan Board.

Hugh Walker began his career in municipal government with the City of Bryan in 1995, and since 2000, has served as a Deputy City Manager. Receiving a BA from Central Washington University, followed by obtaining a MPA from the University of North Texas, Hugh complements his years of employment in the public sector with an exceptional educational background. Hugh includes in his employment experience eight years in the private sector and three years in the non-profit arena. Along with an extensive employment history comes Hugh’s professional associational involvement. Hugh is a member of the Texas City Management Association (TCMA), including having served in capacities such as the Executive Committee, the Board, and President of TCMA Region 7. He also was on the Texas Municipal League Board. Locally, Hugh served on multiple nonprofits, including on executive committees and as chair/president. Hugh and his spouse, Shelley, have two grown Texas A&M University Aggie daughters, MaKayla and Madisen, along with a son-in-law, Tanner (MaKayla). Hugh and Shelley are proud to call Bryan home and enjoy “Bryan, Texas…the Good Life, Texas Style.”

Joey Dunn has more than 28 years of experience in municipal government. Born in Virginia and raised in Alabama, he received his Bachelor of Science degree in Communications and Human Relations, with a minor in Music, from Trevecca Nazarene University in Nashville, Tennessee. In 1991, Joey moved to Texas to attend graduate school in Architecture at Texas A&M University. In 1994, Joey obtained his Master of Urban Planning degree from Texas A&M University. Joey’s municipal career began while still in graduate school in 1993 as a Historic Preservation Intern with the City of Bryan Main Street Project. During that time, Joey was directly involved in efforts to begin the revitalization of Downtown Bryan through his work in establishing the Downtown Bryan Historic District as well as the Bryan Historic Resources Survey Update. From 1994 through 2006, Joey held positions with the City of Bryan as well as the City of College Station as Director of Planning & Development Services during a time of significant growth and development in the Bryan-College Station/Texas A&M University community. He returned to the City of Bryan in March 2006, where he has served as Deputy City Manager for Community Services, overseeing a number of departments including Planning & Development Services, Economic Development, Coulter Airfield, Community Development, Parks & Recreation, Library Services, and Special Projects. Joey currently serves as Region 7 Vice President of the Texas City Managers Association (TCMA), and is a certified city planner with the American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP). Joey serves as the City of Bryan liaison to the Blinn College Brazos County Advisory Board, the BCS Chamber of Commerce and Destination Bryan Board of Directors. Joey is a long time member of the Bryan Church of the Nazarene, and is currently Secretary of the Bryan-College Station Salvation Army Advisory Board. Joey’s true passion is spending time with his wife Leslie, and his four children, ages 15 through 26.