May Membership Meeting w/ CFMA

Jay Chapa is City Manager of the City of Fort Worth. With over 30 years of experience in both local government and the private sector, Jay is a highly collaborative leader that brings innovative solutions to the most demanding of projects and situations,

Jay has spent 25 years with the City of Fort Worth in a variety of leadership roles culminating as  City Manager. During his tenure, Jay was responsible for a variety of departments and initiatives in managing the City including economic development, police, transportation/public works, finance and public events/tourism. Jay has been instrumental in seeing a variety of projects and initiatives come to fruition in Fort Worth. These include the tremendous growth in the Alliance area, the rebirth of the hospital district, the revitalization of the Fort Worth Stockyards, development of Renaissance Square in Southeast Fort Worth and various public safety efforts that have made Fort Worth one of the safest large cities in the nation. 

Previous to taking the City Manager role in Fort Worth, He served as Principal of J Chapa Strategic Solutions LLC in Fort Worth, Texas. As a sole practitioner consultant, Jay provided advisory services to local governments, public agencies, development entities and businesses seeking assistance with real estate, economic development and/or project coordination. Notable projects assisted included the Texas A&M University campus in downtown Fort Worth and the Stars Center in Northlake.

He is active in the community and has served on a variety of boards including the Real Estate Council of Greater Fort Worth, Operation Progress Fort Worth and the Mayor’s Blue Ribbon Committee on Child Care.

Jay has a bachelor’s degree in History from Texas Tech University and a Masters of Public Administration from the University of North Texas.

Jay is married to Evalis and has one daughter, Emilia. 

Richard H. Stopfer, Mayor 2023 - 2026 Rick Stopfer was re-elected to a third term as Mayor in May 2023. Stopfer was originally elected as a councilmember to the Irving City Council in 1998 and served through 2012; he was appointed Deputy Mayor Pro-Tem in 2007-2008 and Mayor Pro Tem 2008-2009. While on City Council, Mayor Stopfer was chair to the Planning and Development Committee, a member of the Audit and Finance Committee, Legislative Committee, Public Works Committee, Communications Committee, Community Services Committee and the Transportation and Natural Resources Committee. In 2013, Mayor Stopfer was appointed by the City Council to be the Irving representative to the DART Board. While on the Board, he has served as chair of DART Revenue and Public Relations Committee, Vice-Chair of DART Rail Program Committee, a member of the DART Administrative Committee and the DART Audit Committee. He is also a member of the Trinity Railway Express Advisory Committee, the Transit Oriented Development Committee and an alternate member on the Regional Transportation Council. Mayor Stopfer is the liaison to the Irving Chamber of Commerce and the DFW Airport Board. Mayor Stopfer has an extensive history of serving on various municipal boards and government agencies. He has served as a board member and/or a liaison to the Trinity River Corridor Advisory Committee, DFW International Airport Board, Dallas Regional Mobility Commission/TEX-21, Irving Flood Control District-Section I, Irving Flood Control DistrictSection III, North Central Texas Council of Government, National League of Cities and the Planning and Zoning Commission. Mayor Stopfer has lived in Irving since 1988; he was a member of the Valley Ranch Association Board of Directors, President of the Valley Ranch Association Master Board and President of the Irving Heritage Society. Mayor Stopfer and his wife, Melanie, have been married for over forty years and were born and raised in South Dakota. He is a retired automotive consultant.

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