Twenty-five years ago, when Austin didn’t even warrant a blip on anyone’s economic radar, no one would have guessed the area someday would be home to numerous high-technology companies and boast a product output in the billions. That it would become one of North America’s hottest economies. That other businesses serving these industries would flock there in droves.

No one, perhaps, with one exception: Angelos Angelou, who has a similar vision for Northern Nevada. He says it took lots more than guesswork to jumpstart Austin’s economy. Indeed, today’s thriving business growth in the Hill Country of Central Texas can be traced directly to the methodical, unglamorous planning that Angelou and other community development boosters envisioned at the time.

According to Donna Kristaponis, the Lyon County manager who used to work in Texas, Angelou is widely regarded as the chief architect in the establishment of Austin as a high-tech center. “He’s very good at connecting the public sector players to business opportunities,” she says. “He helped to make a whole bunch of things happen,” she adds, referring to his skill at fostering regional cooperation “in a way that floated everyone’s boat.”

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Closer to home, a who’s who of movers and shakers are poring over roadmaps to the future that Angelou has drafted. Many are hoping Northern Nevada’s unique amenities can lure well-educated workers to the area and new businesses as well, perhaps a Silicon Meadows to rival Austin.

The technology industry creates higher economic growth than any other industry within a community, says Angelou, founder and chief executive officer of AngelouEconomics. “Regions that do not aim high to become high-tech will miss out on vast economic opportunity,” he says.

As the largest independent consulting firm of its kind in the U.S., Angelou’s client list includes regions both large and small, rural and urban, technology-based and traditional-industry based. He does it all with 15 employees from Austin. At present he has about 30 clients, equally divided between economic development agencies and corporate customers.

When it comes to economic development, Angelou sees his business as operating in the public interest. “I like public service, and I enjoy working with clients serving a larger public need,” says Angelou, who launched his own company 11 years ago after a successful career as chief economist with the Greater Austin Chamber of Commerce.

Angelou says he has about 400-500 competitors in the U.S. — everyone from “mom and pop” consulting firms to conglomerates like Deloitte, McKenzie and IBM. He says he builds his practice mostly by referral. Guest speaking gigs at conferences also lead to consulting work.

Angelou says his connection to Northern Nevada won’t end anytime soon. “He will definitely be re-engaged for future projects,” says Northern Nevada Development Authority’s Ron Weisinger, an unabashed admirer.