George Scott bunker

Founder & CEO

Sometimes the biggest ideas begin with the smallest conversations.

For George Bunker, it began when a food delivery driver shared the story of eleven senior citizens in the West Texas desert who had lost their only source of daily meals during the COVID-19 shutdown. Moved by their situation, George and his friend Collin McElrath set out to raise $1,000 through a local barbecue competition. That simple act of compassion grew into the Texas BBQ Bash, an event that overcame pandemic restrictions through collaboration with community leaders and legal counsel before welcoming thousands of people to what became one of Texas' first large public gatherings during COVID.

That experience forever changed George's view of what barbecue could accomplish.

Today, George is the Founder and CEO of the Central Texas BBQ Roundup, where his vision extends far beyond championship barbecue. His goal is to build an annual Central Texas tradition that brings families together while connecting the community with organizations and resources that make a difference in people's lives. Through barbecue, family entertainment, animal welfare, support for first responders, youth programs, charitable organizations, and community service, CTBR is designed to create a place where an entire community can come together around a common purpose.

Professionally, George serves as Vice President of Risk and HSEQ for Integrated Water Services, where he provides leadership in safety, quality, enterprise risk, and organizational integration across a growing national water infrastructure company. He brings more than three decades of experience in the energy and water industries.

At the heart of George's work, both professionally and in the community, is a personal philosophy he has carried throughout his life: give more to the world than you take from it. He believes that success carries with it an obligation to serve others, create opportunities, and leave the people and communities around you better than you found them.

For George, the Central Texas BBQ Roundup isn't just about barbecue. It's about putting that philosophy into action and building a tradition that strengthens the community he proudly calls home..

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