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Twenty-Five Regional Leaders Completed RGV Partnerships Leadership Program
- Updated: June 12, 2015
In this photo: Angela Burton, Brownsville- U.S. Small Business Administration; Anabell Cardona, Weslaco- Valley Grande Institute; Stephen Crain, McAllen- Atlas Hall & Rodriquez; Mario Delgado, McAllen- City of McAllen; Paula Garcia, Weslaco- Teach for America; Arlene Garza, La Feria- Gulf Aviation; Yolanda Gonzalez, Mission- Wells Fargo Bank; Roxanne Guenzel, Laguna Vista- SPI Chamber; Atanacio Hinojosa, McAllen- Magic Valley Electric Coop.; Ankjaer Jensen, Brownsville- A. L. Loran International LLC; Mario Lizcano, Pharr- Doctors Hospital at Renaissance; Deborah Meeks, Harlingen- Harlingen Medical Center; Alfredo Montanaro, McAllen- Frost Bank; Eugene Palacios, McAllen- LNV, Inc.; Benjamin Pena, Mission- Burton, McCumber & Cortez, LLP; Naomi Perales, Edinburg- Texas Gas Service; Dr. Nolan Perez, Harlingen- Gastroenterology Consultants of South Texas; David Sanchez, Brownsville- County of Cameron; Daniel Silva, Mission- Mission EDC; Bernice Smith, McAllen- R. Communications; Geroge E. Solis, Raymondville- Willacy County Justice of the Peace Pct. 2; Randy Summers, Weslaco- Davis Equity Realty; Cristina Trejo, Mission- University of Texas Pan American; Joey Trevino, Harlingen- Weslaco EDC; Roberto Villarreal, Edinburg- Hidalgo County Judge’s Office.
RIO GRANDE VALLEY – The RGV Partnership started out with one goal in mind: get emerging leaders from the Rio Grande Valley to learn about the entire area through a regional lens.
Mission accomplished. In May, the RGV Partnership graduated the first-ever RGV Leadership class of 25 members from throughout the four-county Valley area. The 25 emerging leaders took part in nine monthly class sessions from an opening retreat September 2014 to a graduation ceremony in May.
In between the diverse group of leaders took part in important discussion on issues with Valley-wide implications such as healthcare, education, transportation, politics, the environment and, of course, leadership. Classes were hosted in cities all around the Rio Grande Valley including Harlingen, Mission, Brownsville, McAllen and Weslaco. There was also a field trip to Austin during the legislative session and visits to companies, schools and health facilities.
To help gain a regional perspective on issues they were treated to speakers like UTRGV President Guy Bailey, Texas Secretary of State Carlos Cascos, State Sen. Eddie Lucio, Jr., RGV Sylvan Learning Center CEO Susan Valverde, Valley Baptist Medical Center CEO Manny Vela and former UT-Brownsville President Julieta Garcia.
Former RGV Partnership Chair Deborah Cordova first initiated the idea of starting the program in early 2014. With the support of the RGV Partnership board and CEO Julian Alvarez, “RGV Leadership took off and accomplished what was intended”, said Alvarez. Current RGV Partnership Chairman Atanacio Hinojosa also completed the course.
“Deborah deserves a lot credit for pushing this idea, but the entire board got behind it and supported it as something the Partnership should do to build regionalism here,” said Alvarez. “The class chosen, from the many that applied, was really awesome. They came to learn. They brought their own perspectives. And what started out as 25 strangers from around the Valley became 25 friends with new appreciations and views of the Region.”
The Rio Grande Valley Partnership will begin accepting applications on Monday, June 8th for its second annual RGV Leadership program. The deadline to turn in applications will be the first week of August. Details will be released soon.
