Brenda Lee Huerta is a native Texan and serves as the Community Relations Director for Univision Radio (KGBT-FM/KBTQ-FM/KGBT-AM) in the Rio Grande Valley.  Her background is in media, politics, and the military beginning with radio at the age of 5 and television and politics in her teens. Brenda has continued her ties to television, radio, and the print media throughout her life, even when she worked in government in different capacities, including work with a U.S. Senator, a Texas Governor, the Texas Legislature, and the Texas Army National Guard.  She serves on several local, state and national boards and commissions, as an officer and in an advisory capacity.

Mr. Namboodiri has a professional track record of 16 years with experience in Human Resource Management, Health Care, Administration, Public Relations and Marketing.  He has degrees that include MA, B.Ed., LLB, and DIM.  He holds two Texas state licenses that include Licensed Nursing Facility Administrator and Licensed Master Social Worker.  In addition to serving on the MHCC board, also serves on the boards of the local American Diabetes Association and the American Heart Association.

Hari says, “I am very proud of being the recipient of numerous awards including a management award during my tenure at a facility in McAllen that won the Favorite Nursing Home Award two consecutive years.  Under my watch, we also received the National Quality Excellence Award from the American Health Care Association, the first time the award had ever been awarded to a South Texas facility.”

Diana C. Gonzalez was born in Chicago Illinois and raised in Houston Texas. There she graduated from Incarnate Word Academy, where she then got involved in the medical field. She has now been involved in the medical field for 23 years. She is the proud mother of 3 children, Daniella, Samantha and Esteban Carrizal.

She is now employed with Mission Nursing & Rehabilitation Center where she is a Business Development Specialist.

Jessica Idy Salinas
Vice Chair of Events and Cultural Issues
Owner
Empire Media
805 Hickory
Edinburg, TX 78541
956-292-5962 (w)
956-292-7547 (f)
lopezj@utpa.edu or lopezj92@hotmail.com

Fernando de la Cerda grew up in El Paso and graduated from the University of Texas El Paso (UTEP) with a B.S. degree in education.  He moved to McAllen in 1992, joining the IBC Bank family that year.  De la Cerda is a commercial lender, married to Juanita M. Villarreal and resides in McAllen.  Fernando says, “I enjoy playing golf, running, reading and being outdoors in general.”

Robert Cox
Vice-Chair of Governmental Affairs
CPL

Robert H. Cox is the Regional Manager for Customer Relations for CPL Retail Energy, A Direct Energy Company.  Robert is a native Texan, reared in Stanton, and is a graduate of New Mexico State University.  He has served in management roles with two rural electric cooperatives, spearheaded economic development efforts at the University of Texas of the Permian Basin’s Center for Energy and Economic Diversification, was a lead staffer in the Environmental Resource Management Division of the Texas General Land Office, and was Director of Community Outreach and Rural Affairs for the Texas Department of Economic Development. 

In addition, Mr. Cox served as the Director of Planning and Regional Services at the Permian Basin Regional Planning Commission, while simultaneously working as the Director of the Midland-Odessa Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO). 

Robert has also served as a registered lobbyist in Texas and worked on several endeavors, including securing sponsors for and passage of energy efficiency measures for state structures, and renewable energy legislation resulting in an expansion of requirements for renewable energy in Texas.  Cox also was instrumental in developing the model for the Office of Rural Community Affairs, having authored the first draft of legislation which created and enabled that agency.

Mr. Cox has been active in legislative liaison work at the local, regional, state and national levels.  He has testified before the Texas Legislature on numerous occasions on topics such as economic development, border issues affecting the Trans-Pecos area, issues surrounding unfunded mandates placed on counties and municipalities, and more.

Among his duties at CPL Retail Energy are customer and community relations, development of an influential public network, and working as liaison to the communities of South Texas in the region ranging from north of Uvalde to South Padre Island.  The Cox family resides in McAllen.

Rose M. Ramirez
Vice Chair Health Issues
Community Outreach Coordinator
Texas HealthSpring
222 E. Van Buren, Suite 610
Harlingen, TX 78550
956-202-1950 (w)
956-584-5836 (f)
rramirez@gulfquest.net

Rose M. Ramirez is a licensed Social Worker with the State of Texas and has resided in the Valley for 2 ½ years.  In the past, she was very involved with the Houston Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.  Currently she works with Texas HealthSpring as the Community Outreach Coordinator.  Through her position, she has been able to assist with such projects as the Diabetes Workshops; Fiestas Patrias con Salud Health Fair; Aging Well in the Valley with the Area Agency on Aging as well as various fundraisers and Golf Tournaments. 

The Business Times of The Rio Grande Valley Managing Editor Elizabeth C. Martinez was born and raised in Edinburg, Texas. She graduated from the University of Texas-Pan American in December 2002 and received her Bachelor of Arts Degree in Communications. A month after graduating she moved to Gurnee, Ill., a suburb of Chicago, and began working as a Public Affairs Officer for the U.S. Navy at the Training Support Center at the Great Lakes Naval Base.

In August 2004, Martinez decided to move back to the Rio Grande Valley. She was offered a position as the managing editor of a start-up bi-weekly pro-business newspaper. During the same month of starting her new career, she began pursuing her master’s degree in communications at UTPA.

Two and a half years later, Martinez has made a place for herself among the local business community. She has a strong passion for helping small businesses succeed, promoting economic growth, and building awareness through her writing. Her most recent accomplishment was being named by the U.S. Small Business Administration, Small Business Journalist of the Year for 2007.

Ninfa Salazar
Vice Chair Public Relations
President
One Source Business Center
817 N. Ware Road, Suite 15
McAllen, TX  78502
956-661-1768 (w)
956-661-1768 (f)
OneSourcebusctr@aol.com

&
Vice President
Crazy Guidos(fast-food Italian Restaurant)
2002 N. Conway, Ste 1-I
Mission, TX 78572
956-584-2667 (w)

Ninfa Salazar relocated to the Valley a year and a half ago and comes to us from Chicago. She graduated Magna Cum Laude from Calumet College of Saint Joseph earning a Bachelor of Science Degree in Paralegal Studies and finished her first year of law school at Concord Law University.
She has more than 15 years experience in business administration, the legal field and the medical field.  In the past she owned and operated a janitorial service and paralegal business and worked in the medical field as a Certified Cardiologist Technologist for 19 years.  Back in Chicago, she worked with various community organizations and founded a support group for parents with mentally challenged children.  She loves giving to the community and is proud to serve on the MHCC Board of Directors.
She is married to Julian Salazar Sr., and has three sons: Julian Jr., Ian, and Adrian.

Ms. Vela has been in the medical industry for more than 10 years. She has worked both the marketing and management ends of the business, and, as a result, has met many wonderful people. Veronica is currently the owner/administrator of ABC Durable Medical Equipment, starting the business about 3 years ago. Vela says, “I am married to a wonderful man who is a coach/teacher at PSJA ISD, and I have two beautiful daughters Anyssa and Nyla.”

David N. Calvillo, CPA
Legal Counsel

Calvillo Law Firm
711 Nolana Loop, Suite 105
McAllen, Texas 78504
956-664-1000
david@calvillolaw.com
www.calvillolaw.com

David is a board-certified civil trial lawyer and is an experienced bilingual commercial mediator and trained in international and commercial arbitrations. David also possesses experience and training with the world’s largest public accounting firms. As such, he counsels and represents business individuals and enterprises in legal matters and disputes.

Cynthia M. Sakulenzki
President/CEO
24 North 12th Street
McAllen, TX  78501
956-928-0060
956-928-0073 (f)
e-mail: cynthia@mhcc.net

Cynthia Moya Sakulenzki was raised in McAllen and attended UTPA.  Her background has been in retail management, chamber administration and the hotel industry.  She is the first Executive for the McAllen Hispanic Chamber of Commerce commencing in February 2000.  During her tenure, the MHCC has been recognized as state chamber 7 out of the past 8 years, and the MHCC has received 6 National Regional awards and been named National Chamber of the Year 3 times. 

She is also an energy broker, managing her company, Lone Star Energy.

Cynthia has served on Boards of several organizations and currently is a member and/or Board member of the Rio Grande Valley Diabetes Association, Zonta, the UTPA  International Women’s Board and the American Heart Association.