A. Jabier Rodriguez
CEO and Director of Lone Star National Bank

A. Jabier Rodriguez is the CEO & Director of Lone Star National Bank and Lone Star National Bancshares – Texas, Inc.; Lone Star Investment Services, Inc., a full service brokerage; and LSNB Financial Services, Inc., a general insurance agency.  The company has grown from $60 million to over $1 billion under his leadership and has previously won several SBA Awards, along with a most recent National Award for “Lender of the Year for New Markets.”  Mr. Rodriguez serves on various boards of community service organizations & is a founding member of the Valley Alliance of Mentors for Opportunities and Scholarships (“VAMOS”), a minority scholarship program.

Carlos I Garza
President and Chief Executive Officer of Inter National Bank

Carlos I Garza is the President & Chief Executive Officer of Inter National Bank in McAllen. Under his leadership, the bank has increased its assets from $103 million to $500 million and augmented its profitability of less than $1 million to $5.78 million in 2000. Mr. Garza is a dedicated citizen to the local community and currently serves as Mayor Pro-Tem for the City of McAllen.  Mr. Garza has also served as a City Commissioner for the City and has occupied the role of Chairman of the McAllen-Hidalgo Bridge Board.

R. David Guerra
President and CEO of International Bank of Commerce (IBC)–McAllen,

R. David Guerra serves as President and CEO of International Bank of Commerce (IBC)–McAllen, where he oversees numerous branches in Hidalgo & Starr County. Guerra also serves as a Director of International Bank of Commerce–Laredo & IBC’s multi-bank financial holding company, International Bancshares Corporation, the largest banking institution headquartered on the US/Mexico Border. Guerra’s involvement in IBC’s merger & acquisition efforts have helped the Corporation grow into a $6.6 billion bank holding company with 105 branches serving over 35 communities throughout South/Central Texas. He is committed to volunteerism and philanthropy in educational and financial resources for the community.

Jaime A. Rodriguez
Entrepreneur

Jaime A. Rodriguez is the President & CEO of various businesses throughout the Rio Grande Valley: most notably, Rapid Mortgage, Planet Pizza, Mi Casa Adult Daycares (5 centers), Tire Corral, JAR Enterprises, Condesa Construction, Preferred Ambulances, O’bees franchises. Mr. Rodriguez was the recipient of the 1997 U.S. Small Business Administration Person of the Year Award for the Lower Rio Grande Valley. He is also an active member of the community and is currently the Regional Director of the Adult Daycare Association of Texas and the Director of the Upper Valley Community Partners.

Richard Guerra
CEO & Operating Partner
Costillas, LTD

Richard Guerra is the CEO & Operating Partner of Costillas, LTD, an entity that has controlling interest in various businesses throughout the Rio Grande Valley including the very successful and popular Tony Roma’s and TGI Friday’s franchises in the area. Prior to joining Costillas, LTD, Mr. Guerra spent his career in the hospitality and food industry; most notably, he was the Regional Manager and General Manager of the Embassy Suites Hotel. Mr. Guerra has always been an active member of the community, having served on many community committees such as the McAllen Civic League and the Leadership McAllen Steering Board. Mr. Guerra is a recipient of the Alex Longoria Leadership Award.

Daniel McLean
Chief Executive Office
McAllen Medical Center and President of South Texas Health System

Daniel McLean is the Chief Executive Office of McAllen Medical Center and President of South Texas Health System. With twenty six years of senior level management in the health field, Mr. McLean had a profound impact in the formation and expansion of health care systems and the planning and expansion of over $60 million in construction and capital improvements. Mr. McLean is a proud parent of two children who are both physicians.

Joseph “Skip” Courtney
Chief Executive Officer
Doctor’s Hospital at Renaissance

Joseph “Skip” Courtney is the Chief Executive Officer of Doctor’s Hospital at Renaissance. Mr. Courtney spent his thirty-year career in hospital management and administration. He started his career with National Medical Enterprises in California. After twenty two years there, he joined UHS to oversee their four Texas facilities and then his role was expanded to include the UHS facilities in Louisiana and Oklahoma. When he left UHS in 2002, he was responsible for about 10 of their facilities. He is presently the CEO at Doctors Hospital at Renaissance in Edinburg, Texas. Mr. Courtney is a native of Long Island, New York and a graduate of the University of St. Thomas in Houston.   

Kirk Clark
President CEO, Charles Clark Chevrolet
Operating Partner, Clark Knapp Honda

Kirk Clark is the President and CEO of Charles Clark Chevrolet and is the Operating Partner of Clark Knapp Honda. Mr. Clark plays a major role in the auto industry as he is currently servicing as President of Chevy Marketing Group at the local level and as a Member of the National Chevrolet Dealer Advisory Council. Furthermore, Mr. Clark is the CEO and Agent of Record for Clark Insurance Agency. Despite his busy schedule, Mr. Clark always finds time for community involvement; he has been a Eucharistic Lay Minister for forty two years.

Bud Payne
President and CEO
Payne Auto Group

Bud Payne is President and CEO of the Payne Auto Group. Mr. Payne spent his entire professional career in the auto industry. Under his leadership, the Payne Auto Group controls nineteen franchises at six locations throughout the Rio Grande Valley. Mr. Payne is a great community leader having served as President of the Rio Grande Valley Partnership Chamber, President of the Valley Auto Dealers Association, and as a member of the Valley Land Fund, the Lower Rio Grande Valley Economic Council, the Weslaco Development Committee, and the Knapp Hospital.

Dr. Shirley Reed
Founding President of South Texas College

Dr. Shirley Reed is the founding president of South Texas Community College, now South Texas College, the third community college she helped found. Under her direction, STC became one of the fastest growing community colleges in the nation. It has grown from one campus with 1,058 students to five campuses with over 17,000 students. Since its creation in 1993, the unemployment rate has dropped by more than 50%. Dr. Reed has led the development of 79 degree and certificate programs in partnership with business, industry, and employer advisory councils.  She has established the Partnership for Business and Industry Training that has provided customized, workforce training to over 35,000 residents. Dr. Reed has a total of five degrees including a Doctorate in Higher Education Administration and two Master’s degrees.

Dr. Blandina Cardenas
President
The University of Texas - Pan American

Dr. Blandina Cardenas is the current and seventh president of The University of Texas Pan American. For more than 30 years Dr. Cárdenas has been a strong, clear and creative voice for expanded educational opportunity. Dr. Cardenas started her career as a teacher in her native town of Del Rio, Texas. Within nine years, she had designed an extensive array of programs that became national models. Dr. Cárdenas completed a doctorate in Educational Leadership at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst and in 1977 accepted a Presidential Appointment as Commissioner for Children, Youth, and Families in the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare. In 1980, she was appointed to the United States Commission on Civil Rights. Her extensive work with Mexican universities and organizations earned her induction into the Orden del Aguila Azteca, the highest honor bestowed by the government of Mexico on a non-citizen.

Judge Leticia Lopez
389^th Judicial District Court Judge

Judge Leticia Lopez is the 389^th Judicial District Court Judge. Judge Lopez has spent her professional career in law enforcement. Prior to becoming a District Judge, Judge Lopez has held other high profile positions such as Chief Felony Prosecutor, 90^th and 370^th District Courts, and Assistant District Attorney. She also had her own independent law firm for several years. Judge Lopez holds a Doctorate of Jurisprudence from The University of Texas School of Law and is a graduate of The University of Texas - Pan American.

Thomas P. Wingate
President and Legal Counsel
Security Land Title Company

Thomas P. Wingate is the President and Legal Counsel of Security Land Title Company and a practicing attorney. Mr. Wingate spent his entire career in the law enforcement field. He started as a Trail Attorney and has joined different law firms throughout his career. Mr. Wingate is an active member of the community, having served in different capacities with the Sharyland Independent School Board of Trustees, Chairman of Deacons, Lower Rio Grande Valley Workforce Development Board, and the McAllen Chamber of Commerce. Mr. Wingate received his doctorate of Jurisprudence from The University of Texas School of Law and is graduate of St. Mary’s University. He also attended the National College of District Attorneys. Mr. Wingate is a veteran U.S. Arm forces and is an active Lieutenant Colonel with the U.S. Army Reserve.