SOUTH TEXAS BUSINESS PARTNERSHIP - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
Job Titles:
- Chairman of the Board
- Co - Chair
- Member of the Officers Team
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
Carl Negley is a native San Antonian whose career has traversed several areas within the healthcare industry, starting in 2003 with a clinical research organization on Palo Alto Road on the Southside. In 2013, Carl established Medvolution, Inc, a healthcare management consulting firm focused on providing executive-level services to small physician specialist practices. Through this capacity, Carl participated in the launch of the San Antonio Vascular and Endovascular Clinic in 2018 and Mission Surgery Center in 2021, both healthcare organizations uniquely established to bridge health inequities by providing excellent specialty care in South San Antonio and the urban core. Carl currently serves as the chief administrator of both organizations.
Job Titles:
- Vice President of Development & Events
Cecile brings over a decade of experience from public and nonprofit sectors, including business management and operations, budget management for multiple million-dollar campaigns, events, communications, and fundraising.
Before joining the South Texas Business Partnership, Cecile worked in Texas A&M University's Office of the President as an Assistant Director for Strategic Initiatives. Alongside faculty and staff, Cecile helped to secure $20 million for critical initiatives for South San Antonio and Bexar County. Among these initiatives is constructing the first nationally recognized Educare School in Texas to address the childcare desert in South San Antonio and Bexar County and serve as a workforce development pipeline for those in the early childhood education field.
In addition, Cecile secured $300K from Congressman Joaquin Castro's Community Project Fund in support of the Autism Mobile Assessment Bus and Learning Environment (AMABLE). She assisted with the successful submission of a $10 million proposal to construct multipurpose athletic facilities at A&M-San Antonio for South San Antonio to address and support the mental and physical well-being of South Bexar County residents.
Before joining the A&M-SA team, Cecile led the development efforts of the Archdiocese of San Antonio for nearly a decade, raising a total of more than $40 million from events, appeals, and grants to provide social, educational, and outreach services to more than 300,000 people in San Antonio and throughout the surrounding 19 counties. These services include financial support for St. Peter's-St. Joseph's Children's Home, Seton Home, Guadalupe Home, Counseling Services, St. Stephen's Food and Clothing Closet, Financial Wellness and Care Programs for the elderly, Income Tax Assistance, Hospital and Incarcerated Programs, and educational scholarships for youth and college progra ms. Cecile also provided grant acquisition support to the entities of the archdiocese, worked with more than 150 volunteers and 167 church locations, as well as the business managers, pastors, and various boards across the diocese.
Cecile is a native of La Feria, Texas, and is a first-generation college graduate. Cecile holds a Bachelor of Arts in Communications - Public Relations, a Minor in Business Administration, and a Minor in Nonprofit Leadership and Management from the University of Texas-San Antonio. In addition, Cecile is in her second year of graduate school, studying for a Master's in Business Administration at Texas A&M University-San Antonio. She is also a certified Nonprofit Professional with the Nonprofit Leadership Alliance, a member of the Association of Fundraising Professionals San Antonio Chapter, and a Board Member of the Cleft Strong nonprofit organization that works to promote a healthy understanding of cleft lip/palate and other craniofacial conditions.
Cecile enjoys spending time with her family, working with the youth, singing in the church choir, reading, and exercising. Cecile's husband and children give her the strength and confidence to live up to her passion for serving, loving, and improving our community, San Antonio and South Texas!
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
Job Titles:
- Member of the Officers Team
- Secretary
Charles Stallcup, born and raised on the Southside (Southside High School class of '83), has over 35 years of hospitality experience. Charles began his career as a doorman at the St. Anthony Hotel. Joining Phoenix Hospitality Group in 1994, Charles has held various positions with the company during his tenure including Sales, Marketing, Revenue Management, Operations, and assisting with Development.
Most recently, Charles has taken over the day-to-day operations at the DoubleTree by Hilton San Antonio Downtown. Additionally, Charles is incredibly well known in the San Antonio hospitality community serving as PHG's community relations and government affairs contact.
In addition to the South Texas Business Partnership, Charles sits on the board of the Tourism Public Improvement District.
Charles graduated with a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in Marketing from Our Lady of the Lake University.
Job Titles:
- Chief Strategy Officer
- Member of the Officers Team
is responsible for establishing strategic direction to further advance Brooks' growth, expanding on the success of the last 20 years. In addition, she leads business development, public affairs, community engagement, and project management initiatives. Connie is also the Executive Director of Brooks Gives Back, a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization that serves as the vehicle by which all members of the Brooks community can invest in nonprofit initiatives impacting people in the neighborhoods surrounding Brooks, which has distributed more than $250,000 since 2019.
Connie joined the Brooks team in November 2015 and previously served as the Director of Strategy & Community Relations and Director of Public Relations. Prior to joining the Brooks team, Connie was a weekend anchor and reporter for both KNWA and KFTA in Fayetteville, Arkansas and KSAN in San Angelo, Texas. Raised in San Antonio, she began her professional career as an intern with News 4 WOAI and worked in public affairs at Spurs Sports & Entertainment.
An advocate for community involvement, Gonzalez serves as the Immediate Past Chair for the South Texas Business Partnership Board of Directors, formerly known as the South San Antonio Chamber of Commerce. In addition, Connie is an Executive Committee member of the San Antonio Independent School District (SAISD) Foundation, CAST Med High School Advisory Board of Directors, and the Texas A&M University - San Antonio Mays Center Community Advisory Council. She served as Chair for the City of San Antonio's Planning Commission and participated in the 2021 Harvard Business School Young American Leaders Program. A graduate of Leadership San Antonio Class 44, the City South Leadership Class 30 and the North Chamber Innovative Leadership Program, Gonzalez also served on the Leadership San Antonio Class 45 Steering Committee.
Connie was recognized as the "Texas 100 Influential Professionals to Watch in 2023" and as San Antonio Business Journal's 40 Under 40 "Woman of the Year".
Cynthia Ramirez is a San Antonio native and South San High School graduate. She holds a Bachelor of Business Administration in Marketing from Texas A&M University-San Antonio, two associate degrees from San Antonio College (Business Administration and Liberal Arts), a Social Media Marketing Certification, and more than ten years of office, marketing, and digital creation experience.
She is a committed, driven, and hard-working professional preparing to return to her alma mater to pursue a Master of Business Administration.
In her spare time, Cynthia enjoys hosting movie nights with her family, gardening, and helping to plan programs for her church. She is motivated to continue creating a successful and sustainable future for San Antonio and South Texas by drawing on her strong community roots!
Job Titles:
- Vice President of Membership & Partner Relations
Edward John Moreno Jr., also known as EJ, is a proud San Antonio native and an East Central High School graduate in the Independent School District.
EJ began his professional career at the Palo Alto College Aquatic and Athletic Center, where he started as a lifeguard. With hard work and determination, he rose through the ranks and was appointed Director in 2021, offering his exceptional skillset in management, strategic planning, and operational excellence.
EJ is relentlessly committed to lifelong learning, as evidenced by his impressive academic accomplishments. In 2012, he earned his Associate Degree in Liberal Arts of Kinesiology from Palo Alto College. Building on that foundation, EJ graduated from Texas A&M University, San Antonio 2014, with a Bachelor's degree in Exercise Science. Driven by his passion for education, he pursued a Masters in Coaching and Administration at Concordia University in 2020. EJ is also a proud SoTX City South Leadership Academy graduate, now known as LEAD South.
In addition to his academic accomplishments, EJ served as the president of the Texas Collegiate Club of Sports League, overseeing 13 colleges, established student and youth summer camps, and served on the SoTX Board of Directors. EJ and his wife are southeast residents and proud owners of two schnauzer dogs, Otis and Olive.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Officers Team
- Treasurer
Job Titles:
- Chairman of the Government Affairs Committee
- Member of the Board of Directors
- External Affairs Director for the Nature Conservancy
Job Titles:
- Warranty Manager - Sr / Hometown
Job Titles:
- Chairman
- Member of the Board of Directors
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
- Freetail Brewing Co
Jessica Hernandez leads the credit union's operational support teams, which includes the call center, eServices, asset recovery, loan and account servicing, and facilities among others. She is a founding Board member of the Functional Academics, Communication, and Transition (FACT) Institute, Inc., which provides academic and life transition supports for individuals ages 12+ with special abilities. Jessica also serves as President of the Credit Union Executives Society (CUES) Texas Council. She earned a B.A. from the University of Texas at San Antonio. Jessica is a National Association of Federally-Insured Credit Unions (NAFCU) Certified Compliance Officer, NAFCU Certified Enterprise Risk Manager, and Credit Union Enterprise Risk Management Expert.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Officers Team
- Vice - Chair
Jessica has a decade of experience in public higher education administration. She joined A&M-SA from the University of California, Davis, where she served as Chief of Staff and Director of Academic Programs in the Division of Undergraduate Education, Manager in Finance, Operations and Administration, and most recently Senior Director in the Division of Continuing and Professional Education. She holds an M.A. in Linguistics from UC Davis and an M.A. and a B.A. in English from the University of Texas at San Antonio. A former longtime Texas resident, Jessica has returned home with her young son, Alexander.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
Job Titles:
- Member of the Officers Team
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
LeeRoy Perez is Vice President of System Operations & Reliability and leads the Energy Management Center in the monitoring & restoration of CPS Energy's electric transmission & distribution systems. LeeRoy is responsible for providing executive leadership and management to the Control Systems, Operations & Reliability, Emergency Operations Planning & Coordination, and Distribution Technical Services departments. For LeeRoy, developing employees, supervisors, managers, and directors is the most rewarding part of his role. He also provides operational oversight in a safe, reliable, and efficient manner in a 24/7/365 environment and is responsible for the monitoring and control of Energy Delivery Services' (EDS) infrastructure. LeeRoy provides oversight to leaders of teams of engineers and staff in the design, control and maintenance of EDS related IT infrastructure, reliability reporting functions, and compliance with NERC requirements. LeeRoy has been with CPS Energy since 2002 and previous roles include Sr. Director of Substation & Transmission (S&T), Director of S&T Engineering, and manager of several departments within EDS. LeeRoy started his career at CPS Energy as an engineer designing high-voltage transmission lines before taking on leadership roles. LeeRoy holds a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering and a Master of Science in Management of Technology from the University of Texas at San Antonio. LeeRoy is a registered Professional Engineer (PE) in the state of Texas, is certified as Project Management Professional (PMP), and is a native of San Antonio.
Job Titles:
- Co - Chair of the Government Affairs Committee
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
- Assistant Director, Outreach and Business Development for University Health, San Antonio, Texas
Magdalena Barrera serves as Assistant Director, Outreach and Business Development for University Health, San Antonio, Texas. In this role, Magdalena forms, develops and sustains relationships and initiatives supporting the strategic vision of the organization. Prior to joining University Health, Magdalena served in the forward thinking & well established organizations LOPM Immigration & Law as Chief Strategy Officer, Broadcast Image Group as Director, Client Relations & Development; HEB as Director, International Market, and Frost Bank as International Development Manager. Magdalena proudly served in the US Marine Corps, deployed to the Kuwait and Iraq wars, and received a Navy Achievement Medal for ‘sustained high performance above and beyond the call of duty'.
Born into a ranching family, at a very early age Magdalena learned the art of interpersonal skills across all social and education levels, hard but efficient work, and continuous, evolving growth while safekeeping the dignity of people, places and things. Passionate about business and community empowerment, Magdalena served as the resident instructor of monthly Non-Profit Principles seminars for 501c3 C-leaders at the San Antonio Area Foundation, emphasizing financial sustainability by developing a High Performance mindset for the board, staff and work environments. She currently serves as a Guest Lecturer & Mentor for the UIW International Business Development program.
A native of Tampico, México Magdalena now holds dual US/MX citizenship, studied Spanish at University of California Los Angeles, is pursuing a master's degree at Harvard University, and holds a Lean Six Sigma certification. Magdalena resides in San Antonio with her sons Kierian and Brandon, college students at the University of Houston and University of Texas in Austin, respectively.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board
- Member of the Board of Directors
Maria Fernanda Cardenas is originally from Laredo, Texas, but currently lives in San Antonio with her husband and their two boys. Together she and her family enjoy movie nights, exploring new restaurants, and traveling.
Fernanda is a proud St. Mary's University graduate who went on to receive a Bachelor of Science in Political Science, Master of Public Administration, and Master of Political Science. Go Rattlers!
Additionally, Fernanda is a board member of many organizations to include South Texas Adult Protective Services, Grandparents Raising Grandkids, among others. More recently, she joined the City and County Joint Commission on Elderly Affairs and is a San Antonio Public Library Board of Trustee. Each committee and appointed position provide an opportunity to better learn, serve, and identify the needs of the senior population in San Antonio.
Job Titles:
- Director of Public Affairs
- Member of the Board of Directors
Miguel Segura is the Director of Public Affairs & Regional Development for the Alamo Area Council of Governments (AACOG). He oversees the agency's communications, intergovernmental and public affairs, the regional Economic Development District, and the Natural Resources and Environmental Conservation programs. His primary efforts focus on connecting AACOG's 70 member governments to available resources, including community and economic development planning, state and federal funding opportunities, air quality monitoring, and multijurisdictional collaboration.
Prior to joining AACOG, Miguel served as the Regional Director of Public Relations for the Better Business Bureau (BBB) in San Antonio and Laredo, and Chaired the BBB Hispanic Outreach Initiative for North America.
Miguel is a native of McAllen, Texas. He has been a resident of San Antonio, TX since his studies at St. Mary's University, where he received his Bachelor of Business Administration in Marketing.
Job Titles:
- Chairman
- Member of the Officers Team
- Business Development Officer With Randolph Brooks Federal Credit Union
Monica Caballero is a Business Development Officer with Randolph Brooks Federal Credit Union. Before joining the RBFCU family, she spent over 25 years working in business development and marketing in the fields of higher education, employment services and credit counseling.
Monica supports businesses and organizations in communities tied to the seven branches she serves in the southern region of San Antonio. She currently resides in San Antonio with her daughter and likes to travel, go hiking, and spend time with family and friends.
Oralia Ortiz manages and maintains customer relationships and identifies the most effective approach to streamline their customer's business processes. She precisely reviews accounts to ensure that DOCUmation exceeds client expectations while providing the best service. With over 14 years of experience, Oralia always makes sure each customer has unique solutions that best fit their needs.
Oralia defines high-quality customer service as going above and beyond expectations through innovative thinking and exceptional service-which is what makes DOCUmation stand out throughout the industry.
Oralia enjoys connecting with customers, understanding their stories and making a positive, lasting impact on their business through technology.
Since joining DOCUmation, Oralia has learned the importance of teamwork, culture and commitment. She describes her team as dedicated, passionate and hard-working. Oralia values open communication for employees to feel included and heard. She highlights employee achievements, offers help where needed and encourages them to reach their fullest potential. Oralia admires the values and work ethic that her team shares and believes this is evident in the quality of service DOCUmation has provided for over 33 years.
When she is not managing accounts, Oralia enjoys cycling, hiking, photography and spending time with her family.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
- Vice President
- Vice President of Communications and Strategy for VIA Metropolitan Transit
Vice President | Communications & Strategy, VIA Metropolitan Transit
Rachel Benavidez is Vice President of Communications and Strategy for VIA Metropolitan Transit. She leads the messaging and outreach strategy and internal/external communications for the transit agency that serves San Antonio and Bexar County with over 30 million passenger trips each year.
Rachel oversees VIA's social responsibility and strategic partnership programs, created to help amplify VIA's voice and reach and cement the agency as a key partner in local relief efforts. Her career includes 15 years leading newsrooms for English and Spanish publications and award-winning work in journalism, marketing, PR, and digital and social media.
A Rio Grande Valley native, Rachel has lived and worked in San Antonio since 2008. She is a graduate of the Leadership San Antonio Class 44. She serves the Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center Board of Directors and the American Public Transportation Association Communications and Marketing Committee. She was named the "Public Relations Professional of the Year" by the San Antonio Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America in 2023 and a "Rising Star" by the San Antonio Hispanic Chamber of Commerce in 2011. Her work to empower communities in South Texas was presented for discussion at the Barbara Jordan National Forum on Public Policy, and her work in the Communications field has been recognized by SWTA, PRSA, API, APTA, and APME.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Officers Team
- Federal Credit
Job Titles:
- Coach
- Member of the Board of Directors
Rebecca J. Viagran is a San Antonio native. Her family has a 200-year legacy in San Antonio and South Texas.
Rebecca made a commitment at a very young age to serve those in her community and served as the City of San Antonio Councilwoman for District 3- representing the South & Southeast side of San Antonio from 2013 to 2021.
Ms. Viagran now proudly serves as the President & CEO of South Texas Business Partnership where she is eager to bolster San Antonio, Bexar County, and the entire South Texas Region. She is amplifying the organization's mantra that "All Roads Lead South" and aims to bring the area together with a collective voice.
Viagran earned a master's degree in Public Administration from St. Mary's University in San Antonio and a bachelor's degree in Urban and regional Planning from Texas State University
She recently served as the Director of Workforce Development and Community Partnerships at Texas A&M University- San Antonio where she led the University's strategy for advancing initiatives and partnerships to increase educational attainment and enhance the talent pipeline throughout the region .
During her tenure on the City Council, Viagran served as the Chair of the Economic and Workforce Development Committee for the City of San Antonio. In this role, she led the city's work on global economic development while ensuring that San Antonians have access to the education, training, and support services they need to thrive in a 21st-century economy.
During her time representing District 3 and the City of San Antonio, Viagran led the resurgence of educational, cultural, economic, and reinvestment in South San Antonio. She was instrumental in fostering tremendous economic development and revitalization at Brooks, a former Air Force Base, brought a new medical school, expanded the Hike and Bike Trail, and attracted thousands of new high-paying jobs to the Southside
In 2013, Viagran was named the City Council's liaison for the San Antonio Missions UNESCO World Heritage Site nomination, which she secured in 2015, and led the effort to create a World Heritage Office and Work Plan. She represented the City of San Antonio in numerous speaking engagements on world heritage and cultural representation from East Asia to South America.
In March of 2021, Viagran was appointed to the Alamo Management Committee and now serves as Vice Chair representing the City of San Antonio on the development and execution of the Alamo Master Plan. She also serves as a Tri-Chair for the Alamo Citizens Advisory Committee. Viagran served on the Board of Directors and Executive Committee for National League of Cities. She finished her tenure as the longest-serving Latina ever in City Council District 3.
The Honorable Rebecca Viagran was inducted into the San Antonio Women's Hall of Fame in 2019, and in that same year named "La Campeona" by Visit San Antonio for her advocacy of the Tourism and Hospitality Industry. In 2021, she was awarded and named a "Legend of the Southside" by the South and West San Antonio Chambers of Commerce for her tireless advocacy in the effort to create opportunity and prosperity.
Job Titles:
- Chairman - Elect
- Member of the Officers Team
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
- Chief Executive Officer of Southstar
Thad Rutherford is the Chief Executive Officer of Southstar a mixed-use and residential community builder in Central Texas, which has over 10,000 units in its current project pipeline. As a senior leader of Southstar for over 22 years Thad has lead acquisitions, entitlements, planning, and development across Texas, Florida, North Carolina, and Georgia before opening its current headquarters in Central Texas in 2012.
Through his leadership Southstar's focus is creating dynamic planned communities that deliver excellence to its residents, community partners, and investors alike. To Thad, community development is a personal, creative, and an ever-changing process.
His efforts with Southstar have been recognized in multiple Greater San Antonio Builders Association Summit awards including 2x Developer of the year. Thad was nominated on the Business Journal Texas 100 influential list for 2023 as well as 2 of his communities have been among the top 10 fastest growing communities in San Antonio MSA since 2014. In 2022 Southstar was nominated for Business of the Year by San Antonio Business Journal.
Thad is active in Urban Land Institute at the local level as a Management Committee member as well as National level with Community Development Product Council. He also sits on the Executive Committee for Real Estate Council of San Antonio and is a Board Member of South Texas Business Partnership.