PDF City of McAllen to Recognize Female Community Trailblazers

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

March 2, 2018

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City of McAllen to Recognize Female Community Trailblazers

Panel Symposium to focus on possibilities, accomplishments of women in McAllen

As part of its celebration of Women's History Month, the City of McAllen will be honoring female community trailblazers in McAllen, women who are making a difference in their industry and helping to put McAllen on the map. These women will be part of panel symposium, presenting to the female employees of the City of McAllen on Thursday, March 8, 2018, also known as International Woman's Day, at a breakfast presentation, starting at 8:30 a.m. at the McAllen Convention Center Exhibit Hall.

"We are so excited to be able to recognize these accomplished women that are shaping the economic, educational, cultural, social and actual skyline of McAllen," said Mayor Jim Darling. "It is also important that we let all of our City of McAllen female employees know that there is no glass ceiling within the organization and that we encourage and in fact, expect them to help lead us to the next level and keeping McAllen as the leader in the Rio Grande Valley."

According to City Manager Roel "Roy" Rodriguez, the trailblazers concept is one he feels is effective in demonstrating to the employees how not only women can succeed, but together as a team, can move an organization forward and prosperous. Last year, the trailblazers were leaders within the City of McAllen; women in non-traditional female roles.

"This year, we decided to look outside of our organization and identified women who are leaders in their own right," said Rodriguez. "This next class of women is truly representative of the creativity, dedication and success that women are not only capable of, but also, achieving for themselves, their respective organizations and most importantly, their families."

The women selected as this year's community trailblazers are: ? Paula Gonzalez, Athletic Director, McAllen I.S.D.; ? Alma Johnson, Region Bank President for South Texas & El Paso, Wells Fargo Bank; ? Angela Navarette, Senior Vice President of Integrated Marketing Solutions, Etravision; ? Dr. Shirley Reed, President, South Texas College; and ? Laura Warren, AIA, President/Principal, The Warren Group Architects, Inc.

Please see attached bios on each of the women for more information on their accomplishments.

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City of McAllen to Recognize Female Trailblazers / page 2 of 2, plus supplemental

The trailblazers will offer insight and wisdom, based on their experiences in their respective fields. Employees will get a chance to ask questions of the panelists, as well.

Organizers for the event point out how important it is that Women's History Month and International Women's Day continue to be promoted because women often shun the limelight in their personal and professional life. They often struggle to find a balance between their working woman role and their expected role of family caretakers.

"Women are taught to `get along,' and `play nice' while men are told to go after what they want," said Rebecca M. Olaguibel, Director of Retail and Business Development. "We need to be reminded that women can go after what they want, even while getting along and playing nice."

Christina Flores, another one of the principal organizers pointed out that the community trailblazers are not just role models for women, but also, for anyone looking to reach a goal and want to inspire both male and female coworkers. Laura Warren, one of this year's panelists, is hoping to get that same message across, stating, "The best opportunity is the one that you give yourself."

Later this month, the City of McAllen will host female students from South Texas College to promote the various careers available in public service with municipal government. This is the second year in a row the City of McAllen has hosted Women's History Month and International Women's Days activities.

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@cityofmcallen

McAllenTX

Angela Navarrete Senior Vice President of Integrated Marketing Solutions Entravision

After graduating from the University of North Texas in Denton in 1989, a Single Mother of two, I walked into the offices of the Telemundo Affiliate in Dallas to apply for an account executive position. The fact that I was bilingual and Hispanic, made the position seem like a perfect fit. Thankfully it was, and this began my career in media in the United States.

For 2 years, I pounded the pavement for KFWD TV (Telemundo) and made a name for myself as an account executive. After receiving Sales Person of the year, I was approached by Rodriguez Communication and started my career in Radio Sales. In 1995, I was promoted to Station Manager for 1480 AM which is now called KBXD AM. Shortly after, HBC bought the Dallas Radio Cluster and I left to run my own independent marketing agency, Turnkey Promotions.

In 2000, I returned to work with Rodriguez Communication. I was General Manager for three radio stations in Austin, Texas and in my last months with Rodriguez Communication, I opened a station in Waco, Texas.

In September 2002, I landed at Univision Radio in McAllen as General Sales Manager. Within the first 18 months we doubled our billing and number of accounts, and in 2 years, I was promoted to Director of Sales.

In August of 2005, I was promoted by Univision to General Manager in Fresno, California. In 2008, I was asked to oversee two markets, Fresno, California and Las Vegas, Nevada. As General Manager for both markets, I was responsible for the overall operations of these Stations, concentrating specifically on Sales and Promotions. By 2009 we had achieved great success in both markets, tripling the number of accounts on the air and increasing billing in my tenure.

From 2011 to 2015, I was transferred back and forth between Univision's El Paso, Texas and Fresno, California markets, where I got back to working both TV and Radio. After 13 years, I said goodbye to Univision on May 24, 2015.

I embarked on a new chapter of my career on May 31, 2015. I joined Entravision Communications and given the opportunity to transfer to McAllen, Texas as Senior Vice President of Integrated Marketing Solutions for the Entravision Cluster.

Texas is my home. I have deep roots here. It's where I raised my two children and began my wonderful career. My son and lovely grandkids live nearby in Austin. My daughter lives in Richmond, Virginia grabs every chance she gets to visit Texas. It is an honor and privilege to lead the Entravision McAllen Cluster and connect with audience, advertisers, and community across our area.

My philosophy ? Promise a lot and Deliver More Be good stewards of our advertiser's dollars Be good stewards to our audience by protecting them, informing them and entertaining them

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Alma Ortega-Johnson Region Bank President for South Texas & El Paso Wells Fargo Bank

A Native of Chihuahua, Mexico, Alma began her 36 years in the financial industry in Banamex, one of the largest banks in Mexico. In 1999, Alma joined Wells Fargo where she established the International Patrimonial Banking group across the border region from San Diego, California to Brownsville, Texas. Now, as the Region Bank President for South Texas & El Paso, Alma leads 51 branches in the Rio Grande Valley, Laredo, Coastal Bend and El Paso, Texas. In this role, OrtegaJohnson is responsible for more than $4 billion in assets and more than 950 team members.

Throughout her career, Alma has had a devotion to serving the community, currently she is a member of the following local Boards:

? Board of United Way of South Texas ?Past Chairman 2017 ? Board of the Council for Texas Economic Progress (COSTEP)- 401k board liaison, Secretary

and Treasurer ? Advisory Board of McAllen Economic Development Corporation ? Board of Friends of Quinta Mazatlan- Treasurer of Executive Board ? Advisory Committee for the Management School of South Texas College ? Board of McAllen Education Foundation

A past president of the McAllen Chamber of Commerce and the International Museum of Art and Science, Alma has also received many awards for her leadership and involvement with the community, including:

? `Women Empowerment IMA at UTRGV 2017" by The Association of Accountants and Financial Professionals in Business

? "Empowerment in Leadership Award 2016" by the Southwest Communities Investment Corporation.

? "Bob Goodwin Award" by the McAllen Chamber of Commerce- July 2016 ? "Women in Business and Technology" Award by the South Texas College- April 2016 ? "Premio Altruista Siglo XXI" by City of Hidalgo ?August 2012 ? Community Partnership Award by the Women's Business Center in June 2012 ? "Woman of the Year" by the McAllen Chamber of Commerce in November 2011 ? "La Estrella de Tejas" (Star of Texas) by the Hispanic Women's Network of Texas in October

2011 ? Financial Services Champion of the Year Award by SBA in April 2010 ? Volunteer Service Award by Wells Fargo in 2010

A graduate of the Executive Banking School at Furman University in South Carolina, Alma also holds a Bachelor's degree in Accounting from the Autonomous University of Chihuahua and a Diploma in Business Administration from Technological Institute of Monterrey. Alma is married to Wayne Johnson and lives in McAllen with her husband and children Kevin and Kayla.

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Dr. Shirley A. Reed, President, South Texas College

Dr. Reed serves as the founding president of South Texas College, formerly South Texas Community College. She continues her distinguished 45 year career as a community college administrator with experience in three states. Her commitment to the greater good is demonstrated by her choice of fighting structural barriers in higher education and committing to serve low-income, first-generation, students. She has devoted her career to facilitating access to quality education for African American, Native American, and Hispanic students. As the founding President of South Texas College, she has led the establishment and development of the College that now serves almost 33,000 credit students and over 21,000 continuing education students annually, in Deep South Texas. She led the successful creation of a taxing district for the operation of the College and three bond issue elections providing $277.7 million in funding for new facilities.

Since its creation in 1993, the College serves almost 33,000 students per semester, has expanded to five campuses, including a sixth virtual on-line campus, and offers 121 degree and certificate program options, 26 on-line Associate degrees and certificates, and four applied baccalaureate degree programs.

South Texas College is a model of collaboration with public schools. The College has one of the largest dual enrollment programs in the State of Texas. It has instituted a variety of dual enrollment programs, including six academies, drop-out recovery programs and other unique initiatives with 24 school districts, and 78 high school sites, plus six Middle College Academies throughout Hidalgo and Starr counties. Combined, over 12,000 students are currently enrolled in these programs. Since 2000, the college has provided tuition-free dual enrollment to over 95,000 students in 78 school sites, saving families over $180 million in tuition. South Texas College serves as the higher education partner for 30 Early College High Schools and two Career and Technical Early College High Schools, with over 12,000 students in the pipeline.

Dr. Reed's leadership has led to state and national recognitions for South Texas College including: Recognized by The Hispanic Outlook on Education (HO) Magazine as one of the leading community colleges for Hispanics in the United States; and named second in the nation for awarding Associate Degrees to Hispanics, the Early College High Schools Program was selected as an Example of Excelencia! 2015 by Excelencia in Education, 2017 Excelenica in Education national winner in the Baccalaureate category for the Competency-Based Bachelor of Applied Science in Organizational Leadership, the White House Initiative on Educational Excellence for Hispanics selected the College's Early College High Schools Program as a Bright Spot in Hispanic Education, one of 150 nominees for the highly competitive Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence, Achieving the Dream Leader College designation, the McGraw Hill Prize in Education, Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board Star Award for the Dual Enrollment Medical Science Academy, MetLife Foundation Community College Excellence Award, and the Leah Meyer Austin Award.

Dr. Reed has served on numerous advisory committees for the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, and the Texas Association of Community Colleges. Dr. Reed's focus on the importance of community colleges reaches far beyond South Texas College. In April 2016 she was selected by Texas Lt. Governor Dan Patrick to serve on the P-TECH Advisory Council (Pathways in Technology Early College High School). Dr. Reed was elected to serve on the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC) Board of Directors. She has also served as Chair, AACC Presidents Academy Executive Committee; served as a member of the AACC Commission on Academic, Student and Community Development; Texas Comptroller's Advisory Board for Jobs and Education for Texans, Hispanic Association for Colleges and Universities, Member of the University of Texas System Medical School Advisory Committee for the new medical school in South Texas, Rotary International, Local Chamber of Commerce and Economic Development Boards.

Some of Dr. Reed's awards and distinctions include the Border Texan of the Year; Woman of the Year by the McAllen Chamber of Commerce; Zonta International's "Shining Star Award" for her leadership in Education; Honoree for the Rio Grande Valley Chapter of the Muscular Dystrophy Association's "A Night at the Oscars"; Recipient of the Daughters of the American Revolution's "Americanism Medal;" Recipient of the Distinguished Citizen Award by the Rio Grande Council Boy Scouts of America; Pacesetter of the Year Award by the National Council for Marketing and Public Relations; "Texas Women's Hall of Fame" nominee; Alfredo G. de los Santos, Jr. Distinguished Leadership in Higher Education Award, 2011 from the American Association of Hispanics in Higher Education, Inc.; and most recently the McGraw Hill Prize in Education.

Dr. Reed has five college degrees, including a Doctorate in Higher Education Administration from Illinois State University, a Master's in Business Administration from Western International University and Master's in Library Science from the University of Hawaii. She completed her undergraduate work at the University of South Florida in English Education. Dr. Reed also has an Associate of Arts in Liberal Arts from St. Petersburg Junior College.

"Graduation from a community college opened the door to my own future, and as president of South Texas College, I am committed to opening the doors to higher education for all and with the highest expectations for their success," said Dr. Reed.

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