Congressional Roundtable
Congressman Ruben Hinojosa
U.S. Congressman (TX-15)
Congressman Rubén Hinojosa, a longtime businessman and native of the Rio Grande Valley/ South Texas, was elected to represent Texas' 15th Congressional District in November 1996.
The Congressman serves on two House Committees: Education and the Workforce; and Financial Services. He is also a Co-Chair of the Democratic Caucus Education Task Force, and in this capacity will develop a strong education policy in the 107th Congress.
Congressman Hinojosa has distinguished himself as an advocate for education, Social Security, health care, agriculture, veterans' issues, economic development and infrastructure projects. He demonstrated his ability to serve as a bipartisan consensus builder when he helped in the fight to create an emergency relief package providing $25 billion over a four year period for farmers and ranchers who suffered devastating losses due to natural disasters from 1998 through 2001.
Hinojosa was also instrumental in expanding local access to quality health care for South Texas veterans. For the first time, inpatient services (including surgery) are available at approved hospitals in Hidalgo and Cameron Counties, eliminating 80% of the need to travel to San Antonio. Hinojosa also worked with the Veterans Administration to establish primary care community-based outpatient clinics in the cities of Alice, Beeville, Kingsville and Uvalde. Hinojosa is also working with state legislators to secure a U.S. tate Veterans Memorial Cemetery in South Texas.
Congressman Hinojosa's lifetime commitment to education on the local, regional, state and federal levels has created opportunities for all students to pursue higher education. His Education Committee assignment, as well as his appointment to chair the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Education Task Force, was critical to the success of his first major legislative initiative entitled "The Higher Education for the 21st Century Act." This bill secured an increased authorized funding level of $69 million for Hispanic Serving Institutions (HSIs); enhanced visibility of HSIs within the Higher Education Act; relaxed the restrictions for institutional eligibility for HSI designation; and improved the ways and financial means by which HSIs strengthen curriculum development, academic instruction, mentoring, and college libraries.
As a member of the Financial Services Committee, Congressman Hinojosa is a member of the Subcommittee on Capital Markets, Insurance, and Government-Sponsored Enterprises; Subcommittee on Domestic Monetary Policy, Technology, and Economic Growth; and Subcommittee on Financial Institutions and Consumer Credit. As a former member of the Small Business Committee, Hinojosa increased access to capital and loans for small businesses; removed tax and regulatory burdens; and promoted business growth and opportunity in economically depressed areas through the new and improved Small Business Administration programs of today. He also led the successful effort to create a Women’s' Business Center at the University of Texas-Edinburg.
Not only has Congressman Hinojosa made his mark in Washington, D.C., but he has also brought Washington to South Texas. He has invited and hosted many high-profile leaders to the 15th Congressional District to speak directly with residents about their needs and concerns. Among them were President Clinton, Vice-President Al Gore, Secretary of Agriculture Dan Glickman, Secretary of Commerce William Daley, Secretary of Education Richard Riley, Secretary of Labor Alexis Herman, Secretary of Veterans Affairs Hershel Gober, Small Business Administrator Aida Alvarez, House Minority Leader Richard Gephardt, and the Congressional Hispanic Caucus. Congressman Hinojosa also accompanied President Clinton as a member of various trade and commerce delegations to Mexico and South America from 1997-2000.
Prior to his being elected to the House of Representatives, Congressman Hinojosa served twenty years as President and Chief Financial Officer of a family-owned food processing company, H&H Foods. With over 300 employees, H&H has received national awards of recognition from the U.S. Department of Commerce and the Small Business Administration in Washington, D.C.
Born in Edcouch, Congressman Hinojosa attended Mercedes High School and earned a BBA and MBA from the University of Texas in Austin and in Edinburg, respectively. He is married to Martha Lopez Hinojosa and has five children.
Congressman Filemon Vela
U.S. Congressman (TX-34)
Congressman Filemon Vela represents the 34th Congressional District of Texas, which is anchored in Cameron County in the southernmost tip of Texas and runs nearly 300 miles north to Gonzales County. Brownsville is the largest city in the 34th District, which also includes the King Ranch, Kingsville Naval Air Station, and the historic Texas town of Goliad. Land and sea ports are critical to the 34th District’s agricultural producers and the region's rapidly expanding energy production facilities.
Born in Harlingen, Texas, and raised in Brownsville, Congressman Vela has deep roots in South Texas. His ancestors purchased land from the McAllen family to establish the Laguna Seca Ranch where the first citrus orchard in Hidalgo County was planted. Congressman Vela's father was appointed by President Jimmy Carter as a federal judge in the Southern District of Texas. His mother, Blanca Sanchez Vela, served as the first female mayor of Brownsville.
Vela attended Saint JosephAcademy in Brownsville, Texas. After graduating from Georgetown University in Washington, D.C., he attended the University of Texas School of Law. His interest in public service grew from his work helping individuals seek justice in state and federal courts as an attorney for over 20 years in South Texas.
He brings his expertise on border issues to his work as a member of the House Committee on Homeland Security where he was appointed by House leadership to serve as the top Democratic Member of the Subcommittee on Border and Maritime Security. He also serves on the Subcommittee on Counterterrorism and Intelligence and on the Committee’s Task Force on Combating Terrorist and Foreign Fighter Travel. As Co-Chair of the Congressional Border Caucus, he has led efforts to reform the nation's immigration laws and expand investments in border communities and infrastructure, including ports and roads to expand trade.
Congressman Vela also sits on the House Committee on Agriculture. He was the only Texas Democrat appointed by House leadership to serve as a negotiator on the Conference Committee which drafted the most recent Farm Bill, a comprehensive law, which sets agriculture policy and funding for nutrition programs, including food stamps, for the next five years. Congressman Vela is a member of the Subcommittee on Commodity Exchanges, Energy, and Credit and the Subcommittee on Livestock and Foreign Agriculture.
In Congress, Vela has been a strong advocate for immigrant rights, education programs including Head Start and Pell Grants for college students, and our community's federal healthcare centers. He is currently focused on bringing peace and security to our neighbors in Matamoros and Reynosa, and he is working to bring jobs and economic development to South Texas through many efforts including transforming the Port of Brownsville into a competitive deep water port.
Congressman Vela is married to Rose Vela, a former Justice on the Texas Court of Appeals, and they reside in Brownsville, Texas.
Guy Bailey, Ph.D.
Founding President
The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley
Guy Bailey, Ph.D., was named Founding President of The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley in May of 2014.
Prior to being named President of UTRGV, he served as President of the University of Alabama and of Texas Tech University; Chancellor of the University of Missouri Kansas City; Provost and Executive Vice President at The University of Texas San Antonio; Dean of Liberal Arts at the University of Nevada Las Vegas; Chair of the English Department at Oklahoma State University and the University of Memphis; and as a faculty member at Texas A&M and Emory Universities.
During his time at Texas Tech, the university met the criteria established by the Texas State Legislature for participation in the National Research University Fund; enrollment grew by 3,905 students (14%); research expenditures grew by $89.9 million (170%); and graduation rates increase by five percentage points.
During his tenure at UTSA, the university was named an emerging research university by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board; 16 new doctoral programs were added; external funding for research more than doubled; enrollment grew by more than 40%; and graduate enrollment grew by almost 50%.
While Bailey was at UMKC, the university completed a $200 million capital campaign and built or gained approval for $175 million in new construction. From 2010 to 2012, Bailey served on the Board of Directors of the NCAA and on the Executive Committee of the Board of Directors of the Big XII athletic conference. He has also served on the Board of Trustees of Midwest Research Institute since 2007.
Bailey continues to do research on language change and variation. His research with his late wife, Jan, has been featured in a front-page article in the New York Times, on National Public Radio, on CNN Headline News, on BBC Radio, in Texas Monthly, and in the San Antonio Express News. Since 1984, Bailey has brought in over $1 million in external funding for his research.
Captain Jason L. Webb
Commodore Region West, Navy Recruiting Command, U.S. Navy
Captain Webb enlisted in the United States Navy in December 1981. His first duty station was USS Shenandoah (AD 44) of which he is a plank owner. Captain Webb’s next duty station was Service School Command Great Lakes where he served as an “A” school instructor. This was followed by a tour onboard USS Scout (MCM 8), again as a plank owner, where he obtained his highest enlisted pay grade of Electronics Technician Chief Petty Officer.
In 1992, Captain Webb obtained his commission from Officer Candidate School, Newport, Rhode Island. He then reported to USS Sumter (LST 1181) where he served as Electrical and Auxiliary division officer. Following this assignment was a tour as the Combat Information Center Officer and Assistant Chief Engineer/Engineering Training Officer on board USS Wasp (LHD 1). Captain Webb then reported to Navy Manpower Analysis Center (NAVMAC), Millington, Tennessee, where he worked as a Manpower Analyst and Program Manager in the Research and Acquisition Support and Shipboard Departments. Captain Webb then completed his Executive Officer equivalent tour of duty as Officer in Charge, Personnel Support Activity Detachment, Oceana, followed by a tour of duty on the Flag Staff for Board of Inspection and Survey (INSURV). His next tour was at Naval Network Warfare Command Headquarters, where Captain Webb served in the Current Readiness/Operations Department, successfully leading efforts to implement the Defense Readiness Reporting System-Navy (DRRS-N), and served as the Naval Network Warfare Command Force Military Personnel Officer responsible for the manning of 10,000 type command billets. Subsequently Captain Webb served as the Executive Assistant to Commander, Navy Recruiting Command at recruiting headquarters in Millington, Tennessee, followed by a tour as the executive officer and commanding officer, Navy Recruiting District San Antonio His next assignment was at Navy Personnel Command where he served as Post-board Selection Matter and Program Manager for the Navy Expedited Transfer and Safety Move Programs. Captain Webb most recently served as the Director of Operations for Commander, Navy Recruiting Command in Millington, Tennessee.
Captain Webb has earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Education and Training from Southern Illinois University, a Master of Science degree in Operations Management from the University of Arkansas, and a Doctor of Management degree in Organizational Leadership from the University of Phoenix. He has also maintained certification as a Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) for 15 years.
Captain Webb’s awards include the Meritorious Service Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, Battle “E”, Good Conduct Medal, Navy Expeditionary Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Armed Forces Service Medal, Volunteer Service Medal, and Sea Service Deployment Ribbon.
Dr. Vanessa Kertznus
Geology and Geophysics Lead of the Mexico Ventures Shell Exploration and Production Company based in Houston, Tx
Dr. Vanessa Kertznus is currently the Geology and Geophysics Lead of the Mexico Ventures for Shell Exploration and Production Company based in Houston, Tx. She leads a group of ~15 Explorers and 20+ Geoscience Specialists to deliver robust integrated subsurface evaluations that support multi-million dollar investment decisions on Mexico Exploration and New Business Development.
Since joining Shell in 2009, Vanessa has worked as an Exploration Geologist in the New Ventures teams in Houston, USA, and London, United Kingdom, working in regional framework studies (e.g. Niger Delta and Northwest Borneo), as well as a variety of basin screenings, opportunity evaluations, and divestments in both offshore (e.g. Brazil, Uruguay, Caspian Region) and onshore (e.g. Colombia, Brazil) in South America. She also worked in exploration held assets of French Guiana and Uruguay.
Vanessa started her career in 2002 as a Geologist in Integrated Reservoirs Solutions working on the definition and prediction of reservoir facies and reservoir quality mostly in the Deepwater Gulf of Mexico.
Dr. Vanessa Kertznus received a PhD in Geology from the University of Aberdeen and a Geological Engineering degree from the Universidad Central de Venezuela. She has co-authored over 25 refereed articles and conference presentations, is actively involved as a peer reviewer for various technical journals, has acted as technical theme and session chair for the American Association of Petroleum Geologist, and is the leader of classroom based courses in sequence stratigraphy and deepwater depositional systems
Barry Cordero
Interim Chief Executive Officer, ExxonMobil
Barry Cordero is the Interim CEO for the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE) and the Director of Global Operations Excellence at Medtronic Diabetes.
During the first part of his tenure at SHPE, Cordero led the Society’s restructure and financial recovery to improve the organization’s overall financial stability. In addition, he led the organization through the successful merger between SHPE Inc. and SHPE Foundation, and was subsequently appointed Chairman of the Board of Directors of SHPE. A Lean Sigma Master Black Belt, Barry manages the Continuous Improvement strategy for Medtronic Diabetes.
Barry has been featured in US News World Report, ABC News Blog’s Second Tour, Hispanic Executive, La Voz Latina, SHPE Magazine, Kids Ahead and Science Matters for his passion for diversity in STEM. Barry lives in San Fernando Valley, California with his wife and two children.
Dr. Robert Russell
Program Director, Education and Human Resources, National Science Foundation
Robert L. Russell (Ph.D. in Developmental Psychology, Cornell) has over 30 years of experience in STEM education spanning children’s museums, science centers, community organizations, and media. He currently serves as a Program Officer in the National Science Foundation’s Directorate of Education and Human Resources, where he manages proposals concerned with informal, classroom and cyberlearning STEM education. His experience includes project design, development, and management; evaluation of exhibit, community/youth, and media projects; private foundation and government grant development; and conduct of professional development workshops in project planning, evaluation, and grant development. Bob’s unique strengths include his experience in designing and evaluating projects targeting underserved minorities, including Hispanics and African-Americans; designing health education projects; using social marketing approaches in science and health education; and designing media-focused projects, including print media, radio, television, and large format films. Russell has taught psychology at Cornell and Georgetown Universities and has published widely on informal science education and has published research on social networks, cross-cultural psychology, and cognitive development.
Mario Lozoya
Director Government Relations & External Affairs, Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Texas, Inc.
Mario is the Director of Government Relations & External Affairs, Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Texas, Inc. (TMMTX). In his role, Mario is responsible for maintaining contacts and engaging city, county, state, and federal government officials and agencies to foster dialogue on issues related to Toyota. Additionally, Mr. Lozoya directs the company’s community engagement strategy to include Philanthropy and Media Relations. He is also assigned to support the Toyota North America’s Hispanic Business Strategy.
Mario joined Toyota Texas in 2006 as a Production Line Supervisor in the Paint Dept. In 2008, he was promoted to Assistant Manager of the Paint Department. In September of 2010, he was transferred to the External Affairs Department where he was promoted to his current position.
Mario is a member of the San Antonio Chamber of Commerce Education & Workforce Council, Chairman of the Legislative Committee, and serves on the Hispanic Chamber’s Board of Directors. Mayor Ivy Taylor appointed him to chair the workforce committee for San Antonio’s My Brother’s Keeper initiative. Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick appointed Mario to both the Jobs and Education for Texans (JET) board and the Pathways in Technology Education Early College High School (P-TECH) board. At the federal level, Mario serves on the Board of Directors for the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute and serves as the Chairman of the CHCI Development Committee. He has testified in front of the Texas Senate Education Committee several times and participates in public speaking opportunities related to Education and Workforce Development to include transitioning military hiring.
Mario was born in Mexico and raised in McAllen, Texas. He came to San Antonio in 1983 at 18 years of age and soon enlisted in the Marine Corps. He is a retired U.S. Marine, having served 23 years of active duty. He attended four different resident military academies to include the Senior Enlisted Marine Course in Washington, DC. As an Information System Specialists, he was certified by Vortex Technologies in San Diego, CA. He completed the Aviation Logistician course in Athens, Georgia, and was a Curriculum Developer developing Marksmanship Doctrine for the Marine Corps. Later, as a Naval Justice School graduate, he served as a Command Legal Officer. He is a decorated combat veteran of the Iraqi War and has completed long term deployments in South Korea, Japan, and the Middle East. He is credited for managing the largest aeronautical inventory in Marine Corps history while in combat operations.
Mario has completed 16 full marathons and is a former United States National Pistol Champion. His daughter, Michelle graduated from the University of the Incarnate Word with a Biology degree and has a graduate degree from USC. His son Anthony attends the University of Texas in San Antonio and Michael is student at University of Colorado at Colorado Springs.
Dr. Marla Guerra
Superintendent, South Texas ISD
Bachelor of Science, Master of Education, Doctorate of Education
Superintendent of Schools for South Texas Independent School District, an exemplary magnet school district serving students of a three-county area with specialized interests in the health, math, science and technology professions since 2001.
Provided leadership resulting in designation of all 4 high schools in the top 100 schools in the nation by Newsweek, the Washington Post and U.S. News and World Report
Comprehensive experience as a successful Assistant Professor, Assistant Superintendent, Administrator for Elementary Education, Principal, Assistant Principal, Migrant Consultant, Coordinator, Adjunct Professor, and Teacher
Created an Education Foundation that has provided over $350,000 in scholarships and summer enrichment grants to STISD students
Has served as officer and member of the Board of Directors for United Way of Hidalgo and Starr Counties, The Texas Center for Educational Research, the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, The Texas Association of School Administrators and the Texas Lead Center
- Recipient of the following recognitions:
- 2016 Texas Association of School Boards Regional Superintendent of the Year for Region One
- 2015 Administrator of the Year by Texas Educational Support Association
- 2012 Hero of the Year by the United Way of South Texas
- 2009 Excellence in Education Award by AdvancED
- 2007 Pillar of Success award by the University of Texas Pan American
- 2002 City of Pharr’s Citizen of the Year
Wife of Jose G. Guerra, mother of Dr. Marcy Guerra Lopez and Dr. Aaron R. Guerra
Grandmother of six grandchildren