Master in Regulation with Focus on Energy and Master in Administration with Specialization in International Business from Universidad Regiomontana (2012). Bachelor of International Business from Monterrey Institute of Technology and Higher Education (ITESM, 2004). She has more than 15 years of experience in the Public and Private Administration in matters of economic development.

She served as General Director of the Electrical Appliances Cluster in Nuevo Leon.

In the Economic Development Secretariat of the Government of the State of Nuevo Leon, she served as Technical Secretary, Director of Productive Chains, Coordinator of Foreign Investment and Head of Supplier Analysis of the Business Linkage Center.

From October 2021 to February 2024, she served as the Secretary of Economic Development of the City of Monterrey. Most recently, she was named Interim Mayor of the City of Monterrey.

Commitment to Monterrey

• Promote initiatives for the development of economic vocations with a higher added value, in order to successfully compete in the global economy and provide the best opportunities for the citizens of Monterrey.

• Support the efforts of the entrepreneurs in Monterrey through actions that promote the development of micro, small, medium and large companies in the city.

• Implement a comprehensive training and employment promotion program.

• Integrate the city’s touristic and cultural promotion efforts under the same governing concept in order to promote urban recovery and the reactivation of local tourism.

• Provide comprehensive support to entrepreneurs of technology-based projects to promote the necessary conditions for the generation of a unicorn Project in Monterrey.

Master in Regulation with Focus on Energy and Master in Administration with Specialization in International Business from Universidad Regiomontana (2012). Bachelor of International Business from Monterrey Institute of Technology and Higher Education (ITESM, 2004). She has more than 15 years of experience in the Public and Private Administration in matters of economic development.

She served as General Director of the Electrical Appliances Cluster in Nuevo Leon.

In the Economic Development Secretariat of the Government of the State of Nuevo Leon, she served as Technical Secretary, Director of Productive Chains, Coordinator of Foreign Investment and Head of Supplier Analysis of the Business Linkage Center.

From October 2021 to February 2024, she served as the Secretary of Economic Development of the City of Monterrey. Most recently, she was named Interim Mayor of the City of Monterrey.

Commitment to Monterrey

• Promote initiatives for the development of economic vocations with a higher added value, in order to successfully compete in the global economy and provide the best opportunities for the citizens of Monterrey.

• Support the efforts of the entrepreneurs in Monterrey through actions that promote the development of micro, small, medium and large companies in the city.

• Implement a comprehensive training and employment promotion program.

• Integrate the city’s touristic and cultural promotion efforts under the same governing concept in order to promote urban recovery and the reactivation of local tourism.

• Provide comprehensive support to entrepreneurs of technology-based projects to promote the necessary conditions for the generation of a unicorn Project in Monterrey.

Serving under nine U.S. presidents, Ambassador Creagan began his career at the Agency for International Development under President Kennedy and was appointed to the Foreign Service by President Lyndon B. Johnson. During a diplomatic career spanning three decades, he held positions as Chargé d’Affaires and Deputy Ambassador to Italy and, separately, the Holy See; Consul General in Sao Paulo, Brazil; Political Counselor in Brazil and Portugal; U.S. Consul in Naples, Italy; political officer in U.S. Embassies in Lima, Mexico City, San Salvador and Rome. He was named U.S. Ambassador to Honduras by President Clinton in 1996. In 2009, under President Obama, Ambassador Creagan served as Chargé d’Affaires to Bolivia and Chief of the US Mission there. He was an International Observer for presidential elections in Honduras.

Creagan retired from the Foreign Service in 1999, and became president of John Cabot University in Rome, Italy. Under his leadership the university more than doubled its enrollment, and it achieved American accreditation. In August 2005, he was named President Emeritus. Creagan was Guest Scholar at the Kellogg Institute, University of Notre Dame in 2005. In 2006 Ambassador Creagan joined the University of the Incarnate Word as Ambassador in Residence and Professor. In 2016, Ambassador Creagan was named Professor of International Diplomacy at St. Mary’s University, San Antonio, Texas. In 2022 Creagan returned to the University of the Incarnate Word as Ambassador in Residence, professor and Fellow of the Liza and Jack Lewis Center of the Americas.

Creagan’s awards include Honorary Citizen of Honduras, Boston Archdiocese’s Caritas Christi Award for Humanitarian Service, Cavalier of the Order of St. Gregory from the Holy See and the Italian Order of Merit, Commendatore, along with numerous U.S. government awards.

Ambassador Creagan is a member of the Cosmos Club of Washington, D.C. He is a Member of the Board of the San Antonio World Affairs Council, and member of the Latin American Advisory Council of the University of Notre Dame. He is on the board of the Texas Water Mission and the Advisory Council of the US Global Leadership Coalition. He is also on the board of the San Antonio Council for International Visitors. He works with the Fulbright Association of San Antonio. Creagan has been a Trustee of Hiram College, Ohio and has given the Commencement addresses at Hiram and Wesley Colleges.

Ambassador Creagan graduated from the University of Notre Dame and holds a Ph.D. from the University of Virginia. He has been professor at Texas A&M as well as UIW and St. Mary’s Universities.

Ambassador Creagan speaks Spanish, Portuguese and Italian.

Mayor Alix Desulme is a dynamic leader whose dedication to community service shines brightly in every aspect of his public service career. With a heart for giving back, he tirelessly champions the needs of North Miami and South Florida residents, consistently going above and beyond to make a positive impact.

As a lifelong educator, Mayor Desulme has touched the lives of countless students, from at-risk youth to gifted learners, with his unwavering commitment to their growth and success. His entrepreneurial spirit as a small business owner further demonstrates his versatility and drive for
excellence.

In 2009, Mayor Desulme made history as North Miami’s first Black City Clerk and the youngest Haitian American to hold such a position in the United States. His trailblazing journey continued in 2015 when he was elected to the North Miami City Council, representing District 4. His leadership was further recognized in 2016 when he became the youngest Vice-Mayor, and in 2019, he was re-elected with an overwhelming 65% of the vote. During his tenure as Vice Mayor, Mayor Desulme spearheaded numerous community-enrichment initiatives, including the Golden Silver Senior Program, which provides a nurturing environment for seniors to thrive. His “Peoples’ Councilman” moniker is a testament to his deep connection with the community, exemplified by his innovative “Let’s Eat Healthy” initiative, which ensures residents have access to fresh, nutritious food.

Mayor Desulme’s advocacy for creating the City’s first Housing and Social Services Department is a monumental achievement. Since its inception, the department has been instrumental in fostering a vibrant urban community by providing essential housing and social services to those
in need.

As an educator, Mayor Desulme’s commitment to youth development is unwavering. He founded the NoMi Leaders in Training Program (L.I.T.) to prepare the next generation of public servants and ensure a seamless transition into the City’s Youth Opportunity Board (YOB) Summer Internship Program.

Alfred Breuer focuses on expanding international relationships, building collaboration across San Antonio’s economic development community, and foreign direct investment. Mr. Breuer engages international companies who are looking to expand their presence in the city and supports San Antonio companies expand through exports.

Prior to join the City of San Antonio, Mr. Breuer lead outreach efforts for the San Antonio and Corpus Christi regions for the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas, San Antonio Branch. In his role, he engaged with stakeholders to discuss current economic challenges and opportunities in the community and increase awareness of the mission of the Federal Reserve. He was also tasked with identifying emerging economic challenges and opportunities and gathering information to support monetary policymaking and strategic planning efforts.

Mr. Breuer has also worked for a global top 10 public relations firm, Hill+Knowlton Strategies, and served as legislative director for a Texas State Representative. In addition, he served as Deputy Director for International Affairs for an agricultural trade association in Washington, DC where he focused on the organization’s trade policy program. Throughout his career he has worked closely with a wide range of stakeholders, including Fortune 500 companies, national trade associations and U.S. and foreign public officials to build strong mutually beneficial relationships.

He holds a BA from Austin College, an MA in international commerce and policy from George Mason University and an MBA from the Instituto Panamericano de Alta Dirección de Empresa (IPADE) in Mexico City.

Alexa Storzinger serves as the Program Coordinator at Sister Cities International Headquarters in Washington, D.C., where she dedicates herself to organizing impactful events and initiatives that advance the organization’s mission of fostering global connections and local prosperity. Her responsibilities include overseeing the successful execution of Sister Cities International’s signature events like the Young Artists and Authors Showcase and Youth Leadership Summit.

Alexa holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in International Studies from American University, with a concentration in Environmental Sustainability and Global Health, complemented by a Minor in Communication Studies. Her academic journey was enriched by immersive experiences in Brussels, Belgium, and Nairobi, Kenya, where she deepened her commitment to community-based engagement and international relations.

Alexa finds joy in exploring new destinations, immersing herself in nature, and cherishing moments with loved ones.

Liz Rodrigues is an Administrator, graduated from the University of Northern Paraná State – UNOPAR in 2003, MBA in Administration and Marketing completed in 2009, MBA in Innovation in Public Administration completed in 2021, Postgraduate in Public Governance and Strategic Planning (in progress until Dec/2024), all the three at the International University Center – Uninter.

Liz has more than 20 years of experience working as an Administrator, as well as in the National and International Commercial area in private organizations. In 2014 she was admitted to public service after passing a public examination. She works as an Administrator at Londrina City Hall, with experience in Program and Project management, team leadership and technical assessor. Currently at City Hall, she works as Director of Governance and International Relations, coordinating the Public Governance Police, management of Strategic Projects, institutional and international relations. She represents the Municipality in programs and projects of the civil society organizations, such as Industrial and Commerce Association, Londrina Development Forum, SEBRAE – Brazilian Support Service for Small Businesses, and others. As International Relations representative, she also manage the relationship with the Sister Cities of Londrina and others agreements with different nations.

Eventually she is supervisor for students in the Summer Fellowship Program, in partnership between the Londrina City Hall and International Universities. In 2021 it was two students from the University of Oxford (online) and in 2022 three students from Columbia University (one online and two in person). In 2024, a process is underway with Stanford University.

Ms. Dinah McDougall is a Commercial Officer with the U.S. Commercial Service San Antonio office since January 2024, serving the Texas Hill Country area.  She previously served as the Senior Commercial Officer at the U.S. Embassy in Santiago Chile (2020-2023), and as a Commercial Officer in New Delhi, India (2016-2020), Moscow, Russia (2013-2016), Mexico City, Mexico (2009-2012) and Brasilia, Brazil (2005-2007).  She was also assigned as the Director of the U.S. Export Assistance Center in McAllen, Texas (2007-2009), where she contributed to the U.S.-Mexico Border Initiative.

Ms. McDougall has served with the U.S. Department of Commerce’s International Trade Administration since 1998.  Prior to entering the U.S. Commercial Service, she served as the Desk Officer for Chile and Brazil, working on bilateral and multilateral trade policy issues.  She helped negotiate the market access and rules of origin chapters of the U.S.-Chile Free Trade Agreement, and counseled U.S. industry on the provisions regarding origin requirements, tariff schedules and other benefits.  In 2003, she served a temporary assignment with the Office of the United States Trade Representative to assist in the ratification and implementation of the U.S.-Chile Free Trade Agreement.

Ms. McDougall is fluent in Spanish and hails from Kerrville, Texas.  She has a bachelor’s degree in economics from the University of Texas at Austin, and she served a Fulbright fellowship in Mexico City (1997-98).  She lives in Boerne with her daughter, who is in elementary school.

Kendee Yamaguchi was appointed by President Biden to serve as the Deputy Assistant Secretary for the U.S. Field at the International Trade Administration. In this role, she oversees nearly 300 trade professionals in more than 100 U.S. cities. She helps U.S. businesses export their goods and services, and attracts foreign direct investment to grow jobs within the United States.

Yamaguchi has more than 20 years in executive management working closely with local, state, and national government leaders, businesses, and investors across the globe to promote job creation, public investment, and cultural diversity. She has deep experience within the aerospace, technology, agriculture, energy, and life sciences sectors of the economy. Most recently, she served as Deputy Mayor of Seattle, one of the largest cities in the nation, where her primary responsibilities included coordinating City priorities on business, cultural initiatives, and external relations.

During the Clinton Administration, she held roles managing events and in management. This includes her work on the Executive Order creating the White House Initiative on Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders, an effort to advise the President on ways the public, private and non-profit sectors can work together to advance opportunity, justice, and equity. Yamaguchi earned her bachelor’s degree from American University and law degree from Seattle University.

Carlo Capua is Chief of Strategy and Innovation for the City of Fort Worth,  the fastest-growing city in the U.S. He is tasked with managing special  projects, global affairs, and large sporting events like the CrossFit Games and  the FIFA World Cup.

As one of Fort Worth’s first social entrepreneurs, Carlo co-founded Z’s Café,  creating 165 jobs for low- income men and women over 13 years and feeding  150,000 people during the COVID pandemic. In 2018, he was named  “Businessman of the Year” by the Fort Worth Hispanic Chamber of  Commerce.

After earning a business degree from Texas Christian University in 2000, Carlo spent 7 years teaching English in Fort Worth’s Sister Cities in Japan and Mexico, and graduated from Harvard University with his master’s in International Relations in 2022. He is past president of the Rotary Club of  Fort Worth and chair-elect of the national board for Sister Cities International.

A sought-after speaker and emcee, Carlo has started and sold multiple businesses. An avid athlete, he has finished 18 marathons (one in North Korea!) and an Ironman Triathlon, and speaks Spanish and Japanese. 

remains committed to pouring into the community that helped groom him into the public figure he is today. Chairman Gilbert is a proud graduate of Florida A&M University where he earned his Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice. Upon graduating, he enrolled in law school at St. Thomas University School of Law. He later transferred to the University of Miami School of Law where he held a senate position with the Student Bar Association and was a National Board Member of the Black Law Student Association among other accolades. Upon successfully earning his Juris Doctorate with honors, Chairman Gilbert knew his calling was public service. Chairman Gilbert is a seasoned attorney, licensed to practice law in the State of Florida; the U.S. District Court, Southern District of Florida; and the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals, Federal District Court.

With 20 years of legal experience, Chairman Gilbert’s vast knowledge extends to real estate law, municipal law, constitutional law, civil rights law and employment law. Throughout his tenure as a practicing attorney, he gained extensive experience working as a public policy maker in areas of education, criminal justice, and urban and economic development. Chairman Gilbert has served as an Adjunct Professor at Miami Dade College, teaching courses in criminology, criminal law, constitutional law, street law, drugs and violence, computer crimes and judicial policy.

In 2012, Chairman Gilbert reached what was then the pinnacle of his career when he was elected mayor of his hometown, Miami Gardens. During his tenure, he provided leadership to City Council and city employees, increased corporate expansion and was the driving force behind the exponential growth and development of new businesses within Miami Gardens. His efforts led to additional job opportunities for local residents and pumped revenue back into his beloved city. As recognition of the city’s tremendous growth, Miami Gardens was awarded All-America City in 2020, solidifying Chairman Gilbert’s city as a tri-county economic contender. Chairman Gilbert’s civic activities extended outside of Miami-Dade County as he is a former President of the African American Mayors Association and held a seat on the Board of Directors of the Florida League of Mayors, National League of Cities, U.S. Conference of Mayors Advisory Board, as well as President of the Miami-Dade County League of Cities.

His commitment to leadership has been continually recognized by his peers and he has been selected as Chairman of the International Trade Consortium (ITC), Vice-Chair of Miami-Dade County Transportation Planning Organization (TPO) and Chair of Southeast Florida Transportation Council (SEFTC), initiatives and organizations the commissioner is dedicated to advancing.

On December 6, 2022, he was unanimously elected to serve as Chairman of the Miami-Dade Board of County Commissioners. He is the first District 1 Commissioner to serve as Chairman since the inception of single member districts. Chairman Gilbert is a proud member of the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. and is dedicated to their cardinal principles of manhood, scholarship, perseverance and uplift.

Chairman Gilbert is also a member of Leadership Florida and a Miami Fellows, Class V. He continues to be an advocate for youth and residents he represents as Miami-Dade County Commissioner District 1.

Chelsea Collier explores how under-represented groups can co-create smart(er) cities and communities. She is the founder of Digi.City, a forum for smart cities and the social good and serves as the Editor-at-Large for Smart Cities Connect. She is pursuing her PhD at the School of Information (iSchool) at the University of Texas at Austin and a Graduate Research Assistant for Good Systems, an interdisciplinary team dedicated to the ethical design and application of AI to benefit society. She is also an NRT NSF Fellow in the Ethical AI Portfolio Program.

Chelsea is a University of Manchester (UK) Simon Industrial & Professional Fellow (2019), a Marshall Memorial Fellow (2018) and an Eisenhower Fellow (2016). She is also the co-author of the Smart Cities Playbook and the creator of the Digi.City Smart(er) Cities Toolkit. Her work has been featured in national publications including Governing Magazine, Everything You Need to Know to Start and Grow Your Business , Venture Beat and the Chicago Tribune. Her previous experience in social enterprise, tech entrepreneurship, economic development and state government inform her cross sector approach.

Sunny have been with the City of San Antonio since 11 September 2017.  He is a retired Naval Officer with over 21 years of service.  His military services include Enlisted as Aviation Structural Mechanics (Airframes).  As Officer, Gunnery Officer aboard USS ARKANSAS, the Auxiliary Engineering Officer on USS NIMITZ, IT Manager at Naval Ocean Processing Facility (NOPF) Whidbey Island, Operations Officer and Command Security Manager aboard USS Rodney M. Davis, Chief Staff Officer Mine Counter-Measures Division Three One for Mine Clearance Operations of the Persian Gulf for OEF/OIF, lastly as Executive Officer of Naval Reserve Center Pacific Northwest.  After retirement Sunny worked as a Special Agent with Federal Investigative Services for the Office of Personnel Management before moving to San Antonio to work for Department of Veterans Affairs as a Health Services Research Manager and then for the Foundation for Advancing Veterans Health Research (FAVHR).  With over 30 years of Information Technology and Cybersecurity experience in various capacity with the Navy, public and private sector, Sunny decided to fully dedicate his focus and passion in Cybersecurity by joining the City of San Antonio IT Security team.  Some of his other interests and hobbies include woodworking, astronomy/astrophotography, photography, PC building and IT “exploring”, and DIY’er.

He is a graduate of Oregon State University with degrees in Computer Science and Business Administration.

Mr. Espinoza is a career diplomat with 20 years of experience in the Costa Rican Foreign Service. He has a law degree from the Law Faculty of the University of Costa Rica (UCR), the most prestigious Law Faculty in his country and a Master degree on Foreign Affairs and International Law from the Complutense University of Madrid.

He was Consul General of Costa Rica in Austria, Alternate Representative of Costa Rica to the International Organizations in Vienna, Head of International Cooperation of Costa Rica with the European Union, Political Counselor at the Embassy of Costa Rica in Guatemala and Officer at the Human Rights and the Americas Departments of the Costa Rican Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Mr. Espinoza worked in the private sector as a legal consultant at KPMG Costa Rica, before joining the Costa Rican Foreign Service.

Mr. Espinoza was appointed Consul General of Costa Rica in Houston in 2018 and was designated as Dean of the Consular Corps in Houston in March 2023. He is married and has 2 sons.

Dr. Cintia Smith is the Secretary of Innovation and Open Government of the Government of Monterrey.

She holds a Ph.D. in Philosophy with a focus on Political Science from the Autonomous University of Nuevo León, Mexico; a Master’s degree in Communication Sciences from the Monterrey Institute of Technology and Higher Education, Mexico; and a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science from the Catholic University of Córdoba, Argentina.

She is the author and co-author of publications on political communication and public policy in specialized journals from Mexico, Spain, and Argentina.

In 2016, she was awarded the UANL 2016 Research Prize (Social Sciences).

Currently, from her position as Secretary of Innovation and Open Government of the Municipality of Monterrey, she leads the implementation of open and digital government practices at the local level. Among the strategic projects of her administration, highlights include end-to-end digitization of procedures and services, the management and exchange system of geospatial data, the open data system, participatory budgeting, citizen councils on the subject, and the construction of the Local Open Government Action Plan in partnership with the Government of the State of
Nuevo León. She is also a Member of the Government Advisory Council of the Open Wallet Foundation. In the academic field, during the current year, she has completed high-level programs, such as the “Implementing Public Policy Executive Program” at the Harvard Kennedy School and the “Bloomberg Harvard City Leadership Initiative.” These achievements underscore her commitment to excellence and continuous education to lead innovative initiatives in the public sphere.

David West has served the residents of Richmond Hill since 2013, first as Ward 4 Councilor until 2022 at which time he was elected as Mayor in a by-election and re-elected in October 2022. His interest in the City of Richmond Hill and commitment to the community has been demonstrated throughout his more than three decades as a resident, during which time he has been a local business owner and has demonstrated leadership through various volunteer community positions.

As Mayor, during his 2022-2026 term David represents Richmond Hill Council on numerous committee including Chair of the Affordable Housing Strategy Implementation Committee (AHSIC), Vice-Chair of the Budget Committee of the Whole (BCW), member of the Audit Committee, Economic Development Committee (EDC) and Heritage Centre Advisory Committee (HCAC).

As a member of Regional Council he is Chair of the York Region Housing Affordability Task Force, and sits on the Committees for Public Works – Environmental Services, York Region Rapid Transit Corporation, Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA) and TRCA’s Partners in Project Green Executive Management Steering Committee.

A husband and father, David has called Richmond Hill home for more than 30 years. He is a passionate patron of the visual arts.  As lifelong learner, David enjoys reading on a wide range of topics and he appreciates any opportunity to be in the outdoors. Watch for him at community events, he loves to meet and speak with Richmond Hill constituents.

Eva A. Millona is currently serving as the chief of the inaugural Office of Citizenship, Partnership and Engagement(OCPE) at USCIS in the Department of Homeland Security. Prior to this, she served as the DHS Assistant Secretary for Partnership and Engagement. In that role, she served as the Secretary’s primary advisor on the impact of the Department’s policies, regulations, processes, and actions on state, local, tribal, territorial (SLTT) governments, SLTT elected officials, non-governmental organizations, the private sector, and the academic community, ensuring a unified approach to external engagement.

Before joining DHS, Ms. Millona was president and chief executive officer of the Massachusetts Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy Coalition (MIRA) for over 13 years. MIRA is the largest organization in New England promoting and enhancing integration for new Americans. In 2010, she co-founded the National Partnership for New Americans (NPNA), a national organization focused on immigrant integration at the local, state, and federal levels, and served as a co-chair for 11 years. She co-founded and co-chaired the Massachusetts Business Immigration Coalition and chaired the 2020 U.S. Census Statewide Complete Count Committee in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

A native of Albania, Ms. Millona practiced civil and criminal law before becoming the youngest district judge ever appointed to Tirana’s District Court, where she served from 1989 to1992. After immigrating to the United States, she directed the refugee resettlement program in central Massachusetts. She served on the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights for over 7 years, served as the co-chair of the Massachusetts Governor’s Advisory Council for Refugees and Immigrants under four governors, served on the Attorney General’s Council for New Americans, and the Advisory Board for the Boston Mayor’s Office for Immigrant Advancement. Ms. Millona taught global policy as an adjunct professor of practice at Boston College School of Social Work.

Ms. Millona has received numerous awards for her leadership and impact, including the prestigious USCIS Outstanding American by Choice Award in 2009. She is a graduate of Clark University where she obtained a Master of Arts in political science and holds a law degree from the University of Tirana.

Jenna Saucedo-Herrera is the President & CEO of greater: SATX, a regional economic partnership charged with growing and diversifying the eight county San Antonio-New Braunfels MSA.

In this role, Jenna and her team work closely with the regional businesses and public sector partners to recruit new companies, foster global business relationships, help local companies grow and build the local talent pipeline.

During her tenure at the helm of San Antonio’s economic development team, greater:SATX has secured over thirty-two thousand new jobs and $7.3 billion in capital investment for the region through recruitment and expansion projects that include: JCB, Ernst & Young, Victory Capital, Navistar, and Aisin.

Jenna has received accolades including the “2015 Women in Leadership Award” and the “2017 40 Under 40: Woman of the Year Award” from the San Antonio Business Journal, acknowledgment by the San Antonio Express-News in their “2016 Women Who Run San Antonio” feature, and recognition in Culturemap’s “Top Texans Under 30”.

She is an alumna of St. Mary’s University with a Bachelor of Business Administration in Marketing Management. She is also a member of the Texas Women’s Forum, the Texas Lyceum, and the International Women’s Forum.

Jenna also serves on several community boards and councils including Visit San Antonio (2022 Chair), BioBridge Global, San Antonio Medical Foundation, UP Partnership, Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) Advisory Trustee, Texas Association of Business (TAB), and Texas Biomed.

Born in Lima (1973), José Luis Falconi is Assistant Professor of Art and Human Rights at the University of Connecticut. He is also the President of Cultural Agents, Inc, an NGO which aims to showcase, study and promote the recognition of the arts as resources for positive change, and its efficacy in social interventions.

He received his Ph.D. from Harvard University in 2010. From 2001 to 2011 he was Art Forum Curator at the David Rockefeller for Latin American Studies at Harvard University, curating more than thirty shows of cutting-edge Latino and Latin American artists in an academic setting.

Besides UCONN,  he has taught in the United States at Brandeis University, and Boston University. In Latin America, he has been “Bicentennial” Visiting Professor of Aesthetics at the University of Chile (Santiago de Chile, 2012 and 2019), “International Professor” at the National University of Colombia (Bogotá, 2013), Visiting Professor at the Center for Latin American Studies “Manuel Galich” at the Universidad San Carlos of Guatemala (2016) and Distinguished Visiting Professor at the University of Costa Rica (2017).

His latest academic publication, Pre-Text International (2023), co-edited with Doris Sommer, has just been released by Harvard University Press.

Marisa Calder is the Director of Operations for Students of Service (SOS), a 501c3 nonprofit organization dedicated to developing global citizenship in youth through local service-learning and meaningful travel abroad experiences. She leverages her professional background in international education, as well as her own high school study abroad experience as a Rotary Youth Exchange student in Hungary, to manage SOS’s programs, run day-to-day operations, and cultivate new partnerships.

Marisa attended Trinity University, where she majored in Political Science and Chinese Language and participated in the State Department’s Critical Language Scholarship Program. She went on to earn her Master’s degree in Global Policy Studies from the LBJ School of Public Affairs at the University of Texas at Austin with a focus on Nonprofit Management. Previously she served as a Consular Fellow at the U.S. Embassy in Beijing and held roles in international student affairs and study abroad at ISEP Study Abroad, University of Texas at Austin, and the University of the Incarnate Word.

Jim Ross was elected to the office of Mayor at the City of Arlington in June 2021. Jim has spent decades serving his community and his country.  As a proud resident of Arlington for nearly forty years, he has witnessed the growth, and growing pains, this community has endured.

From 1979 to 1983, Jim served this country as a United States Marine. With assignments at home and abroad, he served the Marines in numerous capacities.  Having received his Honorable Discharge in 1983, Jim moved to Texas where he was soon hired by the Arlington Police Department.

During his thirteen-year career as a Police Officer, Jim was a member of Arlington’s first full time Special Operations Unit (SWAT), taught self-defense and physical fitness at the police academy and spent over six years investigating illegal narcotics trafficking, both locally and with the Drug Enforcement Administration Task Force.  His commendations and accomplishments as a Marine and police officer are numerous.

In 1996, Jim decided to make a career change and go to law school, which he completed in twenty-eight months.  He studied and passed the State of Texas Bar exam on his first attempt and was licensed as an attorney in May 1999.  During his first ten years of practice, Jim represented thousands of clients while working environmental exposure cases for some of the country’s most prestigious law firms. In 2009, Jim left the larger firms to pursue private practice and established The Jim Ross Law Group, P.C.

In November 2017, Jim opened the Mercury Chophouse – Arlington, a fine dining steakhouse. In 2023, he opened the Hearsay Arlington lounge and restaurant in Choctaw Stadium.

As an active and proud resident of Arlington, Jim has served on the board of directors for the Arlington Police Foundation, the Greater Arlington Chamber of Commerce, the Margarita Society, Special Olympics, and the American Heart Association.  As Mayor, he serves on the boards of the Arlington Tomorrow Foundation, Gene and Jerry Jones Family Arlington Youth Foundation, Texas Municipal League, and National Medal of Honor Museum Foundation; as a member of the Tarrant County Workforce Governing Board, North Central Texas Council of Governments’ Regional Transportation Council, Tarrant Regional Transportation Council,  and Downtown Arlington Management Corporation; and is the co-chair of the US Conference of Mayors’ Infrastructure Law Implementation Task Force and the Veterans Affairs Task Force.

More than a passionate lawyer, businessman, and advocate for all, Jim is a family man with four children and five grandchildren.

Michael Orlove currently serves as the Director of State, Regional & Local Partnerships. In that capacity, Orlove provides direction concerning the National Endowment for the Arts funding and other assistance to the 56 state and jurisdictional arts agencies, the six regional arts agencies, and local arts agencies across the country. Additionally, Orlove manages the agency’s international activities. He was the Agency’s director of Artist Communities and Presenting & Multidisciplinary Works from 2012 to 2019.  Born and raised in Chicago, Orlove spent 20 years as senior program director for the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs. His tenure with the department led to nearly two decades of innovation, creativity, and passion for public service with the City of Chicago. Michael has been an invited guest speaker and panelist at numerous national and international conferences and convenings.  Honors include being named one of the ‘Chicagoans of the Year’ in music by the Chicago Tribune in both 1999 and 2009, as well as one of Chicago’s ‘Global Visionaries’ by Chicago Public Radio WBEZ and the Chicago Matters: Beyond Burnham series. As a testament to his international expertise, Orlove was named one of the ‘Seven Samurai’ at the prestigious WOMEX (World Music Expo) 2009 Conference in Copenhagen, Denmark and, in 2018, was given the inaugural GlobalFEST ‘Impact Award’ for outstanding commitment to the world music field.  He recently completed the DeVos Global Arts Management Fellowship (2018-2022).

Laura was born in Miami-Dade County and resides in Miami Beach. She attended local schools and graduated from the University of Miami and Miami-Dade College. She was elected Commissioner in December 2022 when she ran in her late partner’s seat to complete his term. Laura is a business professional who spent her corporate career in strategic, marketing, and account development roles in the tourism industry before launching her digital marketing firm. As Commissioner, she recently sponsored to bring the management of the Sister Cities program back to Miami Beach and helped host one of their Sister Cities including resiliency focused meetings.

Lynare Robbins brings a diverse background in tourism, international trade, economic development, and leadership. Drawing from her extensive experience, she is steadfast in her commitment to promoting education, driving positive change, and fostering national and international partnerships to unite communities. Lynare excels in collaborating with government, non-profit organizations, businesses, and international trade groups to promote inclusive trade and economic partnerships. As the Owner and Operator of Culture Rise Travel Design, Lynare specializes in crafting bespoke travel experiences. Previously, Lynare served as Director of the Miami Chapter at Global Chamber, spearheading initiatives to foster international business connections within a global network of 525 metropolitan cities. She also led successful trade missions to various cities focusing on key industries such as life sciences, manufacturing, and technology. In her role as Operations Director at the British American Business Council, Lynare delivered top-notch member relations services and organized engaging events and educational opportunities for members and the public. She also supported virtual and inbound trade missions, further enhancing bilateral trade relations. Additionally, Lynare contributed to the international community through her work with Global Ties Miami, supporting the U.S. Department of State’s International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) by working with cultural exchanges and fostering positive relationships between international visitors and the Miami community. Lynare’s dedication to international relations and conflict resolution is emphasized by her academic background, which includes a bachelor’s degree in Sociology and master’s degrees in international relations & Conflict Resolution and Human Behavior. In addition to her professional pursuits, Lynare is a veteran of the United States Navy and actively volunteers, serving as an appointee representing District 5 on the Miami-Dade County International Trade Consortium. She also sits on the Florida Advisory Committee for the US Global Leadership Coalition and the Board of Directors for Sister Cities International. She has been recognized for her contributions to the Miami community, receiving the 2022 International Women’s Day Award from the World Trade Center Miami.

Mr. Michael Rosales is the U.S. Commercial Service Director for the Central & South Texas Region, which covers 81 counties and 14 Congressional Districts and is a part of the U.S. Department of Commerce’s International Trade Administration. He is a visionary and strategic leader that works directly with American exporters to advance their global market share with the support of his colleagues at U.S. Embassies and Consulates worldwide.  Driven by professional integrity, Michael is committed to serving all members of each unique ecosystem.  He listens directly to the needs of his stakeholders, customers, and global industry partners alike. He zealously leads America’s workforce, building unique and lasting relationships, and leverages the U.S. Commercial Service as the backbone of the American economy.  Born and raised in San Antonio, Texas, Michael is 100% committed to this business community and advancing international trade for the State of Texas.  Mr. Rosales earned both his BA and MBA from the University of Texas – San Antonio.

Patsy Boozer, CISSP is the Chief Security Officer (CSO) and Director of the Alamo Regional Security Operations Center (ARSOC) for the City of San Antonio. Responsibilities include cyber, data, application, and facility physical security systems.  Retired Naval Officer with 18 years in Federal, DOD and Commercial Information/Cyber and Physical Security consulting and management. In the private sector she served as Operations Manager responsible for over 150 security engineers and analyst including a 24×7 Security Operations Center as well as Director of IT Security for a FORTUNE 500® scientific, engineering, and technology company. Served as Director of Information Security Assurance at Methodist Healthcare System in San Antonio. Graduate of the University of South Carolina and earned her master’s degree in computer science from the Naval Post Graduate School.

Maria serves as the Compliance Auditor for the City of San Antonio, a role she has embraced since April 2019 with a deep sense of responsibility and commitment to public service.  In her role, she champions ethical standards and adherence with the City’s Ethics Code.  She has over 20 years of experience in compliance, investigations, and risk management, which she uses to guide and educate, reinforcing the importance of integrity and transparency in public service.

Maria holds dual Master of Arts Degrees in Business Management and Human Resources Development, as well as a Bachelor of Arts Degree in the Psychology of Organizations and Development.  She is a Certified Compliance and Ethics Professional (CCEP), a Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE), and certified in Risk Management Assurance (CRMA).

Paul Bardwil is a graduate of Southern Methodist University where he gained degrees in business and political science. He had a successful real estate career before moving to Sacramento to study law where he practiced criminal and transaction law. As an internationalist starting in 1995, Paul has lived in Mexico, Cuba, and Spain leading trade missions and creating international study programs for universities, hospitals and numerous other special interest groups. He has successfully  worked with the Cuban ministry of culture (one of few Americans) and was recently asked to lead classes and workshops in Havana in entrepreneurship, with its newly evolving program in Cuba’s newly evolving economy. Paul has also worked with the San Diego Sister Cities society exploring the opportunity of sister cities and friendship cities with Cuba.

Rachel is an urban designer and landscape architect with over 15 years of experience solving problems in the urban context. With a background in environmental science, effective data and its use is key to her work. She has used this and her expertise of working directly with the community to build up a people-centered smart city approach in Charlotte. She leads the City of Charlotte’s strategy to deliver investments that close the digital divide and build civic innovation. She leverages the Smart Cities program of putting data to work through technology and innovative approaches to achieve community goals and advance digital inclusion. She has authored the “5 Tactics of the Co-Created Smart City” for the Knight Foundation and City of Charlotte as a reference for connecting technology initiatives and community.

Amir Samandi is the founder and Executive Director of Students of Service (SOS), a 501c3 nonprofit organization dedicated to developing
global citizenship in youth through local servicelearning and meaningful travel abroad experiences. He founded SOS in 2014 with the goal of empowering young people to make a positive difference in the world. His background in international affairs and education, including working in the San Antonio public school system and at St. Mary’s University, informs his
leadership at SOS, allowing him to use his firsthand knowledge to mentor the next generation of global leaders.

Amir was a 2020-2021 German Marshall Fund Memorial Fellow and was named one of San Antonio’s 40 Under 40 by the San Antonio Business Journal in 2018. He lives in San Antonio with his wife and two sons, and they enjoy traveling together!

Antonio Arelle, born and raised in Mexico City, is the Director of the Museo de Arte de Querétaro, the city where he has lived for the past 15 years. He has a bachelor’s degree in Psychology, another in Business Administration in UNAM, and a master’s degree in Visual Arts and Museology. He did an internship at Christie’s in NYC, where he resided for five years, and since then, he’s been auctioning art for nonprofit organizations and the museum’s yearly galas. For the past 38 years, he’s been pushing forward the career of emerging artists at his own art galleries and is now applying all his knowledge and experience at the museum. He’s also been promoting the arts in his home country and internationally. Mr. Arelle has a strong passion for figurative and modern art. He dedicates all his time to bringing great art to the people of Queretaro, Mexico.

Carlos was born in Mexico and has spent half of his life in the United States, which has given him a unique perspective encompassing both nations and cultures. He has successfully leveraged this perspective to build strong business and state relationships across borders. Carlos has held several positions in both the private and public sectors, gaining experience and expertise along the way.

Carlos has an extensive professional background, working as the Director of Economic Development at Cross-National Advisory Partners in San Antonio. In the early days of his career, Carlos gained valuable knowledge through various international experiences, including ones at Kargocard in Shanghai, El Universal Newspaper in Mexico City, and the Hispanic Chamber of
Commerce in San Antonio.

Currently, Carlos serves as the Assistant Secretary of State for Mexican and Border Affairs at the Texas Secretary of State. He has held this position since 2022. In this role, some of his responsibilities include working with Mexican federal, state, and local officials as well as companies and organizations on issues affecting Texas, Mexico, and the border region. He also serves as an advisor to the Governor’s Office and other agencies on issues that affect Texas-Mexico relations. Furthermore, he is a member of the Rio Grande Minute Negotiating Team and oversees the coordination of the Border Trade Advisory Committee meeting.

Carlos has recently completed his MBA in Strategy/Entrepreneurship and Finance from Southern Methodist University. Before this, he earned two bachelor’s degrees in Business Administration (majoring in International Business) and Economics from Trinity University. During his MBA, Carlos developed a keen interest in public finance management and microeconomics for policy analysis.

David G. Vequist IV, Ph.D., the founder and Director of the Center for Medical Tourism Research – the premier academic Medical Tourism research institute. Dr. David G. Vequist IV is also a Full Professor and tenured faculty of Management in the H-E-B School of Business & Administration at the University of the Incarnate Word (3rd largest private university in state of Texas, USA). In his previous career, Dr. Vequist was an executive at the Methodist Healthcare System, a multi-billion-dollar healthcare provider (also a joint venture with HCA- the largest hospital system in the U.S.). Before that, Dr. Vequist was a consultant for Ernst & Young, LLP working with Fortune 500 companies. He is also an entrepreneur that sold a training business to Bloomberg. Professor Vequist has been a featured keynote at many conferences, worked with companies/governments/NGOs (such as the UN), and been featured in the media (e.g., the New York Times, Reuters, CNN, Washington Post, Forbes, NPR, and many more). He received his Ph.D. and master’s from the University of Tulsa and his B.S. from Northern Arizona University. Dr. Vequist is a well-known speaker, presenter, and futurist on subjects such as medical tourism, training, and human resources and the author of many articles, books and chapters.

Dona Regis-Prosper is Secretary-General and Chief Executive Officer of the Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO).  She is the first woman to assume leadership of the intergovernmental body.

With a distinguished career spanning more than 22 years, Regis-Prosper is the also the first female leader to hold the dual role of Secretary General and Chief Executive Officer of the CTO, which serves as the Caribbean’s tourism development agency.

Hailing from St. Lucia, Regis-Prosper is an exceptionally dynamic and transformative leader who has cultivated and nurtured a robust network of professionals spanning both the public and private sectors. Her collaborative efforts extend to working closely with regional government officials, tourism stakeholders, and industry experts worldwide.

Her professional journey includes pivotal roles such as Director of Marketing and Product Development at the St. Lucia Air and Seaports Authority; Director of Business Development for Margaritaville Caribbean Group in Jamaica; CEO of the Tortola Pier Park in the British Virgin Islands; and General Manager of the Antigua Cruise Port.

She holds a Master of Business Administration from Durham University Business School and is a Certified Professional Marketer. Her expertise ranges from management, business development, strategy, marketing and communications to customer service and cruise port management.

As the leader of the CTO, she serves as the organization’s chief spokesperson and bears the responsibility of translating its vision into reality, guided by the strategic direction set forth by the Council of Ministers and Commissioners of Tourism and the Board of Directors.

Her purview extends to ensuring the success of the CTO’s strategic planning, business development, policy formulation and implementation initiatives, and the development and execution of innovative strategies to enhance the competitiveness of the Caribbean tourism product on national, regional, and international stages.

She was recently  honored by the Caribbean Media Exchange (CMEx) with its 2023 Leadership award in recognition for her contribution to Tourism development in the Caribbean

Regis-Prosper is married and lives in Barbados.

Emily works at the intersection of public administration and technology to build inclusive futures for cities. She is currently Smart Cities Administrator in the Information & Technology Services Department for the City of San Antonio (her hometown), where she leads a team to execute San Antonio’s “Smarter Together” Smart Cities initiative and supports a multi-stakeholder smart city partnership called “SmartSA”. Emily currently serves as Vice Chair of United for Smart and Sustainable Cities, an international collaborative platform led by the International Telecommunications Union (ITU), UNECE and UN-Habitat. She is also Co-Chair of the Policy Working Group for the GovAI Coalition, a network of over 150 public agencies in the United States working to promote responsible and purposeful AI in the public sector.

Previously Emily advised UN-Habitat’s “People-Centered Smart Cities Flagship Program” and authored six UN playbooks on smart cities for local governments. Emily’s professional experience spans academic, non-profit, and government agencies including working at City Form Labs a Singapore-based smart cities laboratory, the Massachusetts Office of Information Technology (MassIT), and as Data Director for a local newsroom “The San Antonio Report”. She has several years of public sector experience in digital services, data governance, public participation, and smart city strategy.

Emily has published and presented her work in national and international forums including UN-Habitat, StateScoop, UrbanAI, and GovTech Magazine, as well as the World Urban Forum 11th Session and Smart City World Expo. Across her portfolio, Emily strives deliver public services that maximize transparency, security, equity, and accessibility for all. She believes people should be at the center of smart cities, and her work focuses on creating greater public oversight over smart city technologies and the data that powers them. Emily holds a Masters in City Design & Development at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Colombian, strategic business advisor to Executive Committees and Corporations about Strategic Planning, Financial Models, and D.E.I. Issues.

In 2012 with the support of the US Embassy In Colombia, I Co-founded the Colombian LGBT Chamber of Commerce, since then this organization has enabled economic empowerment programs for +500 LGBT Business owners as well as supported +200 major corporations in Latin America to advance in their Diversity, Equality & Inclusion Strategies.

Joined IGLTA as Ambassador for Colombia in 2013 and since 2017 is a board member of the Association in which acted as Treasurer for 4 years. In September 2021, I was elected Board Chair as the first South American and Colombian in this role.

Gene Lindgren is the President and CEO of the Laredo Economic Development Corporation (previously known as the Laredo Development Foundation).  Gene was chosen to continue the successes of the organization’s now 57-year history in July of 2020.  He drives the staff of seasoned professionals, with the oversight of the Board of Directors, and in accordance with the City of Laredo’s Viva Laredo Comprehensive Plan.

Gene transitioned to the LEDC after completing a 35-year career with a leading global automotive supply company in several diverse areas such as manufacturing, logistics and technology that operates in North America with more than 25 maquiladora plants throughout Mexico including distribution centers in El Paso and Laredo, Texas.

Gene has a degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Akron and an MBA from Lake Erie College in Ohio and has been a Laredo resident for over 25 years.

Gene is active in boards and committees such as the North American Strategy for Competitiveness (NASCO), South Texas Workforce Solutions, City of Laredo Port of Entry Advisory Committee, The Laredo Rotary Club, Binational Riverfront Conservation Project Working Group, Laredo College Bachelor of Applied Science in Organizational Leadership Advisory Council, and Laredo Chamber of Commerce.

Gene and his wife have two daughters, enjoy their many DIY projects, and travel to spend time with extended family in Ohio and Torreon, Mexico.

In January 2020, Jesus H. Saenz Jr., IAP, was appointed to serve as the city’s Director of Airport’s. In this role, he oversees the day-to-day operations of the San Antonio Airport System, made up of the San Antonio International Airport and Stinson Municipal Airport. Combined the airports account for economic impact of more than $ 5.2 billion annually and support approximately 46,000 jobs in the region. The Airport System is embarking on one of the largest capital programs in the City of San Antonio’s history with the design and construction of a new terminal facility set for completion at the end of March 2028.

Mr. Saenz brings a strong focus on strategic planning initiatives to enhance customer experience, shepherd the airports capital improvement projects and increase the international airports air service, both domestic and international. In September 2023, the San Antonio International Airport announced its first transatlantic service set to start in May 2024.

Previously, Mr. Saenz was Chief Operating Officer (COO) for the Houston Airport System (HAS). As the COO, Mr. Saenz oversaw strategic and business plan development, business process re-engineering, implementing of technologically complex projects and airport operations.

José R. Ralat is Texas Monthly‘s taco editor, writing about tacos and Mexican food. He is the author of American Tacos: A History & Guide. Ralat has written for Eater, Imbibe, Dallas Observer, D Magazine, Vice, Cowboys & Indians magazine, Gravy, and other national and regional online and print media outlets. He is a two-time James Beard award winner.

The Acting Mayor of Guadalajara, Juan Francisco Ramírez Salcido is “tapatío” (from Guadalajara), born on March 25, 1969, the oldest of three brothers, of businessman parents, married and with two children.

Graduated with a degree in Business Administration from the Universidad del Valle de Atemajac (UNIVA), he entered local and national politics with one objective: to serve the citizens.

In 2015 he assumed his first public position of popular representation as Councilor of the City Council of Guadalajara; In 2018 he was Federal Representative of Jalisco for district 14 in the LXIV Legislature.

From 2021 to October 2023, he was Councilor of the Guadalajara City Council, coordinating the Movimiento Ciudadano political party fraction. He chaired the Commission of Governance, Regulations and Surveillance and was a member of the commissions of Public Finance and Municipal Heritage, Citizen Security and Social Prevention, Metropolitan Affairs and Coordination and that of Traditional Centers and Neighborhoods. He also chaired the Restricted Business Council of the Municipality.

After October 26, 2023, he was appointed by the Guadalajara City Council as Acting Mayor. And since November of the same year he has chaired the Building Commission for Metropolitan Affairs and Coordination.

Linda Stone is Executive Director of Texas Water Mission, a San Antonio based nonprofit facilitating safe water access and health and hygiene education for communities in rural Honduras and the Navajo Nation.

Linda is originally from the San Francisco Bay Area where she graduated from the University of California at Berkeley with a bachelor’s in architecture. A few years later, Linda moved to New Orleans where she continued her education and earned a master’s in urban and regional planning from the University of New Orleans.

The theme running though Linda’s career is environmental preservation. She has worked to help the planet through efforts ranging from recycling and reuse to energy policy, from green building to a green business, and currently, finding localized solutions to world water issues. In addition, Linda has studied and traveled in Spain and Mexico, and in her current position, leads annual trips to Honduras.

Significant accomplishments include founding The Green Project, a nonprofit that recycles paint and building materials; serving as Director of the Mayor’s Office of Environmental Affairs; and co-creating Casa Borrega, a B-Corp taqueria and mezcaleria – all in New Orleans. In San Antonio, Linda served as inaugural Executive Director of the Metropolitan Partnership for Energy where she founded Build San Antonio Green, San Antonio’s first green building program.

Marilyn Turkovich started with the Charter for Compassion in 2013 as the education director and since that time has moved into a number of different roles with CFC. Marilyn’s background has been primarily in higher education and most specifically in directing teacher training programs for the Associated Colleges of the Midwest, and chairing Columbia College-Chicago’s master’s program in multicultural and global education.  She has done a considerable amount of curriculum writing through the years, much of it related to international and cultural topics. She worked with Independent Broadcasting Associates on a series for airing on National Public Radio, BBC and the Australian Broadcasting organizations. There was a period of time in the 1990s when she worked in organizational development and specialized in instructional design work, strategic planning and leadership development.  She also wrote and developed training on race and social justice initiatives.

Ron Nirenberg is the Mayor of San Antonio, one of the nation’s fastest growing cities with the 7th largest population in the United States.

He was raised in Austin, Texas, and attended college in San Antonio. Nirenberg is the son of an immigrant from Southeast Asia and the grandson of immigrants from Eastern Europe who passed through Ellis Island. Through his personal experiences, Mayor Nirenberg developed a core commitment to civic participation and the universal values of liberty, justice, and equal opportunity for every person.

Mayor Nirenberg was re-elected to a fourth and last term on May 6, 2023.

Under his leadership as mayor, the city’s budget has been adopted with a focus on equity to ensure that all parts of the city have the same level of services and infrastructure. He is focused on making key investments necessary to accommodate the growth of San Antonio, which is expected to nearly double in population by 2040. This forward-looking approach drives the mayor’s vision of a compassionate community with a globally competitive economy. In 2018, the United States Conference of Mayors recognized Mayor Nirenberg with the Small Business Advocate award for his efforts to encourage entrepreneurism.

The Mayor’s policy priorities include: workforce development. In 2020, he successfully championed SA Ready to Work, a four-year workforce development program approved by 77 percent of voters and funded without raising the tax rate as well as nurturing an educated workforce in San Antonio through the AlamoPROMISE tuition-free college program; championing innovative transportation solutions through the city’s first comprehensive multimodal transportation plan; and in 2017, Mayor Nirenberg created the Mayor’s Housing Policy Task Force seeking to ensure that all San Antonians, regardless of income level, can find quality affordable housing within the city limits. The task force recommendations were approved by City Council in 2018.

In an effort to combat the effects of global climate change, Mayor Nirenberg spearheaded a Climate Action and Adaptation Plan, which was adopted by the City Council in October 2019. Shortly thereafter, Mayor Nirenberg joined the Climate Mayors Steering Committee, a group of 24 mayors who will serve as a leading voice in efforts to further climate action in the more than 400 cities across the U.S. that make up the Climate Mayors Coalition.

Mayor Nirenberg also played a leading role crafting a long-term solution in 2020 for funding the Edwards Aquifer Protection Program. The Edwards Aquifer in South-Central Texas is one of the most productive aquifers in the United States serving as the primary water source for much of the region, including the City of San Antonio and its surrounding communities.

Grist, a nonprofit media organization, named Mayor Nirenberg one of the Grist 50 in 2020, recognizing him as an emerging leader on climate change in the United States.

Under Mayor Nirenberg’s leadership the City of San Antonio has adopted a compassionate approach to migrants, establishing a Migrant Resource Center with non-profit partners to address the safety and logistical needs of asylum seekers passing through San Antonio as they arrange to travel to their host cities across the nation. He has been a vocal proponent of a compassionate, welcoming policy since his tenure as a City Councilman for San Antonio’s Council district with the most refugees.   Mayor Nirenberg was appointed to serve on the Leadership Board of the Mayors’ Migration Council, a mayor-led coalition that accelerates ambitious global action on migration and displacement.

Mayor Nirenberg chairs the US Conference of Mayors (USCM) Mayors and Business Leaders Center for Compassionate and Equitable Cities.  He spearheaded the creation of an education curriculum called CompassionateUSA, which was launched at the USCM Annual meeting in 2023 and has to date been adopted by many cities as CompassionateUSA Partners.

Mayor Nirenberg is an inaugural member of the Assembly of Local Leaders (ALL), created by the U.S. Department of State’s Special Representative for City and State Diplomacy, a new venue for the Department of State to engage with mayors, governors, and other municipal leaders on key issues that affect their communities.

Mayor Nirenberg is a Chairman Emeritus of Sister Cities International, a nonpartisan organization that connects cities across the globe through civic, educational, and cultural exchanges. The City of San Antonio enjoys active and productive Sister City relationships with 12 cities worldwide, and Mayor Nirenberg has been a participant in establishing productive, people-to-people relationships through global community partnerships and volunteer action.

He was first elected to represent District 8 on the San Antonio City Council in 2013. During his first two terms, he championed smart city and regional planning, inclusive economic development, environmental stewardship, fiscal responsibility, and governmental accountability. As councilman, he brought together a public-private coalition to save the world-renowned Bracken Bat Cave, the largest colony of bats in the world.

Prior to his public service, Mayor Nirenberg was the founder of two small-businesses, worked as the general manager of KRTU-FM San Antonio, and served as a program director for the Annenberg Public Policy Center where he developed and directed award-winning civic engagement programs.

Mayor Nirenberg graduated summa cum laude from Trinity University and received a Master’s Degree in Communication magna cum laude from the University of Pennsylvania. He grew up in Austin, Texas.

He and his wife, First Lady Erika Prosper, are the proud parents of their son, Jonah.

Ms. Dowlatshahi serves as Chief Diplomacy & Protocol Officer for the City of San Antonio heading up the Global Engagement Office from within the Economic Development Department.  She oversees international business, protocol, and official global relationships.  More specifically, she advises, assists and supports San Antonio elected officials and executives on matters of international affairs, public diplomacy and diplomatic procedure and protocol; is responsible for coordinating official foreign travel of Mayor and Council as well as planning the program of visits for high-level foreign dignitaries, consular & diplomatic corps members working closely with Mayor and City Council; ;and public engagement with local community business, cultural, civic, and higher education, diaspora and ethnic groups.  She manages the award-winning San Antonio Sister Cities Program and works closely with Sister Cities International as well as community stakeholders to foster and maintain San Antonio’s official relationships.

She has been recognized with Spain´s King Felipe VI Order of Civil Merit with rank of Officer’s Cross as well as the Government of Mexico´s prestigious Ohtli Award, and is the 2024 recipient of the World Affairs Council of San Antonio’s International Citizen of the Year award.

She currently serves on the Board of Trustees of the World Affairs Council of San Antonio, the San Antonio Mexico Friendship Council, and the San Antonio Mexico Foundation for Education.  Additionally, she serves on the Global Advisory Council of Musical Bridges Around the World; is an Advisory member of the US Mexico Business Association (AEM) San Antonio Chapter, Anuja SA-San Antonio Chennai Sister City Alliance; Communities Aligned Baguio-San Antonio sister city alliance; and the San Antonio Creative City of Gastronomy Advisory Council.  Furthermore, she is involved with international education initiatives in San Antonio serving on the Advisory Council of the CAST Schools’ Advanced Learning Academy, and the Alamo Colleges International Advisory Council. She is a member of the San Antonio Rotary Club serving on its International Service and Program Committees. She serves on the Honorary Board of Sister Cities International and represents the City of San Antonio in the German Marshall Fund’s City Directors of International Affairs Tran-Atlantic Network.

Ms. Dowlatshahi completed her undergraduate and graduate education in the UK at the University of Westminster in London and the University of Cambridge with study abroad at Alexandria University, Egypt, and the National Autonomous University of Mexico in Mexico in Mexico.

Rachel has been an integral part of NASCO since 2005, currently holding the position of Vice President. With a passion for fostering connections across North America, she collaborates closely with her NASCO colleagues to develop and implement programs that facilitate meaningful connections among members and partners, fostering business opportunities throughout the continent.

In her role as Vice President, Rachel oversees a wide range of responsibilities, spanning from operational management and advocacy to spearheading marketing campaigns and communications efforts. She meticulously plans and executes meetings, events, and collaborative projects, all aimed at serving NASCO’s members and enhancing the organization’s visibility and success. Notably, Rachel leads the coordination and programming efforts for the annual NASCO Reunion, a flagship event that rotates between the United States, Canada, and Mexico, drawing participation from prominent figures in both the public and private sectors across North America.

Rachel earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Public Relations with a minor in Marketing from Texas Tech University in Lubbock, Texas. Rachel resides in Dallas with her family, where she continues to make a positive impact in both her personal and professional spheres.

Ramiro A. Cavazos, President & CEO of the United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, is a champion for bipartisan solutions that generate wealth to advance economic opportunity for the Hispanic community. With a steadfast commitment to promoting prosperity, Mr. Cavazos has emerged as a prominent advocate for  equitable growth for Hispanics in business.

Prior to his position at the USHCC, he served as the President & CEO of the San Antonio Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, where he played a pivotal role in fostering entrepreneurship and innovation in the region for more than 10 years. Under his leadership, the organization experienced remarkable growth and was recognized for its impactful work in empowering Hispanic-owned businesses.

His career has spanned a variety of industries, including large corporations, government service and higher education, as well as worked at the City of San Antonio, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, Levi Strauss Company and Levi Strauss Foundation, InterContinental
Bank Shares Corporation. He also taught at University of Texas at San Antonio.

A native of Weslaco, TX, Cavazos is chairman of the board for the Hispanic Association on Corporate Responsibility, based in Washington, D.C., that advocates for Fortune 500 companies to invest in more equitable and fair representation for Hispanics on corporate boards and publicly traded companies. He also serves on the board of Sister Cities International, LiftFund, and is a member of Council on Foreign Relations and Bank of America’s National Community Advisory Council. Cavazos has been featured in Fortune, Forbes, Time, Newsweek, CNN, the Associated Press, The Economist, The Washington Post, El País, El Heraldo and many other media outlets. He has also been recognized by Latino Leaders Magazine as one of America’s “101 Most Influential Latinos” for the last six years. In recognition of his work, in 2015 Spain bestowed on him the Order of Isabel the Catholic, its highest award granted to foreigners.

With his innovative approach, Cavazos is shaping the future of the Hispanic business community and contributing to the overall economic vitality of the nation. His vision for USHCC centers on strengthening the bridge between Hispanic businesses and the broader American economic landscape. He continues to be a powerful advocate for policies and initiatives that create a level playing field for Hispanic-owned enterprises, advocating for the interests of more than 5 million Hispanic-owned businesses throughout the U.S.

Cavazos earned his Master’s Degree in Public Administration from St. Mary’s University, where he received the honor of Distinguished Alumnus, and his Bachelor’s Degree in Government from the University of Texas at Austin. A 7th generation Texan, he and his wife Christa are the proud parents
of two teenage boys.