When the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a Pandemic in March of 2020 and necessary safety measures such as working-from-home went into effect, we knew leadership programs, including ABLDP, would not look like programs in years past – and although it was daunting at first, we were eager to take on that challenge.

As we began developing recruitment plans and class curriculum, we were inspired by our essential workers and their resiliency; and as a result our theme this year came naturally: Leadership is Not Cancelled.

As we know, every year ABLDP participants are challenged to work together over the year to identify a need in our community and to propose an impactful solution, all while they get to grow professionally. Our 2020 cohort did not disappoint and have already made an impact in our community; from bringing attention to vacancies on Boards and Commissions to providing access to Mental Health resources.

We also want to thank our community leaders for your participation this year and inspiring our cohort with your words of wisdom, including: President & CEO of SA 2020, Molly Cox, Co-founder and CEO of IRYS, Beto Altamirano; President and CEO of Visit San Antonio, Casandra Matej; CO-Founder and CEO of Geekdom Media, Lorenzo Gomez; City of San Antonio Councilwoman, Dr. Adriana Rocha Garcia; President & CEO of Communities in Schools, Rey Saldana; Mr. Alexander Briseño; and our graduation keynote speaker, President and CEO of CPS Energy, Paula Gold-Williams.

We are so proud of the Class of 2020 – the legendary virtual edition – for being trailblazers and setting an exemplary example that Leadership is Not Cancelled. On behalf of the San Antonio Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, our community partners, sponsors, and Steering Committee, we congratulate this year’s Class of 2020!

2020 ABLDP Tri-Chairs

Jason Rodriguez – HNTB Corporation

Maria Nelson – RS&H

Santiago Jaramillo – Via Metropolitan Transit

ABLDP 2020 Graduates

(Organized by Action Teams)

“Creativity Counts SA”

Kristal Rios, Nationwide Insurance

Kristin Baer, Defense Language Institute English Language Center

Ramiro Guerrero, USAA

Maricela Diaz-Wells, VIA Metropolitan Transit

Melanie Tawil, SwipeTrack Solutions, LLC

“PromotingLinksSA”

Dirce Hernandez, USAA

George McCauley, CPS Energy

Jasmine Grant, Schulman, Lopez, Hoffer & Adelstein, LLP

Lori Alvarez, Nationwide

Roxy Rios, Division Laundry & Cleaners

“Streets to Seats”

Aaron Mireles, USAA

Georgina Garcia, City of San Antonio

Jennifer Brooklyn, The RK Group

Jose Cordova, CPS Energy

Larnzell Harper, VIA Metropolitan Transit

“FLIP, the Financial Literacy Internship Program”

Jennifer Gilmore Adamo, Trinity University

Angela Gonzales, USAA

Daniel Mendez, San Antonio Water Systems

Heriberto “Eddie” Rodriguez, CAST Schools

Lynnette Villarreal, UT Health San Antonio

Suzanne Westrum, CAE, SABOR

“San Antonio Mental Health Co-Op”

Hilary Tellez, USAA

Maria Torrez, Nationwide Insurance

Melissa Lopez, CPS Energy

Osvaldo Crespo III, Trinity University

Robert Arzola, JLL

“Mind the Gap”

Cassian Flores, Generations Federal Credit Union

Geremy Landin, STAAMP Allergy

Tiffany Pricem, DWG, Landscape Architect

Rachel McCubbin Roberts, IMG, Marketing Manager

ABLDP 2020 Steering Committee

Brittany Alonzo, USAA

Christopher Mammen, San Antonio Economic Development Foundation

Delia Covo, Teach for America

Gladys Hernandez, Leadership SAISD

James Chandler, The IMG Studio

Jennilee Garza, UTSA

Jessica Leal, CHRISTUS Santa Rosa Health System

Karen Ivy, Texas A&M University-San Antonio

Marissa Rodriguez, Incarnate Word High School

Matthew Loaiza, San Antonio Public Library

Rachel Brehm, dwg.

Simon Castillo, CPS Energy

Stacy Jones

Terry Rawe, Nationwide Insurance

ABLDP 2020 Facilitator

Winslow Swart, One Million Dreams



Thank you to our ABLDP 2020 Sponsors:

About ABLDP

The mission of the Alexander E. Briseño Leadership Development Program (ABLDP) is to enrich leadership and professional development through strategic planning, change management, teamwork, sustainability, and civic engagement.

The ABLDP will provide you with the skills to succeed in today’s working environment. The program provides networking and learning opportunities with existing and emerging civic and corporate leaders in San Antonio, as well as promoting leadership on boards and commissions.

The program is named after retired San Antonio City Manager and former San Antonio Water System Board of Trustees Chairman, Alexander E. Briseño. Mr. Briseño retired as City Manager in March 2001 after almost 11 years in office. As Chief Executive Office, he managed the administration of a full-service municipal government as directed by City Council and oversaw an annual budget of $1.2 billion. Mr. Briseño supervised the activities of all city departments with 12,000 employees, serving a community of more than 1.1 million residents and 417 square miles. Mr. Briseño has also been appointed Professor of Public Service in Residence at St. Mary’s University where he teaches graduate courses in public administration. The San Antonio Hispanic Chamber of Commerce is proud to have its premier leadership development program named after such a distinguished public servant.