SAN ANTONIO (May 27, 2021) – Celebrating over 20 years and inspired by a true San Antonio Icon, the Alexander Briseño Leadership Development Program (ABLDP) is excited to start their 2021 class! The San Antonio Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (SAHCC) is proud to announce its ABLDP program’s 39 business professionals who were selected to take part in this year’s program.

ABLDP has inspired and graduated many leaders in our community and has been successful in creating impactful community initiatives such as the annual VIA GoCodeSA Codeathon, ReadySAGo!, Transit on Tap brewery event series, and the RAICES Court Observer Program in partnership with St. Mary’s University to name a few.

Our participants will be immersed in educational sessions that address topics that spark an interest in becoming a change-agent in San Antonio. Topics will include strategic planning, leading and managing change, building great teams, improving quality both operationally and culturally, and creating and sustaining professional and organizational results. In addition to developing individual and organizational leadership acumen, the program serves as a social innovation accelerator to foster social and economic impact action teams.

“After all that our community has been through in the past year, it is amazing and encouraging to me that these class members were ready to dedicate themselves to this program and our community,” said ABLDP 2021 Co-Chairs Santiago Jaramillo and Maria Nelson. “We are confident that this class will be a class full of energized and passionate leaders that will make a lasting impact on San Antonio. We are excited for this upcoming class year and the transformational program in store for the new class members!”

Named after Mr. Alexander Briseño, retired San Antonio City Manager, distinguished Professor of Public Service in Residence at St. Mary’s University and Hispanic Chamber 2013 Chairman of the Board, this year’s program will provide participants with a unique opportunity to learn from our community and business leaders in both the public and private sectors.

The Hispanic Chamber congratulates the following 39 individuals who were selected to participate in this year’s highly competitive program:

• Vijay Babu, CPS Energy
• Josh Baugh, KGB Texas
• Gregory Bible, VIA
• Christian Biedenharn, Irys
• Sara Briseño Gerrish, ReMax Unlimited
• Elvira Camargo, Fisher, Herbst & Kemble P.C
• Sonia Cisneros, Tru Branding
• Richard Delgado Jr., Texas A&M San Antonio
• Veronica Diaz, Teach for America San Antonio
• Jacqueline Earhart, Accenture
• Miles Earwood, San Antonio Police Department
• Christopher Escovedo, Toyota
• Luisa Espinosa, Toyota
• Lucy Gale Walsworth, American Red Cross
• Roger Garcia, The Witte Museum
• Robert Garcia, CPA, The CPA Guy
• Deborah Gonzalez, San Antonio Metropolitan Health District
• Janell Guzman, USAA
• Alexander Hernandez, Security Service Federal Credit Union
• Kathryn (Katie) Himes, Northwestern Mutual
• Krystina Irvin, Texas A&M San Antonio
• Ricardo Lopez, Toyota
• Amanda Loza, Broadway Bank
• Frances Martinez, San Antonio Water System
• Jaime Medina, USAA
• Patty Mendoza, Texas A&M San Antonio
• Maria Miers, USAA
• Thierry Mizero, Toyota
• Valerie Molina, Toyota
• Josue Morales, C.H. Guenterh & Sons
• Jessica Motayne, Bexar County Sheriff’s Office
• Susan Ramos-Sossaman, San Antonio Housing Authority
• Lauren Rogers, Pape-Dawson
• Erica Santana-Alvarado, Integrated Human Capital
• Arlyn Thobaben, Texas Physical Therapy Specialists
• Daniella Toll, San Antonio Public Library
• Bianca Torres, Nationwide Insurance
• Adam Velez, The Center for Healthcare Services
• Melissa Zarb-Cousin, Parallel

A special thanks goes out to the 2020 ABLDP Steering Committee:

Steering Committee Co-Chairs:

• Santiago Jaramillo, VIA Metropolitan Transit
• Maria Nelson

Steering Committee Members:

• Terry Rawe, Nationwide Insurance
• Blanca Maldonado, Freeman Coliseum
• Gladys Hernandez, SA2020
• Simon Castillo, CPS Energy
• Karen Ivy, Texas A&M University San Antonio
• Matthew Loaiza, San Antonio Public Library
• Rachel Brehm, dwg.
• Stacy Jones, Centro San Antonio
• Kristin Baer, Defense Language Institute
• Lori Alvarez, Nationwide Insurance
• Courtnie Mercer, The Public Theater of San Antonio
• Roxy Rios, Division Laundry & Cleaners, Inc
• Delia Covo, Teach for America San Antonio

For more information about the Alexander Briseño Leadership Development Program please contact Emma Hernandez at EmmaH@sahcc.org or (210) 208-8207 or visit our website at www.sahcc.org.

About the San Antonio Hispanic Chamber of Commerce:

Founded in 1929, America’s first Hispanic Chamber and San Antonio’s only Five-Star accredited organization by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the San Antonio Hispanic Chamber of Commerce continues to be the leader in business assistance, connecting its members to needed resources, providing procurement, marketing and networking opportunities, advocating for legislation affecting small businesses and corporations in the San Antonio metropolitan area, and better training to develop the skills of our local workforce.