Gene Belmares is a 1982 graduate of United High School. Gene attended Laredo Junior College (LCC) and studied accounting and finance. Mr. Belmares entered the workforce and built a successful business career that has spanned 40 years. He has served as director of sales and marketing for notable firms such as Thomas Petroleum, Arguindegui Oil, WestWind Homes, and La Posada Hotel.

In 1998, he was appointed to the Airport Advisory Board by Council Member Joe Guerra. Gene Belmares was elected Chairman of the Republican Party of Webb County in 2000. In 2002, Mr. Belmares successfully ran for and was elected to the Laredo City Council.  During his tenure as a council member, he chaired the Water Issues, Sports Venue, and Legislative Affairs Committees.  He also served on The Metropolitan Planning Organization and the Veterans Affairs committee. While on the council, he created and chaired the District 6 Advisory Committee which featured a wide variety of subject matter experts, and business, and community leaders. Among his many council achievements, is the creation of North Central Park including the Shiloh bike trails which stands as a testament to his commitment to the future citizens of Laredo. He also championed the landmark Laredo Clean Air Act that eliminated smoking in public places and the now widely used Greenspace Ordinance.

Gene Belmares is a Partner in and the Business Development Officer for Liquid Studio Group, South Texas’s premier digital marketing and advertising firm.  He is a former member of the Laredo Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors and currently sits on the Board of The Laredo Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. Gene is a member of the City of Laredo’s Ethics Commission. Gene is also a Lector and a Fourth-Degree Knight of Columbus at San Martin De Porres Church.  He coached for over 14 years in the Boys and Girls Club Flag Football League and has been involved in many civic and charitable events.

Gene Belmares is married to Analicia Perez Belmares, United Class of 87’. He has six children Michael, Joshua, Jacob, Jessica, Jeremiah, and Jordan.

Mayra Hernandez is a senior student affairs professional with over 13 years of expansive leadership and progressively responsible across institutional functional areas. Mayra leads institution-wide initiatives based on professional expertise in cross-functional collaboration, student development, grant writing, strategic planning, assessment, and cross and innovative problem-solving. She demonstrates a history of creating and supervising high-performing teams that deliver results while supporting and advocating for a work-life balance for employee wellbeing.

As a first-generation Latina, she understands the importance of educational access and opportunity to help create a more socially just society by securing basic needs for citizens to support and increase a better quality of life. She’s been awarded several grants and recognized for her effort to establish excellent working relationships at the local, state, and federal levels. A firm believer in volunteerism, she serves in multiple community organizations which support equality and inclusion exertions. She graduated from Texas A&M International University, where she received her bachelor’s in Psychology with a minor in Criminal Justice and a master’s degree in Political Science with a minor in Public Education Administration.

Lynne Nava holds a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from Texas A&M International University. She is retired from the City of Laredo where she was Executive Director of Environmental Services Department’s award winning program Keep Laredo Beautiful.

As a passionate and committed member of her community, Lynne still works with the nonprofit sector maintaining multiple positions on various boards.

I was born & raised in Laredo. Like many, I left Laredo to pursue higher education at Southwest Texas State University in San Marcos, TX. There, I received my degree in Health Education & Women’s Studies. Once graduated, I lived and worked in Central Texas for several years at various family clinics & working with Travis County’s blood, organ and tissue donation efforts. A decade ago, I made the decision to move back to Laredo. I currently work in the field of Health Administration, serving as HIM Coordinator for Laredo Specialty & Rehabilitation hospitals.

I am an avid dog lover, owning an abundance of Chihuahuas whose lives make my life complete. When I’m not volunteering, I enjoy practicing yoga, attending live music events and discovering new podcasts or documentary films to dive into.

Hi! My name is Graciela, I love God, my family, friends, my furry friends, my job, Laredo, and the many organizations that I help throughout my community. I enjoy the outdoors and gardening.“I am so proud to help keep Laredo beautiful. To me, Laredo will forever be the true heart and gates of Texas with Mexico.”

I’m an environmental scientist/ consultant with 14 yrs experience working in the field. I have a bachelor’s of science in Environmental Science, masters in Biology from TAMIU and currently a PhD candidate for environmental engineering at TAMUK. I own a small environmental consulting firm “Brewster Environmental Quality Services” and was recently appointed as the Director for the LBV environmental science center at Laredo College.

I’m a bird enthusiast, and run a small bird rehabilitation and rescue group for avian species and other wildlife called “Laredo Avian Rehabilitation, Transport and Education” as a hobby. I hope to bring more awareness to the needs of companion birds and to establish a rescue aviary in Laredo.