Rosemary V. Neill

Ms. Neill is the Manager-Family and Community Services for the County of El Paso. Prior to this position, Ms. Neill was the Administrative Coordinator for the Office of the El Paso County Judge. Her educational background includes a BA from UT Austin and a Masters in Public Administration from UTEP. She previously worked for the Upper Rio Grande Development Company, an SBA fixed-asset lending program and for the West Texas Economic Development District, an EDA funded program to promote regional trade and industry strategies for economically disadvantaged residents. Ms. Neill spent 6 years in high-level positions with the YWCA of El Paso, including Child Care Administrator, Resource Development Officer, and Associate Executive Director. She also served as District Administrator for a Texas state representative, a social services case manager, private consultant and Instructor at El Paso Community College. Ms. Neill has more than 25 years experience serving on various non-profit boards.

Albert Ron Bloxom

Mr. Bloxom is a self-employed professional fiduciary. He attended school in El Paso and received a post-graduate degree as a Trust Major from The Southwestern Graduate School of Banking at Southern Methodist University in Dallas. Mr. Bloxom is a self-employed businessman who has developed, owned and operated various small businesses since 1985, including commercial lending and investment businesses. His prior professional experience includes over thirteen years in various positions in commercial banks. Mr. Bloxom has served on several non-profit boards over the years. Mr. Bloxom’s years of service on this board and those of other charitable organizations lend credibility to his desire to see this community progress socially and economically.

Jose Aguilar

Mr. Aguilar is a retired Executive Director for Project Bravo (the local CAP Agency) where he served for over 30 years. He is a graduate from the University of Texas at El Paso where here received his Bachelor and Masters in Education. Mr. Aguilar has 18 years experience in executing managerial/supervisory responsibilities and 8 years experience in housing. Mr. Aguilar has been a member of the Board since 2003. Mr. Aguilar’s deep commitment to serving the poor and disenfranchised is evidenced by his long service to the community as CAP Agency director. He continues to use his membership on the Collaborative’s board to influence projects that serve this community.

Cristina Bringas

Cristina Bringas has been with Wells Fargo Bank since 2000. Her current position is Business Relationship Manager for the Commercial Group. Prior to this position she served as a Project Manager in Phoenix, AZ and a Branch Manager in three different El Paso branches, including the Downtown Main Branch. She holds a BA in Business Management from the University of Phoenix. Her education and background in banking are a valuable asset as the Collaborative develops its Small Business Lending Component.

Jessica Margherio-Alvarez

Jessica Margherio-Alvarez has been a Commercial Lending Officer at United Bank of El Paso Del Norte since 12/2006. Her prior position at this Bank was Senior Credit Analyst/Underwriter, July/02 – Dec/06. She was formerly employed by Wells Fargo Bank where she was in charge of handling turn-down consumer loan applicants, processing/analysis of each request & recommendation for approval, examination of credit, collateral, and packaging of loans. She is an engaged member of the community as evidenced by serving as a Speaker/ Participant in UTEP’s Franchise Management Seminar Program 2004- Present, a Board Member of EPISD Fund 2007- Present, and Treasurer EPISD Fund 2008.

Patti Olivas

Patti Olivas is the Owner and Associate Broker of Re/Max Elite. She has been in the real estate business for over twenty years and is credited with assisting more than 5,000 families to move in and out of El Paso. Ms. Olivas has closed more than $20 million worth of properties and has worked extensively with the military housing market. She is a graduate of the Real Estate Institute, an Accredited Buyer’s Representative, and a Certified Residential Specialist. During her career, she has received numerous awards from the real estate industry, including one for Outstanding Salesmanship from Re/Max. She is currently serving on the Multiple Listing Board of Directors, and is a member of the Gateway Toastmasters. As a Board Member, Ms. Olivas’ extensive knowledge of the real estate industry is a highly valuable asset.

Ronald A. Munden

Co-Owner of EPV Group

In 1985 Ron Munden moved to El Paso from New England, where he was Vice President for the "Fortune 100 Company", Wang Laboratories. As President of the Accugraph Corporation, in 1999, Mr. Munden and his two partners formed the EP Venture Group.

The EP Venture Group is a software engineering, services, and support company. Its intelligent-graphics based products have been used in a variety of innovative applications and have become the tools of choice for modeling, design, and linking intelligent graphics to enterprise level relational databases.

In addition to serving on the Collaborative's board, Mr. Munden has served as Chairman of the United Way of El Paso, President of the Software and Information Technology Organization, Board of Advisors to UTEP's Computer Science Department, Senior Vestry member of St. Francis on the Hill Anglican Church, Co-Chair of the Camino Real Angels, Board Member of the Greater El Paso Chamber of Commerce and continues to serve on many community organizations. 

Barbara Walker

Ms. Walker holds the position of Territory Account Manager for Cisco Systems, Inc. where she has worked since 1998. Prior to that she worked for other large corporations including Productive Data Systems, ESEI, and El Paso Natural Gas Company. She has a long history of community engagement and has provided innumerable hours of volunteer assistance to the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce-BizTech; the Technology Group, where she was appointed by the City Manager as one of the community leaders developing a blueprint for transforming the city; Co-Chair of Digital El Paso, providing wireless Internet in underserved areas in El Paso County; and El Paso Lyceum, a team charged by the City of El Paso’s Mayor to meet the 2005 goals of the Regional Economic Summit. She is a former board member of Loretto Academy, a private Catholic school; former Chair of the Upper Rio Grande Tech Prep School to Career; and former Co-Chair of the Educational Citizens Advisory Panel, a working group that provided input for the legislative agenda for U.S. Congressman Silvestre Reyes. She has received several awards from an array of organizations including: the El Paso Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, the El Paso Catholic Diocese, the YWCA, and congressional recognition for outstanding service to the community. In 2008 Ms. Walker was inducted into the El Paso Women’s Commission Hall of Fame (Professional/Business category). Ms. Walker’s extensive networking in the community and professional expertise make her a valuable asset to the Collaborative’s governing board.

Alberto Mesta Jr.

Alberto Mesta Jr. earned a Juris Doctor degree from the University of Texas School of Law in 2002 and a BA in Political Science from the University of Texas at El Paso in 1999. He is a practicing attorney and the Branch Manager of Texas RioGrande Legal Aid, Inc. where he is the primary attorney litigating for farmworker and related employment cases. His other practice areas include consumer law, notably in third-party debt collection defense, day labor wage litigation, and representing low-income individuals before the IRS. As a law clerk, he has experience working in the El Paso County Attorney’s Office, Las Americas Immigrant Advocacy center, and the 327the Texas State District Court. In addition to serving on the Collaborative’s Board, Mr. Mestas’ present community involvement includes serving on the Programs Committee for Las Americas Immigrant Advocacy Center and serving on the Board of Directors of the Nonprofit Enterprise Center. He also served as the Legal Advisory Committee Member for the Legal Clinic for the Homeless from 2004-2008. Elected to the Collaborative’s Board in June 2009, Mr. Mestas brings a wealth of legal knowledge and experience to the Board.

Oscar Villasana

Oscar N. Villasana

Oscar N. Villasana is a Business Lender with Bank of the West since 1998. He is responsible for the day-to-day operational aspects of small business lending to the El Paso Community such as underwriting business startup loan requests, provide counseling to customers, and perform written analysis of financial statements and recommendations. Oscar obtained a Master of Accountancy degree from the University of New Mexico in 2007 and a Bachelor of Business Science-Accounting from the University of Phoenix in 2004. Elected to the Collaborative’s Board in August of 2010, Mr. Villasana brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the Board.

Monica Balderrama

Monica Balderrama is a former KFOX-TV reporter. She served there for almost 10 years and wasthe first "Eastside Bureau Reporter". Her career in journalism began in Las Cruces at the student-run T.V.station KRWG. She graduated from NewMexico State University with a Bachelor of Arts in Government. She is currently attending Webster Universityfor a Masters in Business Administration.

Yolanda Ahner

Ms.Yolanda Chavez Ahner has been appointed Vice President, Workforce/EconomicDevelopment and Continuing Education for all El Paso Community College (EPCC)District programs in Continuing Education and Workforce Development. In this capacity, she'll oversee Health,Industry Training and Personal Enrichment, Non-Credit Business Programs, LawEnforcement Academy, Advanced Technology Center (ATC), Senior Adult Program,Workforce Development, Small Business Development Center, Literacy Programs,Contract Opportunities Center, and Customized Training.

Ms. Ahner served as Interim AssociateVice President (AVP) of Workforce Development and Lifelong Learning overseeingall El Paso Community College (EPCC) District programs in Continuing Educationand Workforce Development.

Ms.Ahner retired from EPCC in 1993 while she was the Dean of Students. During the years she was retired, she servedas Director of Radford School, Campus Student Services Officer at Dona AnaCommunity College, Corporate Financial Officer at Dolphin Delivery, andConsultant. Ms. Ahner also has 18 yearsexperience with El Paso Public Schools.

She received her Master of Educationand Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration from the University of Texas atEl Paso (formerly Texas Western College.) She was also a graduate of Austin High School.

Ms.Yolanda Chavez Ahner has been appointed Vice President, Workforce/EconomicDevelopment and Continuing Education for all El Paso Community College (EPCC)District programs in Continuing Education and Workforce Development. In this capacity, she'll oversee Health,Industry Training and Personal Enrichment, Non-Credit Business Programs, LawEnforcement Academy, Advanced Technology Center (ATC), Senior Adult Program,Workforce Development, Small Business Development Center, Literacy Programs,Contract Opportunities Center, and Customized Training.

Ms. Ahner served as Interim AssociateVice President (AVP) of Workforce Development and Lifelong Learning overseeingall El Paso Community College (EPCC) District programs in Continuing Educationand Workforce Development.

Ms.Ahner retired from EPCC in 1993 while she was the Dean of Students. During the years she was retired, she servedas Director of Radford School, Campus Student Services Officer at Dona AnaCommunity College, Corporate Financial Officer at Dolphin Delivery, andConsultant. Ms. Ahner also has 18 yearsexperience with El Paso Public Schools.

She received her Master of Educationand Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration from the University of Texas atEl Paso (formerly Texas Western College.) She was also a graduate of Austin High School.

Lisa Garibay

LisaY. Garibay was born and raised in El Paso, attended Amherst Collegein Massachusetts, and worked in the entertainment industry for morethan 15 years in Los Angeles. Garibay has produced award-winningmovies including RobbingPeter,which premiered at the 2004 Los Angeles Film Festival and wasnominated for four Independent Spirit Awards; the groundbreakinggraffiti documentary BombItby acclaimed experimental filmmaker Jon Reiss; and Anayansi Prado'sChildrenin No Man's Land,tackling the issue of undocumented children crossing the U.S.-Mexicoborder alone.

Asa music supervisor, Garibay secured the first-ever original filmscore by legendary rocker Alejandro Escovedo for RobbingPeterand amassed a collection of seminal rock-en-Español artists for thesoundtrack to EastSide Story.As a screenwriter, Garibay's feature script AllFor Onewas selected to participate in the first-ever NALIP/New York LatinoFilm Festival Latino Writers Lab, where it secured representation bymajor talent agency International Creative Management (ICM).Garibay's film career began at Woods Entertainment under producersCary Woods and Cathy Konrad (Kids,CopLandand Scream).She then served as production assistant with Jim Brooks' Gracie Filmsfor BottleRocketand JerryMaguire.

Garibayworked with Film Independent (FIND) for more than a decade,overseeing corporate marketing, fundraising, programming andpublicity for the organization's year-round activities as well asits two high-profile annual events, the Los Angeles Film Festival andthe Independent Spirit Awards. Garibay also managed FilmIndependent's Project:Involve minority mentorship program toincrease diversity within the film industry.

In2002, Garibay created LARGetc. to provide effective grassrootsmarketing, publicity and creative business strategy for independentartists, companies and nonprofits spanning the globe. In 2008,Garibay launched the LARGep division of her company in El Paso, Texasto help artists, entrepreneurs and nonprofits within the world'slargest border community achieve their full potential.

LARGetc.clients have included 20thCentury Fox, the American Music Awards, Grammy® nominated rockmusician Joshua Bradford, Columbia Pictures, Gagen MacDonald, specialeffects whiz Aaron Sims (GreenLantern,Warof the Worlds),and Warner Bros. Studios. LARGep clients have ranged from the CenterAgainst Family Violence, Cinco Puntos Press, the El Paso BarAssociation, El Paso Opera, Plaza Classic Film Festival, and the RioGrande Cancer Foundation to venture capitalists Cottonwood TechnologyFund, the City of El Paso Downtown Revitalization Plan and privateequity management firm PDN Capital.

Garibay'snonprofit experience includes convention and tourism coordinationwith the El Paso Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and marketingmanagement for NATPE (National Association of Television ProgramExecutives), overseeing online and print communications for theindustry's largest nonprofit association of TV industry pros.

In2004, Garibay partnered with noted film consultant Peter Broderick tocreate Films To See Before You Vote, using films as tools to inform,inspire and organize voters and pioneering new means of utilizing theInternet for crowdsourcing towards greater funding, distribution andactivism opportunities. She is the founder of CineMás, a nonprofitinitiative linking film with education and community developmentamong Latino populations, and co-founder of The Impacto Project,which teaches indigenous youth to use photography and video forcultural preservation and economic growth. She serves as managingeditor of El Paso Entrepreneur Network, cultivating funding &connectivity opportunities for emerging businesses in theever-growing border region.

Garibayis also a journalist who writes for BackStage,Dazed& Confused,FilmmakerMagazine,TheSan Francisco Bay Guardian andmany others. Her nonfiction was published in the literary anthologyNewWorld: Young Latino Writers.She is the founder of ThenItMustBeTrue.com, an alternative outlet forartists and journalists to have intelligent discussions about theirwork, including filmmakers Pedro Almódovar, Michel Gondry, WalterSalles and Lars von Trier as well as musicians Gustavo Santaolalla,Phil Selway (Radiohead), Peter Murphy, Dave Navarro, and many others.For this work, she was awarded an Arts Writing Fellowship from theSundance Institute.

Garibaysplits her time between Los Angeles and El Paso, where TheEl Paso Timesnamed Garibay a "Leader of Tomorrow" in 2010. In El Paso, sheserves on the Board of Directors for the El Paso Collaborative forCommunity & Economic Development and the Rubin Center for theVisual Arts. She proudly owes her vocation to a healthy obsessionwith The Beatles and AHard Day's Night.

Bobby Blanco

For Bobby, helping people attain their financial goals is rewarding work. As Partner & Director of Risk Management for Strategic Wealth Advisors, Bobby takes a comprehensive approach to insurance and estate planning. He sees his role as helping people make well-informed decisions about their life's dreams. His vision is to help individuals avoid major financial setbacks & simplify their financial lives.

With over 16 years of experience in the financial planning profession, Bobby is a qualified adviser in the areas of financial, insurance and estate planning. He provides comprehensive planning that examines taxes, cash flow, insurance, wills and trusts, retirement and investment planning. Bobby is a staunch advocate of the Trusted Advisor model. Bobby obtained his CRFA™ (Certified Retirement Financial Advisor™) designation from the Society of Retirement Financial Advisors in 2005.

Bobby served as board president of Big Brothers Big Sisters in El Paso from 2002 to 2003. He is currently the Vice Chair for the March of Dimes in El Paso and the College of Business Alumni Chapter for UTEP as well as being a qualifying member of the Million Dollar Round Table. Bobby was born and raised in the El Paso area and is a graduate of Coronado High School and the University of Texas at El Paso. Bobby is an accomplished musician and has released three musical albums to his credit and donates all proceeds to his favorite charities. Bobby and his wife Cassandra have been married for twelve years and have two children, Evan and Ava.