OUR LEADERS
Our alumni come from different industries including commercial, industrial, civic, business, education, and healthcare, and come together with the mission to bring their community together and devote themselves to getting involved in their community in a handful of ways.
Current Class
Abel Riojas
Ailynn Galvan
Aldo Rodriguez
Andrea Vela
Anissa Leverett
Armando Oyervides
Bryon Guerra
Carlo Flores
Christina Saldivar-Garcia
Christine Califa
Cristina Monroy
Cyndi Cantu
Cynthia Villanueva
Emma Miller
Erin Quinn
Giovanni Escobedo
Iris Casiano
Janna Wiley
Jerome Brooks
Karla Madrigal
Karla Morales
Leilani DeLeon
Madeliene Kroll
Melissa Del Toro
Nick Maddox
Orlando Castaneda
Sara Montoya-Hernández
Vivian Vargas
A Legacy of Leaders
For 40 years, it has been our mission to allow community members from all walks of life and backgrounds to grow as leaders and develop a deeper connection and understanding with their community, while also offering an opportunity to draw upon the expertise and experiences of their local region and make government accessible.
For Seby Haddad, class of XXXII, Leadership McAllen was a critical point in his journey to elected office. He feels that the program provided a positive and comfortable environment that brought together networking, education, experience, while inspiring civic involvement. “Not only did we learn about City government, but the program instilled the idea that each person could make a positive impact, in any capacity and in varying degrees, so long as they got involved. Leadership McAllen taught us that we are all one community and in service to each other, we work towards the betterment of all.”
Maxine Longoria, class of XX, served as an incredible Judge for juveniles, ruling from the bench with a perfect example of tough love. She was both strict and compassionate, fully realizing that the decisions she made on the bench could play a critical role in the lives of every young person who went before her. She continues to serve our community as the Chief Assistant Criminal District Attorney for Hidalgo County.
Changing the face of our community is what Nick Rhodes, class XXXVI, has dedicated his career to. His vision and keen business sense has played a significant role in the development of Tres Lagos, Villa on Freddy, and several other residential developments. “The program was eye opening for me in seeing the potential of the young people of the valley and their desire to make our community a destination place for their friends and family to live. I had a preconceived notion before that our young, educated professionals wanted to get out of the valley. Being in leadership helped me meet a lot of people to change that bias I had.”
Chris Ardis, Class X, is a retired teacher, writer, and advocate. She dedicates countless hours dedicated to St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital, suicide awareness and prevention, and fighting for public education and public-ed employee’s and retirees’ benefits. Chris credits Leadership McAllen with helping her broaden her network outside of her field. Seeing the needs in the community became a major source of inspiration. “You learn that YOU, the PEOPLE, really ARE your community.”
Legacy is quite literal as Leadership McAllen alumni now include multiple generations of McAllen families. Tony, Nicole, and Karen Aguirre show the leadership ripple effect even in the family nucleus! Tony, class of V, gives back to the community in many ways including serving on the City of McAllen PUB, the City’s important Audit & Investment Committee, as a board member for VIDA, and as a bank trustee. His older daughter Nicole graduated from Leadership McAllen class of XXXV and has returned to RGV to work in the field of residential development. Tony’s younger daughter, Karen,class of XXXIX, went through Leadership McAllen last year and works as an elementary school Teacher in McAllen ISD, inspiring our little ones to become leaders.
Edna Posada, class of XXI, and Alexandria Posada, class of XXX, are another great example of leadership legacy. Both women are McAllen business owners dedicated to our community and devoted to mentoring and inspiring women.
Awards & Recognitions: The Alex Longoria Leadership Award
The “Alex Longoria Leadership Award” was established in 2001 to honor the memory of McAllen Police Chief Alex Longoria. The late Chief Longoria was a graduate and Steering Board Member of Leadership McAllen. His humanitarian spirit, philanthropic work, and outstanding leadership have had a positive, enduring effect on our community.
Through the presentation of this annual award, it is the intention of the Leadership McAllen Steering Board to recognize other individuals whose spirit and leadership have helped shape our community in a similar way. The award recognizes leaders whose dedication and commitment have helped to improve the quality of life in McAllen.
Recipients
2002 Rick Guerra
2003 Dr. Jerry Polinard
2004 Danny Boultinghouse
2005 Mike Blum
2006 Belinda Cowan
2007 Lucile Hendricks*
2008 Glen E. Roney*
2009 Carlos Garza
2010 Mike Allen*
2011 John Kreidler
2012 Karen Valdez
2013 Joe Brown
2014 Michael Fallek
2015 Dora Brown
2016 Pat Blum
2017 Jason Leal
2018 Edna Posada
2019 Chris Ardis
2020 Dr. Shirley Reed
Outstanding Graduates
Ruben Bosquez
Rick Guerra
Danny Vela
Alonzo Centu
Tony Aguirre
Juan Partida
Providence Boneta
Karen Valdez
Dora Brown
Joe Brown
Brian Lewis
Ben Smith
Sonia Falcon
Michael Fallek
Edna Posada
Jason Leal
Robert Rosell
Gabrielle Espino
Seby Haddad
Jose (Pepe) Cabeza de Vaca
Maria Elena Sulemana
Ronnie Tavarez
