Texas Border Business
The RGV Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (RGVHCC) and the Rio Grande Valley was well represented at the Texas Association of Mexican American Chambers of Commerce “Women of Distinction” Awards Luncheon in Austin on May 16th. The RGVHCC is proud to announce that Margarita de Leon and Adelita Muñoz were 2 of the 10 women in Texas that were honored.
Ms. De Leon is the founder of the Gorditas Doña Tota franchise and founder of the “Pellizcadas” Mexican food restaurant chain. Her career as a businesswoman in the United States began in 1994, starting in a trailer, which then changed to an actual establishment that lasted about five years. By July 2007, she opened a second location in Mission and from there continued to open restaurants. Now there are six restaurants with two more expected to open this year.
By September 2013, seeing the need that there was in the Rio Grande Valley of rescuing the authentic traditions of our parents, she decided to create this concept of Mexican food. She works hand-in-hand with the University of Texas Pan American and the Mexican Consulate in McAllen in presenting and promoting Hispanic and women-owned businesses and restaurants through a series of workshops and continued participation in events and activities.
Ms. Adelita Muñoz has worked extensively within what is now named the Texas Agri-Life Extension Service under Texas A&M University as an Extension Agent. She has experience in training those with little or much education in topics such as ethics, people skills, communications, stress management, health, marriage and parenting skills, as well as conflict resolution, medication, and goal setting. Her passion for empowering people has been recognized at the local, state and national levels. She is an enthusiastic leader that is very well respected by her colleagues, in social service agencies of Hidalgo County.
Ms. Figueroa-Muñoz has provided outstanding and dedicated leadership for helping Expanded Nutrition Programs. She has dedicated her life to empowering families, and especially women, to become self-sufficient after years of hardships, abuse and low self-esteem issues. She helps offer classes for parents who have had their children taken away from them. This helps prepare them in order for Child Protective Services and judges to award custody back to them.
Other winners were: Cecilia Castellano, President and CEO of AZTECA Designs, Inc. of San Antonio; RosiGonzalez Collin, Public Relations Executive, Citgo Refinery of Corpus Christi; Marie Diaz, President/CEO of Pursuit of Excellence, Dallas; Veronica Escobar, County Judge, El Paso County, El Paso; Stephanie Hernandez, National Business Manager, National Latino Peace Officers’ Association, Austin; Sally Hurt Deitch, President/CEO, Sierra Providence East Medical Center, El Paso; Mercy Murguia, Potter County Commissioner, Amarillo; Liliana Rambo, Parking Director, City of Houston Airports, Houston; Evelina Solis, Founder and President, Sol2Soul, Buda and Patsy Torres, Ph.D, Owner Director, Positive Force Tour, Inc., San Antonio.
“The RGVHCC is extremely proud to our two nominees and encourage other women to become active with the Hispanic Chamber so they too can meet other powerful business women, not only in the Rio Grande Valley but in Texas”, states Cynthia M. Sakulenzki, RGVHCC Pres./CEO. TBB
