Texas Border Business
The McAllen Citizens League (MCL) is pleased to host an informative and timely discussion concerning an issue that affects us all. The Rio Grande Valley faces increasing water challenges driven by drought, population growth, aging infrastructure, and ongoing operational disputes related to the 1944 U.S.–Mexico Water Treaty. These pressures have contributed to historically low reservoir levels, intermittent riverbed drying, and significant impacts on agriculture and municipal water systems. Potential solutions include conservation, water reclamation, desalination, infrastructure investment, and improved regional and binational water management strategies. MCL has assembled an experienced panel of water experts and advocates to participate in this event which will be held on Thursday, January 15, 2026 at 11:30 a.m. the Rio Bank Event Center located at 701 E. Expressway 83 in McAllen.
Our panelists include:
Mark A. Vega, P.E. is the General Manager of McAllen Public Utility, where he oversees water, wastewater, and utility operations for the City of McAllen. A McAllen native, he earned his Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from Texas A&M University–Kingsville and began his career in private civil engineering before joining McAllen Public Utility in 2003. Vega has held leadership positions in the utility’s engineering and management teams and was appointed General Manager in 2014. He has appeared in media and city discussions on water system planning, infrastructure, and community resource management.
Brian Macmanus is a licensed Professional Engineer and General Manager of East Rio Hondo Water Supply Corporation, where he leads water and wastewater utility operations, infrastructure planning, and regulatory compliance efforts. He has extensive experience in managing rural water systems and has testified before the U.S. House on water infrastructure challenges affecting rural communities. He is a graduate of Texas A&M University.
Sonny Hinojosa is the retired General Manager of Hidalgo County Irrigation District No. 2 and a long-time water management leader in the Rio Grande Valley. He has decades of experience with water delivery systems, regional water planning, and irrigation infrastructure, and continues to be engaged in water policy and stewardship initiatives.
Joshua (“Josh”) Moroles is an environmental health and water literacy advocate and documentary filmmaker from the Rio Grande Valley. He focuses on raising awareness about water quality, infrastructure challenges, and public health impacts affecting local communities, including through his documentary “Before We Drowned” and other community outreach efforts.
Isaac V. Sulemana is Chief of Staff for Hidalgo County Judge Richard F. Cortez, where he supports strategic initiatives and policy coordination for county operations. Previously, he worked as a prosecutor in the Hidalgo County Criminal District Attorney’s Office and maintains legal practice experience. He is a graduate of the University of Texas School of Law and Texas A&M University.
The panel will be moderated by Julian Alvarez III who is the Executive Vice President – Director of Community Relations at Lone Star National Bank. He is the principal ambassador for the company, responsible for sharing its vision with the local community. The Director of Community Relations is responsible for developing a strategy for building and maintaining programs and activities that will have a positive impact on the community. He previously served as Commissioner Representing Labor for the Texas Workforce Commission, representing more than 14 million Texas workers, and has held senior leadership roles in regional economic development, public policy, and education.
Please call (956) 681-2861 to make your reservation to attend this informative luncheon meeting by no later than 1/12/2026. Voice message is accepted. Lunch fee is $20 for MCL members and $23 for non-members and having lunch is always optional. Credit card payments and check payments are preferred and may be paid at the registration table although phone or online prepayment is recommended.
Please access the following link to reserve and make your payment and reservation on an online basis: https://link.clover.com/urlshortener/86HfGV
If you have a question about your membership status or to inquire about becoming a member, please call Irma Murray at 956-457-1280. Annual membership dues of $30 per member will also be collected at each of these meetings. More information may be found on our social media pages: Facebook or Instagram.
