35th Anniversary  
Issue 14, March/April 2013
new IHN logo 2012Noticias logo green font
Serving local government professionals and strengthening Latino communities  
President's Message

By: Jesus Nava, IHN President,   

Chief Administrative Officer, Santa Clara Valley Water District

 

This issue of Noticias is dedicated to the 35th anniversary of an auspicious gathering of Latino local government managers who met and birthed the effort that has become the IHN. This issue will explore who was there; what happened and why. But most importantly it will familiarize you with the individuals who planted the seeds that now bear so much fruit.


We asked members to share any information with us related to the founding of the IHN. We also cobbled together as much history as possible from verbal accounts and written records. We contacted former Board members and conducted research on the Internet. In the end, it is not so important that the facts be perfectly accurate but that the names and works of those who plowed the ground before us be remembered. Our organization, like many of us, has humble but deep and firm roots. These are a few of the people that made it happen.


One name that kept coming up as "a key individual" was Severo Esquivel. I met Severo on several occasions but knew little about him. I therefore decided to learn more about one of our founders.


I came across a newsletter called "Track Down Management," published by Jack A. Simpson of Cerritos, CA that profiled Mr. Severo Esquivel in December 2008. In his article, Mr. Simpson highlights Severo as one of the "Magnificent Eleven" former city managers [who] "do not receive appreciative recognition for their commitment and attention to providing and improving needed public services and facilities."


Mr. Simpson notes that Severo's first public job was in 1960 as Assistant Surveyor for the City of Visalia, CA. Severo then worked for ten years in the private sector before his appointment as Special Assistant to the City Manager in Tacoma, WA in 1972. He also served Tacoma as Assistant to the City Manager; Deputy City Manager and Assistant City Manager. In 1979, Severo was appointed City Administrator of Yuma, AZ and in 1983 he assumed the position of Deputy City Manager for the City of Phoenix.


Severo sought the more moderate climate of southern California and returned to the Golden State in 1988 as Deputy City Manager in San Diego. In 1994 Severo was appointed City Manager of Pomona, CA where he worked until he retired in 2000. As an encore, he served as Administrative Services Director for the City of Fresno, CA.


Severo's Linkedin profile indicates that he earned a Bachelor's of Science in Civil Engineering from the University of California at Berkeley; a Master's degree in Urban Studies from Occidental College in Los Angeles and a Master's In Business Administration from Southern Illinois University. 

 
Severo served as a National Urban Fellow; President of the Arizona City/County Management Association and Regional Vice-President of the International City/County Management Association. He is a recipient of the ICMA 25-Year Service Award.


Please take time to think about Severo's work and how it has helped transform the profession over the last 35 years. It is because of his selfless efforts and devotion to promoting Latinos in local government management that we are here today. There are many who were mentored and tutored by Severo including several former IHN board members. These individuals now continue his work in a multitude of cities and counties throughout the country. The IHN continues his legacy.


Gracias Severo for all you have done. We can never repay you but will work hard to follow your fine example as an excellent manager; upstanding citizen and champion for the cause. 

Chronology highlighting IHN milestones

A History of the Minority Program 

 

1969 - Report of the lCMA. Task Force on Race Relations, titled Managing for Social and Economic Opportunity. Bottom line: ICMA should develop a strong effort to increase the number of blacks in local government management.

 

1970 - Started a program: called "Minorities in Management" under a contract with the Department of Housing and Urban Development. This was the era when three black mayors--Stokes of Cleveland, Thatcher of Gary, and Gibson of Newark--were rare exceptions as chief elected officials in local government, and there were only two black city manages (Insker, Michigan, and Compton, California).

 

1972 - National Conference, Washington, D.C., "Minorities in Management in Local Government," organized by ICMA, created a sense of opportunity among black students and local government officials. Special task force recommended establishment by ICMA of a minority placement service.

 

1974 - Start of the funding support by the Ford Foundation-a matching grant of $110,000 for a five-year period. ICMA starts the Minority Executive Placement Program. Appointment of Richard Monteilh as first full-time director of the program.

 

 1977 - Women in management added as an objective of the program. Michael Rogers appointed second full-time director.

 

1978 - Ford Foundation grant of $25,000 to support women in management, plus $20,000 for the Minority Executive Placement Program (making a total of $244,000 for minority and woman support programs from the Ford Foundation.-

 Contract with HUD for $100,000 for a one-year period to provide a Hispanic emphasis program within minority program, and to conduct a peer-sharing workshop for Hispanics (Cincinnati, October 1978).

- Hispanic committee appointed with Joel Valdez (City Manager, Tuscan, Arizona) as chairman-held first meeting in Phoenix, April 8, 1978.

 

1979 - Conference, Mayflower Hotel, Washington, D.C., for minorities and women in the public service, organized by ICMA.

-  HUD contract for assessment of municipal service delivery in Hispanic communities, amount $271,000, for a two-year period.

- After operating for five years with support from ICMA, Ford, and HUD, Minority Executive Placement Program shifted to a fee basis, with the objective of becoming self-supporting; annual budget of $122,000, estimating $92,000 from city subscribers, and $32,000 from talent bank listings. Five-year program results: used by 450 local governments, directly involved in 496 executive placements after making 1140 job referrals.

 

1980 - National Association of Counties and National League of Cities each contribute $5,000 to ICMA for support of Minority Executive Placement Program.

 

1981- Conference in San Antonio for Hispanics in local government, organized by ICMA. 

 

1983 - Contract with Health and Human Services in the amount of $200,000 to develop and transfer models for employment of Hispanic youth.

 

Note: In addition to the grants and contracts described above, ICMA has provided $438,000 from members' dues to support these programs.

Founding IHN Members Share Their Perspective

By: Nachie Marquez, Chair of Communications Committee and Director, Communications and Public Affairs, City of Chandler, AZ

 

 

When our Communications Committee started brainstorming story ideas for the International Hispanic Network's (IHN) 35th Anniversary Edition of the Noticias Newsletter, we felt it was important to hear from the organization's founding members and those who followed - the "second generation IHN Leaders" - as we called them. We thought it would be interesting to get their insight and also help us capture this significant part of IHN's history.

 

Founding member Severo Esquivel helped set the stage of what the dynamic was like prior to the official start of the organization that was then known as the "Hispanic Network," which was established on April 8, 1978.

 

Mr. Esquivel was the first Hispanic to ever serve on the International City/County Management Association (ICMA) Board. He was a Vice President At-Large. In 1976, after finishing his term on the ICMA Board, he tried to get ICMA to provide staffing for a Hispanic Committee of some type.

 

According to Mr. Esquivel, at the time, ICMA had funded a "Black" forum and a Young Professionals group, which they thought was a good effort to recognize Hispanics as well. He tried to convince ICMA that this was not the case - Hispanics were not part of the group. He then enlisted the help of other Hispanic city officials such as, Joel Valdez from Tucson, Arizona, who was one of the first Hispanic City Managers of a large City; incoming ICMA President Roy Pederson, who was City Manager from Scottsdale, Arizona, and a past president of ICMA; and others to help get ICMA to recognize Hispanics in city government. The group was successful in securing a commitment from ICMA to assign a part-time staff person to help get a Hispanic group started. So, as Mr. Esquivel states, "The politicking, direct and indirect, to get recognition was the first step - our first 'networking'- and the Hispanic Network was born!"

 

To help understand the history and beginnings of the IHN and where we are today, we sought input from our founding members and second generation members. What follows below, in their own words, are their testimonials.

 

Unfortunately, due to challenging health issues, we did not seek comments from Joel Valdez, former Tucson, Arizona, city manager and one of IHN's founding members. Many of the founding members described Mr. Valdez as the "Godfather" of IHN! Our thoughts and prayers are with Mr. Valdez and his family.

 

Magazine cover with founding members
Above: 1985 PM Magazine article with pictures of 8 of the IHN Founding Members - Rolando Bono, Alex Briseno, George Flores, James Jaramillo, Ruben Mendoza, David Mora, Gavino Sotelo, and Tony Ojeda.  Severo Esquivel was not pictured.

~~~~~

Why did you feel it was necessary back then to establish a Hispanic network?

 

 

In the 1970s, there were very few Latinos and other Hispanics in CM, ACM and other management positions in local government, so we naturally banded together as an informal group to increase our numbers.  The first effort was the HUD grant to fund MPA programs in universities that had significant Hispanic enrollments.  Without getting into the details of that, the program was successful.  Our next focus was to get recognition from ICMA so that all city managers would see Hispanics as potential hires.  At the time, most CMs viewed Affirmative Action as hiring African Americans (then referred to as Blacks) and maybe women.  The ICMA Hispanic Network was the beginning with the part time ICMA staffing and a Board that met at the ICMA Conference.  We were listed in the Conference Program as a way of getting the aforementioned recognition and attention. 

 

By 
Severo Esquivel, Founding IHN Member, retired Pomona, California, City Manager and former ICMA and ICMA-RC Board of Directors member.
 
 ~~~~~

 

In 1978, the number of young Hispanics or Latinos in local government was beginning to increase significantly with more Hispanics pursuing careers in local government administration. And yet, at the national level, there was little awareness of this new phenomenon. ICMA had almost no Hispanic representation, and if my memory serves me correctly, at that time, there were fewer than 20 Hispanics who were members of ICMA, yet a number of us were occupying high level positions in local government either as city managers or as senior assistants. We decided it was time to do something about having representation, and with the assistance of federal funds, we began the work to organize a national organization affiliated with ICMA to promote professional development and representation for Hispanics both in local government as well as in ICMA.

 

By Tony Ojeda, Founding IHN Member and current IHN Vice President for Programs and Conferences, Retired Assistant County Manager in  Miami Dade County, Florida. ICMA member for more than 40 years, having served as Vice President. Currently, the President of CivicTech and Associates, a local government management consulting firm.

 

~~~~~

 

It was lonely at City Hall and at ICMA conferences.  When I attended my first Executive Team meeting in 1977 as Assistant to the City Manager in San Antonio, I was only the third Latino in the meeting of more than 30 men (no women) in a city that was more than 50% Hispanic.  When I attended my first ICMA conference in 1978, there were only a handful of Latinos, or as my Mother used to say, "unos cuantos gatos."  We used to joke that our first Hispanic Network meeting was in the back seat of a taxi cab.

 

By Alex Briseño, Founding IHN Member and former IHN President, Retired San Antonio, Texas, City Manager, past ICMA Executive Board member, and former member ICMA-RC Board.

 

~~~~~

 

I joined ICMA in 1971 as an ICMA Minorities in Management Fellow. The first ICMA Conference I attended was in 1972 in Minneapolis, Minnesota, where we met all the other ICMA Fellows. The ICMA Minorities in Management Program had been around for a few years, but until the Denver and Phoenix chapters were created, there had not been any Hispanic Fellows in this nationwide program. What struck me at the time were the lack of Hispanic ICMA members as well as the lack of Hispanic City Managers and Hispanic Assistants. You could count the number of Hispanic Managers and Assistants on one hand who attended the ICMA conference in Minneapolis.

 

In light of the race riots that occurred throughout cities nationwide in the 1960s, ICMA was committed to creating diversity within its membership, which was severely lacking at the time. The ICMA Executive Director at the time, Mark Keane, along with the ICMA Board did so by creating programs in the 1970s like the ICMA Minorities in Management Program, the creation of the ICMA Black Emphasis Program, and an ICMA Women's Committee.

 

The ICMA Hispanic Committee would later be established in 1978 as the result of the efforts of Hispanic City Managers, such as Joel Valdez and Severo Esquivel working with ICMA Executive Director Mark Keane. These efforts lead to the creation of the ICMA Hispanic Committee and Ruben Mendoza from Tucson, Arizona, being hired as the first Director of the program.

 

The Hispanic Committee would ultimately morph into the ICMA Hispanic Network. The Black Emphasis Program would end when the National Forum for Black Public Administrators (NFBPA) was created and the Women's Committee also underwent several metamorphoses, and its successor is the current Women Leading Government (WLG) initiative.

 

By George Flores, Founding IHN Member and former IHN President, Retired Phoenix, Arizona, Deputy City Manager, and  past ICMA Executive Board member. Currently serving as Development Services Center Manager for the Town of Buckeye, Arizona.

 

~~~~~

 

The Network was required in order to: 

 

Provide a personal and professional support for Latino local government management professionals.  The Network provided a forum for discussion, consultation, and mentoring.  Among the priorities, Network members then able to promote were advocacy for increasing the numbers of Latino local government professionals and recognition and understanding of a growing Latino population and how the local government profession could best work with that population.  

 

By Dave Mora, Founding IHN Member, Retired California City Manager, former IHN President, ICMA President, ICMA Board member, League of California Cities City Managers Department President, and currently ICMA Senior Advisor and Chair of the ICMA Retirement Corporation Board of Directors.

 

~~~~~

 

As I started to attend ICMA and state association conferences early in my career as an Assistant to the City Manager in San Antonio, I noticed that there didn't seem to be many Hispanics in local government leadership positions.  In addition, the professional associations that I belonged to would start the conferences by introducing association leaders and officers and Hispanics seemed non-existent.  As you scanned a largely filled reception room, the number of Hispanics within those ranks was very small.  I was very impressed by some of our very early leaders like Joel Valdez and Severo Esquivel who did have a presence within these groups and were so very encouraging to some of us that were just starting out.  That encouragement was something that I felt I could carry on myself to other Hispanics and what we now call IHN seemed to be a natural and necessary vehicle to use to extend fellowship and support to others who would be entering the local public service profession.

 

By Rolando Bono,Founding IHN Member and  former IHN President, Retired San Antonio, Texas, City Manager, past ICMA Executive Board member, and current member of the IHN Leadership Council.

 

~~~~~

 

Thirty five years ago, it was lonely being in a Hispanic leadership position. It was with some pride when I was invited to San Antonio to meet with others in key positions throughout the country. As you might guess, all of us were from border cities with Hispanic populations. This has changed somewhat as the Hispanic population now spread throughout the country. 

 

The reinforcement that we provided each other was a lot of help in those days.  We were focused on the necessity to recruit more Hispanics and bringing our presence to the attention of municipal managers. The fact that the organization is still active is a tribute to that success.

 

By Jim Jaramillo, Founding IHN Member, Former Chief Administrative Officer in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Currently is the owner and host of Jardin Del Mar guest houses in La Cruz de Huanacaxtle, Nayarit, Mexico.

 

~~~~~

 

In the beginning, it was simply out of loneliness.  I was the ACM in Odessa and the only Hispanic in a management position in the city. Attending manager meetings for TCMA and ICMA, I was always looking for brown faces.  Unfortunately, there were less than a handful in Texas, and ICMA was no better. Luckily, I finally met Alex Briseño, Joel Valdez, Tony Ojeda, Jim Jaramillo and the one who got us all together, Ruben Mendoza.   

 

It quickly became clear that if we wanted more brown faces, we would have to do something about it. 

 

By Gavino Sotelo, Founding IHN Member, Retired General Manager, Laguna Madre Water District, Port Isabel, Texas.

  

~~~~~

 

It was determined through research by the ICMA Minority Executive Placement Program that very few Hispanics were involved with ICMA and professional State groups in general, and that nationwide there were only about 17 Hispanic City Managers. This statistic prompted action on the part of staff at ICMA and by the few Hispanics involved with the Association.  The Hispanic Emphasis Program and a nationwide scholarship program for Hispanics going into local government resulted from efforts by a few dedicated individuals who found the statistic unacceptable.

 

By Ruben Mendoza, Founding IHN Member, past ICMA Hispanic Program Director. Currently serves as Executive Vice President for Estrada Hinojosa & Company.

 

  

~~~~~

How would you describe the IHN today in comparison to the Hispanic Network you helped found?

  

 

Severo Esquivel I  I have not been involved for several years, but I'm glad to see that Latinas are so involved in City Management, which was one of our goals.

 

Tony Ojeda I  IHN is now a nationally recognized organization affiliated not only with ICMA, but with a number of other national professional organizations like ASPA, etc. Our membership has grown, and while we are not yet where we want to be in terms of the number of persons who can join IHN, we are committed to increasing that number to reflect the professional involvement of Latinos in local government. We are devoted to developing professional local government administrators serving the Latino communities, and, in my opinion, we have moved tenfold in reaching this objective since we were first created.

 

 

Alex Briseño I  Today's IHN is bigger, broader, and better.  The members are more numerous representing more communities in a broader range of professional  classifications.  It's clearly more diverse geographically, and there are many more women members.
 

 

George Flores I  It is always very hard to compare movements such as the ICMA Hispanic Network then and now, but I will offer up my own personal perspective.

 

 Because we were the founding members of what were then the original seven members, I believe we were much more passionate about the initiative than the current membership just simply because of the time in history in government as well as national events that were the back drop of the movement and the creation of the Network.

 

We also did not have a formal structure of Officers for the Committee. Joel Valdez, Tucson City Manager, was our leader by proclamation. We met when we had to in various cities of the country, ICMA Conferences etc. and invited any local Hispanics in government to attend our meetings and participate anywhere meetings were held.

 

In 1981, we organized and held a national Hispanics in Government Conference in San Antonio, Texas, which drew more than 880 participants from local, state and federal government. I am not sure if that attendance has ever been duplicated by any Network Conference.

 

 

Dave Mora I  The original Network was an idea; today's IHN is a reality.  Membership numbers have grown over the years, although not as aggressively as required for adequate representation in the profession.  Partnership of the Network was originally limited to ICMA; partnerships have and now include opportunities with elected officials, the academic community, state organizations, and community organizations. 

   

 

Rolando Bono I  Today's IHN is much more organized as an entity, and the ability to blast out newsletters and emails allow much faster connection with our members.   When the network first started, the networking was based on face-to-face meetings at conferences, mail, and phone calls.  Even conference calls were a complicated and expensive means of communication back then.  Fax machines were slow, and therefore, expensive to operate on a long-distance basis.   Much of our work was face-to-face or at a minimum mouth-to-ear.  Travel was not as financially constrained as it is now, so the networking between members would occur at National League of Cities conferences, state associations, ICMA meetings, and somewhat later, our own conferences were scheduled.  Unfortunately, many of the face-to-face opportunities have been lost again due to budget constraints. 

 

 

Gavino Sotelo I  To be honest, I'm not sure just what the IHN goals are, and what actions are being taken to achieve those goals. Our original goal was to recruit more Hispanics into the profession.  This required an aggressive action on our part to convince the managers to hire Hispanics in management positions. We also got ICMA to support our efforts, and we were successful in acquiring money from different Federal agencies for scholarships for graduate students in Public Administration.  We also spent a lot of time recruiting members to the IHN. I don't see anything like that happening now.  Frankly, I don't know what you do.

 

 

Ruben Mendoza I  The IHN today is more independent and broader based than what we originally founded.  Our effort was geared towards ensuring that the word got out that Hispanics were involved in Local government at all levels nationwide, but very few were in the top position of City Manager.  We felt that once younger mid-level Hispanic local government managers were exposed to individuals like Joel Valdez of Tucson, James Jaramillo of Albuquerque and Severo Esquivel of San Diego,  that they would understand that opportunities existed everywhere for an individual with sound local government management skills. Our emphasis also focused on ways to attract Hispanics to the profession.  We did this via regional conferences and scholarship programs as well as a national conference for Hispanics in Local government held in San Antonio, Texas.

 

~~~~~

Do you feel Latinos have made advancement in local government? Did the Hispanic Network have any influence on these changes?

  

 

Severo Esquivel I  Very definitely, as evidenced by the number of Hispanic  CMs, ACMs, Dept Directors and elected officials in city and county government.  The listings I see in ICMA and other employment publications today of Hispanics is very encouraging, as compared with the handful 41 years ago, when I started as a National Urban Fellow/Special Assistant to the CM of Tacoma, Washington.

 

Tony Ojeda I  Latinos have made great advancement in local government administration at all levels in comparison to the number involved 20 years ago, for example. However, we at IHN must remain vigilant and continue our advocacy for more participation of Latinos in local government, especially the presence of Latinos as city managers, assistant city managers, and department directors. Today, there are many opportunities for trained professionals in local government, and we at IHN need to develop training programs at colleges and universities that provide opportunities for Latino men and women to enroll in these programs to increase their opportunities for advancement.

 

In 1978-79, we obtained funding from the US Department of Housing and Urban Development to provide scholarships for Latinos majoring in public administration. Over the three years the program lasted, we graduated literally hundreds of men and women who went to serve and are serving in local governments today. This program is definitely one of the reasons we increased the number of Latinos in local government administration. I am very proud to have been part of that national program. And, we need to develop a similar program now.

 

 

Alex Briseño I  Absolutely, Latinos have advanced in numbers and in leadership positions in local government, and I know the Hispanic Network has played a major role in this achievement.  In 1981, one of the first accomplishments was the initiation of the "Hispanic Field Service Program," a collaboration structured by the Hispanic Network under the leadership of Joel Valdez, Tucson City Manager, who was our mentor and organizer of the "Seven Samurai."  The Program was funded by several Federal agencies and provided fellowships for Latinos to attend graduate programs at 16 universities throughout the country.  Although funded in the last months of the Carter administration (La Raza goes to the White House!) and lasting only three years, it resulted in more than 150 Hispanics receiving Master's degrees and pursuing careers in public administration.  Many of them are now leaders in local government and have served as role models for countless additional Latinos in public service.

 

 

George Flores I  Latinos have become a much greater part of local government, but are still not as greatly utilized as they should be at the executive levels. This has come as a result of the sheer numbers and growth of the Latino population, the politics of local government as well as the proactive efforts of local government managers understanding the need for their staff to look more like the communities they serve.

 

The Hispanic Network efforts were always focused on encouraging Latinos to consider local government careers. The Hispanic network also championed City and County Managers to hire more Latinos in their communities while encouraging the ICMA Board to ensure Latino representation on the ICMA Board.

 

  

Dave Mora I Limited advancements have been made.  Advancements might not have taken place if the Network had not been established.  Numbers of Latino local government management professionals (serving in all forms of government and at all management levels) have grown.  The original and continuing Network focus on city, county, and special district local governments has allowed there to be an emphasis on these community serving levels of government, but has not allowed the potential for membership growth in other government sectors, such as education or state/federal government.

 

 

Rolando Bono I  Yes, Latinos have made advancements in local government.  I think that this is particularly true in local elected positions in the Southwest, but also in other areas.    I am concerned, however, that the call to local government service to Hispanics has not been highlighted as with other professional pursuits, such as the medical field or engineering. With the rapid growth in our urban areas, I am concerned that as Latinos, we will not be able to fulfill the demand for experienced and well-trained public administrators. 

 

IHN has always been broader in encouraging professions at all levels to get involved. As a result, many of the varied ranks of municipal government leadership have participated in our organization and conferences.  We have been open to local elected officials and non-traditional occupations.  The networking opportunities have sparked advancement within the various levels of local government.

 

 

Jim Jaramillo I  The names of Hispanics in the news have certainly been an indication that there has been an increase. I would hope that the Network is a major contributor to this increase as there are certainly a lot of individuals like George Flores who have worked hard to this end.

 

 

Gavino Sotelo I  Yes.  However, after almost 40 years since we started, those numbers are still small.  I believe the Network had influence.There are managers now that were recipients of our help.

 

 

Ruben Mendoza I  I have no doubt in my mind that the Hispanic Network has had an impact.  I still work closely with Cities and Counties everywhere and I see the new faces of the Network and it gives me hope for the future.

 

 

~~~~~ 

What does the future hold for Latinos in local government? What advice would you have for a young Latino professional who is just starting out his/her local government career?

 

  

Severo Esquivel I  Obviously with the growth in the Hispanic population, Latinos in local government should grow. However, we (local government professionals) need to encourage uUniversity students to choose a local government career.  Also, those of you in CM, ACM and department director positions need to encourage and mentor employees with promise.  Sometimes, some talented employees may not have completed their education, so they may need the encouragement to get it and be more promotable.This can be viewed as a "growth from within strategy" in addition to university growth generation.The growth from within strategy is something I practiced with success, especially with Latinas, who often were relegated to clerical positions. 

 

   

Tony Ojeda I  As to advice to those just starting: Be involved in your local and state city management organizations. Also, young Latinos should attend local, state and national conferences to contribute, learn, network and be recognized and also, mentor others when you've moved up. Strive for excellence in all your work, continue your education, take prudent risks, think and plan beyond the immediate tasks at hand, and be prepared for the unexpected. Also, do not forget your family, your significant other. Don't be a workaholic; exercise. 
   

There are many opportunities for Latinos in local government today. As the Latino population continues to increase and gain political momentum and as we saw in the recent presidential elections, there will be continuing interest in having Latinos become involved in all aspects of higher education to access the new jobs that will be developed in the future. For IHN, our focus needs to be to continue to provide opportunities for professional recruitment and development so that Latinos can be properly trained so they can assume leadership positions in local government administration. In doing so, not only will they benefit, but they will also better serve their own communities.

 

In the future, the good jobs will go to those who have higher education,who have excelled in their studies, and who have acquired the skills necessary to meet the employment demands in a very competitive market. My advice to young Latinos is to maximize every opportunity to get ahead by taking advantage of the many opportunities available in higher education today.

  

 

Alex Briseño I  There will be growing opportunities for Latinos in local government.  Just look at the demographic changes as Latino presence grows throughout the country.  That means we'll need more professional, caring Latino public officials.  Be professional:  work hard, set the standard, strive for excellence and never be satisfied with less!  But in doing your work, be caring, exercising compassion for those who have less than we do.  That's what we've inherited from our parents and their ancestors.  Honor that legacy and practice "Gerencia con Corazon" or management with a heart...my mantra for my entire career.  Never lose the Corazon!

  

 

George Flores I  The future is very bright for all Latinos in local government whether they are just starting, mid-career or moving up the career ladder. I believe the opportunities are much greater today for those who go out and seize them than they were when the Hispanic Network was founded.

 

My advice to young Latinos is to network, network, and network! Look to develop sincere and not selfish "coaching" relationships with subordinates, peers, supervisors and managers. Learn from everyone around you and some of those coaching relationships you develop will morph into mentor relationships.

  

  

Dave Mora I  There has been a much larger advancement for Latinos in local government in the ranks of elected officials.The Network has not been a player in those increases. However, the opportunity for the Network, its membership, and younger Latinos seriously considering careers in local government can benefit from the increasing representation of Latinos in the ranks of elected officials. As more and more Latinos are elected to local government policy bodies, the Network can be a resource to those elected officials to support the provision of services in communities. Network membership should expand to include local government management professionals who share the values of community service and an understanding of changing demographics.  Network membership should increase among all local government professional managers, not just Latino professionals.

 

A career in local government, in whatever position, is a career that focuses on community service and enhancing the quality of life for community residents. As a city or county manager, the opportunity to contribute to the community has an even greater potential.  The manager's job is that of a partner in an organization that is governed by the local community through its elected officials, supported by the community residents who provide resources through their payment of taxes, fees, etc., and that benefits community residents as the city or county government provides essential services to those residents. The partnership is also inclusive of the manager's role in aiding in the overall delivery of services by dedicated public employees, without whom services could not be provided.

 

The personal and professional satisfaction gained from playing a role in the delivery of library, parks, recreation, public safety, quality infrastructure, and similar essential services was and continues to be in my mind a reward that cannot adequately be measured.  The job is difficult because it is by necessity public, collaborative, not necessarily efficient in an economic sense, and always subject to the constraint of insufficient resources to provide the quality demanded. In spite of those constraints, it is a vocation, a profession, and a responsibility that provides unique satisfaction.

 

 

Rolando Bono I  Be bold!  Volunteer! Never shrink back from any assignment. As much as you feel that you need a leg up on getting to a place that you wish to be in your career, there is always an opportunity to assist someone else who is right behind you.

 

 

Jim Jaramillo I  With the growth of the Hispanic population throughout the country, there is certainly a strong need for Hispanics in key positions in local government. The network should continue to provide role models like Joel Valdez (I am sure there are others) as well as recognizing and encouraging young and upcoming Hispanics.

  

 

Gavino Sotelo I  As the demographics change, there will be a need to hire Hispanic mangers who understand the culture and the need of their communities.  Be honest in everything you do, never forget who you are and why you're in the position you're in and help those coming behind you, but above all, have no fear.

 

  

Ruben Mendoza I  Personally, I feel very optimistic about the future.  The world is a very different place from what it was in 1978 when I went to work at ICMA.  I was pleased and content that I was around to see a Hispanic rise to the Presidency of ICMA.  My advice to young Hispanic professionals starting their local government careers is to acquire as much knowledge about every aspect of city management as possible, especially finance.  Everything in local government revolves around revenues and expenditures.  Also don't forget where you came from and be proud of your Latino background.  Your community may not always recognize your efforts but you can take satisfaction in the fact that you are ensuring they receive the same quality municipal service delivery as everyone else.

 

 

 ~~~~~

Anything else you would like to add?

  

 

Severo Esquivel I  Congratulations on keeping the dream going for 35 years.  Good luck on this anniversary publication.

 

  

Alex Briseño I  I am especially proud of my daughter, Veronica Briseño Lara, who is a department director for the City of Austin and now a leader in IHN. 

  

 

George Flores I  I was extremely proud of the courage displayed by the Hispanic Network Board when they requested the ICMA Board move the 2012 ICMA Conference from Phoenix, Arizona, after the State of Arizona passed SB 1070. It reflected positively on the thoughtfulness of the Network Board to stand for something that I believe was very important to the principles of the founding members of the Hispanic Network.

   

I was just as equally dismayed that the Hispanic Network after having their request rejected by the ICMA Board to move the ICMA Conference chose to fully participate in the 2012 ICMA Conference. I would have expected the Hispanic Network to hold to their principles as presented to the ICMA Board and not attend or participate in the 2012 ICMA Conference.

 

  

Jim Jaramillo I  I want to send "Abrazos" to my old colleagues of the original Network - (My how the years have passed).

 

   

Ruben Mendoza I  Only that as I near retirement I have been able to feel and recognize that my involvement with the Network and the profession have been very worthwhile endeavors.  I have made lifelong friends and met some very outstanding Hispanics in the profession.  I truly believe that I will probably live long enough to see the first Hispanic President of the United States.  I take comfort in that.

 

Founding Members
Pictured above is a more current picture of 4 of the IHN Founding Members - Rolando Bono, Alex Briseno, Gavino Sotelo, and Tony Ojeda.  

 

 *****

Second Generation IHN Leaders and the IHN Board Reflect on the Then and Now of IHN

 

As was done with our IHN Founding members, we also posed similar questions to the second generation IHN Leaders - those who followed the Founding Members - as well as the current members of the IHN Board. Here's what they had to say.

 

~~~~~

Why did you feel it was necessary back then to participate in a Hispanic network?

 

 

When I joined IHN, I was an entry-level analyst.  I felt it was necessary to participate in IHN to network with other Latino local government professionals from whom I could gain support and a wealth of informal coaching and mentoring; and to gain experience working directly with managers who had a variety of management styles.  I was able to do this by volunteering to work on IHN committees and serving on the IHN Board, allowing me to work directly with high-level managers from all over the country. 

 

By Julie Hernandez, Consultant, Management Partners/Former IHN Executive Director, President and Board Member.

 

~~~~~

 

Back then, the Hispanic community was slowly starting to have a voice in local government.  I wanted to make a difference in the community I lived in and by joining a Hispanic Network, I was able to work with other individuals also interested in helping Hispanics and other individuals learn how to improve the quality of life for all by learning to become not just a good public administrator, but a great one.

 

 

By Jane Bais-DiSessa, Current IHN Board Member and Past IHN Board President and current City Manager of Berkley, Michigan.

 

~~~~~
 

 

It is important that Latino leaders in public service support each other and provide opportunities for members to develop professionally. 

 

By Veronica Briseño Lara, Current IHN Vice President for Membership and Director for the City of Austin, Texas, Department of Small and Minority Business Resources Department.

  

~~~~~

 

I became involved in the Hispanic Network in 1989, when I moved to DC to become the Executive Director of the IHN.  At the time, I was a middle manager in the City of Phoenix organization.  During the almost seven years with the City of Phoenix, I was involved in professional organizations such as ACMA, ICMA and ASPA.  The city management profession struggled to incorporate diversity in its ranks.  This struggle continues today.

 

I took the position at ICMA because I wanted to contribute to the profession by serving the IHN and to use the opportunity to survey the profession from a national perspective and meet other Hispanic local government professionals throughout the country.  The experience was eye opening.  The experience guided other decisions that I have made regarding the direction of my career path.

 

By Ruth Osuna, IHN Board Member and City Manager for the City of Eloy, Arizona.

 

~~~~~

When I first joined the City of San Antonio, I was very interested in joining professional groups that I believed would be helpful to my career.  I joined the Urban Management Assistants of South Texas (UMAST) and the Texas City Management Association.  In both those cases, the meetings, events and conferences gave me an opportunity to connect with other professionals in the City and the State.  The UMAST was a great opportunity for me to learn many leadership traits/skills that I would use later in my career.  

 

The Hispanic Network was introduced to me as one of those professional opportunities. In particular, the Network was one that would allow me to be involved in national policy issues facing the profession and its members.  I became very involved and was driven to grow the organization and promote its relevance to other young professionals.  The Hispanic Network Board was very supportive of my enthusiasm and ideas.  After having held several leadership positions, I was elected to the Chair position.  The Hispanic Network gave me the opportunity to be involved in the ICMA in various committees, which ultimately allowed me to grow as a professional.

 

I strongly believe that the Hispanic Network is relevant to our Hispanic professionals today.  It is an avenue to professional development, and most important, the necessary mentoring and networking that is critical to career advancement.

  

By Frances Gonzalez, Former IHN President and currently serves as Assistant to Mayor Julián Castro for San Antonio, Texas.


 
~~~~~

How would you describe the IHN today in comparison to the Hispanic Network you helped lead?

 

 

Julie Hernandez I  When I served on the IHN Board, it was a committee of ICMA, funded by ICMA.  The biggest difference today is that IHN is an independent nonprofit organization; and governance, fundraising and operations of a nonprofit is very different from the management of a local government. 

 

 

Jane Bais-DiSessa I Thanks to the efforts of our founding members, the IHN of today has an equal standing amongst other professional local government associations.
 

  

Veronica Briseño Lara I  The organization has grown -  I think partly because the communities we represent have grown. The Latino population is changing, and the profession in general has had to adapt with it. 

 

   

Ruth Osuna I  The IHN continues to be a voice and a support to local government professionals.  It continues to encourage the professional development of Hispanic professionals and supports them throughout their careers in local government. Unfortunately, some issues remain the same because attitudes have been slow to change about the need for an organization such as IHN.  

 

  

Frances Gonzalez I  The "business" of leading professional development organizations is ever-changing and complex.  Hispanic professionals are not unlike any other professionals.  The expectations of their professional membership organizations are significant with respect to timeliness, robust information and stimulating electronic interfaces. The Hispanic Network/IHN brings value-added elements to a member.  The relationships and mentoring that are provided to a member are long-lasting and important to career-building.
  

The critical decision points facing the organization are blending the value-added elements with a robust information network for members.  Members have many exchanges of information on a daily basis and the Hispanic Network has to continue to penetrate that system with its own brand and message.  The Hispanic Network has its own niche and it needs to be shared with a constituency of professionals seeking an organization that shares their values.

 

~~~~~

Do you feel Latinos have made advancement in local government? Did the Hispanic Network have any influence on these changes?

 

  

Julie Hernandez I  Today, there are many more Latinos in local government management, in part due to IHN's emphasis on preparing the next generation through coaching and mentoring of members who participate in IHN.  IHN has always encouraged members to both mentor and be mentored through professional development and networking. 

 

  

Jane Bais-DiSessa I  Although change has been slow, Latinos have advanced in local government through the appointment of Hispanics in top city management positions in states such as: Arizona, California, Florida, New Mexico and Texas. I'm proud to say, that many of these appointments are members of IHN.

 

 

Veronica Briseño Lara I  We have made advancements, but there is room to advance further.  I think the Hispanic Network has played a role in the advancement by providing a resource to cities of potential candidates when opportunities arise.  Additionally, the professional development provided by the Hispanic Network has helped develop employees.  Both of these factors have strengthened Hispanic local government professionals.    

 

 

Ruth Osuna I  Yes, Latinos have made advancements in local government. They have played significant roles in the development of communities.  The IHN has been a part of these changes by encouraging members and supporting one another. 

 

 

Frances Gonzalez I  Latinos have had a significant impact on local governance, in particular bringing to the fore the added element of social justice in city management.  Across the country, communities are changing and becoming more diverse causing challenges in formerly nondescript service delivery.  New, diverse community residents have changed the usual methods of local governing and citizen engagement.  Cities are finding that their workforce is not equipped to handle these new residents.  The Hispanic Network and its members have been in the trenches delivering services to diverse populations for decades.  The skill sets needed by local management professionals are exactly those being practiced by Hispanic Network members everyday across the country.

The handprints of the Hispanic Network are clearly evidenced in the manner in which Hispanic professionals are delivering local services today. The support for and emphasis on respect for diversity, acknowledgement of human rights and equality are at the core of what the organization has advocated.  The Hispanic Network has had a major influence on these core values and how they are impacting the lives of residents.

 

 

~~~~~ 

What does the future hold for Latinos in local government? What advice would you have for a young Latino professional who is just starting out his/her local government career?

 

 

Julie Hernandez I  There is a large, unmet need for Latino top executives in local government - department heads, assistant city managers, and city managers.  In my conversations with executive recruiters, I've learned that the numbers of Latino managers is growing quickly in the middle management ranks; however, the number of Latinos who have made the jump to the executive ranks continues to be in short supply.  The next challenge for IHN is to mentor, coach and grow the next generation of Latino executive managers in local government. 

I would tell young Latino professionals to invest their own money and time into their own professional development.  In today's economy, it is not realistic to expect your local government to provide this for you.  Join IHN and other professional organizations; volunteer to work on boards and committees (this is one of the best ways to gain experience and access to Latino local government leaders across the country); attend meetings, conferences and events --  even if you have to take vacation time and pay your own way in order to participate.  In other words ... NETWORK!

 

  

Jane Bais-DiSessa I  Due to the large population growth of the Latino community in the United States, the future for Latinos in local government is excellent if they continue to strive for success in areas such as: higher education, political elections, and entrepreneurial opportunities. Given today's tough economic and political strife, my advice to the young Latino professional just starting their career in local government is to "be persistent, continue their educational efforts to learn and understand the qualities of a great leader, keep abreast of new, innovating technologies that improve the quality of life, and be willing to work in communities outside their comfort zone."   

 

 

Veronica Briseño Lara I  The future is bright.  The Latino population is growing - and Latino leaders should be ready to serve.  I would advise young Latinos to get as much well-rounded experience as possible.  Work on different projects, with different people to expand their horizons and to never shy away from a challenge.

  

There are so many possibilities. As the Latino population continues to grow, it is imperative that Latinos take on leadership roles in their communities and in the governance of their communities.  The Latino population has a lot to offer the future of their communities and the U.S.  

  

 

Ruth Osuna I  We must continue our commitment to mentoring young professionals entering the city management profession.  

  

   

Frances Gonzalez I The future for Latinos in local government is promising and yet full of challenges. Our communities need local governments that can relate to them in idiom, human and social, experience, culture and values.  The breadth of the Latino experience in the United States has produced individuals that are savvy, knowledgeable, educated, and principled.  The tools for success are not any different from those of 20 or 30 years ago.

 

Young professionals need to be grounded in their own personal, cultural experience in order to serve with integrity and passion. Service is about not just doing things right but doing the right things.  This holds true for public service and life.  Young professionals must be committed to life-long learning and development in order to maintain a current perspective.  Education does not end with the attainment of a diploma; on the contrary that milestone marks the beginning of that education.  The Hispanic Network provides young professionals with the environment and professional development opportunities to tap experienced leaders in the profession for guidance and support.

 

~~~~~  

Anything else you would like to add?

 

 

Jane Bais-DiSessa I I encourage all young Latino local government professionals to join IHN and help develop the next generation of great Latino local government leaders.  As the great labor leader and civil rights activist Cesar Chavez said:  "When we are really honest with ourselves, we must admit that our lives are all that really belong to us. So, it is how we use our lives that determines what kind of people we are, it is my deepest belief that only by giving our lives do we find life."  As a Public Administrator,  working for local government allows me to "give" and to help make the world a better place for all.

 

Ruth Osuna I Some may ask is the IHN still relevant.  Yes, it is still relevant because it has the possibility of continuing to break down barriers for the next generation of Latinos entering the city management profession.  The privilege of serving our communities has been bestowed upon us, and we must pass on that privilege.

 

Frances Gonzalez I The Hispanic Network has a distinguished history of service as represented by a long line of city management professionals.  Its roots were grounded in service, passion for local government management and respect for the public.  These descriptors are as vital and relevant today as they were at the founding of this organization. It is incumbent on all of us to keep the mission alive no matter the challenges. Our communities deserve no less.
ICMA 2

ICMA Overview

 

In 1972, the ICMA Retirement Corporation (ICMA-RC) was created by the public sector for the public sector. Established by the International City/County Management Association (ICMA) with the assistance of a Ford Foundation grant, ICMA-RC provided a portable retirement plan, enabling accumulated retirement assets to be transferred between employers.

 

ICMA-RC is a non-profit independent financial services corporation focused on providing retirement plans and related services for more than a million public sector participant accounts and approximately 9,000 retirement plans. Our mission is to help build retirement security for public employees. We deliver on our mission by focusing on service, quality, and value. City of Charlottesville, Virginia, ICMA-RC's first client, is still a client today.

 

We administered the first nationally available §457 plan in 1972 and offered public sector employers §401 plans in 1985.  We pioneered Retirement Health Savings (RHS) Plans in 2000.  In 2001, ICMA-RC contributed to EGTRRA, on behalf of public sector retirement plans. We consistently work with legislators, lobbyists, and political groups to maintain the integrity and unique qualities that separate public sector plans from other retirement plans.

 

ICMA-RC serves as the founding corporate sponsor of the IHN, and has since 2004 provided financial support for IHN activities.

 

All of our retirement programs, administrative services and educational tools have been developed specifically for public sector retirement plan administrators and participants. Our client retention rate is one of the highest of any public sector retirement plan provider.

 

ICMA-RC maintains a license agreement with ICMA that allows ICMA-RC to use the association's name as part of the ICMA-RC corporate name and in connection with the core activities of offering retirement plans, products and services to state and local governmental employers and their employees. 

 

This article is intended for educational purposes only and is not to be construed or relied upon as investment advice. Except as expressly permitted by ICMA-RC, reproduction or redistribution of this content in its entirety or any portion thereof, is strictly prohibited without the prior written permission of ICMA-RC. For more information, contact ICMA-RC at 777 North Capitol Street, NE, Washington, DC 20002-4240. 800-669-7400. Copyright © 2009 ICMA-RC. All rights reserved.
In This Issue
Chronology of Milestones
Founding IHN Members Share Their Perspective
ICMA Overview
Board of Directors History

Click here to see the PM Magazine Article that was published in 1985.  

Magazine cover with founding members
Founding members of IHN are pictured above on the PM Magazine cover. One member was not pictured.
IHN Vision Statement
 
Where the mission states the purpose of the organization, the vision describes the future. At the IHN Board retreat in January 2012, and revised on February 22, 2013 the Board created and adopted a vision statement for IHN.  The new vision statement is: 
 
Advancing Hispanic Leadership in Local Goverance

IHN Mission Statement 
 
A mission statement provides the purpose and direction for the organization. It gives a rationale for programs that are carried out by the organization, and fundamentally defines what the organization stands for and the reason for its existence. IHN's mission statement was adopted on September 12, 2012 and revised on February 22, 2013. The mission statement is: 
 
IHN Promotes excellence amoung Hispanic local government professional by:
 
- Preparing future Hispanic leaders for public service
- Providing unique resources to government executives and public managers
- And advancing the goals of the ethical profession 
IHN Corporate Partners Program

Signature Level
 


Oro/Gold Level

De La Rosa Logo

Compadre/Comadre

Magis Advisor


Amigos/Amigas
 
 WBrownCreative
Loop Capital logo and web address 

For more information on how to become an IHN Corporate Partner, contact IHN Executive Director Julie C.T. Hernandez at jcthernandez@ihnonline.org
Employment Announcements
 

For details on open positions  click here. 

Board of Directors History

 

ICMA Hispanic Network Board of Directors 1991 -1992

 

President Dave Mora, City Manager, City of Salinas, CA

President Elect J. Rolando Bono, Assistant City Manager, City of San Antonio, TX

Secretary Treasurer, Robert Griego, Deputy Chief Administrative Officer, San Diego County, CA

Past President Alexander Briseño, City Manager, City of San Antonio, TX

ICMA Board Liaison George Flores, Director, Development Services Department, City of Phoenix, AZ

Regional VP/South Juan Garza, City Manager, City of Corpus Christi, TX

Regional VP/West Prisilla Hernandez, Budget Director, City of Avondale, AZ

Regional VP/Central Randy Terronez, County Administrator, Isabella County, MI

Regional VP/North Calixto Torres, Director of Employment Resource Development Agency, City of Hartford, CT

 

At-Large Board Members:

Belinda Espinosa, Assistant City Manager, City of Grand Prairie, TX

Severo Esquivel, Deputy City Manager, City of San Diego, CA

Alicia Perez, Assistant City Manager, City of Austin, TX

Hector Rivera, Deputy Mayor/Chief Operating Officer, City of Yonkers, NY

Tony Ojeda, Jr., Assistant County Manager, Miami Dade County, FL

Peter Vargas, City Manager, City of Laredo, TX

 

 

ICMA Hispanic Network Board of Directors  1992 - 1993

 

President J. Rolando Bono, Assistant City Manager, San Antonio, TX

President Elect Calixto Torres, Director, Employment Resource Dev. Agency, Hartford, CT

Secretary Treasurer Prisilla Hernandez, Budget Director, Avondale, AZ

Past President Dave Mora, City Manager, Salinas, CA

ICMA Board Liaison Robert Griego, Deputy Chief Admin. Officer, San Diego County, CA

Regional VP/South Maria Swanson, Assistant City Manager, Hollywood, FL

Regional VP/West Julie Hernandez, Management Analyst, City of Oxnard, Oxnard, CA

Regional VP/Central John Mendez, Assistant City Administrator, Kansas City, KS

Regional VP/North Ralph Borras, Deputy City Manager Commissioner of Human Services, City of New Rochelle, NY

 

At-Large Board Members

Belinda Espinosa, Assistant City Manager, Grand Prairie, TX

Severo Esquivel, Deputy City Manager, San Diego, CA

Alicia Perez, Corpus Christi, TX

Hector Rivera, Yonkers, NY

George Flores, Director, Development Services, Phoenix, AZ

Peter Vargas, City Manager, Laredo, TX

 

 

ICMA Hispanic Network Board of Directors  1993 - 1994

President Calixto Torres, Director, Employment Resource Dev. Agency, Hartford, CT

President Elect Prisilla Hernandez, Town Manager, Superior, AZ

Secretary Treasurer Belinda Espinosa, City Manager, Soledad, CA

Past President J. Rolando Bono, Assistant City Manager, San Antonio, TX

ICMA Board Liaison, Robert Griego, Deputy Chief Admin. Officer, San Diego County, CA

Regional VP/South Maria Swanson, Assistant City Manager, Hollywood, FL

Regional VP/West Julie Hernandez, Management Analyst, City of Oxnard, CT

Regional VP/Central John Mendez, Assistant City Administrator, Kansas City, KS

Regional VP/North Ralph Borras

 

 

At-Large Board Members

Benita Duran, Assistant to the City Manager, Boulder, CO

Adriana Garza, City Manager, Douglas, AZ

Gilbert Hernandez, City Manager, San Juan, TX

Rosalinda Jalifi, Organizational Development Coordinator, Austin, TX

George Flores, Director, Development Services, Phoenix, AZ

Peter Vargas, City Manager, Laredo, TX

 

 

ICMA Hispanic Network Board of Directors 1994 - 1995

 

President Prisilla Hernandez, Town Manager, Superior, AZ

President Elect John Mendez, Assistant City Administrator, Kansas City, KS

Secretary Treasurer Julie Hernandez, Assistant to the City Manager,

Past President Calixto Torres, Assistant to the City Manager, City of Hartford, CT

ICMA Board Liaison Gus Cordova, Town Manager, Taos, NM

Regional VP/South Gavino Sotelo, Deputy City Manager, Lubbock, TX

Regional VP/West Michael Acevedo, Budget Analyst II/Housing, Phoenix, AZ

Regional VP/Central Joe Palacioz, City Manager, Hutchinson, KS

Regional VP/North Nancy I. Hernandez, Asst. Director, Camden Office of Hispanic Affairs/Court House, Camden, NJ

 

At-Large Board Members:

Benita Duran, Director of Special Projects, Boulder, CO

Adriana Garza, Deputy City Manager, San Jose, CA

Gilbert Hernandez, Mexican American Unity Council, San Antonio, TX

Rosalinda Jalifi, Organizational Development Coordinator, Austin, TX

George Flores, Director, Development Services, Phoenix, AZ

Robert Griego, Deputy Chief Admin. Officer, San Diego, CA

 

 

ICMA Hispanic Network Board of Directors  1995 - 1996

 

President John Mendez, Assistant City Administrator, Kansas City, KS

President Elect Belinda Espinosa, City Manager, Soledad, CA

Secretary Treasurer Benita Duran, Assistant City Manager, Boulder, CO

Past President Prisilla Hernandez, Assistant to the City Manager, City of Oxnard, CA

ICMA Board Liaison Gus Cordova, Town Manager, Taos, NM

ICMA Board Liaison Dave Mora, City Manager, Salinas, CA

Regional VP/South Gavino Sotelo, Deputy City Manager, Lubbock, TX

Regional VP/West Michael Acevedo, Budget Analyst II/Housing, Phoenix, AZ

Regional VP/Central Joe Palacioz, City Manager, Hutchinson, KS

Regional VP/North Nancy I. Hernandez, Asst. Director, Camden Office of Hispanic Affairs, Camden, NJ

 

At-Large Board Members:

Julie Hernandez, Assistant to the City Manager, Santa Paula, CA

Adriana Garza Deputy City Manager, San Jose, CA

Rosalinda Jalifi, Organizational Development Coordinator, Austin, TX

Eduardo Escobedo, Assistant Director, Planning & Development Dept., Dallas, TX

George Flores, Director, Development Services, Phoenix, AZ

Robert Griego, Deputy Chief Admin. Officer, San Diego, CA

 

 

 

ICMA Hispanic Network Board of Directors 1996 - 1997

 

President George Flores, Director, Development Services, City of Phoenix, AZ

President Elect Benita Duran, Assistant City Manager  City of Boulder, CO

Past President John Mendez, Deputy City Administrator, City of Kansas City, KS

Vice President Membership Michael Acevedo, Budget Analyst II/Housing City of Phoenix, AZ

Vice President Programs Ruben Duran, Assistant City Manager  City of Avondale, AZ

ICMA Board Liaison Dave Mora, City Manager  City of Salinas, CA

Regional VP/West Coast Belinda Espinosa, City Manager  City of  Soledad, CA

Regional VP/MountainPlains Debra Guerra, Assistant to the City Manager, City of Abilene, TX

Regional VP/Midwest Anita Rocha, Assistant Director, Office of the Attorney General, Westchester, IL

Regional VP/Northeast Madelyn Colon, Executive Director, Hartford Redevelopment Agency, Hartford, CT

Regional VP/Southeast Rafael Casals, Assistant City Manager, City of Florida City, FL

 

At-Large Board Members:

Julie Hernandez, Assistant to the City Manager, City of  Santa Paula, CA

Adriana Garza, Deputy City Manager, City of San Jose, CA

Rosalinda Jalifi, Organizational Development Coordinator, Austin, TX

Eduardo Escobedo, Assistant Director, Planning & Development Dept., City of  Dallas, TX

Gustavo Cordova, Town Manager  Town of Taos, NM

Robert Griego, City Manager, City of Irwindale, CA

 

 

ICMA Hispanic Network Board of Directors 1997 - 1998

 

President Benita Duran, Assistant City Manager  City of Boulder, CO

President Elect Julie Hernandez, Assistant to the City Manager  City of  Santa Paula, CA

Past President George Flores, Director, Development Services  City of Phoenix, AZ

Vice President Membership Michael Acevedo, Budget Analyst II/Housing  City of Phoenix, AZ

Vice President Programs Ruben Duran, Assistant City Manager  City of Avondale, AZ

ICMA Board Liaison J. Rolando Bono, Assistant City Manager  City of San Antonio, TX

Regional VP/West Coast Belinda Espinosa, City Manager  City of  Soledad, CA

Regional VP/Mountain Plains Debra Guerra  [resigned   10/9/97], Assistant to the City Manager, City of Abilene, TX

Regional VP/Midwest Anita Rocha, Assistant Director, Office of the Attorney General, Westchester, IL

Regional VP/Northeast Madelyn Colon, Executive Director, Hartford Redevelopment Agency, Hartford, CT

Regional VP/Southeast Rafael Casals, Assistant City Manager City of Florida City, FL

 

At-Large Board Members:

Noelia Chapa, Assistant City Administrator, City of Pomona, Pomona, CA

Robert Fernandez, County Administrator, Collier County, Naples, CA

Anthony Lopez, City Administrator ,City of Orange Cove, CA

Ramon Osuna, Human Resources Director ,City of Glendale, AZ

Gustavo Cordova, Town Manager, Town of Taos, NM

Dave Mora, City Manager, City of Salinas, CA

 

 

ICMA Hispanic Network Board of Directors 1998 - 1999

 

President Julie Hernandez, Assistant City Manager  City of Santa Paula, CA

President Elect Hector Rivera, Oak Bluffs, MA

Past President Benita Duran, Assistant City Manager, City of Boulder, CO

Vice President/Membership Mike Acevedo, Budget Analyst/Housing, City of Phoenix, AZ

Vice President/Programs Ruben Duran, Assistant City Manager, City of Avondale, AZ

ICMA Board Liaison J. Rolando Bono, Assistant City Manager, City of San Antonio, TX

Regional VP/West Coast Edmund Sotelo, City Manager, City of Oxnard, CA

Regional VP/MtPlains Frances Gonzalez, Director, Neighborhood Action Department, City of San Antonio, TX

Regional VP/Midwest Victor Vasquez, Jr., Assistant City Manager, City of Grand Rapids, MI

Regional VP/Southeast Jorge Gonzalez, Assistant County Manager, County of Arlington, VA

 

At-Large Board Members:

Noelia Chapa, Assistant City Administrator, City of  Pomona, CA

Robert Fernandez, County Administrator, Collier County, FL

Anthony Lopez, City Administrator, Hawaiian Gardens, CA

Ramon Osuna, Human Resources Director, City of Glendale, CA

Gustavo Cordova, Town Manager, Town of Taos, NM

Dave Mora, City Manager, City of Salinas, CA

 

 

ICMA Hispanic Network Board of Directors 1999 - 2000

 

President  Robert Griego, General Manager, Otay Water District, Spring Valley, CA

President Elect Ramon Osuna, Deputy Personnel Director, City of Phoenix, AZ

Past President Julie Hernandez, Assistant City Manager  City of Santa Paula, CA

Vice President/Membership Mike Acevedo, Budget Analyst/Housing  City of Phoenix, AZ

Vice President/Programs Frances Gonzalez, Director, Neighborhood Action Department, City of San Antonio, TX

ICMA Board Liaison Benita Duran, Assistant City Manager, City of Boulder, CO

Regional VP/West Coast Edmund Sotelo, City Manager, City of Oxnard, CA

Regional VP/MtPlains David Garcia, City Manager,  City of Corpus Christi, TX

Regional VP/Midwest Victor Vasquez, Jr., Assistant City Manager, City of Grand Rapids, MI

Regional VP/Northeast Jorge Gonzalez, Senior Assistant CAO,  Montgomery County, MD

Regional VP/Southeast J. A. (Tony) Ojeda,Jr., Director of Protocol, Intl Trade, Miami Dade County, FL

 

At-large Board Members

Noelia Chapa, Assistant City Manager, City of  Pomona, CA

Melisa Leal, Assistant to the City Manager  City of Grapevine, TX

Jesus Nava, Deputy City Manager  Mayor and City Council Relations/City of San Jose, CA

 

Past ICMA Board Liaisons

J. Rolando Bono, Assistant City Manager  City of San Antonio, TX

Dave Mora, City Manager  City of Salinas, CA

 

 

ICMA Hispanic Network Board of Directors 2000 - 2001

 

President  Ramon Osuna, Deputy Personnel Director  City of Phoenix, AZ

President Elect  Mike Acevedo, Budget Analyst/Housing  City of Phoenix, AZ

Past  President Robert Griego, General Manager  Otay Water District, Spring Valley, CA

Vice President/Membership Henry Taboada, City Manager City of Long Beach, CA

Vice President/ProgramsFrances Gonzalez, Assistant to the City Manager, City of San Antonio, TX, AZ

ICMA Board Liaison  Benita Duran, Assistant City Manager  City of Boulder, CO

Regional VP/West Coast Edmund Sotelo, City Manager  City of Oxnard, CT

Regional VP/MtPlains  David Garcia, City Manager  City of Corpus Christi, TX

Regional VP/Midwest Victor Vasquez, Jr., Assistant City Manager City of Grand Rapids, NW

Regional VP/Southeast J. A.(Tony) Ojeda, Jr., Director of Protocol, Intl Trade, Miami Dade County, FL

 

 

At-Large Board Members

Noelia Chapa, Assistant City Manager, City of  Pomona, CA

Melisa Leal, Assistant to the City Manager, City of Grapevine, TX

Jesus Nava, Deputy City Manager of City Council Relations, City of San Jose, CA

Jorge Gonzalez, City Manager City of Miami Beach, FL

 

Past ICMA Board Liaisons

J. Rolando Bono, Assistant City Manager, City of San Antonio, TX

Dave Mora, City Manager  City of Salinas, CA

 

 

ICMA Hispanic Network Board of Directors 2001 - 2002

  

 President  Mike Acevedo, Budget Analyst/Housing, City of Phoenix, AZ

President Elect Noelia Chapa, City Manager, City of Soledad, CA

Past President  Ramon Osuna, Deputy Personnel Director, City of Phoenix, AZ

Vice President/Membership Henry Taboada, City Manager, City of Long Beach, CA

Vice President/Programs Frances Gonzalez, Assistant to the City Manager, City of San Antonio, TX

ICMA Board Liaison  Benita Duran, Director, Local Government Affairs, SW Region, Englewood, CO

Regional VP/West Coast Edmund Sotelo, City Manager, City of Oxnard, CA

Regional VP/Mt Plains  David Garcia, City Manager,  City of Corpus Christi, TX

Regional VP/Midwest & Northeast Victor Vasquez, Jr., Assistant City Manager, City of Grand Rapids, MI

Regional VP/Southeast J. A. "Tony" Ojeda, Jr., Director of Protocol, Intl Trade Miami Dade County, FL

 

At-Large Board Members

Jane Bais DiSessa, City Manager City of Berkley, MI

Jorge Gonzalez, City Manager City of Miami Beach, FL

Melisa Leal, Assistant to the City Manager,  City of Grapevine, TX

Jesus Nava, Deputy City Manager, City Council Relations, City of San Jose, CA

 

Past ICMA Board Liaisons

J. Rolando Bono, Deputy City Manager  City of San Antonio, TX

Gustavo Cordova, Town Manager Town of Taos, NM

 

 

ICMA Hispanic Network Board of Directors 2002 - 2003  

President  Noelia Chapa, City Manager  City of  Soledad, CA

President Elect Frances Gonzalez, Assistant to the City Manager City of San Antonio, TX

Past President  Mike Acevedo, Budget Analyst/Housing  City of Phoenix, AZ

Vice President/Membership Henry Taboada, City Manager City of Long Beach, CA

Vice President/Programs Belinda Espinosa, Assistant City Manager City of Pinole, CA

Board Liaison Frank Ollendorff, City Manager,  City of University City

Regional VP/West Coast Bob Gutierrez, Assistant City Manager  City of Pomona, CA

Regional VP/Mt Plains  David Garcia, County Administrator, County of Yuma, TX

Regional VP/Midwest José Reyna, Assistant to the City Manager City, Grand Rapids, MI

Regional VP/East Coast J. A. "Tony" Ojeda, Jr., Director of Protocol, Intl Trade Miami Dade County, FL

 

At-Large Board Members

Jane BaisDiSessa, City Manager, City of Berkley, MI

Jorge Gonzalez, City Manager City, Miami Beach, FL

Melisa Leal, Assistant to the City Manager, City of Grapevine, TX

Jesus Nava, Deputy City Manager of City Council Relations, City of San Jose, CA

 

 

Past ICMA Board Liaisons

J. Rolando Bono, Deputy City Manager, City of San Antonio, TX

Gustavo Cordova, Town Manager, Town of Taos, CA

 

 

Hispanic Network Board of Directors 2003 - 2005 

(transition to full non-profit)

  

President Frances Gonzalez, Assistant to the City Manager City of San Antonio, TX

Past President  Noelia Chapa, City Manager  City of Soledad, CA

Vice President/Membership Henry Taboada, CA

Vice President/Programs Belinda Espinosa, Assistant City Manager City of Pinole, CA

ICMA Board Liaison Frank Benest, City Manager, City of Palo Alto, CA

Regional VP/West Coast Bob Gutierrez, Assistant City Manager  City of Pomona, CA

Regional VP/MtPlains  David Garcia, County Administrator County of Yuma, AZ

 

Regional Directors 

Regional VP/Midwest José Reyna, Assistant to the City Manager City of Grand Rapids, NW

Regional VP/East Coast J. A. "Tony" Ojeda, Jr., Director of Protocol, Intl Trade Miami Dade County, FL

 

At-Large Board Members

Jane BaisDiSessa, City Manager City of Berkley, MI

Jorge Gonzalez, City Manager City of Miami Beach, FL

Jesus Nava, Finance Director/Treasurer, City of Burlingame, CA

 

Past ICMA Board Liaisons

Benita Duran, Director, Local Govt Affairs, SW Region, Englewood, CO 

Gustavo Cordova, Town Manager, Town of Taos, NM

 

 

IHN Board of Directors 2005- 2006

 

President Frances Gonzalez, Assistant City Manager, City of San Antonio, TX

Past President George Flores, Deputy City Manager City of Phoenix, AZ

Past President Noelia Chapa, City Manager  City of Soledad, CA

 

Past ICMA Board Members

Benita Duran, Director, Local Government Affairs, SW Region, Englewood, CO

Dave Mora, City Manager, City of Salinas, CA

Vice President/Membership Jesus Nava, Finance Director/Treasurer, City of Burlingame, CA

Vice President/Programs Julie C.T. Hernandez, Senior Management Analyst/Economic Development, City of Moorpark, Moorpark, CA

Secretary Treasurer Mike Acevedo, Budget Analyst/Housing City of Phoenix, AZ

 

Regional Directors

East: Tony Ojeda, Coral Gables, FL

North Central:  Victor Vasquez, Assistant City Manager City of Grand Rapids, MI

South Central: Larry Dovalina, City Manager City of Laredo, TX

 

At-large Directors

Bob Gutierrez, Assistant City Manager, City of Pomona, CA

Ed Sotelo, City Manager, City of Oxnard, CT

Gus Cordova, Town Manager, Town of Taos, CA

Peter Vargas, City Manager, City of Allen, TX

J. Rolando Bono, Director, San Antonio, TX

 

ICMA Board Liaison Frank Benest, City Manager City, Palo Alto, CA

 

 

IHN Board of Directors 2006 - 2007

 

President Larry Dovalina, City Manager City of Laredo, TX

Past President Frances Gonzalez, Assistant City Manager  City of San Antonio, TX

Vice President/Membership Jesus Nava, Finance Director/Treasurer, City of Burlingame, CA

Secretary Treasurer Mike Acevedo, Budget Analyst/Housing City of Phoenix, AZ

 

At-large Directors

Gus Cordova, Executive Director, New Mexico Association of Counties

Bob Gutierrez, City Manager, City of Moreno Valley

Dave Mora, City Manager  City of Salinas

Tony Ojeda, Director International Trade and Commerce, Miami Dade County, FL

Ed Sotelo, City Manager City of Oxnard, CT

Peter Vargas, City Manager City of Allen, TX

VictorVasquez, Assistant City Manager City, Grand Rapids, MI

Chris Zapata, Jr., City Manager City of National City, CA

 

ICMA Board Liaison J. Thomas Lundy, Jr., County Manager, Catawba County, NC

ICMA Staff Liaison Rita Soler Ossolinski, Washington, DC

 

 

IHN Board of Directors 2007- 2008

 

President Chris Zapata, City Manager, National City, CA

Past President Larry Dovalina, Laredo, TX

President Elect Jane Bais DiSessa, City Manager, City of Berkley, MI 

Vice President for Membership Jesus Nava, Finance Director/Treasurer, City of Burlingame, CA 

Vice President for Programs Magda Gonzalez, Deputy City Manager, City of Redwood City, CA 

 

At-large Directors 

Mike Acevedo, Phoenix, AZ

Tony Ojeda, Director International Trade and Commerce, Miami Dade County, FL

Robert G. Gutierrez, City Manager, City of Moreno Valley, CA

Veronica Briseno Lara, Assistant Director, Dept. Small & Minority Business Resources, City of Austin, TX

Dolores Mejia, Special Projects Administrator, City of Miami Beach, FL

Edward Benavides, Executive Assistant to the City Manager, City of San Antonio, TX

Gilbert Perales, Deputy City Manager  Neighborhood Services, City of Arlington, TX

 

Director Past ICMA Board Member Tom Lundy, County Manager, County of Catawba, NC

ICMA Executive Board Liaison Edmund Sotelo, City Manager, City of Oxnard, CA

 

 

IHN Board of Directors 2008 - 2009

 

Executive Committee

President Jane BaisDiSessa, City Manager, City of Berkley, MI

President Elect Jesus Nava, Finance Director/Treasurer, City of Burlingame, CA

Past President Chris Zapata, City Manager, National City, CA

Vice President for Programs Magda Gonzalez, Deputy City Manager, City of Redwood City, CA

Vice President for Membership Eddie Duque, Senior Management Analyst, Finance & Management Services Agency, City of Santa Ana, CA

 

At-large Directors

Edward Benavides, Executive Assistant to the City Manager, City of San Antonio, TX, TX

Veronica Briseño Lara, Assistant Director, Department of Small & Minority Business Resources, City of Austin, TX

Bob Gutierrez, City Manager, City of Moreno Valley, CA

Tom Lundy, County Manager, County of Catawba, NC

Dolores Mejía, Special Projects Administrator in the City of Miami Beach, FL

Tony Ojeda, Executive Director of the Jay Malina International Trade Consortium, County of Miami Dade, FL

Ruth Osuna, Deputy City Manager, City of Phoenix, AZ

Gilbert Perales, Deputy City Manager, City of Arlington, TX

 

 

IHN Board of Directors 2009 - 2010

 

Executive Committee

President Jane Bais-DiSessa, City manager, City of Berkley, MI

President Elect, Jesus Nava, Finance Director/Treasurer, City of Burlingame, CA

Past President Chris Zapata, City Manager, National City, CA

Vice President for Programs Magda Gonzalez, Deputy City Manager, City of Redwood City, CA

Vice President for Membership Eddie Duque, Senior Management Analyst, City of Santa Ana

 

At-Large Directors

Edward Benavides, Executive Assistant to the City Manager, City of San Antonio, TX, TX

Alexander Diaz, Town Manager,  Town of Golden Beach, FL

Veronica Briseño Lara, Assistant Director, Department of Small & Minority Business Resources, City of Austin, TX

Melissa Grisales, Assistant HR Director, CEO/HR, Human Resources, County of Santa Barbara, CA

Tom Lundy, County Manager, County of Catawba, NC

Dolores Mejía, Special Projects Administrator in the City of Miami Beach, FL

Tony Ojeda, Executive Director International Trade Consortium, County of Miami Dade, FL

Ruth Osuna, Deputy City Manager, City of Phoenix, AZ

 

ICMA Board Liaison, Patricia Martel, City Manager, Daly City, CA

 

 

IHN Board of Directors 2010 - 2011

 

Executive Committee

President Jane Bais-DiSessa, City Manager, City of Berkley, MI

President Elect Jesus Nava, Finance Director/Treasurer, City of Burlingame, CA

Past President Chris Zapata, City Manager, National City, CA

Vice President for Programs Magda Gonzalez, Deputy City Manager, City of Redwood City, CA

Vice President for Membership Veronica Briseño Lara, Assistant Director, Department of Small & Minority Business Resources, City of Austin, TX

 

At-large Directors

Edward Benavides, Executive Assistant to the City Manager, City of San Antonio, TX, TX

Daniel Miera, City Manager, Taos, NM

Melissa Grisales, Assistant HR Director, CEO/HR, Human Resources, County of Santa Barbara, CA

Tom Lundy, County Manager, County of Catawba, NC

Dolores Mejía, Special Projects Administrator in the City of Miami Beach, FL

Tony Ojeda, Executive Director International Trade Consortium, County of Miami Dade, FL

Ruth Osuna, Deputy City Manager, City of Phoenix, AZ

Alexander Diaz, Town Manager, Town of Golden Beach, FL

 

 

IHN Board of Directors 2011- 2012

 

Executive Committee

President Jesus Nava, Finance Director/Treasurer, City of Burlingame, CA

President Elect Magda Gonzalez, Deputy City Manager, City of Redwood City, CA

Past President Jane BaisDiSessa, City Manager, City of Berkley, MI

Vice President for Programs Tony Ojeda, Executive Director of the Jay Malina International Trade Consortium, County of Miami Dade, FL

Vice President for Membership Veronica Briseño Lara, Assistant Director, Department of Small & Minority Business Resources, City of Austin, TX

 

At-large Directors

Daniel Miera, City Manager, Taos, NM

Melissa Grisales, Assistant HR Director, CEO/HR, Human Resources, County of Santa Barbara, CA

Tom Lundy, County Manager, County of Catawba, NC

Dolores Mejía, Special Projects Administrator in the City of Miami Beach, FL

AJ Rodriguez, Deputy City Manager, San Antonio, Tx

Ruth Osuna, Deputy City Manager, City of Phoenix, AZ

Alexander Diaz, Town Manager,  Town of Golden Beach, FL

 

ICMA Board Liaison Patricia Martel, City Manager, City of Daly City, CA

 

Leadership Council

Rolando Bono, San Antonio, TX 

David Mora, Salinas, CA 

 

 

IHN Board of Directors 2012 - 2013

 

Executive Committee

President/ Jesús Nava, Jr., Chief Administrative Officer, Santa Clara Valley Water District, CA

Past President/Executive Committee Jane Bais-DiSessa, City Manager, City of Berkley, MI

President-Elect/Executive Committee Magda González, City Manager, City of East Palo Alto, CA

Vice President for Programs/Executive Committee Tony Ojeda, President, Civic Tech and Associates, FL

Vice President for Membership/Executive Committee Veronica Briseño Lara, Director Small Minority Business Resources Department, City of Austin, TX

 

At-large Directors

Alexander Diaz, Town Manager,  Town of Golden Beach, FL

Melissa Grisales, Assistant HR Director, CEO/HR, Human Resources, County of Santa Barbara, CA

Nachie Marquez, Communications & Public Affairs Director, City of Chandler, AZ

Past ICMA Board Member Patricia Martel, City Manager, City of Daly City, CA

Ruth Osuna, City Manager, City of Eloy, AZ

Erik Walsh, Deputy City Manager, City of San Antonio, TX

 

Past ICMA Board Member Patricia Martel, City Manager, City of Daly City, CA

ICMA Board Liaison Lee Worsley, Deputy County Manager, County of Durham, N.C.

 

Leadership Council

Rolando Bono, San Antonio, TX 

David Mora, Salinas, CA