The only contested race for three trustee positions on the Texas Southmost College will cost the community college more than $150,000, sources say.
Trustee Adela Garza had no opposition and Rene Torres chose not to run, leaving the only candidate for his position – Brownsville Independent School District Transportation Dept. director Art Rendon – a shoo-in in the May 10 election.
Only Ed Rivera, who was appointed to replace Dr. Robert Lozano, faces challenger JJ De Leon.
Our sources tell us that De Leon, a longtime personal secretary to BISD administrator Bertha Peña, had refused to withdraw.
Rivera's term will end in two years if he is elected, and he will have to run again in 2016.
On its face, it would appear that Rivera's qualifications far outshine De Leon's. His resume includes a long list of corporate accomplishments.He began his professional career as a production manager for Union Carbide Corporation (now Dow) and has held various positions of increasing responsibility within the corporation in the early 80’s. With the sale of the Union Carbide Polymers Group to Amoco Chemical, he went on to become National Sales Manager managing all sales personnel in the U.S. for the Medical Consumer Group.
In April of 1989, Rivera joined Nypro Inc., one of the world’s largest plastics processors, as Corporate Business Group Manager. He was responsible for global strategic and profit responsibility of the $120 million Consumer Division with focuses on Latin America, Western Europe, Russia and Asia.
In 2000, Rivera left Nypro and co-founded Conferos, a collaborative web-based product development company with a plastics vertical concentration. He also partnered on an equity basis with Surgency, IBM and Parametric Technology Corporation, Conferos and quickly became the industry standard for a collaborative ASP solution in the plastics community.
As Chief Operating Officer, he led fundraising efforts with leading venture capital firms and Fortune 500 companies resulting in a company valuation of over $50 million.
He then joined Muñoz Investment Banking Group in 2002 concentrating on the petrochemical and emerging technology sectors. In addition to commercializing new technologies through fundraising and technology development, he managed due diligence on targeted acquisition candidates.
Since 2006 Rivera has been employed by Nypro Kánaak as Global Director of Business Development concentrating on the strategic direction of this minority-certified international enterprise with sales in excess of $70 million.
Rivera received his Bachelor of Science degree in Chemical Engineering from the University of Houston in 1976 and his Master in Business Administration from Harvard in 1981.
He is a former board member of Amitech, a Mitsui/US Japanese joint venture in the US; Nypro Juarez, a Mexican/US joint venture in Mexico and Micromaschina, a Russian/US joint venture in Moscow.
He also lists his community involvement and being a former President of the Laguna Vista, TX Community Development Corporation, being a board member of the American Marine Institute RGV Chapter, the Brownsville Museum of Fine Arts, the RGV Tech Prep Advisory Board, the University of Texas-Pan American Foundation (and former Vice Chair) and the Laguna Vista, Planning and Zoning Board
Rivera has two daughters.
15 comments:
Voters: you may choose Mr. Rivera, his accomplishments which are many are listed above, or you can choose Berta Pena's secretary.
JJ Deleon is the last piece of the puzzle that will put TSC then you get what you deserve.
Adela's still sore her boy has to run in an election, huh? On behalf of all voters, I'm truly sorry that her hand picked boy has to cope with the democratic process. Maybe Adela should donate what she pays you to the college if it's that hard pressed.
R
By not withdrawing JJ de Leon proves he isn't seeking the job to benefit TSC but has his own agenda. That is not good for the community, especially when de Leon can see Rivera has the far better education and background to bring to the table. Typical of those who say they want to help the community.....not true for JJ de Leon.
Juan Jose aka JJ De Leon has a lot of skeletons in the closet.
He has been Rachel Ayala's protejido for the longest time.
He is Best Friends Forever (BFF) to Silvia Atkinson and Bertha Pena.
And have you noticed how only Adela Garza and Rendon knew when to fill in the candidacy paperwork.
maybe there will a write in vote in this election
I hate to say it but any connection to bisd administration makes you suspect at least and most probably incompetent or ......
Well which is it? Ed is Adelas pick and She wants JJ to bring Atkinson to TSC. Silly people.
Adela can care less she is running unopposed.
This guy looks flaming!
Adele and La Atkinson are known as the DollySisters. All they are interested are in the juicy contracts and Sweet deals.
These posts are quite humorous.
My first opinion with the article in general is toward its opening statement. What is the point of making issue of the cost to the community college in holding an election? Anyone who feels that it’s too expensive to hold an election does not deserve the benefits of a democracy.
As to some of the posts:
It’s doubtable that anyone would rest their hopes of bringing Atkinson to TSC upon the laurels of a person, so titled “Bertha Pena’s secretary” in another post. The very idea is ludicrous.
How does not withdrawing from the race prove anything of Mr. De Leon’s intentions other than a willingness to place his hat in the ring and not succumb to outside influence? The fact that he has reportedly NOT taken any of the free advertising monies available only strengthens my belief that Mr. De Leon DOES have the interest of the school and taxpayers at heart, running on his own dollar and merit. Also, history is full of individuals who have made a broader impact upon the betterment of human life, with little or no formal education, than some with three times the education and background of Mr. Rivera. Some knowledge must be lived to be learned. That opinion could only come from someone who has little or no “life” experience.
I hate to resort to the reposting of a statement I have already made on the Brownsville Voice blog, but I feel it is too applicable toward the conversation to be left off the table.
Well, Well, Well. Now that the TSC Not Trustworthy Trustees have run off UT Systems from their campus do they begin to turn on each other. This was bound to happen! Rene Torres and Robert Lozano refused to be part of Adela Garza's sinking ship. The college has financial and accreditation problems that even their trained monkey Lily Tercero doesn't kow how to solve.
Ed Rivera is pouring serious money into this election. Why? He bought off both Wightman and Montoya and he has these huge signs. Again, why? Who's paying for this? Do I here contracts?
Adela, Ray, Ramon, & Ed
Whoever is elected to the TSC board is going to find that he or she is in a deep, dark education hole. TSC is struggling.
Part of it is due to the current Board hiring Tercero, an amateur President. She does not have an effective approach to management. I actually feel sorry for her.
Secondly, Brownsville students aren't flocking to TSC. Enrollment is slow and will get even slower in the future.
Go by Tandy in the afternoon. The parking lot is almost empty. During the UTB/TSC days, it was hard to find a parking place in that parking lot. Now there are many.
Is Jose DeLeon a drug dealer?
How else could he afford overseas vacations and those fancy wheels?
He uses buddy passes and flys straight men with him and then harrases there wives and is a chismoso he thinks the world will end if a guy refuses a trip with him
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