MISSION — Four new board members joined the Mission Economic Development Corporation on Wednesday, ushering in a new iteration of the MEDC board.
Deborah Cordova, Carl Davis, Estella Saenz and Noel Salinas were sworn in to the MEDC board, joining current board members who include Mission Mayor Norie Gonzalez Garza, Jose Vargas and Board President Richard Hernandez, who also began new terms on the board.
Cordova, of Mission, is an attorney and founding member of the law firm Walsh McGurk Cordova Nixon PLLC. Saenz, who is originally from Roma, is a commercial lender at PNC Bank.
Hernandez highlighted the women’s work serving with him on the Boys & Girls Club of Mission board.
“Very, very hard workers,” Hernandez said.
He noted that during their time on the board, the organization transitioned from the Boys & Girls Club to the Boys & Girls Club of Mission.
“We became the first city where we were able to go public/private and then became a department,” Hernandez said. “Since then, a lot of good has happened for the youth of the city of Mission and these girls were very vital in pushing that forward.”
Because of that, Hernandez said they were able to launch a Boys & Girls Club of Mission scholarship fund.
“We had the ability to help a little and improve the lives of the youth,” he said.
Davis, born and raised in Mission, is owner of Davis Insurance Agency and is chairman of the Mission Building Board of Adjustments. He also previously served on the Boys & Girls Club of Mission board and as a former president of the Shary Municipal Golf Course Advisory Board.
“We’ve done some good things, I think, for the city and looking forward to doing more,” Davis said. “I’m going to do my best to make this board better.”
Salinas, CEO of Valley Cancer Associates in Harlingen, was previously appointed to the MEDC board in November.
On the recommendation of the mayor, the appointment of the board members were approved by the Mission city council in December. They will serve two-year terms.
Hernandez praised Gonzalez Garza for the selection of the new members, adding he was excited about the makeup of the board.
“You were able to touch in on some good talent that we have here at home — good leaders, people with vision — and I’m excited, that makes me excited,” Hernandez said.
The mayor said her decision to name these specific individuals was a fulfillment of a promise.
“As you all know, I’m newly elected, semi-newly elected — I came on in June — and one of my promises was that I was going to surround myself with smarter people than I was and I’ve done that today,” Gonzalez Garza said. “I want to thank all of you for serving on this board and I look forward to many, many great things happening in the next four years.”
Following their swearing-in, the board elected their officers.
Vargas was elected vice president, Cordova was named secretary and Saenz was elected treasurer of the board.
