Elvira Alonzo

Alonzo is the public works director and deputy emergency management coordinator for the City of McAllen, for whom she has worked for 42 years. Alonzo believes the support of family is extremely important in a person’s success. 

“In my life, my mother, sisters, in-laws, husband and children have been my motivation and my inspiration,” Alonzo said. “And, in the workplace, I thank the wonderful mentors God placed in my path and the amazing staff I have the privilege of working with.”

Yoli R. Cantú

Cantú is the owner of McAllen Stained Glass in the Art Village on Main.

She and her husband, Alonzo, have two daughters. She taught for six years – three years each in Edinburg and McAllen – before the calling to use her artistic talents became too loud to ignore. Cantú teaches a variety of classes and workshops, acknowledging that her true calling is to lead people to higher education. 

“I feel my role is to help everyone go to the next level, usually through education,” Cantú said. 

Deborah Case

Case is the artistic director at Deborah Case Dance Academy. She is a business owner, but sees being an artistic director as her most important title.

“I love keeping an eye on the artistry,” she said. “I purposely keep teaching because it keeps me fresh.”

Case begins each day with meditation and prayer, never doubting who guides her. 

“I have God training me how to train them,” she said.

Margarita De Leon

De Leon is the CEO of Gorditas Doña Lula, which currently has 14 locations in the Rio Grande Valley.

De Leon began franchising her restaurants in 2024. There are today seven franchise restaurants, with six in the Valley and one in the Woodlands area near Houston. De Leon expressed gratitude that her three daughters are now involved in the business and that they have so many loyal customers.

“How wonderful that people reward you for something you love to do,” she said.

Barbara Delgado

Delgado is the chief photographer at BD Photography, which recently moved into the historic Roosevelt Elementary School on 17th and Galveston streets in McAllen. Delgado takes great pride in photographing the people who make up her community, knowing that the photos will one day be part of the city and region’s history.

“I am able to capture that now and that’s very meaningful to me,” she said.

Ann Fortescue

Fortescue is the executive director of the International Museum of Art & Science in McAllen.

Fortescue and her husband, Jeff, have embraced the weather, culture and people of the Valley since moving here in 2019. Fortescue sees her role as a change agent and a joy creator.

“I have a deep desire and an obligation to create an environment that instills joy in the staff,” she said.

Veronica Gonzales

A former state representative, Gonzales now serves as senior vice president of government and community relations at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley. 

Her division oversight includes legislative appropriation requests, community engagements, the Veterans Business Outreach Center and the Small Business Development Center. Gonzales’ role centers around creating connections between UTRGV and the community and services the university provides.

“If the university thrives, the community thrives,” she said.

Janet Ogden Vackar

Vackar is the president of marketing, co-owner and chairwoman of the board of the Bert Ogden Auto Group. 

She and her husband, Bob, moved home to the Valley to help her parents, Bert and Dorothy Ogden, expand their dealership. After losing them in a car accident in 1992, the Vackars fulfilled their dream and now have dealerships across the Valley.

“God helped me get through,” Vackar said.

Part of that painful process was forgiveness in calling upon her mom’s lessons.

“My mother instilled in me the strength to hold my head high, to carry on no matter what life brings, and to always show compassion to others,” she said.