Dr. Tom Vaughan , President

Tom Vaughan is a native of New Mexico. He received his BS in Biology from Eastern New Mexico University and his Ph.D. in Zoology from the University of Arizona.  Before coming to Laredo about 27 years ago he was a member of the Department of Biology at Kuwait University for four years.While in Kuwait he spent much of his time on the mudflats studying the ecology and behavior of a group of fishes known as mudskippers.  Before that, he spent three years doing research on the Mammals of Tunisia. Tom is married to Pam Vaughan, who retired as the chair of the Science Department at LCC and currently is an adjunct faculty member in the Department of Biology and Chemistry at TAMIU. They have two sons; Anthony and Andrew. In addition to being an associate professor of biology in the Department Biology and Chemistry at Texas A&M International University, he is also an Instructor/Consultant. at The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio. Department of Family Practice, South Texas Educational and Environmental Research (STEER) Program, and Adjunct Professor, Department of Environmental and Occupational Health at the University of North Texas Health Science Center. Tom is a co-founder, President and Chairman of the Board of Directors of RGISC.

 

Pastor Mike Barrera, Vice President

Born in Laredo, Texas in 1947. Parents were Mr. & Mrs. Armando G. Barrera Jr. of Laredo. Graduated from Nixon High School (1966), Vietnam Veteran, Undergraduate degree in Theology and Masters in Religious Education from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas. Played Professional basketball in Puerto Rico & Mexico. Business Career was with Prudential Insurance Company, Sun Life, and Elton Porter Ins. Inc. where he was Director of corporate Insurance (Life, health, property/ casualty, & retirement plans). 1981-1987 Director of the Mexican Rural Work Program in Big Bend & Chihuahua desert 1972-74 professional basketball players in Puerto Rico & Mexico.Mike served four years as a Texas Probation officer and since 1979 has been called into the ministry. Serving many churches, state conventions, and organizations over the last 30 years. Mike has served at United Baptist Church Laredo as pastor since 1997. Mike is an avid outdoors man and enjoys wildlife photography and being with his family. Mike is married to Polly, a retired RN of 40 years, and they have three children David (Dr.) Daniel (Air Force) & Summer (Marketing Director).  They also have four grandchildren (#5 in the oven). Mike has been associated with RGISC for 4 years and presently serves as VP.

 

Jean Carmona, Treasurer

Jean Carmona was born in Eau Claire, Wisconsin.  She received a Bachelor of Science in Environmental and Public Health from the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire in 1986, and a Master of Science in Management from Troy State University, Alabama 1996. Mrs. Carmona was commissioned in May 1985 with the U. S. Public Health Service where she served with the Indian Health Service in Washington D.C. conducting epidemiological studies in injury control as an intern in the CO-STEP Program.Jean Carmona entered the Navy with a commission in the Medical Service Corps in 1986.  She served as an Industrial Hygiene Officer at Naval Hospital Charleston from 1986 to 1988.  While at the U.S. Navy Environmental and Preventive Medicine Unit 7, Naples Italy 1988 to 1991, she initially served as an Industrial Hygiene Officer, then Head of the Navy Occupational Safety and Health (NAVOSH) Department as the Bureau of Medicine (BUMED) Regional Safety Officer.  She served as Head, Safety Department on board the USS YELLOWSTONE (AD-41), Norfolk, Virginia from 1992 to 1994 earning the Safety “S” Award.  Lieutenant Commander Carmona was the Head, Occupational Health and Preventive Medicine Department at the Branch Medical Clinic, Iwakuni, Japan 1994 to 1997.  She served as the Industrial Hygiene Officer at the Navy Environmental and Preventive Medicine Unit Six from 1997 to 2001. From there she served as a special assistant to the Chief of Naval Education and Training, Pensacola, FL from 2001-2003 inspecting training commands.  Director, Occupational Health and Preventive Medicine Department, Branch Health Clinic Iwakuni, Japan was her final duty station 2003 to retirement 1 Jun 2006.   Mrs. Carmona worked at Convergys, COMCAST Project, Laredo Texas, as a customer service representative and subject matter expert 2006 to 2008.  She is currently employed by the City of Laredo, Health Department as their Environmental Epidemiologist.  Mrs. Carmona became a Registered Professional Industrial Hygienist 9 Feb 2009. Lieutenant Commander Carmona’s decorations and military awards include the Navy Commendation Medal (4), Navy Unit Commendation, Meritorious Unit Commendation with two bronze stars, Battle "E", National Defense Medal with bronze star, Sea Service Ribbon, Navy and Marine Corps Overseas Service Ribbon with 1 silver and 2 bronze stars, Southwest Service Medal two campaigns, Kuwait Liberation Medal (Kuwait), Global War On Terrorism Service Medal and the Navy Pistol Marksmanship Ribbon.Jean Carmona is a member of the Association of Professional Industrial Hygienists, American Industrial Hygiene Association, American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists, and the National Environmental Health Association.

 

Danny Gunn, Sergeant at Arms

Texas born and lived in Texas all his life except for military service. After service he worked for CPL for 36 ½ years where he worked in San Bento, Corpus Christi, then transferred to Laredo as a electrical Forman, then became plant foreman in charge of maintence at Laredo Power Station and Eagle Pass Hydo Plants. Retired from CPL in 1994. As a farm boy growing and always remained an avid gardener all my life he became a master gardener. Then became a master naturalist as he always loved nature. He is also a member of native plant society of Texas. He became a member of RGISC in 1996 and on the board the same year. My specialty is in plants and wildlife. He helped with the landscape of Lamar-Bruni Vergara Environmental Science Center and Volunteer and worked as a tour guide. Worked on the Paso Del Indio Nature Trail. Helped the City of Laredo layout and build several nature trails and consult on the plants to use and id plants in the parks. He worked on a sub-comment for the green space ordance, and the water conservancy ordnance. He enjoys the outdoors and working with others in making Laredo a better place for me, my family and the people of Laredo.

 

Fabiola Flores, Secretary

Fabiola is a staff attorney with Texas Rio Grande Legal Aid since the fall of 2006. In the fall of 2008 she took a temporary leave of absence to work for State Representative Richard Pena Raymond as his legislative director for the 81st Session of the Texas Legislature. She attended the University of Texas and received a bachelor of science in communication studies in 2003. After graduation she attended the University Of Texas School Of Law where she joined the public interest law association and completed internships with Cambridge's Community Legal Services and Counseling Center and DC's Employment Justice Center.  She joined the board of RGISC in December 2007. One of her proudest achievements to date is winning 2nd place in the Texas High School Mock Trial competition and she looks forward to coaching a high school team locally this school year. 

 

Juan Carmona, Parliamentarian

Juan Carmona was born in Laredo, Texas. He received a bachelor of science in biology with a minor in chemistry from Texas A & M International University in May 2002.Mr. Carmona joined the United States Navy in December 1975.  He severed with the Fleet Marine Force Third Marine Division in Okinawa, Japan (Camp Courtney) from 1979 to 1982, served at the Naval School of Health Sciences from 1983 to 1985 (as a student instructor), served onboard the USS Blue Ridge (LCC-19) in Yokusuka, Japan from 1986 to 1992 and participated in Operation Desert Storm and Desert Shield, Served as the leading Chief Petty Officer for the Preventive Medicine Department at Naval Branch clinic (Marine Corps Air Base, Iwakuni, Japan) from 1992 to 1998, served as the leading Chief Petty Officer, of the preventive Medicine Department, Naval Hospital Balboa (San Diego California) from 1998 until retirement 31 December to 1999. Mr. Carmona’s military awards and decorations include the Navy Commendation Medal (02), National Defense Medal with Bronze star, Sea Service Ribbon with Bronze Star, Navy Sea Service Ribbon with three Bronze stars, Navy and Marine Corps overseas Service Ribbon with two Bronze stars, Navy Expert Pistol Ribbon, Marine Corps Expert Rifle Ribbon, Kuwait Liberation Medal. Mr. Carmona has been a registered sanitarian since 2006 June 2008, and works with the City of Laredo Health Department (Environmental Division).     

 

Cordelia Casso Flores

RGISC board member, a freelance State Licensed Court Interpreter and Translator, is a descendant of one of Laredo’s founding families.   Throughout her life she has been actively connected to the civic and social life of Laredo and Nuevo Laredo.  She graduated from Ursuline Academy and from Laredo Community College with an associate of arts degree.  She also attended the University of the Incarnate Word in San Antonio and later worked as a newspaper reporter in Laredo.  She married Ricardo M. Flores in Nuevo Laredo and they later moved to Saltillo, Coahuila, and Mex.where she worked as a correspondent for the Laredo Morning Times.  She later lived in Piedras Negras, Coahuila where she taught English at the Universidad Autonoma Del Noreste.  In the early ‘80’s, she moved to Laredo with her 5 children and taught ballet and fitness at LCC.  She later managed a family farm in Mexico and began her current court interpreting career in 1992. She obtained her degree in Spanish with a minor in business from TAMIU.  Cordelia is a strong Pro Life activist who was instrumental in founding Casa La Esperanza, a crisis pregnancy center. She is a frequent contributor to the opinion page of the Laredo Morning Times, commenting on subjects such as the Pro Life cause, education and the environment.  She is a member of St. Patrick Catholic Church, the Pan American Round Table, the National Association of Judicial Interpreters and Translators and the Texas Association of Judicial Interpreters and Translators. 

 

Israel Reyna, RGISC Legal Advisor

 

Victor Oliveros

 

Leticia Zapata

 

 

Penelope Warren, RGISC Grant Writer

 

 

Meagan Fendley

 

 

 

 

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