A 23 year veteran in the entertainment industry, Sandra Avila has an established track record as and executive, producer and literary manager. For the past five years, she has been a Literary Manager & Partner at at Inclusion Management; a management company focused on elevating diverse storytellers. Prior to that and through her banner, Avila Entertainment, she produced ENDGAME starring Justina Machado (One Day at a Time) and Rico Rodriguez (Modern Family), and the indie pilot, TABLE MANNERS starting Monica Barbaro (Top Gun: Maverick). She also oversaw development at Maya Entertainment (Moctesuma Esparza), where she served as Co-EP on the Lifetime movie, ONE HOT SUMMER starring Jon Seda and Vanessa Marcil. Prior to that, Sandra worked at Showtime Network for seven years where she ran the Latino Filmmaker Showcase and worked on shows including, DEXTER, BARBERSHOP, RESURRECTION BLVD and QUEER AS FOLK.

Since assuming the position of City Manager in May 2022, Myra L. Ayala has demonstrated exceptional leadership and a deep understanding of the community's needs. Her journey with the City of Edinburg began in August 1998 when she was initially hired.

Over the years, Ms. Ayala has held various key positions, showcasing her versatility and expertise in different areas. Starting as a Senior Secretary, Ms. Ayala quickly proved her capabilities and rose through the ranks. She served as the Records Supervisor, ensuring the city's administrative records management processes ran smoothly and efficiently.

In 2003, her skills and dedication did not go unnoticed. Recognized for her exceptional work ethic and strong leadership qualities, Myra L. Ayala was appointed to take on the responsibilities as City Secretary. In this role, she effectively managed the city's records, facilitated transparency, and provided essential support to the local government.

In 2018, Ms. Ayala became the Director of Business Operations & Marketing for the Edinburg Economic Development Corporation, where she played a vital role in fostering economic growth and attracting businesses to the city.

Ms. Ayala's selection as the City Manager of Edinburg followed an extensive and comprehensive search. Among a pool of 25 candidates, both local and from as far as Minnesota, she stood out as the most qualified and capable leader to guide the city into the future. Her deep understanding of the community, combined with her broad experience in various roles within the City of Edinburg, made her the ideal choice for the position.

With more than 20 years of dedicated service to the citizens of Edinburg, Myra L. Ayala is deeply invested in the city's success. She is not only a public servant but also a proud mother and grandmother, reflecting her commitment to building a thriving community for future generations. Under her leadership, Edinburg can expect continued growth, effective governance, and a focus on the needs and aspirations of its residents. Myra L. Ayala is a true asset to the City of Edinburg and a driving force behind its ongoing progress.

Renee
Rodriguez-Betancourt

2023 Panelist

Judge Renee Rodriguez-Betancourt was elected to the 449th State Judicial District Court of Hidalgo County, Texas in 2017. When elected, was recognized as the youngest District Judge in the State of Texas by the Texas Judicial Branch. She presides over juvenile cases where she provides youth with an opportunity for rehabilitation while simultaneously ensuring the general public’s safety. Her court has made significant progress in developing and implementing initiatives designed to improve the interactions between the justice system and juvenile cases.

A native of Edinburg, Texas, Judge Rodriguez-Betancourt earned a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the University of Texas Pan-American. She is a 2005 graduate of the University of Texas at Austin- School of Law. Judge Rodriguez-Betancourt is a recipient of the prestigious Outstanding Young Texas Ex Award for her significant achievement in her career and service to the University of Texas.

Before becoming a judge, Judge Rodriguez-Betancourt was in private practice for ten years handling federal and state criminal cases, family law, personal injury cases and served as legal counsel for several local school districts. She is a member of the State Bar of Texas, Texas Bar Foundation, State Bar of Texas Juvenile Law Section, the Hidalgo County Bar Association and the National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges Organization.

Judge Rodriguez-Betancourt has continuously been a strong advocate for youth and mental health. She led the advocacy to the approval of the Hidalgo County LIFELINES Girls Juvenile Mental Health Specialty Court and the approval of the Hidalgo County Juvenile Drug Specialty Court. She serves on multiple committees and taskforce that focus on Dual status youth, rehabilitation, mental health, and child sex trafficking issues. For instance, within this last year, Judge Betancourt was appointed to the Judicial Commission on Mental Health by the Supreme Court of Texas and the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals; and the, Meadows Mental Health Policy Institute Board of Directors.

Judge Rodriguez-Betancourt has received the Boys & Girls Club Child & Adolescent Mental Health Advocate Award for her hard work and advocacy in youth mental health. She is also the recipient of the Rio Grande Valley Hispanic Chamber's Women of Distinction Rising Award and the National Association of Social Workers - Texas LRGV Branch's Public Elected Official of the Year Award and the Hispanic Women Making History Award.

Renee currently resides in Edinburg, Texas, with her husband J.R. and 3 beautiful daughters: Gloriana Gabriela (G.G.), Carissa Carolina (C.C.), and Vitalina Victoria (V.V.).

Cynthia M. Sakulenzki is currently the President/CEO of the Rio Grande Valley Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. This February 2021 was her 23rd Aniversary of serving at the chamber. The RGVHCC has been the Texas Hispanic Chamber of the year for 11 out of 13 years and she has been recognized as one of the Top 10 Hispanic Women in Texas. She has also won the recognition from the United States Hispanic Chamber as the National Small and Medium Chamber 4 times as well as the U.S. Region 3 small or medium chamber 7 times, The Yellow Rose Award from Texas Governor Perry and recognized by SBA as Small Business Advocate 4 times.

Her previous experience has been that of management, public relations, administration and sales. She has always felt most comfortable and most fulfilled at jobs where she is able to help others. She enjoys seeing people get ahead and their problems resolved with her assistance. She takes a personal interest in helping the humble and maybe not so educated person(s) who is eager to start a business and needs direction….however small or large it may be.

When she is not in front of a computer looking for small business projects, looking for grants or prospective sponsors, she has volunteered her time by serving on boards or being a member of the El Milagro Clinic, Diabetes Association, McAllen Evening Rotary, UTPA Alumni Board, the UTRGV Athletic Fund Board and Chairman of the Hispanic Women of Texas RGV Chapter and now President-Elect to the McAllen Evening Rotary. Sports also play a major part in her life as she enjoys fishing, watching football, baseball, NASCAR, basketball, volleyball and boxing. You can usually see the smoke coming out of her back yard as her bbq pit is often on with a whole group of friends present. When she is able to squeeze in some time away from work, she enjoys traveling, being with her family and going to the beach.

Dr. Eva Tristan Torres serves as Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction for the Edinburg Consolidated Independent School District. Her extensive, 44 years in public schools have all been devoted to Edinburg schools.

Her career includes 22 years as a teacher--six of those teaching Physical Education, Health, and coaching volleyball, basketball, and track for Edinburg High School, and sixteen years teaching all levels of high school English, including ESL, Remedial, and Advanced Placement courses at Edinburg North High School. Some of the highlights of her teaching career include serving on numerous Texas Education Agency educational committees and conducting workshops and presentations on teaching strategies and administrative practices. As a College Board consultant, she has presented in many cities and states across the U.S., including New York, Chicago, San Diego, Santa Fe, and other places. She was chosen as one of two AP teachers in the nation to sit on a press conference panel as part of College Board's 2006 annual "Report to the Nation" in Washington D.C.

Twenty years of her career were spent in administration both at the campus and the district levels. She served as Edinburg North High School’s first Dean of Instruction from 2000 until 2007, when she became the founding principal of Barrientes Middle School in ECISD, overseeing all aspects of the schools' inception, from breaking ground for the building’s renovation to opening its doors to students. In 2012, she repeated the process, this time as the founding principal for Robert Vela High School, also in the Edinburg CISD.

During her years as a campus administrator, she was selected to serve on Texas Education Agency's Principal's Stakeholder's Committee in 2010, received the College Board Southwestern Region "You Make a Difference" Award, served on the College Board’s Forum Planning Committee, and was a presenter at the College Board National Forum in San Diego, California. Dr. Torres received numerous honors during her tenure as an ECISD administrator, including being named TASSP Middle School Principal of the Year, TMEA Distinguished Administrator, and TCTA Administrator of the Year.

During Dr. Torres’ tenure as an Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction, four ECISD schools were named National Blue Ribbon Schools and two others were nominated and pending verification when she left public school service in 2018. She subsequently accepted a position as Professor in Practice and Principal Certification Program Coordinator at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley’s Department of Organization and School Leadership, where she spent two years teaching Masters’ Level courses in Educational Leadership. In July of 2020, she returned to public school service and currently continues her work as the Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction in the Edinburg School District.

2023 FridaFest Empowerment Panel

Women inspiring women