FEATURED: Maricela “Mari” De León, MPA, CPM, whose extensive public service credentials also include more than 20 years of professional experience in the Texas Legislature, higher education, and economic development, on Monday, March 9, 2026 was selected Executive Director, Rio Grande Valley LEAD (Linking Economic and Academic Development). RGV LEAD (pronounced “/li?d/” and rhymes with “feed”) is a nonprofit corporation, headquartered in Weslaco, linking employers to support both opportunities for students and economic development. She is featured here at the Region One Education Service Center in February 2025.
Photograph Courtesy RGV LEAD
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Maricela “Mari” De León, MPA, CPM, with more than 20 years experience in the Texas Legislature, higher education, and economic development, selected Executive Director, Rio Grande Valley LEAD (Linking Economic and Academic Development)
By DAVID A. DÍAZ
Maricela “Mari” De León, MPA, CPM, whose extensive public service credentials also include more than 20 years of professional experience in the Texas Legislature, higher education, and economic development, on Monday, March 9, 2026 was selected Executive Director, Rio Grande Valley LEAD (Linking Economic and Academic Development).
She had been serving as the organization’s Interim Executive Director since Friday, August 1, 2025, when the RGV LEAD Board of Directors selected her to that top administrative role in order to replace Dr. Marcos Silva, the former RGV LEAD Executive Director.
RGV LEAD (pronounced “/li?d/” and rhymes with “feed”) is a nonprofit corporation, headquartered in Weslaco, linking employers to support both opportunities for students and economic development.
Silva went on to become Executive Director of the South Texas College Foundation and External Affairs.
At the time of her selection as Interim Executive Director, De León was serving as President of the RGV LEAD Board of Directors.
“I was asked by my fellow board members to assume this administrative leadership role with RGV LEAD because our previous executive director, Dr. Marcos Silva, did such an exceptional job with us – and his outstanding other professional and personal achievements have opened tremendous other opportunities for him,” De León said last August. “I, too, am honored to follow in Dr. Silva’s footsteps – if only for a few months – in order for our Board of Directors to interview who are sure to be first-class candidates for this vital position.”
However, her excellence in what was supposed to be on a temporary basis convinced the group’s board of directors to offer her the permanent role as ExecutiveDirector.
“The (Lower) Rio Grande Valley is truly a special place. Having worked in Austin and across the state of Texas, I know firsthand the strength, resilience, and potential of our region. Continuing the work of RGV LEAD is a perfect opportunity to build on that momentum,” De León said following her selection on Monday, March 9, 2026.
The Lower Rio Grande Valley – comprised of Cameron, Hidalgo, Starr, and Willacy counties – is a rapidly developing border region characterized by a booming international trade economy, a young and growing workforce, and significant educational advances. As of 2026, the area serves as a major hub for manufacturing, logistics, and agribusiness.
“We have a thriving economy and exceptional educators — teachers, counselors, career and technical education directors, and instructors — who work tirelessly to provide the best opportunities for their students,” De León continued. “At RGV LEAD, we are committed to supporting and strengthening those efforts. We will work with any organization or partner that genuinely seeks to transform opportunities for our member districts and expand pathways for students across the Rio Grande Valley.”
As of 2024–2025, the estimated population for the Lower Rio Grande Valley of Texas is approximately 1.43 to 1.9 million, depending on the precise definition of the region and data source.
The area is heavily concentrated in Hidalgo (approx. 914,000) and Cameron (approx. 431,000) counties.
“We will work with any organization or partner that genuinely seeks to transform opportunities for our member districts and expand pathways for students across the Rio Grande Valley,” she emphasized.
Eloy Garza, the interim president of the Board of Directors for RGV LEAD, praised the unanimous decision by the Executive Board, RGV LEAD, to elevate De León from an interim standing to a more lasting role.
“Maricela has demonstrated exceptional leadership, vision, and dedication to advancing the mission of RGV LEAD. Her ability to bring partners together, strengthen our operations, and move key initiatives forward has already made a meaningful impact,” said Garza. “We are confident that under her continuing leadership as Executive Director, RGV LEAD will continue to grow, innovate, and expand opportunities that benefit communities across the Rio Grande Valley.”
Garza brings his own significant credentials to his service as president of the Board of Directors for RGV LEAD, including:
- Created and scaled Career Bridge, an experiential learning management system, to connect education institutions with employer partners for work-based learning, capstones, and credential programs.
- Onboarded and maintained relationships with 200+ business partners across multiple states, resulting in more than 1,000 employer-student project collaborations.
- Advised the U.S. Department of Education on strategies for CTE CyberNet and Rural Tech Project Initiatives, influencing national policy and program design.
- Among the key successes achieved by RGV LEAD under De León’s leadership – during her service from August 2025 through March 2026 as its Interim Executive Director – included the following meetings and events:
- Hosted Fall Leadership Workshop in Weslaco at the Knapp Conference Center.
- Hosted Career and Technology Work-Based Learning Showcase in McAllen in partnership with the McAllen Economic Development Corporation and Chamber of Commerce.
- Hosted South Texas Independent School District in Edinburg for Criminal Justice and Legal Studies Workforce Pipeline Initiative.
- Hosted Donna ISD at Mission Hospital in Mission.
- Hosted Spring 2026 Business Recruitment Mixer in McAllen.
- Kicked off S3 Entrepreneurship Challenge.
- Hosted Young Leaders Summit in Austin.
- Hosted Education and Career Expo in Brownsville in Partnership with Workforce Solutions in Cameron County and Texas Southmost College.
- Hosted Construction Industry Convener in Partnership with South Texas Builder Association.
- Appointed to the Lower Rio Grande Valley Development Council – Economic Development Advisory Committee.
- Represented RGV LEAD and was recognized as a Nominee for Lin-CP Invest in Her Awards in San Marcos, Texas.
- Represented RGV LEAD at Region One ESC Personal Financial Literacy Conference at South Padre Island.
- Represented and delivered presentation at Region One ESC Career, College, and Military Readiness Conference in Edinburg.
- Represented RGV LEAD at the Supreme Court of Texas Oral Arguments at UTRGV in Edinburg.
De León also expressed appreciation “for the support and commitment of our sponsors”, which include, in alphabetical order:
- AT&T
- Attorney Erick Holguín
- Career Bridge
- Caso Law Firm, PLLC
- ERO Architects
- Greater Brownsville EDC
- Greater Mission Chamber of Commerce
- Lone Star National Bank
- McAllen Chamber of Commerce
- McAllen Economic Development Corporation
- Precision Interior & Framing Systems LLC
- Representative Armando Martínez
- Representative Terry Canales
- Senator Juan “Chuy” Hinojosa
- Texas Education Agency Commissioner Mike Morath
- Texas National Bank
- Texas Public Charter School Association
- Texas Southmost College
- Texas State Board of Education Member LJ Francis
- Texas State Technical College
- Zoho Corporation
The elected Board of Directors, composed of members affiliated with public, private, and non-profit organizations, governs RGV LEAD. The Board’s primary role is to perform the duties of strategic planning and oversight.
RGV LEAD's leaders come from diverse backgrounds and have expertise and experience in science and technology, medicine, public policy, education, communications, law, and business. Our mission guides our leaders to foster partnerships between education and industry to equip students with college and career readiness that meets the region’s highly skilled workforce demands.
The Executive Members and Members of the Directors for RGV LEAD, are:
Executive Board Members:
- Eloy Garza of Pharr, Interim President, Executive Board, and Owner/CEO, Career Bridge
- Dr. Esmeralda Adame of Mission, Vice President, Executive Board, and Owner/CEO of Consulting, LLC;
- Adriana Sarmiento of McAllen, Member, Executive Board, and Chief Financial Officer of Santa Cruz Properties;
- Dr. Cynthia Walls of Edinburg, Member, Executive Board, and Director of P-16 Outreach and Testing Services;
- Jonathan Medina of Edinburg, Member, Executive Board, and Founder, Top Schools Speakers;
- Dr. Marisol Rocha of McAllen, Member, Executive Board, and Superintendent, Vanguard Academy; and
- Leo Sáenz of McAllen, Member, Executive Board, and CTE Director, McAllen Independent School District.
Board Members:
- Francisco Álvarez of McAllen, Chief Executive Officer, Workforce Solutions;
- Mario Barragán of McAllen, External Affairs, AT&T;
- Anabell Cardona of Weslaco, Owner/CEO, Valley Grande Institute;
- Dr. Eldelmiro Escamilla of McAllen, Program Coordinator, HECM/Associate Instructional Professor, Texas A&M University Higher Education Center at McAllen;
- Dr. Stella García of Brownsville, Vice President of Institutional Advancement/Chief of Staff, Texas Southmost College;
- Carlos Garza of Brownsville, Business Development Associate, Port of Brownsville;
- Efraín Garza of Mercedes, Deputy Superintendent, South Texas Independent School District;
- Kristina Leal of McAllen, Wastewater Team Leader, Halff Associates;
- Dr. Daniel King of Edinburg, Executive Director, Region One Educational Service Center;
- Jorge Jasso of Brownsville, CTE Teacher, Brownsville Independent School District;
- Ricardo Peña of Harlingen, Owner/CEO, RGV Digital Media LLC;
- Víctor Pérez of Pharr, Executive Director, Pharr Economic Development Corporation;
- Rhonda Salinas of McAllen, Owner, Hot Worx;
- Leonardo Treviño of Edinburg, Vice President Commercial Banker, Texas National Bank;
- José C. Vela of McAllen, Interim Dean, Division of Public Safety, South Texas College;
- Rafael Vela of Brownsville, Executive Director, Workforce Solutions Cameron County; and
- The Honorable Ysmael Fonseca of Edinburg, Justice, 13th Court of Appeals.
De León, whose worked for a combined 15 years as a legislative staff member with then-Rep. Aaron Peña of Edinburg and then-Rep. Gilbert Peña of Houston (no relation to Aaron Peña), was appointed to the interim executive position by the Board of Directors of RGV LEAD.
From 2003 through 2017, De León served in various roles in the Texas House of Representatives, including as a legislative aide, executive assistant, chief committee clerk, and chief-of-staff.
While working with Rep. Aaron Peña, one of the many major legislative measures in which she was directly involved was helping promote the University of Texas Regional Academic Health Center, which had three major campuses in Edinburg, Harlingen, and Brownsville.
The Regional Academic Health Center served as the foundation for the creation of the UTRGV School of Medicine, and which now are part of the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley School of Medicine.
She also worked with the Texas State Technical College System, which has a major campus in Harlingen, on its legislative agenda.
Texas State Technical College (TSTC) is a public, two-year institution with multiple campuses across Texas. It focuses on providing technical education and training to meet the state’s workforce needs, with an emphasis on hands-on learning and collaboration with businesses and industries. TSTC was established in 1965 as the James Connally Technical Institute (JCTI) of Texas A&M University. The college is known for its outcomes-based funding model, where its funding is tied to students finding employment after graduation.
De León holds a Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) in Finance and a Masters of Public Administration, both from the University of Texas-Pan American (now the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley).
Her thesis for her Master of Public Administration was “Is Texas Measuring Up to Federal Expectations? An Examination of the No Child Left Behind Legislation on Texas Region One Education Service Center District Schools”.
The UTRGV Master of Public Administration (MPA) program prepares students for leadership roles in government and non-profit organizations. It offers both a traditional and an accelerated online format.
The program focuses on public policy analysis, grant writing, and administration, equipping students with skills applicable to local government management, non-profit administration, and political and public administration research.
In addition, De León holds the professional designation of Texas Certified Public Manager (CPM), which means she has completed a nationally accredited, comprehensive management development program designed to enhance their leadership and management skills within the public service sector.
CPMs work in federal, state, and local government agencies, as well as in some non-profit organizations with a public purpose. The program focuses on improving individual and organizational performance through the application of best practices and theory to practical management challenges.
The Texas Certified Public Manager program (CPM), offered by UTRGV Professional Education & Workforce Development, is a seven-track program spread over a 12-14-month period. It is accredited by the National Certified Public Manager Consortium and is cooperatively offered through the William P. Hobby Center for Public Service of Texas State University.
According to the RGV LEAD:
- RGV LEAD provides engagement opportunities that help students develop soft skills and increase their awareness of regional industry demands. It offers professional development opportunities for educational leaders on labor market information and works with postsecondary institutions and industry to engage K–12 students in career pathways.
- For more than 30 years, RGV LEAD has partnered with school districts across the Rio Grande Valley, serving as a connector between education and industry. While the public and private sectors often meet people’s needs, gaps still exist — spaces where individuals lack the support necessary to lead productive lives. RGV LEAD helps bridge those gaps by uniting regional governments, businesses, philanthropies, and communities to create opportunities and transform lives.
- As the project manager for regional joint ventures, RGV LEAD collaborates with entrepreneurs, businesses, and community organizations to design initiatives that leverage the strengths of both private and public sectors. These partnerships are aimed at driving economic development and expanding opportunities for upward mobility for families across the Rio Grande Valley.
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