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Bexar County Performing Arts Center Foundation Announces New Board Members

(San Antonio, TX) The Bexar County Performing Arts Center Foundation is pleased to announce the appointment of three new members to its Board.  Joining the also recently appointed Chairman of the Board Evangelina G. Flores and the Board of Directors are Elise Ring Boyan, Suzanne Allford Wade and Sonya Medina Williams.

 

“I am delighted to serve as Chairman of the Bexar County Performing Arts Center Foundation Board.  The Tobin Center has brought a world class venue to our city that showcases performances by its resident companies, artists and notable figures. The Tobin Center ardently works to create and grow a robust education program that is incredibly valuable to the children of San Antonio. 

As San Antonio has moved to one of the top ranked cities in the country, so too has the importance of the Arts in regard to building a stronger economy and growing as a destination city.   2020 brought many challenges to our country, but I remain excited and optimistic about the future of The Tobin Center and all that it brings to our community. During the last six years, The Tobin Center has received many awards and accolades for its superb operation and programming.  On behalf of the entire Board of Directors, I commend The Tobin Center staff and volunteers for their commitment and love of the Tobin and its mission.  I express my sincere appreciation to the patrons, members, and most especially to the generous donors, benefactors and sponsors whose continued contributions allow The Tobin Center to be “the pulse” of the performing arts in San Antonio.  “Gracias”!  See you at The Tobin Center!” –Evangelina G. Flores

Evangelina Flores, often referred to by her nickname “Vangie,” is a native San Antonian and businesswoman.  She owns Flores Riverwalk Properties, Ltd.  She and her late husband owned and operated Little Mitla Restaurant and La Paloma del Rio Restaurant on the Riverwalk, and later with her children, Paloma Riverwalk Restaurant at the same location.  Ms. Flores and the family operated their restaurants for over 35 years.  Evangelina is committed to her family and the strong future of her community particularly as it relates to Education, the Arts and its historical preservation.

Evangelina has served in leadership several organizations.  Currently she is Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Tobin Center for the Performing Arts, her term including 2020 and 2021.  She looks ahead with enthusiasm as “The Tobin” continues to grow and be recognized nationwide as a unique world class venue for Performing Arts.  The Tobin is committed to engaging the entire community as a destination venue and as “the pulse of the Arts in San Antonio”.  The Tobin maintains a strong partnership with the Arts community through its six resident companies. It also has developed a robust Arts Education department that serves Pre-K – 12 students attending local school districts throughout Bexar County.

Ms. Flores is a charter member of the Texas A&M-San Antonio Foundation and served as Chairman of the Board from 2013 to 2014.  She served on the Executive committee of the Fiesta San Antonio Commission and was elected President for Fiesta 2012.  She was Chairman of the Board of the San Antonio Parks Foundation from 2006 to 2011.  She was a member of the River Expansion Oversight Committee which oversaw the improvements and development of the current San Antonio Riverwalk footprint.  She is a former member of the Board of Trustees of the San Antonio Museum of Art and chaired the inaugural opening of the Nelson Rockefeller Latin American Art Center at SAMA.    Evangelina served on the Las Misiones Advisory and Capital Campaign Committee during 2007- 2010 and is a past member of the World Affairs Council.

Evangelina has been recognized for her community contributions and has received several awards. She was inducted into the San Antonio Women’s Hall of Fame in 2011.  She received the Department of the Army (Army North and Fort Sam Houston) Commander’s Award for Public Service in 2012.  In 2013 she was inducted into the Order of the Cascaron for outstanding volunteerism in Fiesta San Antonio.  She received the Civic Award from the La Presa Foundation in 2011 and was recognized in Profiles in Philanthropy by Our Lady of the Lake University in 2007.  Evangelina received the “Premio Oro” for community service from Univision, KWEX TV in 2005.

Ms. Flores is an alumnus of Our Lady of the Lake High School and San Antonio College.  She and her life partner David Reta cherish time spent with their family and her grown children, Roger Flores, III, and Mariela Flores Lopez and eight grandchildren.

Ms. Elise Ring Boyan is Board Chair of Planned Parenthood South Texas, Immediate Past Chair of the Southwest School of Art and a current trustee of Saint Mary’s Hall. She also has served on the boards of the Harvard Club of San Antonio and the Alamo Heights Little League. In 2017, Elise was inducted into the San Antonio Women’s Hall of Fame in the Volunteer category.

After working in New York as a litigator at Cravath, Swaine and Moore and in-house litigation counsel at Sony Music Entertainment Inc., Elise Ring Boyan “retired” from the practice of law to focus on her family — her husband, Craig, and their three young children.

“Who would imagine that moving as a young child from New York City to Storrs, CT, I would grow up culturally spoiled — but I did. Not a year went by in which I didn’t get a taste of the symphony and the opera, as well as musical theater, on the campus of the University of Connecticut. Dates with my dad at the symphony are some of my most cherished childhood memories. With nostalgia and gratitude for the privilege, I join the board of The Tobin Center for the Performing Arts.” – Elise Ring Boyan

 

 

 

Ms. Suzanne Allford Wade’s retail career spans over 40 years.  While she started as a salesclerk during her high school and college days, her career culminated with senior executive positions at both Wal-Mart and H-E-B. Suzanne officially began her retail career teaching Fashion Merchandising in Oklahoma with the goal of owning her own retail store.  She was quickly recruited to corporate training opportunities, first at TG&Y Stores, and later to Wal-Mart where she launched the Walton Institute of Retailing.  Suzanne spent 11 years at Wal-Mart serving as Senior Vice President of Human Resources and Senior Vice President of Membership, Marketing and Administration for Sam’s Club.

Suzanne joined H-E-B in 1997 as Group Vice President of Sales and Advertising and later added H-E-B Own Brand to her responsibilities.  She also served as Senior Vice President of Human Resources.  However, for most of her H-E-B career, she led the Company’s largest operating division as President of San Antonio Food/Drug Stores, encompassing over 200 stores and 50,000+ H-E-B Partners.  She culminated her career spearheading the H-E-B Partner Stock Plan, one of the largest employee stock-based plans in the country.

Suzanne has an MBA from the University of Oklahoma and a BS in Business Administration from Oklahoma State University.  She completed the Harvard Business School’s Advanced Management Program in 2000.  She has served on numerous Retail Advisory Boards and community initiatives during her retail career.  She is the past chair of the United Way Women’s Leadership Council, founding chair of the San Antonio American Heart Association Circle of Red and Founding Chair of Teach for America, San Antonio Region. She served on the National Board of Girl Scouts USA and is the Board Chair for the Young Women’s Leadership Academy, a Blue Ribbon All Girls School within San Antonio ISD.

Suzanne has been recognized for her professional accomplishments and civic contributions as a member of the San Antonio Hall of Fame, a Girl Scouts of Southwest Texas Trefoil Honoree and as a recipient of the Greater San Antonio Chamber of Commerce Tribute to Women Leadership Award and the North San Antonio Chamber Athena Award.

“The Tobin Center has brought so much to our city with regard to culture, entertainment and architecture.  I am honored to join the board and help continue to build phenomenal success it has already achieved.” – Suzanne Wade

 

 

Ms. Sonya Medina Williams is the Founder of SMW Consulting and an accomplished public affairs strategist with expertise in value creation, brand management, and social impact leadership.

Medina Williams has served on the Board of Directors for Papa John’s International (NASDAQ: PZZA), the world’s third largest pizza maker, since 2015.  She began her career in government where she spent seven years as a White House advisor, most notably serving as Deputy Assistant to President George W. Bush for Domestic Policy and Director of Projects to First Lady Laura Bush, the first White House staffer to serve in this dual role.

Medina Williams served as Director of the AT&T Global Foundation and later as Vice President of Community and External Affairs for Silver Eagle Distributors, at the time, the nation’s largest distributor of Anheuser-Busch products.

Medina Williams is a change leader in advocating for opportunities for women and minorities to serve on boards and in high level positions within corporate and government institutions.  She is the Founder of the San Antonio Hispanic Chamber of Commerce’s Latina Leadership Institute and the Chief Strategist for The Nuff, a global campaign empowering women and girls to know that they are enough.

Medina Williams serves on the Advisory Council of the NASDAQ Next Gen Board Leaders, which highlights the value next gen leaders can bring to the boardroom.  She serves on the Advisory Board for Teach for Uganda, a Teach for America effort in Africa and also serves on the Board of Directors for the Briscoe Western Art Museum and The Texas Tribune.  Medina Williams has received numerous honors, awards and printed recognition based on her work and leadership worldwide.

Medina Williams is a graduate of Texas A&M University and received a Masters in Public Health from the Mailman School of Public Health at Columbia University.

“I have always admired The Tobin Center for the Performing Arts commitment to providing a platform where our community can be inspired and empowered through the diverse world of arts and culture.  I look forward to working with Michael Fresher and the board of directors to help The Tobin Center continue to carry these values forward.”   – Sonya Medina Williams

 

The Bexar County Performing Arts Center Foundation requires each board member to serve a two-year term and support the mission of The Tobin Center, to provide a world-class venue that promotes a diverse range of cultural, educational, and artistic experiences that improve the quality of life in San Antonio.

 

The Bexar County Performing Arts Center Foundation Board of Directors are:

Evangelina G. Flores, Chair

Dr. Alice Viroslav, Vice-Chair and Chair-Elect

Phillip Green, Treasurer

Susan C. Franklin, Secretary

Samuel G. Dawson, Immediate Past Chair

Carlos Alvarez, April Ancira, Janie Barrera, Charles T. Barrett, Jr., Elise Boyan, Mary Rose Brown, Catherine Burzik, James W. Callaway, Rick Cavender, Heather de Rojas, Winell Herron, Vicki McLaughlin, Susan Naylor, Fernando Reyes, Edward Steves, Margaret Vera, Suzanne Wade, Paula Gold-Williams and Sonya Medina Williams.

 

Officers and Committee Chairs

Evangelina G. Flores, Chair, Executive Committee

Michael J. Fresher, President and CEO

April Ancira, Chair of Communications Committee

Janie Barrera, Chair of Audit Committee

James W. Callaway, Chair of Governance & Nominating Committee

Phillip D. Green, Chair of the Finance Committee

Charles T. Barrett, Jr., Chair of Building Committee

Heather de Rojas, Chair of Development Committee

 

 

Advisory Board

  1. Bruce Bugg, Jr.,Founding Chairman

Richard T. Schlosberg, III, Vice Chair

Phil Hardberger, Dr. William L. Henrich, Steven Q. Lee, Dr. Cynthia Teniente-Matson, David Meredith, William G. Moll, Dennert O. Ware, Col. Clarence R. Williams and Tracy Wolff.

Vic

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