Staff
The Mexican Institute of Greater Houston (MIGH) counts with a dedicated staff with diverse backgrounds and experience who fully understand the community it serves.
Carlos J. López, President & Executive Director
Mr. López is a bilingual and bicultural International Business Executive who has been working at the Mexican Institute of Greater Houston since June 1st, 2007. He holds an MBA from INCAE the Harvard Business School founded and sponsored Institute in Latin America. He has always been involved in the educational, business development fields. He has extensive experience as a developer of the Hispanic community in the small and international business realm, motivational and educational aspects and workforce development. He reports to the Executive Committee of a fifteen member Board of Directors.
Previous experience includes over 25 years in the private and public sectors in the U.S. and in Nicaragua. Has experience in marketing, finance, sales, international trade, banking, operations and general management. Developed and conducted several market research activities, prepared and implemented successful domestic and international sales and strategic plans, as well as loan recovery programs and agricultural projects. In the 1990s he also worked under contract for the IDB in projects related to the public health sector in Guyana. Mr. López has managed $10 million projects with about three thousand employees. He is the recipient of significant honors from the U.S. Congress, the U.S. SBA and the Houston Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, where for six years that ended in December of 2010 he was a member of the Board of Directors.
Brenda Boyko, Director, Finance and Development
Ms. Boyko joined MIGH in March 2011. She is responsible for financial project management and reporting to funding agencies and donors as well as for grant development. She holds a degree from the University of Houston and her career has always been involved in the education, outreach and research fields. Ms. Boyko has over 25 years’ experience in project and financial management in higher education and extensive experience in grant development. She is an experienced manager of personnel, budgets, projects, programs and departments; skilled grant writer and researcher; and knowledgeable in federal regulations related to federal contract/grant funding. She has developed financial management systems, programs, and compliant policies and procedures in higher education and in the non-profit sector.
Lic. Patricia Urbiola- Aspuru, Attorney At Law
Ms. Urbiola-Aspuru is a Mexican attorney who worked for 15 years at the General Consulate of Mexico in Houston. At MIGH she is also in charge of our services department where at a very reasonable cost we take individual passport photos in the corresponding size according to requirements for Mexican or U.S. passports. We are also equipped to make copies of the documents needed for different purposes at different places such as the Mexican Consulate. We also offer other information and services needed by those traveling to Mexico.
EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS & COMMUNITY LEARNING CENTERS DEPARTMENTS
Ruberman Aldana, Manager, Educational Programs & Community Learning Centers (CLCs) Mr. Aldana joined MIGH in July 2011 and he is responsible for the development of the Educational Programs, as well as the implementation of the business plan for the development of new sites (CLCs). He is in charge of cultivating existing relationships and developing new contacts with the Independent School Districts (ISD), schools and other organizations, in the state of Texas. He oversees the Community Learning Centers Department, Content Developer Department and the Platform Developer Program Department. He holds an Accounting Degree earned in 1989 in Costa Rica and has been an entrepreneur and airline executive for many years giving him the necessary expertise, knowledge and experience to lead and effectively supervise a team to achieve the organization goal targets in line with the mission statement.1. COMMUNITY LEARNING CENTERS DEPARTMENT
Katania Castañeda, Houston County Coordinator - Community Learning Centers (CLCs) Ms. Castañeda works to establish solid relations with school districts in Houston and the surrounding areas. She joined the MIGH team in May 2011. She began her career as a journalist and has worked for newspapers in Mexico, the United States, and Canada. She has lived and worked in various parts of the United States and Latin America. Most recently, Ms. Castañeda worked as an associate teacher with the Houston Independent School District, while working on a Master’s degree in Educational Psychology. She also spent three semesters as a graduate assistant at the University of Houston, coordinating student teacher job fairs. She holds a B.A. in International Relations and print journalism from the American University in Washington, D.C. Anna Wittenburg - Dallas County Coordinator - Community Learning Centers (CLCs) Mrs. Wittenburg works to establish solid relations with the Independent School Districts in the Dallas County area. She joined MIGH in February 2012. Juan Eduardo Jiménez, Instructors Coordinator Mr. Jimenez is in charge of the instructors training and the day to day liaison. He started as an Instructor and worked in various districts including Houston, Aldine, Klein, Spring Branch, Sheldon, Galveston. Mr. Jimenez joined MIGH as a full-time staff member in 2007. He has an understanding of working with adults and in providing the teaching skills to work with individuals of different schooling and diverse backgrounds. He obtained his degree in Informática Informativa from the Universidad Autonoma de Nuevo Leon. He is originally from Monterrey, Mexico and lives in Houston with his wife and two daughters. Socorro Rodríguez- Yanes, General Administrative Services Ms. Rodríguez-Yanes plays an essential part in the agency’s success and service to the community. She is originally from Guanajuato, Mexico, has a background in social work and 7 years of experience with the General Consulate of Mexico in Houston. She began as a volunteer with the MIGH applying her clerical skills, knowledge of legal matters, and willingness to serve.2. CONTENT DEVELOPER DEPARTMENT
Beatriz S. Rivera, Course Content Developer Ms.Rivera was hired by MIGH for updating and upgrading existing MIGH courses and to develop new courses that will further enhance our educational focus. She is bilingual, originally from Veracruz, Mexico and holds an undergraduate and master’s degree from Texas A&M University. Her technical, social, and educational background combined with a desire to serve the community help drive her role in improving and producing new courses that will help the Hispanic community thrive as employees, parents, and entrepreneurs. Cristina Stampelos, Course Content Developer Ms.Stampelos was hired by MIGH to develop new courses.3. PLATFORM DEVELOPER DEPARTMENT
Ligia Gramajo, Platform Developer Alejandro González, Platform Developer4. MIGH INSTRUCTORS
1. Minerva Acosta 2. Carmen Alvarez 3. Maricela Aparicio 4. Wilfredo Aparacio 5. Luz Baker 6. Jessica Barrrios 7. Fabiola Bautista 8. Antonio Benavides 9. Carlos Blanco 10. Luis Castro 11. Lilibeth De la Cruz 12. Javier Espinoza 13. Maria Flores 14. Jose Flores 15. Blanca Gallegos 16. Elba Garza 17. Patricia Gobea 18. Luis Gomez 19. Paola Gomez 20. Carmen Granger 21. Victoria Gonzalez 22. Juan Guell 23. Jaqueline Guevara 24. Sarah Henley 25. Sandra Hernandez 26. Juan Eduardo Jimenez 27. Koni Kaiwa 28. Juanita Lopez 29. Silvia Luna 30. Manuel Machado 31. Leticia Martinez 32. Vivian Meza 33. Saul Morales 34. Martha Olvera 35. Rogelio Ortega 36. Nancy Perea 37. Alicia Pompa 38. Nelson Queralta 39. Javier Reyes 40. Lucy Ann Sanchez 41. Audysmar Segovia 42. Yesenia Torres 43. Cristina Treviño 44. Marlet Villafana
