JUANITA BUDD
President
Combine tenacity and loquaciousness, and you have Juanita Budd. Serving as the Project Director for Equus Workforce Solutions, Juanita takes on challenging responsibilities providing overall leadership, management, and strategic direction. She manages 11 workforce systems in 14 counties with 220+ employees. An analytical thinker and consensus builder she manages multiple departments and budgets upwards to $18.3 million.
Juanita is a master fundraiser, professional, and skillful negotiator. Her impressive background as the Executive Director for Austin Free- Net (AFN) is evident as she raised over $3. She also has served as Human Resources Director, Vice President of Programs, and the Chief Operations Officer for the Girls Scouts. In addition, Juanita has received awards & recognitions including presenting at SXSW -March 2014 on Digital Inclusion and Gigabit speed in Austin. She served as a panelist at the Digital Inclusion Conference in Texas hosted by Evan Smith of the Texas Tribune. In 2014,Juanita was recognized by the Greater Austin Black Chamber of Commerce as one of the Hidden Figures of Austin. In 2017, she was featured in the Inaugural Edition of “Achievements in Black Austin” and earlier in Austin Woman magazine. Juanita earned her Bachelor’s Degree from Bucknell University- Lewisburg, PA and an MBA from Huston Tillotson University.
Betsy Hudson
Secretary
Betsy Hudson is a former member of the Houston Metropolitan Dance Company’s “Met Too,” award-winning member and captain of the Houston Texans Cheerleaders, choreographer for NFL dancers, music video and live performance choreographer for up and coming artist ZAYRA, and dance instructor at ASPVA. She has studied under choreographers such as Liz Imperio, Steven Boyd, and Dorrell Martin, and danced for Jazz Dance World Congress. Betsy graduated with a Bachelor of the Arts degree in Public Relations from Sam Houston State University, where she served as captain of the dance team. During this time, the SHSU dance team was presented with the College Dance Team National Championship in 2005. Betsy continues to dance and serves numerous charitable organizations including ASPVA, Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure and Big Brothers Big Sisters. She also established a successful dance program for the Catholic Charities After-School Program for Refugee Children.
Laura Mack
Treasurer
Laura Mack is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) and currently serves as the Senior Vice President and Property Controller at American Campus Communities, Inc (ACC). Prior to ACC, she has worked for over 15 years in various finance and accounting roles, for organizations including Trammel Crow Residential, Sunrise Senior Living and the Public Interest Registry (PIR), where she served as controller. PIR is the official registry for .org domain names. Laura graduated from Austin College in 1998 with a B.A. in Business, and a minor in Spanish. In addition to her garden plot in the local community garden, Laura enjoys volunteering for various organizations.
Jason Rios
Director
Jason Rios serves as Corporate Counsel for Procurement in Global Financial Services for Indeed. Previously, Jason served as Director of Legal Services at American Campus Communities. Jason supported ACC as an internal legal counsel, advising on strategic initiatives, contract drafting and negotiation, legal issue resolution, corporate policy review, and other legal support as needed. Prior to joining ACC, Jason worked for an Austin law firm with a focus on national product liability litigation. During law school, he worked at the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas, serving as a legal intern for U.S. Magistrate Judge Felix Recio and the Federal Public Defender. Jason graduated with a B.A. in Government from The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley and received his law degree from The University of Texas School of Law.
Carol de Cárdenas
Executive Director
With a passion for education and giving back, Carol de Cárdenas founded ASPVA, where she works as executive director, and has served over 1,900 students from all socio-economic backgrounds in the greater Austin community. Carol is the recipient of the 2017 Austin Woman’s Way Award presented by Austin Woman magazine for Business of the Year. She has 33 years of teaching and administrative experience in elementary and secondary education, undergraduate and graduate studies. From 1999–2001, Carol served as board director and public relations chair for the Lake Travis Education Foundation. She continues to be involved in planning fundraising events for student scholarships and other charitable organizations. Carol earned a B.S. in elementary education with a specialization in reading from Texas A&M University and received an M.Ed. and Certification in mid-management from the University of Houston. She has also received ESL (English As A Second Language) and GT (Gifted and Talented) certifications.