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15
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Ernesto Gómez, PhD.
President & CEO
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Noemi Galván Eling, Esq
Board Chair
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Heriberto “Berto” Guerra, Jr.,
First Vice Chair
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Rudy M. Peña, ISA, G.G.
Second Vice Chair and Treasurer
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Elsa Martinez, CPA
Secretary
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Lorraine Alaniz,
Board Member
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Luz Cano,
Board Member
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Juan A. Chavira, PhD., JD
Board Member
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Elsa Gamboa,
Board Member
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Norma Green Gutierrez, MBA, RT (N)
Board Member
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Melinda Perez,
Board Member
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Richard Perez,
Board Member
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Nicolas ‘Nick’ Rangel, CPA
Board Member
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Diana M. Torres,
Board Member
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Arlene Williams-Brown,
Board Member
Ernesto Gómez, PhD.
President & CEO
Ernesto Gómez, Ph.D., is founder of El Centro del Barrio, now doing business as CentroMed. Dr. Gómez has served as the President and Chief Executive Officer at CentroMed since its inception in 1973 and now presides over a primary health care system that operates 27 ambulatory clinics in Bexar and Comal Counties and two (2) Fitness Centers. In 2022, CentroMed served 121,647 unduplicated patients involving 396,302 patient visits.
Dr. Gomez has served on numerous Board of Directors at the local, state and national levels. He has received numerous honors and awards for the work he has done in underserved communities. The most distinguishing honor he received is the “Well-being of Mankind” award presented by the Rockefeller Foundation. Gomez’s accomplishments include several publications in the social and behavioral sciences and in healthcare with special focus on the low income, uninsured populations.
Dr. Gomez is Professor Emeritus at Our Lady of the Lake University (OLLU) where, over the course of 37 years, he taught graduate level courses in research methods, quantitative methods, public policy, administration, human behavior, and social work practice. Dr. Gomez received his Doctorate of Philosophy from the University of Texas at Austin.
Updated: October 2023
Noemi Galván Eling, Esq
Board Chair
Ms. Eling is a practicing attorney with the Texas Rio Grande Legal Aid, Inc, in San Antonio, Texas were she has worked since 1983. She graduated from the School of Law from the University of Texas at Austin. Ms. Eling was a Fulbright American Lecturer Grantee in Lima, Peru. She received her License from State Bar of Texas in November 1983 and is a member of the San Antonio Bar Association. She is fluent in Spanish.
Ms. Eling has served on the Board of Directors of El Centro del Barrio dba, CentroMed from 1984-1990. She returned in 1992 to serve as the Board Chairperson and continues to serve in that role.
Heriberto “Berto” Guerra, Jr.,
First Vice Chair
Mr. Guerra is Chairman and CEO of Avanzar Interior Technologies GP, LLC, an automotive interiors manufacturing company and Co-Owner of Toyota of Boerne. He retired as Vice President-Legislative and Constituency Affairs for SBC (now AT&T). Mr. Guerra began his career with Southwestern Bell in 1978 as a business office supervisor. He progressed through a number of positions in customer services and external affairs. Prior to his last assignment, Guerra was Executive Vice President-National Constituency Relations overseeing minority, disabled, education, consumer and senior constituent groups. He also served as Executive Vice President-External Affairs for Southwestern Bell Telephone Company, managing director-corporate development for SBC Communications Inc. and as President of Southwestern Bell International Development. Before joining the SBC family of companies, Guerra served in an owner or manager capacity for various hotel, restaurant and movie theater businesses in Texas.
Mr. Guerra has long been active in many professional, civic, and scholastic organizations. He is the Chairman of San Antonio Water Systems (SAWS). He also serves: on the UTSA Development Board, as a Senior Advisor to Texas A&M University-San Antonio, as past chair for the Free Trade Alliance Executive Committee of San Antonio, as 1st Vice Chair of CentroMed of San Antonio, on the Board of Directors of MTC, Inc., (Mi Tierra Café), on the Board of Directors of M.T.C. Real Estate (a real estate development company), as a director for Cinemark, USA de Mexico Inc. (second largest theater company in Mexico), on the Board of Trustees for Abilene Christian University, as Deacon at Northside Church of Christ, on the Board of Trustees for Younglife ( Global), on the Board of Directors for ¡Adelante! a U.S. Education Leadership Fund, on the Board of Directors for SAMMinistries, on the Board of Directors for Conceptual MindWorks Inc., and on the Board of Directors for After School All Stars.
Mr. Guerra was awarded as a Distinguished Alumnus from Texas State University in 2007 and Business Owner of the year in 2007 by the San Antonio Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. Mr. Guerra received a Bachelor of Applied Arts and Sciences Degree in Interdisciplinary Management from Texas State University in 1984. He also completed the Penn State Executive Management Program in 1991. He and his wife, Tammy, have four children and nine grandchildren.
Mr. Guerra has served on the board of directors of CentroMed since January 1999.
Rudy M. Peña, ISA, G.G.
Second Vice Chair and Treasurer
Mr. Peña is a local businessman and owner of Peña & Associates Appraisal and Jewelry Services since 1987. He received his Gemological Certification from the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) in Santa Monica, California and received his certification as Graduate Gemologist. He is a Member of the International Gemological Alumni Association and resident of the local San Antonio chapter. Mr. Peña is a member and former local president of the International Society of Appraisers and the only member listed with a gemology (Jewelry) specialty in the City of San Antonio. He serves as an Expert Witness Testimony for government agencies such as U.S. Marshals, Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI), Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and Civil Cases and provides appraisal services for Homeland Securities, Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA), Estate Attorney, Banks, Lawyers, and Insurance Companies.
Mr. Peña has served on the Board of CentroMed since September 2011.
Elsa Martinez, CPA
Secretary
Ms. Elsa Martinez is a local business owner with over 21 years of experience in the garment Dry Cleaning and Laundry service industry who provides Dry Cleaning and Laundry services to individuals, commercial, school districts and government clients. Expertise in all technical and management operations of the company. As an entrepreneur she acquired the A & M Cleaners now D.C. Clean Inc., doing business as A & M Cleaners and expanded the company by adding a second location within six years of operations. Ms. Martinez is an expert with hands-on industry experience and manages all aspects of Human Resources, Payroll, Personnel Training, Purchasing and Marketing. Ms. Martinez maintains positive on-going relationships with store customers and vendors in the industry. She has been recognized by both individual and commercial customers as providing exceptional quality and service to the community and the U. S. Army Medical Command. Ms. Martinez received a Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting from the University of Texas at San Antonio in 1996 and completed and passed the CPA Examination in the same year. Ms. Martinez has been a patient of CentroMed for over 20 years and joined the CentroMed board of directors in 2014.
Lorraine Alaniz,
Board Member
Ms. Alaniz is a graduate of Harlandale ISD and has worked as a school psychologist for 12 years in the district. She primarily works with students that have special needs and their parents. One of her primary goals is connecting parents with community resources. Every year she helps her department connect with CentroMed to organize a symposium called “What’s Next”. The goal of the program is to connect parents with resources once students have graduated from Harlandale ISD. Ms. Alaniz has been a patient of CentroMed for several years and joined the CentroMed board of directors in 2021.
Luz Cano,
Board Member
Luz Cano is a Bilingual Elementary school teacher in the Harlandale Independent School District. She received her Bachelors in Interdisciplinary Studies from Texas A&M University- San Antonio. While at Texas A&M, she worked as a Peer Mentor with first-time college students. She also received the University Ring Award and the 2019 Outstanding Senior Award. She graduated from Harlandale High School and is proud to teach in the community where she grew up in. Mrs. Cano was a teen mom while in high school but she persisted to further her education. She has two children. Mrs. Cano is the first to graduate college in her family. Mrs. Cano has been a long-time patient of CentroMed and began serving as a consumer board member in April of 2015. During her time with the board, she has served on the Health Services and Planning Committee as well as the Gala and By-lays committees.
Juan A. Chavira, PhD., JD
Board Member
Dr. Juan Antonio Chavira, has a strong educational and social service background. In 1966 he received a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Literature from the University of Houston. After graduation he entered in the Peace Corps serving his country in the cause of peace by living and working in developing countries for two years. After the Peace Corps he served one year with the Volunteers in Service to America (VISTA) a volunteer program that places individuals with community-based agencies to help find long-term solutions to the problems caused by urban and rural poverty. Continuing to enhance his education in 1972, Dr. Chavira enrolled in Graduate School at the University of Texas at Austin where he obtained his Master’s Degree and PHD both in Medical Sociology.
Dr. Chavira has written numerous research articles and a book entitled, Curanderismo: Mexican American Folk Healing, published in 1981 by the University of George Press. He has eleven years’ experience as a professor teaching at such institutions as Colorado College, The University of Texas-Pan American, and the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio. In 1983 Dr. Chavira was awarded his Juris Doctorate Law Degree by the University of Texas, School of Law. After graduation he worked as an Assistant Criminal District Attorney from April 1983 until January 1990. He has a brief three month interruption as a private attorney, but returned to the District Attorney’s Office, to serve as Chief of both the Family Violence and the Career Criminal Units. Dr. Chavira was also appointed to serve as an Assistant District Attorney for the 81st Judicial District, prosecuting primarily in Frio and La Salle Counties. While practicing law he continued to serve as a part-time professor at the University of Texas in San Antonio, Southwest State University and Trinity University.
In May 1993, Dr. Chavira was appointed Court Master for Child Support for the Fourth Administrative Judicial Region. During this appointment he sat in six South Texas counties to include Bexar, Dimmit, Frio, La Salle, Maverick, and Zavala. He retired from the bench in December 2006.
Dr. Chavira, as he is warmly addressed, is frequently called upon by the legal, education and social service communities to lecture on his legal and sociological experiences. He was born and raised on the border in Eagle Pass, Texas, he is fluent in reading, writing and speaks Spanish.
Dr. Chavira has served on the board of CentroMed since May 2006.
Elsa Gamboa,
Board Member
Ms. Elsa Gamboa is a consumer board member that joined the Board of Directors in 2020. Mrs. Gamboa is a Certified Dental Assistant and a Registered Dental Assistant in Texas. For the past 39 years she had worked as a dental assistant and has served as a member of the Dental Assistant National Board for the past 30 years. She joined the board to be involved and contributing to something bigger than oneself. She has enjoyed seeing the growth of the organization first hand as a patient and a board member. Mrs. Gamboa enjoys attending community events, craft shows and creating arts and crafts herself. She enjoys being involved in community events.
Norma Green Gutierrez, MBA, RT (N)
Board Member
Mrs. Norma Green serves as the Program Director in the Nuclear Medicine Science/Technology Division with the Ila Faye Miller School of Nursing and Health Professions at the University of the Incarnate Word in San Antonio, TX since June 2000. Ms. Norma Green is a consumer Board Member that join the board in June 1991. She and her family have been patients of CentroMed for over thirty years. During her time on the board, Ms. Green has served on the following committees: Finance, Nominating, Program Audit, Program Planning and Executive. Ms. Green received her Masters of Business in Healthcare Management in May 2000 from Our Lady of the Lake University in SanAntonio, Texas. Mrs. Green received a Bachelors of Science in Nuclear Medicine Science/Technology with Summa Cum Laude in 1995 from Incarnate Word College.
Melinda Perez,
Board Member
Mrs. Perez is a consumer board member that rejoined the board of directors in 2020. She currently works for an elementary school at Southside ISD. She’s responsible for ensuring every student is registered and attending school daily. Her job entails various duties, such as communication with parents, students, staff, and administration. She is a former employee and board member of Centro Med. She has been a patient of CentroMed since 2015 and is familiar with the needs of the community. Mrs. Perez had the privilege of taking care of her elderly parents who have passed, and understands the challenges that elderly persons encounter. Mrs. Perez is honored to serve on the board and looks forward to making a positive difference at CentroMed.
Richard Perez,
Board Member
Mr. Perez served as the President and CEO of the San Antonio Chamber of Commerce. He was the 18th President to lead the 2,000-member organization in its 117-year history.
Richard grew up in San Antonio and attended South San Antonio ISD schools. As a young student, Richard got his first taste of business experience working at his family’s landscaping company, Fairway Landscape and Nursery, during junior high and high school.
Following graduation from South San High School in 1985 he received his Bachelor’s degree with a major in Urban and Regional Planning from Texas State University in San Marcos. He then went on to attain a Master’s degree in Public Administration from the University of Kansas. He often says that he felt that studying public administration and urban planning is the best way to give back to the community that gave so much to him.
Following graduate school, Richard served as Assistant to the City Manager for the City of Laredo. It was during this time that he witnessed the challenges facing cities along the South Texas border due to the exploding population and changing demographics.
His ability to work well with constituents led him to his next career step. In 1998, Richard was appointed by the Clinton Administration as the Special Assistant to the Deputy Secretary of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, where he served until January 2001.
Richard then returned to San Antonio and rejoined the family business from 2001 – 2004, when he was elected to the San Antonio City Council for District 4. While on City Council, Richard quickly became a go-to leader for important tasks. He:
• chaired the San Antonio Military Transformation Task Force – which continues to help facilitate and implement post-BRAC plans, the largest single development project in the history of the City, worth up to $2 Billion in construction, and adding thousands of jobs for San Antonians,
• served as the point-person in recruitment efforts to attract, and negotiate the contract bringing City Manager Sheryl Sculley to San Antonio,
• chaired the Transportation Policy Board of the San Antonio-Bexar County Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO), which set policy that identified, prioritized, and allocated over $100 million annually in state and federal funding for the construction of roadway improvements, planning studies, and the implementation of various multi-modal initiatives such as bus rapid transit (BRT) and commuter rail/rail relocation efforts for the Bexar County region.
• served as senior City representative, with the County Judge and Greater Chamber President in negotiating the relocation of a new National Security Agency (NSA) office in San Antonio with 500 employees.
• served on the City’s International Economic Development strategic efforts team by acting as a City Ambassador via travels to India, Mexico, and Japan, and led two trade missions to India, resulting in a sister city agreement with Chennai, India in 2008.
Richard became recognized for his ability to cross political lines to ensure the best results for the City of San Antonio. He also followed a strict open-door policy and was always willing to listen and respond to the needs of all citizens of the community.
With all of these accomplishments, Richard will tell you his most prized possession is his family. Richard is married to Judy Lynn (Patterson) and they are the parents of three children: Clarissa, Elissa and Ricardo Antonio.
Mr. Perez has served on the Board of CentroMed since March 2009.
Nicolas ‘Nick’ Rangel, CPA
Board Member
Nicolas Rangel is a CPA with over 25 years of experience leading multidisciplinary finance and accounting teams in various industries, including financial services, oil field services, hospitality and high technology. He worked as an expatriate in Mexico City for two years and in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil for six years. Nick is a graduate of the University of Texas at Austin. He enjoys volunteering and joined the board of directors at CentroMed in March of 2017. He also serves as an officer on the board of the Children’s Chorus of San Antonio.
Diana M. Torres,
Board Member
Ms. Torres is a Patient Care Technician that has worked for the University Dialysis for over 10 years. She is responsible for assisting patients with vital signs and their dialysis treatments. She has over 17 years of experience working with dialysis patients for the following companies; University Dialysis, Dr. Schef’s Office, Davita Dialysis Center and Fresenius Dialysis Center.
Ms. Torres graduated from Homer Hanna High School in Brownsville Texas and completed some college hours at Southmost Community College in Brownsville Texas.
Ms. Torres has been a consumer board member since June 1994.
Arlene Williams-Brown,
Board Member
Ms. Arlene Williams-Brown is a consumer board member that joined the board in April of 2019. She has been a patient of CentroMed since 2012 and is very familiar with the needs of the community. Ms. Williams-Brown retired from CPS and is an active member of First Baptist Church. She wants to be active and give back to the community.