About us
The San Antonio Mexico Friendship Council is a non-profit organization founded in 1996 by the then Consul General of Mexico in San Antonio, Carlos Sada, and various prominent community leaders to strengthen and promote the shared cultural ties between the citizens of San Antonio and Mexico.
The organization supports a myriad of cultural and civic activities along with the Mexican Consulate and the Mexican Cultural Institute in San Antonio. SAMFCO also provides students of Mexican origin attending colleges and universities in the San Antonio area with scholarships to further their education. SAMFCO’s board is comprised by San Antonio civic, governmental, cultural, educational and business leaders from both the United States and Mexico. Traditionally, the Consul General of Mexico serves as Honorary Chairman and the current President of the Council is Juan Antonio Flores, Executive Vice President for Governmental Affairs of Port San Antonio.
Our Board
EXECUTIVE BOARD
Min. Sergio Zapata Lozano
INTERIMCHAIR
Director of the Mexican Cultural Institute
Juan Antonio Flores
PRESIDENT
Executive Vice President for Government Affairs of Port San Antonio.
Shahrzad Dowlatshahi
VICE PRESIDENT
Chief Diplomacy and Protocol Officer, Head of International Relations City of San Antonio
Yvette Gonzalez
TREASURER
First Vice President International Department International Bank of Commerce
Laura Cortez
SECRETARY
Mi Tierra Café y Panadería
Frances Ortiz Schultschik
IMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENT
President, Schultschik Marketing Group
BOARD MEMBERS
• Juan Carlos Almanza, Managing Parner Almanza CPA Firm
• Jeff Arndt, President and CEO Via Metropolitan Transit
• Armen Babajanian, Executive Director World Affairs Council of San Antonio
• Alejandra Bueno, Interim Executive Director International Programs Alamo Colleges
• Samuel Cantu, Director of Sales Interjet
• Jorge Canavti, President J. Canavati& Co, LLC
• Leroy Cavazos Reyna, Senior Manager of Public Affairs & Communications Coca Cola Southwest Beverages
• Graciela Cigarroa, General Councel Centromed
• Louis Escareño, General Councel
• Elizabeth Fauerso, Chief Marketing Officer The Pearl
• Marcos Fragoso, Vice President for International Affairs University of the Incarnate Word
• Aracely García Granados, Executive Director Mexicans and Americans Thinking Together
• Leo Gomez, President & CEO Brooks City Base
• Alex Hinojosa, Managing Director North American Development Bank
• Jennifer L. Jenkins, Market Manager Aeromexico-Delta
• Robert McKinley, Vice Chancellor Economic and Workforce Development Alamo Colleges
• Lisa Montoya, Vice Provost for International Initiatives and Senior International Officer UTSA
• Karlo Morgado, Group Sales Manager Private Banking International
• Ana Celia Partida, Community Leader
• Ezequiel Peña, Assistant Vice President for Academic Affairs Our Lady of the Lake University
• Rosa Ramirez, Executive Director of Credit Valero Companies
• Jose Reyes Jr., Premium Partnerships Manager Spurs Sports and Entertainment
• Álvaro Roa Santa María, Vice President and General Manager of Latin America Rackspace
• Robert Shemwell, Principal Overland Partners Architects
• Martha Tijerina, Community Leader
• Tony Treviño, General Councel Lewis Energy Group
• Marisol Weymouth, Interim Vice President Office of Enterprise Business Planning and Execution Excellence CPS Energy