Texas Latina Leaders Luncheon

News Anchor, KVDA Telemundo 60 San Antonio

Jessica Montoya is a presenter for Telemundo 60 News, which airs on KVDA Telemundo 60 San Antonio, the local station serving the Hispanic community in Central and South Texas.As part of Telemundo 60 News, Montoya reports on breaking news and stories relevant to viewers in the San Antonio area. She also develops special reports, always showcasing the human side of the news. Montoya joined Telemundo 60 in 2014.

With 23 years in the Industry, Jessica has held many positions such as Producer, Morning Show Host & Director, Weather Anchor, Reporter, News Producer, VJ and Radio Show Host.

Attorney, Lindow Stephens Schultz, LLP & Former San Antonio City Councilwoman, District 6

Melissa Cabello Havrda is a native San Antonian, attorney, and dedicated public servant. Melissa attended Taft High School, then earned her B.A. majoring in political science from St. Mary’s University, a Juris Doctorate from St. Mary’s University School of Law, and an MBA from the University of Texas at San Antonio. Melissa was elected as the San Antonio District 6 Councilwoman on June 8, 2019. While on Council, Melissa served as the Chair of the City’s Public Safety, Transportation and Mobility, and Municipal Court Committees. She also served as a member of the Governance, Investment, and Municipal Utility Committees. Additionally, she served as the first Latina Chair of the Alamo Area Mobility Planning Organization (AAMPO) and the San Antonio Fire and Police Pension Board. While working on obtaining her degrees, Melissa served her community by working as special assistant to former Mayor Ed Garza. She then served as project coordinator to Mayor Emeritus Lila Cockrell and former Councilwoman Bonnie Conner at the San Antonio Parks Foundation. Melissa has also taught Business Law and Criminal Court Systems at Northwest Vista Community College and Government at St. Mary’s University for their MPA program. She is a practicing attorney, real estate agent, and proud small business owner. Prior to serving on City Council, Councilwoman Cabello Havrda served on numerous boards including the Magik Children’s Theater, MOVE Texas, Grandparents Raising Grandchildren, Community Housing Resource Partners, UTHSC Center for Aging, and Transplants for Children, among others. Melissa is also a proud graduate of the inaugural Latina Leadership Institute through the San Antonio Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and served on the SAHCC’s Government Affairs and Business and Economic Development committees. Melissa is an alumni of Leadership San Antonio 41 through the SAHCC and the San Antonio Chamber of Commerce and a 2024 Inductee of the San Antonio Women’s Hall of Fame.

Sr. Director of Community & Government Affairs, First American Title Insurance

Chief Executive Officer, HOPE

Helen Iris Torres is the CEO of Hispanas Organized for Political Equality (HOPE), where she leads one of the nation’s most influential Latina organizations. As the CEO of HOPE for over 25 years, Helen has strategically built a Latina leadership and advocacy infrastructure contributing to thousands of civically engaged Latina leaders in elected and appointed office, as well as in business, philanthropic and community leadership roles. 

News Anchor, KVDA Telemundo 60 San Antonio

Jessica Montoya is a presenter for Telemundo 60 News, which airs on KVDA Telemundo 60 San Antonio, the local station serving the Hispanic community in Central and South Texas.As part of Telemundo 60 News, Montoya reports on breaking news and stories relevant to viewers in the San Antonio area. She also develops special reports, always showcasing the human side of the news. Montoya joined Telemundo 60 in 2014.

With 23 years in the Industry, Jessica has held many positions such as Producer, Morning Show Host & Director, Weather Anchor, Reporter, News Producer, VJ and Radio Show Host.

Executive Vice President & Head of Hispanic & Latino Affairs, Wells Fargo

Experienced veteran banker with over twenty-eight years of lending experience in commercial banking, targeting the middle market space defined as companies with sales of $5MM to $1B+. Focused solely on Diverse Segments markets in the last 5 years. Lead the strategy across diverse segments such as Women, Latinos, Asian, African American, and Native American. More recently, heading all Latino Affairs for Wells Fargo for the entire company focused on clients, communities and colleagues.

Senior Corporate Advisor, TrueFlavors Catering

With over 25 years of experience in the food and retail industry, Denise has worked with a wide range of companies marketing private-label brands, developing and implementing strategic business plans, manufacturing, imports and leading substantial revenue and profit growth. Raised in her family’s food manufacturing business in San Antonio, Denise gained early expertise in operations, marketing, and leadership. A dedicated community leader, Denise has served on numerous boards, some of which include Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center, The San Antonio Chamber of Commerce, the Greater SATX Board, and the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas.  

Councilwoman, San Antonio City Council District 3

Phyllis Viagran was elected to serve as District 3 Councilwoman on June 15, 2021. Her deep-rooted connection to the southside and affection for San Antonio, Texas, are evident in her longstanding ties to District 3 as a proud native of the southside and her rich family heritage, most notably that of Toribio Losoya, an iconic Alamo Defender.

Councilwoman Viagran attended Providence High School and went on to earn her B.A. in Political Science and History from Texas Tech University. Later, she earned her Master’s degree in Bicultural Studies from the University of Texas at San Antonio.

Phyllis Viagran’s journey in public service began with a passion for education and a commitment to making a positive impact in her community. Before her venture into politics as a City Councilmember, she devoted herself to shaping young minds as an elementary teacher, leaving a lasting impression on the lives of her students. After several years in the field of education, Phyllis transitioned her career to the San Antonio Police Department (SAPD), where she took on the role of a Community Service Specialist. During her time at SAPD, she found her calling as a Domestic Violence Advocate, tirelessly working to support and protect survivors of domestic violence. Her dedication to this critical cause demonstrated her unwavering commitment to the well-being of San Antonio’s residents.

Phyllis later found herself contributing to the thriving tourism industry of San Antonio. Joining Visit San Antonio, she served as the Destination Services Coordinator and Membership Sales Coordinator. Her efforts in promoting the city as a desirable destination were highly valued until the unexpected impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. Like many others, Phyllis faced professional challenges due to the downturn in tourism. However, she remained resilient and determined to find new ways to serve her community. In June 2020, Phyllis embarked on a new chapter of her career by joining Older Adults Technology Services (OATS) as a Community Outreach Coordinator and Trainer. During this time, the reality of the digital divide throughout the southside became even more apparent which led to her becoming a champion for bridging the digital and equity gap for San Antonio.

Beyond her professional endeavors, Phyllis has generously volunteered her time and expertise to various organizations, demonstrating her commitment to giving back to the community. She has served an active member of the Brooks Gives Back Board, The Rape Crisis Center Board showcasing her dedication to supporting survivors and promoting awareness about crucial issues.

Throughout her journey, Phyllis Viagran’s commitment to public service, community advocacy, and empowering others has been unwavering. Her diverse experiences and deep understanding of the challenges faced by various sections of the community and a vision for a more inclusive, tech-savvy, sustainable city have uniquely prepared her to take on the responsibilities of City Council and drive positive change in San Antonio.

Currently as Councilwoman, Phyllis serves as the Chair for the Audit Committee, and serves as a valued member of several essential committees such as Economic and Workforce Development Committee, the Planning and Community Development Committee, Community Health Committee.

Vice President, HOPE

Xiomara Peña is a passionate mission-driven leader with over a decade of experience and a deep interest in power building efforts to restore power to community members who have been locked out of wealth building opportunities through policy and programmatic interventions. In her role as Vice President of Community Engagement & Innovation, Xiomara oversees our national and regional expansion of HOPE programs.