TEDxBrownsville

Speakers

Speakers may not be confirmed. Check the event website for the latest lineup.

• Andrik Gonzalez

  Founder and Executive Director of The Caminos Institute

  Andrik Gonzalez is the Founder and Executive Director of The Caminos Institute, the Rio Grande Valley's first independent public policy organization. His work focuses on community development strategies that strengthen and improve quality of life. Gonzalez has been involved in several state- and federally funded community assessments, research initiatives, and policy-oriented projects with municipal agencies, regional and state organizations, and national research institutions such as the Brookings Institution, where he co-authored the institution's first report on quality of life in Rio Grande Valley colonias—the largest public-facing report on colonias since the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas' 2015 assessment. His work has taken him across the length of the Texas-Mexico border conducting research on infrastructure gaps and community needs, and has been featured in regional and state media, most recently Texas Public Radio.

• Daniel Pizana

  Brownsville Attorney, Entrepreneur, Founder of the Law Office of Daniel Pizana

  Daniel Pizana is a Brownsville attorney, entrepreneur, and founder of the Law Office of Daniel Pizana. His career was shaped by deeply personal experiences that showed him how access to compassionate legal representation can change the course of a family's life. Today, he dedicates his practice to helping individuals navigate some of life's most difficult moments while building technology and businesses that make legal services more accessible. Growing up in flea markets, family businesses, and an import-export warehouse taught Daniel that extraordinary leadership, resilience, and entrepreneurial talent often hide in plain sight because they look like ordinary work. He encourages our community to rethink where greatness comes from and to recognize that the people we've been waiting for are already here.

• Dr. Maria Fernanda Martinez-Donaus

  Educator, Founder and Executive Director of RioProgress

  Maria Fernanda Martinez-Donaus is a Brownsville, Texas, native, educator, and nonprofit leader dedicated to expanding educational opportunity in the Rio Grande Valley. As the founder and executive director of RioProgress, she helps students and families navigate college admissions, financial aid, and the transition to higher education through mentorship and individualized support. Inspired by her own educational journey, Maria Fernanda's work focuses on making complex systems more accessible so that students can pursue their goals with confidence. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in American Studies from Columbia University, a Master of Education from the Harvard Graduate School of Education, and a Doctor of Education in Learning and Organizational Change from Baylor University.

• Dr. Paulina Sosa-Quintanilla

  Founder, President, and Executive Director of Latinx Voces

  Dr. Paulina Sosa-Quintanilla is the Founder, President, and Executive Director of Latinx Voces, a national nonprofit advancing Latino health equity, cultural representation, and data-driven solutions. With more than 15 years of public health experience, she has worked in infectious disease surveillance, health policy, data communications, and community engagement with organizations including the World Health Organization, Pan American Health Organization, American Public Health Association, and Smithsonian Institution. She holds a Doctor of Public Health in Public Health Informatics from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, where she developed the DIRE Framework to assess equity in public health dashboards. She also leads LUCHAR, a bilingual health initiative centered on prevention, storytelling, and community-based outreach. Her work bridges data, equity, culture, and lived experience to help communities shape stronger programs, policies, and systems.

• Giana Hesterberg

  School Counselor

  Giana Gallardo Hesterberg was born and raised in Brownsville, Texas. She studied at Central College in Pella, Iowa, and received a bachelor's degree in elementary education. She graduated with a master's degree in clinical mental health counseling from the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley in May of 2025. During her graduate school career, she heavily researched limerence and has presented her findings at counseling conferences. Hesterberg is a child counselor and a licensed professional counselor associate. There are few things she loves more than public speaking. Her hobbies also include Olympic-style weightlifting, writing, playing the piano, and chasing her next great adventure.

• Gilbert Hernandez

  Founder of Búho

  Gilbert Hernandez is the founder of Búho, Brownsville’s one and only independent bookstore. After getting a mechanical engineering degree in Worcester (pronounced “Wooster”) Polytechnic Institute in Massachusetts, he came back to Brownsville and became involved several civic organizations. He heard how many people wanted a bookstore in the city and established Búho as a hub for literacy & enriching events all built under the core values of community, curiosity, and creativity

• Jocelyn Lui

  Social Media Manager, Content Creator

  Raised between Mexico and the United States in a family of musicians and artists, Jocelyn Lui is a social media manager for JZD and a content creator who has spent more than a decade telling stories online. She earned a bachelor's degree in Communication Studies from The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley and has built a career connecting with audiences through authentic digital storytelling. At JZD, she has led social media campaigns for brands including POND'S and Brooks Running while continuing to grow her own creative platforms. Having started making YouTube videos as a child, she knows firsthand what it feels like to create before the world gives you permission. Today, she shares travel and lifestyle content, and her most-viewed TikTok is simply a video of her cooking with her dog. When she's not creating, you'll likely find her reading a good book or planning her next adventure.

• Leah Wise

  Advocate, Entrepreneur, Founder of Leah Wise Law Firm

  Leah Wise was born and raised in Primera, Texas and graduated from Harlingen High School in 2008. Upon graduation from high school, Leah attended The University of Texas at Austin where she graduated in 2012 with a Bachelor of Science in Political Communication and a concentration in women's and gender studies. Leah obtained her Doctor of Jurisprudence from St. Mary’s University School of Law in 2016. Leah opened her own law practice in 2016 and now owns the largest 100% women-run law firm in the Rio Grande Valley. She has obtained millions of dollars in settlements for thousands of injured clients. In 2020, Leah was named one of the best lawyers in the nation for securing the largest settlement in Texas that year. Less than 1% of all lawyers in the U.S. achieve this distinction. Leah currently represents clients in every major city in Texas and is excited to continue growing throughout the state.

• Marco Moreno

  Organizational Development Consultant, Counselor, Communication Educator

  Marco Moreno is an organizational development consultant, counselor, and communication educator whose work focuses on leadership, organizational change, and human development. He partners with leaders and organizations to strengthen culture, develop talent, and navigate complex change. A U.S. Army veteran and Brownsville native, Marco brings both expertise and lived experience to conversations about growth, identity, and community. His work explores how psychology, leadership, and storytelling can help people, organizations, and communities embrace innovation while remaining grounded in the values, relationships, and sense of place that give them meaning.

• Nalleli Trejo

  Public Servant

  A proud Brownsville native, Nalleli Trejo is a dedicated public servant with over twelve years of experience in the public sector, including the last eight years specifically within city government. Driven by a commitment to meaningful civic impact, she is deeply passionate about community development, enhancing the overall quality of life for residents, and championing transparency in local government. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Texas A&M University and a Master’s degree in Public Administration from UT Permian Basin. Outside of her professional role, she treasures spending her free time with her kids, diving into a good book, and exploring the local culinary scene by trying new restaurants. Whenever able to travel, she also loves discovering and supporting unique small businesses in every new community she visits.