Planning for the 125th Washington’s Birthday Celebration is officially underway and under the guidance of the 2022 – 2023 Washington’s Birthday Celebration Association (WBCA) President Matt Gibson. The WBCA Executive Committee and Board of Directors also welcomed new additions to their respective rosters.
“Ever since I moved to Laredo in 2001, I have been enamored with WBCA and the many events that bring this city together. Although I was an outsider, the members, staff, and board of WBCA made me feel like I belonged here, like this was home,” Gibson said.
“WBCA is truly an organization with something for everyone, and I am honored and humbled to lead this fantastic team of volunteers for the upcoming 125th-anniversary celebration.”
Matthew Gibson’s involvement with the WBCA began in 2008 as a volunteer for the IBC Youth Parade Under the Stars and Anheuser-Busch Washington’s Birthday Parade. Gibson is a graduate of Richard King High School in Corpus Christi and attended the University of Houston.
Elected to the WBCA Board of Directors in 2012, he has served as Chair for the IBC Youth Parade Under the Stars, Anheuser-Busch Washington’s Birthday Parade, WBCA Stars & Stripes Air Show Spectacular by Miller Lite, the WBCA Founding Fathers’ 5K Run, Ride, & Wellness Fair, and the Liberty Run sponsored by The Outlet Shoppes at Laredo. In addition, Gibson received the WBCA President’s Merit Award in 2012, the Matias De Llano Award in 2015, and the General’s Recognition Award in 2018.
Gibson is an entrepreneur with over 30 years of graphic design and marketing experience and a licensed broker with 16 years of experience in residential real estate. An avid fitness buff, Matt Gibson works out daily at Orangetheory and coaches indoor cycling at Casa Yoga.
Matt is the proud father of two daughters (both Fighting Texas Aggies), Paige and Isabella.
Dr. Salinas joins the Executive Committee as Treasurer
Selected unanimously as the 2022-2023 WBCA Executive Committee Treasurer for the 125th Celebration was
Albert Salinas, Ed.D. Dr. Salinas earned his Doctoral Degree in Bilingual Education from Texas A&M University-Kingsville. He has over 25 years of experience as an administrator and has worked with various grants at the Federal, State, and County levels and with local non-profits (501c3) organizations. Dr. Salinas is a decorated Veteran who proudly served in the United States Navy. He returned to Texas to pursue his education and started his career in 1997 as an administrator in higher education. He gradually moved to work with grants and later transitioned to nonprofits to serve his community.
His involvement with WBCA began in 2015 as a volunteer for the IBC Youth Parade Under the Stars and Anheuser-Busch Washington’s Birthday Parade, WBCA Stars & Stripes Air Show Spectacular Sponsored by Miller Lite, and WBCA Jalapeño Festival Sponsored by La Costeña. He served as a Development Team member in 2015 and 2016 and was selected to serve as a Presidential Appointee from 2016 to 2018. He Co-chaired the IBC Youth Parade Under the Stars and Anheuser-Busch Washington’s Birthday Parade for one year, before being named the Chair for the three following years. As a Board member since 2018, he has also Co-chaired the VIP Drivers committee and WBCA Stars & Stripes Air Show Spectacular Sponsored by Miller Lite. He was also a committee member for the WBCA Founding Fathers’ 5K Run, Ride, & Wellness Fair, the Liberty Run sponsored by The Outlet Shoppes at Laredo, and the Jalapeño Festival Sponsored by La Costeña; and he Co-chaired the Volunteer Committee for all WBCA events for two consecutive years. In addition, Dr. Salinas received the WBCA President’s Merit Award in 2017. He is married to Gloria Teresa Salinas who is also an award-winning board member, and they have a beautiful family with children Arnold, Allan, Michael, and Eveleia. Their entire family volunteers and participates in WBCA events. Dr. Salinas is proud of his new endeavor for the 125th Celebration.
The newly elected Board of Directors and appointees for the 2022-2023 year were also announced at a recent WBCA board meeting. The WBCA board is made up of leaders and professionals from the community. Elected board members serve three-year terms and volunteer countless hours of their own time to make all of the annual events a success.
The Executive Committee members for the 125th Celebration are:
Matt Gibson, WBCA President
(Gibson Design)
Rochelle V. Gonzalez, President Elect
(Doctors Hospital)
Fernando R. Montemayor, Jr., WBCA 1st Vice-President
(IBC Investment Services)
Jaime Fuentes, WBCA 2nd Vice-President
(Arguindegui Companies)
Albert Salinas, Ed.D WBCA Treasurer
(Community Leader)
Natalie Hernandez, WBCA Ex-Officio (Immediate Past President)
(Falcon Bank)
The 2022 – 2023 Board of Directors include:
Bryon “Andy” Alford – Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration
AnnaIsabel Alvarez – WBC Museum
Gilbert Bermea – Tejas Financial Advisors
Amelia E. Bravo – PNC Bank
Cristina Cabrera – Community Leader
Rosa E. Cruz – PNC Bank
Jose “Pepe” E. Garcia – Modern Construction, Inc.
Olga Gentry – St. Augustine High School
Jesse Gonzalez – Prime Select Realty
Francisco “Pancho” Gonzalez Garza – Gontor Logistics Corp.
Dario Gutierrez – Gateway Mortgage
Emmanuel Guajardo – Cresta Advisors
Lucy S. Hastings – Daniel B. Hastings, Inc.
Anabella R. Herbig – State Farm Insurance
Avery G. Jackson -Texas Community Bank
Jerry Lara – Enterprise Holdings
Claudio Lerma – Clarian Investments Inc.
Monica Lopez – Texas Community Bank
Reagan M. Macdonald – Texas Community Bank
Edward F. Maddox – Benavides Maddox, P.C.
Rafael A. Martinez – Laredo Federal Credit Union
Abner “AB” Miranda – Community Leader
Pete Morales, IV – Community Leader
Vanessa Palumbo – Laredo Independent School District
David Ramos – IBC Bank
Anita C. Reuthinger – Community Leader
Minnie Dora Haynes Rodriguez – Rancho Colorado
Gloria “Terry” Salinas – Laredo College
Cordelia L. Valdez – Webb County Judge’s Office
Javier C. Villarreal – Gateway Community Health Center
Nydia Weathers – Gentle Family Dentistry
Lupita Zepeda – Office of State Representative Tracy King
Lisa Zuniga – Zuniga Enterprises
The 2022 – 2023 Presidential Appointees serving one-year terms are:
– Rene Gutierrez – United Independent School District
– Eileen Andrade Martinez – Community Leader
– Julio Salazar – Community Leader
– Alice Villanueva – Vantage Bank
– Leslie Zamarron – Falcon Bank
Save the dates for the 125th Washington’s Birthday Celebration, January 19 – February 26, 2023. The Washington’s Birthday Celebration, founded in 1898, is the largest Celebration of its kind in the United States. Throughout the years, the Celebration has grown to be over a month long and consists of parades, dazzling pageants, fireworks, a carnival, an air show, a sizzling Jalapeño Festival and much more. Combined, WBCA events attract nearly 500,000 residents and visitors, and yearly contributes an estimated $14 million to the local economy.
Stay up to date with all our events by visiting our website at wbcalaredo.org. You can also stay up to date, win ticket giveaways and other prizes by liking us on Facebook and Instagram.
