May 29, 2026 at The Westin River Walk

8:30 AM - 10 AM

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Power of Líderes: Mapping Healthcare brings together leaders across healthcare, education, and workforce development to explore how these systems connect, evolve, and drive the future of San Antonio. This conversation highlights the full ecosystem in action, where talent, access, and innovation intersect to build a stronger, healthier community.

Panelists


Anita Fernández

Co-Founder, Partner OCI Group Consulting/OCI Development

She has lived and studied in D.F., Oaxaca, Veracruz, and Chiapas, México. Anita has professional experience in state and local government, nonprofit management, education and the arts.

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    During her time in the Texas Legislature as Chief of Staff for a Texas State Representative she led the Capitol and District offices and various community and policy initiatives, in the areas of Public Education, Transportation, Urban Affairs, Healthcare and Immigration. She was a pivotal contributor to the development of community and public affairs during her time at the Museo Alameda, the first formal Smithsonian affiliate in the U.S. and the official Latino Museum of Texas. While working in public education, she developed and implemented college readiness curriculum for the K – 12 grade levels. 


    At OCI Group Anita works directly with clients in areas such as broadband, public education, affordable housing and small business and is part of the state legislative team.


     Anita serves as the Vice Chair of the Board of Managers for University Health the Bexar County Hospital District where she chairs the Public Health Committee, she is also a member of the Board of Directors of Community First Health Plans, the University Health Pension Board, the Marianist Urban Students Program, and the National Hispanic Institute. She also serves as a Director of the Texas Lyceum.


    For 17 years, she served as the volunteer Project Administrator for the National Hispanic Institute (NHI) at San Antonio’s Great Debate Team, an international leadership experience for high school students. She is also a founding board member of Texas Women in Trades. Previously, she has served as the City Council District 1 Appointee for the San Antonio SA2020 Commission on Education, the Advisory Board for the University of Texas at San Antonio’s Institute of Texan Cultures, the Kleberg for Commissioner Advisory Council, the San Antonio River Foundation and the Southwestern University Alumni Nominations and Awards Committee.


    In 2016 she was recognized as Southwestern University’s Distinguished Young Alumna. In 2018 she received the NHI’s Distinguished Alumna in Community Leadership Award and has been one of NHI’s Top 100 Emerging Latino Leaders. Most recently she has been recognized as part of the San Antonio Business Journal’s 2021 “40 under 40”. She was named the National Hispanic Institute's Person of the Year for 2023. 

Ed Banos

President and CEO for University Health

Ed Banos serves as the President and CEO for University Health. Banos joined in 2015, as the Executive Vice President, Chief Operating Officer and assumed his new role as President and CEO on July 1, 2024.

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    Ed has more than 30 years of executive health care leadership experience. Prior to joining University Health, he served as president and CEO of Duke LifePoint Upper Peninsula Health System and CEO of Superior Health Partners in Marquette, Michigan. From 2008 to 2012, he held the position of president and CEO of Good Shepherd Health System in Longview, Texas.


    He received his Bachelor of Science degree in Health Records Administration from the University of Pittsburgh and his Master’s in Health Service Administration from Armstrong Atlantic State University (now Georgia Southern) in Savannah, Georgia.


    Ed is an active member of the Greater San Antonio Chamber of Commerce, a former board member of the San Antonio Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, and a founding member of the South Texas Crisis Collaborative. He was recognized as a Healthcare Hero by the San Antonio Business Journal in 2019.

Theresa Rodriguez Scepanski

Chief Executive Officer at Community First Health Plans, Inc.

Theresa Rodriguez Scepanski is renowned as a dynamic healthcare leader for her unwavering commitment to advancing health access and improving community wellness.

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    As the President and Chief Executive Officer at Community First Health Plans, Inc. (Community First), Theresa continues to shape and expand healthcare services catering to diverse populations, especially those historically underserved.

    After serving two terms as Interim Chief Executive Officer at Community First, Theresa was appointed as the President and Chief Executive Officer in August 2020, where she drives innovative initiatives enhancing health outcomes and reducing disparities. These initiatives address Community First members’ unique needs, such as expanded access to preventive care, mental health services, and chronic disease management. Her strategic vision has created partnerships with local organizations and stakeholders, further amplifying Community First’s impact on the community. The innovative community initiatives she has led include the installation of fifty food pantries; a unique and culturally relevant mural, We Love our Southside; and the Empowering Pathways: Entrepreneurship Scholarship Program, and Empowering Pathways: Maternal Scholarship Program.

    Her leadership style is characterized by empathy, collaboration, and a relentless pursuit of excellence. Known for inspiring her team and fostering a culture of transformation and innovation, she has garnered recognition within the industry, including several honors highlighting her contributions to health equity and community engagement. These honors include the 2025 Stevie Awards Woman of the Year in Healthcare and Female Executive of the Year, the Bexar County Medical Society’s 2024 Annual Women Leaders in Medicine, the San Antonio Business Journal’s 2022 Healthcare Heroes, Modern Healthcare’s 2023 Top Diversity Leaders, and the 2023 Alamo Council of Government’s Community/Nonprofit of the Year.

    Theresa’s board service spans national, state, and local organizations, including her role as Chair of the State Medicaid Advisory Committee; Vice Chair of the regional Health Information Exchange; member of the Association for Community Affiliated Plans; Texas Association of Health Plans; Texas Association of Community Health Plans; Bexar County Health Collaborative; former Chair for University Health’s annual United Way Campaign; and currently serving as a member of the Board of Trustees for the San Antonio Water System. A native San Antonian, Theresa earned a Bachelor of Arts in Organizational Communications from Texas State University and a Master of Arts in Human Resources Development with honors from Webster University. Theresa began her career with University Health in 1995.


Mike Flores, Ph. D

Chancellor, Alamo Colleges District 

Dr. Mike Flores assumed the role of chancellor of the Alamo Colleges District on Oct. 1, 2018, after unanimous vote by the Alamo Colleges District Board of Trustees.

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    With more than 25 years of service to the Alamo Colleges District, Dr. Flores is the ninth appointed chancellor and the first Hispanic chancellor in the district’s history.


    Flores’ vision for the Alamo Colleges District – eliminating poverty through education – is based on his personal experience as a child of migrant farmworkers who pursued education to gain economic and social mobility. Through his leadership, the Alamo Colleges District has launched AlamoPROMISE, a tuition-free college program for graduating high school students in Bexar County and one of the most significant initiatives implemented in the region.


    During his first year as chancellor in 2018, Flores led the Alamo Colleges District in its recognition as the first and only community college system in the nation to be awarded the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award, the nation’s highest Presidential honor for performance excellence through innovation, improvement and visionary leadership. In 2024, Flores led the District to make history and became the only recipient in higher education to receive the Baldrige award twice since the award’s inception.


    Flores holds a Ph.D. in Educational Administration from the University of Texas at Austin, a master’s in Political Science from Illinois State University, and a bachelor’s in political science from the University of Texas at San Antonio. He lives in central San Antonio with his wife Martha and their two daughters.

Dr. Clint Kingsbery

Chairman of the Alamo Colleges District Board of Trustees

Dr. Clint Kingsbery serves as Chairman of the Alamo Colleges District Board of Trustees, a position he has held since 2024.

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    As Chairman, he provides governance leadership and strategic oversight in support of the district’s mission to empower students and strengthen the economic and social vitality of the community through education. He is committed to advancing student success, expanding access to high-quality academic and workforce pathways, and ensuring that the Alamo Colleges continue to serve as a national model for institutional excellence and opportunity. Dr. Kingsbery has served on the Board since 2014 and previously held executive leadership roles including Vice Chair and Secretary.


    Professionally, Dr. Kingsbery is the Associate Director of Retention Initiatives at Texas A&M University–San Antonio, where he leads institutional efforts focused on student persistence, retention strategy, TSI compliance, and academic technology. His work centers on developing data-informed systems and cross-divisional initiatives that strengthen student support and improve institutional effectiveness. He also serves on the university’s Staff Council Executive Committee as Vice President and President-Elect, supporting shared governance and institutional engagement across the campus community.


    Additionally, Dr. Kingsbery serves on the Board of Directors for the Community College Association of Texas Trustees (CCATT), where he is Chairman of the Education Committee, supporting trustee development and leadership across the state. At the national level, he serves on the Member Communications & Education Committee for the Association of Community College Trustees (ACCT).


    He holds a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics, a master’s degree in Higher Education Leadership and Policy Studies, and a Ph.D. in Higher Education Leadership and Policy Studies from the University of Texas at San Antonio. His doctoral research examined the experiences of midlevel administrators of the Global Majority at a Hispanic-Serving Institution, with a focus on how institutional leaders navigate turnover factors and sustain their work in complex organizational environments.


    Dr. Kingsbery is also President of the Board of Directors for SOLI Chamber Ensemble, a nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing contemporary chamber music and arts education. He continues to support community education initiatives as a governance advisor to Each One Teach One, a nonprofit focused on expanding literacy and educational opportunity.


    Dr. Kingsbery began his career as a Mathematics educator in Northside ISD, where he taught for 13 years.


    On a personal note, Dr. Kingsbery is active in his community and enjoys writing music, reading, and volunteering with his family. He is proud of his son, who is currently pursuing interests in Aerospace Engineering and Cybersecurity. Clint is married to Jessica Salinas Kingsbery, his college sweetheart and lifelong partner since 2007.

Emcee


Fernanda Cardenas

Maria Fernanda Cardenas is a dynamic, mission-driven leader at the forefront of advancing equity, strengthening communities, and expanding opportunity for underserved populations.

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    As Executive Director of The Gonzaba Foundation for Healthier Communities, she leads transformative initiatives that bridge gaps in workforce readiness, expand access to essential services, and empower older adults to age with independence, dignity, and purpose.

     

    With a distinct cross-sector lens, Cardenas brings together healthcare, economic development, and innovation to drive meaningful, systems-level change.

    Through her role on the board of Port San Antonio, she contributes to shaping the future of workforce development and regional growth.


    As Chair of the Joint City and County Commission on Elderly Affairs, she champions policies that elevate the quality of life for aging populations and ensure their voices remain central to community planning.

     

    Her leadership extends across a broad network of nonprofit and public-sector boards, including the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Catholic Charities, the San Antonio Public Library Board of Trustees, the Mayor’s Commission on the Status of Women, and Meals on Wheels. In every role, she is known for building bridges, influencing policy, and mobilizing resources to create lasting impact.

     

    Cardenas holds dual master’s degrees in Public Administration and Political Science from St. Mary’s University.

    Her leadership has been recognized at both the local and state levels, and her advocacy has reached the national stage, including engagement at the White House on behalf of San Antonio’s healthcare sector.

    A compelling voice for equity and inclusion, Maria Fernanda Cardenas reflects a steadfast commitment to building stronger, more inclusive, and resilient communities.


Moderator


Ashley Alvarado

Ashley Alvarado is president and CEO of Texas Public Radio. She joins TPR after two decades as a journalist, having worked at the LA Times, Center for Investigative Reporting, and LAist (Southern California Public Radio), among other outfits.

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    Alvarado has dedicated much of her career to advancing the practice of engaged journalism. She’s a board member with the Online News Association, Greater Public, and the First Amendment Coalition. She also serves on the Poynter Institute’s national advisory board.