El Paso, Texas (July 6, 2023) – Executive Forum of El Paso announced its Board of Directors for the year 2023-2024. This year’s President will be Leila Melendez, CEO of Workforce Solutions Borderplex (WSB). 

Executive Forum of El Paso, a 39-year-strong organization is dedicated to empowering women who work to impact the economic, civic, and cultural landscape of this region. 

In alignment with WSB’s women’s bureau, Herforce, which focuses on women’s equity and empowerment in the workforce, CEO Leila Melendez regularly partners with local organizations whose mission parallels WSB’s in developing a strong female workforce. The goal is to create an equitable environment while addressing the barriers associated with gender inequality such as access to education, equal pay, and childcare.

“I am honored to serve as this year’s President and to be among this group of such heartful and dynamic leading ladies. It is going to be a great year for us, continually learning and leading from and for El Paso!” said Melendez.

Melendez succeeds Immediate Past President Betsy Keller, County Administrator, and is joined by the following Board members:   

Board Officers include: 

• President-Elect: Ersela  Krippa, RA, FAAR, Director, College of Architecture-El Paso, Texas Tech University 
•  Immediate Past-President: Betsy Keller, County, Administrator, El Paso County  
• Vice President of Administration: Stephanie Woods, RN, PhD, Dean, Hunt School of Nursing at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center 
•  Vice President of Programs: Elsa Borrego, Senior Vice President of Human Resources, GECU 
• Secretary: Anna Perez, Judge, 41^st District Court 
• Treasurer: Cyndi Maestas Henry, CPA/Shareholder, Lauterbach, Borschow & Co 

Board Members at Large include: 

•  Secret Wherrett,  Publisher, El Paso Inc. 
  
• Kathy Lopez, Retired, El Paso Community College 
• Laura Rodriguez, Founding Principal, The Raben Group 
• Laura Ponce, Executive Director, Project Bravo 
• Susan Goodell, CEO, El Pasoans Fighting Hunger Food Bank