Members

Kara is a loving wife and mother of three beautiful children. Her dedication to her family is unwavering, and she takes pride in instilling values of empathy, kindness, and curiosity in her children. Professionally, Kara is a freelancer and a small business owner in the domestic industry. She has proven her entrepreneurial spirit, with a knack for turning her ideas into successful ventures. In addition to her family and career, Kara finds time to give back to her community. She is a dedicated volunteer, actively involved in community service initiatives. Her commitment to making her community a better place is truly admirable, and she serves as an inspiration to those around her.

Rixi, born and raised in Santa Barbara, Honduras to Honduran parents earned a teaching degree after high school. She held various jobs prior to immigrating to Houston, Texas but her most impactful experience was working in industrial coatings for the construction industry. This particular trade led her to her union, where she eventually became the Director of Organizing for her current region.

Angel was born and raised in Harris County. She spent her formative years in Northeast Harris County and gained a deep appreciation for its rich cultural heritage and dynamic spirit. She attended MacArthur High School in the East Aldine District, where she thrived academically and embraced the values of hard work and perseverance.

Originally from Honduras, Candido has lived in Houston and worked in construction since 2016. He serves on the Essential Workers Board to bring recommendations to the county from workers in the field of construction. Candido is committed to the community both inside and outside of the industry.

Maynor Alvarez was born in Quetzaltenango, Guatemala where he completed high school. He moved

After high school, he studied marketing and took various courses in communication with a focus on radio. In Texas, Maynor entered seminary to study theology, which included various leadership courses. Maynor has been a leader and active member at Workers Defense for more than 5 years. His participation has focused on immigrant worker rights, wage theft, and heat safety. Maynor joined the Harris County Essential Workers Board because he believes that his experience, knowledge, leadership, and strong commitment to his community are critical to bringing solutions and changes to the different industries of essential work.

Estefania Ayala is the Vice President of Teloloapan Meat Market and Co-Founder of Telomarket. She believes in the power of offering fresh products to the surrounding community. She began her journey in this field when her immigrant parents decided to open a supermarket in North Houston with the idea of offering the community fresh Hispanic products. Estefania attended Regis University where she graduated receiving Alpha Sigma Nu honors. Her biggest achievement has been receiving the City of Houston Goods and Services Prime Contractor of the Year Award in 2022. Estefania is a dynamic, result-driven entrepreneur.

Dionne Davis embodies strength, resilience, and a zest for life. Her role as a loving mother, her career in healthcare, and her love for life's simple pleasures are a testament to her remarkable spirit. She continues to inspire those around her with her grace and determination.

Mike Holland is the Chief Operating Officer for Marek Brothers Systems, Inc., an 85 year-old family owned interior finishes specialty contractor, with offices across Texas and in Atlanta, Georgia. Mike is the current Board Chair for the C3/Construction Career Collaborative, and Co-chairs the Construction Sector Council for the Greater Houston Partnership’s Upskill Initiative.

Ken is a 5-year City of Houston Supervisor with an extensive background in customer service and Human Resources. Outside of work his passion is music and all things music entertainment. Ken is a trained musician and songwriter who’s had the opportunity to do some pretty cool things musically. He values family and faith, and embraces his role as a father. Ken has a heart for people and a heart for community. His goal is to be a voice for those who feel they don’t have one, and to advocate for every walk of life.

Eduardo has more than 15 years of healthcare, research, and higher-ed construction safety experience. In his current role as Construction Safety & Risk Manager for The University of Texas Medical Branch, he provides professional construction safety and risk management expertise in support of capital improvement projects. He collaborates with project teams to identify and implement process improvement elements in the safety and risk areas to ensure compliance with regulatory agencies and institutional policies.

Claudia Sosa graduated as a lawyer in Mexico and is currently pursuing a Master's Degree in Social Work online at Loyola University of Chicago. She has had the opportunity to work in immigration where she has been able to help people to have legal immigration status in this country. Claudia has been an active member of the Workers Defense Project since 2019, and she belongs to many Committees such as Legislative, Immigration, etc. She currently works with immigrant youth and is honored to belong to the Essential Workers Board, where she has the opportunity to represent workers in the Education industry.

Mercedes is currently a security officer in the TSA area of Hobby Airport, where she has worked for the past 5 years. Prior to Hobby, she worked with at-risk high school students for over 8 years. Helping people has been a lifelong mission. It is a privilege for Mercedes to serve on the Harris County Essential Workers Board to assist employees to be recognized, respected, and honored as vibrant members of our community.