Board of Directors & Executive Staff
PRFDance is served by a small, but active and hardworking
volunteer Board of Directors who advance the mission of PRFDance including:
Dr. Ana María Tekina-eirú Maynard,
Founding Executive & Artistic Director
Board - Founder
[Read Bio]
Rose M. Irizarry
Rose Massanet Irizarry was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, of a Puerto Rican
father and an Italian mother. She fondly recalls her childhood growing
up in both cultures. Rose moved to Mayaguez, Puerto Rico in 1953, learned
Spanish and graduated from the
Catholic University of PR. She received a Master's Degree in Medical Technology
from Wayne State University. After marriage and living in Puerto Rico for over
20 years, all of the family moved to Texas in 1977. Rose became involved with
PRFDance when her three granddaughters started taking dance classes in 2002 and
daughter Rose joined the Performing Company and became the Youth Choir
Teacher. Rose enjoys the family environment of PRFDance. She is an active
Board Member and the right hand of the Founding Director.
President & Secretary, Board of Directors
Rut Vidia Ontiveros
Raised in Puerto Rico, Ontiveros remembers a beautiful childhood in the mountains of
Montadero, Quebradillas. In 1996 Ontiveros and mother moved to Austin, TX to begin
a new life in the main land. Ontiveros has been involved with the PRCC since the age
of 11 participating as a singer, dancer, and actor. Currently, Ontiveros is an
Entrepreneur helping people establish a home based business. She now serves as
the Puerto Rican Cultural Center's Marketing and Business Development Manager
and Board Vice President.
Vice President, Board of Directors
Marketing & Business Development Manager
Zera Thompson
Zera Thompson was raised in Texas. She attended St. Phillips College
in San Antonio, TX. (1992-1993) and afterwards moved to Austin to
work for Dell Computer Co. (1993-1999). In 2000 she moved to Round
Rock, TX. She changed career into the health field as a Certified
Nurse Aide (2002- 2012) and continues to serve our community . She
also started her own business Imajinu Artography by Zera in 2009.
She is currently continuing her education in the Photography and
Marketing program at Austin Community College in Austin, TX. Zera's
children have danced in PRFDance's youth programs. Zera also has
many other talents, including event planning, culinary, marketing,
and photography, all of which she shares with PRFDance as time
permits. Zera has been with PRFDance since Spring 2004, and has been
serving on the Board & Staff since 2005. A freelance photographer
since 2004. (ImajinuPhotos.com), Zera is a member of the Social Media Team, and contributes her talent and expertise in Artography
as PRFDance's long-time Company Photographer.
She
believes wonderful memories last forever with the perfect picture.
Thanks to Zera's wide array of talents, we have many wonderful
memories to enjoy over and over again!
Board of Directors
Social Media Team & Company Photographer
Dolores Gonzalez
Dolores Gonzalez-Retired City of Austin ADA Coordinator.
Capital Planning Lead
Dolores Gonzalez was appointed and served as the Americans with
Disabilities Act
(ADA) Coordinator for the City of Austin for 25 years. She led the efforts, which
have resulted in the City of Austin's multiple recognitions for ADA Compliance.
Ms. Gonzalez was instrumental in producing a video detailing the City of
Austin's compliance efforts: "City of Austin: Equal Opportunity for
All." As the Liaison for the Austin Mayor's Committee for People with
Disabilities, Ms. Gonzalez assisted in implementing their programs related to
employment, housing, youth, cross-disability issues, accessible arts,
transportation and serves in an advisory capacity in policy making. She
coordinated planning of the Austin Access Awards, Disability Mentoring
Day and the Employment Awards. Ms. Gonzalez served on the President's
Committee for Employment of People with Disabilities and has represented
the City of Austin across the country. She served two terms on the
Goodwill Industries of Central Texas, Board of Directors.
Dolores is the Capital Planning Lead for the Puerto Rican Cultural Center.
Iris Albizu
Iris A. Albizu-Rivera was born and raised in Puerto Rico. Ms. Albizu earned her
Juris Doctor at the
Inter-American University School of Law in San Juan, Puerto Rico. After obtaining
her J.D. , she barred in Puerto Rico as an Attorney
and Public Notary. Ms. Albizu started
practicing in Puerto Rico and developed a clientele based in civil litigation
with emphasis in Family and Estate Law. After moving to the Washington, D.C. area,
she worked as a federal
contractor with the Department of Justice in a complex high-profile
litigation. Now, having relocated with her
family to Austin, Texas she opened Albizu Law Firm focusing her practice in
federal controversies, especially in the area of Immigration. She also maintained
her office location in
Guaynabo, Puerto Rico where she practices with her father, Mr. Angel R. Albizu,
Sr., to help individuals non-residents in the Island with their legal matters
in Puerto Rico.
For more information on
legal services, please access www.albizulaw.com.
Ms. Albizu enjoys giving her time and expertise to different
Non-Profit organizations and offering pro-bono legal services,
and also has handled humanitarian immigration issues.
She is an active pro-bono attorney for
American Gateways and Bernardo
Kohler Center in Austin, TX.
She serves as Legal Advisor for Puerto Rican Folkloric Dance, Inc.
As born in the beautiful Island of Puerto Rico, Ms. Albizu is a
Native Spanish Speaker. She is a mother
of two beautiful children and her husband works as an Architect for an
International company.
PRFDance Corporate Attorney / Legal Advisor
Administrative Staff & Volunteers
PRFDance is served by a team of active volunteer Administrative Staff
who help run our cultural center's real-world business, and
take on special events and projects.
Maria Mercedes Capestany
Born in Caguas, Puerto Rico (Savarona) of a Taino mother and
a Puerto Rican/Spaniard father. At the age of 15 moved to NY where I finished
high school. Married and have
four beautiful daughters, three beautiful grand daughters, and two
handsome grandsons. When my youngest daughter went to school I decided to
go to college and received a BA in Accounting. Went to work for an oil
company in NY. 15 years ago my husband and I moved to Florida and I love
it. Now I am retired and helping my beautiful daughter, Ana Maria
(Director) with PRFDance. I also watch two of my grand daughters after
school. They keep me very busy but I still have time to help Ana Maria and
work in my garden.
Web Promotions & Social Media
Betty Tovar
Team Lead - Souvenir Sales & Inventory Team
Backstage Assist - Youth Performances
Sara Green-Otero
Sara is married to Jose and is a mother of two preteens Isabella and
Philip. Sara has a Masters of Science in Social Worker which
she received from the University of Texas in Austin. She currently works as
licensed school social worker in the Austin Area. Sara and her family have
been coming and attending classes at PRFD since Isabella was 6 months old
and are committed to the mission and the community. Sara and her family have
been back and forth between Iowa and Austin for schooling and are happy to
once again be back "home".
Souvenir Sales & Inventory Team
Backstage Assist - Youth Performances
Chago & Solemar de Aponte
Thank you to Chago & Solemar, owners of
Chago's Caribbean Cuisine,
for their ongoing donor support, and the lending of their expertise to our
large special events.
Events Team - Special Events
Edwin "Ed" Baez
Edwin "Ed" Baez was born in the Bronx, New York and raised in
Rio Piedras, Puerto Rico. With Mother from Rio Piedras, and
Father from Camito, Edwin graduated from Rio Piedras Republic of Colombia
High School. Afterwards, he joined the military (1978-1985) and graduated
in military admistration and science communication.
A 1993 graduate students from University of Texas at Austin, Ed is Technical Staff
and teaches at the Dept. of Physics. Ed attended the Austin Graduate School of
Theology Associate Ministries of Jesus Cristo (2002-2004) and is member of the
Royal Ranger SR Commander at a Pentcostal Church.
A Southwest Key Charter School board member since 1993, he has also worked
an AISD P.E. Teacher (1993-2000), and an afterschool Instructor in basketball
and flagfootball.
Ed has a beautiful wife and one son at U.T. (mechanical engineering),
the other at San Marcos Baptist Academia. Edwin is a
"die hard" Roberto Clemente fan and travels to Puerto Rico
and New York to collect baseball and basketball cards. Ed loves to teach
children how to start up sports cards collections and plans
to have a card shop when he retires. Edwin is thankful to God for the
blessings in his life.
Special Events & Hospitality Team
Advisory Board
PRFDance is served by an advisory board of professionals who make themselves
available for inkind professional consultations:
Joe Alvarado
Joe is an professional Accountant. He has served as long-time Accountant
and Board member of Roy Lozano's Ballet Folklorico de Texas for many years.
He has served as PRFDance's Accounting Advisor since our 1997 inception.
Accounting Advisor Julio I. Cotto
Julio I. Cotto is Senior Vice President of the National Hispanic Institute and Director, Lorenzo de Zavala Youth Legislative Session. He has served as PRFDance's Business Advisor since 2016.
Business Advisor
Cultural Center: 701 Tillery Street #13, Austin TX 78702-3738
Send Mail: 15228 Quiet Pond Court, Austin TX 78728
Phone: +1.512.251.8122
Email: dance@prfdance.org
Web: www.prfdance.org