In 1956 Dwight D. Eisenhower established the "Sister Cities Program" to promote greater understanding and peace among citizens throughout the world. Tucson embraced this vision and has adopted formal relations with communities in Hungary, Kazakhstan, Spain, Ireland, Greece and Mexico.
The Tucson-Mexico Sister Cities Committee has enjoyed a very special relationship with Guadalajara, Jalisco since 1972, Ciudad Obregón, Sonora since 1980 and now Mazatlan, Sinaloa.
"Increased collaboration with our friends in Mexico presents outstanding opportunities for our cities. Our shared interests are the foundation of our strong relationship."
- Mayor Bob Walkup, City Of Tucson
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Jose L. Hernandez - President Jose Luis Hernandez retired from the United States Air Force in 2007 as a Lieutenant Colonel and served in many positions of leadership. He is a Command Pilot with 3,600 flight hours and has served in the US Embassy in Mexico City, as well as in a number of other positions in Latin America. He is the CEO and owner of Import-Export Associates, LLC and works in the areas of international trade and business development, as well as strategic planning and consulting. His company is mainly geared toward commodities such as scrap plastics and steel, and primary commodities such as sugar, fuels, and precious metals. In addition, his consulting business is directed to the recycling and energy industries. He has lived in Tucson since 2004 and is actively involved in TMSC, as the Guadalajara Liaison and in the Economic Development Committee. |
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Claisalia Robertson - Vice-President Claisalia Robertson is a " Pata Salada " native of Mazatlán, Sinaloa, and earned Bachelor and Master degrees in Education. She attended the Superior Pedagogy School in Nayarit. Even at a young age, Robertson was disturbed by the poverty of the pupils she taught; although they were only in first grade they had to work in order to eat. Claisalia is a single mother of three girls and grandma of six. Her jobs after being a teacher for 15 years are related to social work, business management of artists such as Ana Gabriel, Music Director Enrique Patron de Rueda and vote coordinator of many political campaigns in her state of Sinaloa. Claisalia has been working for the Mexican Consulate for the past 15 years. This year she became a U.S. Citizen and is very proud of her two nationalities. She has served as counselor for many organizations throughout Tucson, such as the Club de Oriundos de Santa Ana, Club de Oriundos Sonora, Club Sinaloenses en Arizona, Fundacion Mexico Events Coordinator, and the Tucson Mexico Sisters Cities Mazatlán. |
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Yvette Lopez - Recording Secretary Yvette O. Lopez was born and raised in Tucson, Arizona and is on e of the few native Tucsonans still residing in the area. She is a University of Arizona Alumni and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Communications and minor in Spanish. Yvette’s career has included roles in several key government administrations, such as the Governor’s Office and the Arizona Department of Education. She was influential in achieving community support that ensured passages of several legislative bills that impacted the State of Arizona’s K-12 system. Yvette currently spearheads AAA Arizona’s multicultural marketing efforts, which includes the launch of a scholarship fund for underserved students in the Arizona Hispanic community. She also serves as a spokesperson for AAA in the Tucson area and hosts a bi-weekly travel show on KGUN 9’s Good Morning Tucson. |
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Gloria Corral - Corresponding Secretary Gloria Corral is a familiar sight at Tucson’s Fred G. Acosta Job Corps where she has worked for 29 years. She has developed her cultural and culinary heritage and is very proud of her up bring in Tucson. Gloria came to the United States when she was 1 month old and has lived in Tucson ever since. Gloria has been very active in community service and serves in El Centro Cultural, TMSC and Los Descendientes del Presidio de Tucson. She is also involved in assisting Las Doñas de Tucson and is one of right-hand women for Doña Cele Peterson. She is also a board member of the International Mariachi Conference. She and her husband have 5 children, 10 grandchildren and one great-grandchild. |
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Enna Cassler - Treasurer Enna Cassler is part owner of Cassler Accounting Service and Makoti Realty, LLC. She is a native of Panama and earned a degree in Business. While in Tucson, she attended the University of Arizona taking business administration and accounting courses. She has served as Treasurer in many organizations throughout Tucson, such as the League of Mexican American Women, Los Descendientes del Presidio del Tucson, and Community Outreach Committees to mention of few. She has served as special and social events coordinator, fund raising and nominating committees. She is currently the TMSC Treasurer and is active in all TMSC activities. Enna and her husband, Ken, have three grown university-graduate children and have called Tucson their home for 41 years. |
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Amy Lopez - Public Relations Officer Amy Lopez is a Phoenix, Arizona and moved to Tucson, AZ when she was six years old. She is a public relations manager employed by Southwest Ambulance. She has been a member of the TMSC for four years and has been involved in various other non-profit organizations throughout Tucson. She has participated in various TMSC activities and trips to Guadalajara and Ciudad Obregon. The activities and trips have demonstrated to her the strong ties that have been built and the importance of maintaining those ties with our sister cities. She is married and has two beautiful children, Isabella 14 years old and Carlos 12 years old. |
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Donna Whitman - Mazatlan Chair Donna Whitman is a native Tucsonan. She graduated from the University of Arizona earning a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Romance Languages. Having immigrated to Mexico in 1971, she had two children, Alejandro and Arturo Alcantara. As Director of Interpreter Service with Arizona Superior Court in Pima County, she worked for 32 years coordinating languages services for the court system in Tucson. She also worked as an interpreter practitioner, which was her first love professionally. She is federally certified by the Administrative Offices of the United States District Courts. Donna also teaches interpretation and translation at the University of Arizona as adjunct faculty. In her spare time, Donna works as a free-lance interpreter specializing in forensic evaluations and loves to travel with her husband. |
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Shawn Page - Ciudad Obregon Co-Chair Julia Shawn Page is the Administrator of International Services & Relations at Tucson Medical Center. Shawn’s responsibilities are to provide high-quality interpretation and translation services for patients, family members and TMC’s clinical and non clinical staff to ensure accurate, cultural-sensitive, and satisfaction to our community’s Spanish-speaking patients; and establishes long lasting relationships locally and internationally to increase awareness of TMC’s services, physicians and specialties through educational seminars, marketing and business development efforts. Shawn has 10 years of International Marketing experience by working at various industries such as, healthcare, hotel, travel, and Import/Export. She also has experience in the creation and design of promotional materials, web content administration, and articles. Her passion is strategizing to reach international market segments for specific products and services. Julia Shawn earned a Bachelor’s of Science in Business Administration with a Marketing Major, an International Business Certificate, and a Minor in French from the University of Arizona. Completed the National Center for Interpretation Testing, Research, and Policy’s Medical Interpreter Training Institute at the UA. |
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Norma Pernisco - Special Events Chair Norma Pernisco is originally from Honduras, Central America, daughter of an author and journalist. Her father wan an entrepreneur. She came to the United States in 1966 to attend school and got married and has to beautiful daughters, Vanessa 29 and Natalie 28 years old. She was an entrepreneur for many years and worked for the University of Arizona in the Athletic Department, until her retirement. She has been a member of the TMSC for 10 years and hopefully for many more. |
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Melissa Black - Membership Co-Chair Melissa Black was raised in the multicultural border town of San Diego and has enjoyed traveling to Mexico, Central and South America her whole life, previously on surfer trips, now for business and humanitarian purposes. She and her family, including four bi-lingual children one of which now lives in Costa Rica, moved to Tucson via New Mexico in 1996. Having a diverse entrepreneurial background including resort management, engineering and construction, she now works in real estate for Long Realty as an associate broker. She particularly enjoys working with developers and builder on large projects including subdivision and project management, custom home construction and a new downtown luxury loft project, the first for Tucson. She also enjoys her properties in Mazatlan including a 100 year old remodel project and beach complex on Isla de la Piedra. She also just started a new company, Solar Gain Inc., specializing in green energy and the installation of electric and thermal solar systems. As a new TMSC board member, Melissa has been thrilled to integrate her love for Mexico and service work and looks forward to increased involvement in expanding the membership of TMSC. |
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Marilyn Civer - Membership Co-Chair Marilyn Civer is a native Arizonan and was born and raised in Douglas, Arizona. Marilyn is a graduate of Arizona State University and did graduate work in Public Health at the University of Arizona. She considers growing up in a border culture, a great gift. Currently, Marilyn is a Realtor with Long Realty and is a Certified International Specialist and has a Transnational Certification in Real Estate for Mexico. She is a former Sales Manager and Trainer for Long Realty. Marilyn was involved in the Kazakhstan Sister Cities program for three years where she assisted with event planning and fund raising. Prior to her career in Real Estate, Marilyn worked in Health Promotion and Wellness for 25 years. As a Health Education Program Manager for Worksite Wellness for Intergroup, she taught and coordinated wellness programs for 100 Tucson Companies. Prior to that time she served on the Public Health Committee of the Arizona Mexico Commission and organized the first Substance Abuse Prevention Conference between the United States and Mexico in the city of Hermosillo, Sonora. Marilyn received the L.U.L.A.C, FBI Community Service Award for organizing health screening at the El Pueblo clinic for three years. Marilyn taught a number of personal development and business related courses for the U. of A. Extended University for seven years. Marilyn loves Mexico, has traveled extensively, speaks Spanish and plans on retiring to Mazatlan, Sinaloa. Marilyn has three grown children and six grandchildren. Her youngest grandson was adopted from Guatemala. |
