[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 159 (2013), Part 11]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 16299]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                       YVONNE ``BONNIE'' GONZALEZ

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. HENRY CUELLAR

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                        Monday, October 28, 2013

  Mr. CUELLAR. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the retiring CEO 
of Workforce Solution Yvonne ``Bonnie'' Gonzalez. She has been CEO of 
Workforce Solution since 2003 and is ending her tenure after ten years. 
Her tireless efforts have improved the community and served to better 
the development and progress for south Texas.
  ``Bonnie'' Gonzalez was born in Rio Grande City, Texas. Gonzalez 
earned a Bachelor's of Science in Nursing from The University of Texas 
at Austin in 1981, and was recruited by Harvard University to attend 
the John F. Kennedy School of Government where she earned a Master of 
Public Administration in 1993. Prior to becoming the CEO for Workforce 
Solutions, she served as founding President/CEO of the RGV Empowerment 
Zone Corporation from 1995-2003. Under her direction, the Empowerment 
Zone took a $40 million dollar federal investment and leveraged an 
additional $416 million in local, state, national, and private sector 
investment into Empowerment Zone communities. From establishing the 
Teenage Parent Alternative Program, a state recognized program for 
McAllen I.S.D. in 1988; to being a founding member of South Texas 
Community College, now South Texas College; to testifying before state 
and federal officials on development, community and economic 
development, and education, Ms. Gonzalez continues to be an advocate 
for the Valley.
  As CEO, Gonzalez plays an integral role in leading change and 
leveraging strategic partnerships within the workforce development 
industry and in the Rio Grande Valley. Gonzalez is a devoted public 
servant and community leader. Gonzalez challenges the organization to 
be innovative, efficient and effective in the programmatic and fiscal 
oversight of workforce development services for Hidalgo, Starr, and 
Willacy counties in South Texas. She, together with the Board of 
Directors, strives to ensure that public dollars go directly to the 
development of the local workforce, in training, job seeker, and 
business services. Workforce Solutions was recently recognized as one 
of the highest performing workforce boards in Texas and one of only 26 
national grantees for the 2012 Workforce Innovation Fund.
  Mr. Speaker, I am honored to recognize Ms. Yvonne ``Bonnie'' 
Gonzalez, retiring CEO of Workforce Solution. Her years of dedication 
and commitment to our community have truly impacted the quality of 
lives for the people of the city. Thank you for this time.

                          ____________________