Sergio Contreras, president and CEO of RGV Partnership, to helm BTA Board of Directors

WASHINGTON (June 11, 2020) –Sergio Contreras, the president and CEO of the RGV Partnership, the regional chamber of commerce and economic development advocate for South Texas’ Rio Grande Valley, has been elected chairman of the Border Trade Alliance.

Contreras takes the helm of the BTA board during a time of tremendous challenge for the cross-border trade community.

“I am honored to assume the chairmanship of the Border Trade Alliance, one of the nation’s most respected trade advocacy groups, at a time when our work has never been more important,” Contreras said. “We are mere weeks away from the implementation of the USMCA, which is poised to boost investment across the entire region; a global pandemic has disrupted cross-border supply chains and manufacturing; and our border community economies are struggling as travel restrictions between the U.S. and Canada and Mexico have brought so-called ‘non-essential’ trips to a halt. We have always promoted policies that encourage efficient and secure trade in North America, but now we must make the case that trade can be conducted safely, as well.”

BTA President Ms. Britton Clarke welcomed Contreras to his new role.

“The BTA is fortunate to count on Sergio’s leadership during this critical time for the border trade community. I am confident that he will be a great champion for the BTA and play an important leadership role in ensuring our borders’ competitiveness increases under USMCA, that we rebound quickly from the pandemic, and that we expand the BTA’s influence on Capitol Hill and beyond,” Clarke said.

Contreras assumes the chairmanship from Paola Avila, the vice president of international business affairs for the San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce.

“I can’t say enough about the leadership Paola provided to our organization,” Contreras said. “There has not been a more forceful and effective advocate for a modernized North American trade deal than Paola. She was central to ensuring the USMCA was adopted with broad, bipartisan support. On behalf of the entire BTA board, we applaud and thank Paola for her service to the BTA and the entire border trade community.”

In addition to electing Contreras as chairman, the board of directors also elected the following new officers:

  • Vice Chair: Lance Jungmeyer, President and CEO, Fresh Produce Association of the Americas, Nogales, Ariz.
  • Treasurer: Denice Garcia, Director of International Affairs, Office of San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer
  • Secretary: Luis Bazan, Bridge Director, Pharr International Bridge

“I am very fortunate to be aided by such an outstanding team of officers who bring the perspective of many border industries and communities,” Contreras said. “I know I speak for all of us when I say that we can’t wait to get to work.”

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About the BTA:

 

Since 1986, the BTA has served as a grassroots, non-profit organization that provides a forum for discussion and advocacy on issues pertaining to the environment, border development, quality of life and trade in the Americas. A network of public and private sector representatives from the United States, Mexico and Canada, BTA’s core values include a commitment to improving the quality of life of border communities through trade and commerce.