 |
Harlingen -- Manuel M. (Manny) Vela, Senior Vice-President and Corporate Counsel for Valley Baptist Health System, has been named to a new state Task Force for Children with Special Needs as one of three parental representatives.
Mr. Vela’s appointment was announced by Tomas Suehs, Executive Commissioner of the Texas Health and Human Services Commission in Austin. “Your expertise, and unique perspective will be invaluable assets to the committee,” Commissioner Suehs stated in a letter to Mr. Vela. “I appreciate your willingness to serve in this very important position.”
The new task force, created by Senate Bill 1824, will focus on uniting and directing key stakeholders and decision-makers to create a strategic plan to improve the coordination, quality and efficiency of services for children with chronic illness, intellectual and/or developmental disabilities and/or mental illness. The task force includes ten representatives from nine state agencies, four legislators, three parents or consumer advocates, and a representative from a local mental health and mental retardation authority.
“I am looking forward to working with the other task force members to create a strategic plan which will lead to the improvement and expansion of services being offered to our state’s most precious resource—our children,” Mr. Vela said. “As a parent of a special needs child, this effort is very important to me. I can’t think of a more worthy cause than helping ensure that all children in Texas have an opportunity at health, well-being and happiness”.
Mr. Vela added that he is grateful to Valley Baptist for “not only allowing our employees to participate in community activities such as this, but actually encouraging us to do so.”
A native of Harlingen, Mr. Vela has practiced law since 1988 and has served as Valley Baptist’s Corporate Counsel since 2003. Mr. Vela and his family are well-known for their community leadership, both in the Valley and on the national level. His father, Moises Vela, served as Cameron County Judge and Harlingen Municipal Judge for many years. His brother, Moises Vela Jr., currently serves as the director of administration on the staff of Vice President Joe Biden. His uncle, Filemon Vela, served as U.S. District Court Judge in Brownsville. His family has always emphasized the value of education and community service through the legal and other professions. Numerous other members of the Vela family have served as educators for Valley school children – including his mother, Mary Jo Vela, who taught in the Harlingen school district for many years.
Mr. Vela previously served on the Texas Council on Autism and Pervasive Developmental Disorders, after having been appointed by Governor Rick Perry in 2006. He has also served as a Commissioner with the Harlingen Housing Authority; on the Harlingen Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors; as Chairman of the Harlingen Hispanic Chamber of Commerce; as Chairman for Valley International Airport; and as Cameron County Democratic Party Chairman.
Currently, Mr. Vela serves on the Boys and Girls Club Board of Directors; as Chairman of the Lower Rio Grande Friends of Scouting Campaign; on the Harlingen Consolidated Independent School District’s Future Facilities Task Force; on the University of Texas at Brownsville Developmental Board; as a Federal Judiciary Evaluation Committee Member for the United States Senate; and as a member of the American College of Healthcare Executives.
A graduate of Harlingen High School, Mr. Vela received a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Texas in Austin and a Doctorate of Jurisprudence from UT’s Law School. He is licensed by the State Bar of Texas. Mr. Vela lives in Harlingen with his wife, Amy Walker Vela, and their four children, Brianna, Manny Mac, Tomas, and Esteban. Mr. Vela’s hobbies include traveling with his family, fishing, and golf.
|
|
