On March 9, 2015 Anthony Ruiz became the San Antonio District Office (SADO) Director. He originally started his career with SBA in 2011 as the Assistant District Director for the 8(a) Business Development Program in the Washington, DC Metro Area District Office. There he implemented a program to market the contracting agencies, resulting in increasing 8(a) contract awards from $3.25 Billion in FY 2013 to over $7 Billion in FY 2015 for the 1,100 8(a) firms in the SBA Metro DC Region. In SBA San Antonio’s 55-county service area, for FY 2019, SBA and its Resource Partners awarded over $1.4 Billion in Small Business Contracts and $500 Million in small business loans. Before joining SBA, Mr. Ruiz’s private sector professional experience includes 22 years as a business owner, 5 years as a commercial bank lender, and 5 years as an international banker financing global trade for manufacturing firms. Anthony’s education includes an undergraduate degree in International Relations (Cal-State, L.A.), an MBA double major in Finance & Marketing (Univ. of Southern California), and a Law Degree (Univ. of Arizona). Mr. Ruiz is a Vietnam Veteran (SSG, Artillery), distinguished in combat with a Purple Heart and Bronze Star.

Diana is Director of the Economic Development & Strategic Investments (EDSI) office, established in January 2016. Diana oversees a small, nimble team of 10 and uses external expertise to extend its impact. In addition, she seeks to partner with not only the public sector but the private sector, leveraging public resources to bring private capital to the table. Diana’s team leads the following efforts: redevelopment of underutilized county properties; development and implementation of the first countywide Comprehensive Economic Development strategy that uses a community-driven process to pursue economic equity, inclusion, sustainability, and resilience; development of campus and facility master plans; issuance of conduit debt for affordable housing, health facilities, and other economic development projects; construction of affordable housing projects as general partner and/or general contractor; management of property tax rebate economic development agreements; investment of County funds and hospital district funds (under contract) in accordance with the Texas Public Funds Investment Act; and negotiation and funding of Public Improvement Districts (PIDs). Under the current COVID-19 pandemic and national response crisis, Diana is standing up a new small business assistance grant program and leading the effort to ensure the county draws down the maximum federal and state funding to provide response, relief and recovery programs that address the health crisis and ensuing economic impacts. She represents Travis County on the Greater Austin Chamber of Commerce’s Opening Central Texas for Business Task Force. Diana earned her Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from the University of Texas at Austin and a Master in Public Affairs from Princeton University’s Woodrow Wilson School of Public & International Affairs. She is a member of the GFOA and GFOA of Texas and is a Certified Government Finance Officer (CGFO). She is a member of GFOA’s national Capital Planning & Economic Development Committee. She has also earned the National Development Council’s Economic Development Finance Professional certificate. Diana is a member of the Urban Land Institute – Austin’s Affordability Strategic Council and represents the County Judge on Capital City Innovation’s Board as ex-officio board member.

Heidi Cisneros is the Managing Partner with Structures, a local structural engineering firm.  With a strong background in accounting and business management, Heidi started with Structures during its founding over 25 years ago managing, accounting, and overseeing human resources.  Heidi founded a second local firm providing civil engineering, Saenz-Bury, which she grew and sold to focus on Structures.  Heidi cut her teeth managing retail for a large national chain where she became the youngest manager within the organization’s history and managed a store grossing $1 million per week.  Heidi received formal training through the University of North Texas and night classes while working full time. In her current role as Managing Partner, Heidi directs all aspects of the firm’s financial and business administration.  Her foresight has assisted in creating long-term business strategies.  Her ability to function as a key decision maker for the business has produced new opportunities and business ventures for growth and advancement.   Heidi is the Programs Chair for the Urban Land Institute Austin District Council and serves on the Management Committee and Advisory Board.  She also sits on the P3 Local Member Council and the Technical Assistance Panels Committee.  Heidi is a past treasurer of the Society for Marketing Professional Services, Austin Chapter, the current treasurer of her HOA, a member of the Austin Chamber, and served on a catholic ministry leadership team in Austin. She is a wife of 19 years with two teen-aged sons.