Governor Rick Perry appointed C. Kent Conine of Dallas as presiding officer to the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs for a term to expire at the pleasure of the governor. He also named two new members for terms to expire Jan. 31, 2013. TDHCA is responsible for providing affordable housing, community and energy assistance programs, and colonia housing activities. Additionally, the Department annually administers more than $400 million in federal grants, federal tax credits, and mortgage revenue bond financing.
Conine is the president of Conine Residential Group and has served on the TDHCA Governing Board since 1997. He is a board member of the Federal Home Loan Bank of Dallas and Home and Apartment Builders of Metropolitan Dallas. He is also past president of the National Association of Home Builders and Texas Association of Builders. Additionally, Conine volunteers with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Dallas, the Center for Housing Resources, Fellowship of Christian Athletes and the Dallas Symphony Association. He received a bachelor's degree in finance from Texas Tech University.
Leslie Bingham-Escareno of Brownsville is CEO of Valley Baptist Medical Center-Brownsville. She is a board member and treasurer of Easter Seals of the Rio Grande Valley and board member of the Children's Museum of Brownsville. She is also past chair of the Valley AIDS Council and the San Benito Chamber of Commerce. Additionally, Bingham-Escareno is a member of the Texas Hospital Association's Council on Policy Development. She received a bachelor's and master's degree from the University of Mississippi and a master of business administration degree from the University of Texas-Pan American. She replaces Norberto Salinas of Mission.
Tomas Cardenas of El Paso is president and CEO of ECM International, Inc. He is a founding board member of the El Paso Tennis Development Foundation and board member of Cathedral High School. He is a past member of JP Morgan Chase Bank of Texas - El Paso and the El Paso Museum of Art. Additionally, Cardenas is past director of the El Paso Housing Authority, past commissioner of the Texas General Services Commission and a past board member of the Ronald McDonald House - El Paso. He received a bachelor's degree from the University of Texas at El Paso. He replaces Elizabeth Anderson of Dallas.