El Paso Villa María - 2026 Board of Directors

Born in Beirut and raised in El Paso, Laura Rayborn founded Laura’s Productions 27 years ago, building a successful company specializing in modeling, talent, promotions, and pageants across Texas and New Mexico. She directs numerous regional pageants and produces more than 40 shows and events annually, including major halftime performances that support local scholarships. Laura also owns Foliage Salon Spa, an Aveda Lifestyle Salon, which she has operated for 24 years.

Deeply committed to community service, Laura has held leadership roles with El Pasoans Fighting Hunger, including Board President, and organizes fundraisers for local nonprofits. She currently serves on the Senior All-Star Game committee and boards including Villa Maria Women’s Shelter and the Better Business Bureau.

Now stepping into a historic role as National Director for Cosmo USA, Laura looks forward to leading with passion, experience, and a continued commitment to impact.

Sarah Kangas is an accomplished leader in learning strategy, workforce transformation, and AI org enablement. With over a decade of experience spanning instructional design and leadership development she has built scalable solutions that improve performance and accelerate growth. A former licensed professional counselor, Sarah brings a unique blend of human insight and business acumen, bridging strategy and human potential to help organizations navigate change with clarity, innovation, and measurable impact. Deeply committed to empowering women in need, she champions access to resources, education, and opportunities that foster independence. As a board member for El Paso Villa Maria, Sarah applies her strategic vision, counseling background, and heart for service to advance the organization’s mission of guiding women facing homelessness toward stability and self-sufficiency.

Judy DeHaro is the Chief Lending Officer at FirstLight Federal Credit Union, bringing 39 years of industry experience, including roles as COO, Chief Officer of Administration, and President/CEO at One Source FCU. She oversees all lending functions and leads the credit union’s Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) initiatives, expanding financial access for underserved communities in El Paso and Doña Ana.

She serves on the El Paso USO Advisory Board and is a member of Inclusiv and the National Latino Credit Union Professionals, with prior service on the El Paso Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Education Foundation board. Deeply committed to service, she volunteers through her church, supporting food distribution, immigrant assistance, and faith formation programs.

LeAnn Kishton is a strategic, people-first leader currently serving as the Director of Virtual Delivery at FirstLight Federal Credit Union, where they oversee video banking, contact center operations, and interactive teller services. Previously, they held the position of Vice President of E-Solutions at Alliance Credit Union Texas, leading large-scale digital initiatives across various service areas. With a strong background in member service and virtual delivery strategy, LeAnn is dedicated to creating seamless and personalized experiences for credit union members. They are also pursuing a Bachelor of Business Administration at Western Governors University and have completed studies in Business Management and Allied Health.

Cynthia Escalante is a native El Pasoan, mother to the #Fab5, and wife to her college sweetheart Leo of 24 years. She is a proud graduate of Ysleta High School and bleeds maize-n-blue as an alumna from the University of Michigan! She has served her community through various organizations to include: Latinitas, Junior League of El Paso, Wise Latina International member and raised money and awareness for the Alzheimer’s Association through their annual Blondes vs. Brunettes flag football event. However, nothing is more dear and near to her heart than advocating for the voiceless. She has been a board member of Villa Maria for 3 years. 

Rooted in El Paso and a devoted mother to two daughters, Emily and Paulina, Sonia Natividad is honored to serve on Villa Maria’s Board of Directors. A UTEP graduate with a B.B.A. in Finance and Management, she works in international logistics along the U.S.–Mexico border while pursuing passions such as aerial arts, tennis, music, travel, and investing.

Since joining the board in 2021, she has served as Vice President, President, and now board member, dedicated to supporting women in crisis with compassion and without judgment. Guided by faith and strengthened by family and friends, she remains committed to helping women transform adversity into stability and hope for a brighter future in our community.

Eden Kriz Klein is a Staff Attorney at Texas RioGrande Legal Aid (TRLA), advocating for survivors of domestic violence, individuals seeking expunctions, and foster youth. She also mentors attorneys and interns, develops CLE trainings, and partners with community organizations to support clients holistically.

Eden serves on the Board of Villa Maria Women’s Shelter and has volunteered as a CASA Guardian ad Litem since 2015. A proud El Pasoan, she is committed to advancing access to justice in her community.

She earned her BBA in Economics, magna cum laude, from UTEP and her Juris Doctor with Pro Bono Honors from the University of Texas School of Law, where she participated in immigration clinics and interned with federal and nonprofit organizations.

Cynthia Girard is a mental health counselor with a strong background in trauma-informed care and community advocacy. She’s worked with individuals, couples, and families facing a wide range of challenges—from depression and anxiety, adjusting to life unexpected challenges, relationship conflict, and crisis intervention. Her approach blends clinical insight with genuine compassion, always keeping the client’s dignity at the center.

She’s especially passionate about ending the stigma on mental health issues. As a confident public speaker and educator, she has led workshops, conferences, and support groups focused on intimate partner violence, resilience, and mental health awareness.

As a board member, Cynthia contributes a rare blend of academic rigor and interpersonal warmth. Her leadership is grounded in evidence-based practice, ethical integrity, and a steadfast belief in the dignity of every client and community member.

Monica Vasquez is a native of El Paso, Texas. She is a graduate of Loretto Academy where she was very active in athletics, as well as academics. She graduated from the UTEP while it was ranked the top nursing school in Texas. She has since dedicated her life to nursing, which is her true passion. She worked at R.E. Thomason/UMC Hospital in the adult and pediatric intensive care units for over 20 years. She also worked in the emergency room there. Currently she works at the Mendoza Pediatric Clinic with William Beaumont Army Medical Center, as she has felt called to continue working with children.

She is active in her Catholic faith, living her ACTS retreat in 2012. She has served on multiple ACTS teams and has volunteered at several Southwest Youth Conferences in El Paso. She also volunteered with Sandals of Faith, which brings food and clothing to areas where homeless people gather.

She joined the board at Villa Maria and currently serves as the board secretary. She is very much an advocate for women, striving to empower those especially, who are victimized or find themselves homeless for any reason.

Alexandria Armendariz is a nonprofit leader specializing in fundraising, marketing, and development. As Director of Marketing and Development at Las Americas Immigrant Advocacy Center in El Paso, she manages donor relations, grant funding, and strategic communications to expand the organization’s impact.

Previously, she served as Executive Operations Officer, overseeing daily operations, budgeting, and human resources. A UTEP graduate with a degree in Sociology and a minor in Chicano Studies, Alexandria is deeply committed to community service and has also served on the board of Villa Maria Women’s Shelter.

Gerardo Couoh is a bilingual education and human services professional currently serving as a Recreation Program Supervisor for the City of El Paso’s Parks and Recreation Department. He oversees staff, budgets, facilities, and community programs while leading outreach and grant efforts.

Previously, he held leadership roles with Southwest Key Programs, supporting educational, vocational, and residential services for youth. Gerardo holds a Bachelor’s degree in Education and certifications in crisis intervention, trauma-informed care, and CPR. Fluent in English and Spanish and proficient in Yucatecan Mayan, he is committed to serving diverse communities through inclusive programming and leadership.