Meet Our Team!

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Dr. Cío Hernandez

I love helping people reach their goals by helping them believe in themselves. I started helping people reach their goals way before I was a professionally trained therapist.  I’m originally from all over Texas and am honored to work to provide opportunities to lift our South Texas residents to our highest potential.  I’ve helped start and run all sorts of projects and programs working with the homeless, disabled, health, education, aging, youth, interfaith, sports, children’s running clubs, mental health, public policies, violence prevention, opioid reduction, and even pioneered healthy efforts for county fairs.  That’s how I know that if we set the right goal, we can reach that goal, even if it takes some time to get there.  In my spare time, I like visiting my son in college, traveling, and running half marathons around the world with my friends and family. 

Maria Cristina Criollo, 

I’m María Cristina Criollo, “Cris.” I was born and raised in Quito, Ecuador. I hold a Bachelor's Degree in Sustainable Development, a Master's Degree in Environmental and Social Studies, and I am a certified specialist on strategic planning. I am the co-founder of La Cuchara Cultural and Gastronomic Center, an award-winning organic plant-based restaurant and fair trade store in Quito. I moved to the Bay Area in 2017 with my family, and currently work in social media marketing, sustainable business development and fundraising. I am a Board Member of the San Geronimo Valley Community Center, and live in West Marin with my husband and two children.  I love helping organizations and individuals think more strategically and sustainably about their goals for optimal success.

David Capune

As a lifelong student and occasional teacher, I am always looking for ways to make learning and student life less stressful and more fun!   I live in Seattle, Washington and enjoy taking public transportation everywhere I need to go.   My favorite goal I’ve reached, though, is probably traveling the UK by myself right after graduating high school with a tight budget.   In my spare time, I play several instruments and read anything I get my hands on.

Marcella Favarato

I was born and raised in San Antonio Texas. I attended college at Franciscan university of Steubenville in Ohio. I studied communication arts with a minor in digital broadcast and production. In 2021, my senior year of college,  I had the opportunity to apply for a scholarship with the be it foundation and I was so thankful to have been one of the first recipients for the award. After I graduated in May 2022 I continued to be a part of the be it family by taking on the job of field coordinator. I have learned many things in my time so far working for Be it, and I can’t wait to see what the future has in store.

Yolanda Flores 

Yolanda Flores is the Development Director for the Be It Foundation. Her career includes 30 years of teaching and leadership experience throughout several San Antonio school districts. She is currently serving as a Regional Coordinator for ESL in San Antonio. She is passionate about assisting South Texas youth in reaching their highest academic potential. This passion guides her to also volunteer with various organizations that focus on scholars and their academic success. She spends her free time with her loving husband, three children and 5 pets.

Albert A. Flores

Albert A. Flores is a native of San Antonio, Texas. He grew up in the familiar surroundings of South Texas and often traveled throughout the interior of Mexico, becoming familiar with its rich language, culture, and history. He is fluent in Spanish.

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He served as a Congressional Page for the Honorable Henry B. Gonzales, a well-known congressman and activist in Washington, DC. He started his undergraduate education at Brown University in Rhode Island and completed his degree at Texas A&M University at College Station. He then attended Law School at the University of Texas School of Law.

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He has practiced Federal law at a national level and State law throughout Texas. The majority of his caseload has been Federal criminal work and now personal injury. He worked for several years as a Bexar County Magistrate Judge.  He measures his success not by his career accolades but rather by the love and happiness of his wife and three children.  His passion for young people, their education, and subsequent involvement with the Be It foundation grew from his own experience and his relationship with benefactor Sam Vester

Dr. Mayra A. Lozano

Dr. Mayra is a dedicated educator with 28 years of experience, primarily serving students in Title I schools. Her extensive background includes roles in special education, bilingual education, and school administration.

Currently, Dr. Lozano is the Director of School Services at ABC Unified School District in Southern California. In this role, she oversees 19 elementary principals and ensures comprehensive school services are provided for students from Transitional Kindergarten through 12th grade.

A strong advocate for the "whole child" approach, Dr. Lozano believes that education is the great equalizer. She is deeply committed to building strong partnerships with parents and guardians to support student success.

Originally from Laredo, Texas, Dr. Lozano and her husband have been residents of Southern California since 1998, where they are proud parents of two children.

Tomasa Torres Vester 

Tomasa was born in San Luis Potosí, Mexico. At the age of 13, she moved to Laredo. She attended LCC, and TAMIU. She met her husband Sam H. Vester, Jr. (deceased) and they raised their two sons, Steven and James. Helping those in need is something that she feels she was born to do. For years she has been involved with a group of friends that provide support for a girl’s orphanage in Nuevo Laredo, Mexico. She also helps students to attend college. In her free time she loves to work in her home garden and spend time with her family.

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