Renato Ramirez 11/19/2011
CEO/CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD, INTERNATIONAL BANK OF COMMERCE-ZAPATA
Personal
Born January 6, 1940 (age-71), in Zapata Texas, speak, write, and read spanish fluently, married to Patricia Lourdes, three children (Roberta G., Ricardo X., and Ruben Jaime), catholic, excellent health.
Occupation
CEO/Chairman of the Board, International Bank of Commerce-Zapata IBC-Zapata is one of the most profitable bank in South Texas. Opened in 1984, the bank has grown $450+ million and thirteen branches in twenty-seven years. IBC-Zapata is owned by International Bancshares Corporation, one of the most profitable financial institutions in the country. IBC-Zapata has achieved superior goals in terms of profitability and efficiency.
Community Involvement
Chairman, Zapata County Appraisal District–1986–1992, 1994-1996. Provided the leadership to computerize the appraisal process in Zapata County.
Vice-chairman, South Texas Private Industry Council (STPIC) 1986 to 1996. Chairman of the Merit Board, the Administration Committee, and the Grievance Committee of the STPIC. Wrote the Personnel Policy Manual for the STPIC.
President, Los Ebanos Golf Club, Inc. since its inception in 1985. Organized the corporation, raised the funds, acquired land, built and operate the non-profit nine-hole golf course in Zapata County.
Former president, board member and chairman of several standing committees of the Zapata County Fair Association. Selected Parade Marshall for the fair parade.
Visiting professor, Laredo State University, now Texas A & M International, teaching banking and finance since 1975.
Visiting lecturer, Laredo Junior College, teaching economics.
Wrote the personnel policy manual for the Zapata County Sheriff’s Department, 1988.
Associate Dean, Escuela Bancaria Superior de Centro-America from 1972 to 1986. The school was formed under the auspices of Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge.
Chairman of the Improve Falcon Lake Committee, a non-partisan citizen committee to improve the infrastructure around Lake Falcon, to improve the quality of water in the Rio Grande, and to have a more equitable water management policy for the Rio Grande. Testified to Senate sub-committees on water management practices.
Testified before the Congressional Committee on Small Business on the impact of regulation on rural financial institutions, September 21, 1989.
Organizer and Spokesman for the Committee For Fiscal Responsibilities, Inc., a non-profit corporation which monitors county and school administration to ensure efficient allocation of economic resources.
President, Zapata County Independent School District Board of Trustees–1993 to 1997.
Chairman, Zapata County Water, Sewer, and Waste Disposal Board of Director since 1992-1996. In 1990, the water plant was incurring losses of $140,000 per year and immersed in litigation as a result of poor management. By 1991, the water plant was making $35,000 per month, resolved all the litigation problems, purchased water rights, trash trucks, backhoes, and has a smooth work team serving the community.
Secretary/Treasurer, Zapata CrimeStoppers, Inc., an organization dedicated to fighting crime through a reward for information program.
Chairman, Zapata County Republican Party-1992.
President, member of the board, Boys/Girls Club of Zapata. Raised over $900,000 to construct and operate a youth development facility, including a personal donation of $100,000. As a young boy, Renato was involved with the Laredo Boys and Girls Club between 1953 and 1957.
Board Member, State of Texas Depository Board and Board Member, State of Texas Agricultural Finance Authority Board (1997-2001), named by Governor George W. Bush.
Inducted into the Lake Falcon Hall of Fame in 2006 for the work done in getting equitable treatment in the distribution of water between Amistad and Falcon Lake, including intervention with Governor Mark White, with the International Boundary and Water Commission, and with the Rio Grande River Watermaster.
Awarded the Volunteer of the Year award by the Texas Land and Mineral Rights Owners Association for work in promoting individual rights for land owners.
Named to the Board of the Texas Civil Rights Project, a volunteer organization that defends civil rights of those who may be unable to defend themselves.
Awarded Corporate Citizen of the Year by the Bee County Chamber of Commercein 2009.
Selected Outdoorsman of the Year by the Laredo Chamber of Commerce in 2009.
Received the Bernard and Audre Rapaport Philanthropy Award for Human Rights from the Texas Civil Rights Project in 2005.
Joined with Dale Franz to participate in the Images for Conservation Fund Nature Photography Contest, taking second place and the book published by the ICF was dedicated to Renato Ramirez on October 23, 2010.
Inducted into the LULAC Sports Hall of Fame in 2011 for his support of athletics, including the construction of the golf course in Zapata and his participation on the Wrestling team at Texas A & M, becoming a three year letterman.
Awarded the 2011 Latino Leadership Award for his contribution to Texas History and Culture by the Mexican American Legislative Caucus in Austin, Texas on February 16, 2011.
Philathropist
Adopted Casa Hogar La Nueva Esperanza in Cd. Mier, Tamps., Mexico. Personally providing funding for physical facility and feeding 25 orphans and/or abandoned children.
Donated 70 acres for the construction of a one million dollar municipal airport in Zapata County.
Established a scholarship program for graduates of Zapata High School since 1966.
Sponsored numerous golf tournaments and bass fishing tournaments in Zapata County.
Made largest single donation to the National Hispanic Institute, an organization dedicated to opening educational opportunities to leading Hispanic youngsters.
Patron of the Foundation for the Advancement of Micrometeorological Soaring, a flex wing, fixed wing, sail plane, and parachute gliding organization. Donated an aircraft for continued research on impact of meteorological conditions on flying.
Funded a $1 million dollar scholarship endowment at Texas A & M International University in Laredo Texas—The largest endowment for scholarships in the history of the University.
Spearheaded an initiative to construct a monument on the South Capitol grounds in Austin to celebrate the contribution of Hispanics to Texas culture. Raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for the construction and influenced State Representatives, State Senators, Governor Perry, Lt. Governor Dewhurst to waive the moratorium on monument construction on the South Lawn. Project should be finished by July 2010. Significant donations to the project.
Built a school for the Harmony Academy of Laredo in 2008, which focuses on math, science, and technology. Absorbed over $500,000 in construction costs to offer children of Laredo a superior educational opportunity.
Work Experience
2010—present Chairman of the Board and CEO, International Bank of Commerce, Zapata.
1983-2010 President, International Bank of Commerce, Zapata. Elected Chairman of the Board in June, 2009.
1978-1983 Senior Vice President, Laredo National Bank. Loan officer for foreign loans to Mexico under the Export-Import Bank program.
Associate Professor of Finance at Laredo State University.
1970-1975 Assistant Professor of Finance at Louisiana State University. Published articles dealing with finance in Spanish and English.
1969-1970 Consultant to the Tennessee Valley Authority on impact of banking practices on regional economic development.
1966-1969 Instructor, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee.
Education
1969 Ph. D. (all but dissertation) in finance and economics at the University of Tennessee.
1966 M.B.A. from the University of Texas in Austin.
1961 B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Texas A. & M. University. Three year letterman in the Wrestling Team at Texas A & M.
Other Business Involvement
Owner-manager, R & P Ramirez,LTD., which has a ranching and farming operation.
Military Service
1961-1963 1st Lt. in the U.S. Army Artillery. Instructor at Fort Sill on the guidance system for missiles. After the Cuban crisis, company commander for a company of Cuban refugees in Ft. Jackson.
Title: Renato Ramirez
Date: 2011-11-19
Hosts,
Bjorn Dybdahl of Bjorn's
John Thurman of Heart of Texas Realty
Scott Woolfolk of Documation
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