Cantu promoted to East Aldine Management District executive director

The East Aldine Management District is pleased to announce the promotion of longtime staff member Richard Cantu to the position of executive director.

 

He will oversee all operations and staff work of the District, including progress on economic development, public safety, commercial corridor maintenance, public art, the East Aldine Town Center and much more.

 

David Hawes, a staff member since he helped create the District 20 years ago, now moves from executive director to District chief financial officer and senior advisor. Associate Executive Director L. Susan Hill and Operations Manager Veronica Sanches continue in their positions.

 

With deep ties to the people, businesses, institutions and government agencies in the East Aldine community. Cantu joined the district in 2008 as director of services. He has more than 28 years of experience as a public servant, having worked in management and executive level positions at the City of Houston (Parks and Recreation Department & Mayor’s Office), as director of the Houston Mayor’s Citizens’ Assistance Office and at BakerRipley. At the mayor’s office, Richard played an instrumental role in mobilizing critical resources during the response and aftermath of Tropical Storm Allison.

 

He serves as a Harris County School Trustee (elected county-wide in November 2018), as well as president of the Aldine Education Foundation and board member of the Greens Bayou Coalition, the North Harris County Education Alliance (co-chair), Harris County Flood Control Task Force, and the Lone Star College Foundation. He is a graduate of Leadership North Houston, and the Citizens Police Academy of the Houston Police Department and the Harris County Sheriff’s Office. He is also a Senior Fellow of the American Leadership Forum.

 

He is past president of the Hawthorne Place Civic Club and served as precinct chairman/election judge for over 20 years. He has also served with HISD North District Advisory Council, HCC Northeast College Advisory Council, Wesley House Community Center, MD Anderson YMCA, Clark Park Advisory Council, Houston Food Bank, Houston Area Council on Gangs, Texas Crime Prevention Association, LULAC Council 402, Harris County Citizens Corps – Community Emergency Response Team, Northside National Little League, Houston Intercontinental Chamber of Commerce, and Hardy-Near Northside Redevelopment Authority (TIRZ 21).