With deep ties to the people, businesses, institutions and government agencies in the East Aldine community, Mr. Cantu oversees 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.

He 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.

Richard serves as a Harris County School Trustee (elected county-wide in November 2018), 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 academies 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).

He holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Political Science from the University of Houston and a Master of Liberal Arts in Public Administration from the University of St. Thomas.

Mr. Hawes served as executive director of the East Aldine Management District for 20 years, starting with the creation of the District, which he masterminded. As chief financial officer, he oversees projections and plans for long-term use of the District’s revenues as well as short-term budgeting and outlay of funds. He will also continue his role as a visionary for the improvement of East Aldine in collaboration with all District partners and the District board.

Previously he was Finance and Administration Revenue and Research Manager for the City of Houston from 1991 to 1995 where he served as chief economist and member of the City of Houston Bond Financing Team. From 1985 to 1991 he served as the Chief Executive Officer for TCARE, Inc where he was responsible for state-wide nonprofit corporation providing residential treatment services to Level V and VI adolescents. He was responsible for management of the corporation’s treatment programs in three facilities across Texas, developing organizational, financial, and program strategic plans to support corporate mission. He negotiated and administered all contracts dealing with procurement, employee health care, workers compensation, and supplies and services. He supervised management and health professionals (120 staff) to ensure effective delivery of adolescent residential treatment services. From 1979 to 1985 he served as the Assistant Commissioner, Office of Finance & Data Management for the Texas Dept. Human Services. He was responsible to the Deputy Commissioner of Programs, Commissioner, and TDHS Board for providing strategic planning, financial analysis, and recommendations concerning budget policy and management decisions. Provided management and supervision of three major divisions (130 staff) including Programs Budget Division, Data and Technical Support Division, and Economic Analysis Division. In this capacity, he served as the state finance director for the third largest Medicaid program in the U.S.

He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Government from the University of Texas at Austin and a Masters of Arts in Public Administration from the University of Houston.

Working closely with the executive director and staff, Ms. Hill oversees the total array of the District’s administrative support services, including board development, human resource management, records and record-keeping, financial management, risk management, compliance with applicable laws, policies, and procedures, including the Texas Open Meetings and Records Acts, Public Funds Investment and Collateral Acts, Texas Nonprofit Corporation Act, and others. She is responsible for providing expert advice and support for the District’s community Development, nominating, and governance committees.

In addition, she brings expertise in creating and managing non-profit organizations and in community capacity-building acquired through her 35 years of experience as a professional community organizer and a volunteer in service to neighborhoods. She has developed and presented training programs for leaders of neighborhood-based organizations, taught community empowerment courses to municipal employees in Texas and Nevada, served as facilitator for strategic planning and organization building efforts, and spoken to grassroots organizations on a variety of topics. She served as an instructor for the Volunteer Management Certificate Program produced by the Houston Association of Volunteer Administrators.

Ms. Hill holds a bachelor of arts degree in music and a master’s of businesses administration in organizational behavior and management from the University of Houston. The Texas House of Representatives recognized her for her civic involvement in 1993, and the Houston mayor awarded her the 1995 Outstanding Volunteer Service Award, also for civic involvement.

She is honored to have carried the Olympic Torch in 1996 as it moved through Houston toward its destination in Atlanta for the 26th Olympic Games. She serves as treasurer and member of the board and executive committee of the Bayou Preservation Association. She is also a member of the Society for Human Resource Management and an associate member of Texas Municipal League.

Veronica joined the district as the Assistant Director of Services in September of 2015. She was then promoted to Director of Services in 2017 and served as Director of Operations from 2022 to 2024. In her current role of Deputy Executive Director, she is responsible for the day-to-day operations of the district’s 3-story – 30,000 sq./ft. multi-service building, which includes the Sheriff’s Storefront, Harris County Precinct 2 Community liaison office, State Representative Armando Walle’s district office, and public meeting/conference rooms, in addition to the 62-acre Town Center complex, including a park & amphitheater and recreational greenspace. In addition, Veronica prepares & manages the district’s current $14 Million annual budget.

Veronica is a lifelong resident of East Aldine and an alumnus of MacArthur Senior High School. Veronica graduated from Lone Star College – North Harris with an Associate of Arts Degree, and then went on to earn a Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice from Sam Houston State University.

Prior to joining the district, Veronica served as the Administrative Assistant for the Office of Emergency Management at Lone Star College for six years and attained certification under TEEX, FEMA, Homeland Security, and National Incident Management System. She is also a certified Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) member.

Veronica is the former President (2018) and Secretary (2017 & 2019) of the American Business Women’s Association (ABWA), Greenspoint Chapter, where she was recognized for her leadership with the Woman of the Year award (2019). She is also a 2018 graduate of Leadership North Houston (Class XXIII) and serves as Precinct Chair of her neighborhood. Veronica is a long-time active member and trustee of Park Temple Baptist Church in Houston’s Northside.

Monica Campos recently joined the district as the Marketing Manager, to manage, coordinate, and administer marketing and branding awareness internally to the community of East Aldine and externally to targeted guests and investors. She holds a Bachelor of Business Administration Degree in Marketing from the University of Texas at San Antonio.

Monica has a strong background in community relations and communication strategy. Prior to joining the district, she served two Harris County Commissioners in Precinct 2 and Precinct 3; where she built relationships and collaborated with various entities.

She looks forward to bringing her passion for community building and developing a marketing strategy that resonates with the community to help the district form stronger connections, and ensure that everyone is informed and engaged.

Victor Beserra grew up in NE Houston and graduated from CE King High School. Prior to joining Hawes Hill & Associates he was a police officer for over 29 years where he worked at HPD’s Montrose Community Storefront, patrol, and as an instructor at the Police Academy. He is an Army veteran and served in Desert Storm.

During his 20 years at HPD’s Montrose Community Storefront he was a member of the Differential Response Team (DRT), a problem-solving unit with a non-traditional way of solving public safety issues. He started the Apartment PIP program which drastically reduced crime in apartment communities. One of Victor’s specialties is building relationships with other divisions including narcotics, vice, and the county attorney’s office. Victor believes in using every available resource to help reduce crime.

He was an instructor at the Houston Police Academy for 4 years where he trained over 1,000 police cadets, managing over 60 police cadets per class.

Since 2009, he has assisted in several successful public safety programs within our communities which are still in practice today. His background in public safety and his passion for community improvement makes him an excellent addition to Hawes Hill & Associates as the Director of Public Safety. Interesting Fact: Victor played the trumpet and was a musician in the First Cavalry Division Band while he was in the Army.

As Director of Public Safety, he oversees all law enforcement initiatives and public safety programs coordinating with the Harris County Sheriff’s Office and all other partners. Mr. Beserra is responsible for conducting crime analysis, developing special projects, and implementing programs to improve community safety. He was instrumental in facilitating the expansion of East Aldine’s contract with the Sheriff’s Office to cover all shifts, 7 days a week.

Scott Bean has been on the East Aldine District team for more than 15 years as the Director of Infrastructure and Construction. Scott also works on the development of project and assessment plans, tax revenue forecasts, and incentives for the creation of tax increment reinvestment zones and public improvement districts.

Prior to joining the East Aldine team, Scott worked as the Harris County Public Infrastructure Department Program Manager where he administered their Storm Water Quality management program with regard to new construction and subdivision development in unincorporated Harris County. He also led a team that was responsible for the review and approval of construction plans, required permits, and inspection and enforcement of urban stormwater runoff regulations and permanent stormwater quality features. Provided guidance on stormwater policy at the local and regional level through workshops and forums.

Scott has also worked at the Houston-Galveston Area Council of Governments (H-GAC) as a Senior Environmental Planner and with the City of Houston as a Supervisor in the Department of Public Works & Engineering. Scott has worked extensively with consulting engineers, developers, and home builders on water and wastewater infrastructure and capacity needs for new development proposals and negotiated contracts with municipal utility districts and neighboring cities for service in City of Houston wastewater treatment plants. Scott is also experienced in utility investigations for proposals to abandon or relocate city rights-of-way and utility easements to facilitate new development.

Scott holds a Master of Arts in Public Administration and Bachelor of Science in Political Science from the University of Houston.

Mr. Dean leads economic development efforts for the East Aldine Management District by focusing on attracting, retaining, and developing businesses in the area while fostering an environment of entrepreneurial growth and rich cultural diversity.

He is a member of the Houston Galveston Area Council Gulf Coast Economic Development District Board, the North Houston Economic Development Center Advisory Council, Urban Land Institute Capital Markets committee and Leadership North Houston 2021 class.  

He earned a bachelor of arts degree in international studies with a German minor from St. Edward’s University in Austin. He is also a graduate of the Community Development Institute program hosted by Lone Star College and The University of Oklahoma’s Economic Development Institute program.

Emily Erreguin recently joined the East Aldine Management District as the Community Engagement & Events Coordinator. An experienced events planner, Emily is passionate about creating memorable experiences and looks forward to planning and executing special events, activities, and programs that strengthen connections within the Aldine community.

Before joining the East Aldine Management District, Emily spent 10 years with Aldine ISD as a business associate for the Facilities, Planning, and Construction department. Most recently, she served as the Executive Business and Events Associate for their Communications and Outreach department, where she was responsible for developing and executing event strategies for the school district’s signature events.