Home » About Us » Leadership Team
Victor Azíos, Executive Director
In August 2009, Victor joined El Buen Samaritano with a 30-year background in education, human, social and health services and nonprofit administration. His highly diversified career portfolio includes work with organizations serving the needs of many different constituencies. Most recently, he served as a senior associate of The Annie E. Casey Foundation and as site team leader for its Neighborhood Transformation/Family Development Initiative Making Connections site in San Antonio .
Victor has worked with a diverse group of public entities to forge lasting partnerships on behalf of various constituencies. His career has been dedicated to the advancement of children through the empowerment of families and his efforts to strengthen communities. He has spent his accomplished career developing relationships and building partnerships within the Latino community, addressing early-childhood education, substance abuse, mental health, child welfare and foster-care matters at the local and national level.
He holds a bachelor's in psychology from the University of Houston and a master's in social casework from Boston College. His postgraduate experience includes work in social work education at Tulane University.
Contact Victor Azíos.
Lil Almonte, Healthy Living Manager
As healthy living manager, Lil oversees all health, wellness and disease prevention programs. During her tenure at El Buen, Lil has strengthened the agency's presence in the mainstream community of Austin by procuring a variety of collaborations with community organizations and actively participating in community task forces and coalitions.
Prior to joining El Buen Samaritano, Lil managed a medical staff office, a graduate medical education department and a marketing-driven physician relations department over the period of 11 years in Miami , Fla. Additionally, for more than nine years, Lil worked in media sales, production and script writing for a renowned Spanish television network.
Lil obtained TANO's Nonprofit Leadership Management Certificate in 2009 and a bachelor's in health services administration at Barry University in Miami Shores , Fla.
Contact Lil Almonte.
Sandra Freitag, Director of Finance and Operations
At El Buen, Sandra manages all accounting and financial transactions as well as property management and best practices in utility conservations, efficiencies and safety measures.
In the five years she has been with El Buen Samaritano, Sandra has managed all accounts payable, receivable, organizational budget, grant and program budgets and secured maintenance contractors for all aspects of facilities management. Prior to joining El Buen, Sandra was a successful entrepreneur, founding and establishing two prosperous businesses since 1981. With more than 28 years of experience in business management, Sandra’s wealth of knowledge and skills ensure that El Buen Samaritano stays afloat year after year.
Sandra studied journalism at Texas A&M University and received TANO’s Nonprofit Leadership and Management Certificate in 2009.
Contact Sandra Freitag.
Mona Izquierdo, Director of Education
As Director of Education, Mona is responsible for the management of El Buen’s early-childhood, youth and adult education programs.
Prior to joining El Buen, Mona planned, developed, implemented and supported Communities in Schools programs for 17 years at the local, state and national level. Since joining El Buen in July 2008, Mona has solidified all education programs, adding life-skills workshops for adults and an evening tutoring program, reading camp and outdoor recreational program for children and youth. She began her career with the Young Women's Christian Association in El Paso after receiving her bachelor of arts from the University of Texas at El Paso.
Coming from an education-driven family, Mona continues fulfilling her life-long passion of helping children and families have a better chance for success in life. She strongly believes all children deserve the opportunity to receive guidance and support so they can fulfill their hopes and dreams. Mona’s goals for the year ahead include expanding El Buen’s youth educational programs and providing a solid education experience to each student enrolled at El Buen Samaritano.
Contact Mona Izquierdo.
Al Perez, Director of Health Services
As Director of Health Services, Al provides leadership and direction for all mental, behavioral and health care programs and services of the Wallace Mallory Clinic.
With more than ten years of experience in the management of health care services and fifteen in database development, specific to the areas of medical and social services, Al’s expertise could not be more relevant, as he takes the Wallace Mallory Clinic to the next level. Prior to joining El Buen in April 2008, he spent four years managing the Seton Topfer Community Health Center, and two years running three counseling centers for LifeWorks. Most recently, he worked with a technology company, where he marketed and implemented databases for nonprofits—a vital area of expertise in his position at the Wallace Mallory Clinic, as he implements cutting-edge systems and technologies, including an electronic medical records system.
Al obtained his bachelor’s in psychology from the University of Houston. Having had no access to primary health care until his adult years, Al understands and identifies with the challenges El Buen client population confronts day after day. His goals in the year ahead are to ensure the highest quality of mental, behavioral, primary and preventative health care services and the comprehensive access to these services to low-income families.
Contact Al Perez.
