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A broad coalition of public, private, and community partners are working together to reduce the digital divide.

Executive Committee

Marina Alderete Gavito, Strategic Advisor

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Luisa Casso, Private Funders / Toyota

Board Chair

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Brian Dillard, COSA / Office of Innovation

Board Vice-Chair

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Laura Cole, Bexar County / BiblioTech

Board Secretary

DIGITAL equity plan funders & partners
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Community advisory

  • Bexar County IT Department

  • Bexar County Community Outreach & Engagement

  • Bibliotech

  • Brooks Development Authority

  • Big Sun Solar

  • City Education Partners

  • Community First Health Plans

  • COSA Office of Economic Development

  • COSA Office of Innovation

  • COSA Office of Veteran Affairs

  • Dallas Federal Reserve Bank

  • Digital Inclusion Alliance of San Antonio

  • disABILITYsa

  • Education Service Center, Region 20

  • Empower House

  • Goodwill San Antonio

  • Housing First Coalition

  • Intercultural Development Research Association (IDRA)

  • Institute for Self Reliance

  • Methodist Healthcare Ministries

  • National Digital Inclusion Alliance

  • OATS/Senior Planet

  • San Antonio Independent School District

  • San Antonio Economic Development Foundation

  • San Antonio Housing Authority

  • San Antonio OASIS

  • Texas A&M San Antonio

  • Toyota Motor North America

  • University Health

Exec Director
Strategic Advisor

Marina is a servant leader that utilizes her business savvy and relationships to help innovate, change, and drive results to improve San Antonio, Texas. Her career began in tech and innovation for Fortune 500 corporations. In her experience, she has led cross-departmental teams solving complex problems to provide successful business outcomes. As the Founding Executive Director of TechBloc, Marina helped grow the tech advocacy group to over 5,000+ members. While at Rackspace and USAA, she applied the same guiding principles - connect people together, set out the charge, and tackle the mission.  She led the partnership for USAA Labs to  join with the City of San Antonio’s Innovation team, UTSA, and Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) to form the R&D League, which helps San Antonio solve complex city-wide challenges. She is an accomplished advocate for causes she believes in, such as transportation and child welfare through her service as Vice-Chair on the VIA Board of Trustees and Vice Chair on the Bexar County Child Welfare Board.

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marina
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Chair

Luisa Casso has over 20 years of public affairs experience in the private, public and non-profit arenas. Ms. Casso is the manager of corporate communications for Toyota Motor North America, Inc. where she leads a dynamic team of professionals responsible for the external and internal communications for Toyota Texas.

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Luisa Casso
Luia Casso

Manager of Corporate Communications, Toyota of Texas 

Vice Chair

Brian Dillard is currently the Chief Innovation Officer for the City of San Antonio. He began his career in public service in 2018 as the Smart City Administrator for the City of San Antonio. Prior to joining the local government sector, Brian was a Cybersecurity consultant in the private sector working with Shell Oil, Chevron Oil, Lockheed Martin, and Delta Risk. Brian began his career as a member of the United States Air Force where he served ten-years Active Duty as a Cybersecurity Operations Specialist. Brian is a third-generation Eastside San Antonio native. Upon returning to San Antonio toward the end of his military career, Brian became a neighborhood advocate and community leader.

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Brian Dillard
Brian Dillard

Chief Innovation Officer, City of San Antonio

Secretary

Originally from Minnesota, Laura has spent 15 years in County Government. She us Director of Biblio Tech responsible for development, implementation and expansion of Biblio Tech through numerous community partnerships including SAHA, Via Metropolitan Transit, UHS, 14 area school districts as well as Laredo Housing Authority and Housing Authority City of Brownsville.  Laura holds an MPA from UTSA and MLS from Texas Woman's University. Laura enjoys running, reading, cooking, bad jokes and her family.

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Laura Cole
Laura Cole

Director, Bexar County Biblio Tech

SUPPORT TEAM

Diane Warren, Bounceology - Operations/ Funder Relations Consultant

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Baltazar Serna - Government Relations Consultants

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Marcie Trevino Ripper, SATX Consultants -Policy, Data, and Government Relations Consultant

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Michelle Martinez - Communications Consultant
 

“The team and I wake up every day with a passion to connect every resident in our community. Some residents are merely surviving by using the internet on their cell phones, but SA Digital Connects is committed to making sure all residents are thriving with fast, reliable and affordable internet in their home."

- Marina Alderete Gavito

FUNDING DECISION-MAKERS

Local Decision-Makers

  • COSA City Council

  • Bexar County Commissioners

  • City & County Staff

  • City & County IT / Procurement

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State Decision-Makers

  • Bexar County Delegation (TX House & Senate)

  • Appropriations Committee

  • Glen Hegar - Comptroller, State of Texas

  • Greg Conte, Director, Broadband Development Office, State of Texas

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Federal Decision-Makers

  • FCC

  • Dept. of Commerce, NTIA

We want to hear from you!

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