Board Members
Ismael Duran
President
Potencia Projects/Affiliated Energy Products
A native of Wichita Falls, Ismael is co-owner of Potencia Projects, a business dedicated to creating opportunities for Hispanic businesses, art, and culture throughout the Wichita Falls area.
A community volunteer for the last decade. Ismael has served many organizations, such as Wichita Falls Downtown Development, Zavala Hispanic Cultural Initative, and the Wichita Falls Alliance for Arts and Culture. Ismael was also awarded 2023 Zavala Hispanic Person of the year.
Ismael is co-founder of two festivals, Loco for Cinco and Los Muertos: A Celebration of Life, that celebrate Hispanic Art and Culture in Wichita Falls and surrounding area.
Becky Raeke
Treasurer
9th Street Studios/Deason Raeke Insurance
Becky is the founder of After Hours Artwalk and co-founder of Los Muertos: A Celebration of Life.
Alicia Duran
Vice President/Secretary
Potencia Projects
Alicia is Mexican American, born in Aguascalientes, Mexico.
Raised in Hood River, Oregon, she grew up on a large orchard and moved to Wichita Falls as a teen.
Alicia is deeply involved with the Hispanic community. She loves to create a platform where the Hispanic community feels comfortable showing and promoting art and culture! Alicia has her Certificate of Non-Profit Management from Midwestern State University and was awarded Zavala 2023 Hispanic Person of the Year.
Alicia is co-founder of Loco for Cinco and Los Muertos: A Celebration of Life.
Margarito Contreras
Artistic/Production Director
DJ Tito's Productions/C.H.I. - Custom Home Improvements
A native of Wichita Falls, Tito founded DJ Tito's Productions in 2011 and has created a leading production company in the Wichita Falls area. Through his services, Tito and his team have been essential to the artistic growth of the Hispanic community in Wichita Falls.
Tito has partnered with numerous organizations to promote their brand and is also co-founder of Loco for Cinco, the largest and premier Hispanic festival in Wichita Falls.
Gabriel Duran
Production Director
Assistant Professor Texas A&M Corpus Cristi/Vivid Vita Events
Gabriel Duran,
is a multi-award-winning narrative filmmaker from Wichita Falls but has sustained most of his career in the Dallas-Fort Worth area.
He is the president and founder of FDCLA (Festival de Cine Latino Americano), a nonprofit organization and DFW’s largest international Latino Film Festival. FDCLA was established in 2015, and to this day, the festival continues to springboard quality films from all over Latin America into the forefront.
Gabriel is also the co-founder of Vivid Vita Events LLC. V.V.E was established in 2018 and focused on Latino-based events such as Fiesta Charra and FDCLA. Fiesta Charra is a charreada and music series event held annually in Lewisville, TX.
Mr. Duran is also an Assistant Professor at Texas A&M Corpus Christi in the Media Arts department, where he teaches screenwriting and film production classes in narrative filmmaking. Gabriel strives to connect the local community with Latino-based arts.