Board of Directors 2024-2025
Mex Y Can is governed by a volunteer-driven Board of Directors
elected every two years by voting members of the Association.
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The Board of Directors is empowered, through the bylaws of Mex Y Can,
to act on behalf of members to carry out the goals of the Association.
Adriana Zagrodnik
President
Meet our dedicated President, Adriana Zagrodnik, originally from Guadalajara, Mexico.
An accountant who graduated from the University of Guadalajara, she made Manitoba her home in 1997.
One of the founders of Mex Y Can, Adriana has extensive experience coordinating the Mexican Pavilion at Folklorama and has held various positions on the Mex Y Can Board of Directors. Volunteering is her passion, as she finds joy in helping others.
Aline Tezcucano
Past President
Meet Aline Tezcucano, our esteemed Past President. She's a Biochemical Engineer from the National Polytechnic Institute in Mexico City, with an M.Sc. in Food Safety from the University of Birmingham and a doctorate in Food Chemistry from McGill University.
Aline moved to Winnipeg in 2006.
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With over 17 years of experience in food safety and processing, Aline works as a Food Safety Regulatory Specialist at Manitoba Agriculture.
She's also a licensed Insurance Agent with World Financial Group Insurance Agency of Canada Inc.
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Aline's achievements include being inducted into the Personalities Wall at the Manitoba Museum and being recognized as one of the 10 Most Influential Hispanic Canadians by TLN (Univision Canada) in 2022.
Teresa Buss
Vicepresident
Introducing Teresa Buss, our Vice President,
who moved to Winnipeg in 2015 from Monterrey, Mexico. With a finance bachelor's and a Master’s in Management from “Instituto Tecnologico de Estudios Superiores de Monterrey, Teresa brings a wealth of experience from companies like GE, CEMEX, Palliser Furniture, The Dufresne Group, and Assiniboia Law Group. Currently pursuing her Certified Professional Accounting designation.
Teresa's volunteer work extends to roles like past MexyCan treasurer and aiding Look Good Feel Better, assisting women affected by cancer.
Her diverse interests include learning, travel, camping, and attending sporting events, and concerts.
Anel Gamboa
Treasurer
Presenting Anel Gamboa, our dedicated Treasurer from Celaya, Gto, Mexico.
She moved to Winnipeg, Manitoba in 2021 with her husband and pet. With a degree in International Business and a master’s in Business Innovation, she pursued a Diploma in Business Administration upon her arrival in Canada.
Anel currently works in Digital Marketing at
a Winnipeg-based fashion company.
She's internationally certified as a Certified Financial Education Instructorâ„ (CFEI®) by the National Financial Educators Council, reflecting her passion for personal finance.
Beyond work, Anel is sociable, values learning from others, and actively contributes to her community.
Jose Rivera
Secretary
Meet Jose Rivera, our dedicated Secretary
and seasoned REALTOR® in Winnipeg.
Passionate about real estate, Jose thrives on helping clients find their dream properties. Hailing from Mexico, Jose is bilingual in Spanish and English.
With a bachelor’s degree in accounting, he boasts over a decade of experience in building and managing a successful family business.
During his university days in Mexico, Jose also worked as a real estate agent, refining his customer service and negotiation skills.
Since purchasing his first property in 2016, he's recognized the advantages of real estate investment, recently acquiring his second property in Canada and enhancing its value through extensive renovations.
Gaby Landa
Public Relations Officer
2024 Mexican Pavilion Coordinator
Meet Gaby Landa, our dynamic Public Relations Officer, originally from Mexico City, she has embraced the Canadian winters since 2016. With 15 years of figure skating experience, including 8 as a coach, Gaby's passion for the sport runs deep.
Her background in graphic design, spanning over 18 years, has led her through various creative fields such as branding, commercial signs, typography, event design, social media, photography, and video editing.
Gaby has spearheaded marketing campaigns introducing young athletes to Figure Skating Olympic and World champions.
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Thrilled to contribute to the Mexican community in Manitoba, Gaby also coordinates the Mexican Pavilion for 2024.
Karen Isiordia
Member-At-Large
Meet Karen, our Member-At-Large, who is originally from Sonora, Mexico.
Residing in Canada for 3 years, Karen is married with two children and holds a degree in Economics.
Her passion for immigration issues is deeply rooted, evident from her previous role in Immigration in Mexico.
Karen has valuable insights into how different cultures adapt to new models of life. She has actively volunteered to help immigrants, contributing to the development of recreation programs.
Armando Calvillo
Member-At-Large
Meet Armando, our Member-At-Large, a passionate individual born in Celaya, Guanajuato, Mexico, on October 31, 1989. With a solid educational background, he graduated as an Environmental Engineer from the Instituto Tecnológico de Celaya and later pursued a Master’s in Logistics and International Commerce at the University of Celaya.
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Armando's career in the automotive industry began at Honda's assembly plant, and he later contributed to Toyota's plant inauguration in Guanajuato, specializing in logistics and production.
In early 2021, seeking new challenges, Armando and his wife migrated to Canada, where he now engages in logistics and supply chain activities in the aerospace industry.
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Outside work, Armando is an avid traveler who enjoys exploring new cultures and spending quality time with his family.
Laura Gómez
Member-At-Large
Meet Laura Gomez, our Member-At-Large, originally from southern Mexico, she has a strong background in law and public service at the Mexican Justice System, dedicating years to equality and community-focused initiatives. Her passion for helping others has shaped her career, allowing her to make a meaningful impact.
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Drawn by new opportunities and inspired by Canada’s quality of life, she relocated to Manitoba, where she is expanding her expertise through business management studies. Eager to connect with her new community, she actively volunteers and participates in cultural programs, embracing the diversity around her while proudly celebrating and sharing her Mexican heritage.
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She thrives on building connections and supporting those around her, bringing leadership and dedication to every project she takes on.
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Outside of work and academics, she finds joy in spending time with family and friends, singing, dancing, and exploring new places.
Ryan Punton
Member-At-Large
Meet Ryan Punton, our newest Member-At-Large. Ryan was born on August 9th, 1976, in rural Manitoba and was raised in Winnipeg.
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At the age of 19, Ryan decided, after a short Mexican holiday, to pack up and move to Zihuatanejo in the coastal state of Guerrero.
There, he worked as a teacher and a waiter and managed both a nightclub and a Japanese restaurant.
He fell in love with the culture, the food, the scenery, and the people, including his wife, Yamina, of 25 years. In the early 2000s, Ryan and Yamina moved back to Winnipeg to raise their two children, Alejandro and Kiana, and have all played a significant role in the famous Mexican Pavilion from its very first year.
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Ryan is a graduate of the Civil Engineering Technology program at Red River College and currently runs the family construction company. In his spare time, he enjoys riding his motorbike or spending time with family and friends. With his fluent Spanish, love of Mexico, and Canadian roots, he is a perfect fit for the Mex Y Can association.