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ANSO Youth Day / ANSO Dia de Jovenes
His height filled the doorway and a friendly smile broke across his face. A prompt man that offered his hand and delivered a smooth transition to our first meeting. I knew immediately the type of connection he creates with the people that he comes in contact with. Whether his people skills are natural or born from his passion to serve others, they fit him well on his journey in creating a legacy of promoting opportunities, creating tools, and building bridges for a solid future in the Hispanic familia. Wherever Lieutenant Commander Mark Venzor, finds himself stationed, he gets connected up and starts making a difference. It's a good thing that his talent matches his compassion because Mark assumes a variety of leadership roles that would exhaust the majority of us. He is a volunteer, an advisor, a member, a planner, a coordinator, a secretary and a motivational speaker. In one arena he is known as President, another as Vice President and yet another as Lieutenant Commander. Mark's busy schedule pulls him in many directions but he is grounded by his U.S. Military service and strong ties to his family. Nurtured in a single parent home by his mother, Maria Elvia Venzor, and lavished with patience from his grandfather, Jose Venzor, Sr., strength and compassion took root. His mother's courage to envision a better future for him became a reality when Mark was offered the opportunity to serve his country as an officer and receive $180,000 in scholarship money to attend a university of his choosing. An El Paso native, Mark began his navy career in August of 1992 at the Naval Academy Preparatory School. Upon completion he received a nomination to the United States Naval Academy and in May of 1997, graduated with a B.S. in Systems Engineering and went on to receive his MBA at Texas A&M University. Tied into his current military service as Lieutenant Commander and Information Operations Planner, is Mark's dedication to ANSO (Association of Naval Services Officers). Filling his role as President of the Norfolk Chapter, his focus is to foster growth and promotion for Hispanics within the military ranks. Still in the ANSO capacity, Mark is also the Hispanic Outreach Coordinator and his desire is to increase the amount of Hispanic officers in the Navy, Marine Corps., Coast Guard and the Merchant Marine Services. In order to bring his desire to fruition, he participates in seminars, coordinates outreach programs, and will travel in order to meet with minority youth to tell them of the solid future and new beginning the Navy can offer them. Mark believes, "the past is the past and the future is what you make it,"and a good future can be found in the uniformed naval services. Each year ANSO coordinates a symposium open to every member of the community. This year's symposium at the Naval Amphibious Base Little Creek, is April 28 - May 3, 2008. The theme is "Hispanic Americans: Making A Positive Impact on American Society". There is a fee for the six day event but you will be exposed to an amazing amount of information on a wide range of topics that will prove to be well worth your money. When Mark is fulfilling his responsibilities at MANA, he is known as Advisor. MANA is a diverse Latina organization of female mentors who provide an outreach program for young women. As the S.T.E.M. (Science, Technology, Engineering & Math) Advisor he enjoys bringing the analytical elements to life while encouraging confidence in young women as they take on the classroom project of building a tower that withstands a simulated earthquake and hurricane. Mark said, "I give my time to MANA Hermanitas Program because it is a program that changes young Latina lives for the better." Mark continues to donate his engineering time and talent at the Society of Mexican American Engineers and Scientists (MAES). He is the Southeast Region Vice President and serves locally as Secretary for the Chesapeake Bay Chapter. Mark said, "MAES feels like a true familia. The MAES Pipeline not only assists students from seventh grade to their PHD, but it also creates opportunities and motivates young kids to get more involved in Math and Science." The MAES National Scholarship Program awards in excess of, $50,000 to student members. Mark Venzor is a multi-faceted, multi-talented man whose own words reveal his servants heart, "when I work with youth or speak to youth, I always hope and truly believe that the time I devote to them will change their lives in a positive way". Sacred Heart Church in Norfolk, knows Mark as a volunteer to their Migrant Ministry. North across the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel, an influx of migrant workers spread out across the Eastern Shore to contribute to the area's economy and meet the needs of a predominantly agricultural area. Mark has a heart for, as he put it, "America at it's core. A group of people searching for a better future, breaking their backs working the labor intensive jobs, in order to create a better future for their families." While Mark's residency here is being interrupted by a year long stay in Iraq, we look forward to his return to American soil and the Hampton Roads area. I would imagine that a nice homecoming welcome would be tangible growth that he has inspired each of to make in the areas of service, education and growth. How fitting that Mark's name implies an "indelible impression" left on the people that he touches. ANSO website: www.ansomil.org. Hispanic Outreach Program: Captain Kathy Contres at kathlene.contres@patrick.af.mil MANA website: www.hermana.org Program Manger, Amy Hinjosa at ahinojosa@hermana.org. MAES website: www.maes-natl.org President, Chesapeake Bay Chapter, Irene Rico at: irene.rico@fhwa.dot.gov. Sacred Heart Church website: www.sacredheartnorfolk.org Ministry Outreach Lead: Pat Walsh: patwalsh@cox.net Other forums of Interest: American GI Forum (the only sanctioned Hispanic Veterans Group in the Nation) website: www.americangiforum.org Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE) website: www.shpe.org |
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A MAN OF PASSION, A MAN OF PURPOSE
