Ms. Mandel has always been an engaged global citizen. After graduating from the University of Texas at Austin with a Bachelor of Science in Education and Spanish, she put her language skills to work in Mexico helping global businesses like Ford Motor Company, Chrysler de Mexico, Mellon Bank, and Babcock and Wilcox acculturate their senior executives and families for life in Mexico. She also developed curricula and tailored instruction for Mexican National managers to prepare them for business with their U.S. counterparts. In 1980, Ms. Mandel moved back to the United States and began conducting market research for Mexican exporters, creating a marketing plan for U.S. sales to Mexican firms, and helped pioneer The Entrepreneurship Development Program at the UTSA Business Development Center. During this time, she earned a Master of Business Administration before going on to teach International Marketing at the University of the Incarnate Word. Ms. Mandel along with business partners developed University Park, a northwest side 282- acre business and industrial development, where she served as Operations Manager, and liaison between Developers and University Park business owners. Now, she is very active in the San Antonio community serving in the San Antonio Business and Economic Society, the Masters Leadership Program, Mays Cancer Center Board of Governors, and the San Antonio Council for International Visitors.