Ms. Almanzán has actively managed House Border Region, Fannie Mae’s five-year $6 billion dollar investment plan throughout the region. During her 9 year tenure at Fannie Mae, Ms. Almanzán has actively worked to increase Fannie Mae’s direct investment in El Paso, through numerous projects, including a Line of Credit to the El Paso Housing Authority. El Paso Empowerment Zone, deposits into local low income serving credit unions, and expanding the number of local financial institutions that conduct business with Fannie Mae. She spear headed Fannie Mae’s first lease purchase program in the Border Region that allowed for credit correction during the lease period to assist families who other wise would not have been eligible for a conventional mortgage.
Prior to joining Fannie Mae in 1999, Ms. Almanzán served as the Public Policy Director at the Greater El Paso Chamber of Commerce. While at the Chamber she actively managed the construction and completion of the first Dedicated Commuter Lane in Texas. In addition to those activities, she managed the Transportation Committee and the Education Committee at the Chamber of Commerce. Sandra also was the first Assistant Director for the Public Policy Research Center at the University of Texas at El Paso, currently know as Institute for Public and Economic Development. While at UTEP she managed Sustainable Neighborhoods, a grant program that partnered students with El Paso nonprofits involved in the development of affordable housing to provide student’s with service learning opportunities. Further, she has worked for two Members of Congress, Ronald Coleman, El Paso and Esteban Torres of Los Angeles, California.
Sandra Sánchez Almanzán is a native El Pasoan. She obtained her undergraduate degree from St. Mary’s University in San Antonio, Texas, and obtained her Master’s Degree in Public Administration from the University of Texas at El Paso. During her graduate studies she was selected as a Presidential Management Intern, the Federal Government’s premier executive recruiting program. She is a graduate of Leadership Texas 2000, a statewide leadership program for women. She serves on the Boards of the YWCA of the Paso del Norte Region, Community Scholars, The Paso Del Norte Group and Del Sol Medical. Sandra is married to Robert Almanzán and is mother to 6 year-old Sofia Yamel 3 year old Robert Martin Almanzan, Jr.
POLK SCHWARTZ