CONGRATS TO OUR MEMBER OF THE YEAR! MONICA PENA  Monica Pena currently works for locally owned, family business Escobar Construction, LLC.  Her husband and Monica started the company 10 years ago and she is very well involved in the day to day activities of the company. She enjoys being a resource of knowledge and bridging connections from different businesses and organizations. In the raising of four children, she has volunteered and involved her family in organizations/events such as Keep Austin Beautiful, Sabado Gigante, Blue Santa, Wonders and Worries, and political campaigns.  Her twin daughters and Monica helped launch the Girl Scouts’ Latina Lead Program which develops and hold self-esteem development workshops in middle schools.   Monica is involved with League of United Latin American Citizens’ Latin Heart of Texas council that focuses on youth and education issues.  Monica is the current contact person for the career portion of Community for Youth with the mission of finding community based solutions that will inspire and help our youth to be productive citizens.  She is also an active member and  attends, Austin Young Real Estate Professionals, Greater Austin Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Junior Chamber (Jaycees), and National Hispanic Professional Organization. Monica has served on committees for the following organizations:  Y.W.C.A., Hispanic Futures Conference, Hispanic Women’s Network of Texas, and Las Comadres Para Las Americas.  She has been honored with the Young Hispanic Professional Austin Association member of the Year award in 2009 for actively attending their mixers, professional developments, and volunteering in their community service projects.