Board of Directors
As United Heritage members themselves, each Board member is personally invested in one main goal: ensuring UHCU continues to provide superior, personalized service to every member, while remaining financially sound.
Val Velasquez, NCVE
Val Velasquez is the Chairman of the United Heritage Board of Directors. Mr. Velasquez joined the Board of Directors as an associate member in 2016 and was elected as a member of the Board in 2019. He served as Secretary/Treasurer from 2021 to 2023. He has been a UHCU member since 2005. Mr. Velasquez was employed at Southwestern Bell Company, now ATT, for over 30 years; where he was responsible for the testing of new products and implementation of those products throughout thirteen states before he retired in 2000. Mr. Velasquez has now been in real estate for over 19 years, as well as a small business owner and Broker of a property management company.
Mr. Velasquez joined the Greater Austin Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (GAHCC) in 2009, and was awarded the GAHCC Volunteer of the Year Award in 2011, recognizing his dedication and service. Elected to the GAHCC board in 2012 and in 2015 elected Chairman for the GAHCC. During his chairmanship, the Greater Austin Hispanic Chamber of Commerce was recognized with an award as one of the best Hispanic Chambers in the country. He has also served as a past board member of the Williamson County Appraisal District, Chairman of the Round Rock Amistad Fiesta, a three term past President for El Amistad of Round Rock, all of which provided him with opportunities to continue to serve his community.
Michael Trevino
Michael Trevino is the Vice-Chairman of the United Heritage Board of Directors. Michael Trevino joined the Board of Directors as an associate member in 2019 and was elected as a member of the Board in 2021. He has been a UHCU member since 2001. He also served as a United Heritage Charity Foundation Board member from 2017 to 2022.
Mr. Trevino is a Fleet Manager for Commercial Sales at Lamb’s Automotive, where he’s worked since 2014. Prior to this, he worked as Divisional Propane Manager for Loves Travel Stop and Area Manager for AmeriGas Propane. Additionally, he spent 24 years at Loomis Fargo & Co., where he spent the majority of his tenure as General Manager. He has extensive experience in loss prevention management. He also served on the Board of Directors for the Georgetown Project and served as President of the Georgetown Boys Basketball Team. In addition, he founded a select basketball organization for underprivileged boys and girls, and provided assistance to players seeking scholarships for higher education.
Robert Hootkins, MD, PhD, FACP, FASN, FAHA
Dr. Robert Hootkins is the Secretary/Treasurer of the United Heritage Board of Directors. Dr. Hootkins joined the Board of Directors as an associate member in 2018 and was elected as a member of the Board in 2020. He has been a UHCU member since 2016. Dr. Hootkins is currently a senior medical office consultant for Fresenius Medical Care following more than 35 years of clinical practice in Dallas and Austin. Dr. Hootkins previously received university degrees in Chemistry and Physics including a Ph.D. in Biophysics from The University of California at Berkeley. He is a graduate of UT Southwestern Medical School in Dallas and received his subspecialty training in nephrology at Baylor University Medical Center in Dallas.
Dr. Hootkins is board certified in Internal Medicine, Nephrology and Hypertension. He was previously section chief of The Austin Diagnostic Clinic Nephrology & Hypertension Section in Austin for 18 years. He currently serves on the Executive Board of St. David’s North Austin Medical Center, where he was previously Chief of Staff.
Tommy Lueders
Tommy Lueders joined the Board of Directors as an associate member in 2014 and was elected as a member of the Board in 2016. He has been a UHCU member since 2008. Mr. Lueders is a lawyer specializing in defense of workers’ compensation cases throughout the state of Texas. He received his undergraduate degree from Austin College in Sherman, Texas, and his JD from Texas Tech School of Law. He is licensed to practice before the US District Court, Western District of Texas and also serves as a member of the State Bar of Texas Board of Legal Specialization.
Bob Spurck
Bob Spurck joined the Board of Directors as an associate member in 2015 and was elected as a member of the Board in 2017. Mr. Spurck served as the Vice-Chairman of the UHCU Board of Directors from 2021 to 2023. He has been a UHCU member since 2012. He also served as a United Heritage Charity Foundation Board member from 2015 to 2022. Mr. Spurck is Principal at RB Healthcare Ventures, LLC. He received his Bachelor of Science in Biology from Tulane University in New Orleans, Louisiana, and his Master of Science in Health Care Administration from Trinity University in San Antonio, Texas. At Tulane, he was a three-year varsity letterman in basketball. Mr. Spurck is the former Chief Executive Officer of Austin Diagnostic Clinic, Brackenridge Hospital and the former Chairman of The ARC. Mr. Spurck is currently the Chairman of the Concordia University Nursing Advisory Board; is a Board Member of the Williamson County Institute of Excellence; serves on the Board of the Renfert Foundation; and holds a membership with the American College of Health Care Executives.
Genise Henry, PHD
Genise Henry joined the Board of Directors as an associate member in 2021 and was elected as a member of the Board in 2022. Dr. Henry is a Project Director of Tiered Interventions Using Evidence Based Research (TIER) at the University of Texas, where she has worked since 2005.
Dr. Henry has a Doctorate of Philosophy in Education: School Improvement from Texas State University and has focused her career in education. She has worked as an Early Childhood and Kindergarten Teacher, 7th Grade Reading Teacher, Principal Intern and Superintendent Intern. During her time at the University of Texas, she has also worked as a Project Manager, Senior Field Trainer, Research Associate, Statewide Coordinator and Reading Technical Assistant Specialist. In addition, she has served as an Executive Board Member for Kids Helping Kids of Texas organization and has been recognized as a David L. Clark and Barbara Jackson Scholar.
Ed Clements
Ed Clements joined the Board of Directors as an associate member in 2021 and was elected as a member of the Board in 2024. He has been a UHCU member since 1995. He also served as a Board member for the United Heritage Charity Foundation from 2018 to 2022. Mr. Clements is a well-known Austin radio host and announcer with 46 years of experience reporting current events, sports news and local news. He is currently a talk show host at KLBJ Radio in Austin as well as ESPN-Austin Radio. He is also a contributor to Sirius XM-PGA Tour Radio.
Mr. Clements received his undergraduate degree from Southwest Texas State University (now Texas State University) in San Marcos, Texas. He’s worked with several organizations in Austin, including the American Heart Association, Alzheimer’s Texas, The Arc of the Capital Area, Save Muny Conservancy and the Hannon Cup Society.