New Mexican Consul Comes to San Jose

From left to right San Jose Consul, Carlos Ponce Martinez, the Alternate Consul, Jose Eduardo Loreto, and the Press Representative of the Consulate, Diana Sesma.

In the first meeting between the members of the San Jose and San Francisco press, the recently placed Mexican Consul in San Jose, Carlos Ponce Martinez, announced that his first step as Consul will be to become more involved in the Mexican community.

"I wish for them to see me as one more, that they see me as a civil servant who is not here to serve them from behind a desk, instead that they see me as a part of them, in their workplaces as in the mobile consulates. I want to assure my fellow nationals that I will work hard for them, for the conditions in which they live in this country, so that everyday they improve. And in that way, assure that their rights are respected." With this premise Consul Carlos Ponce began his first day of work in San Jose. He repeated this at the welcome breakfast with members of the press.

"San José is a city that has shown itself to be very charming, but I can't only have that view of the city. My fundamental project lies with the Mexican community. David Figueroa Ortega did a lot of great work, and that gives me a great responsibility and makes it doubly complicated. From my knowledge of Consul Figueroa's work he did a great job and that obviously sets high expectations. I have to work from there and figure out what can be improved," emphasized Consul Ponce.

Carlos Ponce Martinez, was born in Atlixco, Puebla, the eighth of nine children. He grew up and was educated in Atlixco, and proudly upholds the traditions, history and customs of his town. With a great professional resume, Carlos Ponce graduated in 1993 with honorable mention from the Universidad Iberoamericana at the Central Gulf campus, with a degree in Business Administration. Over the years, he continued working in important positions as the Adviser to the Elections in the Department of Commerce Services and Tourism in Atlixco and as President of the Treasury in Atlixco. In these positions he helped implement important systemwide changes.

He migrated to San Antonio, Texas, where he became involved with the migrant community. There he participated in the activities of the general consul to Mexico. In San Antonio he helped improve the quality of life of Mexican migrants with the highest needs.

In 2007, he became the general director of Programming and Budget in the Department of Social Development, where he became involved in all the social programs of that institution. Since 2008, he was the general director of Administration in the office of environmental protection, an office of the Department of Natural Resources and the Environment. He served in this position until May 2011 when he was chosen to become the Mexican Consul in the city of San Jose.

Consul Ponce says, "It is obvious that our main objective is helping the Mexican community. We want to give them all the services that the consulate has at its disposal. However, it is not too much to give ourselves a new project, one which we have already begun to work on: to create ties between universities in Mexico, and the universities that foster the talented individuals of the Bay Area."

The Consul Carlos Ponce considers himself a humble man with a friendly personality. He is happily married to Patricia Ponce, and he is a father to two children. He emphasized that his belief in service has kept him close to the community. He believes this new challenge in San Jose will allow him to continue learning about the needs of his fellow nationals. Through his consulate's work he will be able to provide great services to his community.