Dr. Tina Balderrama Kubicek will receive the Mexicana Trailblazers of Brownwood award. She is the first Mexicana to earn a Ph.D. degree from Brownwood, the first Mexicana author from Brownwood, and the first woman to become a Toastmaster using her own name.

The award will be presented at a private dinner sponsored by SALSA, a local non-profit community-based organization, at 5pm, Saturday, October 15. The dinner is open only to SALSA members, their families, and invited guests.

Balderrama Kubicek, an American of Mexican and Spanish descent is a 1965 graduate of Brownwood High School, attended Howard Payne University where she earned a B.S. degree. She continued her education at the University of Texas at Austin where she earned her M.Ed. and Ph.D. degrees with honors, KAPPA DELTA PI and PHI KAPPA PHI.

She is being honored in recognition of her contributions to business and civil society, service to the community, and the pride she has brought to all Brownwood residents past, present, and future. 

Balderrama Kubicek’s areas of professional service include human resources at 3M Brownwood, 3M Austin Center where she established the staffing and training development departments. She developed training and created publicity for the nationwide communication network for the Exxon Company USA. At GTE of the Southwest, Balderrama Kubicek was a communications advisor to business customers. She served as the Professional Development Director for the Texas Association of REALTORS®. As an entrepreneur, she is owner of Tina B. Kubicek & Associates, LLC in Austin, Texas.

Balderrama Kubicek has been very active in civic and community service. She was appointed Commissioner to the City of Austin Downtown Commission and served as Chair of the Women’s Chamber of Commerce of Texas. Her memberships include Leadership Austin, Leadership Texas, Leadership America, Women & Their Work, Lone Star Girl Scout Council and The Greater Austin Chamber of Commerce. A very gifted speaker, she is a member of the National Speakers Association.

Her publications include Postcards to Women, Subliminal Branding: Make It Work for You, 7 Tips for Branding Success, A Blueprint for Leadership: Technology & the Human Factor. In 2022, Balderrama received a “Lifetime Achievement Award” from Toastmasters International.