Nelia Gonzalez elected SERDEF Chair at annual general meeting

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Nelia T. Gonzalez was elected new chair of the Board of Trustees Small Enterprises Research and Development Foundation (SERDEF) at its Annual General Membership Meeting held yesterday, May 12, at the School of Labor and Industrial Relations (SOLAIR), University of the Philippines, Diliman, Quezon City.

Mrs. Gonzalez, former regent of the University of the Philippines System,  who has been with the SERDEF Board of Trustees for many years, succeeds former Chairman Francisco R. Floro, who died in January this year.

Other officers elected, and who will serve from 2015 to 2016,were:  Dr. Paterno V. Viloria, President; Paz. H. Diaz, Secretary;  Editha A. Reyes, Reyes, Treasurer; and Serenidad F. Lavador; Trustee Representative to the Executive Committee.

The general membership elected six trustees to fill up the vacant positions for the year:  Paterno V. Viloria;  Paz H. Diaz; Serenidad F. Lavador;  Herminia R. Fajardo; and Francisco B. Medina.  Medina, an entrepreneur active in the Marikina shoe industry, joins the Board for the first time.

Earlier, Dr. Viloria presented a summary of accomplishments of the Foundation in  2014, capped by five major projects:  Building an Enterprising Society Today (BEST), a pilot entrepreneurship education development project for pre- and grade school students; the new college textbook being developed entitled “Optimizing Potentials for Entrepreneurship”; a series of faculty development seminars based on “Windows to Entrepreneurship”;  the “Windcatcher”  livelihood program for Yolanda evacuees; and a study tour on local governance and social accountability for a group of local government executives from Bhutan.

He likewise discussed other accomplishments in: research and pilot projects; conferences and fora; extension and outreach; training and capability building; advocacy through mass media; and internal streamlining and strengthening.

SERDEF Treasurer Editha A. Reyes reported on the financial situation of the Foundation as of December 31, 2014.

Another highlight of the meeting was the ratification by the body of the amended code of by-laws of the Foundation, with slight modification.  Among the significant amendments ratified was the inclusion of the position of vice president in the roster of officers and the expansion of the  duties and responsibilities of the President.  The amendments will be enforced starting next year.

Other highlights of the annual general membership meeting were an “in memoriam” tribute to the late  former Chairman Francisco Floro and the awarding of the “Distinguished Service Award”  to Trustee Editha A. Reyes and the “Outstanding Achievement in SME Promotion and Development Award” to Trustee Jerry T. Clavesillas.