Hello
My name is Reynaldo Mesa, and I am honored to serve as the Executive Director of Real Men Real Leaders. Being a part of this incredible organization has been a truly fulfilling experience.
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As the Executive Director, I have the privilege of working closely with a team of passionate individuals who are committed to our mission. Together, we develop and implement programs and initiatives that provide young boys with the tools and resources they need to grow and succeed.
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I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to lead Real Men Real Leaders and contribute to its ongoing success. Every day, I am reminded of the profound impact our organization has on the lives of individuals, families, and communities. It is an honor to be part of such an amazing organization, and I am excited to continue the important work we do.
My Story
With great honor, Real Men Real Leaders announced that we hired Reynaldo Mesa of Garden City as our new Executive Director. His first official day is May 1, 2021
Reynaldo Mesa was born and raised in Garden City, KS. He attended Buffalo Jones Elementary School, Abe Hubert Jr. High, and graduated from Garden City High School. He also attended Garden City Community College and Wichita State University and earned his B.S. in Business Management from Friends University.
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Reynaldo is married to Ellen Essl, and they have three children, Lauren Base, Dante Mesa, and Taylor Mesa. They also have two grandchildren, Evie, and Bronson Base.
Reynaldo has been a successful entrepreneur, businessman, and public servant throughout his career. He once owned Tom’s Tavern, a town favorite to grab a beer and burger. Reynaldo was a former State-Field Manager for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Sedgwick County, where he successfully organized four offices throughout Southwest Kansas. While at Cox Communications, he served as the Government and Public Affairs Manager. He was tasked with negotiating franchise agreements and was responsible for Cox’s public affairs budgets for Southwest Kansas communities. He served as the President for the Garden City Area Chamber of Commerce for a short time and eventually moved to Topeka, KS, and served as the Sr. Director of Government Affairs for the Kansas Chamber. He works for Real Men Real Leaders and is a Realtor with Envision Real Estate.
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Reynaldo was fortunate to serve as a city commissioner, mayor, and state legislator as a public servant. During his time as mayor and with the help of city manager Matt Allen and his fellow commissioners, he initiated regional collaboration with the cities of Dodge and Liberal. This helped unify the towns; thus, the Southwest Kansas Coalition was born. By working together, the Coalition successfully put forth transportation plans for Southwest Kansas highways and regional airports. Also, as a Co-Founder of Garden City Downtown Vision, Inc. (GCDV), a group of business owners, community members, and City and County leadership, Reynaldo leads the way to revitalizing and improving the economic activity of Garden City’s main street. As a result of the organization’s efforts, GCDV was awarded numerous awards from the Kansas Department of Commerce. The Southwest Kansas Coalition and Garden City Downtown Vision, Inc. organizations still exist today.
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Reynaldo was elected to the Kansas House of Representatives as the 123rd District Representative from 2010-2012. While there, he introduced bills to help the Ag Ethanol and the Oil and Gas industry. The bills successfully passed out of the House and Senate Chambers and were signed into law by Governor Brownback.
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Reynaldo attends Cornerstone Church and continues serving on local and state boards and committees. He is a Co-Founder of Real Men Real Leaders; as a board member, Reynaldo has served as the president, treasurer, and secretary. He desires to help the organization’s growth to expand its reach to many more young boys. To help lead, inspire, motivate, and encourage these young boys to be strong home, community, and school leaders.