Mario has in-depth experience working with U.S.-Mexico government affairs, border trade relations, and nonprofit and for-profit organizations on both sides of the border. He has served as the Director of Binational Affairs at the El Paso Community Foundation since 2016. He is also the founder of Sierra Franklin LLC, a binational business development consultancy firm that focuses on facilitating business relationships on both sides of the U.S.– Mexico border with an emphasis on energy trade services. He currently serves as a Board Director with The Texas Lyceum, Vice Chair for the City of El Paso’s Committee on Border Relations, Chair of the Binational Relations Committee with the El Paso Chamber of Commerce, a Member of the City’s International Bridges Steering Committee, and a Board Member for Progress321. He previously worked for former Congressman Beto O’Rourke (TX-16) as a Director of Special Projects, working directly with the Departments of Homeland Security, State, Commerce and Justice.

He has collaborated with Sister Cities International by participating on the two previous Mexico U.S Sister Mayors Summit’s held in Guadalajara in 2018 and El Paso/Ciudad Juarez in 2020.

He holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) and is married to Mariela Diaz, M.Ed, who is a small business owner.