My background:

Housing:   I started out as the Executive Director for the Cameron County Housing Authority in 1978.  The Authority was in substantial default and I took it from 62 units under lease for the Section 8 Existing program to over 460 units of Section 8 Housing, built 3 Public Housing Projects (one single family); conducted two substantial Rehabilitation's and 4 Mod. Rehabs. plus took over the operations of the La Feria Housing Authority, formed the Cameron County, Brownsville and Harlingen Housing Finance Corporations and issued millions in tax exempt bonds to obtain money to lend to low and moderate income residents of Cameron County.  I also ran the Cameron County CDBG program during this time until the County could hire adequate personnel. Playing off the single family success I opened and operated two Branch offices for private single family lenders.  We then moved to Houston, where I worked as the Housing Specialist for the Housing Authority of the City of Houston, then my husband was transferred to Dallas, where I worked again in the Single family mortgage market as a final endorsement contractor for HUD and finally after that contract played out, opened my own consulting business which was called Housing and Computer Resources and Development.  I changed the name to Virginia Viles last year and continued providing the same services I have been for the past 20 years.

Photography: I have been taking photographs since the age of 16 when I was the staff photographer for the Port Isabel Tarpons and other High School events.  I was trained by my Great uncle George and my father who were both professional photographers.  Like riding a bike the skills never left.

Jewelry: I have been making jewelry since the age of 6 as part of the family business Capt. Bud's Manufacturing.

Writing:  I have been writing since High School where I started as editor of the high school column which was a weekly feature in the local newspaper, the Port Isabel Press.  I have been writing on a technical level since 1971 starting with course curriculum for the Behavioral Science Department of Texas Southmost College. 

Thank you to my husband, my children, my grandchildren and my friends in encouraging and supporting as I continue to expand the branches of my tree.