Back at the Texas State Capitol, where my own leadership began, I joined the Hispanic Austin Leadership class to talk about turning service into impact. Your voice matters. Earn the seat with results. Then use it.

When Hurricane Melissa badly damaged her grandmother’s home in Jamaica, inaugural Girls of Legacy scholar Alaiysha didn’t face it alone. Girls of Legacy is helping her family rebuild, because investing in a young woman means standing with the people who raised her.

From teenage mother with a GED to the White House to building a multimillion-dollar company, Rebecca Contreras shares what 15 years of entrepreneurship taught her about being underestimated, betting on herself, leading like the woman she is, and building a legacy that makes room for others.

Rebecca and David Contreras joined Austin Powerhouse Church on Sunday, September 20, to share leadership lessons, the Lost Girl story, and three spiritual keys that have shaped their journey of faith together.

From growing up in poverty to standing before 1,200 Hispanic business leaders — Rebecca Contreras shares her Lost Girl story and Women's Luncheon keynote from the 47th Annual USHCC National Conference.

Rebecca Contreras recently sat down with her best friend of more than 20 years, Lisa Copeland, to celebrate Lisa's new book, Lioness Unleashed. Rebecca shared her journey from growing up in poverty in East Austin to serving in the White House, the bold decision to launch her own company with no business background, and how her faith carried her through every challenge along the way.

In honor of Hispanic Heritage Month, Rebecca Contreras reflects on the faith, family, resilience and grit that shaped her journey from humble beginnings to the White House and entrepreneurship—and why creating opportunities for the next generation matters.

In a year that tested Central Texas like few others, the Central Texas Community Foundation's Legacy Luncheon served as a powerful reminder of what a community can accomplish when it shows up for its own. Rebecca Contreras and AvantGarde were proud to sponsor this year's luncheon, held this week in Round Rock, bringing together nonprofit leaders, volunteers, and local businesses to celebrate the work being done every day to help neighbors in need. AvantGarde's Austin team tur

Twenty-five years after September 11, Rebecca Contreras reflects on serving in the White House during one of America’s darkest moments and the lessons in resolve, faith, service, courage and leadership that have shaped her life and career ever since.

The Girls of Legacy 2026 celebration was about far more than scholarships—it was a celebration of promise fulfilled. As our inaugural scholars reached college graduation, we reflected on the life-changing power of mentorship, community, and investing in first-generation young women who are building legacies that will impact generations to come.

Girls of Legacy celebrated its first college graduates during the 2026 Annual Fundraiser, raising more than $43,000 to provide scholarships, mentorship, leadership development, and life-changing opportunities for first-generation college students.

Enterprising Women Magazine Features Rebecca Contreras on Leading Through Change Rebecca Contreras, President and CEO of AvantGarde, LLC, was featured in Enterprising Women magazine with her leadership article, "Pivoting with Purpose: Turning Disruption into a Strategic Advantage." In the feature, Rebecca shares how leaders can navigate uncertainty by embracing change with intention rather than fear. Drawing from her own entrepreneurial journey, she explains that disruption i

Latina Legacy Nomination

Rebecca Contreras served as Master of Ceremonies for the Hispanic 100 Foundation's A Night of Distinction Gala, where AvantGarde proudly served as a sponsor. The evening celebrated outstanding Latino leaders while raising more than $300,000 in scholarships and mentorship opportunities for the next generation.

As America celebrates 250 years, Rebecca Contreras shares her journey from adversity to opportunity and why investing in the next generation keeps the American Dream alive.

Rebecca Contreras recently joined The Fallen State with Jesse Lee Peterson, an interview series that features conversations with leaders, entrepreneurs, and public figures on topics related to leadership, culture, and personal growth. During the interview, Rebecca shared her journey from a difficult childhood and early adversity to building a successful business and leading one of the nation’s largest Hispanic-owned staffing firms. She spoke about the experiences, mentors, an

Rebecca Contreras recently joined community leaders, advocates, and elected officials at Girl Scouts of Central Texas in Austin to support a new online safety initiative launched through Not on Our Watch TX, an initiative of Texas Women in Business in partnership with Girl Scouts of Central Texas and the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children. The initiative aims to equip young girls with practical tools to safely navigate today's digital world. Through a new online

Investing in the next generation is one of the most important investments we can make. Rebecca Contreras and Girls of Legacy were proud to support Shine Your Light Christian Youth Leadership Camp as a sponsor, helping invest in a program dedicated to developing confident, purpose-driven young leaders. Founded by Evelina Solis and her daughter Hope, the camp provides mentorship, leadership development, faith-based programming, and meaningful opportunities for students to grow

Childhood trauma can become our blueprint for relationships, leadership, and life. Rebecca Contreras shares how healing, self-awareness, and resilience can break generational cycles and create a different future.

This year marks a major milestone for Girls of Legacy as we celebrate our first group of students earning their college degrees. These young women joined Girls of Legacy as high school students with big dreams and a determination to build brighter futures. Through years of mentorship, leadership development, coaching, and unwavering support, they have grown into confident, purpose-driven leaders ready for their next chapter. Today, we proudly celebrate Lily, Alaiysha, and Ran

There are many conversations about leadership that focus on titles, influence, and professional impact, but some of the most important leadership work happens quietly, inside the home. It is formed in the day-to-day rhythms, in the way values are lived out consistently, and in the environments we create for the people closest to us. For me, motherhood was never separate from leadership—it was one of the most important expressions of it. As I reflect on raising my children,

Rebecca was honored to serve as a keynote speaker at the 2026 Young Enterprising Women National Leadership Conference, a gathering dedicated to making a difference in the lives of young women across the country. The Young Enterprising Women program is a national initiative that organizes mentoring events across the United States, each designed to empower high school girls with a passion for STEM—science, technology, engineering, and math. These events connect ambitious young

AvantGarde LLC gathered its leadership team in Washington, D.C. last month for its Spring Managers Meeting, bringing together Project Managers and senior leaders from across the firm. The meeting, led by President & CEO Rebecca Contreras, served as a key moment to align on the company’s 2026–2027 Pivot Plan—focusing on strategic execution, collaboration, and positioning the organization for continued growth and impact. A CEO’s Vision for Intentional Growth At the center of th

There are parts of our story we never get to choose—where we’re born, who raises us, and the circumstances we inherit before we ever have a voice. Some people begin life surrounded by stability and opportunity. Others are born into environments defined by uncertainty, hardship, and dysfunction. I was born into the latter. From the very beginning, I had several strikes against me that were completely outside of my control. I was born to a mother struggling with addiction a