Meet the Team
Our superpowers are that we bring different perspectives to the table and that we’re united by a love for purposeful work and real connection.
Rebekah Jasso Jensen
President
I have lived many lives: healthcare provider, entrepreneur, breast cancer survivor, and now, a leader for political action. Each of these chapters has taught me that progress requires both the strength to fight and the wisdom to heal.
I am a sixth-generation Texan of Mexican descent. As we say in my family, "the border crossed us." My deep indigenous roots on this land fuel my commitment to our community; I don’t just live here, I am rooted here. This heritage drives my work with Leander Women+ for Progress, where I strive to ensure that every voice in our growing city is heard and represented.
My journey hasn't been a straight line. Navigating two battles with breast cancer while building my internationally sold luxury body care brand, that you can find at Four Seasons, Omni and Auberge resorts, Sanara, taught me a vital lesson: even the fiercest warriors need healing. I founded Sanara to honor our healing cultural botanicals and provide a space for restoration, and I bring that same spirit to my advocacy. I believe that for us to be "unbound and unstoppable" in the political arena, we must first care for ourselves and one another.
I am here to help build a Leander that is as resilient, diverse, and purposeful as the people who call it home.
Esme Mattke Longoria
Originally from South Texas, Esme Mattke Longoria has called the Austin area home for over 30 years. A seasoned Program Manager, Esme’s career includes 17 years at Dell Technologies—where she earned a software development patent—and leading university recruiting at UT-El Paso for General Motors. She also successfully manages a short-term and mid-term rental business.
Esme’s dedication to her community is extensive. She was elected to the Leander City Council in 2021, serving for three years, including a term as Mayor Pro Tem (2023–2024). Her leadership extends to the board of Ladders for Leaders and the District-wide Educational Improvement Committee for Leander ISD.
A Texas State University alumna with a BBA in Computer Information Systems, Esme began her career as a programmer for USAA. Today, she cherishes time with her husband, Darin, and their two children, often volunteering with the local high school band and Leander and Cedar Park Pride.
Vice-PresidentJean Swart
Treasurer
Jean Swart serves as Treasurer for Leander Women+ for Progress, bringing a strong background in engineering, leadership, and community engagement. She holds a Bachelor’s in Electrical Engineering from Worcester Polytechnic Institute and a Master’s in Biomedical Electrical Engineering from Texas A&M University. Since 2023, Jean has worked as a Quality Assurance Manager in the Space and Geophysics Lab at the University of Texas Applied Research Laboratories. Prior to that, she spent 14 years at AT&T, where she held various roles, most notably focusing on making products and services accessible to people with disabilities.
Originally from Columbia, Maryland, Jean moved to Texas for graduate school and has called it home ever since. After 20 years in Cedar Park, she relocated to Leander in 2020. Jean is an active community leader, serving as a Precinct Chair for the Travis County Democratic Party, Vice President of the Far Northwest Democrats, and a member of Leander Democrats Together. She has also contributed to local education initiatives through All In LISD and the District-wide Educational Improvement Council (DWEIC).
Jean lives with her husband Bryan and their two children, Mia and Alex, and their energetic dog, Evie.
Summer Barber
Assistant Treasurer
Growing up in rural Williamson County—from Georgetown to Florence—I spent my childhood exploring the Texas woods and dreaming of a bigger future. That drive led me to earn a Bachelor’s in Geology and a Master’s in Environmental Science, fueling a career that spanned biomass power in North Carolina to corporate environmental affairs in Houston.
Eventually, I returned to Central Texas as a public servant, a role I held for nearly a decade before resigning on ethical grounds. It was here I built my home, meeting my husband and raising our two children.
Everything shifted on June 24, 2022. The overturning of Roe v. Wade stripped away my bodily autonomy, sparking a fire for political advocacy. I began leading marches with the Women’s March in Williamson County, connecting with a diverse network of leaders ready for change. I do not take the system's failure lightly. I am here to lead. RESIST.
Shay Tower
Secretary
Shay Tower is an executive strategist and civic advocate committed to building strong communities through transparency and inclusion. As a Fortune 100 executive and people-first leader, Shay is recognized for cultivating cultures where individuals feel empowered, valued, and inspired to contribute their best.
Beyond her corporate leadership, Shay has served as Executive Sponsor of a company employee resource group and Inclusion Action Committee, as a Board Member for the Leander Library Foundation, planning team member for the annual City of Leander Martin Luther King, Jr. celebration and Day of Service, and Board Member for Ladders for Leaders.
Shay believes the strength of a community is reflected in how actively its people participate, care for one another, and shape the future together. Through Leander Women+ for Progress, Shay is dedicated to continuing the forward progress toward a more connected, welcoming, and actively engaged Leander community.
Sarah Ambrus
Members-at-Large
Sarah Ambrus is the owner of Lioness Books, an independent bookstore based in Leander, Texas. She holds an M.Ed. in Educational Administration with a specialization in literacy instruction for students in special education and is a former educator with Leander ISD. A lifelong advocate for education, literacy, and human rights, Sarah brings a deep commitment to community-centered work and civic engagement.
Sarah was named the 2015 Advocate of the Year by the Texas Council on Family Violence. She has partnered with organizations including the Texas Association Against Sexual Assault and the Anti-Defamation League on school-based social-emotional learning initiatives. Sarah also serves as a Deputy Voter Registrar for Travis County and has volunteered with Beto O’Rourke’s gubernatorial campaign.
Through Lioness Books, Sarah actively supports local progressive causes and nonprofits, including Inside Books Project and Book Drive for Kids. She also donates and maintains Little Free Libraries throughout the community, increasing access to books at no cost.
Nicole Fousek
Members-at-Large
Nicole believes that our "greatest achievements" aren't just titles, but the families and communities we nurture.
Growing up in California, Nicole’s world was shaped by the childhood complexities of the LGBTQ+ quiet struggles of her father and the heroic support of her older brother, who served as a surrogate father to her and her siblings. These experiences—alongside her 30+ year partnership with her husband—fueled her mission to create the stable, supportive environment she lacked as a child.
While Nicole once felt defined by her lack of a college degree, she has since redefined success on her own terms, rising to the top of the property management industry. She joins this group with a deep commitment to supporting women who, like her, are turning personal challenges into professional excellence and community impact. She brings a wealth of leadership experience and a heart for advocacy to the group, proving that it’s never too late to build a legacy of stability and success.