Sergio Garcia

Dolores is the Latinx Center Visiting Scholar of the University of Denver | Sturm College of Law, where she created Luminarias de la Ley | Luminaries of the Law, a national legal history research project on the first Latina female lawyers in the country, circa 1880-1980.  She has taught, produced and spearheaded the first published works on Latina lawyers, including Las Primeras video documentary on Latina lawyer trailblazers (1994); “100 Years of Achievement:  Un Historia Abogada” (2013) and “Saluting Hispanic Women Lawyers in the 50 States” (2014).  As the first Co-Chair of the Hispanic National Bar Association’s Latina Commission, she spearheaded two national studies, “Few and Far Between:  The Reality of Latinas in the Legal Profession” (2009), and Challenges and Rewards in Serving the Public Interest (2010).  For this work, Dolores is recognized as the national expert on Latina lawyers in the United States.  

Licensed in Colorado for nearly 40 years, Dolores has a diverse legal and management career.  She started as a “Reggie Fellow” (Reginald Heber Smith Community Lawyer Fellowship) and then served as a Colorado Assistant Attorney General (Appellate Division).  Notably, Dolores was as the first Development Director for KUVO Public Radio 89.3 FM where she received a three-year Kellogg Leadership Fellowship;  Vice President & General Counsel of the Denver Grand Prix Auto Race, Inc.; and an Administrative Law Judge for Denver and the State of Colorado.  While in private practice, Dolores specialized in employment litigation and served as general counsel for educational institutions.  

Throughout, Dolores was active in Congressional reapportionment cases, culminating in her appointment by the Colorado Chief Justice in 2011 to the Colorado Reapportionment Commission that resulted in 24 Hispanic influence seats (30% or more).  She is immediate past Chair of DU Law School’s Alumni Council; former President of the Colorado Hispanic Bar Association and Hispanic National Bar Association; former Commissioner of the American Bar Association’s Commission on Women and Denver Women’s Commission (“DWC”).  As DWC Chair, she initiated an assessment of critical issues facing Denver women and girls, “Windows into Denver’s Women and Girls.”  

On its 10th Anniversary, the Latina Commission presented Dolores with Las Primeras Abogada Award (2018).   In 2016, she was recognized with Founders’ Honor, as one of four national bar presidents who founded the Coalitional of Bar Associations of Color (CBAC).   Dolores received the prestigious Ohtli Award from the Mexican Government, the highest honor bestowed to American citizens of Mexican descent (2014).  She is the recipient of three awards from the Colorado Hispanic Bar Association:  Lifetime Achievement Award (2016), Outstanding Law Firm Award (2001) and Outstanding Attorney Award (1992).  

Bill Valdez (https://www.linkedin.com/in/bill-valdez-48714833/) is a recognized thought leader in the Federal government who has successfully managed complex science, technology and STEM workforce development programs and has made significant contributions to the effectiveness of government programs to deliver improved mission value to American taxpayers. Bill served in the Senior Executive Service (SES) at the Department of Energy from 1994-2014, including leading DOE’s Small Business Office, serving as DOE’s Chief Diversity Officer, leading Strategic Planning efforts, and heading up a government-wide effort to improve R&D investment policies and planning.  In addition, Bill was the President of the Senior Executives Association from 2016-2020 and prior to his Federal service was a senior advisor at a DC-based international consulting firm that helped international corporations with US business opportunities and relationships.  He currently is a consultant to multinational corporations and also an adjunct faculty at American University.

Gilberto S. Ocañas provides quality focused business management consulting services to clients in both the public and private sectors, domestically and internationally. He began his career managing political campaigns and serving in a national level role for four presidential campaigns. He followed that by becoming a successful entrepreneur where he founded and was a CEO for a successful security printing company.  He currently serves as a senior advisor to Dentons law firm the world’s largest law firm. He has spent over thirty years building a national network of political and community leaders as well as entrepreneurs and elected officials.  http://linkedin.com/in/ocanas

Mary T. Hernández is a founding partner of Garcia Hernández Sawhney, LLP (www.ghslaw.com), one of the largest Latino-owned law firms on the West Coast and a certified Women’s Business Enterprise.  A graduate of Harvard University and Stanford Law School, Mary is an education law and policy expert whose clients include school districts and other educational institutions throughout California as well as statewide education advocacy groups such as the California Association for Bilingual Education, the California Latino School Boards Association and Californians Together. Mary is a former elected member of the San Francisco Board of Education and a Past President of the Hispanic National Bar Association.  Although she serves as outside General Counsel to her clients and advises in all areas of board governance and school operations, she brings special expertise in the area of federal antidiscrimination laws, including rights of English Learners, religious minority-students and LGBTQ students. 

Philip D. Vasquez www.linkedin.com/in/philip-vasquez-4971644 is an international energy lawyer with experience in the public and private sector, having lead large governmental offices on both the Federal and State levels, and an international law section for a large national law firm, having served at the DOE as Deputy Assistant Secretary, at the DOD (the Pentagon) as Latin American Policy Advisor to SECDEF, as Deputy Commissioner of the DMV for the Commonwealth of Virginia for Gov. Mark Warner over Post 9-11 Policy and Legislative Affairs and has served as an Oil and Gas Advisor to the Ministry of Mines and Petroleum of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan and Iraq. Philip has experience living and working in DC, Virginia, Latin America, the Middle East, and Central Asia, devising and writing policy, rules, and regulations for each of these offices and departments.

Sonja Diaz is the Founding Executive Director of the UCLA Latino Policy and Politics Initiative, a comprehensive think tank that addresses the most critical domestic policy challenges facing communities of color in states and localities across the U.S. Diaz served as policy counsel to U.S. Senator Kamala D. Harris during her first and second terms as California Attorney General and directed voter protection programs for Democratic candidates in Virginia during the 2016 election. Diaz has also managed domestic policy portfolios at three California nonprofits, clerked in the White House’s Domestic Policy Council under President Barack Obama, and supported litigation efforts at MALDEF, the Civil Rights Division of the U.S. Department of Justice, and California’s Bureau of Children’s Justice. Diaz received her J.D. from UC Berkeley’s School of Law, holds a M.P.P. from UCLA’s Luskin School of Public Affairs, and a B.A. in politics from UC Santa Cruz.

Neftali (Nef) Garcia has a thirty-year history in the field of political law, public administration, and legislative affairs.  Before beginning his legal career in 2002, Nef served for more than a decade as legislative and policy staff in the Texas Legislature with a expertise in tax policy, transportation, state-federal affairs, and economic development. During his legal and government relations career he has served both domestic and international clients, emerging technology companies, nonprofits, state legislative councils, and universities advising in areas such as international trade, U.S. tax policy, intergovernmental affairs, transportation, legal and ethics compliance, and regulatory affairs.  Nef is a former Assistant Graduate Faculty at Texas State University in the areas of Public Law and Public Administration.  He is widely recognized by his peers as a thought leader in the area of best practices in public policy, and U.S. political and demographic trends.   He has traveled and lectured in Europe and Asia on topics of U.S. government policy, the American legal process, federalism, legislative behavior, lobbying, elections, and Latino politics. He currently serves as Vice President and Governmental Affairs Counsel for a Fortune 100 company and is the highest ranking Latino in that corporation.    Nef has also chaired several boards and committees including the Board of Hispanic Caucus Chairs (BHCC) and National Hispanic Caucus of State Legislators (NHCSL)   He holds a B.A. and a J.D. from St. Mary’s University in San Antonio, Texas and a M.P.A. from Texas State University. (LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/garciajdmpa)

Sergio Garcia is a trusted advisor and General Counsel for public technology companies, bringing extensive experience on corporate governance, intellectual property strategy and global compliance issues. Along with his career as a public company general counsel and, earlier in his career, as a partner at international law firms, Mr. Garcia has worked tirelessly to advance civil rights through pro bono legal services and through service on several nonprofit boards, including Public Advocates, Centro Legal de la Raza, California Bar Foundation, Hispanic Heritage Foundation and the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund.
Mr. Garcia is a co-founder and leader of the California Ad Hoc Latino Leadership Group, a diverse group of policy experts and business leaders providing critical input to Governor Newsom on statewide policy issues, including the disproportionate COVID-19 infection rates among Black and Brown communities, housing displacement issues and criminal justice issues.  Locally, Mr. Garcia serves as a Commissioner for the Oakland Police Commission, an independent body established to oversee police department policies, practices and customs to ensure they meet or exceed national standards of constitutional policing, including use of force standards, implicit bias, community policing and transparency. Mr. Garcia has been recognized for his leadership in the legal profession and for serving as a champion for diversity and social justice, including receiving the prestigious Maestro Award for Leadership by Latino Leaders Magazine, a Lifetime Achievement Award by the San Francisco La Raza Lawyers Association and the Pro Bono Legal Services Award by MALDEF. Mr. Garcia holds a J.D. from U.C. Berkeley Law School, and a B.A. in International Relations from Stanford University. https://www.linkedin.com/in/sergiogarciaesq/

J.D. Salinas joined AT&T in 2014 as Director of External Affairs, where he helps direct and implement AT&T's statewide legislative and regulatory priorities. Prior to joining AT&T, Salinas was the managing partner of Maroon Consultants, a public affairs consulting firm he founded in 2006. In November 2009, he was appointed by President Obama as Regional Administrator of the General Services Administration (GSA), an independent U.S. government agency established in 1949 to help manage and support the basic functioning of federal agencies. In this position, which he held until 2012, Salinas oversaw all GSA activities in Texas, Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, and New Mexico, and was responsible for 1,350 government buildings. Prior to his appointment, he served for three years as County Judge of Hidalgo County, Texas, where he led more than 3,000 county employees and worked closely with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and the International Water and Boundary Commission. His Levee/Barrier Project received the Texas Association of Counties "Best Practice Award."

Known for his leadership and ability to develop innovative and effective solutions to both public and private sector issues, Salinas holds a Bachelor of Science from Texas A&M University and a Master of Public Administration from UT Pan American in Edinburg, Texas. 

Irene Oria has over 18 years of experience in complex commercial business litigation in federal and state courts and arbitration tribunals with a focus in recent years on Financial Services, Insurance and Securities Litigation, including nationwide class and multi-district litigation. She has tried jury and non-jury cases.
Ms. Oria represents domestic and international public and private companies and individual officers and directors in contract-related and business tort disputes; international litigation and arbitration matters involving cross-border parties and issues; insurer side complex insurance coverage and bad faith disputes, including director and officer liability matters; accounting negligence and other professional negligence defense; corporate governance disputes; SEC, Florida Attorney General and other state and federal regulatory investigations; white collar defense matters including civil and criminal RICO actions; securities fraud actions alleging violations of state and federal securities laws; employer side employment-related disputes including employment discrimination matters; litigation involving the worlds of entertainment and sports; first amendment and other constitutional litigation; product liability disputes; intellectual property disputes, particularly patent infringement actions; real estate and construction litigation matters; antitrust litigation; and False Claims Act and Qui Tam actions. In particular, Ms. Oria has extensive experience defending banks and other large financial institutions in consumer class actions alleging violations of state and federal consumer protection laws such as the FCRA, FDCPA, TCPA, ECOA, TILA, EFTA, E-Sign, FTC Holder Rule, Moss-Magnuson Warranty Act, HAMP, HOEPA, RESPA, SCRA, and state consumer protection acts. Ms. Oria routinely represents financial institutions and insurance companies in a myriad of financial and insurance fraud investigations as well as litigation and arbitration matters, particularly matters related to the Florida Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practice Act (FDUTPA) and the Florida Securities and Investor Protection Act.
Before FisherBroyles LLP, Ms. Oria served as an Assistant United States Attorney in the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida (Miami). During her tenure at the United States Department of Justice, Ms. Oria defended the interests of the United States in civil suits filed in the U.S. District Courts alleging statutory torts, constitutional torts, violations of civil rights and employment discrimination/harassment/retaliation laws, medical malpractice and a myriad of other claims. Prior to this, Ms. Oria served as federal judicial law clerk to the Honorable Cecilia M. Altonaga, U.S. District Judge in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida (Miami Division). Ms. Oria also has prior large law firm experience as Special Counsel at Stroock & Stroock & Lavan LLP (Miami, FL), as well as Associate at Hunton & Williams (Miami, FL); Morgan, Lewis & Bockius, LLP (Miami, FL); and Lowenstein Sandler LLP (Roseland, NJ).

Named the first Latina president of a US college or university in 1986, Dr. García spearheaded the creation of The University of Texas at Brownsville and then served as its president for 22 years graduating over 40,000 students. In 2011, she helped lead a grass roots effort to envision a new 21st Century University model that eventually consolidated two UT universities and established a medical school in September of 2015 to create UT Rio Grande Valley. She has served on the Clinton and Obama transition teams and chaired the Advisory Committee to Congress on Financial Aid for students. She has served on the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching, the Robert Wood John Foundation, and the Ford Foundation. In 2009, Time magazine named her one of the Top 100 College Presidents in the US and in 2014 she was recognized by Fortune magazine as one of the World’s 50 Greatest Leaders. She is a Distinguished Alum from The University of Texas at Austin and has honorary degrees from Brown, Notre Dame University, Smith and Princeton. https://www.linkedin.com/in/juliet-v-garcia-54704

Her mission is to make workplaces more equitable, inclusive, emotionally intelligent, non-toxic, and enable emotional agility and performance skills in individuals and organizations.
As a Psychologist, workplace culture shaper, and human capital strategist, Marta Michelle is an expert in inspiring, driving, and equipping leaders to think inclusively, lead with purpose, enable positive attitudes, embrace innovation and shape the future of work. With two decades' experience leading organizational transformations, she takes leaders, teams, and organizations from inclusive workplace culture theory to practice through applied experimentation, strategic planning, and capacity building.
Her commitment to social good has encouraged her to collaborate in the development of dozens of social innovation and service programs and funding strategies that have raised over $50M. In her capacity as an advisor for businesses in the start-up phase, Colón co-founded the first multimarket accelerator for Latina entrepreneurs and is a Mentor at the Stanford Entrepreneurship Initiative. As a dynamic and sought-after speaker, Marta Michelle recently collaborated in "Listening to Leaders," a book published by the George W. Bush Presidential Center, which discusses the values, vision, and practical lessons needed to lead organizations today. She also writes in diverse publications about emotional intelligence, reimagining diversity and inclusion, positive workplace cultures, and assertive leadership. Marta Michelle completed doctoral studies in Clinical Psychology and concluded an Executive Education Program of Social Impact Strategy at the University of Pennsylvania. She is also a Scholar at The Aspen Institute, a Presidential Leadership Scholar, and a L'Oréal Women of Worth 2020. 

Carlota Espinosa is an Advisor, Brand Consultant and Investor. She was the Co-Founder and Vice President of HauteLook, a members only shopping website sold to Nordstrom in 2011  Co-Founder of the lifestyle brand, LACaKe. Advisor and Consultant for start-up companies. Carlota draws on her business acumen in the internet world to make introductions, formulate business strategies, and secure funding. Co- Founder of ON APPROVAL, a luxury payment service system.  2007-2011, Co-Founder & Vice President of HauteLook, sold to Nordstrom in 2011. She was previously an Emmy awarded producer for Fox News in Los Angeles, covering stories from the OJ SimpsonTrials to the Academy Awards. She served on the University of Miami Alumni Board and the Children Mending Hearts charity. A graduate from the University of Miami, she currently resides in Los Angeles.  

Dr. Franklin Carrero-Martínez holds a Ph.D. in Neuroscience and a Certificate in Business Administration from the University of Illinois.  His distinguished career includes roles as researcher, educator, science administrator, and science diplomat in government, academia and in NGOs.

In academia, Franklin established a strong research program aimed at understanding the brain and how to manipulate its connectivity.  His career at the University of Puerto Rico included tenure, promotion to Associate Professor, a Duke University visiting scholarship, a sabbatical at MIT’s Brain Institute, community service and outreach, invention disclosures, curricular reform and awards recognizing his innovative approaches to increase participation and access to STEM for underserved populations.

In 2012, he transitioned to a career in science diplomacy and policy as the American Association for the Advancement of Science’s Roger Revelle Fellow in Global Stewardship.  He served this prestigious distinction with a joint appointment between the Department of State’s Office of the Science and Technology Adviser (STAS) and the National Academy of Science.  He later joined STAS full time and was posted to the U.S. Embassy in Mexico City as acting Science Counselor before transitioning to the National Science Foundation’s Office of International Science and Engineering in 2014.  Two years later, he returned to STAS and directed the Office during a critical transition period while serving as the Department’s senior advisor on science, technology and innovation.  In 2018, he joined the Academies where he is a senior director on Global Sustainability and Development and co-leads the institutional Diversity, Equity and Inclusion strategy.

Born and raised in San Antonio, Texas. A Graduate of Southwestern University with a B.A. in Latin American Studies and a focus in Anthropology. A graduate of the University of Texas at Austin Teresa Lozano Long Institute of Latin American Studies, M.A. She has lived and studied in D.F., Oaxaca, Veracruz, and Chiapas, México.

Anita has professional experience in state and local government, nonprofit management, education

and the arts.  During her time in the Texas Legislature as Chief of Staff for a Texas State Representative she led the Capitol and District offices and various community and policy initiatives, in the areas of Public Education, Transportation, Urban Affairs, Healthcare and Immigration.

She has been a pivotal contributor to the development of community and public affairs during her time at the Museo Alameda, the first formal Smithsonian affiliate in the U.S. and the official Latino Museum of Texas. While working in public education, she developed and implemented college readiness curriculum for the K – 12 grade levels.

For over 10 years, she has served as the volunteer Project Administrator for the National Hispanic Institute (NHI) at San Antonio’s Great Debate Team, an international leadership experience for high school students. Anita is a member of the University Health System Board of Managers, the Marianist Urban Student Program Board of Directors and the Advisory Board for the University of Texas at San Antonio’s Institute of Texan Cultures. Previously, she has served as the City Council District 1 Appointee for the San Antonio SA2020 Commission on Education as well as on the Board of Directors for the National Hispanic Institute and the San Antonio River Foundation.

In 2016 she was recognized as Southwestern University’s Distinguished Young Alumna. In 2018 she received the NHI’s Distinguished Alumna in Community Leadership Award, and has been one of NHI’s Top 100 Emerging Latino Leaders.

Anita is part of the Government Relations and Public Affairs Team and also contributes to OCI Group's Community Engagement services. 

Delia Garcia made history by being elected the first Latina to the State of Kansas Legislature and youngest female elected in 2004.  She made history again, by being appointed the first Latina Secretary of Labor in Kansas in 2019.  In Washington, DC, she led two national non-profits ReflectUS and the National Migrant Seasonal Head Start Association, and served in senior leadership at the National Education Association as Senior Liaison to the national Latino community.  Delia is an award-winning executive servant leader, author, social innovator, and influencer with over 20 years of public service and non-profit experience in advocating for economic security and social justice for women, small business owners, and underrepresented groups, utilizing her own personal and professional experiences.

Secretary Garcia has received numerous awards, some include inducted into the Kansas Historical Museum as the First Latina Elected to the Kansas Legislature, Women’s Foundation Changemaker Profile Award, NALFO National Civic Leader Award representing Kappa Delta Chi Latina Service Sorority Inc, National Latina Trailblazer in Government by the U.S. Hispanic and Latina Chamber of Commerce, MALDEF Matt Garcia Public Service Award, Wichita Business Journal’s 40 Under 40 Award, and Board of Hispanic Caucus Chairs Co-Founder of the Latina Legislative Leadership Institute since 2004.  Delia has been featured in NBC Nightly News with Lester Holt, the Daily Show, the Wall Street Journal, Newsweek Magazine, Latina Style Magazine, and the McNair Scholar Program Journal of Research.  She continues to collaborate with national and state government entities, with most activity in Kansas, Texas, and Washington, D.C.  She has served in leadership and is a lifetime member of the National Association of Latino Elected Officials, National Hispanic Caucus of State Legislators, Board of Hispanic Caucus Chairs, and National Association State Workforce Agencies.

Delia received her Master’s Degree in Political Science at St. Mary’s University in San Antonio, Texas, and is a graduate of the Harvard University Executive Leadership Program. Over the past 25 years, Garcia also has served on several boards and political campaigns, allowing her to advocate for economic security and social justice through a variety of national and state platforms, across generations of leaders.

Secretary Garcia was born and raised in Wichita, KS with her four sisters working in their family’s restaurant, Connie’s Mexico Cafe, which is Kansas’ oldest family owned Mexican restaurant since 1963. She is the proud aunt to five nieces and nephews.

Born in San Antonio, Texas, raised throughout México and in San Antonio. Graduate of Health Careers High School, Bachelor of Arts from Rice University, Houston, Texas. MBA from Our Lady of the Lake University, San Antonio, TX and a Doctor of Jurisprudence from the University of Texas School of Law, Austin, TX. Adjunct Professor in the School of Business and Leadership at Our Lady of the Lake University. Founder of the Hispanic Youth Leaders Organization. Founder of the San Antonio Young Leaders Conference. Founder of the National Hispanic Institute – OLLU Leadership Service Center.

Professor Analco González has taught at Memorial High School in the Edgewood ISD of San Antonio, TX. He is a volunteer and consulting chief trainer for numerous leadership experiences implemented locally, nationally, and internationally by the National Hispanic Institute and the local affiliate, The National Hispanic Institute at San Antonio. He has served on several Boards of Directors for organizations across the country.

Analco has lived, studied, and overseen projects throughout various parts of México as well as in San Juan, Puerto Rico and Buenos Aires, Argentina. He has won numerous awards; most recently was awarded the “40 under 40” by the San Antonio Business Journal and the Distinguished Alumni Award by the National Hispanic Institute. He has authored several articles one of which was published in the Journal of Legal Studies Education. Analco writes and develops business and leadership training curriculum for non-profits, educational institutions, as well as for corporations. He was ranked as the “Top 100 Emerging Latino Leaders” by the National Hispanic Institute in 2012.

Analco oversees OCI Group’s Government Relations, Public Affairs, and Business Development services. 

Guillermo Meneses is an accomplished political communicator and mission driven strategist with a stellar track record in story placements and trusted relationships across political media influencers.

Over his extensive career which extends close to two decades, Guillermo has provided “first- in- class” proactive and crisis and reputation counsel to high-level government officials, political figures and national policy organizations. He began his Washington, D.C public affairs career as media relations counselor for U.S. Energy Secretary Bill Richardson, traveling as his press secretary throughout the country and Latin America, including official United States missions to Mexico, Venezuela and Central America.

As national spokesman for the Democratic National Committee under the tenure of Chairman and former Virginia governor, Terry McAuliffe, Guillermo led communications efforts during the 9/11 terrorist attacks, one of the darkest and politically challenged moments in our nation’s history. During his tenure at the DNC, he was the driving force behind the creation of the weekly Hispanic radio address, which strengthened the bonds between the Latino community and the Democratic party by highlighting up-and-coming Hispanic elected leaders across the country.  

A dynamic, resourceful and transformative communicator, Guillermo has built trusted relationships across political media influencers, which has led to important story and editorial placements, including: CNN, MSNBC, CNBC, Fox News, Fox Business News, PBS Newshour, BBC, NPR, Washington Post, New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Boston Globe, Guardian UK, Los Angeles Times, Bloomberg, Financial Times, Forbes, Fortune, STAT, Economist, Time, Newsweek, U.S. News, Morning Consult, VOX, Kaiser Health News, Associated Press, Dow Jones, Yahoo News, Reuters.

In 2001, he advised Senator Mark Warner on his winning strategy to capture the Latino vote and the Virginia Governorship, the first time a political candidate spoke fluent Spanish to the growing Hispanic community in the Commonwealth State. He also provided media counsel to Governor Bill Richardson during his 2012 presidential campaign.   

A believer in giving back to the community, Guillermo has proudly donated his time to important professional and social causes. He is a member of the National Association of Hispanic Journalists (NAHJ), and has served as Board Member, Commonwealth of Virginia Vocational Rehabilitation Council for the Blind and Board Member, Commonwealth of Virginia Diversity Workforce Council.

Guillermo began his career as an accomplished journalist and news producer (CNN, CBS, Fox News). He was recognized as one of the top 40 Latinos in American media by Huffington Post and as “101 Most Influential Leaders” by Latino Leaders Magazine.

Tony Quintero has served as the Co-Chairman of the Democratic National Committee (DNC) Hispanic Leadership Council during the Obama Administration, and served on Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Director's ICE-NGO Enforcement and Detention Working Group, and the New America Alliance (NAA) Treasury Advisory Committee to the Obama Transition Team. He is a founder of the National Association of State Latino Chambers of Commerce (NASLCC) which represents over 3.5 million Latino businesses in the U.S., and previously served as director of the United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. He was elected Vice-Chairman of the NAA, and Chair of the Corporate Board Initiative and founder of the Fortune 1000 Board Director Certification Program at USC, Marshall School of Business, Executive Education Program. 

Tony Quintero received the Juris Doctor Degree from the University of California, Berkeley, School of Law (1971) where he founded the first Spanish speaking community legal services program {1969) El Centro Legal de la Raza. In 1970 Tony Quintero was elected as the first President of La Raza National Law Students Association. Prior to entering law school, he graduated from San Jose State University (B.A., Sociology) where he was the first Chicano to serve on the Student Body Council and was instrumental in funding and serving as the first director of the Educational Opportunity Program (EOP). 

Tony Quintero was the CEO of American Regional Malls, LLC where he developed a program of acquisition and redevelopment of regional malls. His innovative plan created jobs and repositioned major regional malls to respond to the changing demographics by making tenant and cultural adjustments to better serve the local community.

Tony was featured in the premiere issue of Silicon Valley Latino Magazine as the "Actual Most Interesting Man in The World" on the magazine cover and interview (2012). He also appeared on the cover and feature interview of Image and Style Magazine (2014). 

Tony Quintero has received many Awards including: 

Silicon Valley Latino, "Cultura Champion Award", and "Featured Speaker in the Premiere Fireside Chat Series,,,, (2017). 

Cisco-SVL, "Trailblazer Award", (2013) 

Comcast-Latino Leadership Alliance, "Ollin Award" (2013) 

Latino Leaders Magazine, "Maestro Award", Professional Achievement (2011) 

Centro Legal de la Raza, founder, "Visionary Leadership Award" (2009) 

Mr. Quintero is also a member of the Screen Actors Guild and has pursued his interest in producing Latino films which promote positive stories that inspire Latino youth and contribute to improving Latino equity in the movie industry. Tony Quintero {ranked 2nd in the cast by IMDb STARmeter on 11/9/2020) played "Jorge" in East Side Sushi, which was nominated "Best US Latino Film", "Top 10 Films of 2015" (SF Weekly) and was selected by the US State Department for the AMERICAN FILM SHOWCASE WORLD TOUR. Tony has appeared in 3 feature films, 3 television series and is a producer in 6 film projects {IMDb.me/tonyquintero). 

Quintero served as an organizer and panelist of the Revisiting the 50th Anniversary Chicano Commencement Symposium, San Jose State University (October 11, 2019) and continues to be active in projects which preserve the integrity of Chicano History.

James (Jim) Saenz is a Chicano from California, born and raised just outside East Los Angeles. The son of working-class Mexican American parents, he and his brother were the first ones in the family to attend four-year universities. Jim is a graduate of the United States Military Academy (West Point) and completed over 30 years of active duty service in the U.S. Army as a Special Forces officer (Green Berets), retiring at the rank of Colonel with a TS-SCI security clearance. He served in a variety of assignments throughout the world. Notably, he commanded two Special Forces A-Teams, the full-accounting mission in Vietnam, and the Army’s largest overseas garrison in Germany. His operational experience includes Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm, numerous missions in South and Central America, several disaster relief efforts in Central America, Operation Enduring Freedom, and multiple Global War on Terror activities at home and abroad. Jim is now leading change at the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority as the Senior Operations Advisor to the COO. 

Jim is known for achieving exceptional results out of tough challenges. He successfully transforms organizations to increase effectiveness, improve efficiency, reduce costs, and inspire innovation. He is an experienced leader of large and diverse workforces, executing multimillion-dollar budgets, and supervising global operations. Jim has extensive military, government, and international experience, with particular expertise in special operations, counterterrorism, counternarcotics, foreign policy, and community services/infrastructure management. 

Jim is a combat veteran and a disabled veteran. He holds two masters degrees and volunteers throughout his community. An advocate for Latino and veteran causes, he works with several non-profit advocacy groups, including as the Executive Director, Hispanic Veterans Leadership Alliance (HVLA). Jim currently lives in Arlington, Virginia with his wife, Leslie, and their two sons. 

José Zayas is a Sr. Executive at Eagle Creek RE, an owner and operator of 86 hydroelectric facilities across the United States.   Jose is a recognized international leader in renewable energy with over 20 years of experience in the renewable energy sector. Prior to joining Eagle Creek, Jose served as Director of the Wind and Water Power Technologies Office at the U.S. Department of Energy (USDOE). In this role José led efforts to improve performance, lower costs, and accelerate deployment of wind and water power technologies. Notably, José led the development of the USDOE Hydropower Vision report, an industry-wide vision for hydropower, and launched USDOE’s HydroNEXT strategy to drive new investments in hydropower and pumped storage.

Prior to joining USDOE in 2011, José spent fifteen years at Sandia National Laboratories, a Federally Funded Research and Development Center focused on addressing national security issues. While at Sandia, José served in several leadership positions, including serving as the Senior Manager for the Renewable Energy division. José is a native of Puerto Rico and holds a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from the University of New Mexico and a Master of Science in Mechanical and Aeronautical Engineering from the University of California at Davis

Jeffrey Vargas (https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffreyvargasceo) is a nationally recognized expert on leadership development and intergenerational collaborative intelligence.  He is the founder and CEO of Generationology LLC, a talent management and executive development consulting firm.  Since 2017 Generationology has provided leadership workshops and seminars that have helped multibillion-dollar organizations identify and deploy strategies and tools that build and sustain a more effective and inclusive intergenerational workplace. 

Before starting his own consulting practice, Jeff enjoyed a 22-year career in the federal service, where he led and oversaw major enterprise-wide human capital and learning and development programs, projects, and initiatives.  He was a senior-leader at the Department of Energy where he worked on workforce development, employee engagement and diversity and inclusions enterprise-wide programs and initiatives including overseeing DOE’s Hispanic outreach and recruitment programs.  

Jeff also served as the Chief Learning Officer (CLO) for the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) where he successfully created a cadre of executive leadership development programs and oversaw learning for the 4000 employees of the nation’s nuclear weapons complex.

His last federal leadership role was as the CLO for the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, a financial regulator, who oversees the multitrillion dollar futures, options, and swaps financial marketplace.   At the CFTC he led the Commission’s learning practice including securing highly technical/complex financial-education programs, building and overseeing executive education and creating one of the first in government peer-to-peer learning programs that built and deployed 40 original workshops that were designed and deployed by CFTC staff. 

Jeff has been an active leader in the Hispanic community since 1995 recruiting Hispanics into the federal government and building and enhancing the leadership capacity of Hispanic federal employees.  He served as the Department of Energy’s Hispanic Employment Program Manager, Chair of the National Council of Hispanic Employment Program Managers and as founder of the Hispanic Youth Symposium, a three-day, four-night leadership development program for Hispanic Youth that served nearly 10,000 attendees.  

Today Jeff serves on the board of GlobalMindED, a Denver based non-profit organization that helps first generation college students and young professions understand the hidden workplace curriculum, overcome bias, and unleash their leadership potential.

Jeff has an undergraduate degree is in Economics from the University of Maryland, College Park, and he’s a graduate of both Georgetown Universities Training Specialist Program and the prestigious Federal Executive Institute in Charlottesville, Virginia.  He also is the founder of the “Chief Learning Officers Network” on LinkedIn, a past instructor at the Brookings Institution, and a member of George Mason University Chief Learning Officers Advisory Council. 

Cesar joined the City of Atlanta Mayor’s Office of International Affairs (MOIA) in January of 2019, where his focus is to position Atlanta as global hub for commerce, innovation, education, culture and diplomacy. Cesar leads MOIA’s Economic Diplomacy and Global Sports Initiatives, and works closely with Atlanta’s international community, including the consular corps and the bilateral chambers of commerce, as well as foreign partners to promote Atlanta. As part of the Economic Diplomacy efforts, Cesar manages three trade promotion initiatives, which include Trade Talks, Women Export University, and trade missions. In addition, Cesar works closely with the region’s economic development agencies to position Atlanta as an attractive location for FDI. 

Prior to MOIA Cesar worked as Senior Project Manager for Business Attraction and Coordinator for Business Retention and Expansion at Invest Atlanta where he supported over 170 businesses in the City of Atlanta representing over $150 million in revenue and was an integral part on the expansion and attraction of several companies to the City of Atlanta. With over 8 years of experience in government and the private sector with a focus on economic development, Cesar brings a range of skills that allow him to support the city’s economic development efforts. He is passionate about helping businesses grow their market and become more competitive by utilizing innovative strategies.

Prior to joining Invest Atlanta, Cesar was an analyst at the International Trade Administration (ITA), working to safeguard and enhance the competitiveness of U.S. industries by conducting antidumping and countervailing duty investigations. Cesar also worked as the Deputy Director for the Greater Washington Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (GWHCC), where he managed a staff of 8 and a $2 million budget, and advocated on behalf of the Chamber’s members before local government officials. Cesar also worked as the Senior Donations Manager for the District of Columbia Mayor’s Office of Partnerships and Grant Services (OPGS), where he managed and approved over $80 million in private donations.

Cesar graduated from George Mason University with a B.A. in Latin American Studies, and has a Master’s in International Relations with a concentration in commerce from American University School of International Studies. Cesar has lived and studied abroad. In the summer of 2013 Cesar participated in the WTO: International Trade and Development seminar in Geneva, Switzerland. He was also part of a team of graduate students that traveled to Chile to learn about best practices from multinational Chilean companies, and he spent a semester living and studying in Bogota, Colombia, where he focused in the country’s key industries and its trade relations with the United States.

LUISA FERNANDA CARDONA DE VENCE serves as the Deputy Director for the City of Atlanta’s Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs – Welcoming Altana – where she provides citywide policy and programmatic support for the integration and inclusion of migrant and marginalized communities. 

In her role Luisa also serves as senior advisor to the Mayor on immigration policy, which included the 2018 decision by the Mayor to end the City’s contract with the Department of Homeland Security, participation in various  nationwide amici curiae including defending the 2020 Census and DACA, and changing internal policies which previously excluded immigrant communities. Luisa also launched the city's first citizenship program and created and implemented a citywide language access policy. Additionally, Luisa also serves as the led Spanish media spokesperson for the Mayor’s Office.

Prior to joining the Mayor’s Office, Luisa served the immigrant community as an attorney both in Atlanta and Washington, D.C. In this capacity, Luisa advocated on behalf of immigrant workers, tenants, and DREAMers. Luisa was also the Latino Vote Coordinator for the Obama- Biden 2008 campaign and Field Coordinator in 2014 for SPARK Reproductive Justice. Luisa is a naturalized U.S. citizen and a proud Colombian-American. She holds a law degree from the American University’s Washington College of Law and a bachelor’s degree from Georgia State University. Luisa lives in East Atlanta Village with her husband and her rambunctious two-year old daughter.

Dan Martinez https://www.linkedin.com/in/dan-martinez-8829bb3/ spent over 25 years at the forefront of U.S. economic and commercial diplomacy, serving as an Economic and Commercial Officer in the U.S. Foreign Service. He focused his efforts on promoting the U.S. national interest in the development of natural resources in both Latin America and Southeast Asia, advancing a sustainable economic development model. He worked to advance economic reforms and policies that created a more level international playing field for U.S. companies and investors, especially in the energy sector. Over his career, he also served on the U.S. delegations that negotiated multiple tax treaties in the Newly Independent States of the former Soviet Union, the Investment Chapter of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), as well as the renewal of the U.S.-Canada Columbia River Treaty. He promoted U.S. trade and economic development interests in Latin America at the U.S. Mission to the Organization of American States, helping to launch the Private Sector of the Americas Forum. He also worked to promote a strong economic and trade relationship with Peru, including the passage of the U.S.-Peru Trade Promotion Agreement, and to strengthen its ability to combat drug-trafficking. His other overseas assignments include Manila, Caracas, Kuala Lumpur and Bogota. In Washington, he has also served as an international economist in the Office of International Energy Policy, as well the Office of Investment Affairs.

Since joining the Tritico & Rainey Law Firm as Of Counsel, Dan has focused his practice on U.S. trade promotion programs and international business transactions, as well as the negotiation of commercial agreements and the removal impediments to exporting to or investing in markets throughout Southeast Asia and Latin America. He is exceptionally skilled in devising practical solutions to investment barriers, including negotiation with foreign governments. Dan also brings his extensive international experience to provide expert advice on navigating the complex immigration landscape for companies and individuals.

Dan is a member of numerous professional organizations, including the American Bar Association, the Inter-American Bar Association, and the State Bar of Texas. He was recently selected to join the Board of Directors of the Center for a Secure and Free Society, is an Adviser to the Novick Cardiac Alliance and is also an adviser to the environmental, Texas-based, EarthX Organization. He is a member of the roundtable at the Baker Institute.

Sergio Garcia is a trusted advisor and General Counsel for public technology companies, bringing extensive experience on corporate governance, intellectual property strategy and global compliance issues. Along with his career as a public company general counsel and, earlier in his career, as a partner at international law firms, Mr. Garcia has worked tirelessly to advance civil rights through pro bono legal services and through service on several nonprofit boards, including Public Advocates, Centro Legal de la Raza, California Bar Foundation, Hispanic Heritage Foundation and the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund. 

Mr. Garcia is a co-founder and leader of the California Ad Hoc Latino Leadership Group, a diverse group of policy experts and business leaders providing critical input to Governor Newsom on statewide policy issues, including the disproportionate COVID-19 infection rates among Black and Brown communities, housing displacement issues and criminal justice issues.  Locally, Mr. Garcia serves as a Commissioner for the Oakland Police Commission, an independent body established to oversee police department policies, practices and customs to ensure they meet or exceed national standards of constitutional policing, including use of force standards, implicit bias, community policing and transparency. Mr. Garcia has been recognized for his leadership in the legal profession and for serving as a champion for diversity and social justice, including receiving the prestigious Maestro Award for Leadership by Latino Leaders Magazine, a Lifetime Achievement Award by the San Francisco La Raza Lawyers Association and the Pro Bono Legal Services Award by MALDEF. Mr. Garcia holds a J.D. from U.C. Berkeley Law School, and a B.A. in International Relations from Stanford University. 

https://www.linkedin.com/in/sergiogarciaesq/

Marvin B. Figueroa is the Deputy Secretary of Health and Human Resources for Governor Ralph Northam, 73rd Governor of the Commonwealth of Virginia. In this role, he supports Health and Human Resources state agencies deliver quality, affordable, and accessible services to individuals with disabilities, the aging community, and low-income working families

Deputy Secretary Figueroa previously served as Senior Policy Adviser for Senator Mark R. Warner [D-VA] where he advised the Senator on Medicare, Medicaid, the Affordable Care Act, and other health care issues related to the Senator’s role on the Senate Finance Committee, leading a number of legislative priorities that became law. 

Civically engaged, he was elected president of the Congressional Hispanic Staff Association (CHSA), and the Democratic Latino Organization of Virginia (DLOV), a seated member in the Democratic Party of Virginia Steering Committee. And in 2016, he was appointed to the Board of Health Professions by then-Governor Terence R. McAuliffe, the Board responsible for licensing health professionals, enforcing standards of practice, and providing information to health care practitioners and the public. He is currently the Vice-Chair of the Virginia Public Access Project, a non-profit that elevates public understanding of politics and government by organizing and presenting information in ways that are easily accessible and free of partisan bias.

Deputy Secretary Figueroa earned his Master’s degree at Harvard and Bachelor’s degree from Vanderbilt University. He is originally from La Ceiba, Honduras, a proud Garifuna, New Yorker and Virginian. 

Melissa Muro LaMere is a Partner at Maslon LLP in Minneapolis, where she focuses her practices on employment and business litigation and counseling. Melissa serves on the board of the Minnesota Infinity Project, an organization focused on gender disparity on the bench throughout the Eighth Circuit, and she previously served on the board of the Minnesota Hispanic Bar Association, for which she also served as the co-chair of the Judicial Endorsements Committee. In 2019, Melissa was appointed by Governor Walz and Lieutenant Governor Flanagan to the Commission on Judicial Selection. Melissa was recognized as a 2019 "Top Lawyer Under 40" by the Hispanic National Bar Association and a 2020 “40 Under 40” award by the Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal. Before attending law school, Melissa held various roles in the office of United States Senator Amy Klobuchar, including serving as a liaison between Senator Klobuchar and Minnesota’s Latinx community.  Melissa has worked with ALLP since October 2020.

After graduating from the United States Naval Academy (Physics), Joseph was commissioned in the United States Marine Corps. He later earned a Master of Science degree from the University of Southern California.

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As a Marine, he held increasing responsibilities from infantry platoon commander, company commander of five companies, Battalion Commander, Commander of 3rd Marines, Associate Professor of Naval Science at Penn State University and Chief of Operational Plans at European Command where he led the planning effort for operations in Bosnia and Kosovo.

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Upon promotion to Brigadier General, he oversaw the ground-up development of a new organization, Expeditionary Strike Group THREE (ESG3). As the first Marine Corps General to lead a Naval Task Force with operational control of ships, he led ESG3 during a combat deployment in support of Operation IRAQI FREEDOM. Dual assigned as Commander Task Force 58 with the mission to "locate, disrupt and defeat terrorists and foreign fighters," he had operational control of multiple amphibious ships, an Aegis Cruiser and Destroyer, multiple Coast Guard vessels, UK and AUS ships, and two Marine Expeditionary Units.

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Following this, he was reassigned as Commanding General Marine Corps Base Butler, the Marine Corps' most complex installation encompassing two air stations and eight separate bases in Japan, and later as Commanding General, 3rd Marine Expeditionary Brigade and Deputy Commanding General, III Marine Expeditionary Force until his retirement in 2007.

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Entering the private sector, Joseph joined Granite Services International (a GE company) overseeing engineering services as the General Manager & Asia Pacific Region Director. He later joined the Elliott Group as the Global Director for engineering field services where he established service centers in India and China and oversaw several multi-million dollar field service projects in the Middle East, Asia, Europe, and the United States. He is currently based in Houston and serves as the Chief Executive Officer at Asia Pacific Strategies & Solutions Group and Chief Executive Officer at Inner Voyage Leadership Group.

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He has served on multiple boards of international companies and is a Fellow of the American College of National Security Leaders. Among multiple national recognition received was inclusion by Complex Media as one of "10 Hispanic Icons That Made a Significant Cultural Impact".

Julian Vasquez Heilig leads nearly 3,000 students, staff and faculty as the Dean and a Professor of Educational Policy Studies and Evaluation at the University of Kentucky College of Education.

He has held six academic leadership roles in higher education institutions and a variety of practitioner and research positions in organizations from Boston to Beijing. He is a committed academic leader that seeks to improve access and success for historically underrepresented students. He has led in a community-engaged, innovative, equity-minded and transformative approach.

Over the course of his academic and professional careers, he has proven and distinguished himself as an individual who has a strong command of research skills and courage for justice. He is an academic leader and researcher with a conscience and a heart. Vasquez Heilig’s multi-modal, interdisciplinary education policy and leadership research is primarily focused on education policy and leadership that impacts equity and inclusion. The sum of his scholarship is more than 60 articles, chapters and reports. He has received more than 30 scholarly awards and recognitions— including California Assembly Resolution 1459 which honored his national impact in the field of education.

Dean Julian Vasquez Heilig’s work has been cited by the New York Times, Washington Post, Associated Press, USAToday, Education Week, Huffington Post and other print and electronic media outlets. He has also appeared to discuss his research on local and national radio and TV including PBS, NBC, NPR, Univision, and MSNBC. Notably, Harvard’s Education Next magazine named him as one of the top ten education policy voices— the #2 ranked professor in the US.

He has conveyed invited testimony in state and national legislative bodies. He has also volunteered expertise and provided empirically-based input for non-profits, foundations, legislators, educators and other education stakeholders in Kentucky, California, Texas, Nevada, Wyoming and many other states. He also served as a volunteer education policy advisor and provided input for presidential and gubernatorial campaigns.

Julian obtained his Ph.D. in Education Administration and Policy Analysis and a Masters in Sociology from Stanford University. He also holds a Masters of Higher Education and a Bachelor’s of History and Psychology from the University of Michigan Ann Arbor. 

Regina Renee Griego, is an experienced leader and program manager with a demonstrated history of developing high impact public policy specifically in area of health, safety, and security. 

With over 20 years of dedication to public service at the state and federal level, Regina has built a career in Budgeting, Policy Creation, Regulation Development, Policy Analysis, Crisis Management, and facilitation within the U.S. government, international, organized labor, academia, and the private sector and has made impactful change in diverse communities through her career efforts. As a highly regarded Public Health professional, Regina fully utilizes her formal education and practical experience to ensure equitable access to public health and safety programs.  

Most notability Regina was an integral part of the team that developed and implemented the Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program Act,2000. The legislation passed through bi partisan efforts to provide medical and compensation benefits to civilian nuclear weapon employees and survivors; a program that as of 2020 has compensated over 130,000 employees and paid out over 17 Billion dollars in benefits. Regina was instrumental in the formal establishment of the Department of Energy’s  Diversity program and led the Department’s economic recovery outreach efforts for disenfranchised communities impacted by Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico by  developing training and multi agency resources for identifying, writing and submitting grants. 

Regina is a proud member of the Virginia Medical Reserve Corp COVID-19 response team and has taken on a leadership role in COVID biosafety, PPE fit testing front line health care workers and providing biosafety guidance to election precincts in the Northern Virginia Area.  Her dedication and advocacy within vulnerable communities such as Native American and Latinos highlights the community service commitment Regina has provided over the course of her career. Regina was a volunteer with Biden/Harris campaign for Clean Energy, Natives and Latinos for Biden.  She is a former Clinton Administration appointee at the U.S United Nations and the Department of Energy. 

Regina is a proud mother raising two children, a daughter attending high school in Fairfax County, Virginia and a son completing his second year at Penn State University.  Prior to moving to the east coast Regina lived in New Mexico where she graduated from New Mexico State University and was a public health officer  with the NM Public Health Department to address Border Health issues, specifically, part of the initial  needle exchange program in the U.S to reduce the transmission of HIV. 

Elmy Bermejo is a senior government executive with a consistent record of success across organizational boundaries with public and private stakeholders on a range of issues including workforce development, minimum wage, disaster relief, and small business. She is a highly motivated strategic thinker with excellent management, communication and relationship building skills. She is a tireless advocate of women’s rights championing equality and economic security worldwide. Bilingual in English and Spanish. 

Elmy Bermejo serves as the Northern CA Director of External Affairs for California Governor Gavin Newsom.  She oversees the Governor’s San Francisco and Central Valley offices. Elmy previously served as Senior Advisor and Outreach Director for California Lt. Governor Eleni Kounalakis, the first woman ever elected to this position. 

Elmy has worked in state and federal government at the executive and legislative levels. She previously served in two senior positions in President Barack Obama’s administration at the U.S. Department of Labor; and Members of Congress Lynn Woolsey of Marin-Sonoma and Mel Levine of Los Angeles. She worked for the late U.S. Senator Alan Cranston of California.  In California state government, she served as Deputy Secretary for External Affairs for the California State and Consumer Services Agency, Special Assistant to two California Senate Presidents Pro Tempore, Senator Don Perata and Senator John Burton, and Regional Director for the late Lieutenant Governor Leo McCarthy.  

As a longtime champion for women, equity and social justice, Elmy has been at the forefront of founding organizations and programs which empower women and people of color to drive policy changes and become their own champions.  She serves on the Advisory Board of HOPE, (Hispanas Organized for Political Equality), the board of the Women’s Foundation of California, Latina Advisory Committee of Emily’s List. Formerly and served on the California Commission on the Status of Women which she chaired for 5 years. She is also a founding member of EMERGE. 

Elmy has participated in the International Speakers Program sponsored by the U.S. Department of State, specifically in forums in El Salvador, Bolivia and Haiti to discuss the importance of women in leadership, public service and electing women to public office.

Elmy’s leadership has been recognized by Hispanic Magazine, naming her a Latina of Excellence in Community Service. She was profiled by Latino Leaders Magazine and was honored by the League of Women Voters as a "Woman Who Could Be President." She is also a recipient of the Public Service Award from the San Francisco La Raza Lawyers Association, the CEDAW Women’s Human Rights Award and The Dolores Huerta Woman of Courage Medallion.

Elvis Cordova is the Vice President of Policy and Advocacy for the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA), which is the nation’s leading non-profit organization dedicated to the advancement of public parks, recreation, equity, and conservation.  He leads NRPA’s federal policymaking initiatives by providing strategic planning for enhancing community-based advocacy and capacity building programs, and stakeholder engagement to advance parks, recreation, and conservation efforts that enhance the quality of life for all people.

Mr. Cordova is a seasoned executive with over a decade of experience developing and implementing solutions for some of the most significant and high-profile challenges facing the U.S. public sector.  He has a unique combination of political, legal, economic, and international expertise.  He is a proven strategist and manager, adept at building coalitions and communicating effectively to diverse stakeholders.  He has built an intimate knowledge of the workings of the U.S. government and has developed strong relationships with a range of policymakers in key markets around the world.

In 2012, Mr. Cordova was appointed by President Barack Obama to serve as a Chief of Staff at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).  From 2012 to 2017, he served in various leadership roles at USDA, including Deputy Under Secretary and Acting Under Secretary.  He oversaw food labeling programs (including organic and biotechnology), international trade regulations, research & educational grant programs, nutrition programs, commodity procurement, plant & animal health regulations, process verification programs, conservation programs, and the expansion of local and regional food systems.  He served on the White House Task Force for Puerto Rico, focusing on strengthening public-private partnerships to aid in the economic recovery efforts for the island.  He entered the federal government a Presidential Management Fellow and worked for the Farm Credit Administration and at the U.S. Department of Energy where his work encompassed alternative energy, economic development, financial services, and congressional affairs.

Outside of the federal government, he served as a consultant for the United Nations where he focused on trade development strategies for emerging markets in Southeast Asia.  He also served as Vice President of Public Relations at Tzolkin Media Inc., Director for Latin American programs at the Self Reliance Foundation, and management analyst for the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation.  He began his career as a financial analyst at the Harvard Management Company.

He holds a Master’s degree in Public Administration from the Wagner Graduate School of Public Service at New York University and a Bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice from Northeastern University.  He is a recipient of the Woodrow Wilson Graduate Fellowship and holds various professional certificates from Georgetown University, Harvard University, University of California at Berkeley, Universidad de Sevilla (Spain), Universidad de Buenos Aires (Argentina), École Nationale des Travaux Publics de l'État (France), and Pontificia Universidade Catolica (Brazil).

In his personal time, he works with various national leadership organizations to create and expand opportunities for diverse communities in the Washington, D.C. area.  He has previously served on the Executive Board of the Washington D.C. Chapter of the National Society of Hispanic MBAs (now known as Prospanica).  He has served as a senior advisor for the Aspen Institute’s International Career Advancement Program.  He is a graduate of Leadership Alexandria, which is an executive-level training program in the national capital area, as well as a graduate of the Political Leaders Program from the Sorensen Institute at the University of Virginia.  He is an alumnus of Project Interchange, which is an international leadership program of the American Jewish Committee, and an alumnus of the Hispanic Leaders Program, a professional development program organized by the Foreign Ministry of Spain.

He presently lives with his family in the Washington DC area and has previously lived in Latin America and Europe.  His language capabilities include Spanish, Portuguese, and French.