Please visit this page regularly for updates.
These speaker bios are from last years conference.
Speakers for The Rising Latino will be updated soon.
These speaker bios are from last years conference.
Speakers for The Rising Latino will be updated soon.
Aida M. Alvarez
First Hispanic Woman to Head the U.S. Small Business Administration and First Person of Puerto Rican Descent to Hold a Cabinet-level Position
The Honorable Aida Alvarez has been an award-winning journalist, a successful investment banker, and a member of President Clinton's Cabinet. She currently serves on the boards of Wal-Mart and Union Bank. She chairs the Latino Community Foundation in the Bay Area and is a trustee of the National Trust for Historic Preservation. She is also on the Board of the Smithsonian Museum of American Art in Washington, D.C.
Appointed by President Clinton to head the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), Alvarez was the first Hispanic woman to serve in a President's Cabinet. She presided over record activitiy: $61.5 billion in guaranteed loans and venture capital financing over a four-year period. SBA's lending to women tripled. Lending to minorities doubled.
During the first Clinton term Alvarez was confirmed by the U.S. Senate to be Director of the Office of Federal Housing Enterprise Oversight (OFHEO). She was the founding director of the agency charged with regulating the nation's largest housing finance institutions, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.
Prior to her federal service, Alvarez was a Vice President in Public Finance at The First Boston Corporation and Bear Stearns. She was also Vice President for Public Affairs at the NYC Health and Hospitals Corporation.
Alvarez started out with a career in journalism. She won a Front Page award for journalistic excellence while at the New York Post. She also earned an Emmy nomination and an Associated Press award for journalistic excellence while at Channel Five, the Ten O'Clock News, for her series on the war in El Salvador entitled, "The Morazan Diaries."
A Harvard graduate, Alvarez holds honorary doctorates from Bethany College, Iona College, Mercy College and the Inter-American University of Puerto Rico. Alvarez has served on the Harvard Board of Overseers.
First Hispanic Woman to Head the U.S. Small Business Administration and First Person of Puerto Rican Descent to Hold a Cabinet-level Position
The Honorable Aida Alvarez has been an award-winning journalist, a successful investment banker, and a member of President Clinton's Cabinet. She currently serves on the boards of Wal-Mart and Union Bank. She chairs the Latino Community Foundation in the Bay Area and is a trustee of the National Trust for Historic Preservation. She is also on the Board of the Smithsonian Museum of American Art in Washington, D.C.
Appointed by President Clinton to head the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), Alvarez was the first Hispanic woman to serve in a President's Cabinet. She presided over record activitiy: $61.5 billion in guaranteed loans and venture capital financing over a four-year period. SBA's lending to women tripled. Lending to minorities doubled.
During the first Clinton term Alvarez was confirmed by the U.S. Senate to be Director of the Office of Federal Housing Enterprise Oversight (OFHEO). She was the founding director of the agency charged with regulating the nation's largest housing finance institutions, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.
Prior to her federal service, Alvarez was a Vice President in Public Finance at The First Boston Corporation and Bear Stearns. She was also Vice President for Public Affairs at the NYC Health and Hospitals Corporation.
Alvarez started out with a career in journalism. She won a Front Page award for journalistic excellence while at the New York Post. She also earned an Emmy nomination and an Associated Press award for journalistic excellence while at Channel Five, the Ten O'Clock News, for her series on the war in El Salvador entitled, "The Morazan Diaries."
A Harvard graduate, Alvarez holds honorary doctorates from Bethany College, Iona College, Mercy College and the Inter-American University of Puerto Rico. Alvarez has served on the Harvard Board of Overseers.
Louis Caldera
Vice President of Programs, Jack Kent Cooke Foundation
Louis Caldera serves as Vice President of Programs for the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation, an education oriented foundation with $600m in assets, dedicated to helping high-achieving, low-income youth achieve their full potential in education. As the Vice President of Programs, Mr. Caldera leads the foundation's scholarship and grant programs, and is responsible for the foundation's communications, information systems, and program development and evaluation functions.
Mr. Caldera has a distinguished public service career that includes service as an officer in the U.S. Army, as a California legislator, as Secretary of the Army in the Clinton administration, and as President of the University of New Mexico. He also served in the Clinton administration as managing director and chief operating officer of the Corporation for National and Community Service. Prior to joining the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation, Mr. Caldera was a Senior Fellow at the Center for American Progress, a progressive think tank where he focused on higher education, immigration, and other public policy matters affecting poor and ethnically and racially diverse communities in the U.S. He served on the President-elect Obama Department of Defense Transition Team and in the Obama White House as an Assistant to the President and Director of the White House Military Office.
Mr. Caldera is a graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point and holds law and business degrees from Harvard University.
Vice President of Programs, Jack Kent Cooke Foundation
Louis Caldera serves as Vice President of Programs for the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation, an education oriented foundation with $600m in assets, dedicated to helping high-achieving, low-income youth achieve their full potential in education. As the Vice President of Programs, Mr. Caldera leads the foundation's scholarship and grant programs, and is responsible for the foundation's communications, information systems, and program development and evaluation functions.
Mr. Caldera has a distinguished public service career that includes service as an officer in the U.S. Army, as a California legislator, as Secretary of the Army in the Clinton administration, and as President of the University of New Mexico. He also served in the Clinton administration as managing director and chief operating officer of the Corporation for National and Community Service. Prior to joining the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation, Mr. Caldera was a Senior Fellow at the Center for American Progress, a progressive think tank where he focused on higher education, immigration, and other public policy matters affecting poor and ethnically and racially diverse communities in the U.S. He served on the President-elect Obama Department of Defense Transition Team and in the Obama White House as an Assistant to the President and Director of the White House Military Office.
Mr. Caldera is a graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point and holds law and business degrees from Harvard University.
Judith A. Canales
Administrator for Rural Business and Cooperative Programs, U.S. Department of Agriculture
Judith A. Canales has over twenty years of experience working at the national and local levels in federal and local government administration and nonprofit management. Her expertise is rural and urban development, housing, community development and economic development. She is also experienced in U.S.-Mexico border policy issues and development.
In May 2009, Ms. Canales received her second presidential appointment when President Barack Obama named her as the first Hispanic woman to serve as the Administrator for Rural Business and Cooperative Programs in the United States Department of Agriculture Rural Development. She is responsible for overseeing the national rural business and cooperative programs portfolio for USDA. Rural Business and Cooperative Programs promote a dynamic business environment in rural America by working in partnership with the private sector, public bodies, and community-based organizations.
Ms. Canales was previously the Executive Director for the Maverick County Development Corporation facilitating economic development for Eagle Pass and Maverick County, Texas.
Ms. Canales also served as an adjunct faculty member of Southwest Texas Junior College where she taught U.S. and Texas Government. She is also a consultant specializing in government relations, grant writing, and leadership training for nonprofit organizations.
Ms. Canales was the first Executive Director of the International Hispanic Network, an organization of city managers and professionals. She was the Director of Human Resources for the Kickapoo Lucky Eagle Casino, Special Projects Director for Sul Ross State University-Rio Grande College and served as the Assistant City Manager for the City of Eagle Pass.
Ms. Canales was appointed by President Bill Clinton as the Acting Associate Administrator for the U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Business-Cooperative Service in Washington, D.C. She was the Deputy State Director for the USDA Rural Development Texas Office. The Texas State Office administers the rural housing, utilities, business and community development programs.
Ms. Canales worked in Washington, D.C. as the Legislative Officer in the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Office of Legislation. She served as Legislative Representative in the Washington, D.C. office of New York City Mayor David N. Dinkins. She worked for the Low-Income Housing Information Service and the National Council of La Raza. She co-authored the NCLR policy report, "The Hispanic Housing Crisis."
Ms. Canales is the past national president of MANA, a national Latina organization. She is a graduate of the National Hispana Leadership Institute, and is a recipient of the "Women of Distinction" award from the National Conference for College Women Student Leaders.
Ms. Canales is a graduate of Leadership Texas Class of 2001. She was a board member of the Middle Rio Grande Workforce Board, the Eagle Pass Library Board, and the Girl Scouts of Southwest Texas. She is a lifetime member of the Girl Scouts and is a member of the Eagle Pass Rotary Club and the Harvard Club of San Antonio.
Ms. Canales received a Master of Public Administration degree from Harvard University John F. Kennedy School of Government. She was elected Mid-Career Representative to the Kennedy School Student Government. She is the recipient of the Esteban E. Torres National Council of La Raza-Harvard Mid-Career fellowship. She served on the Kennedy School Alumni Executive Council.
Ms. Canales received a Master of Arts in Urban Studies from Trinity University in San Antonio, a Bachelor of Journalism degree from the University of Texas at Austin and an Associate of Arts degree from Southwest Texas Junior College. She is a native of Uvalde, Texas.
Administrator for Rural Business and Cooperative Programs, U.S. Department of Agriculture
Judith A. Canales has over twenty years of experience working at the national and local levels in federal and local government administration and nonprofit management. Her expertise is rural and urban development, housing, community development and economic development. She is also experienced in U.S.-Mexico border policy issues and development.
In May 2009, Ms. Canales received her second presidential appointment when President Barack Obama named her as the first Hispanic woman to serve as the Administrator for Rural Business and Cooperative Programs in the United States Department of Agriculture Rural Development. She is responsible for overseeing the national rural business and cooperative programs portfolio for USDA. Rural Business and Cooperative Programs promote a dynamic business environment in rural America by working in partnership with the private sector, public bodies, and community-based organizations.
Ms. Canales was previously the Executive Director for the Maverick County Development Corporation facilitating economic development for Eagle Pass and Maverick County, Texas.
Ms. Canales also served as an adjunct faculty member of Southwest Texas Junior College where she taught U.S. and Texas Government. She is also a consultant specializing in government relations, grant writing, and leadership training for nonprofit organizations.
Ms. Canales was the first Executive Director of the International Hispanic Network, an organization of city managers and professionals. She was the Director of Human Resources for the Kickapoo Lucky Eagle Casino, Special Projects Director for Sul Ross State University-Rio Grande College and served as the Assistant City Manager for the City of Eagle Pass.
Ms. Canales was appointed by President Bill Clinton as the Acting Associate Administrator for the U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Business-Cooperative Service in Washington, D.C. She was the Deputy State Director for the USDA Rural Development Texas Office. The Texas State Office administers the rural housing, utilities, business and community development programs.
Ms. Canales worked in Washington, D.C. as the Legislative Officer in the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Office of Legislation. She served as Legislative Representative in the Washington, D.C. office of New York City Mayor David N. Dinkins. She worked for the Low-Income Housing Information Service and the National Council of La Raza. She co-authored the NCLR policy report, "The Hispanic Housing Crisis."
Ms. Canales is the past national president of MANA, a national Latina organization. She is a graduate of the National Hispana Leadership Institute, and is a recipient of the "Women of Distinction" award from the National Conference for College Women Student Leaders.
Ms. Canales is a graduate of Leadership Texas Class of 2001. She was a board member of the Middle Rio Grande Workforce Board, the Eagle Pass Library Board, and the Girl Scouts of Southwest Texas. She is a lifetime member of the Girl Scouts and is a member of the Eagle Pass Rotary Club and the Harvard Club of San Antonio.
Ms. Canales received a Master of Public Administration degree from Harvard University John F. Kennedy School of Government. She was elected Mid-Career Representative to the Kennedy School Student Government. She is the recipient of the Esteban E. Torres National Council of La Raza-Harvard Mid-Career fellowship. She served on the Kennedy School Alumni Executive Council.
Ms. Canales received a Master of Arts in Urban Studies from Trinity University in San Antonio, a Bachelor of Journalism degree from the University of Texas at Austin and an Associate of Arts degree from Southwest Texas Junior College. She is a native of Uvalde, Texas.
Mark Hugo Lopez
Associate Director, Pew Hispanic Center
Mark Hugo Lopez is the Associate Director of the Pew Hispanic Center where he studies the attitudes and opinions of young Latinos, the political engagement of Latinos, and Hispanics and their interaction with the criminal justice system. Mr. Lopez also coordinates the Center’s national surveys. Additionally, he currently serves as a Visiting Professor at the University of Maryland’s School of Public Policy and as a member of the American Economic Association’s Committee on the Status of Minority Groups in the Economics Profession (CSMGEP). Prior to joining the Pew Hispanic Center, Mr. Lopez was the Research Director of the Center for Information and Research on Civic Learning and Engagement (CIRCLE) where he studied the civic engagement of young people.
Mr. Lopez received his Ph.D. in economics from Princeton University in 1996. He joined the Pew Hispanic Center in January of 2008.
Associate Director, Pew Hispanic Center
Mark Hugo Lopez is the Associate Director of the Pew Hispanic Center where he studies the attitudes and opinions of young Latinos, the political engagement of Latinos, and Hispanics and their interaction with the criminal justice system. Mr. Lopez also coordinates the Center’s national surveys. Additionally, he currently serves as a Visiting Professor at the University of Maryland’s School of Public Policy and as a member of the American Economic Association’s Committee on the Status of Minority Groups in the Economics Profession (CSMGEP). Prior to joining the Pew Hispanic Center, Mr. Lopez was the Research Director of the Center for Information and Research on Civic Learning and Engagement (CIRCLE) where he studied the civic engagement of young people.
Mr. Lopez received his Ph.D. in economics from Princeton University in 1996. He joined the Pew Hispanic Center in January of 2008.
Elizabeth Montoya
Chief of Staff and Director of External Affairs, U.S. Office of Personnel Management
Ms. Liz Montoya serves as the Chief of staff at the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM). Prior to being appointed to OPM, Montoya served on the Obama-Biden Presidential Transition Team as an advisor to the Department of Energy review team. She boasts more than 20 years of executive experience, serving in private industry and the federal government as the Associate Director of Presidential Personnel and Special Assistant to the President at the White House, the Deputy Chief of Staff at the U.S. Department of Energy and the Associate Deputy Administrator for the Small Business Administration.
Montoya’s more recent private industry experience was with Sealaska Corporation, an Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act Corporation which is owned by more than 17,500 tribal share- holders. She served as senior advisor to the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Operating Of- ficer in the areas of human resources, corporate strategic planning and program development. During her tenure with the corporation, Montoya designed a human resources comprehensive review of Sealaska’s nine subsidiaries to affect a consistent human resources process throughout the organization. She also did private consulting in business development with small businesses in the southwest.
From 1985 to 1993, Montoya worked with the Los Alamos National Laboratory as a Senior Program Development Specialist. In her various positions, Liz was an active participant in human resources and diversity issues. In 2005, Montoya earned a Masters in Public Administration from Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government.
Her immediate family consist of two children, David who owns a small business, Manzano Strategies in Corrales, New Mexico and Elisa who is Senior Advisor, White House Liaison at the Peace Corps. She also has two grandchildren, Megan and Benjamin.
Chief of Staff and Director of External Affairs, U.S. Office of Personnel Management
Ms. Liz Montoya serves as the Chief of staff at the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM). Prior to being appointed to OPM, Montoya served on the Obama-Biden Presidential Transition Team as an advisor to the Department of Energy review team. She boasts more than 20 years of executive experience, serving in private industry and the federal government as the Associate Director of Presidential Personnel and Special Assistant to the President at the White House, the Deputy Chief of Staff at the U.S. Department of Energy and the Associate Deputy Administrator for the Small Business Administration.
Montoya’s more recent private industry experience was with Sealaska Corporation, an Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act Corporation which is owned by more than 17,500 tribal share- holders. She served as senior advisor to the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Operating Of- ficer in the areas of human resources, corporate strategic planning and program development. During her tenure with the corporation, Montoya designed a human resources comprehensive review of Sealaska’s nine subsidiaries to affect a consistent human resources process throughout the organization. She also did private consulting in business development with small businesses in the southwest.
From 1985 to 1993, Montoya worked with the Los Alamos National Laboratory as a Senior Program Development Specialist. In her various positions, Liz was an active participant in human resources and diversity issues. In 2005, Montoya earned a Masters in Public Administration from Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government.
Her immediate family consist of two children, David who owns a small business, Manzano Strategies in Corrales, New Mexico and Elisa who is Senior Advisor, White House Liaison at the Peace Corps. She also has two grandchildren, Megan and Benjamin.
Cecilia Muñoz
Deputy Assistant to the President and Director of Intergovernmental Affairs
Prior to joining the Obama Administration, Ms. Muñoz served as Senior Vice President for the Office of Research, Advocacy and Legislation at the National Council of La Raza (NCLR), the nation's largest Latino civil rights organization. She supervised NCLR's policy staff covering a variety of issues of importance to Latinos, including civil rights, employment, poverty, farmworker issues, education, health, housing, and immigration policy, which she covered at NCLR for twenty years.
Ms. Muñoz has testified numerous times before Congress and appears regularly in the Spanish- and English-language media. Her media credits include the Today Show, Good Morning America, The NewsHour with Jim Lehrer, Dateline NBC, O'Reilly Factor, CNN's Situation Room, and National Public Radio.
Ms. Muñoz is the former Chair of he Board of Center for Community Change, and served on the U.S. Programs Board of the Open Society Institute and the Board of DIrectors of the Atlantic Philanthropies and the National Immigration Forum.
Ms. Muñoz is the daughter of immigrants from Bolivia and was born in Detroit, Michigan. She received her undergraduate degree from the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor and her master's degree from the University of California at Berkeley. In June 2000, she was awarded a MacArthur Foundation fellowship in recognition of her work on immigration and civil rights. In 2007, she served as the Towsley Foundation Policymaker in Residence at the Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy at the University of Michigan. She has received numerous other awards and recognitions from various sources, including the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation, and a variety of local non-profit organizations.
Deputy Assistant to the President and Director of Intergovernmental Affairs
Prior to joining the Obama Administration, Ms. Muñoz served as Senior Vice President for the Office of Research, Advocacy and Legislation at the National Council of La Raza (NCLR), the nation's largest Latino civil rights organization. She supervised NCLR's policy staff covering a variety of issues of importance to Latinos, including civil rights, employment, poverty, farmworker issues, education, health, housing, and immigration policy, which she covered at NCLR for twenty years.
Ms. Muñoz has testified numerous times before Congress and appears regularly in the Spanish- and English-language media. Her media credits include the Today Show, Good Morning America, The NewsHour with Jim Lehrer, Dateline NBC, O'Reilly Factor, CNN's Situation Room, and National Public Radio.
Ms. Muñoz is the former Chair of he Board of Center for Community Change, and served on the U.S. Programs Board of the Open Society Institute and the Board of DIrectors of the Atlantic Philanthropies and the National Immigration Forum.
Ms. Muñoz is the daughter of immigrants from Bolivia and was born in Detroit, Michigan. She received her undergraduate degree from the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor and her master's degree from the University of California at Berkeley. In June 2000, she was awarded a MacArthur Foundation fellowship in recognition of her work on immigration and civil rights. In 2007, she served as the Towsley Foundation Policymaker in Residence at the Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy at the University of Michigan. She has received numerous other awards and recognitions from various sources, including the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation, and a variety of local non-profit organizations.
Edith Ramirez
Commissioner, Federal Trade Commission
Edit Ramirez was sworn in as Commissioner of the Federal Trade Commission on April 5, 2010.
Prior to joining the Commission, Ms. Ramirez was a partner in the Los Angeles office of Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan, LLP, where she handled a broad range of complex business litigation, including successfully representing clients in intellectual property, antitrust, unfair competition, and Lanham Act matters. She also has extensive appellate litigation experience.
From 1993-1996, Ms. Ramirez was an associate at Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher, LLP in Los Angeles. She clerked for the Hon. Alfred T. Goodwin in the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit from 1992-1993.
Throughout her career, Ms. Ramirez has been active in a variety of professional and community activities. Most recently, she served as the Vice President on the Board of Commissioners for the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, the nation's largest municipal utility.
Ms. Ramirez graduate from Harvard Law School cum laude (1992), where she served as an editor of the Harvard Law Review, and holds an A.B. in History magna cum laude from Harvard University (1989).
Ms. Ramirez is a native of Southern California.
Commissioner, Federal Trade Commission
Edit Ramirez was sworn in as Commissioner of the Federal Trade Commission on April 5, 2010.
Prior to joining the Commission, Ms. Ramirez was a partner in the Los Angeles office of Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan, LLP, where she handled a broad range of complex business litigation, including successfully representing clients in intellectual property, antitrust, unfair competition, and Lanham Act matters. She also has extensive appellate litigation experience.
From 1993-1996, Ms. Ramirez was an associate at Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher, LLP in Los Angeles. She clerked for the Hon. Alfred T. Goodwin in the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit from 1992-1993.
Throughout her career, Ms. Ramirez has been active in a variety of professional and community activities. Most recently, she served as the Vice President on the Board of Commissioners for the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, the nation's largest municipal utility.
Ms. Ramirez graduate from Harvard Law School cum laude (1992), where she served as an editor of the Harvard Law Review, and holds an A.B. in History magna cum laude from Harvard University (1989).
Ms. Ramirez is a native of Southern California.
Roberto Ramirez
Partner at MirRam Group LLC, former New York State Assemblyman
As an attorney, and during his time in public office, Robert Ramirez' activism and his vision of a better New York has earned him a reputation as one of the hardest working public officials in government and as a "voice of conscience" on some of the most pressing issues affecting the Puerto Rican community.
Mr. Ramirez has been one of New York's most formidable activists in the crusade against social injustice and racism. With many other New York leaders he led the protests to halt the U.S. bombing of the Puerto Rican Island of Vieques, spending 40 days in a Federal Penitentiary for his act of civil disobedience to stop the bombings. Mr. Ramirez also subjected himself to arrest in demonstrations in the wake of the brutal shooting of Amadou Diallo.
The New York Post recognized Mr. Ramirez as one of the "50 Most Powerful People in New York City" in 1998, and he was listed in New York Daily News as one of the "50 New Yorkers to Watch in 1999." In 2003, and in 2005, the Post named him one of "New York State's 25 Most Influential Latinos."
In 1998, Chief Judge Judith Kaye and Chief Administrative Judge Jonathan Lippman appointed Mr. Ramirez to the Committee to Promote Public Trust and Confidence in the Legal System to address public trust issues and develop a strategic plan to improve the justice system.
Mr. Ramirez presently serves as Of Counsel to the national labor law firm of Whatley, Drake & Kallas LLC. From 1998-1999, Mr. Ramirez served as Of Counsel to McConnell Valdes LLC, one of the largest Hispanic-owned law firms in the world, offering services in areas of corporate and commercial practice. During this time, Mr. Ramirez was to be the founder and partner of the law firm of Oquendo, Ramirez, Zayas, Torres and Martinez LLP in the Bronx.
Mr. Ramirez is presently a partner of the MirRam Group LLC, a strategic consulting firm which offers a multitude of services, including lobbying, public affairs, community outreach, corporate strategies and research. Mr. Ramirez is credited with being the architect of numerous political campaigns, including Fernando Ferrer's two mayoralty campaigns, as well as the campaigns of state wide candidates such as Senators Hillary Clinton and Chuck Schumer.
Mr. Ramirez served as a New York State Assemblyman for five terms representing the 78th Assembly District in the Bronx from 1990 to 2000. As Chair of the Subcommittee on Urban Health Care, Mr. Ramirez conducted groundbreaking hearings on the issue of discrimination in New York's health care system.
As Chair of the Administrative Regulations Review Commission (ARRC), Mr. Ramirez introduced regulatory reform legislation and conducted statewide public hearings on health and environmental issues and on the Executive Branch's attempts to restrict the right of the public to participate in the State rule making process.
As the Chairman of the Real Property Tax Committee, Mr. Ramirez chaired an 11 member Task Force on the School Tax Relief (STAR) Program, resulting in the passage of nine bills aimed at expanding eligibility of the Program to primary homeowners. Mr. Ramirez also introduced educational legislation to provide additional resources to Schools Under Registration Review (SURR). Mr. Ramirez, with the vision of creating hundreds of permanent private sector jobs, authored legislation creating five county-specific Industrial Development Agencies as well as the Bronx Development Corporation.
In 1996, Mr. Ramirez was elected Chairman of the Bronx Democratic County Committee becoming the nation's first county leader of Puerto Rican heritage, and a member of the Democratic National Committee. During his short tenure as Chairman, Mr. Ramirez is credited with having helped to make the Bronx the most diversified bench in the city.
Born in Puerto Rico in 1950, Mr. Ramirez received his Associate Degree in Computer Science from Bronx Community College and his Bachelor of Science Degree in Public Administration from New York University. Mr. Ramirez was awarded his law degree from New York University School of Law in 1993 and was admitted to the bar in 1997.
Mr. Ramirez is the proud father of a son, Roberto Jr. and a daughter, Angelisa. He is also the very proud grandfather of five grandchildren.
Partner at MirRam Group LLC, former New York State Assemblyman
As an attorney, and during his time in public office, Robert Ramirez' activism and his vision of a better New York has earned him a reputation as one of the hardest working public officials in government and as a "voice of conscience" on some of the most pressing issues affecting the Puerto Rican community.
Mr. Ramirez has been one of New York's most formidable activists in the crusade against social injustice and racism. With many other New York leaders he led the protests to halt the U.S. bombing of the Puerto Rican Island of Vieques, spending 40 days in a Federal Penitentiary for his act of civil disobedience to stop the bombings. Mr. Ramirez also subjected himself to arrest in demonstrations in the wake of the brutal shooting of Amadou Diallo.
The New York Post recognized Mr. Ramirez as one of the "50 Most Powerful People in New York City" in 1998, and he was listed in New York Daily News as one of the "50 New Yorkers to Watch in 1999." In 2003, and in 2005, the Post named him one of "New York State's 25 Most Influential Latinos."
In 1998, Chief Judge Judith Kaye and Chief Administrative Judge Jonathan Lippman appointed Mr. Ramirez to the Committee to Promote Public Trust and Confidence in the Legal System to address public trust issues and develop a strategic plan to improve the justice system.
Mr. Ramirez presently serves as Of Counsel to the national labor law firm of Whatley, Drake & Kallas LLC. From 1998-1999, Mr. Ramirez served as Of Counsel to McConnell Valdes LLC, one of the largest Hispanic-owned law firms in the world, offering services in areas of corporate and commercial practice. During this time, Mr. Ramirez was to be the founder and partner of the law firm of Oquendo, Ramirez, Zayas, Torres and Martinez LLP in the Bronx.
Mr. Ramirez is presently a partner of the MirRam Group LLC, a strategic consulting firm which offers a multitude of services, including lobbying, public affairs, community outreach, corporate strategies and research. Mr. Ramirez is credited with being the architect of numerous political campaigns, including Fernando Ferrer's two mayoralty campaigns, as well as the campaigns of state wide candidates such as Senators Hillary Clinton and Chuck Schumer.
Mr. Ramirez served as a New York State Assemblyman for five terms representing the 78th Assembly District in the Bronx from 1990 to 2000. As Chair of the Subcommittee on Urban Health Care, Mr. Ramirez conducted groundbreaking hearings on the issue of discrimination in New York's health care system.
As Chair of the Administrative Regulations Review Commission (ARRC), Mr. Ramirez introduced regulatory reform legislation and conducted statewide public hearings on health and environmental issues and on the Executive Branch's attempts to restrict the right of the public to participate in the State rule making process.
As the Chairman of the Real Property Tax Committee, Mr. Ramirez chaired an 11 member Task Force on the School Tax Relief (STAR) Program, resulting in the passage of nine bills aimed at expanding eligibility of the Program to primary homeowners. Mr. Ramirez also introduced educational legislation to provide additional resources to Schools Under Registration Review (SURR). Mr. Ramirez, with the vision of creating hundreds of permanent private sector jobs, authored legislation creating five county-specific Industrial Development Agencies as well as the Bronx Development Corporation.
In 1996, Mr. Ramirez was elected Chairman of the Bronx Democratic County Committee becoming the nation's first county leader of Puerto Rican heritage, and a member of the Democratic National Committee. During his short tenure as Chairman, Mr. Ramirez is credited with having helped to make the Bronx the most diversified bench in the city.
Born in Puerto Rico in 1950, Mr. Ramirez received his Associate Degree in Computer Science from Bronx Community College and his Bachelor of Science Degree in Public Administration from New York University. Mr. Ramirez was awarded his law degree from New York University School of Law in 1993 and was admitted to the bar in 1997.
Mr. Ramirez is the proud father of a son, Roberto Jr. and a daughter, Angelisa. He is also the very proud grandfather of five grandchildren.
Solomon Trujillo
International Businessman
Solomon D. (“Sol”) Trujillo is a global telecommunications, media, and cable industry executive born in Cheyenne, Wyoming in 1951. He has served as CEO of large-cap media-communications companies in the US, the EU, and Asia-Pacific regions. A digital pioneer and long a champion of high-speed broadband to stimulate productivity and advance innovation across all sectors of the economy, Sol is actively engaged in media-comms businesses in both developed and emerging markets, from China and South Asia to North America, Europe, Africa, and the Middle East. He sits on corporate boards in the US, EU, and China – including Target and Promerica Bank of Los Angeles, where he is vice chairman; China’s Silk Road Technologies, where he is chairman; and Weather Investments, headquartered in Rome with investments in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa.
After graduating from the University of Wyoming, where he earned a B.S. in Business and an MBA in Finance, he went to work for AT&T. Seven years later, at the age of 32, he became the youngest executive officer in the history of the company.
Following the break up of the Bell monopoly in 1984, Sol joined US West, one of seven Bell operating companies established by the divestiture. Over the next 15 years, he worked his way up to chairman, CEO, and president of the telecommunications giant, headquartered in Denver. In his capacity as CEO of an enterprise with nearly 30 million customers and more than $14 billion in revenues, Sol was America’s first US-born Hispanic to serve as CEO of a Fortune 200 company.
In 2001, Sol joined the Board of Orange SA, a Paris-based multinational wireless giant with 50 million customers in 19 countries throughout Europe, Africa, and the Middle East. Two years later, at the request of France Telecom, a major Orange shareholder, Sol moved to the CEO position to prepare the company for acquisition, becoming the first American to lead a CAC-40 company.
Sol served most recently as CEO of Telstra Corporation, Australia’s largest media-communications enterprise, where he completed the privatization of a previously government-owned monopoly and led the transformation of a traditional telecommunications utility into an integrated media-communications company – including telephone, CATV, wireless, directories, advertising, online trading, and the world’s largest, fastest, and most advanced mobile internet.
He has been a trade policy advisor to the Clinton and the second Bush administrations, trustee of Boston College, and currently serves on the advisory board of UCLA’s School of Public Policy and the Tomas Rivera Policy Institute, a California-based think tank that addresses Latino issues in North America. Sol has also served as a commissioner on the Colorado Commission of Higher Education and on the boards of business groups and state and regional economic development groups in the western states of the US.
In recognition of a lifetime of advocacy and commitment to workplace diversity, Sol received the Ronald H. Brown Corporate Bridge Builder Award from President Clinton in 1999. Sol is the recipient of honorary doctorates from the University of Wyoming and the University of Colorado. He is also active in community affairs and civic initiatives at every level and was ranked by Hispanic Business magazine as one of the 100 Most Influential Hispanics in the United States.
International Businessman
Solomon D. (“Sol”) Trujillo is a global telecommunications, media, and cable industry executive born in Cheyenne, Wyoming in 1951. He has served as CEO of large-cap media-communications companies in the US, the EU, and Asia-Pacific regions. A digital pioneer and long a champion of high-speed broadband to stimulate productivity and advance innovation across all sectors of the economy, Sol is actively engaged in media-comms businesses in both developed and emerging markets, from China and South Asia to North America, Europe, Africa, and the Middle East. He sits on corporate boards in the US, EU, and China – including Target and Promerica Bank of Los Angeles, where he is vice chairman; China’s Silk Road Technologies, where he is chairman; and Weather Investments, headquartered in Rome with investments in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa.
After graduating from the University of Wyoming, where he earned a B.S. in Business and an MBA in Finance, he went to work for AT&T. Seven years later, at the age of 32, he became the youngest executive officer in the history of the company.
Following the break up of the Bell monopoly in 1984, Sol joined US West, one of seven Bell operating companies established by the divestiture. Over the next 15 years, he worked his way up to chairman, CEO, and president of the telecommunications giant, headquartered in Denver. In his capacity as CEO of an enterprise with nearly 30 million customers and more than $14 billion in revenues, Sol was America’s first US-born Hispanic to serve as CEO of a Fortune 200 company.
In 2001, Sol joined the Board of Orange SA, a Paris-based multinational wireless giant with 50 million customers in 19 countries throughout Europe, Africa, and the Middle East. Two years later, at the request of France Telecom, a major Orange shareholder, Sol moved to the CEO position to prepare the company for acquisition, becoming the first American to lead a CAC-40 company.
Sol served most recently as CEO of Telstra Corporation, Australia’s largest media-communications enterprise, where he completed the privatization of a previously government-owned monopoly and led the transformation of a traditional telecommunications utility into an integrated media-communications company – including telephone, CATV, wireless, directories, advertising, online trading, and the world’s largest, fastest, and most advanced mobile internet.
He has been a trade policy advisor to the Clinton and the second Bush administrations, trustee of Boston College, and currently serves on the advisory board of UCLA’s School of Public Policy and the Tomas Rivera Policy Institute, a California-based think tank that addresses Latino issues in North America. Sol has also served as a commissioner on the Colorado Commission of Higher Education and on the boards of business groups and state and regional economic development groups in the western states of the US.
In recognition of a lifetime of advocacy and commitment to workplace diversity, Sol received the Ronald H. Brown Corporate Bridge Builder Award from President Clinton in 1999. Sol is the recipient of honorary doctorates from the University of Wyoming and the University of Colorado. He is also active in community affairs and civic initiatives at every level and was ranked by Hispanic Business magazine as one of the 100 Most Influential Hispanics in the United States.
Ambassador José H. Villarreal
United States of America Commissioner General
World Expo 2010 Shanghai
In July 2009, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton appointed José H. Villarreal U.S. Commissioner General for Expo 2010 Shanghai and in May 2010 President Barack Obama accorded him with the Personal Rank of Ambassador.
Ambassador Villareal is an attorney in San Antonio, Texas with a distinguished background in law, business and non-governmental sectors. He currently serves as a senior advisor to the law firm of Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld, where he previously served as a longtime partner. Before joining Akin Gump, he served as an assistant attorney general in the Public Finance Division of the Texas Attorney General's office.
Ambassador Villarreal has a broad political background as well and has served in senior roles in a number of presidential campaigns. He has also served on the governing boards of numerous organizations, both public and private. He currently serves on the boards of the Center for American Progress, one of the nation's leading think tanks, and the New America Alliance, an organization of distinguished American Latino business leaders dedicated to philanthropy. For many years, he served as chairman of the board of the National Council of La Raza, the nation's largest Hispanic constituency based organizations, where he led a successful capital campaign for the establishment of NCLR's headquarters building in Washington, D.C.
Ambassador Villareal currently serves on the board of directors of the PMI Group, Union Pacific and First Solar, Inc. and from 1998 to 2006 he served on the board of directors for Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., where he also served as lead independent director.
Ambassador Villareal has been recognized by numerous publications for his achievements and in 2001 was inducted into the prestigious Academy of Law Alumni Fellows by the Indiana University School of Law.
Ambassador Villarreal received his B.A. in 1975 from Purdue University and his J.D. in 1979 from the Indiana University School of Law. He is a member of the State of Bar of Texas.
United States of America Commissioner General
World Expo 2010 Shanghai
In July 2009, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton appointed José H. Villarreal U.S. Commissioner General for Expo 2010 Shanghai and in May 2010 President Barack Obama accorded him with the Personal Rank of Ambassador.
Ambassador Villareal is an attorney in San Antonio, Texas with a distinguished background in law, business and non-governmental sectors. He currently serves as a senior advisor to the law firm of Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld, where he previously served as a longtime partner. Before joining Akin Gump, he served as an assistant attorney general in the Public Finance Division of the Texas Attorney General's office.
Ambassador Villarreal has a broad political background as well and has served in senior roles in a number of presidential campaigns. He has also served on the governing boards of numerous organizations, both public and private. He currently serves on the boards of the Center for American Progress, one of the nation's leading think tanks, and the New America Alliance, an organization of distinguished American Latino business leaders dedicated to philanthropy. For many years, he served as chairman of the board of the National Council of La Raza, the nation's largest Hispanic constituency based organizations, where he led a successful capital campaign for the establishment of NCLR's headquarters building in Washington, D.C.
Ambassador Villareal currently serves on the board of directors of the PMI Group, Union Pacific and First Solar, Inc. and from 1998 to 2006 he served on the board of directors for Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., where he also served as lead independent director.
Ambassador Villareal has been recognized by numerous publications for his achievements and in 2001 was inducted into the prestigious Academy of Law Alumni Fellows by the Indiana University School of Law.
Ambassador Villarreal received his B.A. in 1975 from Purdue University and his J.D. in 1979 from the Indiana University School of Law. He is a member of the State of Bar of Texas.
David Waller
Partner, Bain & Co.
Dave Waller is a Partner at Bain & Co. where he also serves as Director of LATBA (Latinos at Bain).
Mr. Waller joined Bain in 1999. Today, he is a leader in Bain's industrial and private equity practices, where he has completed nearly 100 assignments focused on a broad variety of issues including corporate strategy, growth strategy, performance improvement, strategic due diligence, and merger integration.
A native of Chile, Mr. Waller co-founded LATBA (Latinos at Bain) to recruit, develop, and retain the best Latino business talent.
Prior to joining Bain, Mr. Waller worked on Wall St. at DLJ and in marketing at Microsoft. He earned his MBA at Harvard in 1999 and BA at Yale in 1993.
Mr. Waller resides in the Boston suburbs with his wife and three sons.
Partner, Bain & Co.
Dave Waller is a Partner at Bain & Co. where he also serves as Director of LATBA (Latinos at Bain).
Mr. Waller joined Bain in 1999. Today, he is a leader in Bain's industrial and private equity practices, where he has completed nearly 100 assignments focused on a broad variety of issues including corporate strategy, growth strategy, performance improvement, strategic due diligence, and merger integration.
A native of Chile, Mr. Waller co-founded LATBA (Latinos at Bain) to recruit, develop, and retain the best Latino business talent.
Prior to joining Bain, Mr. Waller worked on Wall St. at DLJ and in marketing at Microsoft. He earned his MBA at Harvard in 1999 and BA at Yale in 1993.
Mr. Waller resides in the Boston suburbs with his wife and three sons.