Meet the Class of 2004

"The NHLI program has provided me with the tools needed to be the leader I would hope to be and to have an impact within our community.”

TINA MARIE BRADLEY is Vice President for INROADS, Inc. serving the Western Territory. She received her BA in English from the University of Massachusetts, Boston and her MA in Organizational Management from the University of Phoenix. Ms. Bradley has been very active working with organizations including: Childhelp USA, Business Volunteers for the Arts, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, The Fiesta Bowl, and her church.

"This is an opportunity of a lifetime, since I believe that the best vehicle for change is to combine our strengths as Latinas and forge forward with all our experiences and talents.”

MARIA LOU CALANCHE is the Principal Consultant and Owner of New Urban Networks Consulting that focuses on urban issues including land use consultation, youth delinquency, school safety, and parent education. She is also an adjunct Professor of Political Science at East Los Angeles Community College. She is currently completing her dissertation research focused on evaluating the impact of citizen participation and decentralization in local land use decisionmaking.

"The NHLI program has given me the necessary tools to work more efficiently in my community. I was able to find my true potential and identify my weaknesses and strengths and use them to my advantage.”

JANINA CALDERON-FERGUSON is the Founder and President of Calderon Hispanic Marketing. She earned a BS in Marketing and an International Marketing Certificate from Arizona State University, as well as a Broadcasting Diploma from the Columbia School of Broadcasting. She serves on advisory boards of the Denver Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Centro Bienestar San Jose and the Minority Enterprise & Educational Development as well as involved with the Rocky Mountain Minority Supplier Development Council, the Colorado Women’s Chamber of Commerce, Mi Casa Women’s Resource Center, the Colorado Asthma Coalition, Adams City High School, and the Denver Sister Cities program.

"Learning with this powerful network of Latina sisters has enhanced dimensions of my work in philanthropy and reinforced my hope of creating opportunities for ethical transformations.”

HELEN DORADO-ALESSI is the Senior Program Officer at the Edwin Gould Foundation for Children. She received her Master’s from Bernard M. Baruch College of Public Affairs and completed study with the New School University Milano Graduate School. Ms. Dorado-Alessi serves on the boards of Hispanics in Philanthropy and the Edwin Gould Academy, and is also a member of the Steering Committee for the New York City Youth Funders Network.

"NHLI has been an enlightening and life-changing experience for me as I refine and acquire new tools necessary to reach my professional and personal goals.”

ELIZABETH EGUIA-GARCIA is the Director of Institutional Advancement and Public Affairs at Palo Alto College in San Antonio, Texas. She received a MA from St. Mary’s University and a BA from Our Lady of the Lake University. She is a community activist for women and children who experience issues of domestic violence. Mrs. Eguia-Garcia’s community involvement includes work with the Benedictine Resource Center’s P.E.A.C.E. Initiative, Corporate Responsibility, and Hispanas Unidas.

"NHLI has allowed me the opportunity to grow profoundly on a personal level so that I can in turn be a more compassionate and effective leader.”

MARINA ESPINOZA is a Youth Development Faculty at Washington State University, serving primarily underserved populations in the King County area. She received her Master’s in Educational Policy and Management from the University of Oregon. Ms. Espinoza serves on the Willamette Valley Law Project Board, Chair of the Community Alliance for Youth and on several other committees related to education. She has been very active in grassroots community organizing efforts in the areas of education and farm worker issues.

ROSEMARY FLORES is President and CEO of Bilingual Consulting Services. Her contracts include Educational Achievement Services and Public Health Foundation of N. Nevada. She served as Vice-President of Nevada’s Block Grant Commission and has served on the Latin Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors serving as Chairperson of the Latino Youth Leadership Conference. She received her BS in Secondary Education from the University of Nevada.

"My participation in the NHLI program has given me the training and background to speak for those who remain voiceless.”

LENI GONZALEZ is the Northern Virginia Outreach Coordinator for the Department of Motor Vehicles and a member of the Virginia Council on the Status of Women, Board of Directors of the Arlington Community Action Program, Inc., The Urban Alternative Foundation and the Project Family.  She is a founder of the Democratic Latino Organization of Virginia. She serves as the President of LULAC Council 4609 in Arlington and on the Advisory Council of the Institute for Mexicans Abroad. Ms. Gonzalez came to the U.S. as a Fulbright Scholar and received her Master’s in Education at Catholic University of America.

"NHLI has provided an outstanding opportunity for me to learn, share, and bring back to my Hispanic community a special skill set that will make a difference in the lives of others.”

CYNTHIA HERNANDEZ CASSANO is the Managing Director of the Crowley Children’s Fund that provides outreach to children at risk. She received her Master’s in Social Work and Chemical Dependency/Alcohol and Drugs from California State University, Sacramento. She is a Board Certified LCSW and holds a certification in Legal Meditation from the McGeorge School of Law. Ms. Hernandez-Cassano served on the boards of the United Way, People Reaching Out, Sierra Adoption Services, the Children’s Receiving Home of Sacramento, Child Abuse Prevention Council, Big Brothers Big Sisters, as well as the Army & Navy Military Academy.

"NHLI has provided us with the knowledge and relationships necessary to promote and support the development of creative solutions to some of the most difficult challenges facing our communities — it’s up to us to act on it.”

ELIZABETH HERNANDEZ MCNAMEE is Associate Director, Community Development for St. Luke’s Health Initiatives dedicated to the health care needs of underserved populations. She holds a BA from Trinity University, a MPH from the University of Texas, School of Public Health, and is a Fellow in the American College of Healthcare Executives. She serves on the Board of the Arizona Hospital and Healthcare Association and works with a number of health and human service organizations.

"Hispanic women have a great contribution to make to the future of our country, and the Institute provides Latinas from across the country the opportunity to step up to the plate and work together to make positive changes in our communities.”

MILLIE HERRERA is the founder, owner and president of The Miami Group, Inc., a management consulting and public affairs firm. She received her MBA from Florida International University. She serves on the Miami Dade County Community Council 12 and on the Board of Directors of Union Positiva, and on the Community Advisory Board of the Girls Advocacy Project.

"In NHLI, we will continue to expand the framework, which promotes the diverse talents and skills that Latinas have contributed to our society. NHLI provides the avenue in making this a reality.”

JOHANNA B. MAES is the Director of the Pre-Collegiate Development Programs at the University of Colorado at Boulder assisting first generation middle and high school students to pursue their higher education goals. She received her BS from the University of Colorado School of Journalism and Mass Communication and her Master’s of Education from Regis University. Ms. Maes serves on the Board of Directors of Assets for Colorado Youth, the Mayor of Denver’s Commission on Youth, and was also a guest columnist for the Denver Post.

"NHLI provides us with a great opportunity to collaborate on a shared vision for the future in which we help our Hispanic communities across the nation grow stronger, achieve financial self-sufficiency and realize their dreams.”

EVELYN MONTALVO is the President/Founder of Evelyn Montalvo Associates, providing executive coaching and talent development consulting services for newly emerging diverse workforces. She received her MBA from New York University in Finance and Marketing. Ms. Montalvo serves on the United Way of Southeastern Pennsylvania’s Community Impact Plan Development Committee and Marketing Communications Steering Committee.

"I believe NHLI will once again be critical to helping us develop a higher sense of Latino community globally while continuing to build our communities locally. We know that we are hermanas today and in the future. That connection will never leave our hearts.”

CELIA NUÑEZ is a Policy Analyst to the Oregon Senate Democratic Leadership Office – the highest ranking Latina staff member in the Oregon Legislative Assembly – and is responsible for conducting analyses of policy issues as well as being the primary liaison to state agencies. She has a BA in Organizational Management and is working towards her MBA from George Fox University in Oregon. She is on the Board of Directors of the Oregon Council for Hispanic Advancement and is a member of the Oregon Community Foundation-Northern Willamette Valley Advisory Council.

"This program has already recharged my mind and my spirit and provided me with excellent resources as a leader.”

MONICA PALACIO is the Director of Training and Technical Assistance for the National Crime Prevention Council. She received her degree from the Georgetown University Law Center. Ms. Palacio also serves as a master trainer and board member for the National Coalition Building Institute. She dedicates herself to building cross-cultural understanding across all identity groups with the goal of of ending racism, and all forms of discrimination, within the Latino community and for all communities.

"The NHLI program has provided me with the vision and tools to strengthen my professional life.”

MARIA DEL SOCORRO PESQUEIRA is the President and CEO of Mujeres Latinas en Acción a community-based organization that provides a comprehensive array of social services and advocacy initiatives to promote non-violence and leadership development. Ms. Pesqueira is a board member of the Jesus Guadalupe Foundation and the Coalition Against Domestic Violence Foundation. She is co-founder of Latinos in Development, a professional association of those with careers in resource development and other fundraising activities.

MARIA TERESA PETERSEN serves as Regional Director for LawMedia, a strategic political consulting firm based in Washington, DC. She advises on grassroots organizing, Congressional and State issues and strategic corporate giving. Her strong community service record advising non-profits includes work with the National Latino Council on Alcohol and Tobacco Prevention. Ms. Petersen received a Bachelor’s in International Economics from the University of California, Davis and her Master’s in Public Policy from Harvard University.

"I’ve done a lot for transportation, served in several professional organizations, in a number of leadership roles. I believe NHLI will help me develop the personal resources and professional connections to extend this experience to the Hispanic community.”

SUSAN SÁNCHEZ is the Director for the Policy, Planning and Major Projects Division in the Seattle Department of Transportation. She is a graduate of the University of Washington Urban Planning School. Ms. Sánchez volunteers for Leadership Tomorrow and the University of Washington Career Mentor Program. She is also a board member of the Sisu Foundation dedicated to helping handicapped students meet the physical challenges of a college education.

"…the experience of fellowship with NHLI resurrects, rebuilds, confirms, and reaffirms the power within me; the inherent transformational power we all possess to effect positive change in ourselves, our communities, and ultimately, our world!”

AMY SERRANO is the Director of Siren Studios, an independent film production organization. A 2003 recipient of the TESOROS award in Art and Culture, she serves as an Advisory Board member of the Next Gen International Film Festival and is Project Director on “Of Hope, Courage and Justice: A Global Mosaic of Women in Human Rights,” a multimedia film project exploring the dual role of women in human rights; not just the victims of harsh cultural legacies, but the creative agents of global, social change.

"NHLI has been an experience that has transformed my professional and personal life. It has given me the tools necessary for continued growth and leadership in the Latino community.”

ANA MARIA SOTO is the Director of Latino Cultural Affairs at Columbia College Chicago where she is charged with developing a Latino cultural agenda. She graduated from University of the South and received her Master’s from Universidad Complutense de Madrid. She serves on advisory boards on Latino Council on the Media, Chicago Latina Leadership Council of the Chicago Foundation for Women as well as a host for two public access television programs dealing with issues that concern Latinos.

"The NHLI program has been a wonderful opportunity to grow professionally and personally while enjoying the development of long lasting relationships with wonderful Latinas.”

ELIZABETH SUÁREZ is the Founding Partner of Xcelente Marketing & Advertising, a cross cultural, full service marketing and advertising agency specializing in marketing to Hispanic consumers. Ms. Suárez earned a BS in Chemical Engineering from Cornell University and an MBA from The Wharton School of Business, University of Pennsylvania. She is a board member of the Denver PBS Station KBDI, where she chairs both the Latino Committee and the Marketing Committee, and she sits on the boards of Adelante Mujer Inc. and the Denver Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.

"It is an honor to be joining such a respected group of Latina professionals. I look forward to working with them to ensure the continued success of the Hispanic community and to learn real strategies and solutions that we can apply at all levels of our community.”

CONNIE VALIENTE is the Director of Event Services for the United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. Her responsibilities include fundraising, pre-planning and development of all events and their logistics. She graduated from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst with a Master’s Degree in Education. Previously, she worked as Corporate Liaison for the National Puerto Rican Coalition. Mrs. Valiente also holds a Master’s Degree in Public Communications from American University.