IHCC - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- CORAMA Director
- Director of CORAMA
Adrian serves as the Director of CORAMA, a deep data science solution designed to assist small businesses in aligning procurement opportunities with the capabilities of contract seekers. Adrian is committed to serving the public, working at the intersection of data and analysis, and using technology and social science to design policies that work for society. He is passionate about microeconomics and entrepreneurship, developing strategies to help Latino business owners achieve their full potential.
Adrian holds a master's degree in Public Policy from the Harris School of Public Policy at The University of Chicago. He earned his law L.L.B. at the Autonomous University of Baja California. Adrian also is certified in econometrics, digital marketing, and integrated communications.
He has dedicated his professional career to advocating for the community. Adrian has experience working in government, nonprofits, and the private sector. He worked for the federal Mexican government in Baja, California, as a legal affairs coordinator before joining the Consulate of Mexico in Fresno, California, in its cultural and community affairs department. Later, he continued his diplomatic career with the Consulate of Mexico in Chicago, serving in the legal and protection affairs unit. There, his duties were focused on immigration matters. Additionally, Adrian worked in the technology industry.
Adrian is originally from California and grew up at the border between Mexico and the U.S., giving him a unique bicultural and binational identity. He lives with his wife, Pauleth Jauregui, and daughter, Isabella.
Job Titles:
- APEX Accelerator Project Coordinator
Alejandra Natera currently serves as the APEX Accelerator Project Coordinator at the Illinois Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. As Project Coordinator, she advises business owners on how to maximize opportunities and get exposed to local, statewide, and government agencies. Under the direct supervision of the PTAC Director, Alejandra ensures that the IHCC PTAC Center operates efficiently and professionally on a regular basis to advance the IHCC/ PTAC commitment to generate resources and advocate on issues that affect the Hispanic business community.
She graduated with a double major in Political Science and Latin American Latino Studies from the University of Illinois at Chicago. Alejandra has worked alongside transnational non-profit organizations that advocate for immigrant rights and address humanitarian issues at the southern border. In college, she served on a committee that addressed equitable state funding for first-generation college students. She is committed to social justice work and being a voice for marginalized communities.
In her free time, Alejandra enjoys traveling and spending time outdoors. She is part of a coed soccer team and enjoys trying out new hobbies.
Job Titles:
- Marketing and Communications Manager
Edgar Estrada is the marketing and communications manager. He manages all communications, including social media, website content, press releases, media outreach, and other communication materials to articulate IHCC's mission.
Edgar received his undergraduate degree from Dominican University in 2020. During his time there, he served as the Director of Events for the Organization of Latin American Students. He was also a mentor in the Estrellas Mentorship Program, a program that focused on assisting freshman transition students with navigating the college student experience.
With years of experience in customer service-related roles in the hospitality, retail, and food industries, Edgar has developed a passion for helping people and making real connections. In his free time, he enjoys bike riding, sports, playing video games, attending concerts, and keeping up with the latest fashion news.
Job Titles:
- Assistant
- Events Coordinator
Job Titles:
- Secretary & Treasurer / President and CEO
Job Titles:
- Department of Transportation 's Great Lakes Region Project Coordinator
- USDOT Great Lakes Region SBTRC Project Coordinator
Hilda Alvarez Rodriguez currently serves as the U.S. Department of Transportation's Great Lakes Region Project Coordinator of the Small Business Transportation Resource Center (SBTRC) at the Illinois Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (IHCC).
Her role is managing the Bonding Education Program and Women and Girls in Transportation Initiative while assisting the program director with the program's day-to-day and administrative operations. In addition, she assists with counseling and acquiring the necessary documentation from clients in order to prepare documents pertaining to capacity building, bond packaging, loan packaging and procurement assistance.
Hilda received her undergraduate degree in International Relations and Diplomacy from Dominican University, with a minor in Interfaith Studies. In college, she was the president of Model United Nations and held many leadership positions in the areas of advising and first-year experience. She is passionate about assisting and encouraging others to succeed and looks forward to meeting new people and making connections.
Hilda's hobbies include reading, going to the movies, and exploring new restaurants in the city.
Job Titles:
- Administrative Assistant II
Jacqueline's role at IHCC is to provide on-the-fly support to the Chief of Staff, the Office Manager, and the Grants Manager. Her versatility proves Jacqueline indispensable in coordinating calendars, organizing office resources, and assisting in IHCC's programs' grant management. Her assistance facilitates efficient collaboration between IHCC's administration and program directors.
Prior to joining the IHCC, Jacqueline worked for the Reno court system in Nevada, where she oversaw and trained other court clerks on court policies and operating procedures. Her ability to maintain confidentiality and excellent minute-taking skills invite Jacqueline to sit and take minutes during important board and confidential IHCC meetings.
Jacqueline is a Chicago native who grew up in a family-owned business. Her parents, originally from Jalisco, MX, currently own and operate a successful Mexican Restaurant in Reno, Nevada. Therefore, coming from a Hispanic-owned business, Jacqueline is aware of and completely committed to IHCC's mission and vision. With a major in Human Resources Management, she is knowledgeable in the fundamentals of organizational ethics, onboarding practices, policies, procedures, and training and development.
In her free time, Jacqueline enjoys sushi outings with her family to feed the soul, traveling with her friends for motivation, meditation for tranquility, jogging for health, reading to stay ahead, and dancing to stay young forever.
Job Titles:
- Chief Executive Officer
- President
- Homepage Jaime Di Paulo
- President & CEO of the Illinois Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
Jaime di Paulo was selected as President & CEO of the Illinois Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (IHCC), the leading Hispanic business networking, advocacy and development organization in the Midwest in January 2019.
In his short tenure, Jaime has doubled its membership and secured a $2.5 million dollar grant from the State to find a home for the IHCC to create the first of its kind "Center for Hispanic Entrepreneurs."
As CEO of IHCC, he has established four priorities:
Being a meeting point for the big Latino companies in the State of Illinois.
Multiplying the ways to train Hispanics with small businesses.
Ensuring that Hispanic companies can have all the information to access credit and Government contracts.
Bringing together minorities in the State of Illinois to access better business opportunities.
Job Titles:
- Business Advisor for the Illinois Small Business Development Center at the Illinois Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
- Illinois Small Business Development Center Business Advisor
Julian Almanza is a Business Advisor for the Illinois Small Business Development Center at the Illinois Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (IHCC). He provides counseling for entrepreneurs in the process of starting and growing their businesses. He is fully bilingual in English and Spanish. His goal and vision are to empower Latino business owners with knowledge of successfully growing their businesses, facilitating and helping them navigate the available resources at the IHCC.
Born and raised in Mexico, Julian arrived in Chicago in 2011. He has dedicated his professional career to advocating for the community. Julian has extensive experience working for the Mexican government, close to 20 years. In his long career, he served as a consular officer in three different consulates of Mexico: Dallas, Texas; San Juan, Puerto Rico; and Chicago, Illinois. During this time, he served the Mexican community living abroad by providing legal services and consular assistance through the Department of Protection and Legal Affairs.
Julian received his Bachelor of Arts in International Relations at the International University in Morelos, Mexico. In addition, he has also participated in various government certification programs focusing on facilitating resources for disadvantaged communities and providing education and outreach to individuals going through criminal proceedings and deportation by guiding them to understand their basic and procedural rights better.
Julian loves music, and his favorite hobby is playing the drums. In his free time, he is the drummer for a Spanish rock band called Sin Anestesia. With a very successful music career, he has traveled and played many times in Chicago and all over the Midwest for the past 10 years.
Job Titles:
- Cook County Small Business Source Program Director
- Small Business Source Program Director
Keila Terrazas serves as our Cook County Small Business Source Program Director.
She is a graduate of the University of Illinois at Chicago with a Bachelor of Science in Marketing with a concentration in Digital Marketing and Promotions. She's had the opportunity to assist small businesses with their marketing strategies and event promotions in a variety of industries such as HVAC, restaurants, immigration law, real estate, and non-profit organizations. She is a first-generation Chicana student who was born and raised in the northwest suburbs of Cook County living her mother's American dream from Guerrero, Mexico.
Her hobbies consist of spending time with family, in nature, and exploring different activities and restaurants with friends.
Job Titles:
- Director
- General Counsel
- Vice President
Job Titles:
- Director / Sr Vice President, Governmental
Marcela joined the chamber in October of 2021 as the new chief of staff to lead the chamber's day-to-day operations and oversee all its projects.
Her background is in journalism and communications with over two decades of combined experience in newspapers, technical editing, and public relations, spearheading major projects and developing communications strategies.
She was also the principal and founder of MC Gray Consulting LLC (BEP certified) helping professionals, public and nonpublic entities with translations, editing, copy editing, in both English (American) and Spanish (Latin American). Her consulting business also offered specialized services in media training, media outreach, speech training, speech writing, press releases, and marketing planning and ad campaign coordination.
Prior to starting her consulting business, Marcela served as Communications Director for the former Illinois Lieutenant Governor Evelyn Sanguinetti. She was editor and writer for La Raza newspaper in Chicago, copy editor for The Clarion-Ledger in Jackson, Miss., copy desk chief for The Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal in Tupelo, Miss., and lifestyles editor for The Greenwood Commonwealth in Greenwood, Miss. While residing in Chile for five years (her hometown), she was technical editor for Adexus, a General Electric Aviation subcontractor.
Marcela is a proud graduate of Mississippi State University in Starkville, Mississippi, where she obtained a degree in communications with a major in print journalism and a minor in broadcasting. At MSU, she became the first editor of Hispanic origin for the prestigious student newspaper, The Reflector.
She has a cat named Lorenzo who brings immense joy to her life. She is the middle child of three siblings, known as the "Cartagena sisters." She is the proud aunt of Olivia, Ana Alicia, Christian and Cecilia. In her spare time, Marcela enjoys reading, watching Netflix, especially foreign films, doing yoga, cooking, playing chess, knitting scarfs for her loved ones.
Job Titles:
- Membership Director
- Membership Director at the Illinois Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
Marisa Alcantar is the Membership Director at the Illinois Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. Marisa has over five years of professional experience supporting and assisting Latino small business owners. She is committed to continuing to engage with small business owners within the Latino Communities to provide them with resources that are available for their businesses to help them expand their business. Marisa is a foodie. She enjoys eating at her favorite steakhouses, exploring new restaurants, horseback riding (cabalgatas), reading, and working out.
Job Titles:
- Department of Transportation 's Great Lakes Region Director
- USDOT Great Lakes Region SBTRC Director
Mia Sara Mendez currently serves as the U.S. Department of Transportation's Great Lakes Region Director of the Small Business Transportation Resource Center (SBTRC) at the Illinois Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (IHCC).
Her role is to assist DBE firms scale their business so that they can win federal contracting opportunities. She hosts a Bonding Education Program in collaboration with the respective DOTs in the Great Lakes region and empowers women in the Transportation Industry through the Women and Girls in Transportation Initiative (WITI).
Previously, she was the Program Manager for the Tollway Technical Assistance Program. In that role, she educated, trained, and prepared small and diverse firms to compete for opportunities on the Tollway system.
Mia received her undergraduate degree from Dominican University. During her undergrad, she was an executive board member and president of the Organization of Latin American students. She has alway been passionate about empowering the Hispanic community. Her five-plus years of client relations experience has fueled her passion for helping others.
Mia's hobbies include staying active through spin classes and weight training, exploring new coffee shops, and watching the latest runway shows.
Job Titles:
- Tollway Program Manager and Administrator
Michael Mendez Silva serves as the Tollway Program Manager and Administrator. He educates, trains, and prepares small and diverse firms to compete for opportunities on the Tollway system, assisting them with coaching work scope and capacity building, client engagement regarding procurement opportunities, and bid activities.
Michael is a Dominican University alumn of 2020. He holds a Bachelor of Business Administration with a concentration in Management. Before joining the IHCC team, he worked as a Program Manager in contract manufacturing, where he orchestrated the development and manufacturing of crucial life-saving pediatric and adult medical equipment. He is also the Chief Marketing Officer for his family's landscaping company. In addition, Michael enjoys golfing, weight lifting, and building LEGO sets in his spare time.
Job Titles:
- Director
- APEX Accelerator Program Director
Oscar is the Director and main point of contact for the APEX Accelerator program at IHCC. He handles the agenda of the program and organizes the events and webinars offered to our clients. As the Director, Oscar is responsible for handling a portion of the administrative tasks of the program, which include constant client outreach and follow-up, as well as providing one-on-one counseling through technical assistance sessions. He is fully bilingual (Spanish), and his expertise focuses on procurement, which comes in the form of assistance for minority certifications and government contracting.
Born and raised in Sonora, Mexico, Oscar has been at the IHCC since October 2020 and recently graduated in May 2022 from the University of Illinois at Chicago with a B.S. in Business Management. He also has three years of experience in the hospitality and entertainment industry working as a front desk agent and ticket booth supervisor. He has a passion for helping and assisting people, especially the Hispanic and small business communities. Traveling and exploring different cultures is one of his favorite hobbies. He enjoys
hanging around with friends and trying out different restaurants in the city. He is also a huge sports fan.
Job Titles:
- Events Director at the Illinois Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
Rosa Ivette Orozco serves as Events Director at the Illinois Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (IHCC). She has diplomatic career experience, working in government for 15 years. She worked for the Consulate General of Mexico in Chicago in different areas such as the documentation department, visas department, and administration and accounting department where she was in charge of the organization of all events such as presidential visits, key figures in politics, and diplomacy, and the Mexican Independence day annual event, etc.
She received her Bachelor's of International Trade from the University of Guanajuato in Guanajuato, Mexico, and her second Bachelor's degree in Marketing-Sales from the SUPEUROPE CESEC Normandie Business School in Caen, France. Her hobbies include running, enjoying audiobooks, traveling, exploring new restaurants, volunteering in social programs, and cooking.
Santiago Garcia II is a software engineer specializing in artificial intelligence and machine learning, which are at the forefront of technological advancement. Coming from a robust background with Infosys, a global company boasting over 300,000 employees, Santiago has been pivotal in navigating and contributing to large-scale, innovative projects, marking significant strides in the realms of prompt engineering and deep learning. His expertise has been instrumental in developing solutions that stand at the cutting edge of technology, exceeding industry standards and expectations.
After graduating from Bradley University with a B.Sc. in Computer Science, Santiago refined his aptitude in a broad spectrum of programming languages and frameworks, establishing himself as a versatile and invaluable asset in any tech-centric setting. Since embarking on his journey with Infosys in April 2022, he has led a variety of projects to fruition. One of his notable achievements was a six-month contract with Bank of America, where he significantly enhanced managerial efficiency and codebase maintainability through his comprehensive full-stack development prowess.
Beyond his professional endeavors, Santiago harbors a deep-seated passion for AI. He dedicates his personal time to uncovering the vast potential of AI and machine learning technologies. His commitment extends beyond personal interest, as he actively engages in educating and mentoring emerging talents in the software engineering domain, fostering an environment of knowledge-sharing and collective growth.
Outside of work, he is an avid sports enthusiast with a particular fondness for basketball, baseball, and football, which goes beyond mere spectating to an active involvement in the sports community. Additionally, Santiago takes pride in his collection of sports cards and Jordan sneakers, which reflects not only his love for sports but also an appreciation for the stories and history embedded within each item.
Job Titles:
- Director at the Illinois Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
- Illinois Small Business Development Center Director
Silvia Bonilla currently serves as Illinois Small Business Development Center Director at the Illinois Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. Silvia is an accomplished and respected expert in the field of small business development and has a sound and thorough understanding of the effort and focus required to start a business in today's constant changing world. She developed a profound sense of commitment for the nonprofit sector while working as an educator at the Chicago Public Schools. Helping to better the lives of others fueled her passion for assisting small businesses in their mission to grow and thrive.
Silvia is a history enthusiast and an avid reader with an immense love for traveling. As a result, she has a vested interest in international affairs. She serves on the Illinois Advisory Committee for the U.S. Global Leadership Coalition and thru the years she's been a member of the Chicago Council on Global Affairs and the United Nations Association's Greater Chicago Chapter. Additionally, she currently serves on Mayor Lori Lightfoot's Women Advisor Council of Chicago.
Silvia received her Bachelor of Arts and History from the Loyola University in Chicago and holds a Master's in Business Administration. Silvia has also participated in various executive certificate programs focusing on nonprofit growth and leadership from both the University of Notre Dame and the University of Chicago Booth School of Business.
Born and raised in El Salvador, Silvia now calls Chicago home, a city she loves because of its amazing history, delicious food and its blooming entrepreneurial spirit.
Job Titles:
- Grant Manager
- Grant Manager at the Illinois Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
Steve Anami is the Grant Manager at the Illinois Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. He is responsible for overseeing the complete grant lifecycle, from identifying potential opportunities to ensuring compliance and timely submission of reports and financial records.
Steve is a highly skilled professional with over a decade of extensive experience in the public sector. He received his Master's degree in Public Administration- Government Management from DePaul University's School of Public Service. Steve would be recognized and awarded the Dean F. Eitel Outstanding Student Award by the American Society of Public Administration. While
completing his Master's program, Steve was a public service intern for the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity and the City of Chicago Building Department. Steve would collaborate under the supervision of DCEO's general counsel, where he executed a series of monitoring activities and audits under the direction of the Office of the Inspector General. At the City, Steve would execute a series of compliance projects and process improvements with the permitting process under the supervision of the building department's legal team.
Prior to joining the IHCC, Steve served as a Senior Consultant at Baker Tilly under the Energy and Utilities team and Public Sector Risk Advisory team. He specialized in executing engagements with various government entities, demonstrating his proficiency in internal audit, compliance, risk, operational reviews, ERP implementations, strategic planning, policy development, grant management, and business process reviews. Steve's unique skills and experience with public entities allowed Steve to play a vital role in managing and executing the prime and secondary contracts with the State of Illinois for Internal Audit engagements.
At the IHCC office, Steve brings great energy and solid banter amongst his colleagues. Steve is also a food enthusiast and enjoys creating his own dishes for his wife, Latisha, and two sons, Sylas and Sabyn.
Job Titles:
- Business Advisor for the Cook County Small Business Source Program at the Illinois Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
- Business Owners in Applying for the Back to Business
- Cook County Small Business Source Business Advisor
Uriel Mendez Fernandez serves as Business Advisor for the Cook County Small Business Source program at the Illinois Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. He provides counseling for entrepreneurs in their early process of starting a business. Additionally, he serves as a liaison with elected officials to coordinate informative sessions for the Latino community.
Uriel is currently assisting business owners in applying for the Back to Business grant, Chiz Biz program, and other assignments.
Born and raised in Mexico City, he arrived in Chicago in 2008. He has dedicated his professional career to advocating for the community. Uriel has experience working for the government, nonprofit and private sectors. He worked for 12 years for the Mexican Government in the Consulate General of Mexico in Chicago for the Department of Protection and Legal Affairs; during his time, he was in charge of International Legal Assistance and Criminal Affairs.
He is a highly dedicated and organized project manager with a diverse background and leadership experience. He is ready to oversee and manage large-scale projects from the conceptual phase through completion. He has excellent communication skills and is experienced in dealing with customers, executives, and employees.
He is passionate about finding the best way to complete the mission, and has demonstrated successful leadership of several complicated projects. His work experience and excellent leadership skills allows him to work well with internal and external partners. He is passionate about microeconomics and entrepreneurship, developing strategies to help Latino business owners achieve their full potential. He is a specialist in management solutions, government liaison, government relations, interpersonal and public communications, project development & management.
Uriel received his Bachelor's in Law L.L.B. at the Universidad del Valle in Mexico City. His specialty is in Criminology, and has now completed and received his BACP Entrepreneur Certificate Program sponsored by the City of Chicago Department of Business Affairs & Consumer Protection.
He likes hiking and exploring places throughout the city in his free time. He loves traveling, coffee, reading a good book, and sharing his time with friends.
Job Titles:
- Director / Vice President - Investments and Private Client Advisor