Juan Carlos Ramirez

I am a certified project manager and Senior Associate at PricewaterhouseCoopers. I am also a Consortium for Graduate Study in Management (CGSM) fellowship recipient, a Management Leadership for Tomorrow (MLT) graduate and hold an M.B.A. from NYU Stern and a B.S.B.A. from Georgetown University.. My 11 years of experience spans the corporate, government, non-profit and consulting arenas. My specialty is in Human Capital, Content, Performance and Knowledge Management. I joined NSHMBA to work together with the most talented professionals and share my expertise and networks in order to make a tremendous impact on the Hispanic business community. As Chapter president, I look forward to creating a strong foundation for the Chapter Board and look forward to organizing networking and informational events that leave our members truly informed, inspired and "flossing their teeth!"

Darwin Rivera

I serve as the Executive VP. A native of Puerto Rico, I am a firm believer in education and its power to change lives. While on active duty with the U.S. Air Force I completed an Associate in Applied Science from the Community College of the Air Force, as well as a B.S. in Management Computer Information Systems and an M.B.A from Park University. Today, I am a Program Manager at ActivIdentity, Inc. and actively mentor students from throughout the world. I am proud to have been nominated to be featured in Hispanic MBA Magazine as a "Rising Star,” and credit every job and business opportunity since leaving active duty to my involvement in NSHMBA.

Sandra Rivera

I am a dual mixed Latina of Colombian and Puerto Rican descent. I was raised in Lynn, MA and now live in the Washington, DC area. I believe in being a leader and mentor, so I hold active roles across professional organizations. I currently work for the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as a Program Analyst for the Water Permits Division in the Office of Wastewater Management (OWM). I hold a M.B.A. degree from Trinity Washington University and a B.S. degree in International Business Management from the University of New Haven in CT.  I am the DC Chapter’s VP of Events and Membership.

Ricardo Martinez

I proudly hail from Utuado, Puerto Rico. My career in international trade, economics and finance began in 2003, when as a congressional intern I was assigned to research data to support the lobbying strategy for the U.S.–Singapore Free Trade Agreement. Today I am a dedicated international trade compliance analyst for the U.S. International Trade Administration (ITA). I also serve as the DC Chapter’s Treasurer and VP of Finance, and volunteer as a scholarship application reviewer for the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute (CHCI). The NSHMBA DC Chapter is unique in that it lies within the heart of the federal and non-profit sectors. My hope is to facilitate networking opportunities that will lead to the placement of its membership in federal government and/or international institutions that will greatly benefit from Latino talent.

Veronica Castro

I currently work as a project engineer at Management Analysis Incorporated and specialize in operation strategies implementation for federal agencies and private sector companies. My previous work experience was at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) as General Engineer/Project Liaison overseeing renovation and construction of research spaces. I graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from Drexel University and am currently pursuing an M.B.A. at the Florida Institute of Technology at Marine’s base in Quantico, VA. I joined NSHMBA because I am seeking professional development and networking opportunities. As VP of Corporate Relations, I am committed to working with corporate representatives to bring career development and educational opportunities to NSHMBA members and promote our Hispanic talent.

Michelle Arencivia

Born to Cuban exiles in the suburbs of New York City, I learned to thrive among cross-cultures. In many ways, I’ve learned to thrive through difficult circumstances. Today I hold a GED, a business degree from Florida International University with a certificate in Latin American and Caribbean Studies, and an honors certificate in intensive Spanish from the Universidad Pontifica in Salamanca, Spain. One of my proudest moments was when I was the only M.B.A. candidate profiled in the U.S. News & World Report issue of "America’s Best Graduate Schools – 2008.”While in business school, I studied in the Czech Republic, the People’s Republic of China, Indonesia, Singapore and South Africa. Currently, I am a Director of Product Management at Laureate Education. What I hope to bring to the Chapter Board? My energy and enthusiasm for bringing people together.

Berenice Bonilla

I currently have the honor of helping to develop tomorrow’s Latino leaders. As Manager of the NCLR Lideres Initiative, I have the privilege of creating compelling leadership programs and events that will equip and empower emerging agents of positive social change.I hold a Master of Arts in Communication Management from the USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism and a Bachelor’s degree in International Relations from Syracuse University I joined NSHMBA to cast a bigger vision for my own professional development, and to contribute my communication skills to help tell the powerful story of the organization. I am thrilled to join this electrifying group of Hispanic professionals who share my passion for making higher education and advancement more accessible to our community. As Marketing Chair, this year I hope to help forge a stronger connection between NSHMBA resources and the DC Metro area at large.

Virginia Castro

After graduating from The George Washington University (GWU) in ’06 with a B.A. in Public Policy and Political Science, I began my career at ISI Group, a mid-size economic research and investment management firm in Manhattan. I was an associate for 5 years and worked in fixed income mutual fund and hedge fund sales and trading. I later decided to return to GWU for my M.B.A. because of the program’s strong international business reputation. I am proud to say that I was the first GWU graduate student to receive the NSHMBA Fellowship award. While in school, I served as President of the GW Hispanic MBA Student Association and as Secretary and Compliance Officer of the NSHMBA DC Chapter. Today, I continue to serve on the DC NSHMBA Board and am currently working for the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC).

 Nuria Rodriguez Padro

I am honored to be of service to Latina/o professionals and University Partners in the Washington, D.C. Metropolitan area as VP of University Relations & Education. A proud double graduate of Penn State, I received my Bachelor’s degree from the College of Education in 2001 and my M.Ed. in 2007. As a Lifetime member of the Penn State Alumni Association I serve as a FastStart Mentor for first-year/transfer students and an Executive Board Member of the Latino Alumni Interest Group.  I hope to bring to the Board my experience, networks, and passion to support Latinas/os in Higher Education.

 Leisy Justiz

My professional career started as a Financial Advisor/ Operations Supervisor with Chase Bank where I earned ample recognition as one of the top producers in the Northeast region in retail banking sales. In the last six years, I became a Business Banker/Branch Manager, and earned my Series 6, 63 and Life Insurance licenses. After ten years in financial consulting, I joined the Department of Treasury (IRS, Tax Exempt and Government Entities unit) as a Program and Management Analyst, dealing with compliance, budgeting, and staffing efforts through the federal, state and local governments.  I graduated as a Valedictorian with a B.S. degree in Business Administration from Miami Dade College.  I’m currently working on my Executive MBA at the University of Maryland. I enjoy making a positive difference and serve as a role model to other immigrants such as myself.