101 Most Influential 2018 (51–101)
51. nina vaca: CHAIRMAN AND CEO OF PINNACLE GROUP
Nina Vaca is Chairman and CEO of Pinnacle Group, a group of IT staffing, administrative services, and vendor management companies she founded 19 years ago and has grown to several hundred million in revenues. Vaca serves on the boards of directors of three Fortune 1000 companies: Kohl’s Corporation (Fortune #157 - $19 billion in revenues), Cinemark Holdings (Fortune #827 - $2.6 billion in revenues), and Comerica, Inc. (Fortune #828 - $2.6 billion in revenues). She has many years of service in civic leadership and currently serves and the Chairman of the U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Foundation and as a Presidential Ambassador for Global Entrepreneurship. As part of the philanthropic work of 2017, she recently participated in a triathlon in Manta, Ecuador to raise funds for home-building efforts for victims of the earthquake that struck Ecuador in 2016.
personal:
Ecuadorian
Born: 1971 in Quito, Ecuador
B.A. in in Speech Communications and Minor in Business Administration from Texas State University.
Married
TWITTER: @ninavaca
52. SOL TRUJILLO: CHAIRMAN OF TRUJILLO GROUP INVESTMENTS
Sol Trujillo is the Chairman of Trujillo Group Investments. He is a member of the board of directors of Western Union, which ranks number 468 on the Fortune 500, with $5.6 billion in revenue and 10,000 employees. Trujillo has served as the CEO of three major telecommunications companies on three continents including US West in North America, Orange S.A. in Europe, and Telstra in Australia. In 2010, Trujillo co-founded the Latino Donor Collaborative (LDC), an organization dedicated to improving the Hispanic brand and ensuring Hispanic participation at every level of leadership in America.
personal:
American
Born: November 17, 1951 in Cheyenne, Wyoming
B.Bus and M.B.A. in Finance from University of Wyoming
Married
53. PETE VILLEGAS: VICE PRESIDENT OF LATIN AFFAIRS FOR COCA-COLA COMPANY
Peter Villegas’ responsibility include managing relationships with key local, state and national Hispanic political, community, business and civic leaders. He serves as a national spokesman for the company developing and managing the execution of local, regional and national strategies that position the Company as a leading corporate citizen in the U.S. Hispanic community.
personal:
Mexican
Born: Sonora, Mexico
54. GEISHA WILLIAMS: PRESIDENT AND CEO OF PG&E CORPORATION
Geisha J. Williams is Chief Executive Officer and President of PG&E Corporation. She joined the company in 2007, and has more than three decades of experience in the energy industry. Under Williams’ leadership, PG&E is responsible for providing safe, reliable, affordable and clean energy to 16 million people in northern and central California. In her prior role as President, Electric, Williams led PG&E’s electric business, including transmission, distribution, power generation, nuclear operations, energy procurement and customer care. n addition to serving on the Boards of Directors of PG&E Corporation and its utility subsidiary, Pacific Gas and Electric Company, Williams is a director at the Edison Electric Institute (EEI) and the Institute of Nuclear Power Operations (INPO).
personal:
Cuban-American
Born: 1961 in Cuba
Bachelor's in Engineering from the University of Miami, M.B.A. from Nova Southeastern University
Married
twitter: @PGE4Me
55. VICTOR ESPINOZA: JOCKEY
Professional Jockey, Victor Espinoza, was recently inducted into the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame. His career spans decades back, including over 3,200 wins and counting. Espinoza uses this platform for philanthropy and regularly dedicates 10% of all winnings to the pediatric cancer research charity City of Hope. At age 45, he continues breaking barriers by setting records and becoming the first Latino to be awarded the honors he continues to win
personal:
Mexican
Born: May 23, 1972 in Tulancingo, Hidalgo, Mexico
jockey school in Mexico
Single
twitter: @EspinozasVictor
56. LAUREN ZOE "LAURIE" HERNANDEZ: GYMNAST
Olympian Laurie Hernandez took home gold with her team during the 2016 olympics, also earning silver as a soloist on the balance beam. Hernandez quickly became a household name last year after making yet another victory as the winner of season 23 on Dancing With the Stars. She released her book "I Got This: The Gold and Beyond" back in January. These days, she's maintaining a steady career in acting, with appearances in various shows slated to air within the year, such as Sesame Street and Law & Order: Special Victims Unit.
personal:
Puerto Rican-American
Born: June 9, 2000 in Old Bridge Township, New Jersey
Secondary studies
Single
twitter: @lzhernandez02
57. JOSE ALTUVE: BASEBALL PLAYER (SECOND BASEMAN) FOR HOUSTON ASTROS
Astros second baseman Jose Altuve is a six-time MLB All-Star. In 2017, he won the AL MVP Award, the Hank Aaron Award and was key in Astros road to become World Series Champs. He was also Sports Illustrated's co-Sportsperson of the Year for helping lead relief efforts in the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey. He was also Associated Press Male Athlete of the Year. In 2018, he was Sports Illustrated ranked as the #2 player in baseball.
personal:
Venezuelan
Born: May 6, 1990 in Puerto Cabello, Venezuela
Married
twitter: @JoseAltuve27
58. SAUL "CANELO" ALVAREZ: BOXER
Canelo is from a large Mexican family with eight children and all seven boys of the Alvarez family became professional boxers. He started boxing at just 13 years old but turned pro already by age 15. For the past four years, Canelo has participated in Pay-per-view specials and regularly fights to sold out shows. Currently, the Welterwight champion is ranked number one by the Transitional Boxing Rankings Board and The Ring. In September 2018, he defeated rival Gennady Golovkin in a rematch via majority decision after 12 rounds.
personal:
Mexican
Born: July 18, 1990 in Guaralajada, Jalisco Mexico
Secondary studies
Single
twitter: @canelo
59. HECTOR V. BARRETO: CHAIRMAN OF THE LATINO COALITION
Hector V. Barreto is an advocate for small businesses and entrepreneurs. Back in 2001, he was appointed the 21st administrator of the U.S. Small Business Administration, where his role in assisting entrepreneurs was major in the distribution of tools. As the founder of Barreto Inc., he has dedicated his career to helping small businesses as he bridges the gap between entrepreneurs and major corporation relationships with this international consulting firm.
personal:
Mexican-American
Born: May 13, 1961 in Kansas City, Missouri
Bachelor's in Business Administration from Rockhurst University
Married
twitter: @LatinoCoalition
60. RAMIRO CAVAZOS: PRESIDENT AND CEO OF THE UNITED STATES HISPANIC CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
Ramiro Cavazos is the President and Chief Executive Officer of the United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. Previously, he served as the President & CEO of the San Antonio Hispanic Chamber of Commerce for 10 years. With his expertise in economic development, he has served as the Director of Economic Development for the City of San Antonio, Director of Research and Economic Development for the UT Health Science Center, and as the Global Public Affairs Manager for the Levi Strauss Company and Foundation for the Texas, Mexico, and Latin America region.
personal:
Mexican-American
Bachelor's in Government fron University of Texas in Austin, Master's in Public Administration from St. Mary's University
Married
twitter: @RAConomics
61. LUIS CORTES: FOUNDER, PRESIDENT AND CEO OF ESPERANZA
The Reverend Luis Cortés, Jr. is the Founder, President and CEO of Esperanza, the premiere Hispanic faith-based Evangelical network in the United States. With a national network of more than 13,000 Hispanic faith and community-based organizations, Esperanza is one of the leading voices for Latinos in America. Rev. Cortes has authored five books. He was listed as one of Time Magazine’s 50 Most Influential Evangelicals in 2005. He also presented the Invocation Prayer at the Inauguration Luncheon for Barak Obama’s 2013 Inauguration Ceremony.
personal:
City College, Master's of Divinity from Union Theological Seminary, Master's in Economic Development from Southern New Hampshire University
Married
62. JANE L. DELGADO: PRESIDENT AND CEO OF THE NATIONAL ALLIANCE FOR HISPANIC HEALTH
Dr. Jane L. Delgado is the President and CEO of the National Alliance for Hispanic Health. The mission of the Alliance is the best health outcomes for all. Alliance community-based members serve over 15 million Hispanics and national members provide services to over 100 million individuals annually. Dr. Delgado is a highly respected and sought after thought leader and commentator. Innovation and action have marked Dr. Delgado’s career as a leader who is transforming health, she is seen on CNN, Univision, and Telemundo. Dr. Delgado has provided commentary for numerous national media, including the Associated Press, the Wall Street Journal, the New York Times, and the Washington Post. She has has eight health books published.
personal:
Cuban American
Born: June 17, 1953
M.S. in Urban and Policy Sciences from W. Averell Harriman School of Urban and Policy Sciences, Ph.D in clinical psychology from SUNY Stony Brook
Married
twitter: @janeonhealth
63. OMAR DUQUE: PRESIDENT OF HITEC
Omar Duque is the President of HITEC. Previously, he served as the President and CEO of Illinois Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. Duque is passionate about entrepreneurship and the role entrepreneurship plays in building community and in helping create a better world. He helped found the Center for Hispanic Entrepreneurship and ENTERpreneur – a summer youth entrepreneurship program for Chicago-area high-school students. Under his leadership IHCC is leading an initiative to connect more Hispanics to the innovation economy and is launching a first-of-it’s kind incubator for Hispanic tech and tech-enabled startups in partnership with 1871. In 2018, he was named President of the Hispanic IT Executive Council.
personal:
Guatemalan-American
B.S. in Journalism from Northwestern University's Medill School of Journalism.
Married
twitter: @duque_omar
64. ANTONIO FLORES: PRESIDENT AND CEO, HISPANIC ASSOCIATION OF COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES
Dr. Antonio Flores is the president and CEO of the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU). Flores leads a strong team of professionals throughout the country with the common goal of improving higher education opportunities for Hispanics; and he's been leading the organization for over 20 years now. Over the years, membership has trippled under his leadership and billions of dollars in federal funding have been allocated to Hispanic-serving institutions.
personal:
PhD in Higher Education Administration from the University of Michigan Ann-Arbor, M.A. in Counseling and Personnel from Western Michigan University
twitter: @HACUNews
65. SYLVIA MENDEZ: CIVIL RIGHTS ACTIVIST
Sylvia Mendez has been on the frontlines of advocating for civil rights ever since she was a child. Her parents Gonzalo and Felicita Mendez fought the segregated school system all the way to court as Mendez v. Westminister until a judge ruled to desegregate all California public schools in 1947. The historical victory was the first of its kind and paved the way for many others. Mendez took full advantage of the rights her parents fought for her to have by attending desegregated public schools, college and went on to become a nurse. After 33 years in nursing, she retired to continue her family's legacy by advocating for civil rights and touring to give speeches enlightening the public on this lesser known part of history. In 2018, Mendez was awarded the National Hispanic Hero Award
personal:
Mexican-Puerto Rican American
Born: 1936 in Santa Ana, California
Nursing
twitter: @sylviafmendez
66. JOSE HORACIO GOMEZ: CATHOLIC ARCHBISHOP OF LOS ANGELES
Archbishop Gomez has been a U.S. Citizen since 1995. During his priestly and episcopal career he has founded or co-founded a number of initiatives designed to bring Latino Catholics closer to the Church, and received many awards. Since coming to Los Angeles he has worked very hard to reconcile the various elements of a deeply divided Archdiocese, emphasizing the Faith and local heritage that transcends cultural and ethnic lines. He is particularly concerned about immigration, education, and priestly formation. At the same time he has been keenly aware of the responsibilities of running the nation’s largest Archdiocese.
personal:
Mexican
Born: December 26, 1951 in Monterrey, Mexico
Doctorate in Theology (S.T.D.) from University of Navarre, Spain
twitter: @ArchBishopGomez
67. EMMA GONZALEZ: GUN-CONTROL ACTIVIST
Emma Gonzalez is a survivor of the February 2018 shooting at Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida. She co-funded the gun-control advocacy group Never Again MSD. She has been the face of various campaigns fighting for gun control policies. Gonzalez helped organized the March for Our Lives. At the rally and during her speech, she led a moment of silence of six minutes in honor of the victims. In March 2018, she was on the cover of Time Magazine in a very moving photo with fellow activist Jaclyn Corin, David Hogg, Cameron Kasky, and Alex Wind.
personal:
Cuban-American
Born: November 11, 1999 in Florida
New College of Florida (present)
Single
twitter: @Emma4Change
68. CRISTINA JIMENEZ: EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AND CO-FOUNDER OF UNITED WE DREAM, ACTIVIST
Cristina Jimenez is an advocate for Dreamers. She arrived to the U.S. at 13. She grew up in Queens, NY. Her and her family endured poverty, abuse by police, wage theft and fear of deportation. Jimenez was key in organizing the campaign that led to the creation and implementation of DACA. Her organization, United We Dream, has grown and is now a powerful network of 48 affiliates in 26 states and over 400,000 members. In 2017, she was awarded the MacArthur Foundation fellowship, one of the highest and most prestigious honors creative leaders receive.
personal:
Ecuadorian
Born: 1984 in Quito, Ecuador
B.A. in Political Science and Business from Queens College, Master's in Public Administration and Public Policy from Baruch College, CUNY
Single
twitter: @CrisAlexJimenez
69. MARIA TERESA KUMAR: PRESIDENT AND CEO OF VOTO LATINO
Very few wield as much influence and praise as Maria Teresa Kumar. She is the founder of the acclaimed Voto Latino organization, a nonpartisan group that champions Latino millennials in their communities and careers. She also serves on the national board of Planned Parenthood and Latino Leaders Network. Named one of the most influential and creative business owners by celebrities and publications alike. She is a frequent guest on TVs biggest programs. Her long list of awards includes an Emmy nomination and the White House Project award. Under her leadership, Voto Latino has become a key factor in national elections by directly registering over a quarter million voters and influencing millions more through viral, celebrity-driven campaigns.
personal:
Colombian-American
Born: 1974 in Bogota, Colombia
Bachelor's in International Relations from the University of California at Davis, Master's in Public Policy from Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government
Married
twitter: @MariaTeresa1
70. DIANA NATALICIO: PRESIDENT OF UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT EL PASO
Diana Natalicio is the President of the University of Texas, El Paso having assumed the position in 1988. Dr. Natalicio was recently named to the 2016 TIME 100 list of the most influential people in the world. In 2015, The Carnegie Corporation of New York honored Dr. Natalicio with its prestigious Academic Leadership Award in recognition of her exceptional achievements during the transformation of UTEP into a national public research university. In 2011, the President of Mexico presented her the Orden Mexicana del Aguila Azteca, the highest recognition bestowed on foreign nationals. In May 2018, she announced she planned to retire once her successor was selected.
personal:
Mexican
Born: August 25, 1939 in St. Louis, Missouri
Master’s in Portuguese from St. Louis University, Doctorate in Linguistics from The University of Texas at Austin
twitter: @utep
71. DR. ELENA RIOS: PRESIDENT AND CEO OF NATIONAL HISPANIC MEDICAL ASSOCIATION
Dr. Rios serves as President & CEO of the National Hispanic Medical Association, (NHMA), representing Hispanic physicians in the United States. The mission of the organization is to improve the health of Hispanics. Dr. Rios also serves as President of NHMA’s National Hispanic Health Foundation affiliated with the Robert F. Wagner Graduate School of Public Service, New York University, to direct educational and research activities. has been honored by U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Congressional Black, Hispanic, Asian and Native American Caucuses, American Public Health Association Latino Caucus, Association of Hispanic Health Executives, Minority Health Month, Inc., Hispanic Magazine, Verizon’s First Pollin Community Service Award, and Amerimed.
personal:
Mexican-American
Born: 1955 in California
B.A. in Human Biology/Public Administration from Stanford University, MSPH from University of California, M.D. from UCLA School of Medicine
Married
twitter: @ElenaRiosMD
72. DAMIAN RIVERA: CEO OF ALPFA
Damian Rivera is the new CEO of ALPFA. He was previously Managing Director in Accenture’s Resources Utilities practice. He served as Accenture’s Managing Director responsible for North American Hispanic American Employee Resource Group from 2011 - 2017. At ALPFA, he leads more than 92,000 professionals and student members across the nation. ALPFA is considered one of the most important organizations for professional and its members are able to have access to 50,000 paid summer internships through hundreds of Fortune 1000 corporate partners.
personal:
B.S. in Chemical and Biochemical Engineering from Rutgers University
Married
twitter: @DamianRiveraNYC
73. ANTHONY D. ROMERO: EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF AMERICAN CIVIL LIBERTIES UNION (ACLU)
It was pivotal time for America when Romero became Executive Director of the ACLU just days before 9/11. Son of a waiter, Anthony graduated from Stanford University of Law School and Princeton University. His father’s struggle for equality and respect inspired his path. Romero has worked on numerous campaigns to uphold rights of others and lobbying for the civil liberties. In 2016, he signed a letter with Norman Lear, Ernesto Zedillo, and Eve Ensler to Ban Ki-Moon, the eighth Secretary General of the UN for a more humane drug policy for epidemics. He is a co-author, member of several non-profit boards and the first openly gay leader of the ACLU. Romero has made it a life goal to defend the liberties and rights of all American individuals. He was the first to file a lawsuit against President Trump's Muslim Ban.
personal:
Puerto Rican-American
Born: July 9, 1965 in New York City, NY
Stanford University Law School, Princeton University's Woodrow Wilson School of Public Policy and International Affairs
Single
twitter: @AnthonyACLU
74. THOMAS SAVINO: CEO OF PROSPANICA
Thomas Savino is the CEO of Prospanica, a national nonprofit dedicated to developing Latino tales and growing the number of Hispanic professionals represented in industries of America. Previously, he was a research analyst and internal consultant for McKinsey & Company and then joined TMS Consulting as managing director also serving NSHMBA's national board. He is a sought out expert for keynote speeches, magazine articles, and seminars.
personal:
B.S. in Public Relations , MBA in Finance
Married
75. ANTONIO TIJERINO: PRESIDENT AND CEO OF HISPANIC HERITAGE FUND
Antonio Tijerino is president and CEO of the Hispanic Heritage Foundation, which focuses on education, workforce, service, and culture through innovation and leadership. Under Tijerino, HHF is recognized as a creative, agile, impact focused organization boasting a network of 150,000 vetted Latinos (15-35-year-olds) mobilized in the STEM fields, entrepreneurship, finance, media, and other priority areas for America including community service. Tijerino has been honored with the prestigious Ohtli Award, Lifetime Achievement Award by National PTA, Leadership Award from Telemundo, among many others. Tijerino also co-founded the Hispanic Leaders Alliance with the NF, The American Project with Notre Dame University, the #WeDreamAmerica Campaign, and the and founded the READ (Refugee Education And Development) effort in support of refugees.
personal:
Nicaraguan
B.S. in Journalism from University of Maryland's School of Journalism
Married
76. ALEXANDER ACOSTA: 27TH UNITED STATES SECRETARY OF LABOR
Son of Cuban immigrants, Alexander Acosta became the first Latino in Trump's cabinet. Acosta has served on the board of National Labor Relations and was the head of the civil right division at the Justice department. But Acosta's goes beyond that. He was also the U.S. attorney in South Florida. Under his lead, they were able to prosecute lobbyist Jack Abramoff, terrorism suspect Jose Padilla, the founders of Cali Cartel, and an additional 700 individuals, responsible for a total of more than $2 billion in Medicare fraud. He was also the Dean of Florida International University College of Law. While his time there, FIU Law has risen to #100 in the U.S. News and World Report Rankings.
personal:
Cuban-American
Born: January 16, 1969 in Miami, FL
A.B. in Economics from Harvard College
Married
77. XAVIER BECERRA: 33RD ATTORNEY GENERAL OF CALIFORNIA
As the newly elected 33rd Attorney General Incumbent of California, Xavier Becerra has reached a new plateau in his political career spanning decades back. Currently, he is the only Latino to have ever served as Attorney General. The former chair of the House Democratic Conference dedicated 20 years to serving three separate districts during his tenure as a member of the House of Representatives. He continues to be a party leader and uses his platform to support a number of causes such as immigration and women's issues.
personal:
Mexican-American
Born: January 26, 1958 in Sacramento, CA
Juris Doctor from Stanford Law School
Married
78. GEORGE P. BUSH: TEXAS LAND COMMISSIONER
Continuing on the Bush legacy, George P. Bush is currently fulfilling his time as Texas Land Commissioner. In 2014, he was elected as the Texas Land Commissioner with 61% of the votes. After attaining his Juris Doctorate from the University of Texas school of Law and becoming a teacher, the proud Hispanic worked in U.S. Naval Reserves in Afghanistan. In late June 2017, Bush announced his was running for re-election. George P. Bush's political activity and military service has placed his loyalty for this country at evidence.
personal:
Mexican-American
Born: April 24, 1976 in Houston, TX
Bachelor's from Rice University, Juris Doctorate from the University of Texas School of Law
Married
Twitter: @Georgepbush
79. CATHERINE CORTEZ MASTO: U.S. SENATOR FROM NEVADA- D
Catherine Cortez Masto is considered the "fighter" of Nevada families. With two terms as Attorney General, she has managed achieve multiple things. Her leadership has gained Nevadean families security and stability. She has created a senior protection unit in the Attorney General’s office to ensure that her investigators and prosecutors had the necessary tools to pursue those who abuse, neglect, or exploit seniors. She has also worked to strengthen laws against sex trafficking and violence against women. Cortez Masto has also created the Mortgage Fraud Strike Force to investigate and prosecute fraudulent foreclosure rescue and loan modification scams. Catherine Cortez Masto's leadership has become one of the most influential for Latinos around the country.
personal:
Mexican-Italian-American
Born: March 29, 1964 in Las Vegas, NV
Bachelor of Science in Business Administration in Finance from the University of Nevada, J.D. from Gonzaga University School of Law
Married
Twitter: @SenCortezMasto
80. TED CRUZ: U.S SENATOR FROM TEXAS- R
One of only three Latinos in the Senate, Ted Cruz was among the first Republicans to announce his candidacy in the 2016 U.S. Presidential Election. Previously he served as the first Hispanic (and youngest) Solicitor General of Texas, the State’s chief lawyer before the U.S. Supreme Court. He suspended his presidential bid in May 2016. He returned to the Senate to resume his fight to require the Library of Congress to use the term ‘illegal aliens’. At the 2016 Republican Convention, he defied the GOP denying Trump his endorsement, urging the audience to “vote their own conscience.” In 2018, he will be up for re-election for Senate seat and will face strong contender Beto O'Rourke.
personal:
Cuban-American
Born: December 22, 1970 in Calgary, AB
Graduate of Princeton and Harvard Law
Married
Twitter: @tedcruz
81. HENRY CUELLAR: U.S CONGRESSMAN FROM TEXAS- D
Congressman Henry Cuellar is known as "the most degreed member of Congress", amongst other things, for attaining his Associate's, Bachelor's and Master's degrees, along with a Ph.D and a Juris Doctorate. The Laredo born native has dedicated his entire political career to representing the state of Texas. He's loyalty served Texas's 28th congressional district since 2005. Prior to assuming office, he was appointed as the 102nd Secretary of State. His outstanding support for his native community has allowed him to continue serving them on his sixth term as Congressman.
personal:
Mexican American
Born: September 19, 1955 in Laredo, TX
Bachelor's in Foreign Science from Georgetown University Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service, Master's in Inernational Trade from Texas A&M International University in Laredo, J.D. from University of Texas School of Law and Ph.D. from University of Texas
Married
Twitter: @RepCuellar
82. ERIC GARCETTI: MAYOR OF LOS ANGELES- D
Native Angeleno, LA’s popular mayor, Democrat, Eric Garcetti runs the second largest American city like a small town mayor. He’s accessible, and everywhere, smiling, efficient, and low key. It’s his home. He’s a 4th generation Angeleno. Garcetti earned his B.A and Masters at Columbia University but returned to his hometown to roost. Garcetti’s political career launched in 2001 when elected representative of the 13th district to the Los Angeles City Council, where he served four terms as President of City Council. He was elected Mayor of Los Angeles in 2013 and after a quiet beginning he won the approval of LA residents with his can-do, everyman style. He is also a former Lieutenant in the U.S. Navy reserve. He recently won re-election for a second term as mayor of Los Angeles.
personal:
Mexican-American
Born: February 4, 1971 in Los Angeles, CA
B.A. and M.A. from Columbia University
Married
Twitter: @ericgarcetti
83. JESUS "CHUY" GARCIA: COOK COUNTY COMMISSIONER, 7TH DISTRICT- D
Old school in a good way, Progressive Democrat Jesus ‘Chuy’ Garcia has seen it all. He ran hard for mayor of Chi-town in 2015, and lost in a run-off, but that didn’t dim his enthusiasm. Chuy’s measure cut off Cook County’s cooperation with the Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agency, preventing County officials from detaining a person based on the suspicion of being undocumented. The measure became the first of its kind in the nation and more than 250 localities followed Chuy’s lead nationwide. Chuy was re-elected to a second term on the County Board in 2014, and currently serves as the 7th district Cook County Board of Commissioners, presiding as its floor leader.
personal:
Mexican
Born: April 12, 1956 in Durango, MX
Bachelor’s in Political Science, Master's in Urban Planning from the University of Illinois-Chicago
Married
twitter: @jesuschuygar
84. LUIS GUTIERREZ: U.S. CONGRESSMAN FROM ILLINOIS-D
Now in his 12th term, Democratic Congressman Luis V. Gutiérrez is the senior member of the Illinois delegation in the U.S. House of Representatives. An active and vocal member, Gutierrez has not only pushed for quicker legislation to deal with the country’s immigration issues but he has also spearheaded programs to help immigrants become proficient in English, help immigrant children in the education system and inspired other Democrats to join the fight. He has become increasingly visible in the fight for gun control, and against the stagnant house of representatives. In late 2017, Gutierrez announced he will retire and not seek re-election. In 2018, he was award the Maestro Award of Leadership by Latino Leaders Magazine.
personal:
Puerto Rican-American
Born: December 10, 1953 in Chicago, IL
Bachelor's in English from Northeastern Illinois University
Married
twitter: @RepGutierrez
85. SUSANA MARTÍNEZ: GOVERNOR OF NEW MEXICO-D
The first Hispanic female governor in the United States, Martinez was raised in the Rio Grande Valley. She graduated from the University of Oklahoma College of Law. Well respected for her bi-partisanship in New Mexico and instrumental in passing Katie’s Law, requiring DNA from all felony arrests. Governor Martinez's agenda has focuses on most critical issues like economy and education. She has worked intensively to improve New Mexico's education system along side the Public Education Department.
personal:
Mexican-American
Born: July 14, 1959 in El Paso, TX
Bachelor's in Criminal Justice from the University of Texas at El Paso, J.D. from University of Oklahoma School of Law
Married
twitter: @Gov_Martinez
86. ROBERT MENENDEZ: U.S. SENATOR FROM NEW jersey-d
Robert "Bob" Menendez was first elected to the Union City School District's Board of Education at the age of 20 and went on to become mayor of Union City in 1986. One of only three Latinos in the Senate, he authored comprehensive immigration reform legislation that passed the Senate in 2013 with an overwhelming bipartisan show of support. In 2013, Public No.3 in New York was renamed after him.
personal:
Cuban-American
Born: January 1, 1954 in New York City, NY
B.A. in Political Science from Saint Peter's College, J.D. from Newark's Rutgers School of Law
Divorced
twitter: @SenatorMenendez
87. GRACE NAPOLITANO: U.S. CONGRESSWOMAN FROM CALIFORNIA
Grace Napolitano is a leader in promoting mental health, including her efforts to revitalize the Congressional Mental Health Caucus and to designate May as National Mental Health Awareness Month. She introduced the Mental Health in Schools Act in 2011, a bill to provide more on-site, professional mental health services for students. Napolitano is a member of the House Committee on Natural Resources and the House Committee for Transportation and Infrastructure.
personal:
Mexican-American
Born: December 4, 1936 in Brownsville, TX
Cerritos College, Texas Southmost College
Married
twitter: @gracenapolitano
88. JIMMIE V REYNA: U.S. JUDGE OF THE U.S. COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE FEDERAL CIRCUIT
Jimmie Reyna is the first Latino to serve on the CAFC, which has nationwide jurisdiction of appeals arising from federal district courts, the Court of International Trade and the U.S. Court of Claims. Upon his nomination to the CAFC, his nomination was met with unparalleled approval; he received the highest rating possible by the American Bar Association Standing Committee on the Federal Judiciary: "Unanimously Well Qualified." On April 4, 2011, the U.S. Senate confirmed his nomination by a roll-call vote of 86-0. As of January 1, 2016, Judge Reyna has heard over 820 cases and authored 189 opinions, including 72 precedential opinions and 2 en banc opinions. He is a recipient of the Ohtli Award, the highest honor bestowed by the Mexican government for a non-Mexican citizen. Reyna currently serves on the Nationwide Hispanic Advisory Council of Big Brothers Big Sisters of America.
personal:
Mexican-American
Born: November 11, 1952 in Tucumcari, NM
B.A. from the University of Rochester, J.D. from the University of New Mexico School of Law
Married
89. MARCO RUBIO: U.S. SENATOR FROM FL- R
After announcing his bid for the White House in April, Marco Rubio, a formerSpeaker of the Florida House of Representatives who once interned for U.S. Rep.Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, has shifted to a more moderate position to appeal to the larger Republican base. Rubio was chosen to deliver the Republican response to President Obama’s 2013 State of the Union Address. It marked the first time the response was delivered in English and Spanish. On June 22nd, 2016, Rubio announced his intention to run for reelection, despite previous statements to the contrary, and losing his state in the presidential primary. Rubio turned out to be re-elected defeating Democrat Patrick Murphy.
personal:
Cuban-American
Born: May 28, 1971 in Miami, FL
B.A. in Political Science from the University of Florida, J.D. from the University of Miami School of Law
Married
twitter: @marcorubio
90. LINDA SÁNCHEZ: U.S. CONGRESSWOMAN FROM CALIFORNIA- D
Linda Sánchez’ political career began with the redistricting of the 39th congressional district following the 2000 Census (the old 39th district had very different boundaries). A tireless campaigner, Sanchez finished first in a six-person primary for the Democratic Party nomination in March 2002, ran unopposed in the Democratic primaries in 2004, and in the general elections she won by a margin of 60.7%. For the 2006 elections, she defeated two challengers in the primary with 77.8% of the vote and defeated attorney James L. Andion in the general election. She is the ranking member on the House Ethics Committee, where she helps maintain the standards of conduct in the House. Known among her peers for her efforts toward children and workers’ safety, Sanchez recently sponsored the Safe Schools Improvement Act of 2015.
personal:
Mexican-American
Born: January 28, 1969 in Orange, CA
B.A. in Spanish from the University of California, Berkeley, J.D. from UCLA School of Law
Married
twitter: @RepLindaSanchez
91. BRIAN SANDOVAL: GOVERNOR OF NEVADA- R
Prior to become Governor, Brian Sandoval at 35 became the youngest to be chairman of the Nevada Gaming Commission. Went on to be elected Nevada’s Attorney General and then appointed a US District Judge by George W. Bush, becoming the state's first Hispanic federal judge. His optimism has lifted the state of Nevada, through hard work in the areas of economy and education.
personal:
Mexican-American
Born: August 5, 1963 in Redding, CA
B.A. in English and Economics from the University of Nevada, J.D. from the Ohio State University Moritz College of Law
Married
twitter: @BrianSandoval
92. SONIA SOTOMAYOR: JUSTICE OF THE SUPREME COURT OF THE U.S.
The Court’s first Hispanic justice and its third female justice, Sonia Sotomayor is also among its most visible through speeches and television appearances. She is also vocal on the Court’s rulings, making headlines for her scathing dissent in the Burwell v. Hobby Lobby case, allowing closely held for-profit corporations to be exempt from a law its owners religiously object to if there is a less restrictive means of furthering the law's interest. Justice Sotomayor remains outspoken about decisions that she finds objectionable, and go against the interests of the American people as a whole.
personal:
Puerto Rican-American
Born: June 25, 1954 in New York City, NY
B.A. from Princeton University, J.D. from Yale Law School
Divorced
93. LUPE VALDEZ: CANDIDATE FOR GOVERNOR TEXAS- D
Lupe Valdez became one of the first Democrats elected countywide in many years. She was elected for four terms as Sheriff of Dallas County and served until 2017. She was the only Latina Sheriff in the U.S. and one of the very few LGBTW Americans serving in public office. Prior, she served as captain in the U.S. National Guard and as a federal agent. During her time as a federal agent, she investigated fraud and abuse in the United States and money laundering from criminal organization in South America.
personal:
Mexican-American
Born: October 11, 1947 in San Antonio, TX
B.B.A. from Southern Nazarene University, Master's in Criminology from University of Texas at Arlington
Married
twitter: @LupeValdez
94. DAVID HAYES-BAUTISTA: PROFESSOR OF MEDICINE AND DIRECTOR OF THE CENTER FOR THE STUDY OF LATINO HEALTH AND CULTURE
An award-winning expert whose extensive research into Latino healthcare has broken stereotypes, Dr. Bautista is a prominent voice in his field, and has been for almost 40 years. After graduating from UC Berkeley and completing his M.A. and PH.D at University of California Medical Center, San Francisco, he founded la Clínica de La Raza. Currently, Bautista is a professor at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, where he established the Study of Latino Health and Culture at the School of Medicine in 1992. He researches the cost effective, high-quality standard of care in Latino communities, and his work has been repeatedly published in medical journals. Dr Bautista is a media expert and public speaker. He is also an author to various books that focus on the study of society, culture and health.
personal:
Mexican
Born: 1946
B.A. from the University of California, Berkeley, M.A. and Ph.D. in Medical Sociology from the University of California Medical Center
Married
95. EVELYN MIRALLES: PRINCIPAL ENGINEER AND LEAD VIRTUAL REALITY INNOVATOR AT NASA JOHNSON SPACE CENTER
A "Virtual Visionary" is what Evelyn Miralles is known for. She currently leads virtual reality innovation efforts at NASA. Admirable, inspiring and authentic. She has co-authored DOUG, which is a software used since 1993 by astronauts for training. She has received various awards and recognitions for her achievements and contribution in STEM, but her influence goes beyond that. Miralles is a major advocate of early-school outreach to inspire young girls to pursue careers in STEM. She is part of various outreach programs, like science fairs and lectures, that help promote STEM careers.
personal:
Venezuelan
Born: 1967 in Caracas, Venezuela
B.S. in Computer Graphics from Lamar University, B.A.Sc. in Computer and Information Sciences, M.B.A. in Management of Technologies from University of Houston-Clear Lake
twitter: @vrevelyn
96. ELLEN OCHOA: FORMER DIRECTOR OF NASA JOHNSON SPACE CENTER
Dr. Ellen Ochoa, a veteran astronaut, was Johnson Space Center's first Hispanic Director and its second female director. In April 1993, she served as mission specialist aboard the shuttle Discovery, becoming the first Latina to be launched into space. As director, Ochoa helped maximize the use of the International Space Station (ISS). During her tenure, the first One-Year Mission on ISS of Scott Kelly and Mikhail Kornienko was completed in March 2016, providing valuable information for future human space exploration. In 2017, she was inducted into the United States Astronaut Hall of Fame.
personal:
Mexican-American
Born: May 10, 1958 in Los Angeles, California
B.S. in Physics from San Diego State University, M.S. and Doctorate in Electrical Engineering from Stanford University.
Married
twitter: @Astro_Ellen
97. ALFREDO QUIÑONES-HINOJOSA: NEUROSURGEON, CHAIR OF NEUROLOGIC SURGERY AT MAYO CLINIC
Dr. Q, as known to many, comes from a very humble beginning. From working the cotton fields, to being a painter and welder, Dr. Q´s drive has been unstoppable. He put himself through school, learned English, practiced his language on the debate team, all while working as a welder for a railroad company. His dream to enter the world of medicine was sparked by his grandmother, who was a curandera. Thanks to her and to Dr. Q's will, he has now become one of the most influential Latinos in medicine, receiving dozens of awards and achievements for his work in cancer research. In 2015, he was named one of the World's Most Creative Mexicans by Forbes.
personal:
Mexican
Born: January 2, 1968 in Mexicali, BC, Mexico
B.A. in Social Sciences and Humanities from Escuela Normal Urbana Federal Fronteriza/ University of California San Joaquin Delta College, B.A. in Psychology from University of California Berkeley, M.D. from Harvard Medical School
twitter: @DoctorQMd
98. MARTIN CABRERA: FOUNDER AND CEO OF CABRERA CAPITAL MARKETS
Martin Cabrera, Jr. is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Cabrera Capital Markets. He is responsible for overseeing many of the firm’s activities, including investment banking, corporate debt, initial public offerings and trading. He is also founder of Cabrera Capital Partners. Prior to the forming of Cabrera Capital, he served as a General Principal and Branch Manager of Salomon Grey Financial Corporation and was a Senior Vice President at Amerivet Securities, Inc.
personal:
Born: 1972
B.S. in Finance from Northern Illinois University
99. LUIS MAIZEL: CO-FOUNDER AND SENIOR MANAGING DIRECTOR OF LM CAPITAL GROUP
Luis Maizel is the Co-Founder and Senior Managing Director of LM Capital Group, LLC. Prior to founding LM Capital, he served as Vice President of Finance for Grupoventas, S.A. and was a member of the faculty at the Harvard Business School. He was also President of Industrial Kuick, S.A. He currently serves as Chairman of the Board of the Hispanic National Mortgage Association and President of the Investment Committee for the Board of Trustees of the University of San Diego. Maziel has been voted as one of the most important Hispanics in the U.S. With his wealth of experience, Maziel has proven to be one of the brightest and influential in the finance industry.
personal:
Mexican
Born: 1951 in Mexico City
Bachelor's in Industrial Engineering from Universidad Nacional Autónoma de Mexico (UNAM), M.B.A. from Harvard Business School
100. MANUEL MEDINA: FOUNDER AND MANAGING PARTNER OF MEDINA CAPITAL
Manuel Medina heads Medina Capital, a private equity firm focused on high-growth technology companies in sectors such as cybersecurity, big data, mobility and cloud-based technologies, announced late in 2014 the closing of the firm's Fund with $182 million of aggregate committed capital. In his early career, Medina worked as certified public accountant with Price Waterhouse after earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting from Florida Atlantic University in 1974. Later, in 1980, he started his own company, Terremark, and served as Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer until 2011, when the company was acquired by Verizon Communications for $1.4 billion, out of which he would receive about $83 million from his 4.4 million shares, almost 7 percent of the company. In addition, Mr. Medina is a managing partner of Communication Investors Group, one of their investors.
personal:
Cuban
Born: 1952 in Matanzas, Cuba
B.S. in Accounting from Florida Atlantic University
Married
twitter: @medinacapital
101. MARCOS A. RODRIGUEZ: CEO OF PALLADIUM EQUITY PARTNERS
Marcos Rodriguez founded Palladium Equity Partners in 1997 and serves as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. Prior to this, he joined the firm of Joseph Littlejohn & Levy in 1989 and ultimately became a partner. He worked for General Electric in operations. He currently serves on the Board of Directors for several of Palladium's portfolio companies, including Capital Contractors, Jordan, Taco Bueno and on the Board of Trustees of New York-Presbyterian, the University Hospital of Columbia, and Cornell University.
personal:
Cuban
B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Columbia University, M.B.A. from Wharton School, M.A. in International Studies from Lauder Institute of the University of Pennsylvania