Board of Directors

Jake Alarid
LICI Treasurer, American GI Forum
Jake Alarid is one of the Founders of HACR, the Hispanic Association on Corporate Responsibility and very active in veterans affairs. He is the Past National Commander and California State Commander of the American GI Forum (AGIF), a national Hispanic Veterans organization. In February of 2006, Jake was appointed to the California Veterans Board by the Governor. He has served on AGIF's Veterans Outreach Program and the Hispanic Outreach Taskforce in Whittier, CA. Jake is a retired Aerospace Engineer and had responsibility for the verification of return to flight systems of the Space Shuttle Program.


Jerry Apodaca
Governor of New Mexico (1975-1979)
In 1975 Jerry Apodaca become New Mexico’s 24th governor and the first Hispanic governor in that state and in the country since 1918. During his administration he reorganized the state’s government system and created the first cabinet by consolidating 112 agencies into twelve departments which eliminated wastefulness and brought accountability to all departments. From 1987 to 1992 he served as President of the Hispanic Association on Corporate Responsibility, a coalition of national Hispanic organizations, which came together to improve working relations with corporate America. Mr. Apodaca is the founder of the Japan-Hispanic Institute and the National Institute of Former Governors.

In his private life, Mr. Apodaca co-founded a very successful money management firm together with is son, co-founded Vista Magazine and was the founding publisher of Hispanic magazine in addition to writing a weekly column in other publications, hosted a weekly television program in Santa Fe, New Mexico and hosted and produced a live, daily radio talk show as well. In 1978 he served as Chairman of the President’s Council on Fitness and Sports.

Mr. Apodaca is a graduate of the University of New Mexico.


Donna Maria Blancero, PhD
Vice President, Research
Donna Maria Blancero received her PhD from Cornell University and is an Associate Professor at Bentley University as well as a member of the faculty for ULCA’s Latino Leadership Institute.  She was the founding editor for The Business Journal of Hispanic Research, a peer reviewed journal published by the National Society of Hispanic MBAs. Donna is a national speaker on issues related to Hispanic Leadership. Previous academic positions include serving on the faculty at the W.P. Carey School of Business and a Research Faculty Affiliate at the Hispanic Research Center, both at Arizona State University. Most recently, she was the Senior Vice President of Research and Intellectual Development for NSHMBA. She was also on the Board of Directors for the National Hispanic Employee Association from 2001-2006.

Focusing her research over the past decade on Hispanics in Corporate America, her research has been published in journals such as the Journal of Organizational Behavior, Industrial Relations, Human Resource Management, Cross Cultural Management and International Journal of Management.  She is a Fellow of the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. 

Donna is an amateur genealogist and has been researching her family history in Puerto Rico for the past 20 years.


Luis Chavez
LICI Chairman, Career Ladders Project – California
Luis Chavez recently assumed a leadership position as the Director of Technical Assistance for the Career Ladders Project (CLP). CLP focuses on workforce development with California Community Colleges and works to strengthen the role of community colleges in providing educational and career advancement opportunities for Californians. Through research, policy initiatives and strategic assistance to colleges and their workforce development partners, the CLP works to foster career opportunities in California. Prior to joining CLP, Luis recently led as Regional Director for Education Station/Knowledge Learning Corporation School Partnerships in Northern California. Education Station, is the nation’s largest provider of Supplemental Educational Services providing remedial and supplemental instruction in 120 School Districts serving over 32,000 K-8 students. Luis also played numerous roles in California’s Puente Project since 1992, including Director of Mentoring, Director of High School Puente, and Director of Community College Puente. He has created alliances with businesses, parents, and community-based organizations, and pioneered initiatives connecting students with cultural/civic institutions and academic programs.  He has served various community boards including; National Hispanic Employee Association, Hispanic Association on Corporate Responsibility, Oakland Museum of California, among others. In 2001, Luis was selected to attend the Harvard Institute for Higher Education Management Development Program (MDP). He was selected in 2005 to attend the Hispanic Association on Corporate Responsibility Executive Corporate Governance Program at the Harvard School of Business. Luis holds a B.A. degree from UC Irvine and AM.A., from CSU Dominguez Hills. He resides in San Ramon, CA with his wife and two children.


Johnny Saldivia
Western Region Puerto Rican Council (WRPRC)
Johnny is the Chairman of the WRPRC; a 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization that promotes the Puerto Rican culture, united Puerto Rican organizations, and provide scholarships to Latino students pursuing higher education. He has held that position twice before, and was the previous Treasurer. Johnny is also the Events Coordinator for the Puerto Rican Civic Club of San José where he served as President for 8 consecutive years. Additional affiliations include;membership with 6 Puerto Rican organizations, the American Legion and other organizations, and a veteran of the United States Army. Johnny is employed with Social Services (over 15 years) where he is the Chairman of the Spanish Translation Committee; Chairman of El Comité, a Latino group that promotes the Latino culture and advocates for Latino employees and clients. In addition, he is the former Chairman of the Employee Activities Committee where he served as their current Events Coordinator. Johnny’s future plans are to retire in his beloved Puerto Rico.


Antonella Romero Packard
Founding Partner at Accent Business Group

Antonella Romero Packard has served in Senior Management capacities for various international companies, among them Fortune 500 corporations. She is experienced in leading market penetration campaigns across different cultures and has authored various articles on marketing to U.S. Latinos.  Antonella has a B.S. in Business and an MBA with a concentration on International Marketing.

In 2008, Ms. Romero Packard was named as one of Utah’s 20 Most Influential Hispanics by Business Connect Magazine and is one of the 2011 national Freedom From Fear Award recipients. She is the Executive Director for the Utah County Hispanic Chamber of Commerce based in the City of Orem, Utah.  In this capacity, Ms. Romero Packard is promoting workforce diversity initiatives with mainstream business and supplier diversity certifications among Latino businesses, among other initiatives geared toward strengthening Hispanic businesses in the Utah Valley.

She has served as past Chair of the Latin American Chamber of Commerce of Utah as past Chair of the Utah Hispanic Latino Legislative Task Force. She currently serves as member of Utah Antidiscrimination and Labor Division Advisory Council, Board Member of the Mexican Federation of Utah, Northwest Director for Somos Republicans, State Director for the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) in Utah, and the Latino Institute for Corporate Inclusion (LICI).

She lives in Saratoga Springs, Utah with her husband, John and her children Madilyn and Noah. 

Ruben Jauregui
LICI President & CEO, Former Chairman - Latin Business Association Mr. Jauregui has been involved with California HACR since its inception and served as its first Chair. He founded his first business in 1967 and since then has been an independent business Owner/CEO or Managing Partner of firms in the fields of Accounting and Management Consulting, Healthcare and Energy Management Engineering, among others. As an active member of the Latino community Mr. Jauregui has served as a member and Chairman of numerous boards  including: the Los Angeles Boys and Girls Club, Hispanic Business Advisory Council to the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Greater L.A., United Way, the Finance Council of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, the L.A. 2000 Committee, the Caltrans Business Council, Plaza de la Raza, the Latin Business Association and many others. Mr. Jauregui has been accorded various awards in recognition of his contributions to the community in general and the Latino community in particular. Some of the recognition and awards have included: Volunteer of the Year by the National Philanthropy Day Committee in L. A., the ARCO Civic Leadership Award, Hispanic Business Advocate of the Year and named to the 100 Most Influential Hispanics in the U. S. by Hispanic Business magazine. Mr. Jauregui has been married to his wife Gloria for more than 47 years and they have four children, six grandchildren and one great-grandchild.


Mickie Luna
LICI Vice-Chair, California League of United American Citizens (LULAC)
Mickie Luna is a woman of compassion and principle. She loves her heritage and gives endlessly for the betterment of her community.  She is focused and tireless. She has changed the lives of many around her, she is one of the most recognized and honored citizens in San Benito County. She puts faith in her values and judgment. She is known for defending the rights of others. 
               
Through her involvements, Mickie has helped make it possible for many students, particularly Latino, to graduate successfully from high school and go on to college and become teachers, doctors, business and community leaders.
         
Mickie’s involvement in the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) is one of her most important contributions. She founded the San Benito County LULAC Council #2890 in 1987 and the Youth Council in 1989 and the Young Adult Council in 2000. With LULAC’s presence, she has helped increase the Latino voter registration, raise money for scholarships, offer assistance in housing and further Latino rights and representation in local government when she lead the fight to change from at large to City Council district elections. In July, 2010, she was elected National Vice President of the Farwest Region of LULAC, one of the largest membership regions which includes California, Arizona, Nevada, Utah and Hawaii.
                  
One of her greatest recognitions is to have been named to the first edition of  Who’s Who Among Hispanics of America. She was honored by then Congressman Leon Panetta with the Congressional Award as San Benito County Woman of the Year, and Senator Henry Mello’s Senate Rules Committee Resolution for her continued work with women.  In 2006, Mickie was honored with the Hollister High School Baler Alumni Award as one of the most honored members of the entire 60’s era.  On January 22, 2008, Mickie was awarded and honored by the Martin Luther King Santa Clara County Silicon Valley  “Live the Dream” Foundation for exceptional community service.

You may say Mickie Luna is well connected, but in fact she is the connection for many throughout the State of California and beyond.


Ada R. Peña
LICI Vice-Chair, President & CEO of ADA Travel, Inc.
Ada R. Pena is President and CEO of ADA Travel, Inc., a small business, minority woman owned, full service travel management agency in its 28th year of profitable operation with a volume of more than $2.1 million in gross sales. 

Corporate Profile:  ADA Travel, Inc. is a full service management travel agency specializing in corporate, conference and group travel, servicing
companies who have government contracts, law firms, associations and non-profit organizations.

ADA Travel, Inc. is part of Results Travel, a division of Carlson Travel Group, since 2004.  Results Travel is part of the $31 billion system-wide generating conglomerate, Carlson Companies, Inc., one of the largest travel, hospitality, and marketing firms in the world.

Memberships:
  *  Leadership Washington, 1989 Alumni
  *  Former member of the D.C. Committee to Promote Washington, 
Board of Directors
  *  Association of Retail Travel Agents
  *  LULAC, Past National Vice President, Present State Director,
Washington, DC

Participant: World Conference for Women, NGO (Non-Governmental Org).
                Mexico City,      1975
                Copenhagen,     1980
                Nairobi, Kenya   1985


Roy M. Pérez
LICI Secretary, President & CEO of RMP Strategies, Inc.
RMP Strategies a governmental advocacy and public relations firm based in Sacramento, CA.  Roy works with his colleagues in the legislative, public relations, corporate and business worlds and travels throughout California to advocate for issues of importance to the Latino community as a whole and Hispanic small business specifically. Roy designs legislative and political strategies for advocacy on emerging issues and leverages his skills to the benefit of Hispanic small business in California.
As a US Army, Viet Nam War veteran, University of California graduate and with years of experience in matters involving governmental advocacy; initially as special assistant to the Senate President Pro Tempore and later as a government affairs representative for utility and telecommunications corporations, Roy has amassed over 25 years of critical legislative experience.

As an advocate, Roy is keenly aware of the importance of developing a legislative presence for policy decisions affecting the Latino community.  He therefore continually mentors interested colleagues and students on the legislative process, and government function and organization for the purpose of facilitating Latino involvement in the highest levels California’s governmental policymaking process.

He works to increase the advocacy capacity of the Latino community, including the small business community, by training and organizing community members to voice their concerns through letter writing and testimony at critical legislative committee hearings, administrative agency hearings, panel discussions, town hall meetings, press conferences and citizen meetings.

Roy has been recognized for his dedication by the legislature, civic and governmental organizations.