Adriana Arroyo serves as Vice President/Investment Services Manager for City National Bank’s Wealth Management Services Group. In this capacity, she is responsible for the management and administration of agency accounts and relationships in New York, Atlanta and Nashville.

Ms. Arroyo has over 25 years’ experience in the financial services industry. Prior to joining City National, she spent 15 years with Citigroup in various roles. She held the position of Vice President and Senior Relationship Officer at Citigroup’s Private Bank. Adriana’s responsibilities included servicing the investment needs of Ultra-High-Net-Worth (UHNW) individuals and families. Previous roles include Relationship Officer and Account Executive with Citigroup’s Law Firm Group, where she provided banking, credit and investment solutions to major law firms and their attorneys. Adriana’s financial background also includes more than six years’ experience as bookkeeper for a small business and a large retail organization.

Ms. Arroyo received her Bachelor’s Degree in International Studies with a concentration in Business from Iona College.

Senior social impact leader with 20+ years of experience leading large-scale initiatives advancing economic opportunity and community resilience across the United States. Proven leadership in strategic program development, public policy advocacy, and translating community-rooted insights into scalable solutions and measurable impact. Deep expertise in digital equity, workforce development, financial capability, immigrant inclusion, and equitable economic growth, with a strong track record of cross-sector partnership building, people leadership, and data-informed decision-making.

Kisha Chandler is a Higher Education professional with extensive experience in operations management, project management, curriculum building, event management, and leadership. She is committed to relationship building, student success, and advocating for educational reform and equity. Kisha is currently the Director, LHVCCUC LSAMP at Molloy University with a career spanning over 20 years. She directs the Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation Program, supporting underrepresented minority students in STEM.

Driven by a passion for expanding access to higher education, Kisha has actively contributed to the Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion committee, served as the Molloy Business Association Advisor, chaired the School Business Badging Committee, and participated in numerous campus committees.

Prior to her tenure at Molloy University, Kisha held administrative roles in both corporate and non-profit
organizations.

Kisha actively engages in various civic, professional, and cultural organizations, including her role as
Executive Vice President of Prospanica. She is the President and was a founding board member of 100
Hispanic Women LI, an IMA Long Island Chapter Board Member, and the former 1st VP of the
Metropolitan New York College Career Planning Officers Association (MNYCCPOA). Recently, Kisha was
recognized in the 2026 Mary E. Lilly Ceremony with the Club Appreciation Award for her contributions in
supporting Cultural and Religious Clubs and Programs. In May 2025, she received the Bartolome De Las
Casas Award at Molloy University’s President’s Award Ceremony in April 2025 for her commitment to
fairness, opportunity for all, and empowerment. In recognition of her Educator of the Year Award from the Latina Business Association of NY (LABBNY), she was presented with a formal citation from Nassau
County’s County Executive, Bruce Blakeman in June 2025. Outside her professional life, she enjoys
traveling, reading, writing, and exploring creative recipes.

Diana oversees a team and provides a wide range of corporate governance services to Macquarie Group companies across the Americas. Her work across 10 jurisdictions in the Region, includes entity management and board and committee support for nominee directors.

Prior to joining Macquarie in 2013, Diana spent almost 7 years in private practice as a corporate lawyer, with most of her experience focusing on financial institutions and commercial real estate lending. Her experience in private practice focused on representing clients, many of which were highly regulated, in developing financial services structures, governance, and commercial arrangements, along with transactional support.

Diana holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Florida State University and Juris Doctorate degree from Stetson University in Florida. She is licensed to practice law in the State of Florida and in the District of Columbia.  Diana also serves on the Board of Directors of The Committee for Hispanic Children & Families Inc., a non-profit organization that provides programs that reach underserved, low- and moderate- income children and families throughout New York City and the home-based childcare providers who serve them. It is one of the few Latino organizations in New York that combines direct service with policy work to amplify minority voices at the local, state, and national levels.

Krismely is a compassionate and dedicated leader with a strong passion for helping others, especially families, communities, and those in need. Known for her kindness and empathy, she strives to make a positive impact through her work. In her role, Krismely oversees program budgets established managing efficiency and effectiveness. She plans and directs all early childhood program activities for infant/toddler services, pregnant women services, parent involvement services, Policy Council involvement, and staff ensuring a high quality educational program. Krismely earned her Bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education and Teaching from Lehman College.

Stephanie Diaz is a Participant Success Manager/ Social Worker of Dominican heritage who holds a Master of Social Work (MSW). She is passionate about empowering youth and has extensive experience working with adolescents and young adults ages 13–24 in both re-entry and faith-based settings. Through her professional role, she provides support, advocacy, resource coordination, and guidance to help young people achieve their educational, personal, and career goals. In addition to her professional work, Stephanie serves as the Head Youth Leader at her church, where she mentors and disciples young people through leadership development, community engagement, and spiritual growth. As a bilingual professional fluent in both English and Spanish, she is committed to serving diverse communities with compassion, cultural humility, and a strengths-based approach that fosters resilience, healing, and long-term success.

Throughout her career, she has demonstrated a unique ability to build bridges between communities, government, and stakeholders while advocating for equitable outcomes. Her leadership is grounded in service, integrity, and a deep understanding of the challenges facing diverse communities.

As a young Latina leader with tremendous potential, Fraynette has already made a meaningful impact and is poised to take on even greater leadership responsibilities in the future. She serves as the Membership Committee Chair for the Association of Legislative Employees and Director of Communications for New York City Councilmember Carmen De La Rosa representing District 10.

Ana María Gómez is a VP, Senior Community Development Outreach Officer at City National Bank, where she builds partnerships that expand access to affordable housing, financial education, and small business resources in New York City and the bank’s East Coast footprint. She also supports the bank’s Community Reinvestment Act program through regulatory and community development strategy.

Ms. Gómez began her career in retail banking with Citizens Bank and later built deep expertise in CRA and consumer compliance at the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston. Prior to CNB, she served as the Community Development Officer for Rockland Trust, supporting an “Outstanding” CRA performance evaluation. She is a Latinos for Education Fellowship alum, an ALPFA award recipient, and is recognized for creating and scaling employee resource groups and cross-sector initiatives.

Ms. Gómez holds a B.A. in International Relations and an M.A. in Political Science from Suffolk University and serves on the Board of NMIC in Washington Heights and Leaders in Our Neighborhood Charter School in the Bronx.

With over 15 years of experience in trust and estate administration, Ana Maria Gomez specializes in the management and oversight of Special Needs Trusts (SNTs). Throughout her career, she has worked closely with individuals with disabilities, their families, guardians, attorneys, and care teams to ensure that trust assets are administered thoughtfully and in accordance with each beneficiary’s unique needs and long-term goals.

Ana Maria has extensive experience in fiduciary administration, trust planning, court-supervised matters, and complex beneficiary support. Her passion lies in helping vulnerable individuals maintain their quality of life while preserving eligibility for essential government benefits. She is committed to providing compassionate, client-centered service and building strong relationships with families and professional advisors alike.

Liz Gutierrez immigrated from Colombia with her parents and brother at age 12, settling in Brentwood, Long Island. Her experience navigating the challenges faced by new immigrants—overcoming language barriers, adapting to new systems, and starting with very little—motivated her to pursue a career in communications focused on helping others, especially within her community.

With over 30 years of experience in media and communications, Liz is a seasoned expert in Spanish-language TV networks, public relations, and community outreach. She earned a Bachelor’s degree in Media and Communications from SUNY Old Westbury and completed an
entrepreneurship program at Hofstra University. In 2023, she founded “International Media Consulting,” helping businesses connect with the rapidly growing Latino consumer market.

Liz began her career in journalism at Telemundo and WNBC, honing her reporting and storytelling skills. She then spent a decade at Univision Channel 41, where she served as a news assignment editor and later produced weekend newscasts. Liz transitioned to the public sector as a supervisor and Public Information Officer for the Long Island Railroad, managing social media platforms, website updates, public announcements, app communications, and providing critical real-time updates to commuters for over 11 years.

Alongside her professional roles, Liz is deeply committed to community service. She mentors high school students through the NY State Latina Mentoring Program and serves as a board member and social media chair for “100 Hispanic Women Long Island,” helping to raise funds and scholarships for Latino college students. She also serves on the board of the Hispanic Counseling Center, supporting bilingual services for chemical dependency, mental health, and family programs across Nassau and Suffolk counties.

Sandra Gutierrez is an accomplished leader, public servant, and community advocate with more than 15 years of experience driving strategic initiatives across higher education, technology, and nonprofit sectors. As Senior Advisor to the President at Guttman Community College, she provides strategic leadership and guidance on institutional priorities, student success, and community engagement.

Previously, Sandra held senior leadership positions at Microsoft and The College Board, managing complex operations, multimillion-dollar budgets, and large-scale initiatives that advanced innovation, education, and equity. A proud Latina leader, Sandra has remained deeply connected to her community throughout her career, dedicating her time to mentoring, volunteerism, and civic engagement. She currently serves on her local Community Board and continues to support organizations such as Neighborhood Housing Services of Queens, where her generosity, wisdom, and commitment to service have made a lasting impact.

Gina Lázaro is a transformational consumer marketer with a record of building emotionally resonant, commercially powerful brands across beauty, optical, writing, and beverage categories. She is known for translating deep consumer insight into brand strategy, innovation, and omnichannel experiences that drive sustained growth. Most recently, she served as VP, Brand Management & Innovation at Newell Brands, leading the global Writing portfolio, a $1B+ business anchored by Sharpie, Paper Mate, Expo, and Elmer’s, redefining the category from functional utility to creativity and self-expression. Earlier in her career at Alberto Culver, she elevated TRESemmé from #10 to #2 in the U.S. hair care market.

Gina is a 2021 Harvard Advanced Leadership Initiative Fellow, a cross-disciplinary fellowship focused on purpose-driven leadership, ESG, and long-term value creation, and serves as Co-Editor-in-Chief of the Harvard ALI Social Impact Review. She has also served as Advisory Council member of HighSight, which provides scholarships and mentorship to low-income youth in Chicago. She holds an MBA from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business and a BA in History from Princeton University.

As the Vice President for Finance and Administration Helen Liriano is a senior leadership employee with over twenty-five years’ experience. Liriano provides the sound financial management, strategic planning and leadership necessary to help ensure Long Island Cares’ success in its role to provide nutrituous meals to needy communities in Nassau and Suffolk Counties. After earning an accounting degree and a Master of Business Administration at Long Island University, Liriano began her career at People’s Alliance Credit Union, where she started as a teller and finished as the controller. Next, she spent 10 years at Big Brothers Big Sisters of Long Island, supervising finance, accounting and information technology functions as chief financial officer.

Helen also serves as the Corporate Secretary and Treasurer for 100 Hispanic Women where she lends her many years of experience to strengthen the work of the organization and continuing her commitment to helping women succeed. She has an MBA from Long Island University. Helen is dedicated to her work in the nonprofit industry and is inspired every day by her family; her husband, four kids and two dogs.

Roxanne is a native New Yorker with 16 years of experience in K-12 education nonprofit services – as an educator, curriculum developer, and program manager.

As the Program Director for I Challenge Myself, Roxanne is grateful for the opportunity to continue partnering with urban communities to provide essential youth services. Roxanne is also a part-time fitness instructor and likes to stay active by lifting weights, boxing, and dancing!

Rosanna Montilla-Payano is a dedicated fundraising and communications executive with over a decade of experience in the non-profit sector. She is deeply committed to social justice and philanthropy. Rosanna has a proven track record of cultivating strong relationships with foundations, corporations, and individuals, overseeing successful campaigns, and developing strategic partnerships.

As a Dominican immigrant, raised in Washington Heights, she holds a Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology from the University of Massachusetts Amherst, a Nonprofit Management Certificate from CUNY, and is an alumnus, and also mentor, of the Leadership Fellows New York Austin W. Marxe School of Public and International Affairs of Baruch College. She has completed the Executive Coaching Program from the Robin Hood Foundation/Berkeley and served on the Grant Advisory Committee at The New York Women’s Foundation under Early Investment Strategy. She earned a coveted spot in Coro’s Immigrant Civic Leadership Program, demonstrating her commitment to community engagement and advocacy.

Bethsy helps develop and design HF programs and impact strategy and health policy priorities at the national level. Ms. Morales-Reid has a public health background and a track record of developing healthy living programs and health advocacy strategies that engage communities and their leaders. Prior to the Hispanic Federation, Ms. Morales-Reid led various programs within the Research and Evaluation Department at the Latino Commission on AIDS. Bethsy is an experienced trainer/facilitator and has vast experience in working with non-traditional partners on Type 2 diabetes, HIV/AIDS, viral hepatitis, advocacy, program design and evaluation, curriculum development, coalition building and capacity building. She has been published in the AIDS Education and Prevention Journal for her work on behavioral interventions. Bethsy has also consulted for UNAIDS, Fordham University’s Graduate School of Social Work, and the International Rescue Committee. Bethsy is a native New Yorker who received her BA in political science at Fordham University and her MA in international affairs at the New School University. Ms. Morales-Reid has worked her entire professional life as a passionate advocate for social and economic justice, which is fundamental to combating societal barriers impacting public health in communities through public education, advocacy, and increased visibility.

Born in the Caribbean warmth of the Dominican Republic and raised in the Bronx, Dr. Sofia B. Pertuz is a workplace culture strategist, consultant, and certified executive coach with over 25 years of experience leading organizational transformations in higher education, nonprofit, and corporate sectors. As the founder and lead strategist of Mainstream Insight, LLC, Sofia delivers tailored professional development and leadership advisory services to empower high-potential leaders and foster inclusive excellence.

Sofia is a passionate advocate for Latinas in education, founding the Latinas Completing Doctoral Degrees Facebook group, a community supporting Latinas in higher education. She authored the book chapter “Exploring Latinx/a/o Identity, Cultural Values, and Success in Higher Education” in Latinx/a/os in Higher Education, and her PhD dissertation, The Chosen Tokens: Exploring the Work Experiences and Career Aspirations of Latina Midlevel Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education, reflects her deep commitment to amplifying Latina voices.

An engaged leader, Sofia serves as Vice President of the board for the Long Island chapter of 100 Hispanic Women. She is an internationally recognized speaker on change management, Latina/o/x identity, and LGBTQ+ advocacy. She holds a PhD from Seton Hall University, is a Senior Certified Professional through the Society for Human Resource Management, and a Certified Diversity Executive®. Sofia’s consulting and coaching approach empowers clients to navigate challenges, recognize their brilliance, and achieve transformative career growth.

Solange Rodriguez is a communications, employee experience, and events leader with more than a decade of experience driving strategic communications, leadership engagement, culture-building initiatives, and high-impact experiences across global organizations.

As Director of Communications & Events for The Estée Lauder Companies’ Inclusion, Diversity & Equity Center of Excellence, she leads the development and execution of communications strategies, executive engagement initiatives, enterprise events, and employee experience programs that strengthen organizational culture, foster belonging, and advance business priorities. Since joining The Estée Lauder Companies in 2015, Solange has held progressive roles across executive administration, corporate communications, employee engagement, and inclusion and diversity. Throughout her tenure, she has partnered with senior executives and global teams to elevate communications, create meaningful employee experiences, and deliver strategic initiatives across brands, functions, and regions.

A passionate advocate for mentorship and professional development, Solange is the co-creator of the Cafecito Sessions Mentorship Program, an initiative designed to connect employees and leaders through authentic conversations, career development, sponsorship, and community-building. The program helped foster meaningful relationships across the organization while creating opportunities for learning, growth, and leadership development.

Solange holds a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Sociology from Cornell University, where she graduated Cum Laude.

Perla Rodriguez serves as National Director of Education Programs for the Hispanic Federation. Perla was recognized on City & State’s Higher Education Power 100 list for a second year as one of New York’s most influential college and university leaders. Rodriguez oversees the Hispanic Federation’s advocacy work in advancing educational opportunities for Latino and other minority students. The nonprofit’s education programs support students from early childhood through college-entry level. Rodriguez also leads CREAR Futuros, the Federation’s mentorship program that connects college students to social services and internships.

Rodriguez, grew up in a large Dominican family in the Bronx, double majored in English and Spanish at Skidmore. She taught English at a Bronx high school while pursuing a master’s degree in secondary English education through the New York City Teaching Fellows program. Rodriguez also earned an MFA degree in creative writing with a concentration in children’s writing at The New School.

A seasoned professional, Alexandra serves as the Deputy Director for the Spanish Speaking Elderly Council at RAICES Corona Older Adult Center. Her work contributes to the development and implementation of culturally competent programs and services that improve the quality of life of older adults who have traditionally been underserved. She’s responsible for the day-to-day operation of the Senior Center including supervising, training, and evaluating staff. She maintains a program that meets the nutritional, emotional, physical, intellectual and social needs of individuals as well as groups. Alexandra also works with volunteer corps to assist in meal service and other activities.

Her career includes working as a Financial Aid Office Assistant at the University at Albany, SUNY where she supported operations.

I am a Senior UX researcher and design strategist with a proven track record in product and service design, honed through experience at leading companies like Google, NBC Universal, United Airlines, and innovation consultancy firms. My passion is empowering companies and teams to elevate customer experiences by creating seamless, innovative, and inclusive products that deliver value to both customers and businesses.

Susanna Sandoval serves as Senior Director of Government and Community Affairs for First American Title Insurance Company, where she leads strategic engagement efforts with government, business, and community stakeholders. In her role, she works to strengthen partnerships that support homeownership, economic development, and responsible growth across communities.

With extensive experience in public affairs, stakeholder relations, and community engagement, Susanna has built a career focused on connecting public, private, and nonprofit sectors to advance meaningful outcomes. She is recognized for her ability to cultivate collaborative relationships, navigate complex policy environments, and develop initiatives that create lasting community impact.

A passionate advocate for civic engagement and community investment, Susanna works closely with industry leaders, elected officials, nonprofit organizations, and community partners to identify opportunities that promote access, equity, and sustainable development. Her leadership reflects First American’s commitment to supporting strong communities while helping individuals and families achieve the dream of homeownership.

Through her work, Susanna continues to champion partnerships that drive innovation, strengthen local economies, and create positive change for communities.

Fernanda Tassara is an Executive Director and Legal Counsel at The Estée Lauder Companies, where she has advised the business since 2019. She brings more than 15 years of experience in intellectual property, licensing, marketing, commercial transactions, and complex business negotiations.

At ELC, Fernanda has supported Talent Legal, Intellectual Property and Licensing, Global Commercial Relations, and LATAM Legal. Her practice focuses on entertainment, talent, intellectual property, and marketing matters, including influencer, ambassador, model, agency, music licensing, and co-branding agreements, as well as digital marketing and social media initiatives.

Prior to joining ELC, Fernanda held legal roles at A.P. Moller – Maersk, Hapag-Lloyd AG, and Compañía Sud
Americana de Vapores (CSAV). Originally from Chile, she has lived and worked in Chile, Germany, Panama, and the United States. She currently resides in New Jersey with her husband and their two children.