SAN ANTONIO (April 19, 2022) – The San Antonio Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (SAHCC) is pleased to welcome its seventh cohort of 24 inspiring leaders to the Latina Leadership Institute (LLI).

Since SAHCC founded LLI in 2015, it has been a valuable resource for Latina leaders looking to serve the community by offering them the tools and resources to pursue elected-office as well as federal, state, and local appointment positions and boards/commissions.

This year's LLI program will be led by Co-Chairs Melanie Mendez-Gonzales, Digital Media Entrepreneur and Community Leader, and Claudia L. Guzman, Ph.D, the Corp. Qualitative Research Manager & Moderator for H-E-B. Both San Antonio natives and both having served on the Steering Committee this past year for LLI Class 6, both Melanie and Claudia bring a wealth of experience and leadership.

“We are pleased to welcome this group of Latinas and to be a part of their journey as community leaders," said 2022 LLI Co-Chair Melanie Mendez-Gonzales. "We aim to support them in preparation to serve in the positions where decisions are made.”

The Latina Leadership Institute was founded by the San Antonio Hispanic Chamber of Commerce in 2015 and is a non-partisan leadership program that has graduated five cohorts with now over 140 alumnae. 

SAHCC congratulates the following individuals selected to participate in this year’s program:

• Amanda Gonzalez, Blue Cares- San Antonio Police Officers Association
• Danielle Garcia, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
• Jenee Margo Gonzales, The Marianist Province of the United States
• Samantha Hernandez, City of San Antonio- City Council District 6
• Glady Hernandez, Educational Leader
• Jezzika Perez, The Jezzika Lee Perez Tax Group, LLC
• Lauren Cortez, Our Lady of the Lake University
• Michelle Spencer, Naman Howell Smith & Lee PLLC
• Emilie Herrera, SafeRide Health
• Albesa (Albe) Elias Calles, San Antonio Water System (SAWS)
• Desiree Curtis, San Antonio International Airport
• Emma Hernandez, NEO Philanthropy
• Rebecca Mendoza, Gardendale Elementary w/ Edgewood ISD
• Veronica Diaz, Teach For America
• Patty Mendoza, Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute
• Rubiana Mares, Texas A&M Transportation Institute
• Yolanda Reyes Guevara, Northwest Vista College-Alamo Colleges
• Michelle Rodriguez, AV SHOP Inc
• Daniela Salinas, Nueva Vida Behavioral Health Associates
• Jacquelyn Perez, KIPP Texas Public Schools
• Adela Garcia, The Children's Hospital of San Antonio
• Mariah Contreras, talkStrategy
• Christa Aldrich, H-E-B
• Flor Gutierrez, South San Independent School District

We would also like to recognize and congratulate the Steering Committee and Co-Chair leadership for LLI7:

LLI 2022 Co-Chairs:

• Melanie Mendez-Gonzales, Que Means What
• Dr. Claudia Guzman, H-E-B

LLI 2022 Steering Committee:

• Melessa Rodriguez, USAA
• Irene Chavez, The Madonna Center
• Lisa Navarro-Gonzales, Santana Group/Forma Automotive
• Elizabeth Balli Van Sickle, Battered Women and Children’s Shelter of San Antonio
• Tracy Talavera, Accenture
• Lynda Rodriguez, SWBC
• Lily Garcia, I Have A CPA Guy
• Maria Escamilla, Department of the Navy
• Priscilla Hernandez, Bexar County/County Clerk's Office
• Estrellita Garcia-Diaz, Jefferson Bank
• Adriana Pecina-Rios, City Education Partners
• Krizia Landivar, Naman Howell Smith and Lee

For more information about the Latina Leadership Institute, please call 210-225-0462 or visit our program web page.

About the San Antonio Hispanic Chamber of Commerce:

Founded in 1929, America’s first Hispanic Chamber and San Antonio’s only Five-Star accredited organization by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the San Antonio Hispanic Chamber of Commerce continues to be the leader in business assistance, connecting its members to needed resources, providing procurement, marketing and networking opportunities, advocating for legislation affecting small businesses and corporations in the San Antonio metropolitan area, and better training to develop the skills of our local workforce.