Meet the Hispanic Leaders Recognized in the 2025 Who’s Who Edition

By Migdalis Pérez

Chicago, July 24 – Negocios Now has released the complete list of outstanding leaders featured in its annual Who’s Who in Hispanic Business edition, which will be distributed at the Who’s Who Gala on July 25 at the historic Old Post Office in Chicago.

This special edition profiles individuals from a wide range of sectors, including businesses of all sizes, corporate leadership, government, law, finance, elected office, and nonprofits—part of Negocios Now’s ongoing mission to spotlight Latino growth, impact, and leadership across industries.

This year’s edition also marks the debut of the first-ever list of Latinas in Construction, which will be featured on the cover—highlighting an often-overlooked group of trailblazers in the field.

“I want to thank everyone who helped make this edition possible. I’m especially grateful to the leaders who provided their information and to our team for their incredible work,” said Clemente Nicado, Publisher of Negocios Now.

In total, more than 170 leaders are profiled this year, with 60 percent appearing for the first time—a powerful reflection of the rising 

visibility and influence of new Latino leadership.

Below is the complete list of honorees, representing excellence across business, corporate, finance, law, government, elected office, and the nonprofit sector.

“I want to thank everyone who made it possible to bring together these Hispanic leaders in a single edition. I’m grateful for their collaboration in providing us with their information, and to our team for their hard work,” said Clemente Nicado, Publisher of NN. 

This year, more than 170 leaders are profiled, with 60 percent appearing in the publication for the first time, reflecting the growing visibility of new Latino leadership.

Below is the complete list of outstanding individuals across the business, Corporate, Finance, Law, Government, Elected Officials, and nonprofit sectors.

Business:

1. Carlos Butler-Valel
   Organization: Avizo Consulting
   Title: Founder

2. Juan Calahorrano
   Organization: JLC & Associates
   Title: President & CEO

3. Jesus Delgado
   Organization: CSI Trucking, Inc.
   Title: Owner

4. Robert “Bobby” Ibarra
   Organization: Ibarra Group LLC
   Title: Managing Partner

5. Alejandra Moran
   Organization: Si! Communications
   Title: President & CEO

6. Juan Moreno
   Organization: JGMA
   Title: Founder

7. Oscar Moncau
   Organization: UpRight Interiors for Business
   Title: President & Founder

8. Brian Ortiz
   Organization: Nacional Group
   Title: Founder

9. Julian Posada
   Organization: LiftUp Enterprises
   Title: Founder / President

10. Francisco Rivadeneyra
    Organization: D5 Design & Metal Fabrication LLC
    Title: Managing Partner

11. Marco Romero
    Organization: Ibuilders
    Title: Founder

12. Devin Rowland
    Organization: KMA Companies Real Estate
    Title: President

13. Ulises Ruelas
    Organization: Icon Capital Management
    Title: Managing Director

14. Adrian Segura
    Organization: The Luminary Collective (TLC)
    Title: Founder & President

15. Erica Trejo
    Organization: Great Lakes Sailing
    Title: Founder

16. Edna Uribe
    Organization: Rise Mindset Shine
    Title: Founder

17. Letty Vélez
    Organization: Vélez Global Enterprises
    Title: CEO

18. Cristina Vera
    Organization: Vera Creative
    Title: Founder & CEO

19. John Wober
    Organization: Airbrands
    Title: President

Corporate:

1. Maria Bocanegra
   Organization: Peoples Gas and North Shore Gas
   Title: President

2. René Casares
   Organization: Ulta Beauty
   Title: Chief Legal Officer

3. Miguel Gonzalez
   Organization: Verizon’s Great Lakes Market
   Title: Senior Director of Retail

4. Angel Gomez
   Organization: T-Mobile
   Title: Market Director

5. Ozzie Guillén Jr.
   Organization: Computer Aid, Inc.
   Title: Director of Service Delivery – Public Sector

6. Sandra Magallon
   Organization: JP Morgan Chase
   Title: Commercial Bank’s Business Development Director

7. Roberto Paniagua
   Organization: Google
   Title: Senior Account Executive, Healthcare

8. Evelyn Rodriguez
   Organization: ComEd
   Title: Senior Manager, Corporate Relations

9. Gregorio Salinas
   Organization: Burns & McDonnell
   Title: Great Lakes Region Strategic Partners Manager

10. Elliott Segarra
    Organization: Accenture
    Title: Managing Director

11. Roberto Arista
    Organization: Wintrust Financial
    Title: Vice President, Business Development
12. Karen Canadas
    Organization: Wintrust Financial
    Title: Assistant Vice President

Elected Officials:

1. State Representative Jaime Andrade
   40th District

2. Senator Omar Aquino
   2nd District

3. Senator Liandro Arellano Jr.
   37th District

4. State Representative John Cabello
   90th District

5. Senator Cristina Castro
   22nd District

6. Senator Javier L. Cervantes
   1st District

7. State Representative Fred Crespo
   44th District

8. Alderman Peter Chico
   10th Ward

9. Alderman Ruth Cruz
   30th Ward

10. State Representative Eva-Dina Delgado
    3rd District

11. Alderperson Jessie Fuentes
    26th Ward

12. U.S. Representative Jesús ‘Chuy’ García
    4th District

13. State Representative Edgar González Jr.
    23rd District

14. State Representative Angelica Guerrero-Cuellar
    22nd District

15. Senator Graciela Guzmán
    20th District

16. State Representative Barbara Hernandez
    83rd District (Note: Conflicting info says 50th—confirmed as 83rd)

17. State Representative Norma Hernandez
    77th District

18. State Representative Lisa Hernandez
    2nd District

19. State Representative Lilian Jiménez
    4th District

20. State Representative Aarón M. Ortíz
    1st District

21. Senator Mike Porfirio
    11th District (Note: Correction from text—Mike Porfirio represents the 11th)

22. Alderman Anthony Quezada
    Cook County Board Commissioner, 8th District

23. U.S. Representative Delia Ramirez
    3rd District

24. Alderman Michael D. Rodriguez
    22nd Ward

25. Alderman Byron Sigcho-Lopez
    25th Ward

26. Alderman Andre Vasquez
    40th Ward

27. Senator Rachel Ventura
    43rd District

28. Senator Karina Villa
    25th District

29. Senator Celina Villanueva
    12th District

30. Alderman Gilbert Villegas
    36th Ward

Government:

1. Ivan Capifali
   Commissioner, Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection (BACP), City of Chicago

2. Julie Hernandez
   Commissioner, Department of Fleet and Facilities Management (2FM), City of Chicago

3. Richard Martinez
   Leader in Business Equity & Opportunity, Metropolitan Water Reclamation District (MWRD)

4. Susana A. Mendoza
   Illinois State Comptroller

5. Cristina Pacione-Zayas
   Chief of Staff, Office of Mayor Brandon Johnson

6. Juan Pablo Prieto
   Director of Diversity Programs & DBE Liaison Officer, Chicago Transit Authority (CTA)

7. Martin Torres
   First Assistant Deputy Governor for Education, Office of the Governor of Illinois

8. Anna M. Valencia
   City Clerk, City of Chicago

Law:

1. Sergio E. Acosta
   Organization: Akerman
   Title: Co-Chair

2. James Botana
   Organization: Jackson Lewis P.C.
   Title: Principal

3. Marlén Cortez Morris
   Organization: Enova International, Inc.
   Title: Associate General Counsel

4. Pedro De Jesus
   Organization: Tampico Beverages, Inc.
   Title: Head of International Business & EVP, General Counsel & Corporate Secretary

5. Gina Diaz
   Organization: Diaz Case Law
   Title: ManagingAttorney

6. Lisa Duarte
   Organization: Croke Fairchild Duarte & Beres
   Title: Partner

7. Dahiana Estrada
   Organization: Barnes & Thornburg LLP
   Title: Litigation Associate

8. Justin Gonzales
   Organization: Perkins Coie’s Mergers & Acquisitions Group
   Title: Partner

9. Thomas Guzman
   Organization: Sidley Austin LLP
   Title: Senior Managing Associate

10. Nicolas Guzman
    Organization: Faegre Drinker
    Title: Partner

11. Matthew M. Jorge
    Organization: Marshall, Gerstein & Borun LLP
    Title: Partner

12. Abad Lopez
    Organization: Dykema
    Title: Partner

13. Norma Manjarrez
    Organization: Ogletree Deakins
    Title: Shareholder

14. Cindy Medina-Cervantes
    Organization: Clyde & Co. (Attorney at Law)
    Title: Senior Associate Attorney

15. Martin Montes
    Organization: Barnes & Thornburg LLP
    Title: Partner

16. Juan Morado
    Organization: Benesch Law
    Title: Partner & National Co-Chair

17. Emi Morales
    Organization: Morales Law Group
    Title: Owner

18. Jessica Ocampo
    Organization: Sprout Social, Inc.
    Title: Corporate Counsel

19. Cesar Orozco
    Organization: Illinois Office of Comptroller
    Title: Assistant Comptroller

20. Ernesto Palomo
    Organization: Troutman Pepper Locke LLP
    Title: Partner

21. Jesse G. Reyes
    Organization: Illinois Appellate Court
    Title: Justice

22. Paulita Pike
    Organization: Ropes & Gray LLP
    Title: Managing Partner

23. Jesse Ruiz
    Organization: Vistria
    Title: Partner, General Counsel & Chief Compliance Officer

24. Korina Sanchez
    Organization: Third Coast Hospitality
    Title: Managing Partner & General Counsel

25. Mario Treto Jr.
    Organization: Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation
    Title: Secretary

26. Diane Webster
    Organization: Gordon Rees Scully Mansukhani LLP
    Title: Partner

Finance:

1. Robert Aguilar & Martin Cabrera
   Organization: Cabrera Capital
   Title: Co-Leaders / Executives

2. Joe Aguilar
   Organization: Illinois State Treasurer Michael W. Frerichs
   Title: Chief Investment Officer

3. Pete Amaro
   Organization: L’attitude Ventures
   Title: Managing Partner

4. Vicky Arroyo
   Organization: Stearns Bank
   Title: Chief Lending Officer (CLO)

5. Ramiro Atristaín-Carrión
   Organization: Atristain Financial Advisors
   Title: Managing Director

6. Carlos E. Calderon
   Organization: Ariel Investments
   Title: Chief Financial Officer

7. Olga Camargo & Juan Carlos Avila
   Organization: FARO Advisory at Centric Wealth Management LLC
   Titles: Olga – CEO; Juan Carlos – Managing Director

8. Carlos R. Cardenas
   Organization: Wintrust Commercial Banking
   Title: Group Senior Vice President

9. Adriana Dueñas
   Organization: Alliant Insurance Services
   Title: Senior Vice President & Producer

10. Fernando Diaz
    Organization: Illinois State Treasurer Michael Frerichs
    Title: Deputy Treasurer

11. Daniel Gamba
    Organization: Northern Trust Asset Management
    Title: President

12. Ezequiel “Zeke” Flores
    Organization: Centre Partners
    Title: Operating Partner

13. Samara Hernandez
    Organization: Chingona Ventures
    Title: Partner

14. Iliana Levy
    Organization: Morgan Stanley
    Title: Market Manager

15. Cesar Lostaunau
    Organization: Morningstar
    Title: Global Director of Workforce Engagement

16. Rudy Medina
    Organization: Self-Help Federal Credit Union
    Title: Market President

17. Francisco Menchaca
    Organization: IDFPR Division of Financial Institutions
    Title: Director

18. Adela Cepeda & David Olivencia
    Organization: Angeles Investors
    Titles: Founders / Leaders

19. Jose Luis Prado
    Organization: Wind Point Partners
    Title: Partner

20. Michelle Romo
    Organization: J.P. Morgan Chase
    Title: Private Banker

21. Eduardo Tobon
    Organization: BMO
    Title: Head of the Economic Advisory Group & Latino Segment

Non-profits:

1. Eduardo Arabu
   Organization: National Hispanic Corporate Council
   Title: Chief Executive Officer

2. Esther Corpuz
   Organization: Alivio Medical Centers
   Title: Chief Executive Officer

3. Jaime Di Paulo
   Organization: Illinois Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (IHCC)
   Title: President & CEO

4. Jacqueline Gomez
   Organization: Hispanic-American Construction Industry Association (HACIA)
   Title: Executive Director

5. Ignacio López, Ed.D.
   Organization: Puerto Rican Arts Alliance
   Title: Executive Director

6. Billy Ocasio
   Organization: National Museum of Puerto Rican Arts and Culture
   Title: President & CEO

7. José Ochoa
   Organization: National Museum of Mexican Art
   Title: President

8. Lou Sandoval
   Organization: Illinois Chamber of Commerce
   Title: President & CEO

9. Celena Sarillo
   Organization: Start Early Illinois
   Title: Executive Director

10. Maya Solis
    Organization: UNO – It Only Takes One
    Title: Executive Director

11. Adrian Soto
    Organization: Greater Southwest Development Corporation
    Title: Executive Director

12. Linda Xóchitl Tortolero
    Organization: Latino Policy Forum
    Title: President & CEO

Celebrating 50 years:

1. Jorge Perez
   Organization: Ensemble Español Spanish Dance Theater
   Title: Executive Director
2. Tony Hernandez
   Organization: Hispanic Housing Development Corporation (HHDC)
   Title: President & CEO
3. Healthcare Alternative Systems (HAS)

Launched in 2014, the Negocios Now Gala annually presents special awards to outstanding Hispanic leaders. This year, Luis Puig Jr., President of A.L.L Construction, will receive the Business of the Year Award; Marta Cerda, CEO of ASI, will be honored with the Community Champion Award; Pablo Enríquez, Founder of Enríquez Produce, will receive the Lifetime Achievement Award; and Homero Tristán, Founding Partner of Tristán & Cervantes, will be recognized with the Small Business Award.

The Gala will also include a posthumous tribute to Claudette Soto, Founder of baso Ltd., in recognition of her legacy and contributions to the community.