SAN ANTONIO (February 26, 2020) – The San Antonio Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (SAHCC) is proud to announce the fifth cohort of the Latina Leadership Institute (LLI) welcoming 33 aspiring women to the program. The Latina Leadership Institute was founded by the San Antonio Hispanic Chamber of Commerce in 2015 and is a non-partisan leadership program that gives women the tools and resources to pursue elected-office as well as federal, state, and local appointment positions and boards/commissions.



“This is an exciting time for us! I would like to welcome the 33 candidates to a program that helps women hone their leadership abilities and inspires them to step out of their comfort zones,” said Dr. Erika Gonzalez, Chairwoman of the San Antonio Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. “This is much more than a leadership program; this is an opportunity to work together to build a community of support and leadership with women of similar values and ethics.”

Since the program’s inception, the Latina Leadership Institute has graduated four cohorts with now over 100 alumnae. Approximately half of the alumnae are currently serving on at least one new board, commission or committee. Additionally, six women have run for office, including current Bexar County Probate Judge Court 2 Veronica Vasquez and San Antonio City Councilwoman Melissa Havrda.

The Hispanic Chamber congratulates the following individuals who were selected to participate in this year’s program:

• Arlene Siller, Ascend Nonprofit and Business Solutions
• Beatrice Marroquin, Bexar County Office of Criminal Justice
• Brandi Pena, City of San Antonio-District 7 City Council Office
• Catherine Garcia, Alamo Tees & Advertising
• Chelsea Reyes, Northside Independent School District
• Christina Montejano, University of Texas at San Antonio
• Clara Guerrero, Boys & Girls Club of San Antonio
• Crystal Del Bosque, Turner Construction Company
• Dalia Flores Contreras, City Education Partners
• Hannah Garcia, San Antonio Water System
• Janell Guzman, USAA
• Jennifer Rosas, San Antonio Independent School District
• Jessica McGuire, WB Liquors/Star Beverage Co.
• Jessica Mueller, National Association for Latino Community Asset Builders
• Kristian Gutierrez, Let’s Go Texas
• Laura Schammel, South Texas Renal Care Group
• Leslie Rangel, St. Mary’s University School of Law
• Lexi Bachran, Office of State Representative Ray Lopez
• Lori Zamora, City of San Antonio
• Maria Ibarra Rodriguez, City of San Antonio
• Marisa Jackson, Phyllis Browning Co
• Misela Gonzales-Vanderwalle, O’Connell Robertson
• Monica Lopez Vera, Cuatro Veinte Advisory Group, LLC
• Morgan Jones, Spurs Sports and Entertainment
• Patricia Butler, Coffeecionado Community Roasters
• Patricia Luna, Division Laundry & Cleaners, Inc.
• Paulina Sandoval, First Assured Quality Systems
• Rosa Gomez, H-E-B
• Sara Santiago, Family Service
• Stephanie Gaitan, Key Ideas Inc.
• Stephanie Garcia, Toyota Motor North America
• Sukhdeep Kaur, City Education Partners
• Vanessa Fierro, USAA