Board of Directors 2012
Executive Board
Javier Trujillo
, Chairman of the Board
City of Henderson, Intergovernmental Relations Specailist
Javier is a member of the City of Henderson’s Intergovernmental Relations Division (City Manager’s Office) where he is responsible for advocating the City’s position in all local, regional and state legislative affairs. [read more]
Joe Hernandez
, Vice Chair
Branch-Hernandez & Associates, President & COO
Joe has over 38 years as a licensed property & casualty insurance broker and 26 years of agency management experience. He is a principal and partner of Branch-Hernandez & Associates, Inc. Insurance Services, the largest 100% minority owned insurance agency, MBE Certified in Nevada. [read more]
Maggie Arias Petrel
, Secretary-Treasurer
Maggie Arias-Petrel, born in Quito-Ecuador, serves as the Chief Executive Officer of Global Professional Medical Consulting; a firm specialized in the areas of Marketing, Business Development and Strategic Partnerships for the Hispanic Market. [read more]
Daniel Tafoya
, Assistant Secretary-Treasurer
Clark County School District, MPS Coordinator
Dan Tafoya is currently employed with the Clark County School District and has served in the capacity of the District’s Management Process System Coordinator. While at the school district, Daniel has developed various publications and training courses concerning the implementation of ISO 9001:2000. [read more]
Luis Valera
, Immediate Past Chairman of the Board
University of Nevada, Las Vegas, VP for Diversity Initiatives and Government Relations
Luis F. Valera is the Vice President for Diversity Initiatives and Government Relations for the University of Nevada, Las Vegas where he is responsible for advocating the university’s position on county, state, and federal issues in addition to his role as the university’s chief diversity officer. [read more]
Directors – Two Years
Arthur Cambeiro
SurgiSpa Cosmetic & Plastic Surgery, Plastic Surgeon
Arthur Cambeiro is a double board certified surgeon through the American Board of Plastic Surgery and the American Board of Surgery. He has consistently scored in the top 95th percentile in the nation on his certifying exams. [read more]
Brian Ayala
Ayala's, Inc., Vice President
Brian Ayala has been Vice President of Ayala’s, Inc. for over 20 years. He is responsible for operations and business development for Ayala’s, Inc. [read more]
Daniel Johnson
Caesars Entertainment, Gaming Analyst
Daniel Andrew Johnson is a native of Arkansas. Daniel works at Caesars Entertainment were he performs the duties of a Gaming Analyst. In this position, Daniel assists Caesars Entertainment’s 32 properties in Gaming Analytics. [read more]
Gaby Jurica
El Tiempo Newspaper, Advertising Manager
Gaby Jurica is the advertising manager for the Hispanic publications of Stephens Media LLC - El Tiempo newspaper, and Grupera magazine. She is responsible for the Advertising Sales, the strategic growth of the advertising department as well as developing strategies for their clients to reach the Hispanic market. [read more]
Jose Luis Melendrez
University of Nevada, Las Vegas, Assistant VP of Diversity Initiatives
Jose Luis Melendrez currently serves as the Assistant Vice President in the Office of Diversity Initiatives at the University of Nevada Las Vegas. Jose served as the first Director for the Office of Student Diversity Programs and Services where he was involved in the development of new programming and services for underrepresented student populations including multicultural and international. [read more]
Judge Valorie Vega
Judge Valorie Vega was appointed to District Court's Department 2 on February 21, 1999 by Governor Kenny Guinn and has since then been retained and re-elected by the voters. She has over twenty years of experience as a jurist prior to which time she practiced in both the criminal and civil law arenas. [read more]
Ramon Alvarez
Walmart, Market Manager
Ramon Alvarez is a proven leader with over 25 years of management experience in the retail industry. He began his career in California and currently holds the position of Market Manager for Wal-Mart Corporation in Las Vegas and Mesquite. [read more]
Tony Timmons
Wells Fargo Bank, Nevada Regional Banking Communications
Tony Timmons serves as the head of Nevada Regional Banking Communications for Wells Fargo and manages media relations and strategic internal communications for the state. Timmons brings to his role extensive communications and marketing experience, especially with multicultural markets. [read more]
Directors – One Year
Aldo Aguirre
Alianza Consulting Group, LLC, Principal
Dr. Aldo A. Aguirre specializes in strategic planning, team coordination, and policy development. He is a principal of Alianza Consulting Group and vice president of Support Services of America Nevada. [read more]
Andres Estrada
Outdoor Promotions, Senior Account Executive
Andres Estrada is a marketing and sales executive who specializes in helping provide businesses and organizations with cost effective, outdoor advertising. [read more]
Eddie Galaz
Eddie has worked with the Latin Chamber of Commerce as a Student Representative on their Board of Directors for 2 years and has successfully transitioned to directorship for the 2012 term. He has served on the Finance committee and has chaired the Latino Youth Leadership Alumni committee. He is also one of the organizers for the Latino Youth Leadership Conference, the Latin Chamber’s premier youth conference. [read more]
Edgar Patino
NV Energy, Manager of Local Government Affairs
Edgar Patino joined NV Energy’s Corporate Communications team in 2001. In his current role, he combines his corporate communications and public affairs experience to strengthen the company’s statewide effectiveness at the local political level, generating support and goodwill for company positions and policies. [read more]
Elizabeth Gallagher
Gallagher Group International, President & CEO
As of 2010 Ms. Gallagher sold her 51.3% ownership to her partner, allowing her to focus on Gallagher Group International, a firm who specializes in Public Relations and Marketing. For the last 25 years she has dedicated time as an advocate for Hispanic Entrepreneurs. Estabilishing herself on a local, national and global level promoting the interests of Hispanic Owned businesses. [read more]
Isauro Gonzalez
U.S. Bank, VP Multicultural Market Sales Manager
Isauro “Izzy” Gonzalez is the VP Multicultural Market Sales Manager for the state of Arizona and Nevada & Sacramento for U.S Bank. Izzy also teaches a class at Estrella Community College on how to start a business, both in English and Spanish. [read more]
Juergen Barbusca
Cox Communications, Manager of Communications
Juergen Barbusca is manager of communications for Cox Communications-Las Vegas. In his role with the company, the award-winning business communicator is responsible for media relations, contributions to the company’s community relations efforts and supports marketing-communications initiatives for Cox’s business and residential products/services. [read more]
Lizzette Villanueva
American Family Insurance, Marketing Brand at Retail Consultant
Lizzette Villanueva is a Marketing Brand at Retail Consultant for American Family Insurance. Lizzette is responsible for supporting American Family increase their exposure and brand awareness in the state of Nevada. [read more]
Luis Ayon
Maier Gutierrez Ayon, Inc., Principal Attorney
Luis has significant litigation experience in Nevada's state and federal courts. He focuses his practice on complex commercial litigation and contested and adversarial matters in bankruptcy court, real estate litigation and financial institutions litigation. [read more]
Maximiliano D. Couvillier III
Lionel, Sawyer & Collins, Attorney
Maximiliano Couvillier is a shareholder with the Litigation Department at Lionel Sawyer & Collins. Max’s practice focuses on commercial disputes, corporate governance, shareholder disputes, labor/employment, real estate and construction matters. Max has also participated in significant appellate matters, representing some of the Nevada’s largest companies. [read more]
Norberto Madrigal
Lunas Construction Clean-Up, Treasurer
Norberto Madrigal is a principal and corporate officer for Lunas construction Clean-Up. Lunas Construction Clean-Up has raised the bar in the construction industry in turning waste into a viable product that the community can benefit from. [read more]
Ramon Torres
Epicure Group International, Principal
Ramon Torres is an entrepreneur with a diverse background in business, communications, community relations, diversity affairs and international trade. He is principal of Epicure Group International, an ACDBE certified company in Las Vegas where he is responsible for the company’s varied business efforts in the U.S. and abroad. [read more]
Executive Staff
Otto Mérida
, President & CEO
Otto Merida came to Las Vegas in 1974 and worked for the State of Nevada’s Department of Education and the Comprehensive Employment and Training Program. From 1976-78, he helped organize the Latin Chamber of Commerce. In 1978, he became the Executive Director of the LCC and presently its President/CEO. [read more]
Victoria Napoles-Laza
, Senior Executive Vice President
Victoria Napoles-Laza is the Senior Executive Vice President for the Latin Chamber of Commerce. As an active member of this community Mrs. Napoles-Laza currently serves on the board of directors of the CHW St. Rose Dominican Hospitals and as a Commissioner for the State of Nevada Commission on Minority Affairs. [read more]
