ABOUT US

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

President & Executive Director, M. Nélida Mendoza: M.A. has 19 years' teaching experience; Coordinator for Spanish scholarships and clubs. She is currently working with the Hispanic Community as a leader for three non-profit Latin American organizations, and helping the Hispanic community to be organized. She is one of the founders of Centro Cultural Hispano Americano. She was also a co-founder of a non-profit organization, Asociación Club Ecuador and a Member of its Advisory Board (2001-2002); Vice-President of Asociación Colombiana (2001 - 2002); Board Member of Cigarra (since 2002). Member of Sustainable Seattle Steering Committee since 2004, Member of Mujer Entre Letras and Mujeres del Northwest.

She is currently committed to promoting Hispanic American and local artists to be recognized for their talent as part of the mission of CCHA. She has worked as an curator for several Hispanic art exhibits. She has collaborated in musical showcases, Fiestas Patrias, Cinco de Mayo, Hispanic Seafair celebrations, and is the Coordinator for Hispanic American participation at the Torchlight Parade since July 2004 (first time), Latin Baseball Night Tribute at Safeco Field since July 2004, and Flag Parade for Hispanic Seafair Festival, and in charge of searching for the featured artist for the Hispanic Seafair Festival. She was the President and a dancer for Aires Folclóricos, a Colombian Folkloric group, and a dancer in Llactanchis, a Peruvian Folkloric group, both in the Bay Area in California. She is a journalist and writer of Spanish poetry; a critic in Art and Literature; a painter and lecturer on Hispanic American art and culture.

F. Rafael Mendoza, Communications Director: Was born in Ecuador. He graduated as an Electro-Mechanical Engineer and is currently working as a manager for Intel Corporation. He was the President and co-founder of Asociación Club Ecuador (2001 to 2002); Advisory Board Member for two non-profit organizations: Asociación Colombiana (2001-2002) and Cigarra (since 2002). He is one of the founders of Centro Cultural Hispano Americano. He is currently committed to promote the art and culture of Hispanic America. He has collaborated in musical showcases, art exhibits, Fiestas Patrias, Cinco de Mayo, Hispanic Seafair and Torchlight Parade celebrations.

Artist Jose Luis Rodriguez Guerra, Cultural and Artistic Director: Originally from Mexico and resides in Seattle for the past 30 years. He has skillfully advanced the arts in our region with his artwork and as a member of the Seattle Arts Commission (1992-1996), and as a creator, director and founder of the Art Attack/ Alternative Spaces in Boise and Seattle. He has exhibited his artwork in more than 100 art institutions, including national renowned museums, art centers, universities, colleges, and alternative spaces. He has also managed several international exhibitions, including the works of international renowned American Masters, such as abstract painter Sam Francis and Assembly movement sculptors Ed and Nancy Kienholz as well as Mexican Masters Diego Rivera, Siqueiros, Orozco and Rufino Tamayo. Rodriguez worked with the 1% Capital Improvement for the City of Seattle, and was a member responsible for the "Public Art Collection" and the city "Portable Art Collection." He created and introduced, for the first time, 8 exhibitions to the Seattle public "Eyes on Public Art" part of the 30 year old art collection of the city of Seattle Art Commission.

His artwork is monumental and transcends all cultures. He draws on spirituality in his paintings of solemn, lone figures on wooden boxes with rounded edges, making the figures appear almost as if they are in the room.

Fiscal Officer, Mary Ann Valdez: Originally from California. She graduated in Health Science at California State University in Northridge. She was an elementary school teacher for ten years in Los Angeles County. She brings an expertise in statistics. She has traveled across the United States, and enjoys traveling to Europe, Mexico and Canada. She enjoys the arts and has promoted the arts and cultures of the world in her teaching career, and has helped in other organizations promote the Latin American culture. She was a member and a volunteer at the museums in Los Angeles. She was also a volunteer for film productions for music videos in Los Angeles.

Public Relations Director, Lauri Jordana: She has been working in marketing and communications for 20 years, much of it in Hispanic marketing, with several years' focus on public relations and promotions for companies in industries such as telecom, banking, real estate, housewares and engineering. She owns Conexión Marketing, a Hispanic marketing agency that connects businesses to the Puget Sound Hispanic community through communications, outreach, programs and products. She has a B.A. in Foreign Languages and Literature (Spanish/French) and a minor in Advertising from Washington State University, and is currently pursuing an MBA at Seattle University. She also earned a certificate in Marketing from the UW and a certificate in Spanish-to-English Translation & Project Management from the Institute of Translation and Interpretation at BCC. She is a proficient copywriter, desktop publisher and translation manager and over the years has established and nurtured valuable relationships with the local media.
 

Publicity Director, Cesar Hidalgo-Landeros: He is a Member of CCHA since January 2004. Was born in Chile and works as a Video Specialist for the Seattle Police Video Unit. He has experience in Broadcast equipment such as Beta SP, DVC PRO, studio camera configurations, field camera operations, Studio/Field lighting and audio, and all prosumer equipment (SVHS, DV, Hi 8, etc.); Video editing systems: linear and non linear, Media 100, Final Cut Pro, Premiere, Avid; Video and graphic design software: After Effects, Boris FX, PhotoShop, DVD Pro. Streaming media software: Media Cleaner Pro, QuickTime Vr.; Computers:  Macintosh, Windows 2000, NT, XP, Access, Excel, PowerPoint, and Word.
 

Secretary, Lisa Cummins: Was born and raised in Washington state and now resides in the Seattle area. She has also been involved with the Hispanic Seafair Organization, Image de Rainier, Fiestas Patrias, and the Mariners' Latin Baseball Night: Parade of Flags. She has also volunteered for the Irish Heritage Club and Club Peru.  She was most recently a 3rd grade teacher. She has her Bachelor's and Master's degrees in Education. Lisa is published in Who's Who in American Education and holds an award from the Washington Mid-Management Association (Outstanding Female of the Year).  Being of Hispanic descent, she researched and implemented multicultural activities and arts to apply in her classroom.  She is committed to enhance and support the Hispanic culture and its endeavors in arts and community outreach programs.

 

Volunteer Director, Gloria Andrade:
 

Benjamin Arenas : Was born in Mexico. He has more than 35 years of creative experience  in the  international field of Architecture, in the environment and urban design in the United States, France and Mexico. He is a member and founder of Arenas & Zepeda Architects, S.C., in Mexico City for commercial and residential architecture. He has been working for the past 14 years in the creation and design of urban public and private projects  for the City of Seattle,  Washington, DC; including 3 years of  development of environmental engineering businesses in Mexico City.
He is fluent in Spanish, English and French. He is currently dedicated to preserve the Mexican art and culture.
 

Legal Advisor, Manuel Rios:

ADVISORY BOARD
 

Michael Creamer:  Is a Senior International Consultant having completed a 15 year career at Microsoft where he held various Senior HR Director positions. Mike has extensive international HR experience, and has developed particular expertise in the Latin America and Asia regions. Mike has a very diverse background in international start-up operations, compensation program development and training, change management, and leadership development.  Mike was born and raised in Caracas, Venezuela, watching such Latin Baseball Greats as David Concepcion and Luis Aparicio.

Rocio Luquero: Masters Degree in Clinical Psychology, 1989 at the University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain. Creator, producer and hostess of the weekly radio program A Toda Mujer. Live talk show targeting to represent Latino women as artistic, intelligent and leaders of our society. Co-producer, co-host and writer of the morning radio program Latinos Dias on Radio Sol 1360am (Salem Broadcasting), a radio station for Spanish speakers in the Puget Sound. Writer includes a short novel "Viento del Este, Viento del Oeste, Tu a Filadelfia y yo a Seattle", the short films "Las Flores" ´(2003) and "Agárralo" (2002); and currently working on the full-length film "Mercedes" (2004).  "Las Flores" was accepted at the San Francisco Latino Film Festival Cine Accion. Producer assistant of Citizen Ñ, a documentary about the political relevance of the Latino votes on the 2000 elections. Co-producing, writing and on-air talent for a weakly radio show, Café y Noticias on KXPA 1540am. Creator, writer and producer of the first Spanish language television program (Acentos) on Public Access focusing on the Latino community living in King County.
Conductor of staff meetings, setting agendas, planning programming, organizing marketing and promotions, and successful grant writing. Bilingual communication skills in Spanish and English languages including ability to interact in a positive and productive manner.
She has received two awards: The Seattle Foundation, 2004 -Grant awarded to start up the radio program "A Toda Mujer". The Seattle Foundation, 2001- Grant awarded to continue producing the television program Acentos. She is also a Member of  N.A.L.I.P. (National Association of Latino Independent Producers)

Eduardo Mendonça: A native of Salvador, Bahia, Brazil, Eduardo traces his lineage to a royal African family bearing the hereditary title of Mamabeka ("prophet of the royal court"), as documented by the Instituto Geográfico e Histórico da Bahia. Eduardo Mendonça has lived for the past seven years in the Seattle area. He began his Northwest career as lead vocalist and musical director of the Banda Voou group in Seattle. After that, he traveled throughout the United States and Canada with the Bakra Bata steel drum band. Now, he has his own group known as Show Brazil!, which has gained much recognition in the past year. Show Brazil! has played throughout Western Washington and Brazil at events and locations such as the Folklife Festival, Redmond Arts in the Parks, Taste of Bellevue, Hispanic/Latin Month, Fiestas Patrias, Fall Fandango, Fat Tuesday, Sundiata Festival, World Rhythm Festival, Earth Day Festival, West Seattle Street Festival, Marymoor Heritage Festival, Brazilian Carnaval, Burien Strawberry Festival, Edmonds Festival, Mercado Modêlo (Brazil), Itaigara and Piedade Malls (Brazil), and the Catholic University of Salvador (Brazil). Eduardo was also featured at Bumbershoot in Seattle, as guest artist of the internationally well-known performing group OLODUM; the Brazilian Carnival in Vancouver- British Columbia; and at a Nike-sponsored show in Portland, Oregon. The performances listed above are just a part of Eduardo's continued success as a performing artist. He also had the honor to play for Pope John Paul II's welcome to Brazil, former South Africa President Nelson Mandela (Seattle,WA - USA - 1999), Brazilian President João Baptista Figueiredo (Brazil 1979), and was also featured in a Paul Simon documentary video in 1991. Eduardo is a voting member of National Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences - GRAMMY.  
 
 

Luis Pedro Martínez: Originally from Guatemala. He graduated from the University of Washington in Business. He was the winner of the 2003 Ikea Case Competition for Business Strategic Consulting. He has three years' experience in marketing, business development, and promotion through education, consulting projects, work, and internships. He has three years experience in financial analysis, industry and market research through internships, consulting projects, university studies, and career assignments.

 

Deborah Rivera: from Mexico City, moved to the U.S. when she was 21. She has a B.A. in Biology from the University of California, Northridge and a BFA in New Media, with an emphasis in Graphic Design from the Academy of Art University in San Francisco. She is currently working as a consultant for Microsoft, MSN Entertainment division.

 

Pam Roach: B.A., History, 1970, BYU; Teacher Certificate, 1971Senator since 1990 representing King and Pierce County. She is the  Government Operations & Elections, Chair; Financial Services, Insurance & Housing; Judiciary; Rules; Ways & Means. Senator Roach is a former KIRO Weekend Radio Show Host. For 16 years, she worked as a legislative assistant and aid to former Senator and King County Council member Kent Pullen who passed away in 2003.
 

Blanca Santander: Was born in Peru, and have resided in Seattle, WA. USA in 1996.  She is an artist who specializes in children's paintings. She graduated from the Catholic University of Peru with a Degree in Painting and Engraving. She specialized in photography at Interamerican Photo of Peru - Kodak. From 1995 - 2002 Commission artist and free lance illustrator. From 1990 - 1995 she worked in Scenery and costume design for theater. In 1986 - 1995 she did Free lance design and illustration for non-profit international organizations. She has received several prizes: 1991 Honorable mention "Images of Peru" photographic competition sponsored by Union Latina.  In 1990 Second place Inter American Photo of Peru.  In 1989 First place "Nueva Casa de la Moneda", engraving competition sponsored by the Peruvian Central Reserve Bank national contest.  In 1987 Awarded first prize in a national contest to illustrate textbooks for rural children sponsored by FAO HOLAND - INFOR. Her love for art began as a child and has evolved with images and colors from within Perú and her feelings and dreams, which are her primary source of artistic inspiration.

Michael J. Warner, Ph. D.: Thirty-three years experience in museum administrative, fiscal and personnel management, budget preparation, liaison with legislatures, fundraising and grants writing; development and management of a comprehensive statewide technical assistance program; organization and supervision of a state funded capital project grants program; extensive experience with all aspects of museum operations including directing, collections management, exhibition and education planning; involvement with trustees, advisory boards, citizens groups and governmental agencies. Extensive experience with museums and Indian cultural centers providing consultation on education and exhibition programs, all aspects of museum planning, including design development, comprehensive, business, and strategic plans. Teaching and publishing experience in southwest history with an emphasis on Indian history and culture.

Vice-Consul of Spain: Luis Fernando Esteban

Antonio Sánchez, Ph.D.