BOARD OF DIRECTORS & STAFF

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Juana is a senior fundraising and marketing executive with a proven track record of working with Fortune 500 corporations, corporate and private foundations, federal and state governments, small to mid-sized businesses, high net worth individuals, and not-for-profit agencies. A published expert in the field of economic and community development with 25+ years of experience in the non-profit sector, Juana works exclusively with organizations that align with her values and vision, specifically entities that focus on Hispanic, women’s and economic development issues. Juana offers a blend of strategy, multicultural and segment expertise, and experience in building and managing successful partnerships. Juana currently serves as the Chief Development Officer for the Hispanic Heritage Foundation in Washington, DC, working with the CEO and Board of Directors to ensure organizational sustainability through the utilization of enhanced technology and reach, as well as diversified funding sources. Her commitment to diversity and inclusion efforts has motivated her volunteer time, having also served on the Board of the Upper Manhattan Empowerment Zone, New York City’s Community Board 11 (East Harlem), the Mt. Sinai Hospital Community Advisory Board (New York City), Princeton AlumniCorps, and the Latin American Legal Defense Fund (LALDEF) in New Jersey. Juana currently sits on the Boards of the following organizations: the Association of Latino Princeton Alumni, Girls Rule the Law, Chair, and LIDERAMOS. Juana holds a Bachelor’s degree from Princeton University and a Master’s in Public Administration from the National Urban Fellows Program (Baruch College CUNY). Juana, her daughter, her son, and four rescue cats live in Pennington, New Jersey at this time.

PENDING

Paul is CEO, Co-Founder, and Senior Partner at AllGen Financial Advisors, Inc., an independent fee-based Registered Investment Advisor (RIA) firm based in Orlando, Florida. AllGen is committed to helping individuals and businesses maximize their financial resources with financial planning and investment management services. Paul is passionate about helping individuals excel in their financial, personal, and professional endeavors through strategic financial planning. Paul strives to demystify personal finance, making complex concepts understandable and personal for each client. And as a lifelong academic, he encourages others to pursue their passions and connect with like-minded professionals. Paul obtained a Bachelor of Arts in Music from Princeton University, a Master in Public Administration from Harvard University, and holds a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ designation. His 20-plus years of experience in the financial industry includes a role as a Financial Analyst with the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. In the community, Paul served as Chairman of the Board of Directors for the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Metro Orlando (HCCMO) as well as serving on the boards of the Orlando Economic Partnership (OEP), the YMCA, and the Early Learning Coalition of Orange County. Fluent in both English and Spanish, he is dedicated to making financial services accessible to people at all stages of life, helping them navigate financial challenges and realize their dreams. Outside of work, New York-native Paul is an avid musician and enjoys deep sea fishing with his wife and three kids. He has also been actively involved in his community as a former coach for his two sons’ basketball, baseball, and flag football teams. 

Tania is a certified Virtual Events and Meeting Manager with vast experience in Project Management and Communications. With over 15 years of in-house and independent experience planning events in both English and Spanish, she has a passion for coordinating all types of programs for corporate, non-profit, and single-client events. As the owner of Magic Events Planning, a full-service event planning company, she delivers custom experiences and unique events for clients ranging from large-scale corporate events to intimate parties. She manages events, projects, and assignments by establishing objectives, determining priorities, managing time, gaining the cooperation of others, monitoring progress and problem-solving, and making adjustments to plans. She works with the client's budget and emphasize developing a branded marketing communications plan. The overall on-site operations include registration, speaker management, exhibit management, financial and contract agreement management.

Tania was born in Uruguay and moved to the U.S. in 2002 after graduating from Universidad de la Republica with a degree in Business Administration. She is a wife, mother of four, and enjoys reading, baking, and spending time with my family outdoors.  Past and current clients include LATINA Style Magazine, Latina Golfers Association, Girls Rule the Law Organization, UF/IFAS University of Florida FT Lauderdale research and education Center. 

Joe Carbone has been President and Chief Executive Officer of The WorkPlace, Southern Connecticut, since 1996. The WorkPlace is a nationally recognized leader in creating innovative workforce programs. The WorkPlace’s entrepreneurial approach to workforce development has expanded the agency’s capacity to assist underserved populations, including workers with disabilities, at risk youth and veterans. With his leadership, The WorkPlace, has combined the passion of a private not-for-profit with the accountability, innovation, and competitive spirit of a for-profit business to design and fund expanded services and assist more people. In response to the Great Recession, The WorkPlace launched Platform to Employment (P2E) to assist the long-term unemployed return to work. The program’s success has been covered by national media, including “60 Minutes”. Joe was able to enlist financial support from national organizations including AARP Foundation, Walmart Foundations and Citibank to support the replication of P2E in more than a dozen states across the country. Joe attended President Obama’s Summit on Long-term Unemployment at the White House. He helped elevate awareness of the plight of the long-term unemployed and the nation’s moral obligation to act. To ensure that all individuals can contribute to the workforce.

Ricardo is the Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer of the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation.  As CFO, Ricardo’s responsibilities include oversight of finance and accounting functions, compliance and risk management and monitoring of the Foundation’s endowment.

Ricardo has extensive financial management experience, including key positions in nonprofit and corporate organizations.  Prior to joining the Foundation in 2023, Ricardo served as Chief Financial Officer of the Los Angeles LGBT Center.  Earlier in his career, Ricardo spent over 25 years at Procter & Gamble where he had multiple roles of increasing responsibility.

Ricardo has served on several boards of directors for national and regional nonprofits as well as long been an active volunteer in his local community.

A graduate of Princeton University, Ricardo holds a Bachelor of Arts in Biology as well as an MBA from Washington University, St. Louis.

Jane T. Holmes is a graduate of Horace Greeley High School Chappaqua, where she achieved an award for having done the most for the school, and of Wellesley College, with a B.A. in political Science.

Subsequently, she worked in retail at Abraham and Strauss, and then with her mother in her antiques and interior design business, Crown House, in Chappaqua,  eventually taking over and running it for 30 years. 

Jane retired to St. Augustine, Florida in 2009,  worked again in retail at Panama Hat Company, taught English as a second language, and was a docent at the Lightner Museum.

In 2020, Jane relocated to N.Y.C. She served on the Beautification committee of the Town of New Castle, NY.

“Now that I am really settled in New York City, I am anxious to do more volunteer work; working with HImT would fulfill that desire and enable me to learn more about not-for-profits.”

Peter is a visionary entrepreneur whose commitment to kindness and respect has transformed the landscape of staffing agencies. In 2010, Mendez embarked on a journey, laying the foundation for what would soon become 1st SOS Staffing. Even while cleaning rooms for his initial clients, Mendez harbored a grand vision for a staffing agency that would prioritize human connection above all else. Since its inception, Mendez's guiding principles have propelled 1st SOS Staffing to national recognition. With a team deeply rooted in the same roles they now prepare others for, the agency embodies a culture of support and inclusivity. Mendez firmly believes in the transformative power of employment, championing diversity and the profound impact jobs can have on individual lives. As the founder of 1st SOS Staffing, Mendez has steered the company to unprecedented success, establishing it as the premier hospitality staffing provider in South Florida and beyond. Under his leadership, the agency has garnered a reputation for unparalleled service and innovative solutions, touching the lives of over 10,000 families through newfound opportunities. Mendez's illustrious career spans over 35 years, marked by expertise in finance, business consulting, and entrepreneurship. A graduate of Dartmouth College, Mendez's insights and leadership have earned him a position as a sought-after speaker and advisor, serving on various boards where his wisdom and experience continue to shape industries and communities alike.

Shanita was born and raised in Guyana, a tiny country bordering South America. She struggled to grow in an environment with racial tension and very little formal education available.  She has grown into a strong, hardworking person who strives for nothing but the best.  
Shanita’s character and personality stem from the need to help those around her. She babysits, takes care of the elderly and makes sure that her clients’ homes feel welcoming and warm.  When others are stressed, she is often the first person they call to get advice and listen to her counsel to help resolve their problems. 
She fled the harsh situation in her country and came to America and brought her husband in 2002. Sadly, she could not afford to bring her daughters with her and left them in the care of her mother. She often worked two or three jobs to support herself and send money for her children’s care and education.
Unfortunately, the life of an immigrant in America was not good for her marriage.  Her husband became abusive. The path to success was often laid with challenges, but she completed certification as a home health aide and was self-employed as a housekeeper and home attendant.  
One of her goals was to obtain a green card which she did in in 2020.  Her dream is to become an American citizen.  “Thanks to New York Legal Assistance group for its great work on my behalf,” she says. “My dreams were fulfilled when my daughters, son-in-law and grandchild were able to come to America.  They are the source of my love, happiness, pride and joy.  The idea of giving and not receiving anything in return motivates me.  As a woman who has had to toil and adapt, I have gained experience in many areas.  I hope to use my experiences to help other immigrants achieve their dreams of creating a life for themselves in this wonderful country.”

Leaving India in 1969 – with only $1 to his name – Mahesh landed in Europe and eventually the United States.  Today Mahesh is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer at PRISM.science, an AI company focused on gathering, indexing & analyzing biomedical content. Previously he was Founder and Chairman of Pharmaspectra (formerly Medmeme), a life sciences data and analytics company that supplied 18 of the top 25 pharmaceutical firms in the world. As founder, he drove innovations that allow pharma to see the connections among disparate data sources and derive insights that improve patient outcomes. Prior to Pharmaspectra, he was the chairman of HCI and PERQ/HCI. There he developed the first measurements of publication readership, publication exposure, recall of medical advertising, and effectiveness of advertising message, all of which became industry gold standards. He founded Patient Care International in 1979, and developed the technique of medical content aggregation and international publishing and expanded the business into 18 countries in Europe, South America, and Africa. Earlier, he was the head of research at Miller & Fink, a leader in medical publications. It was here that he developed the insight that still drives all of his endeavors today: Knowledge is Sequential. Mahesh holds an MBA from the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities and an MA from the University of Allahabad. He has been married for 46 years to Cristina and is the proud father of Siddhartha, 42, and Pratima, 38. His cultural and community contributions include Board member of Princeton University International Cultural Center and New Jersey Red Cross; Creator/Producer of Music Festival of India (50th year of India’s Independence, 1997 – Carnegie Hall); Creator/Producer of Dance Festival of India (50th year of India’s Republic Day, 2008 – Carnegie Hall); Benefactor of Naithani House – Teacher Housing and Training Facility, Agastya Foundation, Andhra Pradesh, India; contributor for permanent, sustainable capital for professional training for disabled children – AT&T Technology Park & Institute for the Disabled, Gujurat, India.