Commissioners

Commission Members

Chairwoman:
Gabriela Argoti-Fernandez (Ecuador, Montgomery County)
Gaby, a first-generation professional from Ecuador, boasts over 12 years of banking expertise, particularly in portfolio management for commercial loans and banking services. Gaby’s leadership fosters collaboration among stakeholders, resulting in tangible improvements in the lives of Hispanic residents in Maryland. Alongside her banking career, Gaby founded FlanCake by Gaby, a dessert business operating during off-hours at DC Green Bank, offering an ESL program as part of its community outreach. Committed to continuous learning, Gaby has pursued education in Business Administration and International Business, culminating in a Global Business certificate from Harvard Business School, with plans for further education to enhance her contributions to the community. She prides herself on her dedication, professionalism, and bilingual skills, which have propelled her career growth and community impact.

Vice Chairperson:
Vacant

Members:
Lorena DePombo (Colombia, Montgomery County)
Lorena De Pombo is a proud Colombian American with a Caribbean soul, a devoted Christian, and a mother of four daughters. She has lived in Maryland for 13 years and is deeply committed to empowering the Latino community by helping them start their own businesses and develop their talents. Lorena is a founding partner of Zehirut Group, an organization operating in five countries. She also strongly advocates for family, faith, and community values.

Veronica Estrada (El Salvador, Montgomery County)
Veronica Estrada is an Entrepreneur, CEO, Lender, Community Leader, Salvadorian, mom, and volunteer. She grew up in Prince George’s County and lives in Silver Spring. She has 22 years of experience in banking, construction, permits, prime procurements, lender and loan origination, specializing in residential and commercial. Ms. Estrada is a passionate advocate for minority communities building wealth in real estate and small businesses.

Lena Hernandez  (Mexico, Prince George’s County)
Lena Hernandez, a dedicated community advocate, has devoted over two decades to uplifting and empowering the communities that have shaped her identity. Originally hailing from Albuquerque, New Mexico, Lena’s commitment to giving back is evident in her extensive track record of service and leadership. In her role as Senior Director of External Affairs & Administration, Lena leverages her expertise in long-term relationship building and project management to forge impactful connections between corporate entities and non-profit organizations. With over sixteen years of experience at D&P Creative Strategies, she excels as a negotiator and advocate, managing partnerships exceeding $1 million in value. Beyond her professional accomplishments, Lena finds fulfillment in her roles as a devoted wife and mother, actively contributing to her community through her involvement on the Board of the Latin American Youth Center. Lena is dedicated to championing the unique needs and aspirations of Latino communities, striving to ensure their voices are heard, their concerns addressed, and their opportunities for advancement expanded.

Stephanie Landaverde (U.S., Howard County)
Stephanie Landaverde is a dedicated and accomplished professional with a strong background in Criminology and Criminal Justice. Graduating with a B.A. from the University of Maryland, College Park, in December 2023, she demonstrated exceptional academic performance with a minor in Spanish Heritage Language and Latina/o Culture, showcasing her commitment to diversity and cultural understanding. Her academic journey also included an A.A. in Criminal Justice from Howard Community College, further enriching her knowledge and skills in the field. Throughout her internships and academic research experiences, Stephanie exhibited a passion for promoting transparency and accountability within the legal system. Notably, her roles at the Baltimore Witness and the Administrative Office of the Courts involved initiatives to enhance court system accountability and efficiency. Stephanie’s linguistic abilities, technical skills, and commitment to community involvement make her a valuable asset in any setting. 

Yuliana Macey (Peru, Anne Arundel County)
Yuliana Macey, a proud Latina from Peru, serves as a dedicated Community Health Organizer at Maryland Latinos Unidos. With a background in Addiction Counseling, Human Services/Mental Health, and training in Advanced Psychological First Aid, Applied Positive Psychology, and Family Coaching, Yuliana is committed to empowering Latinos through education and networking. In her current role at Maryland Latinos Unidos, she collaborates with diverse community partners and stakeholders to enhance Latino health in Anne Arundel County and across the state, particularly focusing on educating and addressing disparities among Latina women. Through adept public relations and stakeholder management, Yuliana leads grassroots projects aimed at tackling these disparities directly, ensuring the voices of the Latino community are heard and valued. Yuliana’s unwavering dedication to empowering Latinos and fostering community resilience makes her a respected leader and advocate in Anne Arundel County and beyond.

Dr. Maria Ramos Olazagasti (Puerto Rico, Montgomery County)
Dr. María Ramos-Olazagasti is an experienced community and developmental psychologist who has dedicated more than a decade to conducting applied, policy-relevant research related to the influence of social context, adversity exposure, culturally relevant risk, and protective factors on the emotional and behavioral well-being of Latino children. She currently works at Child Trends, where she leads the Population-Focused Research area, which aims to advance research on Hispanic, Black, and Indigenous populations from a strengths-based and equity advancement perspective. As co-Principal Investigator and Deputy Director for the National Research Center on Hispanic Children and Families (Center), she has carried out research on parental employment, mental health, and data infrastructure, led the Center’s building capacity efforts, and developed responses to federal requests for public commentaries on issues affecting Latino populations (e.g., public charge ruling, family separations). She also engages with stakeholders to learn about the strengths and needs of the Latino population and to bridge the research-to-practice gap. Her research highlights the heterogeneity of experiences and outcomes within Latino subgroups.

Julian E. Perez (Puerto Rico, Anne Arundel County)
Julián E. Pérez is a communications attorney and senior intergovernmental affairs professional who currently works for Prince George’s County Government’s Office of the County Executive. He is a former presidential appointee of the Biden-Harris Administration and previously served as Public Information Officer and Spokesperson for Hispanic Affairs for both the Maryland Department of Transportation and Prince George’s County Police Department. A native of Puerto Rico, Julian completed undergraduate studies in Fordham University before graduating Cum Laude from the University of Maryland-College Park and returning to the Island to complete a JD in the University of Puerto Rico. He graduated from DHS-FEMA Center for Homeland Defense and Security’s Emergence Program in 2023 and is admitted to practice in Puerto Rico and the District of Columbia.

Jennifer Rios (Prince George’s County)
Dr. Jennifer Rios is an accomplished CEO with 15+ years of experience in technology, logistics, program management, grounds maintenance, and professional consulting for both civilian and service-disabled veterans. Dr. Rios served for 13 years in the United States Army, obtaining the Staff Sergeant (Airborne) rank. Dr. Rios supported Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom, assisting the Combined Joint Special Operations Task Force in Afghanistan, Iraq, Bahrain, and Kuwait. Dr. Rios uses innovative and effective solutions by creating business strategies that align with corporate organizational structures while providing strong development in workforce planning and applying solid Leadership on all fronts. Dr. Rios brings a unique blend of experience in strategic thinking and business savviness to her work. A highly regarded and influential leader with a strong personality, Dr. Rios is an influential woman in an often male-dominated environment, including the technology workplace and during her service in the United States Army. Dr. Rios sits on the Board of Directors for the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce in Montgomery County, the Secretary of the Board of Directors for the Silver Spring Business Improvement District in Montgomery County, the President of the Board of Directors for the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce for Prince George County, and the Board of Directors for the Marlboro Pointe Homeowner Association in Prince George County serving as the Vice President.

Nitzalis Rivera (Puerto Rico, Washington County)
Commissioner Nitzalis Rivera is a Puerto Rican, New York City native. She is a mother of two and a grandmother of two. She is an educator, small business owner, community leader, Hispanic cultural curator, advocate, and mentor. Her passion for advocacy alongside community service has inspired her to serve as a board member for many organizations in the Washington County area. Her goal is to be a voice for the growing Hispanic population and enhance resources as well as human services to support this community. As an entrepreneur, she provides translation and interpretation services to local non-profit organizations, individuals, and private businesses through her small business, Spanish 4 ALL. As a language specialist, her efforts to expand language access with her business have led organizations, businesses, and manufacturing companies to seek consultation from Spanish 4 ALL to serve and engage the Hispanic community in the area. Nitzalis, a graduate of Leadership Washington County Class of 2022- #35, has a Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary English Education from Central University in Puerto Rico, and she obtained her master’s degree in special education from Frostburg State University. She is currently completing the academic requirements to become a school administrator and plans to open “STEPS, A Multicultural Resource Center” in hopes of expanding language access to provide education, training, and community services for our rapidly increasing Limited English Proficient Washington County residents and surrounding counties.

Katie Simbala (Honduras, Baltimore City)
Raised in a Pentecostal household steeped in Honduran heritage, she found solace and inspiration in faith and music, eventually becoming a worship pastor. However, her journey took an unexpected turn when her truth as a queer individual clashed with the constraints of her religious community, resulting in her dismissal. Turning adversity into opportunity, Katie embarked on a cinematic journey, establishing two production studios in Baltimore City. Through filmmaking, she amplifies marginalized voices, crafting narratives that resonate deeply with audiences. Her latest project, “My Life in a Skirt,” delves into the complex interplay of queer identity, Latinidad, and faith, drawing from her own experiences to advocate for liberation and enlightenment within the Latiné faith community. With two decades of service in these churches, Katie navigates the world with grace, offering profound insights garnered from both acceptance and rejection.

Javier Toro (Puerto Rico, Carroll County)
Javier Toro hails from the town of Sabana Grande, Puerto Rico, and holds a degree in Sociology from the University of Puerto Rico, Mayaguez Campus. Actively engaged in various Carroll County, MD committees such as the Local Management Board, Youth Homelessness, CLAS & Health Equity, he also serves as a certified Notary for the State of Maryland. Currently, Javier works as a Housing Stability Coordinator, providing vital support to individuals facing housing uncertainty, potential loss of housing, homelessness, eviction, and assisting in resource identification for securing long-term housing, among other services. Over the years, Javier has served the community in diverse roles including business development, case management, psychiatric rehabilitation, and mentoring. This breadth of experience has granted him invaluable ‘boots on the ground’ knowledge on the dynamics and needs of the Hispanic community, spanning mental health, housing, immigration, legal matters, business development, and community resource management/engagement. Instrumental in the development of several local initiatives promoting Hispanic heritage, culture, and traditions in Carroll County, Javier also volunteers his time to assist Hispanic families in need by translating documents, guides, flyers, and forms. Javier’s mission in serving on the Hispanic Affairs Commission is to raise awareness of the positive impact and contributions of the Hispanic community to the state of Maryland. Through his dedicated efforts, he aims to provide a voice, hope, equality, and a sense of belonging to those who need it most.