LLI Class Bios 2011-2012

LATINO LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE CLASS OF 2011-2012 SPONSORED BY

Claudia Herrera Aulik

Claudia has over 10 years of professional experience in human resources, with special focus in recruiting and hiring.

Claudia joined Edward Jones in 2007 as a FA Hiring Specialist for the FA Hiring Department in Branch Development. During the 3 years in the department, Claudia was the associate leaders in multiple projects related to improving the interviewing and decision making process, as well as developing a tool to track retention and performance of financial advisors hired.

Currently, Claudia is a member of the Inclusion and Diversity Department where she supports the strategies to recruit, retain and develop diverse talent. Claudia also serves in the Edward Jones' Inclusion Council.

Claudia holds a Bachelor degree in Psychology from Los Andes University from Colombia, South America, her home country, and also a Masters in Human Resource Management from San Pablo University in Madrid, Spain.

Claudia loves traveling, watching movies, and outdoor activities.

claudia.aulik@edwardjones.com

314.397.5697

Omar Avendano

Omar Avendano has been serving his community for over ten years. Prior to going to college Omar was involved with several organizations that assisted people with disabilities in the Quad City area. Omar attended the University of Iowa where he was involved with Dance Marathon, a student organization that has raised over seven million dollars for children and families being treated at the University of Iowa Children’s Hospital. As the Sponsorship director, he established key relationships with community partners that continue to support the program.

Upon graduation, Omar moved to the Quad Cities in northwestern Illinois where he would continue to get involved and found a calling to help the Hispanic community in the area. Omar was involved with Esperanza Latino Community Service Network where he was part of the recruitment team to increase the number of Spanish Speaking Foster Homes in the area. In 2010, Omar relocated to St. Louis to join the American Red Cross in the Diversity Initiatives program. With the American Red Cross, he has identified and developed relationships with numerous Hispanic groups in the St. Louis and Kansas City area. He also joined the Latino Roundtable and began his involvement with the Hispanic community in the Metro-East.

He has helped organize several community events and has been involved with the Fairmont City Library in various programs. Omar has also been a committed member of the Professional Latino Action Network in St. Louis and in his short time in the area has been an impactful member of the Hispanic Community.

avendano.omar@gmail.com

309.253.0514

Roberto Garcia

Roberto Garcia is a Multicultural Marketing Consultant. Some of the brands that Roberto has worked with are Budweiser, Bud Light, Snickers, M&M'S, Starburst, Hyundai and ESPN. Originally from Monterrey, Mexico, he moved to the US 7 years ago to get his BA at the University of Notre Dame. Roberto also holds an MBA degree from the University of North Carolina.

Roberto and his wife Dana are expecting their first child in just a couple of weeks!

robertog@alumni.nd.edu

512.964.8646

Nick Garzia

Nicholas Garzia is an associate attorney in the law firm of Armstrong Teasdale, practicing in the Construction and Design practice group. Nick represents owners, lenders, contractors and architects and engineers in the construction, mining and manufacturing industries. In support of national and international projects, he conducts negotiations, reviews contracts and assists with resolution of disputes requiring communication in English and Spanish.

Nick works with clients at the front-end of transactions to manage risk. This allows him to provide practical advice on project delivery options; construction and design planning; and negotiation, preparation and review of design and construction agreements. He remains engaged through project completion, providing all necessary legal assistance during the administration and closeout processes.

When potential disputes arise, Nick works to avoid costly litigation by seeking negotiated resolution of claims or proposing and implementing creative settlement alternatives. If mediation, arbitration or litigation becomes unavoidable, Nick counsels parties in state and federal jurisdictions. He handles disputes that involve project delays and disruptions, defective design and/or construction and payment and insurance and bond claims. He also actively prosecutes and defends mechanic’s liens claims in the United States and Canada for Fortune 100 and 1000 companies.

Prior to joining Armstrong Teasdale, Nick practiced in a boutique law firm where he concentrated in surety and fidelity law, primarily representing construction sureties.

Nick is a graduate of the School of Law of Washington University in St. Louis. Before entering the legal profession, he studied at the Autonomous University in Madrid, Spain, and later trained as a journalist at the University of Missouri-Columbia. He was also a volunteer Spanish-language translator and interpreter for a St. Louis area school district.

ngarzia@armstrongteasdale.com

314.369.7473

Mariaimee Gonzalez

Mariaimee Gonzalez is Puerto Rican and all members of her immediate family were born in Puerto Rico. Her parents moved to the states in the early 1980’s per her father’s employer. Since then, she has been raised bi-culturally which has provided her a unique foundation from which to develop her cultural identity. She was the first in her immediate family to complete a bachelor’s and master’s degree and intends to be the first to complete a doctoral degree. This winter, she will finish her Doctor of Philosophy of Education at the University of Missouri- St. Louis (UMSL) majoring in Counseling and Gender Studies.

Mariaimee Gonzalez is currently the World Wide Director of Clinical Studies and Assistant Professor in Masters of Arts in Counseling (MA) at Webster University. She oversees the clinical curriculum currently offered at 26 campuses in the United States, the Webster Geneva campus, and the Webster Leiden campus. The MA in counseling professional degree program is designed to prepare individuals for careers in professional mental health counseling; marriage/couple, family, and child counseling; school guidance and counseling, and community counseling. She has also created social justice objectives into all curriculums; including social justice immersion projects to international locations. She is currently a member of St. Louis’s Women's Voices Raised for Social Justice.

Mariaimee also enjoys spending time with her family, loves being an aunt to two wonderful nieces, making mosaics, and training in Krav Maga, dancing salsa, going to movies or plays, listening to music, watching college football, and traveling. mgonzalez19@webster.edu

314.452.5600

Mario Guerrero

Hi, my name is Mario Guerrero and I’m from Puerto Rico. I have a Bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from the Polytechnic University of Puerto Rico. I am currently pursuing a Master’s in civil engineering with two minors, one in earthquake engineering and the other one in construction management from the Missouri University of Science and Technology.

I have served four years in the US ARMY as a soldier, where I had the opportunity to visit many states and countries. Currently, I work for the US ARMY Corp of engineer as a civil engineer. Some of the projects that I've worked are: Re-evaluation and design of the Metropolitan East Levee, Illinois and design and analyses for multiples projects in New Orleans, Louisiana.

I am married and my wife and I are expecting a baby by the end of March.

I look forward to establishing a good relationship with the rest of the team and working together to represent the Hispanic community in US.

mario.guerrero@usace.army.mil

787.414.3761

Omar Maldonado

Omar is a Selling Manager with the Macy’s corporation. Within his role, Omar is responsible for the profit growth of multiple business departments, hiring and managing department associates. His greatest strength is in his coaching abilities and devotion to employee success.

As a committed community activist, Omar is passionate about diversity and inclusion. He is currently serving his second term as president of the Puerto Rican Society of Saint Louis, whose objectives include: supporting education scholarships for Hispanic/Latino, promoting the awareness of the Puerto Rican culture and traditions, ensuring self-improvement, providing social activities for its members and their guests, sponsoring and supporting events that will benefit the Puerto Rican community, and strengthening mutual understanding throughout the local community.

In addition, Omar is vice chair of the Hispanic Leaders Group of St. Louis and a board member of Hispanic Capital Day Incorporated. Through these organizations he advocates for cross-cultural understanding in the Saint Louis community and pro-Hispanic legislation within the state of Missouri.

Omar has been married to his beautiful wife April for 11 years and has four wonderful children.

omar.maldonado@macys.com

314.517.3909

Sara Patino

I earned my design degree at the University of Missouri in Columbia. My artistic jewelry expressions are rooted in natural forms and 10 years of experience in interior design and interior architecture. Designing, creating and selling fresh jewelry designs is my business, but it's truly a love of beautiful jewelry that inspires my work.

I pour my deep love of the creative process into Sara Patino Jewelry - along with the notion that my jewelry can be a little piece of happiness for anyone that wears it.

I stay balanced by teaching yoga throughout the week. I stay connected to my Hispanic roots by exploring folkloric dances, and admiring the art of flamenco.

I enjoy some of my spare time playing tug of war with my pint-sized long haired Chihuahua named Canela - who of course knows a little Spanish!

sara@sarapatinojewelry.com

314.680.2330

Paula Plascencia

I was born and raised in Guadalajara, Mexico and moved to St. Louis a year and a half ago. I have a Bachelor’s degree in Finance from the “Instituto Tecnologico de Estudios Superiores de Monterrey” and a Master in Administration from the same institution.

I began working while studying my senior year as an accounting assistant in a Hewlett Packard distribution company. Later, I was offered a job at my university while studying my masters. I began working in the International Relations department, coordinating the agreements for study abroad programs with a number of universities around the world. Then, I worked as the Asia Pacific Institute coordinator, managing one office in Mexico and three in China (Shanghai, Beijing and Hangzhou).

We acted as a link between Mexican and Chinese businessmen seeking business opportunities. We also carried out business tours and market research for companies and chambers of commerce in both countries. Working in this position I had the opportunity to live in Shanghai for 4 months.

In 2006, seeking a job related to my major, I began working at one of Monsanto’s corn plants in Guadalajara as a Capital Analyst for Mexico’s manufacturing area.

Seven months later I was transferred to Mexico City to plan and coordinate CapEx for Monsanto Latin America North (Mexico, Central America, Colombia and Venezuela).

In 2010 I moved to Monsanto headquarters in St. Louis as a Senior Capital Analyst, now I am in charge of the planning, follow up, consolidation and reporting of Monsanto’s CapEx worldwide.

I love to read, learn and travel, the farther the better.

paula.plascencia@monsanto.com

636.675.2730

Maria Van Deman

I was born in McAllen, Texas. My mother was born in Merced, Texas but was raised in Mexico.

My father was born and raised in Saltillo, Mexico. I am the youngest and only daughter of three children. My parents moved to the United States in the late 60’s and were migrant workers. They worked in the fields picking vegetable and fruit crops throughout the West coast. My family eventually found jobs in Dallas, Texas that did not require them to work in the fields. My mother worked as a nanny and my father worked in the restaurant business.

My two older brothers quit high school because they had to help my parents work and make a living. They both married at a young age and left home. I continued my school studies and also worked with my parents whenever they needed my help.

We later relocated to St. Louis, Missouri where I graduated from Kirkwood High School. It was a very proud moment not only for me, but for my family as well, since I was the only one of us children to graduate. My parents never encouraged me to consider higher education but they did instill in me a very strong work ethic and sense of responsibility. After high school I worked in horticulture and daycare. It was only after I married that I decided, with my in-laws’ guidance, to pursue other work options which led to my job with AT&T. I began my career making minimum wage as a Telemarketer and within two years improved my wages and position by becoming a Service Representative. I have worked in the Residential and Business departments including selling DSL and transferring service. I have also served as a team lead and have experience in training and I am bilingual in Spanish. At my previous job I worked alongside with Telemex to process orders for FRAME/ATM services and used my bilingual skills.

A year ago, my goals were to be proficient at my job and work hard as a service representative.

Now, I realize that I have the capability to go further in life. I also had a very successful person say to me “Never let anyone put limits on what you can achieve”. I would now like to further my personal development and career path. I have had management aspirations for some time and have even interviewed for management positions. Additionally, as a married mother of two young boys, I want to provide them with an example that you can achieve anything if you are willing to work hard and persevere.

mvandeman@sbc.global.net

314.608.9484

Ricky Vigil

Ricky is a Manager in RubinBrown’s Assurance Services Group. Ricky specializes in manufacturing and distribution companies that have international operations and is skilled in the implementation of lean manufacturing and accounting. He also handles performance analysis, riskbased audit planning and tax preparation.

He has specific experience and expertise in audit services, operational reviews, due diligence and is fluent in Spanish.

He received both his Bachelor’s degree and Master’s degree in Accounting from Truman State University.

He is a member of the Nurses for Newborns Foundation Young Professionals Committee as well as the Regional Business Council Young of Professionals Committee. Ricky is also a Board member of the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, a member of the Missouri Society of Certified Public Accountants and a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants.

ricky.vigil@rubinbrown.com

314.323.4154