Board of Trustees

Martín Perez, the President of the Latino Leadership Alliance of New Jersey, is one of the most prominent and respected Latino leaders in the United States. Mr. Perez grew up in Puerto Rico and studied at the University of Puerto Rico, graduating with a Bachelors degree in Political Science and Labor Studies. Mr. Perez earned a Masters Degree in Secondary Education from Seton Hall University and a Juris Doctor Degree from Rutgers University Law School.

After graduating from the University of Puerto Rico, Mr. Perez worked as a labor organizer for the Unión Nacional de Trabajadores (National Workers Union). He later moved to New York City, where he worked as the Executive Director of the Look Up Children's Center. While living in New York City, Mr. Perez was one of the leaders of the Committee to Support the Farm Workers (C.A.T.A.) He wrote articles and traveled throughout various states, lecturing and drumming up support for the cause of the farm workers. Mr. Perez's accomplishments are vast and include Directing Project Puente at Middlesex County College, teaching and working in various positions at Rutgers University and as a trial attorney for the Office of the Public Defender in Hudson County. In 1988, he partnered with his wife Patricia Bombelyn to found the law firm of Perez & Bombelyn. As an attorney, he has fought tirelessly for the civil rights of Latinos, African Americans, and other underrepresented groups in the United States.

MELISSA MYERS
Secretary

Ms. Myers is a Houston businesswoman with 10 years of experience gratefully serving inner city, predominantly Latino communities while working in the real estate and mortgage industries. She is also a co-founder of Ambuhealth, Inc., a durable medical equipment/prosthetic company, servicing the diabetic minority community. Melissa's commitment and passion for the improvement of education for underserved children began when she was invited to serve as a Director of Business Development for Advantage Schools, Inc., an education management organization, concentrating on the development and management of charter schools. She worked in Texas, Atlanta, Florida, Louisiana, and California in urban inner city areas that experienced severe challenges in public education and could greatly benefit from quality choices. She has traveled to research school districts and visited with mayors, school board members, city council members, concerned parents and community leaders with serious concerns about inadequacy in their community schools and who wanted more information about charter school options. Ms. Myers is grateful to serve on this board and wishes to create a new and improved paradigm for improving our children's education.

PAUL MARTINEZ
Treasurer

Paul Martinez has been associated with Hispanic CREO since day one. He is responsible for the development of the distinctive Hispanic CREO logo and branding. A New York native who grew up in Miami, Paul worked many years in printing sales and also started and ran “The Car Channel” television show on the local cable network with a reach of 230,000 households. In 1998 he founded Martinez Communications. He is active in many organizations, including the Florida State Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (past chairman), Rotary International, the YMCA, and the Jacksonville Economic Development Council. Upon being notified of his appointment, Paul stated, “I am ready, willing, able, excited and honored to be elected to the Board of Trustees of the Hispanic Council for Reform and Educational Options!”

JULIO A. FUENTES
Member

Julio A. Fuentes, President & CEO of the Florida State Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, founded the organization in February 2000. Formed in response to the tremendous growth of Florida's Hispanic population, today, the organization has grown to 42 chapters and more than 30,000 members. Mr. Flores currently serves on the Florida Chamber of Commerce Board of Governors, the Board of Directors for Florida Kidcare, the Executive Board of Access Florida and the Board of Directors for the Florida Association of Chamber Professionals.

Mr. Fuentes, who is of Cuban descent, received his degree in Business Administration from Iona College, located in New Rochelle, New York. He began his career as an investment associate with Merrill Lynch from 1990-1992. For the next six years, Mr. Fuentes continued his career as an investment banker. Then in 1999, he joined the Jacksonville Chamber of Commerce as a membership specialist focused on the Hispanic market. During this time, Mr. Fuentes recognized the need for an organization exclusively dedicated to the Hispanic business market, and thus, he founded the Florida State Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.

LAURA MORA
Member

After earning her GED, Laura attended Phoenix Community College, where she obtained an Associates Degree in general studies. In 2001, Laura graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Spanish and had the opportunity to study abroad in Spain for a semester. Living abroad was a profound educational experience that prepared Laura for her current position as a Spanish teacher.
Laura is studying a Master’s in Educational Leadership at Northern Arizona University. After achieving her Master’s, she hopes to obtain a Doctorate in Spanish. She serves as chair of the Spanish department at Bourgade, where she moderates the Spanish Honor Society, co-chair the communication committee, work as a translator for school communications, and chair the board for disciplinary action. She has been a member of the American Association of Teachers of Spanish and Portuguese for three years.

Laura Mora is currently a teacher at Bourgade Catholic High School and was nominated for the Teacher of the Year award. Her varied interests involve cosmetics, communications, architecture and media. Laura has two children, Fernando and Erica and four grandchildren.