Meet the Founders & Our Board Members
Discover the visionaries behind our company: Meet the Founders & Our Board Members. Learn about their expertise, passion, and commitment driving our mission forward. Get inspired today!
Board Members
ADVISORS
COMMITTEE MEMBERS
Julissa Alvarez
Founder, President
Julissa Alvarez, MSW, MSB, is a best-selling author, speaker, and an inspirational leader in higher education and entrepreneurship. With over 27 years of experience, she has left a profound impact on student scholarships and Latina empowerment through her work with Lehman College and the Inspirame Latina Foundation. She serves as Vice President of the Lehman College Alumni Association, Director of the Lehman College Foundation, and co-founder/Vice President of the Inspirame Latina Foundation, fostering opportunities for underrepresented communities.
As the CEO and co-founder of Brimela Routes Corp, a multimillion-dollar Amazon logistics business, Julissa has created over 900 jobs since 2020, employing over 190 people in 2024 alone. She also leads Brimela Lux Events Rental, a luxury event rental service in the Dominican Republic catering to both local and destination events. Together with her husband, Pedro Mendoza, Julissa focuses on building generational wealth through strategic investments in real estate and stocks across the Dominican Republic, Dubai, and the United States. She shares her knowledge through workshops aimed at empowering others to achieve financial independence and early retirement.
Julissa’s extraordinary achievements have earned her recognition from JP Morgan Chase, Lehman College, and the President of the Dominican Republic, who awarded her the prestigious “Dominicanos Destacados en el Exterior” honor. She has also been celebrated by the NY State 79th Assembly for her community contributions and featured in Who’s Who in America. Through her professional, entrepreneurial, and philanthropic endeavors, Julissa continues to inspire others to break barriers and reach new heights.
Jacqueline Vazquez
Founder, Vice President
Jacqueline is a Women’s Wellness Advocate | Entrepreneur | Educator | Mentor | Podcast Host | International Speaker | Best Selling Author. She is a Master Expert event planner and CEO with more than 25 years of teaching and mentoring. She is a Women’s Wellness Advocate on the topics of infertility, entrepreneurship challenges, and faith; as an international speaker and two-time best-seller author, she is extremely resourceful and knows how to create structures and manage the logistics and small details that make a big difference. For over 20 years her mission has been to support & empower girls and women platforms. From this mission, the Inspired by Jacqueline was born as a multi-level platform highlighting women’s mental wellness while building awareness. She created this community with an intention and purpose that offers life-changing tools and resources based on Jacqueline’s real-life experiences in these three pillars: Entrepreneurship, Faith, and Infertility. purpose driven goals is to advocate, empower, and connect. Jacqueline is the organizational genius behind Inspirame Latina!
Nurys Santos
Treasurer, MS, CPA, CFE, CVA, is an Accountant at Edward D. Heben, CPA, P.C.
Dr. Karen Diaz Meaike
The Traveling Agent | Home Staging Professional | Doctorate in Social Work | Board Member
Karen Diaz Meaike brings with her a wealth of insight and expertise into the real estate industry. Licensed in both Connecticut as well as Florida, she understands the variety of unique needs that clients have and enjoys the process of helping them navigate their goals.
Karen also has experience in the field of interior design as a certified home staging professional. Operating from a creative space and seeing homes come to life is one of Karen’s unique specialties. From her perspective, there are few projects as fulfilling as leveraging the interior design and home staging to create the perfect home atmosphere.
More than anything, Karen is passionate about serving people. After graduating from the University of Connecticut with her Masters in social work, she worked in child welfare where she served within multiple high-level roles. Throughout her years in child welfare, Karen served in leadership roles collaborating with multi-disciplinary entities pertaining to child welfare issues. She has since achieved her doctorate and has warmly embraced a number of philanthropic causes.
Dr. Lorilet Monegro
M.S. | CCC-SLP | TSHH-BE | Bilingual Speech-Language Pathologist | Communication Coach | Best Selling Author | Board Member
Dr. Lorilet Monegro is a bilingual speech-language pathologist and communication skills coach who brings a unique perspective to her practice. With over 23 years of experience delivering therapy services and coaching parents of children struggling with communication skills, Lorilet combines her educational training in communication skills development and executive leadership with personal insights as an immigrant and second language learner.
Having mastered neutralizing her accent and understanding the power of effective communication, Lorilet is dedicated to helping others find their voice. Her knowledge, skills, and years of experience allow her to fast-track her clients’ learning, resulting in improved communicative performance, increased confidence, and enhanced presentation skills. She earned her Doctoral degree in executive leadership from Saint John Fisher University.
Her Master’s degree in speech-language pathology is from Long Island University-Brooklyn Campus. Her undergraduate degree in speech-language pathology and audiology is from New York University.
Lourdes Genao
Marketing & Branding Guru | Professional Negotiator | Speaker | Best Selling Author | Board Member
Lourdes Rosanna Genao Ulloa is the CEO and Founder of Genao Marketing. She is a multifaceted professional who is naturally curious about life and the “why” of things. She holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of New Hampshire in Marketing with a minor in Race Culture and Power and a Master of Science from Bentley University in Information Age Marketing. I was born in the Dominican Republic and grew up in Nashua, NH. Lourdes is known for her persistence and work ethic; these characteristics have served her to accomplish a debt-free college education and fully paid tuition for her master’s degree. She enjoys traveling, dancing, and spending time with family and friends. Her goal is to share her experiences and serve to inspire as an example that despite hardships, obstacles, and stereotypes, anything is possible.
Kris Fleming
Kris Fleming, Professional Human Resources Executive & Consultant | Best Selling Author | Real Estate Investor | Photographer | Board Member
Kris Fleming was Born in DR and immigrated to the US in 1981 with her parents and siblings. She started her Human Resources career at a young age, and to date she continues to hold executive and leadership roles including her own HR consulting business.
Kris has worked for domestic and fortune 500 global companies in many industries. She obtained a bachelor’s degree in international business from Franklin University.
Kris is an experienced entrepreneur; she is a real estate investor and owns a photography business. She is also a Board Director/Personnel Chair at a nursing home in her community and a curriculum healthcare advisor at a local college.
She has 3 daughters and a grandson; In her free time Kris enjoys time with her family, photography, gardening, and travelling. Kris spends much of her time in the NH Lakes Region with her fiancé sailing, hiking, dining, and relaxing by the fire with their 2 dogs.
Jennifer Guzman
CEO | Founder | Speaker |Best Selling Author | Educator | Chemist | Financial Coach | Author | Mom | Board Member
Jennifer, affectionately known as “Jen”, embodies a diverse array of professional roles, ranging from a mompreneur and educator, to community leader and financial consultant, all anchored by her diverse background in Science, Finance, and Administration. Jen has also left her mark as a best-selling author, contributing to collaborative books such as “Never Fear Your Fire” and “Vol. III of Extraordinary Latinas: Shattering Barriers & Driving Change”.
As a Latina single mom who overcame severe postpartum depression, anxiety, and survived domestic violence, Jen is passionate about creating an environment and a community for women just like her to feel. heard, supported, and connected. She envisions this space as a sanctuary where women are inspired to embark on new beginnings and craft vibrant futures filled with hope and opportunity.
Having personally experienced financial challenges and witnessed limited opportunities within her community, she is deeply committed to contribute to the advancement of women’s upper mobility. Her commitment extends to developing and implementing comprehensive programs tailored to the needs of Latina women. As the Founder and CEO of Bright Tax Corp., Jen channels her dedication into empowering and uplifting Latinas through financial literacy and personalized financial services. The ultimate vision of Jen’s brand is to work hand-in-hand with First-Gen Latina entrepreneurs to equip them with the tools to establish a strong financial foundation, instill confidence, and nurture self-empowerment within themselves and their communities.
Silvia Guichardo
M.S. | Global Leader | Professional Executive | Speaker | Best Selling Author | Board Member
Meet Silvia Guichardo, M.S. — a global leader, professional executive, speaker, and best-selling author who brings both power, inspiration, and purpose to every space she enters.
Born in the Dominican Republic, Silvia has built a 25-year legacy in the pharmaceutical industry, leading high-impact performing teams across Asia, the EU, the USA, and the Caribbean. With a degree in pharmacy and an MBA in Business Administration, she has led successful commercialization strategies that have expanded access to innovative medicines globally.
A recognized thought leader, Silvia is the recipient of the GlaxoSmithKline Women’s Leadership Award and numerous marketing honors. Her voice resonates on stages, in podcasts, and on panels where she boldly advocates for women’s empowerment and inclusivity, particularly for Latinas.
Outside the boardroom, Silvia is equally intentional, embracing her love for family, personal development, and nurturing orchids. Her presence on LinkedIn and Instagram reflects a deep commitment to uplifting women everywhere through authenticity, leadership, and service.
As a board member of Inspírame Latina, Silvia brings a visionary perspective rooted in experience, empowerment, and global impact.
Sandra Bridges
Filmmaker | Visual Storyteller | Mentor | Board Member
Sandra Bridges is a passionate filmmaker and the co-founder of Bridges Cinema, a luxury wedding and event videography company known for capturing love stories with heart and style. With over 15 years of experience, she’s filmed unforgettable celebrations across the globe — from South Florida to Italy, Mexico, and beyond.
Originally from Panama and a proud military veteran, Sandra brings a rich blend of culture, discipline, and creativity to every project. She’s also a devoted mom of five and an advocate for diversity in the wedding industry, currently serving on the board of WIPA Southeast Florida.
Tina Arroyo
Account & Business Management | Community Connector | Mentor | Board Member
Tina Arroyo was born and raised in the Bronx, later moving to Westchester County for 15 years before making Dutchess County her home for the past 11 years. With over 15 years of sales experience, Tina is an Account Manager at iHeartMedia, bringing seven years of expertise in media sales and client relationship management.
Based in Poughkeepsie, NY, she excels at connecting brands with their target audiences by crafting innovative advertising solutions. Since joining iHeartMedia in 2018, Tina has utilized the company’s diverse platforms—including radio, digital, and live events—to create impactful marketing strategies tailored to her clients’ unique needs.
Before her time at iHeartMedia, Tina honed her skills in sales and account management, gaining a strong understanding of both local and regional media markets. Outside of her professional endeavors, she is deeply committed to community service. Tina serves as the Co-Chair of the Habitat for Humanity Cars for Homes Committee, is an ambassador for the Dutchess County Regional Chamber of Commerce, and is an active member of BNI Hudson Valley, where she thrives on fostering meaningful connections.
Her dedication to uplifting others is further demonstrated through her role on the marketing committee and now with her position on the Inspirame Latina board. These efforts highlight her passion for community, unity, and creating opportunities for individuals from all backgrounds. Tina firmly believes in the importance of unity and empowerment, striving to ensure no one feels alone. Whether through her professional achievements or her advocacy work, she remains committed to making a positive and lasting impact on those around her, she feels everyone deserves to shine.
Amber T. Rodriguez
VP Business Banking Relationship Manager | Board Member
Amber T. Rodriguez is a Vice President, Business Banking Relationship Manager at Bank of America, specializing in helping business owners across New Jersey access tailored financial solutions that drive growth, efficiency, and long-term success. She works closely with entrepreneurs to provide strategic guidance, ensuring businesses have the financial foundation to scale and thrive.
Building meaningful relationships is at the core of Amber’s approach, both with her clients and within her organization. She collaborates closely with experts across the enterprise to deliver comprehensive solutions that address complex business challenges. In doing so, she delivers the full potential and power of the enterprise to the New Jersey business community.
Beyond banking, she is a dedicated advocate for diversity and entrepreneurship initiatives. As a member of the NJ Hispanic-Latino Business Council, she plays a key role in fostering connections and supporting the growth of Hispanic and Latino business owners. Additionally, as a member of the NJ Women’s Initiative Committee, she champions financial education and creating opportunities for women entrepreneurs.
Amber actively volunteers at local charities and uses her platform to support and uplift her community; most notably within her roles as Chief Financial Officer and Business Administrator for TTA Empire Inc. and Events Co-Chair for Fairleigh Dickinson University’s Young Alumni Association. Amber is also actively engaged with the Association of Latino Professionals for America (ALPFA) New Jersey Chapter, the Statewide Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, and the Women’s Center for Entrepreneurship of New Jersey.
Amber graduated from Fairleigh Dickinson University (Metropolitan Campus) with a B.S. in Finance. She strongly believes in life-long learning, so she’s intentional about investing in her own personal development and education to consistently improve her skills and expertise. In her free time, Amber is an avid traveler who loves exploring new cities, finding inspiration from different cultures and perspectives.