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Hispanic Executive

Hispanic Executive Staff represents the editorial team behind Hispanic Executive's coverage of the leaders, organizations, and ideas shaping the future of business. Through executive profiles, feature stories, news, and thought leadership, the team is dedicated to delivering accurate, engaging journalism that celebrates Latino leadership while exploring the trends, innovations, and conversations driving today's business landscape.

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Flying high with Perfecto M. Solis of Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport

As vice president of airport development and engineering for DFW International Airport, Perfecto M. Solis oversees a multimillion-dollar budget and up to 100 projects at a time, including his most ambitious project to date.

“Since I was a child, I’ve been aware of the importance of labor and employment issues on an individual’s day-to-day life.”

Only 28, Gray Mateo-Harris has already defended employers in litigation matters at the state court and federal court level. With her drive, zest for taking on new challenges, and unique perspective, it’s clear the fourth-year associate at Neal, Gerber & Eisenberg LLP (NGE) is just getting started.

When Adrian Velasquez pitched his high-tech start-up idea, banks balked at the risk proposition.

Adrian Velasquez turns risky start-up into high-tech success story alongside partner Christine Krause.

“If you’re a lawyer who wants to move to the business side of things, you have to love challenges and be willing to transition to new roles.”

As executive vice president of sales and marketing at Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield, Hanna has had an impressive—yet unpredictable—career track, requiring he constantly take on new operational responsibilities.

Nicolas Perez Stable’s early plans to focus on transactional law in Latin America were temporarily grounded by 9/11.

After graduating law school in 2001, he wound up specializing in airline restructurings, a serendipitous move that took his career to unforeseen heights aboard GE Capital Aviation Services.

Shifting from Science to Health-Care Law

Colombia-born Freddy Jimenez shares how his career path took an unexpected turn as he went from a life-sciences undergraduate to assistant general counsel at Johnson & Johnson.

Giving the apparel industry a technological makeover with Luis Paez of Perry Ellis International, Inc.

CIO Luis Paez leads the successful implementation of several business systems that have permitted Perry Ellis to gain a competitive advantage during a rocky time for the US apparel industry.

“As general counsel, I have to know when to step back from details and see a bigger picture when decisions are considered.”

Ivonne Cabrera shares her unexpected journey into law and how she’s handling her role at Knowles Electronics.

“I was working 16 hours a day, seven days a week. I loved the adrenaline.”

Lured by the frenetic pace of the real-life game of car chess, Peruvian-entrepreneur Jorge Peralta lives life on the fast lane with his chauffeuring business World Ground, Inc.

“Our mission is to take technologies that are on the cusp of being proven, and take [them] to the next step.”

Responsible for more than 400 personnel and leads her team in advancing technologies into missions, Olga Gonzalez-Sanabria details her stellar career with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.

“I believe the company culture has to reflect the leadership … it has to be entrepreneurial.”

Dragging a little wagon out on the streets, a young Charlie Garcia would once collect bottles to trade them in for nickels, saving enough for a comic book, candy, or even shoes. Today, Garcia stands at the helm of Garcia Construction Group and four other businesses, but says the childhood experiences that motivated him back then continue to drive his future.

“The fear of failure drives me; I never rest on past successes.”

Already named one of Florida’s “Legal Elite,” Dale Morgado’s knack for winning has made him excel as managing shareholder for Feldman, Fox & Morgado, PA.

Changing the Channel

As managing director of Viacom’s Americas division, Sofia Ioannou oversees business and creative development for entertainment brands such as MTV, VH1, Comedy Central, and Nickelodeon.

Changing the Game

Edward Avila connects employers with candidates via Facebook app myJoblinx.

Finding Common Ground

Dominican-born Rosa Estrella makes navigating cultural expectations a priority in her international role as senior legal director of Eisai Inc.

“Growing up in the United States to immigrant parents has inspired me to work hard, to never take anything for granted, and to seize every opportunity.”

Bristol-Myers Squibb’s Luis Felipe Vilarin leverages his Chilean roots into a competitive advantage when doing business abroad. “Growing up in the United States to immigrant parents has inspired me to work hard, to never take anything for granted, and to seize every opportunity,” he says.

Pedro DeJesús Jr. has made some bold leaps—from X-ray technician to in-house counsel.

Now, as senior vice president, general counsel, and corporate secretary of Tampico Beverages, Inc., he’s pushing his company to think outside the juice box.

Partners Homero Tristan and Pedro Cervantes avoided the obvious road for Latino lawyers.

Their detour into business law and government relations, via their namesake firm, allows them to serve Hispanic-owned midsize businesses with their own personal touch.

“There’s a limited window where you can resolve a claim in litigation efficiently and make it a win-win situation. Past that point, it’s either a win-lose or a lose-lose for both parties.”

Leading the legal team and outside counsel at Bancomer Transfer Services and BBVA Bancomer USA, Ernesto Garcia Jr. finds running and law have two things in common: they both give him a sharp focus and the stamina to never give up.

From Colombia to Geneva

As the 39-year-old corporate counsel for Caterpillar Inc., the number-one maker of earthmoving machinery and agriculture equipment in the world, Guillermo Levy has come a long way.

Showcasing the Fabric of Latinidad

Arabel Alva Rosales, cofounder and co-executive producer of Latino Fashion Week—the only show of its kind in the country—explains how the fashion event evolved from its humble roots into a powerful platform for Latino designers and models.