At Hispanic Executive, we turn our spotlight on business’ most influential Latinos to shape the dialogue on Hispanic leadership and amplify the voices of those driving growth in the global marketplace.
In this edition of our Executives to Watch series, we’re highlighting exemplary Latinos in HR to watch. You’ll meet fourteen impressive Hispanic and Latino leaders across various industries who are empowering people, driving business strategy, building relationships, and making an impact both at their organizations and in the community.
Know a Hispanic HR leader that should be part of the Hispanic Executive network? Introduce us.
Priscilla Messir
Chief People Officer
Brightline Trains
Priscilla Messir is a visionary HR leader with a business-first mindset and a deep commitment to building from the ground up. With a career spanning global talent management to organizational design, she brings a rare blend of strategic foresight and operational grit—empowering teams, shaping culture, and transforming HR into a true business driver while staying grounded in empathy, resilience, and a passion for meaningful impact.
Connect with Priscilla Messir on LinkedIn.
Lourdes Barsky
VP of HR
Monster Energy
Lourdes Barsky brings unmatched expertise in global HR strategy, talent development, and employee relations, overseeing complex learning platforms and leadership programs across seventy-three countries. Barsky—known for her tenacity, adaptability, and passion for people—has successfully unified fragmented systems, built Monster University from the ground up, and leads with a deep understanding of how to align employee growth with business impact. She is always ready to jump in, no matter the time zone or challenge.
Connect with Lourdes Barsky on LinkedIn.
Vanessa Ramirez
VP of HR
Gate Precast Company
Vanessa Ramirez has built her career from the ground up, supporting a diverse workforce across seven southeastern plants. She’s a champion for immigration reform in construction, workforce development for women and minorities, and creating flexible, family-friendly career paths. With a hands-on approach, she manages a twelve-person team and drives impact through community service, from aiding trafficking survivors to supporting the homeless.
Connect with Vanessa Ramirez on LinkedIn.
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Fabrizzio Del Grande
VP of HR, Americas
Signode
Fabrizzio Del Grande supports both the president of the Americas and the president of global business at Signode. Focused on growth, culture, and workforce planning, he blends strategic insight with hands-on execution. Del Grande embraced the challenges of corporate America with humility and drive after relocating from Brazil. He believes success isn’t about titles—it’s about impact, adaptability, and staying grounded in relationships, values, and purpose.
Connect with Fabrizzio Del Grande on LinkedIn.
Perlita Gomez
VP of HR
AEG
Perlita Gomez champions performance improvement, employee engagement, and wellness-focused culture. She’s passionate about creating supportive environments, launching programs like a relaxation lounge, and aligning career development with company goals. Her people-first approach is rooted in early leadership experiences as the eldest of seven siblings.
Connect with Perlita Gomez on LinkedIn.
Edgar Garcia-Mora
EVP of Employee Benefits
IMA Financial Group
Edgar Garcia-Mora is a purpose-driven leader who builds long-term client partnerships by aligning company culture, compliance, and employee well-being to drive business success. A first-generation college graduate and former undocumented student, Garcia-Mora blends personal resilience with professional expertise, championing proactive, people-centered solutions in benefits consulting while giving back through board service, nonprofit work, and a leadership style rooted in empathy, community impact, and authenticity.
Connect with Edgar Garcia-Mora on LinkedIn.
Jorge Hernandez
VP of HR
Wastequip
Jorge Hernandez leads with a people-first approach rooted in transparency, empathy, and operational excellence. By implementing behavioral-based hiring strategies and improving communication, he reduced turnover dramatically and fosters a culture where 4,100 employees across the US and Mexico feel heard, valued, and engaged.
Connect with Jorge Hernandez on LinkedIn.
Edgar Colon
VP of People
UG2
Edgar Colon drives HR strategy across a 7,000-person workforce and 26-state operation. He champions employee development, client retention, and inclusive onboarding while building strong customer service-focused HR infrastructure. Known for his transparency and hands-on approach, Colon fosters trust, accountability, and operational excellence.
Connect with Edgar Colon on LinkedIn.
Kriss Ann Fernandez-Gamez
VP Employee & Labor Relations
Baylor Scott & White
Kriss Ann Fernandez-Gamez executes an enterprise-wide strategy and transformation, and she is building a center of expertise that centralizes employee and labor relations across the system. Known for leading with influence and collaboration, Fernandez-Gamez excels at crafting creative solutions to complex challenges. Her leadership is rooted in autonomy, empathy, and community impact—particularly through her involvement in San Antonio grant and scholarship review initiatives.
Connect with Kriss Ann Fernandez-Gamez on LinkedIn.
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Edmundo Hernandez
VP of HR
Vacco Industries
Edmundo Hernandez leads with a people-first mindset, aligning culture with business strategy. He champions retention, leadership development, and engagement—especially during industry shifts and the pandemic. Known for his nourishing leadership style, he tailors support based on individual needs and career stages. Hernandez is a strong advocate for education, and he inspires young Latinos by encouraging persistence, presence, and passion as keys to personal and professional success.
Connect with Edmundo Hernandez on LinkedIn.
Gabriela Ojeda
Head of People & Culture
Hoerbiger
Gabriela Ojeda excels in driving culture transformation, leadership development, and employee engagement across a global manufacturing organization. She champions initiatives that empower frontline teams, foster transparency, and create impactful recognition and growth opportunities with a passion for coaching and strategic HR.
Connect with Gabriela Ojeda on LinkedIn.
Jachira Espaillat
Senior Director, Benefits
Unified Women’s Healthcare
Jachira Espaillat, a first-generation Hispanic-American and seasoned benefits expert, crafts innovative health and wellness strategies that prioritize employee choice and support. With a people-first mindset, she champions women’s health, drives transformational change, and empowers her team through transparency and growth-focused leadership. Her “Benefits Suite” model and mental wellness campaigns reflect her passion for inclusive, forward-thinking care.
Connect with Jachira Espaillat on LinkedIn.
Negui Arilis Rojas
Director of Employee Relations
MedPro Healthcare Staffing
Negui Arilis Rojas leads with intention and empathy to support the assimilation and success of over 1,600 international healthcare professionals across the US at MedPro Healthcare Staffing. An immigrant from the Dominican Republic, first-generation college graduate, and breast cancer survivor, she champions education, cultural understanding, and women’s empowerment.
Connect with Negui Arilis Rojas on LinkedIn.
Brianna Juarez
Director of Compensation
Shamrock Foods
As director of compensation, Brianna Juarez oversees enterprise-wide compensation strategy, including executive pay, bonus programs, and tailored pay structures for operations and salaried teams. Juarez is known for her transparent and assertive leadership style, and she thrives on challenge and continuous growth to bring confidence, creativity, and cross-functional collaboration to every aspect of her work.
Connect with Brianna Juarez on LinkedIn.
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This article was produced with the assistance of AI.
