Government

Prepare for Take Off

As the first Latino director of NASA’s John H. Glenn Research Center, Ramon “Ray” Lugo makes history.

Growing up, Terri Giron-Gordon says she “always had to be the lead.”

But she now attributes her company, GenQuest, Inc.’s, success to an unconventional concept: making friends with competitors.

“[Law] takes me back to the days in the tough neighborhoods, where the bigger kids were there to defend the little kids. I’ve always been one to protect the underdog.”

Growing up in the rough streets of Los Angeles, Sean Reyes beat the odds to become general counsel of eTAGZ

Living the Dream

As a lead attorney at Vinson & Elkins LLP, Alberto “Beto” Cardenas Jr. divides his public policy efforts on counseling businesses affected by US immigration laws as well as advising corporate and academic clients.

Prescribing Change

Having spent most of her career in prominent public roles—such as press secretary for former California governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, and before that, Lynne Cheney in the White House—Margita Thompson is quick and sharp as a whip.

Madam President

Being president of a multimillion-dollar operation and maintenance company wasn’t exactly what Cindy Esparza Crockett had in mind when she finished law school at Catholic University of America. But, sometimes plans take an unexpected turn for a reason.

Making Waves

Long before Art Hurtado founded the national-security firm Invertix Corporation, Hurtado was set on becoming a pirate. He eventually settled on navigating the choppy waters of government contracting as one of the industry’s most nimble—and fearless—visionaries.