YVONNE GUIDRY
Founder of SpoiledLatina

Yvonne is a multi faceted, multi-cultural influencer & entrepreneur behind SpoiledLatina, a leading Latina lifestyle brand dedicated to empowering women to invest in themselves. With over 13-years of influencer and blogging experience, SpoiledLatina continues to elevate women through live experiences that connect brands to consumers. Yvonne is the proud Founder of SpoiledLatina Summit, an annual conference that empowers women through self care and meaningful conversations. Her digital content including a podcast and her Youtube page are an extension of her personality. She has worked and collaborated with top tier brands and celebrities such as Hennessy, Ciroc, Diddy and Amazon to name a few, to bring brand affinity to each. Above all, she is a first generation Mexican American who is a hardworking mother of a wonderful and talented 12 year old and a wife of 17 years.

CHRISTINA MORALES
TX State Representative of HD145

Christina Morales is a Texas State Representative of House District 145. She is proud to represent the people of Harris County, and has garnered praise from her colleagues for exceptional constituent engagement.

Since her grandparents arrival in Houston, in 1931, they began to dedicate their life to community-building, and for years, Christina has continued their legacy of giving back to the community.

In 1997, Christina built on her grandparents’ legacy of community engagement by establishing the Annual Morales Back to School Supplies Giveaway. Twenty-four years later, the program continues to serve more than 20,000 students each year, providing school supplies to families in Houston’s most underprivileged communities.

She currently serves as President, CEO, and Funeral Director of Morales Funeral Home and President of the Morales Memorial Foundation.

CHRISTINE POLESKI
Assistant Dean, University of Houston-Downtown Marilyn Davies College of Business

Christine Poleski is an accomplished higher education administrator, business development specialist, entrepreneur, recruiter, and avid volunteer devoted to providing for others meanwhile successfully contributing an abundant career. Under her leadership as an Assistant Dean for the University of Houston-Downtown Marilyn Davies College of Business, her main purpose is to focus on student success and outreach. She leads with a passion of diversity, equity, and inclusion that informs all aspects of her work; particularly in leading cross-functional teams to promote continuous improvements and operational excellence. She believes in providing superior training & development and has taken initiative to streamline better processes to successfully integrate educational opportunities for business students. As a result, Christine’s role at the college has proven to be noteworthy in cultivating strong relationships with two-year institutions and increasing business students’ potential through professional networking events, top-tier developmental programs, national conferences, and workshops opportunities. Through her proficient career, Poleski has been named by Leaders of the Future Club Dec. 2014’s publication as one of “Latino Leaders of the Future” honorees PEOPLE 2009 publication for “Academic Staff Student Support Recognition”, and POSSE 2007 & 2008 publication for “Academic Staff Student Support Recognition”. Over the years, Poleski can also be credited contributing with both private and public organizations across the globe – allowing her to collaborate with both corporate and government officials. Her humility also expands through her involvement in prestigious leadership positions as Regent for Catholic Daughter of the Americas court #2747 in Houston,  Region VII, Regional al President of the Hispanic National Bar Association and as a Director of  the Houston Pan-America Women’s RoundTable Program.

In short, Christine Poleski is a dynamic professional who loves to take on new challenges and projects that allow her to make meaningful contributions. She is a true connector at heart with resources that can help her meet many diverse challenges. Christine spends her free time with family and enjoys indulging in baking, the arts, and traveling.  

LUZ ELENA RIVERS
Founder/CEO
Amera Solutions

CEO of Amera Solutions, a company valued at $10 million by Forbes with no initial bank funding or investment. Amera provides transportation for those undergoing a medical procedure anywhere in the US.

Despite being turned away by multiple banks when I first launched Amera in 2010, I have grown the company to great success, employing over 45 people and working with over 3000 affiliate partners across the US. In 2021 I was grateful to be recognized by Forbes in their annual NEXT 1000 list, which celebrates entrepreneurial heroes.  Amera was able to blossom into a multi-million-dollar corporation.

Received an Associates in Education from Prairie View University in 2000 prior to receiving a 4-year degree in Psychology from Ashford University in 2007. Currently completing her MBA.

BALDEMAR RODRIGUEZ
Community Partnerships
Alley Theatre

Baldemar Rodriguez was born in Mexico and raised in Pasadena, Texas. He graduated from the University of Houston and holds a BA in Radio/Television/Film and a BA in Theater. Rodriguez has directed and produced films, stage productions, documentaries, commercials and PSA’s for ABC, NBC, Univision, Telemundo, among others. He worked at Houston’s NBC affiliate KPRC TV2 as an editor and news videographer for six years until he was commissioned to produce a feature film, Grey Focus, which took him on location to Nigeria. He has worked in front and behind the cameras as well as on stage and off stage. He has received several Communicator Awards and Telly Awards for his Creativity in Editing and Cinematography, a Remi Award for Best Feature Film, a CineFest Award for Best Director and was nominated for the prestigious Imagen Award for Best Director of the feature film In Search of the American Dream. After the release of his feature film, he was commissioned to direct the stage play Las Nuevas Tamaleras and hired to be the Artistic Director for Talento Bilingue de Houston. In 2020, he was invited to join Alley Theatre in the position of Manager of Community Partnerships and partake in the Artistic vision and EDIA mission of the organization. And in 2021, he became the Artistic Director for Houston Mariachi Festival, President and Chairman of the Board for Aeolian Manor Foundation, and General Manager for Adelante Production’s Barrio Kids Network, collectively cultivating, elevating and celebrating our Latino roots, culture, and traditions through the arts.

GRACIELA SAENZ
Founder & Owner
Law Offices of Graciela Saenz, PLLC

Graciela “Gracie” Saenz is currently the founder and owner of the Law Offices of Graciela Saenz, PLLC.  Her practice focuses on Government Relations, business, commercial and international business transactions.  Gracie is also very involved in leadership positions throughout the community after serving on the Houston City Council from 1992-97. Her experience as a former Council member and Mayor Pro Tem has assisted in leveraging her knowledge of local city politics and essential political networks to best serve her clients’ goals.

Gracie’s experience also includes representing a broad range of government and business clients in corporate, international, energy and tourism including representation of numerous start up organizations and public clients.

In the area of housing, Gracie served on the Board of the Harris County Housing Authority during the housing crisis due to Hurricane Katrina.  She was involved with the execution of the HCHA’s D-Hap program to assist in the relocation of hurricane victims into Houston area housing.  Gracie was also involved in the City’s housing advocacy committee for Mayor Parker from 2011 thru 2012 and worked with the housing administration to redefine and rework the City’s housing departments.  She currently provides General Counsel legal services for the Houston Land Bank (non-profit).