President and CEO, Denver Preschool Program

Elsa is the President and CEO of the Denver Preschool Program (DPP) and has played instrumental roles in the creation of Early Milestones Colorado, the Latino Community Foundation of Colorado, the Denver Opportunity Youth Initiative, Colorado’s Office of Early Childhood, Borealis Philanthropy, and the Skills to Compete Coalition.

Elsa grew up in Chihuahua, Mexico and immigrated to the US with her family at 17. Elsa learned English during high school and college years in Denver, and worked as an intern in the nonprofit sector, before joining the Women’s Foundation of Colorado, and then the Rose Community Foundation where she was the senior program officer for child and family development for 21 years. Elsa’s pride and joy are her husband, two daughters, three stepsons, and four grandchildren.

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State Director of External Legislative Affairs, AT&T

Guillermo Lambarri is State Director of External Legislative Affairs for AT&T. He leads external, governmental and public affairs in the state of Colorado and Wyoming. He has extensive experience in business development, government and community affairs, and has a collaborative, local approach to problem solving. Prior he was Public Affairs Manager for AT&T in Texas where he led the development and implementation of communications strategies with external and legislative teams, and he was the Director of Strategic Initiatives at the Houston Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.

Guillermo has an MBA in Global Leadership from the University of Houston’s Bauer College of Business. He enjoys exploring the new state he calls home with his wife Whitney, daughter Camila, and his son.

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Chief Financial Officer, CHFA (CPA, MBA, CPFIM)

Thomas Bryan leads the finance, accounting, secondary marketing, treasury, and information technology teams of the Colorado Housing and Finance Authority (CHFA). In this position he is responsible for overseeing the development and implementation of financing structures that support CHFA’s loan programs, including the sale and management of tax-exempt and taxable bonds, derivative instruments, loan securitization and secondary marketing activities, and communication with investors, bankers, financial advisors, rating agencies, counterparties, and other external partners.

Thomas holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting and a master's degree in Business Administration. Thomas has also graduated from the Government Finance Officer Association’s Advanced Government Finance Institute hosted by the University of Wisconsin-Madison, the National Council of State Housing Agencies’ Advanced Executive Leadership Program hosted by the University of Notre Dame, and the Denver Metro Chamber Leadership Foundation’s Leadership Denver program.

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Senior Diversity Officer, University of Colorado

Judi Díaz Bonacquisti has over 25 years of experience in expanding college access and promoting college-degree completion. She has held senior positions in student affairs and enrollment, specializing in recruitment, retention, and graduation strategies for historically excluded communities such as first-generation, low-income, undocumented, and students of color. Díaz Bonacquisti has worked at both public and private colleges and universities with varying academic offerings, admissions selectivity, and student populations ranging from 4,000 to 24,000.

Currently, she serves as the Senior Diversity Officer in the Office of the President at the University of Colorado. She has presented at national conferences, contributed to statewide policy development, and received recognition for her contributions to education. Díaz Bonacquisti holds a Doctor of Education, a Master of Business Administration, and a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering. Additionally, she owns Bonacquisti Wine Co., which supports nonprofit organizations focused on access, equity, and success in higher education.

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Associate Professor, Colorado State University

Eric Ishiwata is an Associate Professor in the Department of Ethnic Studies at Colorado State University (CSU), a Board Member for the Interfaith Solidarity and Accompaniment Coalition of Northern Colorado, and member of the New American Subcommittee for the Governor’s Office.

His work focuses on immigrant integration, refugee resettlement, and intercultural community building, engaging in a variety of resident-driven programs throughout Colorado such as in Fort Morgan, with funding support from key partners including the Colorado Health Foundation, the Women’s Foundation of Colorado, the State of Colorado, and the Centennial Board of Cooperative Educational Services.

Dr. Ishiwata has a B.A from Colorado State University and a PhD from the University of Hawaii, Monoa.

Director of Implementation, San Luis Valley Area Health Education Center

Lisa Lucero is the Director of Implementation at the San Luis Valley Area Health Education Center (SLV AHEC). With over twenty-five years of experience, she has spearheaded transformative initiatives in the local community, including programs like the SLV AHEC Summer Health Careers Institute and Mi Salud y Mi Familia, aimed at empowering high school students and Latino communities to make informed health decisions. During the pandemic, she played a pivotal role in establishing non-congregate shelters for the homeless.

Currently, she is leading efforts to create a health equity coalition, giving citizens a platform to address social determinants of health in the San Luis Valley. In addition, Lisa serves on various boards and committees, leveraging her expertise to drive positive change. She is also a licensed real estate agent, assisting individuals in finding their ideal home in the diverse San Luis Valley property market.

Chief Administrative Officer, General Counsel, and Corporate Secretary Children’s Hospital Colorado

Michelle M. Lucero is the Chief Legal Counsel for Children’s Hospital Colorado, bringing extensive legal expertise and a profound dedication to community service to her role. With previous experience as Vice President and Assistant General Counsel – Employee Relations at Centura Health, Michelle's legal career began at Davis Graham and Stubbs in Denver, where she provided counsel to various public and private entities, including the United States Securities and Exchange Commission, Denver Health and Hospital Authority, Graphic Packaging, US West, and the City and County of Denver.

Alongside her professional endeavors, Michelle actively contributes to the community by serving on the boards of multiple organizations, including the Metropolitan State University of Denver and the Denver Chamber of Commerce Leadership Foundation. She has received numerous accolades for her leadership and commitment, delivering keynote addresses on leadership, mentorship, and women's empowerment. Michelle holds a Bachelor's degree from Rockhurst College in Kansas City, Missouri, and a Juris Doctor (JD) degree from the University of Colorado Boulder.

Deputy Chief of Staff, City of Denver, Former State Senator, District 21

Dominick Moreno's journey in public service began in Commerce City, where he excelled academically as valedictorian while balancing work at the local Dairy Queen. After completing his education at Georgetown University with a degree in American Government, Dominick returned to Colorado, driven by his passion for his home state. At just 24 years old, Dominick made history as the youngest member ever elected to the Commerce City city council, marking the start of his impactful political career. He later served two terms in the Colorado House of Representatives before earning a seat in the Colorado Senate in 2016.

During his tenure in the Senate, Dominick's leadership was recognized as he was appointed to the prestigious Joint Budget Committee, overseeing Colorado's substantial state budget. His dedication to public service was further evidenced by his role as Majority Leader of the Colorado Senate from February 2022 to September 2023. In a testament to his expertise and commitment, Dominick accepted an appointment as Deputy Chief of Staff in the administration of Denver Mayor Mike Johnston, where he continues to contribute his skills and insights to the betterment of the community.

Director of Staff Development, Alpine Bank

Susana Salamun is the Director of Staff Development for Alpine Bank, member FDIC. She acts as the strategic and administrative leader of Alpine Bank's ongoing efforts to grow, retain, and advance the Alpine Bank team.

Born and raised in Mexico, Susana holds a bachelor’s degree in engineering from the Monterrey Institute of Technology and Higher Education. While in Mexico, Susana worked as a computer science professor. She moved to Colorado in 2012 and transitioned her career from engineering to banking, and has worked in electronic banking, compliance, information technology and retail for Alpine Bank.

Susana puts her leadership and interpersonal skills to work in the company and the community, sharing the concepts of self-learning, self-motivation, collaboration, coaching, communication, time management and adaptability.

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Executive Director of Strategic Initiatives, Colorado Mountain College

Yesenia Silva Estrada is Executive Director of Strategic Initiatives at Colorado Mountain College, where she has held various roles including leading TRIO Student Support Services. She is a passionate, visionary, and strategic leader focused on the collaboration for higher education access and success for all communities.

Yesenia has a Master’s degree in Social Work from the University of Denver, a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Accounting and an Associate of Arts (A.A.) in Business Administration and General Management from Colorado Mountain College.

Yesenia was born in Chihuahua, Mexico and moved to the US at 6 to rural Western Colorado, where she was the first in her family to graduate from college. She has two sons, Ian and Remy, and fur-baby Rocket.

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Director of Community and Strategic Partnerships, CBS Denver

Elaine D. Torres is the Director of Community and Strategic Partnerships at CBS Colorado. She oversees the station’s community and strategic partnerships, sponsorships, charitable giving, and community outreach.

Elaine serves on several community boards and committees, including the Bonfils-Stanton Foundation, Latino Community Foundation of Colorado, the Denver Zoo’s Leadership Council, and the Denver Art Museum’s Marketing and Strategic Alliance Committee.

Elaine received her Master’s degree in Applied Communications, with an emphasis in Marketing and Public Relations, from the University of Denver in 1999. She received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from the University of Colorado at Boulder in 1993. Elaine is married to Phil Workman and is the proud mother of her fifteen-year old son, Tristan.

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Regional Vice President, State Affairs and Community Relations, Xcel Energy

Hollie Velasquez Horvath is the Regional Vice President, State Affairs and Community Relations at Xcel Energy. She is responsible for managing the city and county’s political, business and community relationships, and local economic development activities in Colorado, alongside philanthropic efforts to support local communities with foundation grants, employee volunteerism and corporate sponsorships. She is Chairman of the Board for Great Outdoors Colorado and sits on the Board of the Downtown Denver Partnership and The Colorado Latino Community Foundation.

Hollie has received several awards for her leadership, including from the Denver Business Journal’s 40 Under 40, Colorado Women’s Chamber Top 25 Most Powerful Women, and Denver Business Journal’s Top Women in Energy. Hollie is happily married to her husband Bryon and is blessed with 11-year-old twins, Chase and Lillian.

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