The Hispanic Institute is run by a Board of Directors that sets organizational policy and implements initiatives. The Executive Director and COS of the Institute serve at the pleasure of the Board of Directors.


Gus K. West
Board Chair and President

Career Highlights

Gus West serves as Board Chair and President of The Hispanic Institute.

Mr. West has been involved in government and civic engagement for more than 30 years, beginning with his service as the Assistant Sergeant-At-Arms of Nevada State Assembly and his tenure with the City of Las Vegas as a Senior Management Analyst. Mr. West later served at the U.S. Department of Commerce in the Economics and Statistics Administration, the Economic Development Administration, and in the International Trade Administration. In 1997 he formed a Governmental Affairs consulting practice that he continues to manage in Washington DC.

Mr. West was born in Managua, Nicaragua.

Richard Hernandez

Career Highlights

Mr. Hernandez’s entire career in local, state, and federal government and in the private sector has been one of extraordinary achievement, with over 25 years of experience as a senior executive in city, state, federal, and private sector enterprises.

Currently, Mr. Hernandez is President and Chief Operating Officer of The Metec Group, a financial services and asset management company whose clients include: USDA, DoE, DoD, SBA, HUD, and Florida DOT.

Previously, Mr. Hernandez was Chief Executive Officer of Alliance Management Systems, Inc. (AMS) and oversaw the activities of the three divisions of AMS: Information Technology Services, Financial Consulting, and Medical Services.

In 1996 Mr. Hernandez was Counselor to the President and Chairman of the Board of Export-Import Bank of the United States. In addition, he served as the President’s representative in all budget, management, and personnel deliberations.

Mr. Hernandez also served in multiple high level capacities for the White House. Among them, Mr. Hernandez served as a Senior Manager with the National Performance Review task force to reinvent government, where he formulated and coordinated Presidential programs focused on key business sectors.

Also, Mr. Hernandez served as Counselor to the Administrator, Small Business Administration during 1993 to 1995, and was Associate Administrator of Operations for the Small Business Administration in 1977 to 1978.

As a member of the White House Staff, Mr. Hernandez served as Deputy Assistant to the President from 1978 to 1981.

In the private sector, Mr. Hernandez also has held several executive positions providing primarily information technology and financial advisory services. He has been a senior finance executive in investment banking and financial consulting firms in his home state of Texas, where he managed multi-billion dollar asset portfolios.

Education
Mr. Hernandez holds an MS from Columbia University in Economics, a BS from the University of Houston in Finance, and a BA from the University of Houston in Education.

Anne L. Alonzo

Career Highlights 

Anne L Alonzo serves as Vice President, Global Public Policy, Corporate Affairs, at Kraft Foods, the nation’s largest food company. In this capacity, Anne leads all global Corporate Affairs work in the areas of sustainability, tariffs, tax and trade and Health & Wellness. She also leads the global issues management team.  

Previously Anne worked as Senior Vice President at the National Foreign Trade Council (NFTC) in Washington, DC.  At the NFTC, Anne was responsible for the association’s management including revenue generation, board and membership development and external relations. Anne was also integrally involved in the congressional passage of the Dominican Republic/Central America Free Trade Agreement (DR/CAFTA) and was part of the private sector leadership team promoting passage of the U.S. trade agreements with Panama, Peru and Colombia. Prior to the NFTC, Anne held several senior positions in international relations and foreign affairs. She was appointed Deputy Assistant Secretary, International Trade Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce and prior to that, appointed Environmental Attaché to the U.S. Embassy in Mexico City. She was also a key player in the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) negotiations. Anne began her career as an environmental counsel at the U.S. Environmental Protection (EPA) Agency, Region V, Chicago, IL. 

Anne has received many awards and distinctions, throughout her career, including the U.S. Ambassador to Mexico’s Outstanding Service Award for her work in support of the NAFTA and  the environment; the U.S. Department of Commerce Bronze Medal for her leadership on the White House Global Environmental Technologies Exports Program; the U.S. Trade and Development Agency (TDA) “Exporter of the Year” Award and the U.S. Civil Rights Excellence Award for her work in promoting diverse representation within the federal government.   

Anne sits on various boards and committees including the White House Trade and Environment Policy Advisory Committee (TEPAC); Public Affairs Council (PAC); Woodrow Wilson Mexico Institute; The Hispanic Institute; the Council on Foreign Relations, and is Secretary-Treasurer of the World Cocoa Foundation (WCF).  

Anne earned her MBA and JD from the University of Chicago and the Illinois Institute of Technology, Kent College of Law, respectively.


Andres Gonzalez

Career Highlights
Andres Gonzalez is the owner of Andres Gonzalez and Associates, a Public Affairs and Political Consulting firm started in 1993 and currently located in San Antonio, Texas. The firm has represented small and large businesses, public entities (cities and counties), political organizations and candidates.

Mr. Gonzalez has represented clients in the energy, telecommunications, medical, construction, retail sales and housing industries, and has provided strategic planning, lobbying, grassroots lobbying, financial and project management services.

Mr. Gonzalez’ various governmental positions include serving as Special Assistant to U.S. Senator Robert Krueger (D-TX), White House Liaison for the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and Director of Agency Administration for Texas General Land Office.

Education
Mr. Gonzalez holds a B.B.A. in Accounting from the University of Texas at Austin.

 

Gustavo A. Paredes

Career Highlights

Mr. Paredes is an experienced professional with more than twenty-five years of experience in program/project management, strategic planning, coalition building, diversity outreach, and government and political relations. He has established and enhanced relationships with national Hispanic, African-American, and Asian American housing, community-based and elected officials.

While at the National Association of Realtors, Mr. Paredes developed and implemented a series of national and local leadership pilot projects to increase diversity participation in political activities, housing initiatives and business issues. He co-founded the Asian American Association of Real Estate Professionals (AAAREP) and was an integral member in the development of the With Ownership Wealth (WOW) homeownership initiative of the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation.

As the National Latino Partnership Liaison with the U.S. Census Bureau, Mr. Paredes developed and instituted a campaign to develop, establish and support partnerships with national and regional Hispanic organizations for the 2000 decennial census.

Mr. Paredes has also created and implemented marketing and public relations campaigns for major entertainment companies, government and corporate clients such as Coca Cola USA, Colgate-Palmolive, and Public Service Electric and Gas of New Jersey. He has worked with the National Puerto Rico Coalition, Freddie Mac, Hispanic Council on International Relations (HCIR).

In addition, he has been an independent Producer for National Public Radio and the Public Broadcasting Service.

Education
Gustavo A. Paredes went to Columbia University and lives in Washington, DC.

In Memoriam:

THI Founding Member
Raul L. Rubio (1960-2009)

Career Highlights
Raul L. Rubio was a seasoned consultant specializing in government affairs and economic development in Washington, DC, having been involved in civic life for over thirty years. His portfolio of clients included cities, counties, corporations, non-governmental organizations, and Indian Tribes across the country, as well as political organizations overseas.

Mr. Rubio specialized in serving American Indian Tribes in the area of welfare reform, government affairs, and infrastructure development throughout Native America. He was a consultant to the Chairman of the Washoe Indian Tribe of Nevada and California.

Mr. Rubio also had extensive experience in municipal affairs and local economic development, having served as a city manager, city secretary, city planner, and community development director for the cities of San Juan and Alamo, Texas.

Education
Mr. Rubio attended the University of Texas at Pan American University in Edinburg, TX, and the New School for Social Research in New York City.