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

Gus K. West (Board Chair)

Career Highlights
Mr. West has been involved with governmental and political life for more than 20 years, beginning with serving the Nevada State Assembly as Assistant Sergeant At Arms, and then the City of Las Vegas as a Senior Management Analyst. Mr. West later went on to serve at the United States Department of Commerce in the Administrations of Economics and Statistics, Economic Development, and International Trade.

In the late 1990 he formed a Governmental Affairs consulting practice that he manages in Washington DC. The Government Affairs clients have included the League of United Latin American Citizens, Net for All (provided internet access to Hispanic households), Citigroup Hispanic Community Relations, SAP America, the District of Columbia, The Washoe Tribe of California and Nevada, and the Bishop Piute Tribe of California.

Public Projects & Participation
Mr. West has been involved in numerous public initiatives, including the National Performance Review (reinventing government) project, March Fund for Cancer Education, the 50th NATO Anniversary, Earth Day 2000, and the Academy of Achievement.

Education
Mr. West received his Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the University of Nevada in Las Vegas.

Anne L. Alonzo

Career Highlights
Anne L. Alonzo recently joined Kraft Foods Global in the new position of Vice President, Global Public Policy. In this new role, Anne will lead all global corporate affairs work in the ares of sustainability, tariffs, tax and trade, and health and wellness. She will also lead the global issues management team.

Before joining Kraft, Anne worked as Senior Vice President at the National Foreign Trade Council (NFTC) in Washington, D.C. Joining the Council in 2000, Anne was responsible for all areas of management including revenue generation, board and membership development, and external relations. Anne played an integral role in Congressional passage of the Dominican Republic-Central American Free Trade Agreement and was part of the private sector leadership team promoting passage of the pending U.S. trade agreements with Columbia, Panama, and Peru. Prior to her tenure with NFTC, Anne held several senior positions in international relations and foreign affairs including Deputy Assistant Secretary in the Department of Commerce  International Trade Administration and the Environmental  Protection Agency's Environmental Attache to the U.S. Embassy in Mexico City. In this position she played a key role in the NAFTA negotiations. Anne began her career as Environmental Counsel with the Environmental Protection Agency, Region V, Chicago.

Public Projects & Participation
Ms. Alonzo is the Co-Founder and Co-Chair of the Hispanic Alliance for Free Trade, a volunteer, non-partisan umbrella alliance of over 130 influential Hispanic organizations formed to ensure that Hispanic Americans have a “voice” in important trade policy initiatives and agreements involving the Western Hemisphere. HAFT was instrumental in passage of the Dominican Republic Central American Free Trade Agreement (DRCAFTA).

Achievements
Ms. Alonzo has been awarded the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Silver Medal for Superior Performance, The U.S. Department of Commerce Bronze Medal for leadership in implementing the Presidential Environmental Exports Initiative, the U.S. Ambassador to Mexico’s Award for Outstanding Service and dedication to Mexico and the U.S. Trade and Development Agency’s Exporter of the Year Award. Ms. Alonzo also was recognized by Hispanic Business Magazine as one of the year 2005’s 100 Most Influential Hispanic leaders in the U.S.

Education
Ms. Alonzo holds an MBA from the University of Chicago, a JD from Kent College of Law, llinois Institute of Technology and an undergraduate degree in Political Science from the University of Illinois.

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.

Raul L. Rubio

Career Highlights
Raul L. Rubio is 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 includes cities, counties, corporations, non-governmental organizations, and Indian Tribes across the country, as well as political organizations overseas.

For the last 12 years, Mr. Rubio has specialized in serving American Indian Tribes in the area of welfare reform, government affairs, and infrastructure development throughout Native America. He currently is consulting staff to the Chairman of the Washoe Indian Tribe of Nevada and California.

Mr. Rubio also has 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.

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.

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.