Meet The LCDA Team

Oswaldo "Ozzie" Gromada Meza
 President & Chief Executive Officer

Ozzie Gromada Meza currently serves as the President and CEO of the Latino Corporate Directors Association (LCDA). In this capacity, he leads a distinguished membership organization comprising accomplished executives at the pinnacle of corporate governance. His mission is to propel diversity within the boardroom, with a firm commitment to amplifying the presence of Hispanic/Latino individuals on corporate boards. 

Prior to assuming his present role, he held the position of Vice President of Member and Talent Services at LCDA. During this tenure, he collaborated closely with boards of directors, C-Suite executives, search firms, and influential board advocates. His influence extended to shaping the board talent pipeline for numerous prominent organizations. 

As a talent intelligence expert, Ozzie led a diverse career spanning search firms, consulting, and Fortune 1000 corporations. Preceding his tenure at LCDA, he served as a Talent Intelligence Lead at JamesDruryPartners, a premier board advisory services firm. In the earlier stages of his career, he played an instrumental role in establishing the executive recruiting function at Allstate Insurance. Notably, he spearheaded the development of one of the first comprehensive competitive intelligence divisions within talent acquisition.

Ozzie has garnered recognition as a trailblazer in the realms of ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) by being honored as a recipient of the Modern Governance 100 Award by Diligent and has received the Business & Finance Impact Award from the Special Libraries Association. Additionally, he serves as a Board Member of Thirty Percent Coalition, as an Advisory Board Member of the Association of LGBTQ+ Corporate Directors, and Council Member of NACD Center for Inclusive Governance. 

Ozzie Gromada Meza holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Information Systems and a Master of Science degree in Library and Information Science, both from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. He and his husband take pride in their roles as parents to twins and consider Reno, Nevada, home.

Carmen Joge
Vice President, Programs & Operations

Carmen Joge joined LCDA in 2017 to support the board governance work of the association and help design and launch the LCDEF BoardReady Institute (BRI) program. She brings over 25-years of experience in board governance, leadership and organizational development experience to LCDA. Carmen also has extensive program design, strategic planning and public policy experience. Prior to LCDA, she was with the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute (CHCI) for over 17 years and served as their VP of Executive Affairs. Before that, she was Senior Policy Analyst with UnidosUS (formerly NCLR) overseeing their civil rights portfolio. Carmen is an alumnae of CHCIs premiere public policy fellowship and served as a past Chair of the Center for New Communities (C4NC) board, a nonprofit organization in San Antonio that runs Early Head Start programs. She graduated with honors from the University of California, Santa Cruz, with a Bachelor of Arts in History and Politics and attended American University for her M.A. in Public Administration.

Monique Navarro
Associate Vice President, Marketing & Communications

Monique Navarro brings awareness of the mission of LCDA and its members to the forefront of conversations around diversity in board governance and the C-suite. With a rich background spanning nearly two decades, she has established herself as a trailblazer in amplifying brand visibility and fostering tangible growth and impact through her strategic communication expertise.

Her journey as a leader in communication traverses various sectors, including corporate, political, and nonprofit spheres across the nation. Monique's extensive experience includes spearheading comprehensive communication plans, driving marketing initiatives, orchestrating public relations campaigns, and crafting media strategies for large-scale campaigns.

Monique holds a Bachelor of Arts in Multidisciplinary Studies with a focus on Mass Communications/Media Studies, Political Science, and Social Sciences, graduating summa cum laude from the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) and a Master of Arts in Strategic Communications with a concentration in Rhetoric and Writing Studies.

Beyond her professional pursuits, Monique raises two teenagers in her hometown of El Paso, Texas. Notably, she has also served as the Texas Ambassador for The United State of Women, a testament to her dedication to women's empowerment and advocacy.

Monique's contributions have garnered recognition from various outlets. She has been spotlighted as one of Amy Poehler's Smart Girls, featured in Hispanic Executive, AL DÍA, and Latino Leaders, and has been published in prestigious outlets such as Forbes, Axios, and numerous other leading publications.

Navarro's multifaceted expertise, coupled with her unwavering commitment to advancing diversity and communication excellence, makes her a respected leader in her field, driving impactful change and shaping conversations at the intersection of corporate governance and inclusivity.

Wendy Sturley
Associate Vice President, Engagement & Events

Wendy brings more than 20 years of association executive experience to LCDA. She has a wide range of experience with organizational management, event management, membership, publications, marketing, and communications in associations that range in size from 10,000 to more than 100,000 members. Wendy most recently served as the Vice President for Marketing, Communications, and Membership at the International Society for Pharmaceutical Engineering (ISPE) and, prior to that, Senior Director of Marketing at the Endocrine Society. Previous positions included roles as the Director of Membership and Marketing at the Society for Neuroscience and Associate Director for International Marketing at the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) which publishes Science magazine. Wendy holds a Bachelor of Arts in English Literature from Taylor University. While working for Science magazine, Wendy lived in the United Kingdom for seven years and traveled extensively, a pursuit she continues to enjoy with her husband and son.

Tracy Michelle León
Director, Talent Demand

Tracy Michelle León has centered her career on amplifying representation and leadership. Prior to joining LCDA, she worked with senior leaders at Koya Partners - Diversified Search Group to identify and recruit top talent; notable clients include Color Of Change, Alvin Ailey Dance Foundation, and Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation. Tracy Michelle loves to foster meaningful and consistent conversations, online and offline. At Russell Reynolds, she partnered on corporate thought leadership, internal Diversity, Equity & Inclusion initiatives, and their Inaugural Hispanic+ Corporate Directors Conference. Earlier in her career, Tracy Michelle worked for the U.S. Department of State and Latin Grammy winners Flor De Toloache.

Leslie Rives Gambrell
Director, Membership

Leslie is a results-driven management professional with 23+ year career overseeing the development and execution of successful strategies, plans, and initiatives to drive an organization’s membership and overall operations. Prior to joining LCDA, Leslie led membership initiatives for National Charity League, a national multi-generational philanthropic organization of mothers and daughters who volunteer close to three million hours annually to over 4,000 charities in the US. Previous to National Charity League, she spent a brief period with the Texas CPA of Dallas association and over 6 years with the Girl Scouts of Northeast Texas leading the LatinX membership initiative and member retention for the region. She graduated from Universidad Anahuac with a degree in journalism and communications. She is a native Spanish speaker and identifies as Puerto Rican.

Lisa Hodges
Senior Manager, LCDEF BoardReady Institute (BRI)

Lisa is a seasoned executive who started her career as an Associate at Cabrera Capital Markets, an investment banking firm in Houston, TX.  Lisa then went on to serve over 13 years at the New America Alliance (NAA), a national Latino organization committed to building on American Latino success to forge a stronger America.  During her time at NAA, Lisa took on key roles in corporate relations, fundraising, event programming, business development, and operations. Most recently, Lisa served in HR management roles with Allen Independent School District in Allen, Texas. She has a BA in Mass Communications from Texas State University in San Marcos, Texas.

Justin Bradley Reyes
Manager, Membership

Justin Justin Bradley Reyes is an accomplished association professional with over nine years of experience in association management. His career is marked by a dedication to advocacy, professional development, diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), workforce development, and networking. Over the past two decades, Justin has actively contributed as a member and volunteer in many associations and nonprofits.

Currently, he serves as the Membership Manager at the Latino Corporate Directors Association (LCDA), where he drives the recruitment of Latino talent for corporate boards. Previously, he was the Business Development Director at the Associated Builders and Contractors-Heart of America Chapter and a Regional Field Representative at the National Association of Home Builders. Additionally, Justin spent two years as a high school Agricultural Science educator in Texas.

His work earned him the 'Forty Under 40' award from the Association Forum, and he is a 2023-2025 Scholar in the ASAE Diversity Executive Leadership Program (DELP). Justin holds a B.S. in Agricultural Science from Texas A&M University and is an active member of the American Society of Association Executives, Association Latinos, and ALPFA Charlotte Chapter.

He resides in Charlotte with his wife Courtney, niece Reylene, and their two pets, Bailey and Begonia.

Dante Tuexi
Graphic Design Manager

Dante a growth-driven and results-oriented leader with over 20 years of experience, brings a wealth of expertise in strategic planning, graphic and web design, and digital marketing management to his role at LCDA. With a strong background in graphic design, he has successfully led the development and execution of innovative designs for websites, logos, print materials, and multimedia campaigns.

Demonstrating a proven ability to align business objectives with digital marketing strategies, he has a track record of maximizing operational impacts with minimum resource expenditure. Throughout his career, Dante has overseen key marketing operations while showcasing exceptional UI/UX design and video production skills.

Holding a degree in Mass Communication & Media Science from Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo Léon (U.A.N.L.) and certifications in Google Analytics, Digital Marketing, Google UX/UI, and SEO, he is an exceptionally dedicated professional with strong interpersonal, communication, and organizational skills.

Suleidys Tellez 
Manager, Marketing & Communications

Suleidys Tellez is an experienced marketing and communications professional with over 10 years of digital strategy, content creation, and brand management expertise. She most recently served as Director of Social Media at Guerrero Media, where she led campaigns for brands like Hispanic Executive and The Alumni Society, driving growth and engagement within the Latino business community. 

Before Guerrero, Suleidys managed digital strategy for Nike Chicago, enhancing the brand’s local presence through creative content and community initiatives. She has also worked with startups like Stuff4Hire and PointCard, as well as nonprofits including the Institute of Cultural Affairs of Chicago, HACE, and Good Counsel Services. Early in her career, she crafted sustainability-focused content as a copywriter for SmartFlower Solar. 

A self-described beach bum, tech geek, and data nerd, Suleidys grew up memorizing commercials and is passionate about all things marketing. Based in Chicago, she holds an M.A. in Integrated Marketing Communications from Emerson College and a B.A. in Journalism and Latin American Studies from Mount Holyoke College. Bilingual in English and Spanish, she offers expertise in digital strategy, content creation, social media marketing, and brand management. 

Luis Barragán
Talent Intelligence Lead

Luis is a proven professional in talent acquisition and executive assistance. He has an organized and skillful approach to finding talent and is adept at discovering clever ways to attract attention. Following his graduation from the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley with a master’s degree in accounting, he became an Associate Professional in Human Resources, certified by the HR Certification Institute. Luis has worked with both a Series A start-up and well-established companies, but his passion lies in connecting talent with meaningful opportunities and ensuring continued success. He looks forward to contributing to LCDA's growth.

Larell Rodriguez
Coordinator, Events

Larell is a seasoned event coordinator with five (5) years of experience in the event industry and four (4) in nonprofit event production. Skilled in speaker management, vendor relations, stage management, logistical planning, and creative direction. Production experience includes national shows, conferences, galas, and virtual events for some of America's largest Hispanic business organizations and non-profit Leaders. Her goal is to make everything colorful with her exciting skillset and determination to elevate experiences.

Bianca Hampel
Coordinator, Accounting & Operations

Bianca joined the LCDA team in July 2017 to support its accounting needs. Today she serves as Executive Assistant to the President & CEO and coordinates office and accounting functions, while also coordinating its sponsor and donor fulfillment. Prior to joining LCDA, Bianca was in client relations for a major car dealership in Washington, D.C. and previously for a medium-sized title company. She enjoys supporting the mission and vision of this growing organization and is committed to impacting diversity on corporate boards. Bianca attended Northern Virginia Community College.

Nicole Doyle
Executive Assistant to President & CEO

Nicole has extensive customer service experience, lead generation, and relationship management skills. Prior to joining LCDA, she served as Patient Access Specialist at a large regional healthcare provider and Customer Service Agent for Delta Airlines prior to that. Nicole also has real estate broker experience, having worked with Baird & Warner supporting their Spanish-speaking client base. She hails from Plano, IL.