Press Release - Office of the Governor

Governor O'Malley Swears In Hispanic Affairs Commission

New Commission expanded, moves to Office of Community Initiatives

ANNAPOLIS, MD (February 5, 2008) – Governor Martin O’Malley today swore in the members of the new Governor’s Commission on Hispanic Affairs at the State House and announced changes in the makeup and affiliation of the commission. Governor O’Malley also announced the movement of the Hispanic Affairs Commission to the Governor’s Office of Community Initiatives, elevating the commission to the executive level.

“The competitive future of our state depends on our ability to build on our greatest strengths, the skills, talents and the diversity of our people. In many ways, the Hispanic community is already leading the way, transforming the economic composure of our counties and raising the expectations of our people,” said Governor O’Malley. “As the Hispanic community grows, it is important that the members of the Commission on Hispanic Affairs have an understanding of community needs and how to connect them to services and progressive programs that provide opportunities.  I am confident that these members bring these qualities to our commission.” 

During the ceremony, the Governor introduced prominent business woman and former President of the Baltimore Hispanic Business Chamber, Maria Welch, as the new commission chair. Governor O’Malley signed an Executive Order (01.01.2007.21) in October transferring the commission from the Department of Human Resources to the Governor's Office of Community Initiatives. The Commission advises the Governor and the Office of Hispanic Affairs on issues that affect Hispanic Americans in Maryland.

In addition to relocating the commission and the Office of Hispanic Affairs to the Governor’s Office of Community Initiatives, the Executive Order increased the number of commissioners from 17 to 21, to better serve the state’s rapidly growing Hispanic population. The Executive Order also expanded the parameters of the commission’s focus to include economic, business, workforce and community development. Commission members serve four year terms.

The Governor’s Office Community Initiatives coordinates community and volunteer service activities in the state. It develops and coordinates the Governor’s policy agenda affecting community programs and initiatives. The Office also advises the Governor on policies to enhance and improve the delivery of community and volunteer services and serves as liaison to the Corporation for National and Community Service.

Ruby Stemmle will serve as Executive Director of the Governor’s Commission on Hispanic Affairs.

The commission membership includes:

Yolanda Maria Welch, Chair (Colombia, Baltimore County)

• Founder and CEO, Respira Medical Inc.
• Former Chair of the Baltimore Hispanic Chamber of Commerce

Elizabeth Bellavance, (United States, Wicomico County - Eastern Shore Maryland)

• Professor, University of Maryland Eastern Shore, Salisbury, Maryland
• Hispanic Outreach Representative for the Eastern Shore of the Maryland Catholic Conference Social Concerns Committee

Javier Bustamante, (Spain, Baltimore City)

• Director Office of Medic and Technology for the Social Security Administration
• Editor and Publisher of Coloquio.com
• Vice Chairman of the Baltimore City Planning Commission

Richard V. Cook, (USA, Baltimore County)

• Director of Social Work Community Outreach Service, University of Maryland School of Social Work 
• Founder & First Executive Director of Neighborhoods’ Institute of Baltimore

Veronica A. Cool (Dominican Republic, Baltimore County)

• Vice-President of Small Business Banking for Wachovia Bank
• Vice President of the Baltimore Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
• Chair of the Maryland Hispanic Business Conference of 2007

Mariana Cordier (Argentina, Montgomery County)

• President of Maryland Hispanic Bar Association 2003-2004
• Executive Board of Maryland Hispanic Bar Association 2001 to Present
• Member of the following Bar’s Montgomery County, Maryland Bar Association, Maryland Bar Foundation, Women’s Bar Association of Maryland and Inter-American Bar Association

Christina M. Diaz-Malone (Dominican Republic, Howard County)

• Senior Director of National Initiatives for Freddie Mac, Washington DC
• Member Women and Housing and Finance
• Member MANA, A national Latina Organization

Lydia Espinosa Crafton (Texas, Frederick County)

• Mediator for Conflict Resolutions
• Funding Member  & First Research Director of the Chicana Research and Learning Center

Ricardo Alberto Flores (Peru, Montgomery County)

• Director of Advocacy for the  Maryland Multicultural Youth Centers
• Former Director of Public Policy for the Public Justice Center, Baltimore

Colonel Roberto L. Hylton (Panama, Prince George’s County)

• Assistant Chief of Police Prince George’s County Police Department
• Current member of the International Association of Chiefs of Police

Elizabeth Ysla Leight (US/Mexico, Anne Arundel County)

• Director of Governmental Relations and Legal Affairs
• Society of Professional Benefit Administrators
• Member of the Maryland State Bar Association
• Columnist and photographer for the West County Gazette for the Laurel area

Hector G. Manzano (Venezuela, Baltimore City)

• Pollution Control Analyst III, Baltimore City Government
• DPW Hispanic Community Liaison, Environmental Sciences
• Instructor for Baltimore County Community College Catonsville

Ricardo Martinez (Puerto Rico, Frederick County)

• President  & CEO of Engineering/Technical Services Company
• Chair, Maryland Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
• Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Montgomery County

Jessy P. Mejia (El Salvador, Prince George’s County)

• Policy Analyst Office of County Councilmember Marc Elrich
• Member of the Latino Health Initiative’s Latino Health Professionals Workgroup

Luisa Montero-Diaz (Cuba, Prince George’s County)

• Manager Director, Maryland Multicultural Youth Centers/Latin American Youth Center, Maryland
• MS in Speech Language Pathology Summa Cum Laude from the University of Maryland

Sonia E. Mora (Colombia, Montgomery County)

• Manager Latino Health Initiatives , Montgomery County Government
• Certified HIV Counselor
• Adjunct Instructor George Washington University Department of Global Health
• Board Member Planned Parenthood of Metropolitan Washington DC

Carmen Ortiz Larsen (Ecuador, Montgomery County)

• CEO of Aquas, Inc.
• Vice President Passion for Learning (non profit)
• Co-Chair Latin American Advisory Committee to the Council Executive
• Vice-Chair of the Latin American Management Association
• Director of the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Montgomery County

Arelis Perez  (Dominican Republic- Prince George’s County)

• Vice chairwoman of the Prince George’s Hispanic⁄Latino Chamber of Commerce
• Partner with Perez and Associates a Real Estate Firm.
• Was a Prior Manager and Trainer for the Takoma Park Office of Long and Foster

Maria T. Pinto Johnson (Peru, Harford County)

• Director of Hispanic Ministries for the Archdiocese of Baltimore
• National Catholic Association Diocesan Director of Hispanic Ministry
• National Council of la Raza & Southern Poverty Law Center

Nicolas H. Ramos, V (Mexico, Baltimore County)

• Business Owner, Arcos Restaurant, Ramos Realty, Rumba LLC
• President Hispanic Business Association
• Maryland Mexican Association/ President/Vice President

Lea Ybarra, Ph.D. (USA/Texas, Baltimore County)

• University Administrator & Professor, Johns Hopkins University
• Maryland State Gifted and Talented Education Advisory Council
• Co-Executive Producer, Americanos, And Olmos Production/HBO film 1999
• 2005  Top 100 Most Influential Hispanics in the US
• 2006 Maryland’s Top 100 Women