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) and its foundation, Latino Corporate Directors Education Foundation (LCDEF). In this capacity, he leads a distinguished membership organization comprising accomplished executives at the governance. His mission is to propel inclusivity within the C-Suite and boardroom, with a firm commitment to amplifying the Hispanic/Latino impact across corporate America.
Ozzie Gromada Meza currently serves as the President and CEO of the Latino Corporate Directors Association (LCDA) and its foundation, Latino Corporate Directors Education Foundation (LCDEF). In this capacity, he leads a distinguished membership organization comprising accomplished executives at the governance. His mission is to propel inclusivity within the C-Suite and boardroom, with a firm commitment to amplifying the Hispanic/Latino impact across corporate America.
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 James Drury Partners, 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 Invest Ahead, as a 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, Operations
Carmen is a seasoned executive with over 30 years of building organizational capacity and empowering institutions with the vision and systems they need to succeed and thrive. Her key competencies include nonprofit management, board governance, strategic planning, operations, and program development. She also have extensive experience in advancing inclusion initiatives, promoting talent development, innovative program design, growing corporate fundraising, and shaping public policy outcomes. Carmen joined LCDA in 2017 to lead the design and launch of the LCDEF BoardReady Institute (BRI), the first program of its kind tailored for senior executives aspiring to corporate board service. Her portfolio has grown to include general operations, financial management, HR, and board governance work of the association and its foundation.
Prior to LCDA, she was with the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute (CHCI) for over 17 years and served as their VP of Executive Affairs after years of leading their leadership development programs and Alumni Association. Before that, she was Senior Policy Analyst with UnidosUS (formerly NCLR) overseeing their civil rights portfolio. While there, she co-authored a groundbreaking report on Latinos and the mainstreaming of hate.
Carmen is currently on the board of Love Esco, a local nonprofit that promotes volunteerism to advance the economic and community development of its city. She has served on other nonprofit boards, including as Chair of the Center for New Communities (C4NC) board, a nonprofit organization in San Antonio that ran Early Head Start programs. She is an alumnae of CHCI's premiere Public Policy Fellowship and numerous other leadership programs. Carmen 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 brings awareness of the mission of LCDA and its members to the forefront of conversations around inclusion in board governance and the C-suite. With a rich background spanning over 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 communications excellence, makes her a respected leader in her field, driving impactful change and shaping conversations at the intersection of corporate governance and inclusivity.
Tracy Michelle León
Associate Vice President, Talent
Tracy Michelle 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
Associate Vice President, 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.
Meesha Rosa
Associate Vice President, Programs & Events
With over 20+ years of experience, Meesha brings non-profit and board governance expertise relevant to LCDA's mission. Her impressive career includes 20+ years at Catalyst, a well-known inclusion and leadership institution supporting and advancing women in the workplace. Notably, Meesha designed and launched Catalyst’s Women On Board™ initiative, which focused on increasing the number of women—particularly women of color—on corporate boards by addressing key barriers to board service. Prior to joining Catalyst, Meesha conducted research at the Columbia University School of Public Health’s National Center for Children in Poverty, and worked as a consultant at the Department of Sociomedical Sciences, where she conducted child development research. She has also worked at the New York City Administration for Children Services in the Management and Statistical Reports Division. Meesha received her BA in African and Puerto Rican/Latino Studies from City University of New York, Hunter College, and completed a MS in Urban Policy Analysis and Management at The New School For Public Engagement, Milano School of International Affairs, Management and Urban Policy. Meesha is based in New York.
Lisa Hodges
Senior Manager, Programs
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.
Dante Tuexi
Manager, Graphics Design
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 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
Manager of Talent Operations
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
Manager, Events
Larell is a seasoned event coordinator with eight (8) years of experience in the event industry and six (6) 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
Manager, 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
Sr. Coordinator, Executive Office
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.