BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Julia Aratta-Fratta, President
Wegner CPAs
Julia is Supervisor in the tax and business service department at Wegner CPAs in Madison. She specializes in small and medium size businesses accounting and individual and business taxes.
Her work experience includes public and private accounting, human resources, academia, and an internship as a junior financial producer with CNN en Español. Julia obtained her Bachelor of Business Administration from the Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, in Argentina and a Master in Business Administration with a major in International Business from Kennesaw State University, Georgia, USA.
Since 2007, Julia has been part of the Latino Chamber of Commerce in Dane County board of directors as a former Treasurer and currently as the President of the Chamber’s Board of directors. Julia lives in Fitchburg, Wisconsin with her husband and two sons.
Antonio Molina-Rivas, Vice President
Madison College
Antonio is a full-time instructor for Madison College in the Supervisory Management Program. He is originally from Venezuela and considers himself a life-long learner despite facing challenges earlier in life. Antonio has a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Universidad de los Andes.
In the U.S., Antonio obtained a Masters in Education in 2006, from Edgewood College and is currently enrolled in the PhD program in Educational Leadership, again at Edgewood College. In addition to his academia career path, Antonio has experience working in the construction and finance industry. Aside from his leadership role on the Latino Chamber of Commerce Board, he is also a co chair of the committee supporting the sister-city program of Madison and Tepatitlan.
Sandy Morales, Secretary
United Way of Dane County
Sandy is the Assistant Director of Leadership Giving at United Way of Dane County. She is responsible for deepening relationships with current and potential donors by enhancing and growing United Way of Dane County’s leadership giving program as an integral part
of the annual United Way fundraising campaign.
Sandy’s was born and raised in Batavia, IL but her family is originally from Puebla, Mexico. She is the first person in her family to obtain a college degree. She has a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from Marquette University. Sandy is founding member of Delta Xi Phi Multicultural Sorority, Eta-Associate Chapter, bringing the first multicultural greek sorority to Marquette University. As an alumna she also led the national organization serving as Board President.
In the past, she has been a Schools of Hope elementary reading tutor at Nuestro Mundo Elementary School. She and husband, Theran, have a one year old daughter named Celeste.
Carlos Alvarado
Alvarado Real Estate Group
Carlos Alvarado was born and raised in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico where he had a successful career in the restaurant business. At an early age, he discovered his entrepreneurial spirit and opened his own Mexican restaurant a couple of blocks from the Ocean. Sara and Carlos moved to Madison in 2002 when Carlos, a detail oriented customer service expert, entered the banking world to gain experience in the financial industry.
In 2005, Carlos brought his financial savvy and caring client services to the Alvarado Group as a licensed real estate consultant. Carlos specializes in working with Buyers, Sellers and investment properties. He took CCIM (commercial investments) classes in 2006, ABR Designation and his GREEN designation in 2009.
Ivan Arias San Miguel
Western Cove, LLC
Ivan Arias was born in Caracas, Venezuela. He attended law School and got his law degree in 1993. Ivan practiced law for about 3 years in the bankruptcy and commercial areas. During his college days he spent the summers helping at the family store where he learned life changing lessons about business and life, he discovered a new passion for business which he carries on today.
In 1990 he founded PUBLIX an independent advertising agency in Caracas helping small businesses with their print advertising activity (newspapers and magazines). In 1994 Ivan and two other business partners founded SIGNPRO a sign company specialized in large format graphics and POP materials. After a decade of hard work SIGNPRO becames one of the 5 biggest firms in the country (Venezuela) in its area. In 2010 Ivan and his family decided to moved to Madison.
In April 2010, Iván founded WESTERN COVE LLC. Western Cove aims to make the environment a core element of the government communications strategy, working in creative ways to communicate sustainability, renewable energy, recycling, energy savings, environmental responsibility a rational use of natural resources.
Arlene Bollig
Wisconsin Women’s Business Initiative Corporation
Arlene is the coordinator of Comienzos, A Wisconsin Women’s Business Initiative Corporation (WWBIC) program in partnership with UW- Madison SBDC since 2006. She provides bilingual business assistance, entrepreneurial outreach and counseling, small group training, business plan assistance and assists clients needs with all aspects of operating a successful business.
Arlene is a Bilingual Certified Instructor for NxLevel Education for Entrepreneurs, designed to help entrepreneurs learn the skills needed to create, develop and strengthen successful business ventures.
She owns two companies: Yuribi Consulting LLC, a business cross-cultural consulting company currently in hiatus and TABYR Creations LLC, with her two daughters, a digital scrapbooking design company. Arlene was born and raised in Puerto Rico.
Monica Gonzalez
Associated Bank
Monica is a Personal Banker for Associated Bank. She is responsible for expanding and deepening customer relationships by identifying customers’ needs comprehensively and matching their needs with banking products across all business lines of Associated Bank.
Monica is originally from Colombia and serves as a resource for Spanish-speaking entrepreneurs and small businesses seeking financial resources.
Juan José López
Dept. of Workforce Development
Juan Jose is the Director of the Bureau of Program Management & Special Populations in the Division ofEmployment & Training (DET) of the Department of Workforce Development (DWD). Juan José has been Executive Director of Briarpatch and the Boys & Girls Clubs of Dane County, worked as an aide to Wisconsin Governor Anthony S. Earl and worked as a Policy & Planning Analyst for the Office of the Attorney General Peggy A. Lautenschlager.
Juan José has held many positions with a variety of community based organizations. More notably, he currently serves as the Chairperson of the Board of Directors of United Migrant Opportunity Services (UMOS), the largest Latino/Hispanic run organization in Wisconsin, is a member of the Rotary Club of Madison and a board member of their Rotary Foundation He was elected and served 12 years as a member of the Board of Education of the Madison Metropolitan School District (1994-2006).
Juan José López is originally from San Antonio, Texas and received a Bachelor’s of Arts Degree in Social Work from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
Mayra Medrano
Madison Gas & Electric
Mayra is a Commercial Marketing Representative at Madison Gas and Electric Company. Her primary goal is to build strong partnerships with local businesses via answering questions regarding energy use, rate and billing inquires, or business improvements.
Mayra has a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Management from Herzing University. She currently serves on the Moxie Conference Committee of YWCA Madison and the Rosenberry Society Advisory Council of United Way of Dane County. She also enjoys building a strong relationship as a BIG sister in the Big Brothers Big Sisters program of Dane County.
Mario Mendoza
Murphy Desmond S.C.
Mario Mendoza is an attorney at Murphy Desmond S.C. in Madison, Wisconsin. He practices civil litigation, business, real estate, family law, professional licensing and government relations. He has successfully handled a variety of civil litigation matters and transactions and has argued before the Wisconsin Supreme Court.
Prior to joining Murphy Desmond, Mendoza served as Economic Development and Legislative Liaison for the Mayor’s Office, City of Madison. His responsibilities included: Intergovernmental Relations, Economic Development, Planning and Public Safety. He helped manage agencies totaling over 800 employees. Mendoza is also a musician and entrepreneur. He has recorded various CDs and has toured the US, Puerto Rico, Mexico and Spain. He is also a professional voice-over talent and has recorded hundreds of voice-overs for film, commercials and corporate videos.
Ramona L. Natera
Department of Health Services
Ramona L. Natera received her undergraduate degree in Political Science from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. In 2000 she graduated from the University of Wisconsin Law School and became the first Immigration Attorney at the Wisconsin Coalition Against Domestic Violence. Next she established El Proyecto de Servicios Legales in order to provide affordable legal services to the Latino community in Madison, Wisconsin. In 2004, Ramona founded the Immigrant Project of Wisconsin (IPW) with a grant from the Department of Justice’s Violence Against Women Office’s Legal Assistance to Victims (LAV) Grant Program.
Ramona is currently a Staff Attorney at the Department of Health Services and has an Immigration practice at the Catholic Multicultural Center. She serves on the Board of the Latino Chamber of Commerce of Dane County and on the Board of Dane Dances.
Tania Ibarra
PricewaterhouseCoopers, LLP
Miguel Corona
Admentis
Director of Latino Professional Association of Greater Madison
STAFF
María Gualda
Latino Chamber of Commerce of Dane County
María is the Coordinator at the Latino Chamber of Commerce of Dane County. She is originally from Spain, where she obtained her Law Degree and where she worked as a corporate lawyer for 3 years. In 2010, María moved to Madison and she has been very involved with different non-profit organizations since then.
As LCC Coordinator, she provides bilingual business assistance, entrepreneurial counseling and assists members’ needs with all aspects of operating a successful business. María provides information on processes such as financial aid, trainings and refers clients to other resources within the community.
