2022-2023 HPWF Board of Directors


2023-2024 BOARD OF DIRECTORS


 

 

IVONNE ALVAREZ, PRESIDENT 

 

Ivonne Alvarez is a Vice President SBA Lending Specialist at Regions Bank. She holds a degree from graduate of Montclair University. 

Ivonne served as the 2021-2022 President-Elect and served in the 2020-2021 Mentorship Committee. Additionally, she has served on the TAC Committee as Vice Chair for Prospera and currently is on the Regional Board. She recently received the Community Engagement Award by Prospera.

Ivonne was born in Colombia. She is passionate about nurturing relationships and giving back through mentorship.

 

 

 

 

MARYNES MATEUS, PRESIDENT-ELECT

Marynes, is Matcon Construction Services, Inc., Managing Director. With a Bachelor of Science in Finance from the esteemed University of South Florida and a Real Estate License from the State of Florida, Marynes has positioned herself as a well-rounded professional.
Before joining Matcon Construction, Marynes exhibited her exceptional leadership skills during a successful 15-year tenure in the banking industry, overseeing intricate treasury services for corporate clients.
As an active member of the Hispanic Professional Women's Association (HPWA) since 2018, Marynes has consistently demonstrated her commitment to empowering and supporting fellow professionals. She served as a HPWA 2021-2022 Program Mentor, then took on the role of HPWA 2022-2023 Mentorship Chair, displaying her dedication to fostering growth within the organization. Recognizing her outstanding contributions, she has been appointed as the 2023-2024 HPWA President, spearheading initiatives to empower and uplift women in the professional sphere.
Beyond her commitment to HPWA, Marynes has also played pivotal roles in other esteemed organizations. She served as Co-Chair for Cohort '22 in the Tampa Bay Chamber - Minority Business Accelerator Program, facilitating the growth of minority-owned businesses in the region. Additionally, she was a member of the University of South Florida ISLAC Advisory Council, where her insights were instrumental in shaping the university's vision.
With her exceptional track record and unwavering dedication to professional development, Marynes Mateos is deeply passionate about nurturing and inspiring future leaders, she is committed to helping them achieve their educational and professional aspirations. 
 

MARIA JOSE FASHORO, SECRETARY

Maria Jose,  Born in Caracas, Venezuela, Maria Jose migrated to the United States 27 years ago, initially to the Washington, DC area where she started her career in banking at Chevy Chase Bank. Now after 25 years in the financial services industry, she has worked at various financial institutions and is currently a Vice President at Regions Bank working as a Branch Manager at their Brandon Town Center branch. Maria Jose has been a member of HPWA for the last 8 years and has been a mentor and a board member holding different positions on the board. Maria Jose has lived in the Tampa Bay area since 2002 and is passionate about giving back to the community and supporting women pursue higher education.

 

 

 

 

 

MARJORIE GOICOECHEA , TREASURER

Marjorie,  is a Vice President Small Business Support Mgr/TM Support for Regions Bank. She has over 20 plus years of management experience in several different work spaces ranging from retail to finance to real estate. Marjorie has volunteered as mentor for the HPWA Mentorship Program and has been a member of HPWA for over 3 years.

 

 

 

 

 

NELCY BALTZ, PRESIDENT EMERITUS

Nelcy Baltz a graduate from Hillsborough Community College and the co-founder of SN Shots Photography. For over a decade, Nelcy has enhaced her clients' images through custom photo sessions with her photography business, using their essence and personality to bring their visions to life.

A member of HPWA since 2010, Nelcy has previously served in several Board positions, including Communications Chair, Membership Chair, Outreach Chair, Mentorship Chair, Treasurer. She was the 2018-2019 HPWA President and currently holds an Honorary Chair position. Nelcy is the co-founder and President Emeritus of HPWF, established in 2019, and is appointed to represent HPWA at the Commission on the Status of Women (COSW) of Hillsborough County Florida (2021-2023). Additionally, she serves as an officer on the Board of PorColombia Tampa Chapter and supports other non-profit organizations such of the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Tampa Bay, Miss Latina Tampa, and Ninos Cantores de Tampa, Tampa Hispanic Heritage, Inc., Sheriff’s Hispanic Advisory Council, and the Mayor’s Hispanic Advisory Council. 

Nelcy was born in Bogota, Colombia and has called Tampa home for 17 years. Nelcy is excited to continue the legacy of the HPWA, helping Latin women further their education and significantly improve the potential for success.

 

CATALINA BOTERO, MEMBER AT LARGE

Catalina Botero is a Senior Account Executive at Spectrum. She holds a Bachelors Degree in Marketing from University of Florida. She has been in the communications industry since 2001.

Catalina was the 2019-2020 HPWA President. Additionally, she serves as the Secretary of USF's Latin Community Advisory Council and a recipient of the 2021 Business Award from Tampa Hispanic Heritage, Inc.

Catalina was born in Medellin, Colombia and has called Tampa home for over 20 years. She is passionate about our culture and education. With education, you can change the future of a household. 

 

 

 

 

YOKA HIDALGO, MEMBER AT LARGE

 

Yoka, is well known Realtor, Broker Associate of KW and the owner of Yoka Homes. Yoka represents the region's finest properties with exceptional skill using the most innovative technologies currently available. She is an MBA Bilingual professional with Global experience. She has been a member of HPWA for several years and has served on HPWA and HPWF's Board of Director for 5 years.

 

 

 

 

MARGARITA GONZALEZ, HONORARY CHAIR

Margarita Gonzalez, has been an integral part of HPWA since 1990, as Honorary Chairperson and Co-founder, positions she also holds at HPWF since 2019.  Currently retired from the City of Tampa after 30 years of service, she remains involved in fostering professional and educational opportunities.  Margarita is well known as a community and public relations leader, radio and television producer and host, bilingual interpreter/translator, human rights investigator, and advisor to government agencies, and non-profit organizations. 
A Hillsborough Community College and University of South Florida graduate, with a B.A. in Mass Communications, Margarita specializes in bilingual communication campaigns, cultural diversity, as well as civil rights. Her fundraising efforts with organizations like HPWA, MHAC, MHHC, SHAC and others, resulted in the establishment of several scholarships and endowments at HCC and USF.   In 2021, she was honored as a Tampa Bay Lightning “Community Hero,” and used her $50,000 gift to establish the Margarita Gonzalez-HPWF Latino Scholarship Endowment at USF.
In 1988, Margarita Gonzalez was the first Hispanic woman President of THHI, Inc. and President and founder of the Mayor’s Hispanic Heritage Celebration, and later of other organizations; the first to serve on the Superbowl Task Force (1991); and created, produced and hosted the first Spanish language television program on CTTV, “Nuestra Tampa,” which also aired on Univision and Telemundo.   In March 2023, her trailblazing work was publicly acknowledged becoming the first Cuban-American inducted into the Hillsborough Co. Commission on the Status of Women Hall of Fame.   
Her professional and volunteer work has also been recognized with several Golden Cassette Television Awards, City of Tampa and Hillsborough Co. Commendations, the NFL-Tampa Bay Bucs Hispanic Heritage Leadership Award, 1989 Hispanic Woman of the Year, Girl Scouts’ Woman of Distinction, and many others.