Hispanic 100 Foundation events, programs, and resources are all inclusive and available to all individuals.
Mario A. Rodriguez
CHAIRMAN
Mario Rodriguez is an accomplished entrepreneur and professional consultant, providing his collective knowledge and services for a wide array of business sectors and non-profit organizations. With an aptitude for acute problem solving and strategic implementation, Mr. Rodriguez delivers a practical approach to sustainable and long-term success.
Mr. Rodriguez maintains an active and prestigious role in many professional organizations and influential foundations. He currently serves as the Chairman of the Hispanic 100 Foundation, a nationally recognized organization comprised of successful Latino business and civic leaders focused on developing and promoting leadership from within the Hispanic community through advocacy, education, and mentorship.
Mr. Rodriguez currently serves as a member of the board for O.C. Music & Dance, a non-profit community school dedicated to providing scholarship opportunities to students specializing in the performing arts, and is also a member of the New Majority of Orange County.
Mr. Rodriguez served on the advisory board for Belmont University Law School, as well as the University of California, Irvine OC Alliance advisory board. Further, Mr. Rodriguez served as a board member for the National Museum of the American Latino.
Mr. Rodriguez proudly and dutifully served as a Presidential Commissioner to both the Presidential Commission to Strengthen Social Security and the President’s Advisory Commission on Hispanic Prosperity.
Mr. Rodriguez also dedicated his time as a board member for the Boys & Girls Club in South Orange County, the Tiger Woods Learning Center, and the Efren Herrera Scholarship Foundation. He was also the special assistant to the President of L.U.L.A.C., served on the advisory board for the National Latino Peace Officers Association, and is a former Orange County Sheriff Reserve.
Mr. Rodriguez also served on the California Athletic Commission as both the Chairman and Vice-Chairman respectfully, as well as the National Advisory Board for the Hispanic Leadership Network.
Mr. Rodriguez has been honored with the Hispanic Business Roundtable’s “Circle of Excellence” award and was named L.U.L.A.C.’s “Businessman of the Year.” He was featured on a KTLA television special “Making It: Minority Success Stories,” as well as receiving the Advocacy Award from Hispanic Magazine. Further, Mr. Rodriguez received the honor of being featured in Entrepreneur Magazine in a celebration issue featuring the accomplishments of Hispanic business owners, received the O.C. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Lifetime Achievement Award, and the O.C. United Way’s Hispanic Influential Lifetime Achievement Award.
Mr. Rodriguez was also honored in Orange County Metro Magazine as one of the twenty-five hottest people in Orange County, as well as being recognized by Hispanic Business as one of the most one hundred influential Hispanics today.
As a proponent of the Hispanic community, Mr. Rodriguez continues to utilize his experience and knowledge to bring attention to policies and issues that directly affect the Latino population. Mr. Rodriguez currently resides in both Southern California and Washington, DC, and enjoys spending time with his daughters and grandchildren.
Board Of Directors
Manuel Ramirez is Chairman of the Board of RJI Ramirez Jimenez International CPAs. Manuel is a founding member of the firm and has served as President and CEO since 1993. Manuel was appointed by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger as a member of the California Board of Accountancy in 2007. In January 2010, Manuel Ramirez was elected President of the California Board of Accountancy.
Manuel began his career in public accounting in 1981 in Orange County, California. He has experience in auditing and consulting with financial agencies, governmental institutions, healthcare providers, publicly traded companies, real estate developers, non-profit organizations, and privately held enterprises. In addition to his extensive financial, accounting and auditing experience, he has specialized experience in taxation and business consulting.
Education and Professional Licenses
• Masters of Science in Tax Law, Golden Gate University
• Bachelor of Arts – Accounting, California State University, Fullerton
• Certified Public Accountant – California
Manuel Ramirez, Vice-Chairman
Rudy M. Beserra, is the Senior Vice President, Latin American Affairs at Vensure,
where he leads the organization’s growth in the Latino market.
Rudy is a former Senior Vice President, Office of Latin Affairs at The Coca-Cola
Company, where he strengthened the company’s bridge to Latino organizations and
small businesses. He served as an advocate and voice for the Latino community for the
organization.
One of his career spotlights was his tenure with President Reagan's administration,
where he was instrumental in what is known today as Hispanic Heritage month. Rudy
was a special assistant to President Reagan in the Office of Public Liaison. His insights
were valuable in creating The Hispanic Heritage Foundation's (HHF) Hispanic Heritage Awards. The awards were established by the White House to commemorate the creation of Hispanic Heritage month in the United States.
For the past 30 years, the Hispanic Heritage Awards have honored Latino leaders in various fields who have made a positive impact in the United States and around the globe. In Sept. 2017, Rudy was honored with the Leadership Award at the 30th Anniversary of the Hispanic Heritage Awards.
In 2016, Rudy was featured in Latino Leaders magazine's “101 Most Influential Latinos of 2016”, recognized as one of their “exemplary individuals who has dedicated their lives to education, culture and the success of generations to come.”
Rudy has been recognized by many organizations and received awards for his dedication to the Latino community. Awards include, Hispanic Heritage Leadership Award, the Hector Barreto “Con Ganas” Award from the United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (USHCC) and the Executive of the Year Award from the Association of Latin Professionals in Finance.
Rudy has been an active member of a number of prominent Latino-focused organizations, including the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC); the Congressional Hispanic Leadership Institute (CHLI), of which he is a founding member; and he serves on the board of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute (CHCl). He has also served as chairman of the Hispanic Scholarship Fund (HSF).
Rudy is a native of Albuquerque, and a graduate of the University of New Mexico. He lives in Atlanta with his wife, Lois and their dog, Bella. They have two daughters, Alana and Olivia.
Rudy Beserra
With the achievement of a successful financial services industry career spanning two decades, Donald was named President of Pinnacle Consulting Group in 2001.
During his tenure at Pinnacle, Donald has developed unique processes and designs to implement financial strategies for various clients which include affluent business owners, highly-compensated executives, retirees, and those who have inherited wealth. Working with a team of tax professional, legal advisors and investment analysts, Donald and his associates provide comprehensive, innovative solutions to fit the financial needs of Pinnacle’s clients.
It is Donald’s strong belief that community leadership is essential to community growth and strength. He has held numerous executive positions in a variety of non-profit organizations which led him to be inducted into the Orange County Foundation, honoring the most accomplished leaders of the community.
Professionally, Donald has consistently achieved the honors of Million Dollar Roundtable, Top of the Table. Previously he was president of the National Association of Professional Insurance and Financial Advisors of Orange County, and a member of the National Association of Corporate Directors.
On a State level he accepted a Governor’s appointment to serve on the board of the California State Compensation Insurance Fund where he serves on the investment committee. It over sees the positioning of 20 billion dollars in assets. Nationally, Donald was a United State Presidential appointee where he chaired the Finance and Audit committee of the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars.
Donald Garcia and his wife, Wendy, reside in Newport Beach, California and enjoy volunteering for various philanthropic organizations. They have been blessed with their daughter, Brooke, and son, Sho (Donald)
Donald Garcia
R. Julio Gudino III, is an exclusive agent and personal financial
representative for Allstate Corporation, based in California since 1999. As
such, he serves as an insurance agent and personal financial representative
for over 4,500 business and individual clients in the Southern California
Region.
Mr. Gudino is a top Allstate agent nationwide in auto, property, business
and life insurance. He has a full-service agency that sells all types of
insurance, from personal auto and business insurance, to kidnap and ransom
coverage. He was recently awarded the prestigious Allstate Chairman’s
Inner Circle award for customer satisfaction, retention and profitability. He
is in the top one percent of Allstate agents throughout the country, and one
of only twelve agents in the state of California, to attain this level of
achievement.
Along with the Chairman’s Inner Circle Award, he was awarded the Allstate Insurance Co. Ray Lynch Community Service Award in 2002. This award is given to only ONE Agent out of approximately 15,000 agents nationwide per year for their dedication to their communities.
Mr. Gudino also currently advises and serves as a Mortgage Loan Officer and VP of Sales for Coastal Pacific Lending. There, he originates loans and oversees a team of 20 Top Producing Loan Officers producing over 500MM in annual fundings.
During this time, Mr. Gudino Founded and served as CEO and Publisher of bello Magazine, the largest national English language magazine targeting the acculturated and affluent Latino. bello Magazine was recognized by industry experts as one of the most influential Hispanic magazines of its time.
He also managed the WBC Boxings #1 mandatory challenger middleweight boxer for 10 years and assisted countless other boxers enter the world of boxing with promotional contracts with Golden Boy Promotions, Top Rank, Main Events and other international promotional companies.
Mr. Gudino is also called upon as a commentator for Univision and Telemundo as an Insurance & Mortgage Expert.
Prior to joining Allstate, Mr. Gudino, at the age of 23 was the youngest salesman for BASF Corporation, where he was the number one salesman nationwide for three years in a row managing a territory of over 25 million dollars.
Before Mr. Gudino began his corporate careers, he began working at a young age at his family’s businesses. These businesses included, auto dealerships, auto body shop, retail stores, and an ostrich and cattle ranch in Mexico.
Mr. Gudino is a former member of the Board of Directors for the Rancho Santiago Community College District Foundation in Santa Ana, CA. He also served on the Board of Directors of Goals for Life Foundation and is a former member of the Allstate Foundation Board, The Latino Coalition Foundation Board, Hispanic Business Roundtable Board and Children’s Protective Identification Video Foundation. Mr. Gudino is also the Chairman and founder of the United Hispanic Foundation. Mr. Gudino and his wife Denise have been married for 25 years and have two beautiful children, Ariana Chanel (20) and Julio Christian (18).
Julio Gudino
Bob’s career in politics spans a period of over 16 years. During that time he has participated in numerous campaigns both as a candidate and as an advisor to other campaigns. In 1995 Bob ran successfully for city council. Two years later, he successfully ran for the California State Assembly where he served three terms until 2004. While in the state assembly he chaired the Hispanic Republican Caucus. In 2001 he created the California Empowerment Project to elect Latinos to public office. He was successful in raising and funding over 1 million dollars in campaigns to elect Latinos to public office including to city council, school board, water board and members of the legislature.
Bob served as California Statewide Chairman for President Bush’s reelection, Chairman of the Latino Caucus campaign for Governor Schwarzenegger, Statewide Latino Chairman for Senator John McCain for President, Statewide Latino Coalition Co-Chair for Meg Whitman for Governor and Latino Coalition Chairman for Carly Fiorina for U.S. Senate. For over 16 years, Bob has participated in running and advising numerous campaigns or advising candidates for public office. Bob was frequently called upon to be the Latino spokesman for the Republican Caucus and for the Presidential and State Candidates.
Bob's professional career spans 58 years. He is the Senior Member of Pacheco & Pacheco Law Offices for over 37 years. He was also appointed to the United States Naval Academy Board of Visitors by President Bush, as California Senior Advisor for Jobs and Workforce Development, a member of the Cal-OSHA Board of Appeals and an AVP of a California Bank. Bob and his wife Gayle currently own and successfully operate a multi million dollar manufacturing company in Walnut, California.
In the California State Assembly Bob served as Vice Chair of the powerful Judiciary Committee, Higher Education, Health Committee and the Local Government Committee. He was a key member of the Budget, Ethics and Appropriation Committees as well.
Bob has received numerous awards for his legislative and community contributions: -The Latino Journal Excellence in Public Service award
-Legislator of the Year by The Los Angeles Sheriffs Association
-Legislator of the Year by The California Community College Administrators -Legislator of the Year by The Community College Student Association -Legislator of the Year by the Orange County Republican Party
-Community & Professional Service award from Western State University Law School -Induction into Western State University Law School's Hall of Fame -Lincoln Clubs Outstanding Contributions Award
--Citizen of the Year Walnut Valley Chamber of Commerce
-Outstanding Partner-President's Award Mt. San Antonio Community College -Legislator of the Year Faculty Association of California Community Colleges -Nettie Humanitarian Award for prevention of HIV/Aids
-Council of American Islamic Relations Legislator Award
(partial list)
Hon. Robert "Bob" Pacheco
Fortino Rivera, the Chief Executive Officer of Staffing Solutions, has a storied career that spans over three decades in sales and marketing management, and nearly two decades at the helm of his own company. Born and raised in Santa Ana, California, Fortino comes from a large family of nine siblings. His upbringing in a close-knit family instilled in him the values of hard work, dedication, and perseverance.
Fortino’s early years were marked by personal challenges that shaped his character and ambition. When his mother passed away when he was just 13 years old, Fortino resolved to make her proud by excelling in both academics and sports. He attended Santa Ana High School, where he maintained good grades and participated in football, wrestling, baseball, and track and field. This dedication to sports helped him develop a competitive nature and a drive for excellence that have defined his professional and personal life.
After high school, Fortino attended Santa Ana College, further honing his skills and knowledge. His career began in sales and marketing management, where he quickly rose through the ranks to become a National Sales Manager for a California-based manufacturer and later the Latin America Sales Manager for a multinational corporation. His extensive experience in these roles provided him with a deep understanding of the business world and the importance of strategic leadership.
In 2003, Fortino founded Staffing Solutions, a full-service employment agency that services Orange, Los Angeles, and Riverside counties. As the CEO, he has successfully led the company for over 20 years, building it into a respected name in the staffing industry. Recently, he has also taken on the role of Chairman of the California Staffing Professionals Political Action Committee for the State Board. In this capacity, Fortino works to improve the business climate in California, advocating for common-sense solutions that benefit the staffing industry and the broader business community.
Fortino’s success as a Hispanic small business owner has garnered significant media attention. He has appeared on television networks such as Univision and Fox 11 News, featured in national commercials in both English and Spanish, and been interviewed on national radio and cable programs. His insights and experiences have also been highlighted in podcasts and publications like Authority Magazine.
Fortino’s commitment to community service is unwavering. For nearly 40 years, he has served on numerous nonprofit boards and commissions. His current and past affiliations include the YMCA of Orange County, the City of Santa Ana Commission, Goodwill Industries of Orange County/Landmark Services, the California Staffing Professionals State Board, New Majority of Orange County, the Santa Ana College Foundation Board, the Orange County Youth Sports Foundation Board, the Hispanic 100 Board, The Toll Roads of Orange County Hispanic Advisory Board, and the South Coast Global Medical Center Board.
A deeply religious man, Fortino believes his faith in God is the cornerstone of his dedication to community service. He strives to set a positive example for his children and grandchildren, ensuring they have the same opportunities he has had. This faith-driven motivation is a key factor in his continued involvement in organizations that make a difference.
Fortino has been married to his high school sweetheart, Bertha Rivera, for 43 years. Together, they have three children and six grandchildren, with whom he enjoys spending time. Fortino’s personal philosophy is encapsulated in his favorite quote from the movie Shawshank Redemption: “Get busy living or get busy dying.” He continues to live life to the fullest, enjoying hobbies such as riding motorcycles, a passion he has had since he was eight years old.
Fortino joined the Orange County Youth Sports Foundation (OCYSF) Board in 2019. He was motivated by his desire to ensure that sports programs, which had a significant impact on his own life, remain available to future generations. He serves on the Banquet Committee and contributes to raising funds through events to support organizations in need and provide scholarships to deserving athletes.
Fortino Rivera
William ‘Jerry’ Silva is the Compliance Reliability Manager for Southern California Edison, where he joined the organization in October of 1982 working his way through many positions. He is presently responsible for leading a team of Senior Project Managers to review all proposed and adopted electric reliability regulations for applicability to Power Supply operations for SCE
Jerry in his previous position helped sucure the required licenses/permits for capital investments in Sub-stations and Transmission projects to meet the growing demand for energy in California. He had served as the Licensing and Environmental project manager for Eldorado Ivanpah project that presently serves as the largest solar development in the United States permitted at the Nevada/California border adjacent to Primm, Nevada. He worked and managed many project teams for major SCE capital projects, met with many community leaders and regulators to address the project’s purpose and need in a particular commuunity, and manages the multi million dollar budgets. Prior to this positon, Jerry was in Public Affairs from 1993-2007 where he managed government and community relations, communications, media relations, and community outreach benefit for several communities in the San Gabriel Valley and Inland Empire areas. Worked closely with Local, state and federal government agencies in these communities.
Mr. Silva has held past positions of Project Engineer, Area Manager, and Strategic Information Manager. .
Jerry is an active member of the community and serves on a variety of boards including the Hispanic 100, Hispanic Alliance for Prosperity Institute, and International Visistor Council of Los Angeles.
Mr. Silva has also served as regional judge and Chair of the Los Angeles Regional Panel for the prestigious White House Fellows program from 2000-2010. Jerry also recently received a gubernatorial appointment in early 2015 by Governor Jerry Brown and was first appointed in 2008 to serve on the Professional Engineer and Land Surveyor’s commission.
He received his Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration, his Bachelor of Science in Management and Organizational Behavior from La Verne University receiving Magna Cum Laude honors.
Jerry is active with family activities and traveling thoughout Europe and the Carribean. His hobbies include basketball, racquetball and an occasional game of golf.
William "Jerry" Silva
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Sal Tinajero was born and raised in Santa Ana. He attended Bradley University in Illinois on a speech scholarship where he completed his Bachelor of Arts Degree in Communications and a Masters in Arts Degree in Cross Cultural Education from National University. Sal has dedicated the last 28 years to education, where he has shown a deep rooted sense of commitment to education and his community.
Speech and Debate has been a cornerstone and guiding force for most of Sal’s adult life. It allowed him the opportunity to attend college and then took him to Fullerton Union HS where he built an unstoppable team who won four national titles. From 2000-2006, he served two terms as a Governing Board Member of the Santa Ana Unified School District. Sal was named the 2006 National Hispanic Teacher of the Year for his exceptional achievements as a history and speech and debate teacher at Fullerton Union High School. He was invited to the White House by former first lady Laura Bush to receive the award.
He was inducted into the International Educators’ Hall of Fame in 2014. From 2006 - 2018, Mr. Tinajero served as the Ward 6 Councilmember for the City of Santa Ana. During his tenure as councilmember, Sal was re- elected twice and served as Mayor Pro Tem from 2012 to 2014. During his tenure on the City Council, Sal chaired the Code of Ethics and Conduct Council Committee and the Public Safety Council Committee for the City of Santa Ana. He represented the City of Santa Ana as a Director on the Orange County Sanitation District Board. In 2018, Congressman Lou Correa presented Mr. Tinajero a Congressional resolution on the house floor. Mr. Tiajero was elected to the Rancho Santiago Community College Board in 2020 and he was president when he retired in 2024. And In 2024 Congresswoman Young Kim flew an American Flag over the US Capitol building in Mr. Tinajero’s honor. In 2018 he launched his company Advantage Communications Inc. The company now serves 7 school districts and has started over 100 teams with over 2,000 students who participate. In 2021, he awarded Latino students $35,000.00 in scholarships to assist them in attending college. What many don’t know is that Mr. Tinajero pays for parents who can’t afford to travel to college with their kids. If a parent can’t attend, Mr. Tinajero will accompany the students and help them move into their dorm. Sal Tinajero’s entire life has been devoted to helping students break the cycle of poverty through speech and debate education and achievement.
Hon. Sal Tinajero
Margarita Wilkinson is a seasoned media and broadcasting executive whose illustrious career began in 1991 in El Paso, Texas. With over three decades of experience in the industry, she has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to excellence and innovation. After honing her skills for six years in El Paso, she relocated to Albuquerque, where her career trajectory continued to rise. In 2003, Wilkinson achieved a significant milestone by becoming the General Manager of both television and radio properties, further solidifying her reputation as a leader within the media landscape.In 2010, Wilkinson was promoted to
Senior Vice President and General Manager for the San Diego/Tijuana market, a role that allowed her to leverage her extensive expertise to drive the success of both Telemundo and Univision. Under her visionary leadership, both stations emerged as the leading media outlets in the region, commanding a significant audience regardless of language. Her ability to connect with diverse communities and deliver compelling content has been instrumental in her success and has contributed to the overall growth of the broadcasting industry in the area.
Wilkinson’s dedication to her community extends well beyond her professional endeavors. She is a recognized community leader who actively supports various organizations through charitable work and a philanthropic outlook. Throughout her career, she has served on the boards of esteemed organizations such as Big Brothers Big Sisters, the San Diego Red Cross, the San Diego Symphony, ONE San Diego, and the San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce. Currently, she continues her commitment to community service by serving on the boards of Hispanic 100, The Old Globe, The Lincoln Club of San Diego, and the Lincoln Media Foundation. Her passion for uplifting others and fostering community development has made a lasting impact on countless lives.
In addition to her achievements in media and philanthropy, Wilkinson has also engaged in the political arena. She is a former candidate for California’s 49th Congressional District, highlighting her commitment to public service and civic engagement. Wilkinson's political contributions continue as she plays an active role in Latino Americans for Trump, serving as a Trump surrogate and a California delegate for the Milwaukee 2024 convention. Her involvement in politics reflects her dedication to advocating for the issues that matter most to her community and constituents.
Margarita Wilkinson exemplifies what it means to be a trailblazer in the media industry and a compassionate leader in her community. Her remarkable journey, marked by professional excellence and a steadfast commitment to service, positions her as a prominent figure in both media and civic leadership. With a vision for the future and a heart for service, Wilkinson continues to inspire those around her through her work and dedication to uplifting her community.
Margarita Wilkinson
As a Member of the Board, Anthony Zamarron brings a unique and invigorating perspective to our team. Having built a seasoned career in IT technology, Anthony understands the importance and necessity of innovation and technology within today’s professional environment. Over the past decade, Anthony has worked for some of the most prominent technology-driven companies in the world, including DocuSign and SAS Institute, as an effective change-maker and leading business developer.
Prior to technology, Anthony served in a variety of high-profile political positions in California. He previously served as Deputy Secretary in the Governor’s Office of Appointments and served as Chief of Staff in the State Assembly. Additionally, Anthony served as a Coalition’s Director for several Gubernatorial campaigns.
Anthony proudly serves as a dedicated mentor in the Hispanic 100 Foundation Mentor Program, providing guidance and mentorship to first- generation college students in our surrounding communities overcome professional and personal obstacles to achieve sustainable, long-term success. Anthony has a passion for empowering Latino youth to be effective leaders and innovators, and understands that through mentorship, education, and advocacy, success is within their reach.