Nancy Quiles, President
Nancy Quiles has been an executive assistant and sales coordinator for a leading fragrance company for many years. Her responsibilities included administrative support to the executive vice president and in the past developed direct marketing strategies to maximize the return on investment for Fortune 500 clients. Ms.Quiles is the daughter of a founding father of the Hispanic Business Council Scholarship Foundation, Eladio Quiles. She had been associated with the organization for many years, but left to pursue her education in marketing at Berkeley College where she graduated Magna Cum Laude. She was admitted to the Sigma Beta Delta Business Honor Society and was also awarded the Paterson Great Falls Rotary Club Community Builders Award for her participation with the economically disadvantaged. She is a volunteer at the Rotary and will be participating with Habitat for Humanity.
Susan Tacuri-Loor, Treasurer
Susan Tacuri is president of New Jersey Accounting Services, LLC, a consulting, accounting, and administrative services firm dedicated to delivering quality and efficient systems.. With over 20 years of experience in the field, she has provided services to local government agencies, nonprofit organizations, and businesses in northern New Jersey. Prior to starting her company, she worked with KPMG LLP, a global network of professional firms providing Audit, Advisory and Tax services.
Among her community service endeavors, she founded the Association of Latino Professionals in Finance and Accounting New Jersey chapter's Transitioning to Corporate America, a professional development and networking event for college students. Since 2009, she has been involved with the Hispanic Business Council Scholarship Foundation of NJ, Inc., a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing scholarship support for Latino students to attend college. She serves on the organization's board of directors and has held the position of secretary and currently is treasurer.
Susan holds a bachelor of science in accounting from Rutgers-The State University of New Jersey and is a graduate of Leadership New Jersey, a fellowship program that educates, empowers and engages talented leaders to create systemic change concerning the state's most challenging issues.
Dasha Perez, Secretary
Dasha Perez, a resident of New Jersey, graduated from The College of St. Elizabeth, where she earned a Bachelor's degree in Business Administration and Spanish. She is currently employed as a University Relations Specialist at Unilever, where her primary purpose is to enable the company to acquire university candidates at all degree levels to fuel the talent pipeline across all business groups. In her role, she provides expertise in account management, innovative recruitment solutions, and best practices to the business.
Currently, her community involvement includes serving as a board member of the WKBJ Foundation. Dasha, who was also a scholarship recipient of the Hispanic Business Council Scholarship Foundation of NJ for two years, served on its Advisory Council for two years. She presently serves as a trustee on the Foundation's board of trustees and in 2011, she will assume the position of secretary. Dasha has a passion for traveling, and has leisurely traveled to 15+ different countries.
Ramón de la Cruz Esq., Trustee
Ramón de la Cruz is an in house legal counselor for the New Jersey Turnpike Authority. Ramón handles diverse assignments in connection to providing legal guidance to department directors concerning civil and criminal litigation; and procurement and human resources related matters. He served as lead counselor on procurements to privatize the largest toll collection personnel services in the U.S., and was one of the counselors regarding the procurement of senior manager underwriter services estimated to be $2B in Build America Bonds. Ramón serves as the Authority's lead counselor concerning compliance with the Open Public Records Act; and represents the Authority in a variety of state and administrative court matters. Ramón is a collaborator and unselfish leader, highly regarded for ability to create a shared vision,build commitment, and steer organizations to implement goals. Prior to this Ramón served as the first Hispanic New Jersey State Director of Elections. Ramón collaborated to successfully overhaul a sub-performing Division of Elections, which then earned two National Association of State Boards of Education Awards. The Division of Elections also earned a national reputation as a leader for its quick and aggressive initiative to achieve statewide polling place accessibility for elderly/disabled voters.
Ramón is an engaged leader in professional and community positions. He currently serves as the Marketing/Technology V.P. for the National Association of Hispanic MBAs – New Jersey Chapter, and was an instrumental collaborator in achieving New Jersey's first Chapter of the Year Award during his first year on the Board. He is a past president of the Hispanic Bar Association of NJ; a past national vice president of the Hispanic National Bar Association; recipient of the Professional Lawyer of the Year Award presented by the New Jersey Bar Association, Commission of Professionalism in the Law; and a recipient of theKentucky Colonel Award for public service presented by the State of Kentucky.
Ramón is a former town council person, graduate of Seton Hall University, Rutgers School of Law, and recently earned an MBA from the University of Michigan– Ross School of Business.
Dr. Ray Galvan, Trustee
Dr. Ray Galvan is a prosthodontist in Fair Lawn, New Jersey. He founded The Center for Better Smiles, L.L.C. on January 31, 2001 to provide patients with individualized dental attention and care that they deserve in a warm, inviting, modern facility. Dr. Galvan's focus is on prosthodontic and aesthetic care by improving your smile, dental health, appearance, and confidence in a high-quality, low volume practice. Dr. Galvan participates in helping the needy in shelters, is involved with Rotary International activities, in soup kitchens, and in career day for high schools and elementary schools to mention a few community services. He has in the past volunteered his dental services in the most impoverished areas in Jamaica, West Indies. He is a member of the American Dental Association, New Jersey Dental Association, and Bergen County Dental Association. He has published, lectured nationally and internationally, and has done research in the field of prosthodontics that was published in the top prosthodontic dental journal, The Journal of Prosthetic Dentistry. He was a previous Alexander Fellowship Award Recipient at VCU-MCV School of Dentistry. Dr. Galvan received his Bachelor of Arts degree in psychology and sociology from Rutgers University, his Doctorate of Dental Surgery from New York University College of Dentistry, his General Practice Residency Certificate from Metropolitan Hospital in New York, and his Prosthodontic Certificate from Virginia Commonwealth University-Medical College of Virginia School of Dentistry. He was a previous adjunct professor at his alma mater, New York University College of Dentistry, teaching in the clinical and preclinical courses in the field of prosthodontics and received a letter of recognition from the Dean. Dr. Galvan has been a private practitioner for 18 years and is licensed to practice in New Jersey, New York, and soon in Pennsylvania.
Miriam Lopez, Trustee
Miriam Lopez, a Certified Financial Planner (CFP®), a Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU®) and a Chartered Financial Consultant (ChFC®) also holds an MBA in Finance from Pace University in New York City and brings over 36 years of domestic and international banking & finance experience to her wealth management and estate planning practice at U.S. Financial Services, LLC in Fairfield, NJ.
She was President of the Bergen County Hispanic–American Chamber of Commerce from 1999 through 2002, the predecessor of the Hispanic Business Council Scholarship Foundation of NJ (HBCSF). She has been involved with the scholarship foundation since 1994 in every capacity and is currently a trustee and scholarship chairperson of HBCSF.
Ms. Lopez served on the national board of Girls Inc. from 2007 to 2012. She is a founding member of the Women's Golf Association of NJ (WGANJ) serving as its Chair in 2006 and 2007 and serving on the Governance Board from 2008 through 2010. She is a recipient of the El Diario/La Prensa Distinguished Woman Award, Bergen County Girl Scout Award, Distinguished Businesswoman Award from the Bergen County Executive Office & the Bergen County Hispanic–American Advisory Commission, and the Morris County Hispanic-American Chamber of Commerce "Influential Women" Award. Ms. Lopez is a member of the Bergen LEADS Class of 2011, a group of 28 men and women – aspiring and acknowledged leaders of broadly diverse backgrounds – who met monthly over ten months to dissect issues, debate viewpoints and develop approaches to problems facing the Bergen County, NJ community. In addition, she is an adjunct instructor at two schools: Essex County College in Newark and William Paterson University in Wayne.
Dr. Raul Ludmer, Trustee
Dr. Ludmer obtained his medical degree in the University of Rosario, Argentina in 1962. He was awarded a scholarship and a fellowship in Psychopharmacology. In 1965, he became Associate Professor of Pharmacology at the University of Rosario. He resigned his position after a military coup and migrated to the US in 1966. He was appointed Associate in Pharmacology at Chicago Medical School where he continued his research and published several papers. In 1969 he moved to Brooklyn and became Chief Resident in Psychiatry at Maimonides Mental Health Center. In 1972 he was appointed Associate Director of the Psychiatric Residency Training. He also received a Certificate In Psychoanalysis by the William Alanson White Institute in New York City. He became Attending Psychiatrist at St. Dominic's Home in Blauvelt, NY. In 1973 he moved to Ridgewood, New Jersey and worked at The Valley Hospital as Attending Psychiatrist. He was later on appointed Associate Director of the Department of Psychiatry and Director of the Psychiatric Clinic. He gained Board Certification in Psychiatry and Neurology and was appointed Training and Supervising Analyst at the W.A.White Institute in New York. In 1988 he was elected President of the W.A.White Psychoanalytic Society and a few years later Chairman of the Council of Fellows of the W.A.White Institute. He is a supporter of a number of philanthropic institutions and currently is in private practice in Ridgewood and New York City.
Joyce Luhrs, Trustee
As President of Luhrs & Associates, Joyce Luhrs has worked for over 20 years with businesses, celebrities, and nonprofit organizations to increase their visibility and revenues through creative marketing and targeted public relations campaigns. Her articles about business, the nonprofit sector, dance, and others have appeared in print and electronic publications.
Called "Robin Hood to the Region's Poor" by the Bergen Record of New Jersey, Ms. Luhrs serves on several boards of directors, including the League of Women Voters and an arts organization. Previously, she served on the board of directors of Rotary Club of The Palisades, NJ and the New Jersey Association of Women Business Owners, as well as the HBCSF's Advisory Council and the marketing committee of the Volunteer Center of Bergen County's Bergen LEADS program. Other community involvement activities include reviewing applications for the Hispanic Scholarship Fund.
Ms. Luhrs received a Bachelor of Arts from Oberlin College and a Master of Arts degree from Columbia University. She has received fellowships from Leadership New Jersey, State University of New York/Albany-Center for Women in Government, City of New York Urban Fellows program, and the Institute for Educational Leadership Education Policy Fellowship program. Douglass College of the State University of New Jersey of Rutgers and the New Jersey State Federation of Women's Clubs awarded her the New Jersey Woman of Achievement Award.
Glenys J Merejo, Trustee
Glenys, a Tax Supervisor in Citrin Cooperman's Springfield, NJ office, provides accounting, tax planning and tax quality control services to a variety of clients. A highly qualified tax professional, she is responsible for tax compliance services, such as preparing complex tax filings for high net-worth individuals, as well as closely held businesses. With Citrin Cooperman since 2006 and with more than nine years of accounting and tax experience, Glenys brings fresh insight to every engagement and helps develop innovative solutions. She has represented clients before the Internal Revenue Service and various state tax authorities. Fluent in Spanish, Glenys also serves as an advisor to many Hispanic-owned businesses. She is a member of the New Jersey Society of CPA (NJSCPA) and is licensed to practice in New Jersey and New York.
Glenys is a trustee of the Hispanic Business Council Scholarship Foundation of NJ and is an active member of the NJSCPA Scholarship Committee, from where she was also a scholarship recipient. She also serves on various Citrin Cooperman committees: The Scholarship Committee, Citrin Cooperman Cares Committee and The Women Initiative Committee. In her community, Glenys served as vice-president for a parent-teacher association and is an active volunteer in her local church.
Graduating summa cum laude from New Jersey City University, Glenys received a B.S. in Accounting and earned her Master of Accountancy in Taxation from Rutgers University.
Hector Banegas, President Emeritus
Hector Banegas has 32 years of experience advising personal and institutional clients in the areas of trusts, employee benefits, personal finance and investments. He is Senior Vice President and Senior Wealth Strategist in the Paramus, New Jersey office of Wells Fargo Private Bank. In this role, along with the Relationship Managers and other specialists, he is responsible for providing integrated wealth services including Estate Planning, Financial Planning, Investment Management, Insurance and other financial solutions to the high net worth market. Hector has been with Wells Fargo for 19 years. Currently, his community involvement includes serving as Trustee and President of the Board of the Hispanic Business Council Scholarship Foundation, serving on the Advisory Board and Selection Committee of the Volunteer Center of Bergen County's Bergen LEADS program, and acting as a mentor for the Amherst College Mentoring Program. He has also supported Habitat for Humanity, the Latino Institute, the Girl Scout Council of Bergen County, Reading First, the National Society of Hispanic MBAs and various other philanthropic organizations. Hector is a Certified Trust & Financial Advisor, and is a graduate of Amherst College.
Douglas Sanchez, Legal Advisor
Douglas V. Sanchez is the managing member of the New Jersey office of Cruser, Mitchell & Sanchez, LLC. He has been certified by the Supreme Court of New Jersey as a civil trial attorney and specializes in civil litigation. Doug represents individuals, corporations, public entities and insurance carriers in state and federal courts throughout New Jersey. His practice emphasizes the areas of civil rights, employment practice claims and professional liability, as well as transportation and premises liability and commercial litigation. In these areas, Doug has tried and arbitrated cases throughout New Jersey.