Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month with this Special Hispanic Engineer Magazine Edition

 

POSTED ON Oct 09, 2024

 

Hispanic Engineer magazine has been serving the science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) community for 40 years. During this span of time, the magazine has featured hundreds of STEM professionals and leaders. Read the latest stories in Hispanic Engineer magazine. Click here for more.

It has recognized and celebrated their contributions through technology and business lists. The magazine has also showcased leaders who are making significant contributions in their communities.

This list has highlighted savvy executives, managers, marketers, and technology leaders, many of whom started as engineers before transitioning into business roles.

By recognizing the top 50 to watch, this list showcases emerging leaders who are set to shape the future of engineering and technology.

These individuals, through their innovation, dedication, and leadership, are advancing their fields and paving the way for future generations of engineers and technologists.

Their stories of overcoming challenges and achieving success serve as an inspiration and a testament to the vital contributions of people in STEM.

As we celebrate their achievements, we must continue addressing the barriers they face to harness their potential and fully drive economic and technological progress. The future of engineering and technology in the U.S. is bright, and these top 50 to watch are leading the way.

INVENTORS & INNOVATORS

Guillermo Diaz, Jr. is a business leader and advocate for diversity, equity, and inclusion. Most recently, he served as chair of the Hispanic Technology Executive Council (HITEC), an organization of senior business and technology executives. Diaz is also the founding CEO of a Web 3/AI digital platform with a mission to increase access to opportunities. He sits on the Board of Directors for Blue Shield of California and Jack in the Box (JACK), as well as social impact boards for a school work-study program, which supports veterans and young adults, and the Stanford Latino Entrepreneurship Initiative.

Yadira Valdez Barrientos is a quality lead with experience in the aerospace manufacturing industry, boasting 20 years of proven activities. Her career path has seen her grow from an intern position in industrial engineering to quality control leader, documentation control leader, Material Review Board positions, and now as quality leader. Yadira has taken on responsibilities such as material review and coordinating projects and initiatives with all departments focused on continuously improving quality metrics.

Isabel Santiago Lewis is a cyber systems engineer with Peraton. Previously with HII, she was part of the Vulnerability Remediation Team. As a U.S. Marine Corps veteran, Isabel exemplifies commitment to her colleagues, organization, and customers. Her work ethic dramatically impacted the ability to secure the Navy Enterprise Tactical Training Network architecture. During a Command Cyber Readiness Inspection, her willingness to go beyond resulted in the Navy Enterprise Tactical Training Network achieving a passing score in evaluations.

Laura Espriella Treviño is currently a senior vehicle test engineer Bollinger Motors. Previously, she was a durability test engineer at an electric pickup truck. Her role involved developing specifications and procedures documentation for electric vehicles.
Prior, Laura developed criteria and procedures to perform CAE Static, Quasi Static, and Durability Tests at the component level. Laura has achieved many firsts, including being the first female engineer in her family and the first to work in another country.

Yazmin Feliz recently completed her postdoc in biomedical engineering. Her research won $460,000 in funding from the Schmidt Family Foundation to develop low-cost ultrasound prototypes and she funded her company around this. As a National Science Foundation (NSF) Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP) Fellow and National GEM Consortium Fellow, Yazmin has been actively pushing technology from the lab to market and supporting commercialization efforts for early-stage companies in conjunction with Columbia Tech Ventures. Yazmin is currently a lead mentor and adjunct instructor for the NSF’s Innovation Corps (I-Corps) Northeast Region.

As a first-generation student, Samantha Mendez pursued her undergraduate degree at the University of Texas at Austin. Driven by her interest in STEM, Mendez embarked on an academic journey at Ohio State University. As a graduate research assistant, Mendez’s efforts were recognized with the GEM Student Leadership Award, which is granted to students in the National Consortium for Graduate Degrees for Minorities in Engineering and Science. Her research focuses on synthesizing and testing nanomaterial additives and searching for effective binders for silicon-based batteries, placing her at the forefront of energy technology innovation.

Alyvia Hildebrand Lentz has served as a senior full stack developer at SAIC since June 2024. She played a crucial role in the Space Superiority Special Missions portfolio at L3Harris. As the chief software engineer on the Meadowlands project, she oversaw the management of cost, schedule, and software baselines for complex projects falling. Additionally, she ensured the implementation of an enterprise-shared software baseline across various programs including the Air National Guard, and the Space Test Training Range program.

Asya (Hollins) Peña is currently a technical program manager at Google LLC. Before joining Google, Asya worked as a project engineer at Walt Disney Imagineering, managing the end-to-end ride design and delivery scope from early concept development to field installation for innovative ride platforms. She also served as the lead engineer for the “Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance” trackless vehicle system, one of the most technologically advanced ride systems ever delivered.

Crystal Ramirez obtained a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering from the University of Puerto Rico, Mayaguez. She started her career at Abbott before finishing college, working as both a mechanical engineer and a quality engineer in a co-op with Abbott Vascular. Her leadership skills were quickly recognized, leading to her being hired by Abbott Vascular as an associate quality engineer upon graduation. In 2021, Crystal took on a short-term assignment with the Abbott Diabetes Care Division as a quality engineer, which required her to relocate from Puerto Rico.

Solimar Diaz Puig started her career with three internships—process engineering intern within Abbott Diagnostics in 2016, and Abbott Nutrition in 2017, then as a packaging engineer in Abbott Vascular in 2018. Two years later, Solimar graduated with a bachelor’s in mechanical engineering from the University of Central Florida. Since the summer of 2020, she has served as a manufacturing engineer. Solimar is exceptional in managing systems and technologies for complex automated manufacturing lines. With her experience in multiple engineering disciplines across several Abbott divisions, Solimar has taken on mentoring new engineers.

Andie Lee Gonzalez joined Abbott in 2021. She is a medical science liaison and role model for early-career dietetics professionals, representing less than 2% of Hispanic/Latinx registered dietitians in the United States and less than 2% of Latinx individuals with a Ph.D. Andie has mentored over 100 students through various organizations including Latinos and Hispanics in Dietetics and Nutrition, the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) Nutrition Program, Diversify Dietetics, and over 40 as a faculty member at UTRGV and South Texas Community College. For her work, she received recognition from the National Hispanic Medical Association in 2022 and the Unidos Contra la Diabetes Community Leader Award.

Angelys Cuello is a clinical engineer who works at Abbott. Her role involves developing life-changing technologies to promote healthier lives for individuals and communities. At Abbott, she participates in conducting validation testing and preclinical studies for product feasibility and regulatory submissions for Implantable Cardiac Monitors, Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillators, and Cardiac Resynchronization devices. Originally from the Dominican Republic, Cuello overcame numerous obstacles after her family moved to the United States when she was eleven.

Isabel Ojeda is a research scientist at Abbott Laboratories. In her role as a scientist for Abbott Diabetes Care, she applied her subject matter expertise to solve new problems in the emerging field of wearable diagnostics. By bringing continuous monitoring to new patients, the aim is to expand access to personalized treatment and help empower doctors to better familiarize themselves with their patients. Currently, Isabel works with the Biosensors Innovation Group and focuses on developing enzymes for medical applications of Abbott’s Freestyle Libre device. This device brings wearable continuous monitoring technology to patients.

María Abreu Sepúlveda is a materials scientist who has made significant technical contributions in the field of material science applied to various applications, including ultra-high-density energy batteries, advanced coatings, and failure analysis. She has also developed material risk reduction strategies and conducted testing for solid laser development, focusing on high-temperature polymers and non-linear optical materials. María is a rising technical leader at BAE Systems, recently being promoted to engineering development director. In this role, she is responsible for mentoring and training over 6,000 talented engineers.

Daniela Bove Santos McGinnis is a billing analyst and banking admin at The Boeing Company. In this role, she manages all the banking accounts making sure the company follows Sarbanes-Oxley (SOX) Act compliance requirements for public companies in the United States, including financial reporting, data security, and audits. She also plays a crucial role on the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion team by creating cultural and informative events throughout the company.

Catherine Muñoz is a technical project manager. She currently works in Phantom Works, the R&D division of Boeing’s Defense and Space organization. In her free time, she mentors young engineers, serves as the Enterprise Board Treasurer of Boeing’s business resource group for Latino and Hispanic employees, is the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers lead for the Potomac Region and actively participates in other non-profit organizations such as the Association of Latino Professionals for America.

Teresa Blanco is the first in her family to attend college. After graduation, she started building a career at The Boeing Company. Today, she is a vice president in supply chain for global field operations and program integration. Her passion for uplifting communities and dedication to community development make her stand out. She fiercely advocates for immigrants and refugee families and promotes STEM education and a more inclusive and equitable world.

In a speech at the WOC STEM Conference, Teresa said, “Growing up in a small village with no electricity, running water, and no paved roads, you learn to rely on your community to survive. My passion for mentoring and helping my community stems from growing up in that remote village in southwestern Mexico and the values my parents instilled in me. As a Mexican American, the first in my family to go to college, first to earn a master’s degree, and the first to have a career outside of the agricultural fields, I am honored to receive this award.”

Catarina Salite-Mabeia joined Boeing in 2022 and has since been supporting the Indirect Supply Chain organization. Before joining Boeing, Catarina spent two decades in the mining industry. Born in Mozambique, she grew up in the shadow of civil war. However, before finishing high school, she was awarded a scholarship to study in Eswatini (former Swaziland). A native Portuguese speaker, she had to quickly learn English, and earned an International Baccalaureate. Later, she was awarded another scholarship to pursue her bachelor’s degree at Queensland University of Technology in Australia, where she graduated in economics, becoming the first member of her family to earn a university degree.

Abrielle “Abbey” Otero is a trailblazing user experience/user interface design engineer. She has made significant contributions to the advanced user experience team at Collins Aerospace. Her research on a prototyping tool helped the team select the best technology solution. Abbey has received internal awards for exceptional collaboration with designers and developers. Her commitment to professional development is evident in her role as a mentor to new designers. She has continued supporting the Research in User Experience Lab and Human Factors and Ergonomics Society student chapter at her alma mater, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University.

Dr. Krisiam Ortiz-Martínez’s contributions have significantly benefited the Naval Aviation Community. Her research products and technological developments have reduced the risk of hazardous material exposure and ensured personnel trust in their equipment. She has established herself as an air quality measurement and analysis expert. Her efforts to standardize data analysis and reporting have allowed for proper accountability of extensive data sets to rule out each suspect chemical and its correlation to incidence occurrences.

Khenia Meléndez Reséndez has carved out an impressive record in finance, construction, and military service. Her experience spans roles such as coordinator, engineer, and program manager with various corporations, but it is her contributions to the U.S. Navy that stand out. During six years as an industrial engineer and schedule analyst & developer for the Navy, Khenia has been pivotal in the International Program Directorate. Managing a portfolio of 20+ programs, she has played a crucial role in advancing the Naval Training Systems Schedule Analysis.

Gina Ramirez Benavidez is a key figure in the fields of data engineering, data modeling, and business intelligence. She obtained a bachelor’s degree in mathematics from California State University Dominguez Hills. Currently, she serves as an information technology specialist and business intelligence lead in the portfolio directorate of the Fleet Readiness and Analytics branch at the Naval Surface Warfare Center in the Port Hueneme Division. With over 11 years of experience, Gina’s technical expertise has been instrumental in helping organizations gain crucial insights into field readiness processes and operations.

Maria Diaz-Masterson is currently the head of the Submarine Systems Division. Prior, she served as head of sensors and arrays at the Naval Undersea Warfare Center Division, Newport. She has led large teams in the fields of information assurance and cybersecurity. Maria is actively involved as a mentor in the Educational Partnership Agreement between Division Newport and the University of Puerto Rico – Mayaguez. She is a strong advocate for workforce development and actively seeks opportunities for engineers to shadow test directors while underway on submarines.

Paola Beltrán is a materials and process engineer at Gulfstream Aerospace Mexicali. Her focus is on investigating discrepancies related to wet processing, paint applications, and aluminum heat treatment, and preparing disposition proposals. Paola has experience in chemical processes such as chemical conversion coating, anodizing, and chemical laboratory tests for process control. During her time at the company, she has successfully resolved complex material and process discipline problems.