Daniel A. Jones serves as Legislative Affairs Manager at America’s Essential Hospitals, where he advances federal advocacy priorities on behalf of hospitals and health systems that fill a safety net role in their communities and provide care to the nation’s most vulnerable patients. In this role, he works with congressional offices and health care stakeholders to promote policies that strengthen the Medicaid program, access to care, support the health care safety net, and improve outcomes for underserved communities. Jones brings expertise in health policy, legislative strategy, and stakeholder engagement, with a focus on issues affecting essential hospitals, including Medicaid, Medicare, telehealth, infrastructure, and health equity. He helps lead advocacy initiatives, monitors federal legislative developments, and collaborates with member hospitals to communicate the real-world impact of national health policy decisions. Jones is the proud son of Dominican and Salvadoran immigrants, a Maryland native, and an alumnus of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute’s Public Policy Fellowship. He received his undergraduate degree from Bridgewater College, where he studied Biology and Spanish.

Emily Benavides has spent 20 years strategically advising federal and presidential candidates, super PACs, former Senator Rob Portman (R-OH), and nonprofits on how to own their narrative. Benavides currently serves as Vice President, Government Affairs at UnitedHealth Group. Prior to UnitedHealth Group, she served as Chief of Staff for Congressman Bob Latta (OH-05.) A seasoned spokesperson, she has hosted a podcast and appeared on both English and Spanish language media across the United States and internationally. A passionate advocate for the Latino community, Benavides was named one of the 40 under 40: Latinos in American Politics by The Huffington Post; she was recognized by Cosmo for Latinas with a Fun, Fearless award for outstanding contributions in the political arena; and the Congressional Hispanic Leadership Institute honored her with the Vermillion Congressional Staff Appreciation Award. Benavides currently serves on the Corporate Advisory Committee for the Congressional Hispanic Leadership Network and on the Advisory Board of the GOP Latino Staff Association. When she’s not working, Benavides can be found doting on her two kids, Lidia and John Michael.

Miguel Franco is Vice President of Government Affairs for NBCUniversal Telemundo Enterprises, where he leads government relations and public policy initiatives from Washington, D.C.     He works with policymakers, business leaders, and community organizations on issues impacting the media, communications, and technology sectors, with a focus on serving and empowering Hispanic audiences across the United States. With extensive experience spanning government, advocacy, and media, Miguel helps build strategic partnerships that promote civic engagement, expand access to trusted information, and advance opportunities for Latino communities.     Prior to joining Telemundo, Miguel spent more than thirteen years in public service, including serving as Chief of Staff to Congressman Tony Cárdenas and in leadership roles with the Los Angeles City Council. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the University of Southern California.

I am Leroy M. Garcia Jr., a partner at Perry Jacobson working in government relations and public affairs in Colorado and Washington, DC. A Pueblo native and first-generation college graduate, I served in the U.S. Marine Corps from 2001 to 2007, including a deployment to Iraq as a mortuary affairs specialist in 2003. In 2014, I was elected to represent Pueblo and Pueblo West in the Colorado State Senate. I became Assistant Minority Leader in 2017 and, in 2019, the first Latino President of the Colorado Senate. My legislative work included veterans’ education and housing, transportation, and health care. After my tenure in the legislature, I served as a presidential appointee and Special Assistant to the Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Manpower and Reserve Affairs. I later served as Chief of Staff of USDA Rural Development’s Rural Business-Cooperative Service. I am President Emeritus of the National Conference of State Legislatures, have served on the Board of the NALEO Educational Fund, Board Member of Colorado 30 Group and am a lifelong NALEO member.

Melody Gonzales is founder of Hope and Power Strategies — a government affairs and leadership coaching firm built on service to two U.S. Presidents, two Governors, three federal agencies, and Congress. She advises organizations on advocacy, delivers keynotes/workshops, and coaches individuals. On the Biden Transition Team, Melody contributed to day one executive orders and personnel policies. As White House Initiative on Advancing Educational Equity, Excellence, and Economic Opportunity for Hispanics Executive Director, she advanced President Joe Biden's policy agenda with 35+ agencies and led work behind the Hispanic-Serving Institutions executive order. Under President Barack Obama, she was U.S. Department of Labor Mine Safety and Health Administration Chief of Staff and OPM’s Deputy Chief of Staff. Other roles: Governor Abigail Spanberger's transition committee, Congressman Xavier Becerra’s Legislative Assistant and Democratic Caucus Member Outreach Director, National Education Association Latino advocacy advisor, NBC 7/39 writer, Chula Vista Chamber executive and campaign staff for President Obama, Congressman Raúl Grijalva, and Governor Ralph Northam. Melody builds leadership pipelines. As Congressional Hispanic Staff Association Vice President, she wrote CHSA’s diversity plan and launched a mentorship program. She founded the National Hispanic Leadership Agenda's Appointments Program, helping confirm four Latino agency heads and supporting candidates landing appointments. She led LatinasRepresent (now a nonprofit preparing Latinas for office) and built Biden and Obama Administration leadership programs. She has a bachelor’s from UC San Diego, where she was the Alumni Association’s first Latina President, and a Georgetown Master’s of public policy and leadership coaching certificate.

Hola todos! My name is Alec Gonzalez and I’m a first-gen, Peruvian-Cuban American from New Jersey. I graduate from George Washington University in 2017 and currently represent nurse anesthetists at the American Association of Nurse Anesthesiology (AANA). I’ve been in the city for almost a decade now and spend a good share of my free time checking out new restaurants, relaxing with friends, and being active when I’m not home with my goldendoodle, Bandit. I’m a diehard Knicks and Yankees fan, so you’re likely to find me at their games when they visit the city.

Victoria Hamscho is a dedicated attorney and public policy professional. A member of the Public Policy and Law Practice of K&L Gates, Victoria provides strategic counsel on legislative and regulatory matters impacting healthcare and employee benefits clients. Victoria represents clients before the White House, Congress, and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. As part of her practice, Victoria works closely with the Congressional Hispanic Caucus and serves on the Advisory Council of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute. Victoria is the President of the Hispanic Bar Association of the District of Columbia (HBA-DC), which is dedicated to advancing Latinos in the legal profession and promoting equal justice and opportunity for Hispanic communities. Victoria is also the Chair of the Hispanic National Bar Association’s (HNBA) Health & Life Sciences Section and serves on the HNBA Latina Commission, which develops programs for Latina lawyers and students to overcome barriers to entry and advancement into the profession. Victoria has been recognized as a Top Lawyer Under 40 by HNBA and a Lawyer to Keep on the Watch by Latino Leaders Magazine. Victoria received her J.D. from New York University School of Law, where she was Co-President of the NYU Latinx Law Students Association. She has an M.P.H. from Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health.

Cristian Lopez Fernandez is a government affairs professional in Washington, DC, and an active member of the Hispanic Lobbyists Association. He regularly attends HLA events, from happy hours and golf clinics to cafecito conversations with board members, and he values the community HLA has built for Hispanic professionals in advocacy. As an Advocacy Associate at the Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM) since 2022, Cristian builds relationships with policymakers, congressional staff, and coalition partners across both parties and chambers. He oversees AEMPAC operations, including outreach to 200 members, contribution tracking, and candidate research, and helped raise $125,000 for the PAC in 2025. He managed logistics for the Manufacturing Express, a grassroots campaign of 25 events that brought 3,000 new supporters into AEM's advocacy network. Cristian previously interned in the office of Congresswoman Jenniffer González Colón, supported the National Hispanic Caucus of State Legislators, and conducted trade research at The Heritage Foundation. He holds an economics degree from Florida International University and is pursuing a Master's in Global Commerce and Policy at George Mason University's Schar School. Fluent in English and Spanish, he got his start in DC as a Congressional Hispanic Leadership Institute fellow. On the board, Cristian would bring his experience in fundraising, event planning, and member outreach to help HLA grow its membership, expand programming, and open doors for the next generation of Hispanic leaders in government affairs. Outside of work, Cristian enjoys fishing, hiking, and camping, cooks whenever he can, and spends time at the forge as a hobbyist blacksmith.

Pedro Montenegro serves as the Manager of Government Relations at Breakthrough T1D. Prior to his time at Breakthrough T1D, Pedro has previously served in various government relations roles at the American Medical Rehabilitation Providers Association and the National Hispanic Medical Association and has experience in health policy, minority health, community outreach and is a fluent Spanish speaker. Pedro lives in Washington, D.C. with his Miniature Pinscher, Lily, and enjoys cycling around town, trying new recipes and traveling. Pedro earned his Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Public Policy & Global Studies from the University of California, Riverside.

Ivelisse Porroa-García is a recognized federal government relations professional in Washington, D.C. with +14 years of experience in politics and policy. She has been named Top Lobbyist by the publication “The Hill” and the National Institute for Lobbying and Ethics. Ivelisse serves as Director, Federal Government Affairs for Fresenius Medical Care, the largest kidney care company in the world, leading Democratic advocacy. She is also the President of the Hispanic Lobbyists Association. Previously, she was a consultant at multi-client government relations firms, advising clients in financial services, health care, energy, and tech/telecom fields. During her Capitol Hill career, she worked for Senator Barbara Boxer (CA) and Congressman Raul Ruiz, M.D. (CA-25), who ultimately appointed Ivelisse as Policy Director of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus. During her time on the Hill, Ivelisse helped secure passage of dozens of pieces of legislation including the Honoring our PACT Act, the Environmental Justice Act, and the Humanitarian Standards for Individuals in CBP Detention Act. She was also the lead staffer for two Rep. Ruiz’s subcommittee assignments on the House Energy and Commerce Committee and managed his bipartisan Congressional Burn Pits Caucus. As Policy Director of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, she worked with the Black Caucus and the Asian Pacific American Caucus to shape numerous policy priorities. Ivelisse also served as the President of the Congressional Hispanic Staff Association. A native Spanish-speaker, Ivelisse was born and raised in Lima, Peru, where she studied Law at Universidad de Lima. Ivelisse holds a BA in Political Science from the University of California, Los Angeles.

Greg Rubio is a government affairs and public policy professional with more than a decade of experience spanning federal advocacy, congressional affairs, coalition building, political campaigns, and the energy sector. He currently runs his own consulting firm focused on energy, supply chain, appropriations, labor, transportation, and infrastructure issues. Previously, Greg worked in Federal Affairs at Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E), where he supported the company’s engagement with Congress and federal policymakers on issues including energy affordability, infrastructure, permitting, transmission, supply chains, tariffs, and emerging energy needs associated with data centers and large loads. He also worked in multi-client government affairs, representing utilities, local governments, nonprofit organizations, and trade associations while helping develop advocacy strategies and strengthen relationships with federal agencies and congressional offices. Greg’s career also includes service on Capitol Hill, including work with the House Democratic Caucus and congressional offices, as well as experience in political organizing and campaigns. These roles have given him a strong appreciation for bipartisan relationship-building and the importance of bringing diverse perspectives into policy conversations. As a member of the HLA Board, Greg has helped support substantive programming that connects members with policy leaders and subject matter experts, including programming focused on energy and public policy. He is particularly interested in expanding HLA’s professional development and external engagement efforts through bipartisan partnerships, stronger engagement across the tri-caucus community, and additional issue-focused panels. Greg is committed to helping HLA create opportunities for Latino professionals to expand their networks, deepen their policy expertise, and develop meaningful relationships across government, business, and advocacy.