Maria "Marifer" Aceves is a civil litigation attorney focusing on personal injury and guardian ad litem work. She has successfully represented her clients in negotiation, mediation, and litigation. Her results include jury trials with successful verdicts, and a recent six digit settlement involving a slip and fall case in federal court, among others. Prior to representing plaintiffs, Ms. Aceves did defense work for several years and clerked for a well-known civil judge in Dallas County.

As a result of hard work and dedication to her clients, Ms. Aceves was recently selected to the prestigious Super Lawyers 2019 Texas Rising Stars List. In her six years of practice, she has also been selected to the Top 40 Under 40 List in 2017, 2018, and 2019 by the National Trial Lawyers; the 10 Best Attorney List in Client Satisfaction for 2018 and 2019 by the American Institute of Personal Injury Attorneys; the 10 Best Female Personal Injury Attorney List for 2019 by the American Institute of Personal Injury Attorneys; the Top 10 Personal Injury Attorney List in 2019 by Attorney and Practice Magazine; and the Top 10 Personal Injury Attorney Under Age 40 List by the National Academy of Personal Injury Attorneys in 2019.

Ms. Aceves grew up in Dallas Fort-Worth area and attended Southern Methodist University for law school and undergraduate studies. While in law school, Ms. Aceves was Treasurer of the Hispanic Law Student Association and an editor on the International Law Review. Ms. Aceves was also a Semi-Finalist for the Best Comment and had her first article published during her third year of law school. Her article, Comment, Slim’s Playground: Telmex’s Monopoly of the Telecommunications Industry in Mexico, 19 Law & Bus. Rev. Am. 217 (2013), was published in the Law and Business Review of the Americas law journal.

Ms. Aceves is also highly engaged in the community. She is an active member of the Mac Taylor Inn of Court, the Dallas Bar Association, and the Dallas Association of Young Lawyers, among other organizations. She was previously a board member on a local school board and recently jointed the board of Avance, a non-profit organization dedicated to assisting low-income families through a two generation education and relationship-building methodology.

Carla Benitez is a native Dallasite. She works at MISA Imports as a Human Resources Generalist. She graduated from the University of Texas at Austin and begins her MBA at SMU this fall. She is a true crime junkie and loves painting to relax in her spare time.

Annette Davalos is a Senior Specialist, Process Improvement & Suppliers Performance leader at CELANESE, a Fortune 500 global technology and specialty materials company with its headquarters in Irving, Texas.  Annette has over 20+ year experience in the petrochemical industry and has worked in different roles throughout her carrier.  

Annette was one of the founders of the Women’s Impact Network (WIN)  at Celanese, created with the mission to empower women professionally and personally and promote community outreach, health and wellness, and networking in order to build an inclusive and rewarding culture for everyone.  She also supports LIDER, a Latino/Hispanic Employee Resource Group. 

Annette was born in Texas and was raised in Venezuela where she graduated with a BS in Social Communication from Universidad Central de Venezuela and BS in Business Administration from Universidad Nueva Esparta.

Fred Gaona is a member at Frost Brown Todd LLC. His law practice focuses on helping large to small companies navigate labor & employment issues and lawsuits. He is a graduate of the Ohio State College of Law and earned his bachelor of arts from the University of Notre Dame where he graduated with honors. Employers across the country rely on Fred Gaona to handle all types of disputes, including claims under Title VII, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Family Medical Leave Act, the Fair Labor Standards Act and numerous state statutes. He has also held leadership positions in various organizations focused on diversity issues, including the Dallas Hispanic Law Foundation, the Texas Minority Counsel Program, the Dallas Hispanic Bar Association and the Hispanic Issues Section of the State Bar of Texas.

Victor is an Analyst and Transaction Manager working in the Securities Division for Goldman Sachs. He sits on the committee for Community Engagement of the Goldman Sachs Dallas Hispanic Latino network, whose purpose is to promote the bond between the corporate community and the many nonprofits serving the DFW Metroplex. Prior to joining Goldman Sachs, Victor attended Austin College, in Sherman TX, earning a degree in Political Science and Sociology. His interests include, practicing Taekwondo as a Second Degree Senior black belt for the Coppell Taekwondo Academy, and reading some of his favorite authors, Ta-Nehisi Coates and David Halberstam.

William H. Hornberger is a transactional tax lawyer at Jackson Walker L.L.P. His practice emphasizes transactional and international legal matters. Willie received his undergraduate degree (in Accounting), with High Honors, and his J.D. degree, with Honors, from The University of Texas. He also has an LL.M. in Taxation from New York University. He is a Certified Public Accountant.

He served as the 2013-14 Chair of the 27,000-member Texas Society of CPAs. He is a member of the Texas Society of Certified Public Accountants (Executive Board, 2009 to 2015), Dallas CPA Society (Chair, 2008-2009), the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (Council Member, 2014-2017; Nominating Committee 2016-2018), the Dallas Bar Association (Chair, Tax Section, 2005), the State Bar of Texas (Chair, Section of Taxation, 2001-02), the American Bar Association and the Dallas Assembly. He has served on the Executive Committee and Board of Directors of The Real Estate Council of Dallas and the Holocaust Museum of Dallas. He also currently serves on the board of directors of the Texas Society of CPAs and AVANCE-Dallas, Inc. (2014-2017 Board Chair).

He serves as National General Counsel for the National Society of Hispanic MBAs. He served as General Counsel to the internationally-acclaimed Klyde Warren Park in Dallas during the critical development phase of the Park. He has served on the Board of Directors of The Real Estate Council Foundation of Dallas and The Covenant School. He has served as an Adjunct Professor in International Taxation at the SMU Law School. Willie is a frequent speaker and author on both domestic and international tax topics and he has been listed in “Best Lawyers in America” under Tax Law since 2003. He has been selected by his peers as the Best Lawyers’ 2013 Dallas Tax Law “Lawyer of the Year.” He has also been listed as one of the Best Lawyers in Dallas by D Magazine. Willie has been married to Gigi for 26 years. They have three children, Jake (24), Allie (22) and Claire (19).

Mr. Jorba is the Managing Director and Principal of Creu Capital, a U.S. private real estate investment firm. Mr. Jorba has more than 15 years of experience in real estate development, property management, and the construction industry. Mr. Jorba also manages the Jorba Family Office.

The US portion of the Family Office owns and manages real estate assets composed of office buildings, commercial and retail space, warehouses, distribution centers, and undeveloped acreage across the country.

Mr. Jorba has been a Board member of “Mexico Catalunya IAP” a Charitable Foundation in Mexico, owned and funded by the Jorba Family. He oversees the investment of the funds and the operation of the foundation.

“Allan is a Lead for the KPMG Hispanic/Latino Network as well as a consultant that has a solid background in project management and delivery services with over 5 years of experience combined across KPMG Mexico and KPMG US. Having an international background, both professionally and personally, enables him to approach situations with a global view point allowing for a better understanding on how to provide solutions and create opportunities that allow you to become more forward thinking and proactive.”

Monica Luna graduated from Baylor University in 2018 with a B.A. in Sociology and a minor in Entrepreneurship. While there she helped establish Festival Latino and the first-ever Baylor Latino Alumni Network. After graduation she began working for a nonprofit in Dallas. Starting in June of 2019 she began working for the City of Dallas’ Office of Arts and Culture at the Oak Cliff Cultural Center.

Monica has a love for helping her community and a passion for helping people find and express their voice. She is looking forward to being a part of AVANCE’s Street Fest Committee and to helping the wonderful families that come through AVANCE’s doors.

Josh Prywes is an Associate at Greenberg Traurig in Dallas. Josh focuses his practice on providing solutions to businesses and their owners engaged in complex mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, and tax planning. Josh is Co-Chair of New Leadership for the Dallas chapter of Israel Bonds. Josh is a former member of the Dallas Mayors Star Council where he engaged with peers who continue to seek improvements to our city. Josh attended Emory University for his undergraduate degree, Washington University in St. Louis for law school and Georgetown University for his Master's in Tax.

Gabriela “Gaby” Rawlings an associate in the Real Estate and Land Use section of Jackson Walker’s Dallas office. Gaby represents a wide range of clients in real estate transactions using her background in real estate litigation. Gaby has represented developers, land owners, and non-profit organizations on the acquisition and disposition of real property assets and on issues such as zoning changes, specific use permits, and planned development districts.

Gaby grew up in Dallas and attended Ursuline Academy where she was taught the importance of deepening her concern for the community and turning it into meaningful action. She currently provides pro bono legal services through the Human Resources Initiative, sits on the Lipscomb Elementary Site Based Decision Making Committee, volunteers at Cristo Rey Dallas College Preparatory, and sits on the board of Women in the Know.

Gaby attended Texas A&M University where she graduated with a BBA in Supply Chain Management and obtained her J.D. from SMU Dedman School of Law.

Carlos is a Senior Manager with experience in Corporate Finance, Mergers & Acquisitions, Business Operations, Technology Management, Sales, and Account Management. He currently serves as the Field Account Manager for AT&T’s Indirect Channels covering the Southeastern United States.

Carlos is a graduate of The University of Texas at Austin, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts in Government and served in various leadership positions within the campus community. He was a member of the Texas Iron Spikes, the Texas Exes Camp Texas Program, and an active member of Mezcla Dance Company and Texas Latin Dance.

Gabriel Vallejo brings valuable investment knowledge and experience in the financial industry to IBC Bank. As an international lender, his responsibilities include working with international clients to grow their business, and encouraging customers to open checking and savings accounts for both personal and business use. Vallejo is also responsible for growing existing relationships with customers by utilizing the bank’s commercial lending and small business loan capabilities. Vallejo travels regularly to Mexico in order to serve the needs of his clients and grow IBC Bank’s presence.

Vallejo graduated from the University of North Texas with a Bachelor of Science in Accounting and received his Master’s in Business Administration from Texas A&M Commerce. He is a candidate for his Certified Financial Planner® certificate later this year. Prior to joining IBC Bank, Vallejo worked as a financial representative in the banking industry. In addition to his work at IBC Bank, he is heavily involved in his community and regularly volunteers with a local Dallas nonprofit, Mercy Street, as a soccer coach.

Vallejo is also member of the Greater Dallas Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Irving Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and Associacion de Empresarios Mexicanos.

Mariana is a tax senior in the indirect tax group at EY. She has been with EY since graduating college for over 3.5 years now. Her focus is within state and local tax where she mainly works with private equity clients. She is part of the leadership board of the Latino Professional Network within EY, whose purpose is to promote the retention and success of the Latino professionals in the firm.

Mariana received both her undergraduate and graduate degree in accounting from Texas Tech University. During her time at Texas Tech, she was a founding member of the ALPFA (Association of Latino Professionals For America) student chapter.

Andreina Novoa is a Vice President – Supplier Oversight for LATAM and Canada at JPMorgan Chase. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration with concentration in Management from Universidad Catolica del Tachira, an MBA from Southern University and an Internal Audit Specialization from Louisiana State University (LSU). In addition, she is a Certified Information Systems Auditor.
Ms. Novoa is originally from Venezuela and started her internal audit career working for Coca-Cola and Toyota in Venezuela; then she decided to move to the US to get her MBA and Internal Audit Specialization in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Right after her Master’s graduation, she moved to Dallas to start her career in the US with Ernst & Young where she held leadership positions and performed variety of advisory services such as Internal Audit (operational, financial, and compliance reviews), Information Technology Risk Services, and Performance Improvement offerings across diverse industries and companies, most of them Fortune 500 companies. She also managed several teams with multiple backgrounds and cultures simultaneously. These teams were either in the US or overseas.
Ms. Novoa is very passionate about languages, cultures and the latino community. She came to the US for the first time as a high school exchange student and during that year she lived with an american family in Wisconsin, where she was able to learn the language and the american culture. While working at Ernst & Young she received several recognition awards such as EY Culture Coins and Bravo awards for living EY values, she was nominated for “Inspire Others” at the EY Spotlight Awards, and became of the Latino Professional Network leaders. As soon as she started working at JPMorgan Chase she became one of the Adelante BRG leaders and has been receiving several recognitions for her quality of work and above and beyond contributions.