Board of Directors

In her 20+ years as an educator, Lisette has been privileged to work in various K-16 settings.  She began her career in education as a bilingual Kindergarten teacher.  Since then she has worked as a middle school math and science teacher, and a high school math teacher before stepping into administration as an ELL Coordinator, a Regional Director, a grants administrator, and as an Assistant Principal.   She is currently serving as a Principal in Philadelphia where she was born and raised and has been a mentor to aspiring school leaders.

Committed to lifelong learning, she also teaches future Early Childhood Teachers at Harcum College. Lisette has a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Drexel University and has a master’s degree and a doctorate from Holy Family University. Her spare time is dedicated to ensuring that her students are afforded equitable opportunities, fueling her passion for education.

Jose Aguirre is a Hispanic American who emigrated from Nicaragua to the United States in 1978 during the Sandinista revolution. Growing up in San Francisco then later in Miami, Jose’s strong Hispanic culture remained prevalent within his family. Now residing in Drexel Hill, Jose serves as Senior Manager of Governmental & External Affairs for PECO where he leads a team responsible for key stakeholder relations with municipalities, community organizations, business corridors, and elected officials at the local and state level in an effort to align with key initiatives and policy throughout the five county PECO service territory.  In 2020, Philadelphia City Council presented Jose with a Citation, honoring him for being awarded the Hispanic Heritage Month Gala Award for his contributions on improving the quality of life of the many immigrants who live and work in the city of Philadelphia. In 2017, Jose also collaborated with Councilwoman Maria Quiñones-Sánchez in helping raise over $25,000 for victims of Hurricane Maria.

Prior to his role Governmental and External Affairs, Jose managed PECO’s Act 129 Energy Efficiency Commercial Incentive Program and Compressed Natural Gas program. Jose also held a seat as board member to ACLAMO, a Delaware Valley non-profit organization assisting low income Latinos in Montgomery County and, was a member of the Mexican Modernism Advisory Council for the Philadelphia Museum of Art. Jose was also recognized as of the Delaware Valley’s Most Influential Latino by Impacto magazine in 2018. Jose holds a bachelor’s degree in Business Marketing from Almeda University and served four years as president for OLE (Organization of Latinos at Exelon).

Mr. Ahrens is the Senior Vice President – Commercial Banking Team Leader at Univest Financial Corporation. Previously, he served as Senior Vice President, Market Manager at Santander Bank, North America. He began his career with Santander in 2011, serving as Market Manager for Philadelphia, Southern New Jersey & Greater Bucks/Montgomery counties, servicing a portfolio of $500MM with a team of 10 Relationship Managers and support staff. Before joining Santander Bank NA, Mr. Ahrens served for 10 years at Fulton Financial Corporation leading both commercial banking teams and special assets teams. In 2015 he was awarded the 40 Under 40 recognition by the Philadelphia Business Journal. He is part of the Executive Leadership Team on the board of the American Heart Association of Philadelphia, and began his tenure on the board of Congreso de Latinos Unidos in January of 2017. Mr. Ahrens holds a dual Bachelor’s degree in Finance and Economics from Bucknell University, and a Masters in Finance from Carl-Ruprecht Heidelberg University, Germany. Born and raised in Haddonfield, NJ, he currently resides in Jenkintown, PA with his wife and son.

Style Strategist. Diversity and Inclusion Thought Leader. Transformational Speaker. Planet Shaker.

With a presence and a passion that is larger than life, Bridgett Battles is a woman whose purpose knows no bounds. While she holds several professional titles, she is known for an immeasurable impact that cannot be defined. From transforming the images of highly successful women to igniting stages as a speaker, Bridgett immediately elevates every space—and life—that she steps into.

As the go-to style and image strategist for executives and CEOs, Bridgett shows women how to develop a powerful presence. With an unmatched gift for introducing women to their highest potential, she has helped dozens of women to identify their signature style, which in turn, translates into their substantial income. Once Bridgett helps a woman to define her disruptive edge, her confidence skyrockets—and so does her bank account. Masterful at what she does, Bridgett can teach any woman to command a room with a feminine fierceness that leaves a mark on every room she enters.

A sought-after authority on diversity and inclusion in fashion, Bridgett leads conversations on innovation, equity and empowerment as a keynote speaker and panelist. She also regularly lends her passion to nonprofits that share her commitment to coaching women to success.

Born to fight battles, Bridgett is the epitome of resilience. Having bounced back better than before from every trial thrown her way, her life is a testimony to turning pain into promise. She pursues. She perseveres. She prospers—and she takes every woman she meets with her.

Oscar Budejen is a successful global business executive with extensive experience as a strategist, growth enabler and marketer with world-class organizations like Procter & Gamble, The Coca-Cola Company and Aramark.

Oscar brings extensive B2C/B2B worldwide experience across multiple industries including sports, media, entertainment, food & beverages, retail, facilities, healthcare, education, beauty care, travel, technology and non-profit. He has a proven track record of driving accelerated profitable revenue growth through building global brands, portfolio management, marketing, leading edge innovation, business transformation, evidenced-based consulting and data analytics.

Over the years, he has established performance-based partnerships with world renown organizations like Disney, Starbucks, Coca-Cola, PepsiCo, Cleveland Clinic, FIFA and NBA. He has also led change management and organizational transformation initiatives worldwide.

Over the past 7 years he has served as VP Strategy, Growth & Customer Experience at Fidelum Partners. He provides research-based consulting & professional services to clients with their growth acceleration strategies, transformation, marketing and customer experience initiatives. Including among his projects is the development of the Orlando Health evidence-based patient, team members and medical staff experience platform and the development of go-to-market strategies for organizations like Mars Drinks, First Student and Ahold Delhaize’s Food Lion.

Prior to joining Fidelum, he worked 12-year at Aramark where he was a member of the Executive Council and had P&L responsibilities for their Healthcare and Higher Education businesses. He was also responsible for Aramark’s retail business including 2,311 restaurants, 429 convenience stores and 393 coffee shops which experienced yearly double-digit growth under his leadership. Additionally, he led the development of growth strategies across Aramark Food, Hospitality and Facility Services portfolio in partnership with McKinsey & Company, Bain & Company and the Boston Consulting Group.

Prior to joining ARAMARK, he spent 5-years with The Coca-Cola Company, working in the Global Marketing Group. He led the Coca-Cola’s worldwide marketing team in the development strategies and revenue accelerating programs with global entertainment and sport icons such as, The Walt Disney Company, National Basketball Association (NBA) and FIFA. He started his career at Procter & Gamble where he spent 9-years in Brand Management.

In addition to his accomplished global business career, Oscar has always had a passion broadcasting sports. He is currently the main play-by-play commentator for the Phillies Spanish radio broadcast and the color analyst for the Eagles Spanish radio broadcast. He has two decades of sports broadcasting in the Hispanic market in the U.S. and across Latin America covering MLB, NFL, College Football, and the NBA. He has broadcasted in Spanish multiple Super Bowls, World Series and NBA Finals.

Oscar is also a passionate advocate for the development of the Hispanic community and have served as an advisor for multiple Hispanic organizations including:

• Congreso a nationally recognized Latino public service organization, Philadelphia, PA
• The National Hispanic Corporate Council, Dallas TX
• Hispanic Business Development Center at the Mexican American Business Chamber, Atlanta, GA

Oscar was born in Caracas, Venezuela. He received his MBA from Mercer University, Stetson School of Business & Economics and he currently resides in Philadelphia, PA with his family.

Julio A. Correa was born and raised in Bogotá, Colombia and is a Sales Manager at Emerald Performance Materials. Previously, he worked for over 13 years with Dow Chemical Company as an Account Manager and formerly Rohm and Haas Company in multiple roles including project/program management, manufacturing and operations management as well as account management. Julio has also dedicated many years to the Hispanic community, both as a volunteer and as a recruiter of Hispanic talent. He is an active participant of the Hispanic Latin Network at Dow and a former member of the board for the Hispanic Diversity Network at Rohm and Haas. He has also participated in many recruiting and development activities with the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE), the University of Puerto Rico Mayaguez campus and the University of Pennsylvania. He has been part of the Congreso family for over 12 years and has helped develop, maintain and strengthen the relationship between Congreso and Dow Chemical. He has volunteered in numerous occasions and is a founding member of the Corporate Advisory Board (CAB). Mr. Correa officially joined the board of Congreso in November 2014. He has a BS in Mechanical Engineering and a Masters in Business Administration both from Drexel University in Philadelphia.

Jessica DeJesus is the Director of the Research Support Center at the University of Pennsylvania’s Stuart Weitzman School of Design. Under her leadership, the Center has flourished, known for its unwavering commitment to research excellence, operational efficiency, and strict adherence to compliance standards.

As the Founder and CEO of TaxSpace, a boutique tax firm based in Rockledge, PA, Jessica offers personalized tax preparation, bookkeeping, notary services, business formation, and compliance solutions. With over 20 years of experience in tax preparation, she is deeply trusted by her community for her expertise and professionalism.

Jessica holds a Master in Law (ML) from the University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School, a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from the Keller Graduate School of Management, and a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from Peirce College.

Her career includes serving as the Deputy Commissioner for Public Works in the City of Philadelphia’s Procurement Department, where she spent 8 years executing purchasing strategies, overseeing policy development, and providing direction for the department.

Jessica also brings more than 20 years of accounting expertise across both the private and nonprofit sectors, including extensive work with 501(c)(3) organizations. Her financial expertise and keen attention to detail have played a key role in her success.

Beyond her professional achievements, Jessica is committed to community service. She has volunteered with Prospanica (The Association of Hispanic MBAs and Business Professionals) for over seven years, including two years as President, where she championed opportunities for the Latinx community.

In 2019, Jessica was honored with the Powerful Latinas Award by Hispanic Media and El Sol Newspaper and received a Proclamation Citation from the City of Philadelphia, awarded by City Councilman David Oh, in recognition of her contributions to the community.

Jessica resides in Fox Chase with her husband, children, and their French Bulldog, Bison.

Richard J. DePiano, Jr. is currently the Chief Executive Officer, General Counsel and Director of the Escalon Medical Corp. Mr. DePiano, Jr. has been a director, since June 2013 and has served as Chief Executive Officer of the Company since September 2013. He was appointed Chief Operating Officer and General Counsel in December 2006 and assumed the title of President in January 2008. Mr. DePiano, Jr. currently serves as a member of the Board and Treasurer of the Montgomery County Industrial Development Authority, is a member of the Board of Directors of Senior Health Properties-South, Inc., is a member of the Board of Directors of The Rehabilitation Group of Pennsylvania, serves as a member of the Board of Directors of the Amoore Group Inc and is on the Drexel University President’s Counsel and School of Biomedical Engineering, Science and Health Systems Executive Advisory Council. Mr. DePiano, Jr. served as a member of the Board of Directors of Association of Corporate Counsel – Greater Philadelphia Chapter (formerly known as DELVACCA) and served as its President from 2008 – 2009. Mr. DePiano, Jr. also serves as a member of the nominations committee, as member of the law school initiative committee, and as a member of the pro-bono committee of Association of Corporate Counsel – Greater Philadelphia. Prior to joining Escalon, Mr. DePiano Jr. was in the private practice of law. Mr. DePiano Jr. received a Bachelor of Science degree from Villanova University and a Juris Doctor degree from Widener University School of Law.

Carlos A. Giraldo is the Founder, President, and Broker of Record at Giraldo Real Estate Group, a premier brokerage in Philadelphia known for its client-centered approach and commitment to excellence. With over two decades of experience, Giraldo has become one of the city’s top-performing real estate agents, consistently ranking in the top 5%. His journey in real estate began in 2003, and within his first year, he sold over $10 million in property.

Raised in Medellín, Colombia, Giraldo’s passion for real estate ignited after his family encountered language barriers while trying to purchase a home upon arriving in Philadelphia. Determined to bridge this gap, he founded Giraldo Real Estate Group in 2007, with a mission to serve the Hispanic community and simplify the home-buying process with transparency and ease. Despite the challenges of the 2008 financial crisis, he successfully guided the firm through turbulent times, expanding its operations in the years that followed.

Giraldo is not only an accomplished real estate professional but also a dedicated student of the industry. He has pursued advanced education to deepen his expertise in Real Estate Development, and education at Cornell University. His academic background is further complemented by a Finance degree, which has equipped him with a solid foundation in financial principles crucial for navigating and succeeding in the real estate market.

After successfully founding Giraldo Real Estate Group, Giraldo continued to create more work opportunities by establishing over 15 companies across various business areas, including construction, insurance, and property management. Today, he leads a growing team of more than 50 employees, reflecting his ongoing commitment to fostering professional growth and innovation within his businesses.

Giraldo’s dedication to integrity, excellence, and client satisfaction is reflected in the personalized attention and transparent communication he provides throughout every transaction. His firm is recognized for utilizing cutting-edge technology to enhance market analysis and streamline the buying and selling process.

In addition to these accolades, The Giraldo Real Estate Group was awarded Metro Philly’s Best Real Estate Agency in 2023 and 2024. Carlos Giraldo won the 2023 Excelencia in Hispanic Business Award from the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce in Philadelphia, acknowledging his significant impact on the industry and his dedication to advancing Hispanic entrepreneurship. He has also been nominated for the 2024 Excelencia in Hispanic Business Awards.

Giraldo’s leadership extends beyond business. Honored at the 2023 El Sol Awards and featured in the Philadelphia Inquirer, he is celebrated for bridging language and cultural gaps in the real estate industry. His commitment to community, family, and innovation continues to make a significant impact in Philadelphia’s real estate landscape. 

For Dr. Maribel Hernández, cardiology isn’t just a career. A member of the Lankenau Heart Institute and the largest female cardiology team in the region, her commitment to women and heart disease is a personal passion.

Dr. Hernández was born in San Juan, Puerto Rico.  She received her Bachelor’s Degree at Yale University and her Medical Degree at Stanford University. She did her residency in the Harvard Hospital System in Boston and her fellowship at the Hospital of the Medical College of Pennsylvania and the Lankenau Hospital.  Dr. Hernández is Board Certified by the American Board of Cardiovascular Disease and Clinical Electrophysiology. Dr. Hernández is also the Clinical Assistant Professor of Medicine, Thomas Jefferson University.

Serving as a cardiologist for 25 years and on the medical staff of Main Line Health for over 15 years, Dr. Hernández specializes in managing patients with heart rhythm disorders. She serves as the Medical Director of Lankenau Heart Institute’s Women’s Heart Initiative, supporting awareness, education and prevention of heart disease in women within the community, and has been involved with the American Heart Association (AHA) for over 15 years.  She was recognized as the AHA’s first ever ‘Woman of Heart’ in 2013 and was on the cover of Philadelphia magazine’s Top Doc issue in May 2010. Most recently, Dr. Hernández was elected to represent Lankenau Heart Institute as the 2017-2018 AHA Go Red for Women ‘Heart Champion’ to help share the ‘Go Red’ message within our community.

Dr. Hernández has a long standing passion for fighting heart disease with an emphasis on personal outreach to the Latina community. As a Latina woman, Dr. Hernández clearly understands the unique heart health risk for the individuals of Hispanic descent.

She has participated in Go Red Corazon, (an AHA initiate focusing on outreach to Latina women) served as guest speaker at the annual AHA Latina Luncheon and was the recipient of the AHA Philadelphia Chapter’s 2014 Por Tu Corazón Ambassador Award for her extraordinary, long-standing passion and commitment to building healthier lives free of cardiovascular disease and stroke in the Latino community.

Fernando J. Torres is a VP of operations Greene, Tweed & Co. a global manufacturer of high-performance products, and integrated material solutions for the Aerospace, Semiconductor and Energy generation industries.  He is responsible for developing and implementing the corporation’s global operations from product development thru customer delivery across all facilities in the US, Europe and Asia.

He holds a Bachelor of Science in Aerospace Engineering from Arizona State University as well as the Master in Business Administration from The Pennsylvania State  University.   In addition to his business role, he has a desire for helping others.  Throughout his years in the region, he has held different positions at several nonprofits organizations where he drives his passion for the advancement of the
Latino communities, voting rights, equality, science and technology, and more importantly, his passion of helping others in need.

He recently completed his term as the President of Casa de Venezuela whose mission is to support the advancement of the Venezuelan community in the Greater Philadelphia Region. He is also a Trustee at the American Helicopter Museum and Educational Center where he works to celebrate the pioneers of aviation and encourage and inspire future generations of engineers, scientists, innovators, pilots, and inventors.   A couple years ago, he worked with other members of the community to launch the community advisor board for Congreso de Latinos Unidos. Lastly, in 2016 he worked with other latino organizations in our region to Launch Coalicion Latina de Philadelphia (COLAPHI) with the purpose of strengthening the participation and the political organization of the Latino community to exercise their democratic right thru education, communication and transparency.