Veronica Aguirre is employed as a Claims Analyst in the Crime Victims Division with the Illinois Attorney General’s Office and has been with the office since 1993. She also serves as the Area Vice-President of the IFT/Illinois Federation of Public Employees Local 4408. She was elected as an IAHSE Board Member, 2006-2009 and is seeking reelection to serve another term. She currently is the IAHSE Secretary and also serves on the Nominations and Legislative Committees of IAHSE. She believes that IAHSE can be instrumental and a voice for advancing the needs and concerns of Latino state employees as well as the communities that we serve.

Silvia C. Castaneda is currently employed as Executive II in the Bureau of Refugee & Immigrants of the Illinois Department of Human Services. She primarily monitors Immigrant and Refugee social service programs, which receive state and federal funds. She has been with the Bureau since 2001 and was previously employed with the Illinois Department of Human Rights as a Compliance Officer. She has been employed with the great State of Illinois since 1999. Prior to state employment she was employed in the private sector. Silvia would like the opportunity to serve as Board member of the Illinois Association of Hispanic State Employees.

Elizabeth Guerrero Rios is employed as Administrative Assistant I, with the Human Rights Commission and has been a state employee and IAHSE member for 22 years. She has served IAHSE as a volunteer Coordinator and has always offered to help at numerous conferences. She was born and raised in Mexico City and worked in the private sector for 10 years. For the last 23 years she has been employed with the State of Illinois. Her state employment has placed with her with the following Departments/Agencies; Department of Financial Institutions, Illinois Human Rights Commission, Illinois Workers’ Compensation Commission and currently as a judge’s clerk with the Humans Rights Commission. She has served as a volunteer with the League of United American Citizens (LULAC) and for the World Cup of Soccer in Chicago. Elizabeth also supports the following organizations and causes: Mexican American Chamber of Commerce, Illinois Latino Caucus Foundation and American Red Cross. Elizabeth is currently attending Roosevelt University pursuing a Degree and Business Administration.

Jose J. Lopez, since January 2009, serves as the Chief of the Office of Latino Services for the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS). He serves as principal policy formulating administrator, oversees all Latino services and issues for the agency, provides guidance to the Director and Affirmative Action Chief on matters involving Latino services, acts as Liaison to various entities, such as governmental, media, philanthropic and community officials. He has been a state employee for 21 years and has served the Latino communities in various capacities. he currently is Vice-President of the Chicago Bilingual Nurses Consortium, ex Officio member of the State of Illinois Latino Family Commision, representing DCFS, and participates on numerous boards. Jose was IAHSE 
                 Board President, 2004-2007.