IAHSE Nominees 2010 

    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. 

    Raquel Chavez-Galbraith was born and raised in Illinois. Her employment with the State of Illinois began with the Illinois 
    Department of Public Aid. Raquel is presently a Public Service Administrator with the Illinois Department of Employment 
    Security(IDES). She began employment with IDES in 2000, where she started as a UI Revenue Specialist. Her introduction 
    to IDES also began her introduction as an IAHSE member. Raquel has volunteered for, participated in and supports the 
    IAHSE conferences and agenda.

    Richard Echevarria is employed as a Child Welfare Advanced Specialist with the Illinois Department of Children and 
    Family Services (DCFS) and is seeking reelection to serve on the Board of IAHSE. He has served on several IAHSE 
    committees. Richard has been awarded the 2009 Latino Social Workers Organization Leadership Award. He has been a 
    direct service employee with DCFS for 15 years and has worked to ensure that vulnerable children are protected and 
    helping families to maintain intact whenever possible. He also is a certified union steward for the American Federation of 
    State, County, and Municipal Employee (AFSCME). He is currently a spokesperson model for "Foster Kids are our Kids" 
    campaign.

    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. 

    Nora M. Hernandez is a Contract Compliance Coordinator with the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT). As a 
    Contract Compliance Coordinator, Nora monitors compliance with the Equal Opportunity and Labor compliance provisions 
    that apply to all state supervised construction projects. Ms. Hernandez also ensures that the utilization of women, 
    minorities and Disadvantaged Business Enterprises (DBEs) in highway construction and maintenance. Prior to joining 
                    IDOT, Ms. Hernandez counseled clients at Evans, Loewenstein, Shimanovsky & Moscardini. Ms. Hernandez is a graduate 
                    of the University of Iowa College of Law and Northwestern University. As a student at Northwestern University, she was the 
                    first employee the University hired whose sole responsibility was the recruitment of Hispanic students. She also served as 
                    an Assistant Counsel to the Illinois Speaker of the House. She has been active in community organizations during school 
                    and currently continues her participation. She currently serves on the Erie Associates Board for the Erie Neighborhood 
                    House. Erie House empowers Latinos and diverse low-income communities to reach their fullest potential with a range of 
                    educational and social programs for all ages.

                   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 Commission 
                   representing DCFS and participates on numerous Boards. Jose was IAHSE Board President, 2004-2007.

                   Lorraine J. Vasquez has been employed with the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Commission since 1990. She is proud 
                   to have been the first female Hispanic to be hired as Official Court Reporter. Lorraine has served as a volunteer for the 
                   IAHSE conference for many years and this past year was selected to be the Volunteer Coordinator. She very much 
                   appreciated the opportunity to become more involved in coordinating the volunteers. She is interested in serving on the 
                   Board and committed to do her best to become more involved with IAHSE’s issues and concerns.