Contact Us

2008 BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Juan Calixto, CFRE, President

Juan is the co-founder of LID and has served as co-chair and chair since its inception. He is a Certified Fundraising Executive (CFRE) with 19 years of development and nonprofit administration experience, and is currently the Development Director of Mujeres Latinas en Accion. Juan has served on numerous LID committees, including the Latino Community Donor Awards and Breakin' It Down committees, and is on the LID Incorporation Task Force. Aside from completing a Bachelor of Science in Sociology from Northern Illinois University and a Certificate Program in Nonprofit Management, Juan is currently pursuing a Master's in Public Administration from Roosevelt University

Eric B. Lugo, Secretary

An emerging talent in resource development, Eric has been Development Manager at Instituto del Progreso Latino for the past year.  Prior to joining Instituto, Eric worked as a Multicultural Market Specialist for Newspaper Services of America, advising national retail clients on engaging ethnic consumers through newspaper advertising.  He is an active community volunteer, working with organizations such as the Afro-Latino Institute of Chicago, the Puerto Rican Arts Alliance, and Teatro Luna, Chicago's only all-Latina theatre company.  Eric is a member of the National Society of Hispanic MBAs and the University of Illinois Alumni Association.  He earned a Bachelors Degree in Anthropology and Latina/o Studies from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.  Eric is currently completing dual Masters Degrees in Integrated Marketing Communications and Business Administration from the Graduate School of Business at Loyola University Chicago.

Julio L. Guerrero, Treasurer

Julio has over seven years of development experience, including work at The Resurrection Project and his current role as the Manager of Corporate and Foundation Relations at Project Exploration. A LID member since 2002, Julio has served on the Latino Community Donor Awards committee since 2006. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in English Language and Literature from the University of Chicago.

Mirna T. Garcia, Vice President of Membership

Mirna is a seasoned development professional with a decade of experience. She is currently Director of Development at the Eleanor Foundation, which is a premier grantmaking fund uniquely focused on investing in programs that target low-income working women in Chicago determined to achieve sustainable economic independence.  Prior to this, Mirna was Associate Director of Instituto del Progreso Latino.  She has been on Research Advisory committees for the Illinois Facilities Fund and for the Institute for Latino Studies’ Center for Metropolitan Chicago Initiatives at the University of Notre Dame. Mirna is a 2006 Fellow of the prestigious Leadership Greater Chicago program.  She has been a member of LID for four years, previously serving on the planning committee of the Breakin’ It Down conference.  Mirna holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, and a master’s degree from the University of Chicago, where she graduated as a McCormick Tribune Fellow in Community Development and Urban Leadership.

Nancy J. Garza, Vice President of Marketing

Nancy brings eight years of fundraising experience, including her current role as Sr. Associate Director of Corporate and Foundation Relations at Loyola University Chicago. Prior to this, she was Director of Development at Casa Central Social Services. A LID member since 2000, she has served on the Board Structure Task Force and for eight years on the Latino Community Donor Awards committee. Nancy is currently the Compliance Officer and Secretary for the National Society of Hispanic MBA's (NSHMBA); a member of the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP), where she served as a mentor for the Peer Mentoring Program; and a member of the Council for the Advancement and Support of Education (CASE). She earned a Master of Science in Integrated Marketing Communications from Loyola University Chicago, Master of Arts and Bachelor of Arts degrees in Sociology from Texas A&M International University, and a Certificate in Nonprofit Management from North Park University.

Nalani McClendon, Vice President of Education

A LID member since its founding, Nalani consults for nonprofit
organizations, political campaigns, and businesses. She has served on
various LID committees, including the program, Latino Community
Donor Awards, and Breakin' It Down committees. Nalani earned a
Bachelor of Arts degree from Knox College.