BOARD OF DIRECTORS
GINA GOMEZ, El Centro Hispano en Arkansas
Gina Gomez has served as the Executive Director of El Centro Hispano in Jonesboro, Arkansas, for more than two decades. In that time, she has grown the non-profit agency serving the Latino community from a local religious outreach program into a regional hub of service throughout and beyond the Hispanic population of northeast Arkansas.
A first-generation immigrant herself, Gomez’s accomplishments are highlighted by the expansion of an agency that grew to require more space – moving from an older, smaller facility thanks to a major capital campaign that created in 2017 a new and modern, 4,500 square-foot center that accommodates classrooms, offices, and community space in downtown Jonesboro.
El Centro Hispano has grown into a Jonesboro institution, securing recognition as the Nonprofit of the Year in 2024 (NEA Outstanding Business Awards), and developing high-quality programs for those in need, including six areas of service: educational, health, social, legal, cultural, and civic engagement.
With a bachelor’s degree in psychology and a deep understanding of the immigration experience, Gomez is the perfect advocate to communicate the needs of Hispanic and Latino Americans. Her influence among the Hispanic community in Arkansas is demonstrated through the close relationships she has with Mexican, Guatemalan and El Salvadoran consuls, not to mention local leaders from diverse backgrounds.
She has become a resounding voice for Hispanic and immigrant populations in rural areas across Northeast Arkansas by bringing leaders together to discuss pressing issues for minorities.
Gomez has received numerous recognitions, including, Arkansas’ 250 Most Influential Leaders of 2023 & 2024, the 2023 Top 100 Women of Impact in the State of Arkansas, The Leader in Service Award 2023 (Arkansas State University), the 2020 AR Money & Politics Future 50, the 2019 NEA Women in Business by NEA Talk Business & Politics, and the 40 Years 40 Leaders for Arkansas by the Winthrop Rockefeller Foundation for the work she has done for the immigrant community in the State.
Gomez also received the Key of the City of Jonesboro from Mayor Harold Perrin in recognition of the impact of her work in Jonesboro and her efforts to bring diverse communities together.
JORGE GONZALEZ, North Little Rock Chamber of Commerce
Jorge Gonzalez is a motivated professional driven by an unwavering commitment to community, economic, and professional development. Serving as the Director of Business Inclusion at the North Little Rock Chamber of Commerce in a pioneering role, Gonzalez has contributed to the growth of the Chamber's ability better to serve small, minority, and women-owned businesses.
Jorge's tenure at the Chamber has been marked by the creation and successful implementation of several key initiatives. Spearheading the Minority Business Accelerator Committee and the Bien Pilas Leads Group (the first leads group in Spanish in Arkansas). Developing and maintaining strong relationships with over 120 new chamber members across Arkansas and contributing to a 110% increase in minority-owned businesses membership at the North Little Rock Chamber of Commerce.
As a first-generation Mexican American, Gonzalez is the first in his family to graduate college. Born in Brownsville, Texas, and raised in Arkansas. Gonzalez majored in Political Science and minored in International Studies at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. While pursuing his undergraduate degree, Gonzalez developed an understanding and passion for organizational management, community development, and interpersonal communication.
Beyond his professional contributions, Jorge's dedication to the community is demonstrated through his volunteer work and service on various committees and nonprofit boards. Serving on the Seis Puentes Hispanic Outreach as a board member, being an American Cancer Society Real Men Wear Pink Ambassador and taking part in the Ronald McDonald House Bubbles and Blue Jeans committee. For his commitment to the success of his organization and community, Gonzalez has received the recognition of being named one of the Arkansas Business “20 in their 20’s”.
DANIEL MARTINEZ
Daniel Martinez is a dedicated community leader and entrepreneur from Lockesburg, Arkansas. Born and raised in Sevier County, Martinez is a proud graduate of the University of Arkansas Cossatot. Currently, he serves as the Accounting Manager at Pilgrim's, a prominent poultry processing plant located in De Queen. In addition to his role at Pilgrim's, Martinez is a business owner with multiple ventures in the area, including the beloved Tres Agaves Mexican Restaurant, a cherished local family business.
Throughout his career, Martinez has been actively involved in various community boards and economic development projects aimed at enhancing the region's prosperity. From 2017 to 2022, he dedicated his time and expertise to the local Chamber of Commerce, where he held the position of President of the Board of Directors from 2019 to 2020. In recognition of his leadership and commitment to public service, Governor Asa Hutchinson appointed Martinez to the Arkansas Law Enforcement Task Force in 2020.
Known for his unwavering dedication to his community, Martinez is deeply passionate about fostering growth and prosperity in his hometown. With a strong track record of heart for service, Daniel Martinez continues to help make a lasting impact on the people and businesses of Sevier County.
VERONICA OZURA, Sevier County Economic Development
Veronica Ozura was born in Little Rock, AR, but has been a lifelong resident of De Queen and is a 2006 graduate of De Queen High School. Veronica attended Arkansas Tech University directly after high school, where she received a bachelor’s degree in both Psychology and Sociology in 2010. Upon completion, Veronica returned to her hometown of De Queen, where she has worked in various roles, all of which have focused on community wellness and growth.
Veronica has served as a victim advocate and oversaw rural outreach for the Southwest Arkansas Domestic Violence Center, in which she not only served Sevier County, but 5 counties in the southwest Arkansas region, as she aided victims and those that had direct impact on victim outcomes, such as law enforcement, medical personnel, prosecuting attorneys, judges, etc, in order to improve coordinated victim response. She has also served in the Career Specialist capacity at UA Cossatot, where she was able to serve her community by assisting those interested in pursuing a postsecondary education. In these initiatives, Veronica collaborated with several team members to address minority recruitment efforts, with emphasis on bridging the post secondary attainment gap in the Latino community. Through joint efforts, Veronica served on the foundational start up of initiatives such as the Student Diversity Association and creation of Fiesta Fest, a now annual community event focused on highlighting the diversity in the community while also raising funds for scholarships for students that would not otherwise be eligible for federal or state aid. Through team efforts and Latino focused initiatives, UA Cossatot was able to become the first Hispanic Serving Institution in the state. Veronica’s passion for developing and helping her community grow opened the door for other opportunities, which prompted her to transition into the role as Career Coach and High School Counselor for Horatio Schools. During her 11 years in the public school setting, Veronica simultaneously worked and completed her masters in Clinical Mental Health at Texas A&M University - Texarkana, as well as her master’s in School Counseling from the University of Central Arkansas (UCA).
Veronica is currently serving as the Sevier County Economic Development Director as well as owner of Vida Counseling, LLC. Her passion for helping others continues to be demonstrated through strong commitment to civic engagement in the hope of building a stronger community for future generations. Veronica is currently the President for the Sevier County Chamber of Commerce, has been appointed and serves on the Board of Governors for Sevier County Medical Center, as well as on the board of directors for the De Queen Rotary Club. She believes that true greatness is achieved by being able to give back to her community and fostering growth.
MARIA TOUCHSTONE, Arkansas Department of Education
Maria G. Touchstone is a veteran educator with over 30 years experience in the classroom. She is an advocate for education, for children from poverty, and for immigrant communities.
María serves on several boards including ARKTESOL, ABICE, and ASTA. She has received several awards including the 2015 Leading Educator Award, 2018 FBI Director’s Community Leadership Award and the 2019 ARKANSAS ESOL COORDINATOR OF THE YEAR. María has provided professional development at several local and state conferences on the topics of working with children from poverty, working with English Language Learners, and Working with Language Minority Communities in Arkansas.
ANGELA GALVIS SCHNUERLE, Galvis Law Firm
Through about her career in Arkansas, Angie has successfully advocated for Immigrant rights in Arkansas, implementing and supporting programs related to immigrant’s access to justice. Angie successfully litigated issues of first impression in Arkansas related to immigration family petitions and the Affidavit of Support for I-864. Additionally, Angie assisted the FBI and the Department of Homeland Security to bring a conviction of the largest immigration fraud case in Arkansas, with about 120 Latinos victims of fraud.
She has received numerous awards during her career in Arkansas.
DR. DIANA GONZALES WORTHEN, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville
Dr. Diana Gonzales Worthen is the director and principal investigator of Project ELEVATE- Ensuring Learner Equity via Advocacy and Teacher Education, a U.S. Department of Education grant at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville, AR. The project provides a Grow Your Own (GYO) pathway for bilingual/bicultural paraprofessionals to become pre-k or elementary education teachers. It also facilitates in-service teachers’ professional development to obtain an ESL Endorsement/TESOL and Graduate Certificate and nurtures the native language of young children through bilingual community initiatives. Her research focuses on teacher growth and support structures in serving multilingual students and families. She was director of three past ESL endorsement USDE projects, REACH, RISE and Project Teach Them All and has over 35 years of K-16 teaching experience.
To engage, empower and strengthen families, her community advocacy includes co-founding two non-profit organizations, OneCommunity and Hispanic Women’s Organization of Arkansas. She has served in a leadership capacity with the American Association of University Women, Delta Kappa Gamma Society International-Iota Chapter, Partners of the Americas, Arkansas-East Bolivia Partnership and National Holmes Scholars Alumni. She has served on the boards of Arkansas Advocates of Children and Families, the Winthrop Rockefeller Foundation, Washington
Regional Medical Foundation, Washington County Historical Society and was appointed to the Arkansas Governor’s Taskforce for After School and Summer Programs, and United States Commission on Civil Rights Arkansas Advisory Committee.
Dr. Gonzales Worthen currently serves on the Boy Scouts of America Natural State Council Diversity Committee, Valle Pino Foundation Board, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) Health Equity and Access Community Action Board and is a candidate for the Arkansas State House, District 9 in East Springdale. She is married to Shannon Worthen (40 years) and has a daughter, Dr. Laura Worthen (30) who is a Child and Adolescent Fellow at UAMS.