Board President

Paul Lopez

With over 40 years of experience in banking, Paul J. Lopez has built a distinguished career in retail banking, mortgage lending, and community development. A dedicated banking executive, he has worked tirelessly to expand access to financial resources and homeownership opportunities, particularly for underserved communities.

Beyond his contributions to the banking industry, Paul has played a leadership role in numerous nonprofit organizations throughout Chicago and nationwide. His deep commitment to community service has driven his efforts to create affordable housing opportunities, promote financial literacy, and support economic stability for individuals and families in need.

Paul’s outstanding dedication has been recognized with numerous honors, including the Presidential Volunteer Service Award, the Hero Award from the American Red Cross, and the Dorothy Richardson Award from NeighborWorks America. He has also been honored by the State of Illinois, the State of Mississippi, the City of Chicago, and multiple nonprofit organizations throughout Illinois for his lasting contributions to community development.

A passionate advocate for neighborhood revitalization and financial empowerment, Paul continues to champion initiatives that strengthen communities and create pathways to homeownership. His leadership and unwavering commitment to service have left a profound impact on countless individuals and organizations across the country.

Vice President

Jesus Solorio

Bio coming soon!

Treasurer

JuanPablo Prieto

JuanPablo Prieto, the proud son of Colombian immigrants, currently serves as the Director of Diversity Programs and Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) Liaison Officer for the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA).  He is a native Chicagoan and a proud Chicago Public Schools graduate. 

Mr. Prieto joined the CTA in 2014 and, since 2018, oversees the CTA’s DBE, Small Business Enterprise (SBE), Labor Compliance, and Workforce Initiatives Programs. He and his team are responsible for certifying DBE & SBE firms, connecting DBE & SBE firms with potential contracting and subcontracting opportunities, monitoring contracts totaling over $8 billion to ensure compliance with CTA’s goals, and connecting dislocated and disadvantaged workers, union apprentices, and individuals from economically disadvantaged areas with training and employment opportunities on CTA contracts, specifically within the building trades. JuanPablo demonstrates a passion for providing resources and tools to small businesses for growth and development and connecting job seekers with career opportunities. 

Mr. Prieto serves as a Board Member for La Casa Norte, Latino Worker Safety Center, and the Spanish Coalition for Housing, where he is the Board Treasurer. He was recognized by Negocios Now 2018 40 Under 40 and awarded the 2020 Diversity Award from the Hispanic American Construction Industry Association (HACIA), the Construction Industry Conference 2023 Vanguard Award, the 2024 B2Gnow Advocate Award, and included in Negocios Now 2024 Who’s Who Chicago Hispanic Power.

Mr. Prieto holds a Bachelor of Arts in Industrial/Organizational Psychology from DePaul University and is an alum of the CTA’s 2019 Leadership Development Program, the Chicago Latino Caucus Foundation’s 2020 Leadership Academy, the 2023 Metropolitan Leadership Institute Next Generation, and the University of Chicago’s 2024 Civic Leadership Academy. JuanPablo resides on the northwest side of Chicago with his wife, three children, and dog.

Director

Bola Delano

Bola Delano is an accomplished professional with a lot of experience in public policy, urban planning and economic development. She has contributed professionally to public and private institutions’ success by initiating innovative strategies for planning, financial management, economic development policy and practices as well as led efforts on organizational management and human capital management. She currently works in the Illinois office of the Comptroller managing the Bank On Illinois program which is designed to build financial empowerment in communities and provide easy access to banking. As Deputy Director at Illinois Department of Transportation she led efforts to write the state’s first multi modal policy and brought together different community representatives to align economic development to the plan. Bola Delano has worked extensively in the United Kingdom and Africa focusing on initiating innovative economic development policies and projects and she has won numerous awards for her commitment to innovation and her passion for equity.

Secretary

Carla Robles

Carla Robles is a strategic business development leader with over a decade of experience driving growth, capital alignment, and institutional client engagement across legal, financial, and real estate industries. She is recognized for building scalable platforms, cultivating high-impact partnerships, and leading enterprise-wide initiatives that accelerate revenue generation, originate new business opportunities, and deliver long-term value.

In her current role as Director of Business Development for the Real Estate Division at Polsinelli, Carla leads one of the most dynamic business development platforms at an Am Law 100 firm. Her leadership spans the multifamily, logistics, life sciences, retail, and hospitality sectors, where she has centralized operations, elevated client engagement, and driven multimillion-dollar opportunities through deep alignment with institutional investors, developers, and REITs. She is credited with launching firmwide growth strategies, optimizing national sales pipelines, and enabling more than 150 attorneys to identify and execute on strategic growth opportunities.

Carla brings deep experience working alongside M&A sponsors, portfolio companies, investment banks, corporate occupiers, and both private and institutional developers. Prior to joining Polsinelli, she served as Assistant Vice President at Ziegler, where she partnered directly with the CEO and senior leadership to design and implement firmwide business development initiatives. She led the creation of customized pitch materials, digital campaigns, and capital introductions—contributing to over $575 million in executed financing and significantly expanding the firm’s client pipeline. Her work spanned senior housing, healthcare, and affordable housing sectors, including sourcing M&A transactions and capital raises on both the buy and sell sides.

Carla began her career at CBRE as a Senior Business Analyst in the Corporate Capital Markets group, where she supported the execution of global real estate transactions totaling more than $1.3 billion and 15.5 million square feet across North and South America, Europe, and Africa. Her responsibilities included investor outreach, valuation and underwriting support, due diligence, and marketing strategy. She also led the adoption and training of new CRM systems, enhancing pipeline visibility and team-wide business development efforts.

Carla holds an MBA from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business and a B.S. in Business Management from Calumet College of St. Joseph. She is fluent in English, Spanish, Portuguese, and Italian. Her leadership has been recognized through honors such as Crain’s 2024 Notable Nonprofit Board Leader and ALPFA’s 2024 Latinas to Watch. She serves on the board of the Spanish Coalition for Housing and on the Emerging Leaders Advisory Board of Casa Central, championing access to housing and economic opportunity in underserved communities.

Director

Juan Elias

Elias grew up in Humboldt Park during a time of severe disinvestment, where his family, including his teen parents, lived in one of the neighborhood's deteriorating buildings before it eventually became abandoned, then resurrected into affordable housing. He was raised by his grandmother, who played a major role in his upbringing, instilling in him the values of community and activism. The housing struggles in his community were a constant reminder of the challenges families like his faced. The unrest that arose in response to these poor living conditions was pivotal in the history of Humboldt Park. Inspired by both his grandmother and mother, who were community activists, Elias was driven to engage in local politics and advocate for change and progress. 

The Teresita Roldán Scholarship, awarded by the Hispanic Housing Development Corporation (HHDC), holds special significance for Elias because he saw firsthand how HHDC's work transformed the lives of families in his community.

During his 30-year career as a public health worker with the Chicago Department of Public Health, Elias experienced the deep connections between housing and health. Many of the patients he worked with as a contact investigator lived in overcrowded, unsafe conditions, which severely impacted their well-being. These challenges, combined with his own experiences growing up in Humboldt Park, reinforced his desire to address housing inequality through real estate. Elias recognized that improving access to affordable housing was essential to building healthier, more resilient communities.

For the past 25 years, Elias has channeled this passion into his work with Harmony Point Development. As the founder and leader of the company, he has focused on providing high-quality, affordable housing units in some of Chicago's most rapidly gentrifying areas. Neighborhoods like Humboldt Park, Logan Square, and Avondale have seen rising rents, and Harmony Point has worked to ensure that long-term residents are not displaced. Elias believes that real estate should not only create financial returns but also provide homes where families can thrive.

Elias has played a major role in developing key affordable housing projects. Through Harmony Point’s brokerage division, Elias negotiated the acquisition and worked closely with community stakeholders on the development of the John Pennycuff Apartments, which added 88 affordable units to Logan Square, and the Aurea Martinez Apartments, which contributed 99 units to Belmont Cragin. In both projects, Elias was instrumental in coordinating with community organizations, developers, and city officials to ensure that these developments met the needs of low-income residents. His work as part of these teams highlights his ability to collaborate and deliver impactful housing solutions while preserving the integrity of the neighborhoods they serve.

Elias' dedication to affordable housing has been recognized by both the Illinois Housing Development Authority (IHDA) Next Generation Program and the City of Chicago’s Department of Housing ReBuild Program. These honors, awarded based on Harmony Point’s proven success in developing quality housing, mark Elias as an emerging leader in the affordable housing sector. Through Harmony Point, Elias continues to push for equitable housing solutions, fulfilling a vision that started with the support and inspiration of the Roldán Scholarship and his community-driven roots.

Director

Angelica Garcilazo

Angelica Garcilazo is an experienced State Farm Agent with several years in the insurance industry, dedicated to providing exceptional service to her customers. She is happily married and a  proud mother of two wonderful children. In her downtime, Angelica and her family  enjoy traveling, spending time at the pool, and creating lasting memories with family and friends. Committed to giving back to her community, she serves on the board of the Spanish Coalition for Housing and the True Value Boys and Girls Club of Chicago. Angelica's passion for her work and community involvement reflects her belief in the importance of support and connection. 

Director

Lissette Flores

Lissette Flores is the External Relations and Strategic Partnerships Specialist at the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC). The OCC’s mission is to ensure financial institutions operate safely and soundly, treat customers fairly while providing fair access to financial services, and comply with laws and regulations. Since joining the OCC in 2019, she has served as a technical expert on matters affecting financial inclusion, community and economic development, homeownership, entrepreneurship, access to credit, and more. Lissette works with national banks, national civil rights and advocacy organizations, financial technology firms, and other federal agencies to promote wealth building and financial inclusion in economically disadvantaged and historically underserved communities. Specifically, she leads multiple high-priority agency initiatives, including the Roundtable for Economic Access and Change (Project REACh), as well as Midwest regional outreach to educate the public on the OCC and its mission.
Lissette volunteers her time with various OCC initiatives. She has presented to and mentored interns through the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation (CBCF), the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute (CHCI), the High School Scholars Internship Program (HSSIP), and the National Diversity Internship Program (NDIP). She is a member of the OCC’s Latino employee affinity group, Hispanic Organization for Leadership Advancement (HOLA), and holds a leadership role on its Human Capital Committee. While on this committee Lissette works to provide leadership development and growth opportunities to OCC staff, and to recruit Latinos to the agency and to the federal government as a whole.
Before joining the OCC, Lissette was the Supervisory Community Development Specialist in the Office of Community Planning and Development at the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). She also previously served in the Obama Administration as the Special Advisor for jobs and economic development in HUD's Office of Public and Indian Housing, managing efforts to connect HUD-assisted families to employment and educational opportunities. In 2018 Lissette received the Secretary’s Award for Distinguished Financial Stewardship and Accountability. In 2019 she was recognized with the Gears of Government Award for her dedication to supporting exceptional delivery of key outcomes for the American people.
Prior to her career as a civil servant, Lissette worked for policy and advocacy organizations in DC, including the Center for Budget and Policy Priorities, where she was a Housing Policy Analyst, and Prosperity Now, where she was the Program Manager for Affordable Housing Initiatives.
Lissette is an alumna of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute’s Post-Graduate Fellowship. During her time as a CHCI fellow she worked on Capitol Hill and HUD’s Office of Congressional and Intergovernmental Relations. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Latino Studies from DePaul University. She holds a master's degree from the University of Illinois at Chicago in Urban Planning and Policy with a concentration in Community Development. Lissette is a member of Gamma Phi Omega International Sorority, Inc. She is a Chicago native and resides on the north side of the city.

Director

Alberto Rocha

Alberto Rocha is CEO and Founder of Rocha Electric, a leading Chicago contractor specializing in commercial and industrial installations. His company has performed projects at O'Hare International Airport, Midway International Airport, Willis Tower, and Wolf's Point. Rocha Electric’s ability to carry out and maintain a wide array of projects is a testament to the over 20 union electricians they have employed. Alberto’s parents immigrated from San Luis Potosi, Mexico to the neighborhood of Brighton Park in Chicago, Illinois. As a student at DePaul University, Alberto switched his career path to become an electrical apprentice. Beginning as an apprentice and journeyperson electrician, Alberto worked his way up to a foreman, and ultimately to the founding and ownership of his own business. Alberto is a proud member of the Electrical Contractors Association of Chicago, IBEW Local 134, a founding member of Latinos UNIDOS in Construction, the Hispanic American Construction Industry Association (HACIA), and the Organized Hispanics Making Strides (OHMS) Club to help candidates become Electricians. Rocha Electric’s mission is captured in the words spoken by one of their very first customers, “Renew Faith in Humanity one customer at a time.” These words serve as a continual reminder and inspiration for the ways in which they provide their services for others. Though their company specializes in electricity, people will always be the most important aspect of Rocha Electric Company. It’s because of them that they hope to Renew Faith for years to come.

Director

Joe Castillo

Joe Castillo is a second generation REALTOR® following in the footsteps of Maria and Jose Castillo, co-founders of Mi Casa Real Estate, Inc. He grew up in the business that he now loves, talking real estate at the kitchen table and spending many summers at the office helping out. Joe obtained his real estate license at the age of 21 while continuing his studies, graduating from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and the University of Chicago Booth School of Business. Since dedicating himself to real estate in 2005, Joe has received many awards due to his extensive work helping his clients through the process of buying and/or selling their home. Every year since 2010, the Chicago Association of Realtors (CAR) has recognized Joe as a top 1% producer in all of Chicago. Joe is also recognized by the National Association of Hispanic Real Estate Professionals (NAHREP®) since 2012 as one of the Top 250 Latino Real Estate Agents in the United States. Over the years, Joe’s role has expanded to include title managing broker and owner. Under his leadership, RE/MAX Mi Casa has steadily grown, topping 1,000 transactions and over 260 million dollars in sales for 2022—making it a top 30 office in all of Chicagoland. RE/MAX Mi Casa has been recognized every year since 2013 by NAHREP as the real estate office with the most agents ranked in the Top 250. Due to the success of RE/MAX Mi Casa, Joe was recognized by the Chicago Association of Realtors with the prestigious 2016 Managing Broker of the Year award. As a way to give back to the community, Joe sits on the board of Arrupe College of Loyola University, which focuses on providing a college education to students in need of an opportunity. He also is a Director on the National Board for NAHREP an organization with over 40,000 members from the real estate community nationwide. In the past Joe was a board member of the Rauner Family YMCA serving the Pilsen/Little Village area of Chicago.