Vice President of Global Community Affairs, The Coca‑Cola Company, and President, The Coca‑Cola Foundation

Carlos Pagoaga is Vice President of Global Community Affairs for The Coca‑Cola Company and President of The Coca‑Cola Foundation. In this role, he manages all Foundation operations, which includes grant making; financial requirements; and regulatory compliance for domestic and international philanthropy.

Prior to his current role, Pagoaga served as the Foundation’s Senior Director of circular economy, where he was responsible for directing global recycling initiatives. Pagoaga joined the Foundation in 2007 and has been responsible for a wide variety of duties. He has directed multiple large grants, such as for Replenish Africa Initiative, Project Last Mile and the Atlanta BeltLine.

Pagoaga joined Coca‑Cola in 1990 in Corporate Latin Affairs, where he managed relationships with Latino organizations and elected officials across the United States. He later moved to the company’s North America unit, where he managed multi-cultural communications.

Pagoaga serves as chair of the board of directors of the Association of Corporate Citizenship Professionals, trustee for The Nature Conservancy in Georgia and Georgia Advisory Board member for Trust for Public Land.

He previously served as chairman for the National Hispanic Corporate Council, The Latin American Association and the Georgia Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. He is past Communications Committee chair for the Piedmont Park Conservancy. He was a member of the Atlanta Regional Commission’s Regional Leadership Institute class of 1997 and the Leadership Atlanta class of 2009.

Pagoaga was born in Havana, Cuba, and raised in Atlanta. He earned a bachelor of business administration degree in marketing and an MBA, both from Georgia State University in Atlanta.

Jason Cuevas, Georgia Power Foundation

Jason Cuevas is vice president of Corporate Responsibility for Georgia Power and president & chief executive officer of The Georgia Power Foundation.

In this role, Cuevas leads and directs the company’s efforts to advance corporate responsibility, philanthropic and community engagement and volunteerism initiatives across the state, with a focus on education, the environment and empowering Georgia communities. He also is a member of the company’s Management Council.

Prior to assuming this role in January 2024, Cuevas served as vice president of Georgia Power’s East Region, where he provided overall leadership for the company’s operations, customer experience, external affairs and economic and community development initiatives to nearly 400,000 residential, commercial and industrial customer accounts across a 39-county region that includes the Augusta, Athens, Gainesville and Milledgeville areas. In addition, he played a key role in directing external activities for the state’s largest clean energy project, Plant Vogtle Units 3 & 4.

Previously, he served as regional director of Georgia Power’s Southwest Region and as vice president of Corporate Communication for Georgia Power, where he directed the company’s strategic communication and brand management initiatives.

In the community, Jason has served on numerous boards of directors/advisors, including vice chair of the Augusta Metro Chamber of Commerce as well as the Georgia Cancer Center, Latin American Chamber of Commerce of Georgia, Goodwill of Middle Georgia and the Central Savannah River Area, Alliance for Fort Eisenhower, the Greater Columbus Chamber of Columbus and Development Authority of Columbus. In addition, he is a trustee of the Augusta University and Augusta Technical College Foundations.

During his career, Jason has worked in a variety of domestic and international governmental, public and investor relations; economic and project development roles for Southern Company, the Edison Electric Institute, EarthLink, Inc., Mirant Corp., and the New Orleans-based MetroVision Economic Development Partnership.

Jason earned a bachelor’s degree from Loyola University New Orleans and an MBA from the University of Georgia. He and his wife, Sarah, have two children.

Maria Jose Manzaba is a passionate and highly driven professional with a strong track record of success in project management, and managing training programs in different industries as Banking, Customer Service, Digital Literacy, Artificial Intelligence, Information Technologies, culinary and construction in the Workforce Development Department for the last three years.

Maria Jose has developed a diverse skill set and deep expertise, enabling her to confidently and efficiently tackle new challenges. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Social Communication from Hemisferios University in Ecuador and a Master’s in Humanities, Arts, and Contemporary Culture from Universitat Oberta de Catalunya in Barcelona. These academic achievements have strengthened her ability to lead creative and social projects with a strategic and human-centered focus. As an energetic and forward-thinking individual, Maria Jose is dedicated to building better spaces and opportunities for her community by leveraging her diverse skills and experience. Her passion for collaborating with like-minded individuals drives her to foster collective growth and create a positive impact in the lives of those around her. Her ultimate goal is to create an environment where the Latino community can achieve their dreams and reach their full potential.

She firmly believes that, with the right resources, guidance, and education, anything is possible.

Hello, my name is Bridgette Sanchez-Garcia, and I am a senior at North Atlanta High School, with a GPA of 4.0. I am also enrolled in both Advanced Placement (AP) and International Baccalaureate (IB) Career Program (C.P.). Not to mention, I serve as the Program Supervisor for the Empower Society ATL (ESA). The Empower Society ATL is a nonprofit organization dedicated to uplifting Latinx and immigrant communities by providing students and parents with the tools, resources, and support they need to thrive. As a first-generation student, I am passionate about continuing this legacy of advocacy. I strive to be a voice for those who may not have one, empowering others to overcome barriers and reach their full potential.

Jorge Estevez

Jorge Estevez joined WSB-TV Channel 2 as the station’s 5 p.m. and 11 p.m. anchor in January 2020. With more than 20 years of experience as a journalist, Jorge is excited to tell the stories that impact the people of North Georgia. While Jorge has been a journalist since the late ’90’s when he began his career in New York City, he is eager to work alongside another set of seasoned professionals who make up one of the best stations in the country. Jorge comes to Atlanta from our sister station WFTV, where he started in 2001. In Orlando, Jorge covered the effects of 9/11 on Central Florida tourism, reported on NASA’s Shuttle Columbia Disaster and was in the elements for the severe hurricane season of 2004, during which several back to back storms impacted the Orlando area. He was also on the air to cover the devastation left behind on the island of Puerto Rico by Hurricane Maria in 2017. The story is of special significance to the Orlando area, because of Central Florida’s large Puerto Rican population. But the most impactful moment that Jorge covered was the mass shooting at the Pulse nightclub where 49 people lost their lives in June of 2016. “When the victims’ names were released that first night, I interviewed someone close to a person who had died. It was the moment when this tragedy became real for so many people,” said Jorge, who was also asked to host the first organized vigil where 50,000 people gathered around Lake Eola and grieved for the lives lost. For a short time, Jorge left Orlando and worked at the CBS station, WFOR, in Miami. There, he won his first of nine Emmy Awards for one of his special reports on traffic patterns in South Florida. He returned to WFTV a few years later. Jorge landed his first broadcasting job as a reporter at News 12 The Bronx and was promoted to the position of morning anchor in less than a year. Jorge will remember his time in New York City for his Emmy-nominated story of a 12-year-old boy-turned-author after his battle with bone marrow cancer. The son of Cuban immigrants, with a Puerto Rican background Jorge is from West New York, New Jersey, where he graduated from Rutgers University with a dual degree in journalism and communication. For fun, Jorge loves to stay active. From running miles on the pavement to spinning his wheels in a cycle class. But when he is not active, he stays indoors and watches, among other things, countless hours of news. He is also a fan of pop culture and how we consume information on all platforms, including social media.

Mark Madrid

The Honorable Mark Madrid is Associate Administrator for the Office of Entrepreneurial Development at the U.S. Small Business Administration. Mark reports directly to SBA Administrator Isabella Casillas Guzman, a member of President Biden’s cabinet.

As a Presidential Appointee for the SBA, Mark leads a unit that supports hundreds of thousands of small businesses annually and oversees a primary technical resource, educational, and cybersecurity arm of the Agency. Collaborators includes Small Business Development Centers, Women’s Business Centers, SCORE, and the Office of Entrepreneurship Education, which houses the T.H.R.I.V.E. initiative. Additionally, he supports the SBA Office of Native American Affairs and leads the American Rescue Plan $100 Million Community Navigator Pilot Program.

Previously, Mark served as CEO of the Latino Business Action Network and the Greater Austin Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. Prior to serving in nonprofit chief executive roles, he enjoyed a corporate executive banking career that began on Wall Street with J.P. Morgan.

Mark was the 2020 Recipient of the Latino Leaders Maestro Award for his lifetime accomplishments. Most recently he was honored with the Courage in Government award by the National Business Inclusion Consortium. He is a distinguished honoree with the Women Economic Forum.

Mark is a Jefferson Award recipient, an Honorary Colonel of the U.S. Army, and a member of the board of directors for the McCoy College of Business Foundation at Texas State University.

He is an honors graduate from both the University of Texas at Austin and the University of Notre Dame, where he earned his Master’s.

Tony DelCampo

J. Antonio “Tony” DelCampo previously served as a Judge in the State Court of Dekalb County for nearly a decade. As one of the state’s most well-respected judges, Tony is best known for handling some of the most complicated cases in recent memory including all of the civil claims originating from the Brian Nichols courthouse shooting case, countless medical malpractice cases, and intricate products liability trials with substantive verdicts—one of which was among the largest in the history of the state.

A native of Lima, Peru, Tony came to Atlanta, Georgia, in July of 1979. He graduated from Emory University in 1991 and received his law degree from Georgia State University in 1994, where he served as an Editor on the GSU Law Review, received the A. Thomas Jones Excellency in Advocacy Award and was inducted into the GSU College of Law Order of the Coif.

Tony is the President of the State Bar of Georgia, and has served as member of the Executive Committee of State Bar of Georgia since 2018. He has served on the Board of Governors since 2006. Tony is a past Chairman of the Board to Determine Fitness of Bar Applicants, a Member of the Supreme Court's Commission on Professionalism, a former member of the Supreme Court's Commission on Interpreters and a member of the Judicial Council’s Access, Fairness, Public Trust & Confidence Standing Committee. He serves on the State Bar’s Disciplinary Rules and Procedures Committee, the Formal Advisory Opinion Board, the Judicial Qualifications Commission Legislative Taskforce and is a former Vice-Chair of the Civil Legal Services Taskforce. He currently serves on the Board of the Georgia Hispanic Bar Association and the Board of Counselors at Oxford College of Emory University. He previously served on the Board of Leadership DeKalb, the DeKalb County Bar Association, the Oxford College of Emory University Alumni Board, the Judicial Section of the Atlanta Bar Association, the DeKalb Volunteers Lawyers Foundation, the Standing Committee on Drug Courts, Lawyers for Equal Justice, and the Georgia Commission on Hispanic Affairs. While on the bench, he was a member of the Council of State Court Judges and served on the Legislative Committee, the DUI Court Committee and the Minorities in the Judiciary Committee. He is a member of the American Bar Association, the Hispanic National Bar Association, the Georgia Hispanic Bar Association, the DeKalb Bar Association, a Fellow of the Lawyers Foundation of Georgia, and a Master of the Lamar Inn of Court. He is a member in good standing of the Bars of Georgia and South Carolina. He is a past Chair of the Georgia Association of Latino Elected Officials. Tony is actively involved in Dunwoody United Methodist Church where he currently Chairs the Stewardship Committee, and serves on the Finance Board, Steering Committee and previously served on the Board of Trustees.

In 2015, the Georgia Supreme Court designated Tony as an Amicus Curiae in recognition of his distinguished service and contribution to the improvement of the administration of justice. Tony also has received numerous other awards including the Southern Christian Leadership Conference Dream Keeper of Justice, the Caminar Latino Journey Award, the TUMI USA Award, the Lawyer of the Year by La Vision de Georgia, and the Chamblee High School Hall of Fame. Tony has been named to Georgia Trend Magazine’s “40 Under 40″, a list of the 40 most influential Georgians under 40 years of age. Tony is a graduate of Leadership DeKalb, and a 2004 graduate of Leadership Georgia. A past president of the Georgia Hispanic Bar Association, Tony also served as the Regional President for the Hispanic National Bar Association (HNBA).

In 2002, Tony was elected Vice-President of the Judicial Council of the HNBA. After resigning from the bench in 2011, Tony has been named as a Super Lawyer for every year from 2013-2023.

Tony currently serves as a Mediator and Arbitrator with Henning Mediation and Arbitration Services, and also is engaged in the active practice of law with DelCampo Grayson Lopez, LLC, focusing on complex civil litigation.

Tony has been married to Kelly DelCampo for over 30 years and has two children: Michael, a first-year law student at Loyola University Law School, and Corina, a Sophomore at Emory University.

DeKalb County CEO Michael L. Thurmond

Michael L. Thurmond is the chief executive officer of DeKalb County, Georgia, one of the largest and most diverse counties in the Southeastern United States. As CEO, Thurmond ushered in a “New Day” of trust, accountability and integrity in the county government. He is also an attorney, author and motivational speaker.

He has implemented an innovative response to the COVID-19 pandemic that includes:

• Mitigating food insecurity by distributing 139,000 boxes of fresh fruits, vegetables and protein to struggling families
• Administering 10,000 COVID-19 vaccinations through the “Get Vaxxed!” incentive program
• Investing $10 million in crime prevention initiatives that included bonuses and front line pay for police, fire and other essential workers
• Distributing $54 million in rental assistance to 2,500 tenants and landlords
• Creating 4,000 virtual summer jobs for young job seekers

Thurmond’s book Freedom: Georgia’s Antislavery Heritage, 1733-1865, was awarded the prestigious Georgia Historical Society’s Lilla Hawes Award. In 2004 the Georgia Center for the Book listed Freedom as “One of the Twenty Five Books All Georgians Should Read.”

CEO Thurmond, a sharecropper’s son, holds a Bachelor of Arts in philosophy and religion from Paine College and a Juris Doctor degree from the University of South Carolina’s School of Law. Thurmond also completed the Political Executives program at the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University.

He earned the reputation of being a “turnaround expert” after transforming the culture and operations of the Georgia Division of Family and Children Services, the Georgia Department of Labor and the DeKalb County School District.

In 1986, Thurmond became the first African-American elected to the Georgia General Assembly from Athens/Clarke County since Reconstruction. In 1998 he was elected Georgia Labor Commissioner, becoming one of the first African Americans to be elected to statewide office in Georgia.

He is married to Zola Fletcher Thurmond, and they have one daughter, Mikaya.

Paul “Andrew” Parker, P.E., City Administrator for the City of Dalton, GA

After graduating magna cum laude with a major in Civil Engineering Technology from Southern Polytechnic State University in 2010, Parker immediately began his career with the City of Dalton Public Works Department as the Special Projects Manager. In that role, he provided management and oversight of all roadway construction projects, maintenance programs, grant submittals, infrastructure contracts, and the city’s traffic systems network. In May of 2014, Parker was promoted to Assistant Public Works Director and after serving five years in that role, he was named Public Works Director in November of 2019. In his role as Public Works Director, Parker provided management and oversight of the daily operations of 75 employees, across seven divisions, who provide essential public works services to the city’s 33,000 residents and large industrial base. On July 6, 2021, Parker was appointed to serve as Dalton City Administrator effective August 12, 2021. In the role of City Administrator, Parker works with the Elected Officials and Department Heads to carry out the business and operations of City Government. As part of those responsibilities, Parker oversees 390 employees and a $40 Million general fund budget.

Parker has been actively involved with the American Public Works Association (APWA) for which he served as statewide President of the Georgia Chapter in 2018. He has also served at the National level of the association as the Chair of the Project of the Year Selection Committee, Nominating Committee, and was named an APWA Young Leader of the Year in 2016. He was recognized for this achievement at the international conference in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

In addition to APWA, Parker is a member of the American Society of Civil Engineers and the Georgia City-County Manager Association. Parker was selected for the Leadership Georgia Program, Class of 2024. Parker is a licensed Professional Engineer in the State of Georgia. He is married to Brittany Parker, and they have two children: Ella Grace and Matthew.

Rep. Pedro Marín (Duluth)

Georgia State Representative Pedro “Pete” Marin (HD-96) is the Dean of Gwinnett, Georgia legislators having served in public office for over two decades. As a former Chair of the Gwinnett House Delegation, he lead a diverse and dynamic group of legislators in representing the interests of Gwinnett County whose population is close to one million.

Leadership is the hallmark of Representative Marin’s political and professional career. Since arriving to Georgia in 1995, he has leveraged his skills in marketing, strategic planning, relationship building, negotiation, and intercultural relations to build a successful consultancy firm while also continually lending his talents to bring together diverse communities to address issues of mutual concern.

During his years of serving on important committees such as the House Economic Development & Tourism, Banks & Banking, Science & Technology and Industry & Labor, Representative Marin has established himself as a thoughtful, pragmatic statesman who continually tries to push for policy capable of improving lives both in his district and throughout the state. Examples of his Legislative efforts are stopping gang violence and graffiti, being part of the Legislation that change the State Flag, helped with the Tax Incentive for the Movie Industry, stopping racial profiling, and fighting against legislation targeting specific communities.

His leadership has been recognized by numerous local, state, and national organizations to include the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund, GA Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Silver Beaver Award BSA, Korean American Chamber of Commerce, just to name a few. He has served as a member of the Gwinnett United Way, Gwinnett Habitat for Humanity, Selective Service System among others.

He is serving at the National level in the NHCSL’s Executive Committee from 2006 to today, including serving as Vice President for Public Policy twice, 2014 and 2018.

When not conducting the people’s business, he enjoys time with his wife Nereida traveling, gardening, and honoring his son who passed in 2017.

Susana Chavez

Susana Chavez is EVP at Park Place, a national parking, transportation and real estate company with a strong presence in 18 markets across the United States.

With her exceptional leadership and deep understanding of the revenue drivers in the niche
market of parking assets, she has been instrumental in steering the company towards growth and success in an industry that is consolidating and rapidly evolving in the technology field.

One of her notable achievements was spearheading a corporate initiative to update the technology of the parking industry, positioning Park Place as a leading-edge company in its urban markets. Her strategic approach resulted in a significant increase in revenues within her sector.

Susana plays an important role in helping navigate succession planning for the third generation of the family-owned business. She is working across generations to help ensure a smooth transition and preserve the company’s legacy. Moreover, she led the effort to improve the reporting method to Family Limited Partnership (FLP) members, helping to establish a foundation of trust and rapport across multiple generations.

As general manager of parking operations, Susana managed teams of 500 employees at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. Parking revenue is the single largest revenue generator at the airport. During the company’s 29-year tenure, revenues increased from $12 million to $112 million, with over 7 million annual transactions. Throughout her time there, her team won numerous awards, including four Top of Flight awards in her final year.

Beyond her professional achievements, Susana has a natural talent for relationship building that has allowed her to cultivate an extensive network, which includes sitting U.S. and State Senators, CEOs of Fortune 500 companies, and numerous civic and business leaders.

Recognized for her leadership acumen, she has sat on executive boards of business and non-profit organizations including: Atlanta Commission on Women, Anti Prejudice Consortium, Georgia Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Mexican Center of Atlanta and the Latin American Association. She currently serves as Co-chair of the LAA CEO Advisory Council, Central Atlanta Progress executive board, CREW board, Little 5 Points CID board, Alliance board, and Darma Project board. Susana has successfully chaired five boards including helping to guide them through leadership transitions and organizational right-sizing initiatives.

Throughout her career, Susana has received numerous recognitions from a variety of business organizations, including GHCC Hall of Fame, Women of Achievement, Trailblazer, CREW Hall of Fame, Humanitarian, and CEO Business of the Year awards. These honors underscore her unwavering commitment to excellence and her tireless efforts to drive positive change and
success in both the business and philanthropic realms.

Lilian Castillo

My name is Lilian Castillo Sanabria. I was born in my beautiful country El Salvador. I arrived into the United States in May 2005, in Atlanta, Georgia with a suitcase full of many dreams. I have a beautiful 17-year-old daughter named Lily, we have been through many things that have been difficult, but we can say we will continue fighting!!! And I am not longer asking Father God why I am going through this, but rather what are you preparing me for? Helping others, encourage others, guide, support my community that the only limit is the sky. You are capable of doing anything you set your mind to, try hard and be brave. Always with God.

Well, How I came to LAA, let me tell you that I arrived as a client looking for an immigration advice in 2008, they helped me with my residency. Then I returned in May of 2010 to look for a job and they helped me with my resume. There I was recruited as a volunteer in the employment area, I spent some time there, where the magic of meeting talented people began, also learn from them. After covering a holiday vacation at Front Desk Reception on December of 2010. Shortly thereafter, I was offered permanent employment, and I worked as Front Desk Receptionist for several years to be the first face of our LAA when everyone arrives. I never wanted anyone to feel their trip to the building was in vain, because I was in their shoes one day. Riding a bus Martha and didn’t have transportation, I know what that is. At that time on 2011, I became a U.S. citizen with my naturalization and also after that I was able to submit the petition for my mother Rosa so that she could be with us, an important support in the family reunification. Immigration department helping me with that, and it is proved that our services are the best serving our Latino community. In February of 2015, I moved to the Immigration Services Department, where I applied to and was offered the position of Immigration Department Receptionist. I have been learning a lot from each person that, I have had the privilege of working with or sharing. In this position I learned a ton.

In Summer 2018, I applied to and was offered the position of VOV Paralegal, my current position. As VOV Paralegal, I have worked with a lot of victims and their families, listening to all they have suffered, helping them through their trauma and pain, and provided support and encouragement to lift them up from their lowest point, giving them hope for a better future. I empathize with their suffering, let them work through their emotions, but also provides the needed encouragement and strength the victim clients need to move forward with their lives. I celebrate their victories, like when clients receive their work permit cards or case approvals – or when they finally are able to obtain their driver’s licenses, buy a house, or start their own business. Helping the community to better themselves and achieve stability and success.

Finally, I have over 13 years that I have been the pleasure to be working for the LAA, I am very grateful for all the people that I have known and know in all these years. They are exceptional, intelligent, beautiful people, the LAA has been a blessing in my life where I have found support, understanding, care, courage, with dedication, professionals and honesty. THANK YOU WITH ALL MY HEART, to be an authentic people. What else can I say, I love my job and every day is a new opportunity to be better. Let’s demonstrate the passion of working hard for others, without expecting anything in return. Compassion and love are key words. Remember God always rewards you, later. With a rain of blessings.

Best regards,

Lilian Castillo Sanabria

The Rollins Foundation

2024 LAA Partner of the Year Award

The Latin American Association (LAA) and Rollins Foundation partnership over the last two years has driven significant progress in critical service areas. The Rollins Foundation has emerged as a key ally, notably advancing pivotal LAA initiatives such as the food pantry, legal aid for victims of violence, and workforce development programs. Kathleen Rollins, in particular, played a prominent role as a co-chair of the 2023 Latin Fever Ball, symbolizing the foundation’s deep commitment to supporting the LAA’s mission and community endeavors.

The Partner of the Year Award is given each year to an LAA partner who has gone above and beyond in serving the Latino community. Award recipients are people who have shown unparalleled passion, dedication, and expertise in their work. They are leaders who put their heart into every aspect of their service and have inspired a multitude of individuals with their selflessness.