Board of Directors

Griselda Méndez

Founder and President

Membership and Commercial Development Division

I am Mexican, from San Luis Potosí, a mother of three, an accountant by profession, an early childhood educator and a businesswoman.

For ten years I ran a childcare business, where I learned that leading is not only about managing resources: it also means listening, building trust, taking responsibility and staying attentive to the needs of each family. Today I continue to carry out business and service activities that keep me close to the real challenges of our community.

My experience in administration, entrepreneurship and community work has shown me the determination of Latinos who start a business, support their families and look for new opportunities to move forward.

As a founding member and president of CALA, I want to turn those needs into proposals and those proposals into action. My responsibility is to bring talent together, encourage our members’ participation and build alliances with companies, institutions and leaders who share our commitment to the growth of the Latino business community.

I believe in leadership that listens before deciding, brings different perspectives together and follows through responsibly. My vision is for CALA to be a close, trustworthy and active Chamber, where business owners find representation, training, connections and opportunities to grow.

«United we advance, united we grow.»

Hilma Ruiz

Founder and Board Member

Education Division

I am a Guatemalan businesswoman with a degree in Business Administration and experience creating and growing businesses across different industries. I have been an entrepreneur both in Guatemala and in the United States, and I know that starting a business takes courage — but starting over in a new country, in a different language, also takes adaptation, learning and a strong support network.

I know firsthand many of the challenges we Latino business owners face: organizing a business, managing its finances properly, finding reliable information, understanding new processes, and gaining access to the relationships and opportunities that make growth possible.

As CALA’s Director of Education, I lead the creation of practical training programs that answer those needs. My role is to listen to our members, identify their main challenges, and connect them with the knowledge, specialists, institutions and resources that fit each stage of their business development.

I don’t claim to have every answer, but I do work so that every business owner finds the guidance and connections they need to make better decisions, strengthen their business and move forward with greater confidence.

«My purpose is that no Latino business owner has to move forward alone.»

Reina Muñoz

Founder and Board Member

Events and Public Relations Division

Salvadoran, she is currently the owner of Munoz Services, which meets the needs of tax preparation, immigration forms, and life insurance and investment advice. She graduated in Systems Programming from the prestigious Central American University (UCA) in El Salvador. She is committed to the Hispanic community through active volunteer work with organizations such as St. Vincent de Paul, EGBI, Amigha Hispana and Banco de Tapitas.

«Together we are stronger.»

Albania Elias

Founder and Vice President

Business Development and Strategic Alliances Division

Founder and chief executive of JirexAI, Inc., a technology company where she leads the client relationship and the rollout of the systems it develops. Her work is turning what a business needs into something that actually runs: she walks each owner from the first conversation until their store, their calendar or their payments panel is up and working, in their own language. As CALA's vice president she stands in for the presidency and takes on the duties the board assigns her. Heading the Business Development and Strategic Alliances Division, she seeks out the ties with financial institutions, corporations, universities and local governments that open members’ access to resources, sponsorships and contracts.

Alemyr Navas

Founder and Treasurer

Finance and Administration Division

A business administrator trained at Universidad Nacional Experimental Simón Rodríguez in Venezuela, with a higher technical degree in accounting and finance. Her career spans administration, finance, sales and business management: in Venezuela she owned a Totto franchise and served as administration and sales manager for manufacturing and distribution companies. In the United States she founded Liderarte 360 LLC, devoted to training, leadership and professional development. As treasurer she brings management focused on organization, transparency and responsible stewardship of resources.

Emma López

Founder and Board Member

Networking and Business Relations Division

Holds a degree in Business Administration from the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM). She has broad experience in sales, human resources and business coaching across domestic and international trade, and has founded commercial brands in Mexico, the United States, Puerto Rico, Costa Rica, Guatemala and Colombia. She supports foundations devoted to the full development of people, economic and personal alike. As a CALA board member she brings thirty-five years of experience to the growth of businesses and owners who want to grow by supporting one another.

Josué Isaac Elias

Founder, Secretary and Manager

Technology and Innovation Division

Founder and chief technology officer of JirexAI, Inc., where he builds websites, payment systems and artificial-intelligence tools for companies. He has walked dozens of Latino businesses in the Austin area from having no online presence to running their own systems —catalog, payments, appointments and an admin panel— built so the owner can run them personally, in their own language. As CALA's secretary he calls the sessions, takes and safeguards the minutes and maintains the membership roll and the corporate book, and from the management role he coordinates the Chamber's daily operation. Heading the Technology and Innovation Division, his task is that technology reach the member as a working tool and not as a promise.