TEAM BIOS:
 

EXECUTIVE TEAM: 

 
ROSA V. ALONSO, FOUNDER & CEO 

Rosa Alonso is a leading Latina entrepreneur in the Technology and Internet space and was recently named “Woman of the Week” by AlPunto.com.
She is an accomplished executive who has dedicated much of her 20+ year career to launching and directing integrated Multicultural and International initiatives for Fortune 100 companies as well start-up media ventures. Ms. Alonso is a pioneer in segment marketing, particularly in the Hispanic consumer and media space, and is recognized for her success in delivering customers and profitability by creating and directing best-in-class multi-platform initiatives in the wireless and media (online, television, publishing) industries.
   
Ms. Alonso is Founder and CEO of Mi Apogeo, Inc., a media and entertainment company that in February 2008 launched Mi Apogeo.com, a new online community and collaborative content site that fills a void in the marketplace for online media options targeting U.S.-raised, second- and third-generation U.S. Latinos.  The English-language site features social networking, lifestyle and entertainment channels and, in addition to culturally relevant collaborative content (written by both users and site staff,) “WikiLatino®,” the first ever wiki dedicated exclusively to all things Latino.

Mi Apogeo (pronounced “mee- a–po–hae-o,” translated from Spanish as “my apogee,” or “my apex”) is an affirmation of the power of two cultures – American and Latino  -- and the influences that have converged to create the current U.S. Latino culture.  It is a 100% Latino-owned and operated company with a deep-rooted commitment to building a space for Latino users to meet, share and be published.  As a site is truly by and for the audience, Mi Apogeo.com features and publishes users, the true “Estrellas,” or “stars” of the site.

Ms. Alonso was most recently Senior Vice President of Edelman Multicultural, Edelman’s award-winning multicultural marketing practice, where she led a multi-million dollar national operation that specialized in marketing to the Hispanic, African American and Youth/Urban segment markets.  In her role, she supported a wide range of clients and categories, including consumer products, food & beverage, retail, entertainment, sports, telecommunications, interactive and technology, travel & tourism, financial services and healthcare.

Her extensive professional experience includes senior leadership roles with major corporations as well as start-up ventures in the Hispanic online and print media space that have targeted a more bicultural Hispanic audience.   The latter includes her former role as Vice President of Sales and Marketing, and an equity partner, in Latino.com, the first website to acknowledge the acculturated Hispanic user and to pioneer content in English and Spanish, as well as her role as Group Publisher of PODER and LOFT magazines, where she directed the sales, marketing and online efforts of two emerging properties that served the Latino c-level business executive and the young, bicultural segment in the U.S. and Latin America. 

Prior to PODER/LOFT, she was Senior Director of International and Multicultural Marketing at AT&T Wireless, where she led teams responsible for all phases of strategic planning, marketing  (online and offline) and local market/retail initiatives for Multicultural (Hispanic, African American and Asian American) as well as International programs. Her international efforts also served the general consumer and B2B segments.

Her other key leadership positions include her roles as National New Business Development & Marketing Executive, Univision Television Networks; Director of Sales, People en Español Magazine; and Marketing Director, Dreyfus Services Corp. and Fidelity Investments.  She has also held key positions in operations and marketing with Citibank Europe and North America Cards and the Bankers Trust Company.

Ms. Alonso received her B.A. from Barnard College, Columbia University and her MBA from Columbia Business School.  She serves as a director/trustee on the Board of Trustees of Barnard College, The Jewish Home and Hospital Lifecare System, the Hispanic Advisory Board of Laureate International Universities and the boards of Our Pledge USA and Jovus Inc. . She is a member of numerous marketing and advertising organizations, including the American Marketing Association, the Association of Hispanic Advertising Agencies (AHAA) and Women in Technology (WIT).  In addition to membership, she has participated on the Multicultural committees of several organizations, including the Association of National Advertisers and the Advertising Club of New York.

In addition to her passion for technology and media, Ms. Alonso is also committed to education and equal access for all communities.  She serves as a mentor for young men and women through numerous organizations, including the Higher Education Opportunity Program (HEOP), Community Impact and the Children’s Aid Society.  She is also a member of The Marathon Club, an organization dedicated to increasing the involvement of people of color in the American wealth creation process and the New America Alliance, the leading organization of American Latino business leaders committed to leading the process of Latino empowerment and wealth-building by expanding the forms of capital most crucial for economic advancement, including economic capital, political capital, human capital, and philanthropy.

   

KENIA FERNANDEZ, CONTRIBUTING EDITOR/PRODUCER

Kenia Fernandez is contributing editor and producer at Mi Apogeo.  Kenia has over fifteen years of experience in writing and editing.  Her experience includes public relations as well as academic and nonprofit work.   She is an avid Internet reader as well as a fact finder for all “things Latino!”

Kenia received her B.A. from Barnard College, Columbia University.  She attended the doctoral program in History at the State University of New York at Stony Brook, focusing on Latin American history, women’s and gender studies, and Africana Studies.
 

LEDA DEROSA, CONTRIBUTOR AND MI APOGEO ESTRELLA
MI APOGEO ENTREPRENEURIAL ASSOCIATE, BARNARD COLLEGE  

Leda DeRosa is a Mi Apogeo estrellita - working with the whole team in any and all ways needed. The whole process has truly been a labor of love. Leda works in a variety of capacities including acting as a contributer, quality control, and resident photoshop guru. 

She is extremely excited about being part of Mi Apogeo and would love to here from you - the real estrellas. Feedback, questions, comments - please be nice! - email her at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it .

MARIA CHAGOLLAN, CONTRIBUTOR AND MI APOGEO ESTRELLA
BARNARD COLLEGE 

Maria Chagollan hails from sunny Long Beach, California and is presently a Senior at Barnard College where she is majoring in Urban Studies. Maria is a self-proclaimed urbanist, audiophile and virtual media fanatic (read: clicking things on the internet). Other obsessions include visual culture, the absurd, the bizzaro, and the uncool.
 

JADE SMITH, CONTRIBUTOR AND MI APOGEO ESTRELLA
BARNARD COLLEGE 

My name is Jade Smith and I'm from Mitchellville, MD which is a suburb outside of Washington, D.C. You're probably wondering what type of Latina I could possibly be with the last name Smith. Well, here's my story. My grandmother, whom I  call Wuela, pronounced as gringo-like as possible (Wella), because I couldn't say Abuela as a child is from Panama. My Wuela came to the U.S. in the 60s with my grandfather (which is where Smith comes from) who is from St. Croix Virgin Islands and served for the U.S. Military. Unfortunately, my grandmother never spoke to me in Spanish, but I have always taken pride in my Panamanian roots. My father is African-American, so I also have had a strong affinity with the Black American community. Coming from such a multicultural background of Panamanian, West Indian, and African-American influences ultimately culminates into my Afro-Latina-American identity.

Currently, I am a junior at Barnard College in New York City majoring in Africana Studies and Human Rights. My focus area within my major is on the African Diaspora in Latin America and the Caribbean. My aspirations for the future are to attend business school and becoming involved in international business and development. I love traveling and exploring new people, cultures, and learning new languages. I'll be studying abroad during spring semester 2008 in Brazil and will be working for the State Department in the Dominican Republic over the summer! I can't get enough of Latin America! Since childhood until recently, I was an avid runner and ran competitively on my local track team in Maryland and for my high school. Although I am nowhere close to being a professional dancer nor have I had any formal training, I take full advantage of any opportunity to dance whether at a party or a school dance performance. I'd say that I'm a pretty easy going person who likes to chill, party, read, watch movies, and take on new adventures in any destination!

CONTRIBUTORS:

MARK A. HERNANDEZ, Ph.D.
ASSISTANT PROFESSOR, DEPARTMENT OF ROMANCE LANGUAGES AND PROGRAM IN LATINO STUDIES, TUFTS UNIVERSITY

Mark A. Hernández is author, public speaker, and educator about Latin America and US Latino America.  He received a Ph.D. in Spanish from the University of Kansas and has held academic appointments at Tufts University (Massachusetts), Bowling Green State University (Ohio), and Grinnell College (Iowa), where he taught courses in Latin American and US Latino literary and cultural studies.  He has published a book and numerous journal articles about Latin American literature and Mexican popular culture (rock music).  In addition to researching, writing and teaching, he has enjoyed advising and mentoring students.  He is committed to taking Latino studies to new audiences, including companies and organizations that are motivated to learn more about Latino communities in order to work more effectively with them.  He is an avid recreational basketball player and enjoys listening to jazz and exploring cities in the United States and abroad. 
 

ROSA MARIA PEGUEROS, J.D., Ph.D.
ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR, DEPARTMENT OF HISTORY AND WOMEN'S STUDIES PROGRAM, UNIVERSITY OF RHODE ISLAND 

Rosa Maria Pegueros, J.D., Ph.D., is an Associate Professor in the Department of History and the Women’s Studies Program at the University of Rhode Island.  She is a native San Franciscan, transplanted to Rhode Island 15 years ago.  Her father was a native San Franciscan whose parents came from Mexico during the Mexican revolution; her mother is from El Salvador.

Professor Pegueros teaches Latin American history, women’s studies courses, and participates in the URI Summer Talent Development Program.  “Every summer I work with new high school graduates from all ethnic backgrounds who may not have the skills required for college work and I help them get those skills and teach them about Latin America. It's the most important work I do all year,”  she affirms.  Her daughter Ariella will be a law student at Northeastern University starting Fall 2008.