Lt. M. Xochitl Hernandez Chafino has proudly served the Austin Fire Department for over 22 years. Throughout her distinguished career, Xochitl has protected Austin as an Operations firefighter and Ladder Operator on West Campus. She is also deeply committed to mentoring and training future firefighters, having developed the Firefit program to prepare incoming recruits and contributing to the Pass The Torch volunteer program. Currently, she is focused on solidifying candidates for the upcoming fire cadet class. As one of only 57 female firefighters in the Austin Fire Department, Xochitl continues to lead and inspire.
She was also featured in Amy Poehler’s Smart Girls YouTube series, where she shared her passion for firefighting and demonstrated some of the specialized equipment she uses to save lives.
Rebecca Contreras moved to Austin at the age of 9. She is the President & CEO of AvantGarde LLC (AG), a consulting firm she co-founded in 2011. Under her leadership, AG has grown to over 130 employees across nine states, serving 26 government agencies. With offices in Austin and Washington D.C., AG specializes in Human Capital, Organizational Development, Business Operations, and Technology.
Rebecca is also a bestselling author, iIn 2021, Rebecca published Lost Gir “from the hood to the White House to Millionaire Entrepreneur”, she shares her l, sharing her journey from poverty in Texas to building a successful career, including time at the White House and her path to start her company AG. She is also co-founder of her non-profit LaunchPad. Passionate about giving back, Rebecca launched the Girls of Legacy Scholarship and Mentorship Program in Austin in March 2022, dedicated to empowering
young women through higher education and mentorship.
In recognition of her leadership and influence, she was named the 2023 Austin Businesswoman of the Year by the Greater Austin Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.
Juan Cortez Jr. is an El Paso native and a trailblazing DJ in Austin's vibrant music scene. After graduating from Americas High School, he moved to Austin to study sound engineering at Media Tech Institute, continuing his passion for DJing, which began at age 16. He has become a sought-after DJ, performing at major events like SXSW, ACL, and alongside Riders Against the Storm. Juan is also part of the elite Bombon DJ group based in Houston.
Despite being diagnosed with a stutter at a young age, Juan has used his experience to inspire others. Through the University of Texas at Austin’s Arthur Blank Center for Stuttering, he became the official DJ and mentor for their Dream, Speak, Live camps, empowering participants with his story of resilience and success.
Known for his kindness and dedication to helping others, Juan exemplifies the exceptional leaders from El Paso making an impact in Austin.
Rick Morales, a proud El Pasoan living in Austin, serves as Director of Global Talent at Ambiq, a company dedicated to creating a cleaner, greener, and safer world by reducing the power consumption of mobile and portable devices. With a career spanning leading global companies such as NXP, National Instruments, Freescale, PepsiCo, and Motorola, Rick brings extensive experience and leadership to his role.
In addition to his professional achievements, Rick is a dedicated community leader. He has served on the boards of Breakthrough Central Texas, supporting first-generation Latino students, and GirlStart, an organization focused on increasing girls' participation in STEM.
Rick is a proud graduate of The University of Texas at Austin and Eastwood High School in El Paso.
Dr. Rosamaria Murillo is the CEO of El Buen Samaritano (El Buen) and a public health advocate dedicated to supporting the Latino community in Central Texas. Since joining El Buen in 2019, Dr. Murillo has spearheaded numerous initiatives to support the well-being of the Central Texas Latino community. From distributing food to over 700 families weekly during the COVID-19 pandemic to providing technology access for youth and serving as a vaccine distribution site, she has focused on fostering community resilience.
With over 25 years of leadership experience, Dr. Murillo has secured over $100 million in funding to serve diverse communities. She holds a Ph.D. in Leadership Studies, a Master of Social Work, and a Bachelor’s in Psychology. She has also taught courses on social justice, policy, and nonprofit management at universities across Texas.
In 2024, she was recognized with the Austin Woman's "Woman's Way Award" for her health advocacy.