José L. Pérez
Chairman & CEO
José L. Pérez co-founded the first council of its kind, the California Utilities Diversity Council (CUDC) in 2003, with Michael R. Peevey, who is former president of the California Public Utilities Commission. The CUDC set new benchmarks and led to new achievements in diversity by California-regulated companies. In 2008, José co-founded another first council of its kind, the National Utilities Diversity Council (NUDC), and served as its president for three years creating national awareness and synergistic efforts toward reaching diversity goals.
Mr. Pérez has provided visionary leadership in promoting diversity in the new energy economy from Sacramento, California to Washington, DC. José is a national speaker on diversity, public policy, community and business partnerships, and finance in the energy and utility industries. He has presented at the National Association of Hispanics Publications in Washington D.C., National Association of Regulated Utility Commissioners (NARUC) in Denver and San Francisco, National Council of La Raza in New Orleans and the Mexican American Engineering Society in San Diego. In 2014, José was featured in as one of the nation’s “Most Influential Latinos in Energy” in Latino Leaders, a national printed publication.
In 1996, José founded the Latino Journal, a non-partisan publication focused on independent analyses of public policy and government from a Latino perspective. José earned his degree in Government from California State University, Sacramento and a Certificate on Corporate Governance from the Graduate School of Business at Harvard University in Cambridge, MA.
José L. Pérez co-founded the first council of its kind, the California Utilities Diversity Council (CUDC) in 2003, with Michael R. Peevey, who is former president of the California Public Utilities Commission. The CUDC set new benchmarks and led to new achievements in diversity by California-regulated companies. In 2008, José co-founded another first council of its kind, the National Utilities Diversity Council (NUDC), and served as its president for three years creating national awareness and synergistic efforts toward reaching diversity goals.
Mr. Pérez has provided visionary leadership in promoting diversity in the new energy economy from Sacramento, California to Washington, DC. José is a national speaker on diversity, public policy, community and business partnerships, and finance in the energy and utility industries. He has presented at the National Association of Hispanics Publications in Washington D.C., National Association of Regulated Utility Commissioners (NARUC) in Denver and San Francisco, National Council of La Raza in New Orleans and the Mexican American Engineering Society in San Diego. In 2014, José was featured in as one of the nation’s “Most Influential Latinos in Energy” in Latino Leaders, a national printed publication.
In 1996, José founded the Latino Journal, a non-partisan publication focused on independent analyses of public policy and government from a Latino perspective. José earned his degree in Government from California State University, Sacramento and a Certificate on Corporate Governance from the Graduate School of Business at Harvard University in Cambridge, MA.
Nancy Zarenda
Treasurer & Vice President
As an accomplished specialist in language policy and Spanish language services, Nancy is taking the lead on Hispanics In Energy’s language access pillar to better serve multilingual energy consumers and ratepayers. Nancy was a key contributor to the U.S. Department of Energy publication, Conocimiento de Energía, led the development of Language Access Principles adopted by the California Public Utilities Commission, and served as a subject matter expert on limited-English proficient consumer issues. She co-founded California Utilities Diversity Council and has served as co-vice chair and in-language advisor.
Nancy and her professional team provide language access solutions to public officials, utility and energy companies, and the private sector. She developed and directed Spanish language training for police academy/law enforcement agencies and served as a language/cross cultural consultant to former police chiefs. Nancy has served in leadership roles at local, state, national, and international levels and was a gubernatorial/state constitutional officer appointee in two administrations.
Nancy is a recipient of U.S. Congressional Special Recognition as Outstanding Hispanic American Educator for promoting multilingualism and Spanish language programs.
As an accomplished specialist in language policy and Spanish language services, Nancy is taking the lead on Hispanics In Energy’s language access pillar to better serve multilingual energy consumers and ratepayers. Nancy was a key contributor to the U.S. Department of Energy publication, Conocimiento de Energía, led the development of Language Access Principles adopted by the California Public Utilities Commission, and served as a subject matter expert on limited-English proficient consumer issues. She co-founded California Utilities Diversity Council and has served as co-vice chair and in-language advisor.
Nancy and her professional team provide language access solutions to public officials, utility and energy companies, and the private sector. She developed and directed Spanish language training for police academy/law enforcement agencies and served as a language/cross cultural consultant to former police chiefs. Nancy has served in leadership roles at local, state, national, and international levels and was a gubernatorial/state constitutional officer appointee in two administrations.
Nancy is a recipient of U.S. Congressional Special Recognition as Outstanding Hispanic American Educator for promoting multilingualism and Spanish language programs.
Olman Valverde, Esq.
Acting Secretary Board of Directors
Olman Valverde is an experienced business attorney and handles real estate and transactional issues in the oil and gas industry. Representative matters in this practice area include the purchase and sale of oil and gas leases, title examination related to oil and gas rights, project finance transactions related to exploration and development projects, and litigation related to land rights, leases and production activities. His clients include energy companies, technology start-ups, real estate developers, engineering firms, public utilities, and government agencies.
Mr. Valverde earned a Juris Doctorate at Boston College Law School in Massachusetts, and Bachelor of Science in Environmental Studies at University of California at Santa Cruz. He has served on local, state, national and international business and civic boards including as General Counsel to Latino Peace Officers Association of CA, Costa Rica-United States Chamber of Commerce, Los Angeles Association of Professional Landmen, and currently as President of Board of Directors, Los Angeles County Education Foundation.
Mr. Valverde earned a Juris Doctorate at Boston College Law School in Massachusetts, and Bachelor of Science in Environmental Studies at University of California at Santa Cruz. He has served on local, state, national and international business and civic boards including as General Counsel to Latino Peace Officers Association of CA, Costa Rica-United States Chamber of Commerce, Los Angeles Association of Professional Landmen, and currently as President of Board of Directors, Los Angeles County Education Foundation.
Monica Martinez
Member Board of Directors
Ms. Martinez, founder and CEO of Ruben Strategy Group LLC, is recognized as one of the nation’s and region’s leading regulatory and legislative strategists. Her extensive background includes positions in alumni relations, government affairs, regulatory oversight, and professional development. Her public career includes serving as a Michigan Public Service Commissioner, Governor Granholm’s Deputy Director of Legislative Affairs, and senior policy advisor to the Michigan Senate.
Her university experience includes positions at the Alumni Association of the University of Michigan and U of M's Dearborn Center for Corporate and Professional Development. Ms. Martinez earned a Bachelor of Arts in Economics and Political Science and a Master of Business Administration, with distinction -- both from the University of Michigan.
Ms. Martinez, founder and CEO of Ruben Strategy Group LLC, is recognized as one of the nation’s and region’s leading regulatory and legislative strategists. Her extensive background includes positions in alumni relations, government affairs, regulatory oversight, and professional development. Her public career includes serving as a Michigan Public Service Commissioner, Governor Granholm’s Deputy Director of Legislative Affairs, and senior policy advisor to the Michigan Senate.
Her university experience includes positions at the Alumni Association of the University of Michigan and U of M's Dearborn Center for Corporate and Professional Development. Ms. Martinez earned a Bachelor of Arts in Economics and Political Science and a Master of Business Administration, with distinction -- both from the University of Michigan.