Change Makers 2024 Honorees

Keynote Speaker and Honoree

Vanessa Feliberti Bautista
Corporate Vice President, Microsoft M365 Programs

Vanessa Feliberti Bautista leads the Substrate Core engineering team, driving a seamless Microsoft 365 experience for users and innovatively expanding capacity in cloud fabric and engineering systems. Her leadership extends to building diverse teams, promoting inclusive behaviors, and creating programs that foster innovation. In 2023, Vanessa received the HITEC 100 award for excellence in technology and the MIT Better World Alumni Service award, recognizing her commitment to advancing humanity through creative and effective work.

Laura P. Butler
Executive Director at Pioneers 21

  • April 2021, Laura Butler assumed the role of Executive Director at Pioneers 21, formerly known as The Hub of Human Innovation. Pioneers 21 is dedicated to nurturing businesses and entrepreneurs through mentorship, training, and networking. Since its establishment in 2011, Pioneers 21 has supported over 170 entrepreneurs and startups. Laura initiated the P21 Venture Mentoring Service, licensed by MIT, and expanded programming to include pitch competitions, educational workshops, internship programs, and e-commerce development for startups using grant funding. Under her leadership, Pioneers 21 has forged strategic collaborations with The Borderplex Alliance, City of El Paso, EPCC, The MCA, UTEP, Capital Factory, and various VC entities, both locally and beyond. In 2023, Laura was honored with the Woody & Gayle Hunt Fellowship for Aspen Executive Seminar, showcasing her commitment to community development. She continues to advance her work with the support of the Aspen Institute Latinos And Society (AILAS), following earlier recognition for her efforts in access to capital from the Minority Business Development Association and the Small Business Administration.

Martine Ceberio, PhD
Associate Dean of Engineering for People, Culture, and Environment, and Professor of Computer Science at UTEP

  • Dr. Martine Ceberio is Associate Dean of Engineering for People, Culture, and Environment, and Professor of Computer Science at UTEP. An adopted El Pasoan, she embraces UTEP’s mission and strives to make a positive impact on the local community and in her research community through her work with students at UTEP.

Adriana Chacon
IT Director for Workforce Solutions Borderplex

  • Adriana Chacon has broken new ground as Workforce Solutions Borderplex’s first female IT Director, dedicating nearly a decade to pioneering innovation. Her leadership has introduced a paperless system, automated processes, and remote access tools, embodying resilience, integrity, and visionary guidance. Adriana’s commitment to values and inclusivity has not only propelled IT forward but has also created a culture where innovation thrives, showcasing her relentless pursuit of excellence.

Cathy Chen-Arriaga
Executive Director for Fab Lab El Paso

  • Cathy Chen-Arriaga is the Founder and Executive Director of Fab Lab El Paso, an STEM engagement, digital skilling and innovation hub at the intersection of education, technology, and community.

Maria Fernanda Fiscal
Director of Blackstone Launchpad at UTEP

  • Fernanda, a pioneering leader at the UTEP Mike Loya Center for Innovation and Commerce, is dedicated to fostering innovation and entrepreneurship. With a background in business and technology, including a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and a Master of Science in Data and Information Science from The University of Texas at El Paso, Fernanda is committed to lifelong learning, evident in her certifications from Harvard Business School in Entrepreneurship Essentials and FinTech. Hailing from Durango, Mexico, she is a trailblazer as a first-generation graduate, passionate about technology, startups, and women’s empowerment. Her boundless energy and insatiable curiosity drive her to spearhead initiatives that shape the future of innovation.

Ann Quiroz Gates, PhD
Senior Advisor to the Provost for Strategic STEM Initiatives at UTEP

  • Dr. Ann Quiroz Gates is Senior Advisor to the Provost for Strategic STEM Initiatives, the past Senior Vice Provost of Faculty Affairs, and past chair of the Computer Science Department at the University of Texas at El Paso, where she holds the AT&T Distinguished Professorship. Dr. Gates serves the Executive Director of the Computing Alliance of Hispanic-Serving Institutions, one of NSF’s National INCLUDES Alliances and a nationally recognized network focused on the recruitment, retention, and advancement of Hispanics in computing.

Binata Joddar, PhD
Associate Professor of Biomedical Engineering at UTEP

  • Binata Joddar, PhD, is the Associate Professor of Biomedical Engineering at UTEP. She joined the University in 2014. Binata is a bioengineer with expertise in cardiovascular tissue regeneration using naturally derived biomaterials, such as hydrogels. Her research journey includes working with interdisciplinary teams at institutions such as Clemson and Ohio State University in the US, and in Japan, where she focused on stem cells, tissue engineering, and biomanufacturing, particularly in creating microphysiological systems for studying human organ function and disease states. Recently, her lab at UTEP used a 3D-printed neural-sensing biodevice for integration during a suborbital space flight, promising groundbreaking advancements in assessing human health in space.

Nadia Karichev
IT Computer Science Faculty at El Paso Community College

  • Nadia Karichev has her M.S. in Software Engineering with a concentration in Secure Cyber-Systems from the University of Texas at El Paso. She is a professor of Cybersecurity and Computer Science courses at El Paso Community College and has more than five years of industry and teaching experience.

Chelsea Lamego
Co-Founder and CEO of FundMiner

  • Chelsea Lamego is the Co-Founder and CEO of FundMiner, a technology company that simplifies fund management for large fundraising organizations. Chelsea is a two-time graduate of The University of Texas at El Paso, where she also previously worked. Her work in the Office of Institutional Advancement was the inspiration for FundMiner.

Sandra Lind
Director of Product Management in Security and Compliance for the Cloud at Deltek

  • Sandra (Sandy) Lind has had an illustrious career providing IT consulting in Washington, DC to the FBI, NASA, National Geospatial Intelligence Agency (NGA) and Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA). From DC, Sandy returned to the Southwest where she has contributed to AIG, Oracle and is now the Director of Product Management in Security and Compliance for the Cloud at Deltek. Sandy is a proud mother of two and enjoys spending time exploring the outdoors and traveling.

Nancy Lowery
Senior Director of Innovation at the Medical Center of the Americas Foundation

  • Nancy Lowery has been working with regional tech startups for over 20 years, although not a native El Pasoan she is committed to growing the innovation ecosystem in our region. In her current position as Senior Director of Innovation at the Medical Center of the Americas Foundation she has the privilege to work with a great team, exciting health tech startups, and the region’s committed Ecosystem Support Organizations.

Ana Luna, PhD
STEAM Teacher at San Elizario High School

  • Ana Luna is a Biomedical Science (STEAM) teacher at San Elizario High School. She holds a doctorate degree in Curriculum in Teaching, a Master's in Forensic Science and Criminal Justice and a Bachelor's in Forensic Anthropology and Biology. She is currently working on integrating the Biotechnician Assistant Certification to high school students at San Elizario High School.

Kristin Morehead, PhD
Economic Development Officer, Arrowhead Center at NMSU

  • Working at the intersection of academia and economic development, Dr. Kristin Morehead has led interdisciplinary initiatives at New Mexico State University’s Arrowhead Center, managing business accelerators, technical assistance programs, and nation-wide mentoring network that have collectively contributed entrepreneurial growth across New Mexico and the Borderplex region.

Julizza Orozco Sarmiento
Manager of Information Systems & Development at GECU

  • Julizza Sarmiento, Manager of Information Systems and Development at GECU, is a pioneering force in the tech industry, recognized for her groundbreaking work in virtualizing core banking system mainframes. With over 25 years of experience, Julizza has not only led technological advancements at GECU but has also championed diversity and inclusion, notably through her mentorship of women in tech and her establishment of a predominantly female mainframe operators’ team. Her journey from a teller to a respected figure in the tech industry serves as an inspiration, showcasing her perseverance, dedication, and commitment to excellence in a male-dominated field.

Melissa Silverstein
Senior Assistant General Counsel for Intellectual Property and Brand Protection at Helen of Troy

  • Melissa Silverstein is a Senior Assistant General Counsel for Intellectual Property and Brand Protection at Helen of Troy, a publicly-trade consumer goods company with brands such as OXO, Hydro Flask, Osprey, PUR, Vicks, Honeywell, Drybar, Revlon, and Hot Tools. Melissa manages Helen of Troy’s patent and trademark portfolios, along with the company’s brand protection and enforcement initiatives. Melissa is a registered patent lawyer with 15+ years of experience in intellectual property law and technology commercialization in both academic technology transfer and private practice.

Angie Rodriguez
Supervisor of Electrification at El Paso Electric

  • Angie Rodriguez is a Supervisor of Electrification at El Paso Electric, where she is responsible for developing innovative technology-oriented customer solutions that she and her team integrate into the electric company’s business operations. Angie and her team were responsible for implementing the first Texas Community Solar Program, the first demand response program with smart thermostats, and collaborations with local entities that resulted in securing over $50 million in funding for electric school buses, transit vehicles, and electric vehicle charging infrastructure for our border region. Her team is currently developing a new energy storage program that can enable customers to have backup power in their homes while helping EPE manage its peak demand.

Rosie Sanchez
Assistant VP of IT for Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center El Paso

  • Rosie Sanchez is a woman with a passion for technology, innovation, healthcare, and education, boasting over fifteen years of experience driving positive change, leading cross-functional teams, and implementing innovative solutions to drive organizational success. She is a vocal advocate for women in technology, dedicated to empowering the next generation of female IT professionals

Jesica Urbina, PhD
Founder and CEO of Infinite Elements, Inc.

  • Dr. Jesica Urbina, founder and CEO of Infinite Elements, leads a pioneering company utilizing biotechnology to extract critical metals from mining and electronics waste. With successful funding from the Department of Energy ARPA-E and venture capital, she focuses on scaling operations at their pilot facility in partnership with UTEP and the City of El Paso, demonstrating large-scale recoveries of metals like Lithium, Rare Earth Elements, and Copper. Beyond her role at Infinite Elements, Dr. Urbina actively contributes to the entrepreneurial ecosystem, serving on the UTEP Entrepreneurship Advisory Council and as a Board Director at the Medical Center of the Americas Foundation. Her endeavors reflect a commitment to innovation, sustainability, and positive societal impact.

Barbara Walker
Territory Account Manager for Cisco

  • Barbara Walker is passionate about her family, women in technology, educating a tech-ready workforce, economic development, and digital inclusion. She extends her heartfelt thanks to El Paso for giving her the opportunity to use her experience in tech to make a positive impact!

Thank you to 2024’s Event Sponsors