BOARD
JULIANA CARDONA MEJIA
Juliana Cardona Mejia is a curious and passionate creator who continually drives local action and impact. Before graduating summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and a minor in Communications and Latin American Studies from Florida Southern College, Juliana spent time serving with 20 grassroots organizations in Florida, Colorado, Massachusetts, Washington D.C., Philippines, Taiwan, and Mexico. Additionally, she anonymously published an oral history book on the Colombian Armed Conflict.
In 2015 she Founded Street Entrepreneurs (SE), an accelerator rooted in the belief that people experiencing problems have the insights needed to solve them. Before starting SE, Juliana collaborated with the World Bank Group's Information Communications Technology Community of Practice for Agriculture to design and support the first Agri-Hackathon program in Uganda.
Juliana gives talks on social innovation and design thinking. She has lectured at the Women Tech Conference by the Inter-American Development Bank, International Monetary Fund, and World Bank; the Darden Center for Global Initiatives; Howard University, and the Inclusive Innovation Incubator, where she also served as an Advisor. Currently, she is the CEO of Street Entrepreneurs, Co-President of Beacon: Women Founders Initiative, and Entrepreneurship Advisor at the Hispanic Heritage Foundation.
She has received multiple honors, including a D.C. Inno Fire Award from the Washington Business Journal, RealList Connector from Technica.ly, and the United States Congressional Bronze Certificate. Additionally, she is a Global Good Fund Fellow and a recipient of the Crimsonbridge Foundation scholarship for the Executive Certificate in Nonprofit and Organizational Management from Georgetown University's McCourt School of Public Policy.
JOE GREEN
Joe serves on the Board of Directors of Street Entrepreneurs. Having worked at state education agencies, charter and public schools, colleges, and universities, Joe Green has established partnerships with the corporate and civic community. He has effectively generated career pathways and instructional training for K-12 students in some of the most impoverished communities in urban America and the developing world.
From 2002-2015, Joe worked as a development officer and secured over $20 million for the arts and STEM-based. He is currently a program accountability coordinator for the State Office of Career and Technical Education at the DC Office of the State Superintendent. Joe holds a master’s degree in international business from Roosevelt University and a bachelor’s degree in sociology and anthropology from Lawrence University.
JEFFERY JOHNSON
Jeff brings more than 20+ years of experience in transforming change into business value while working within the highly regulated pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries, including with global organizations such as Fisher Bioservices, McKesson, Celera, and USP.
He has developed deep expertise in identifying, evaluating, and mitigating risks, as well as strategic program management. Jeff has consistently been a transformative force for process and continuous improvement throughout his career and currently provides management oversight of the digital/business transformational program that is leading to the re-engineering of the oldest independent, scientific nonprofit organization's core business.
He received his Bachelor of Science from Old Dominion University and his Masters in Business Administration from Pennsylvania State University.
Jeff believes strongly in Street Entrepreneur's mission and is excited to help individuals build secure and rewarding futures.
MARY KINGSTON-ROCHE
Mary Kingston is the Director of Policy for the Institute for Educational Leadership, where she leads policy and advocacy efforts at the federal level to promote greater equity and opportunity in education and workforce development.
Before coming to IEL, Mary was manager of government relations for the National Association of Secondary School Principals, where she represented our nation’s secondary school leaders. Mary began her career teaching 6th and 9th grade English for three years in Oakland, California.
Mary received her Master of Public Policy from Duke University and a Bachelor of Arts in English from Boston University, where she also competed on the Division I women’s track and cross-country teams. Mary also served on the Board of Education for Prince George’s County, Maryland from 2016-2018. She lives in Hyattsville, MD with her husband and two children, and one of her 2020 goals is to run her first marathon.
EVA LEWIS
Executive Director Eva R. Lewis served as the Northeast Regional Director for the Association of Democratic State Committees (ASDC) at the Democratic National Committee (DNC) advising and building the groundwork for Democratic State Parties to win up and down the ballot. Prior to the DNC, Eva served as the Political Director for the Maryland Democratic Party building and implementing statewide political programs and managing the Party’s political relationships with local committees, candidates and organizations. She has worked many years as an attorney, grassroots organizer and political operative building coalitions and increasing political engagement.
Eva is a proud resident of Prince George’s County. She graduated from Spelman College in Atlanta, GA and Northwestern University School of Law in Chicago, IL. When not engaging the community, Eva enjoys performing improv comedy in the Washington, DC area.
ADVISORS
NATALIA OLSON-URTECHO
Natalia is a serial entrepreneur and recognized expert in smart cities, government, commercialization of technologies, transportation, energy, environmental, social governance, the blockchain, infrastructure, and sustainable development. Before her current position as Founder of InfraTechh21 and Co-Founder of The Disruptive Factory, she was appointed by President Obama as the U.S. Small Business Administration’s Mid-Atlantic Regional Administrator responsible for small business programs, financial assistance, and business development initiatives throughout the mid-Atlantic region. Natalia oversaw 180 SBA offices; SCORE chapters; Business Development Centers while managing a field staff of loan, business, community outreach specialists, and support personnel. She worked with banks and successful firms, overseeing more than $34 billion yearly in federal government contracts, the region’s loan program supporting $8 billion in small business loans.
She has held senior management positions in both the public and private sector in the U.S., Central Europe, Asia, and Latin America. Natalia was appointed to Philadelphia's Planning Commission and
served as the Vice-Chair of the Zoning Code Commission. She served the U.S. Innovation Advisory Board to advise Congress and the White House on competitiveness. She has been honored with numerous prestigious awards, including recognition as a “Latina Powerhouse” by the Maryland Hispanic Business Conference, Most Influential Latino in Delaware Valley, Philadelphia Business Journal’s Minority Business Leader Award, and Woman of Distinction for her work in sustainable infrastructure and the green economy. Natalia earned her Masters in City and Regional Planning minoring in Management at the Wharton Business school at the University of Pennsylvania. In addition to serving on the board of Street Entrepreneurs, she also serves on the boards of the Global Startup Accelerator, European American Enterprise Council, GW Hispanic Leadership Council, and Barcelona Tech City. She has climbed Kilimanjaro, Everest, Fitz Roy, Machu Picchu, and enjoys diving around the world.
JOSE ANTONIO TIJERINO
Antonio is president and CEO of the Hispanic Heritage Foundation, which focuses on education, workforce development, connectivity, innovative leadership, and public awareness in addition to promoting cultural pride and accomplishment.
Under Antonio’s leadership, HHF has built a network of 100,000 vetted Latino talent (15-35-year-olds) and focused on the STEM fields, entrepreneurship, finance, media, and other priority areas for America. HHF works closely with Fortune 500 companies, government agencies, and other nonprofits.
Prior to HHF, Antonio worked at Fannie Mae Foundation, Nike, Burson-Marsteller, and Cohn & Wolfe under the Young & Rubicam umbrella.
Antonio has been honored with the prestigious Ohtli Award, which is the highest recognition by the Government of Mexico outside of Mexico; Lifetime Achievement Award by National PTA; Vision Award by Silicon Valley Latino Leadership; Brillante Award by National Society of Hispanic MBAs; Leadership Award from Telemundo; Army Strong civilian award by US Army; Community Service Award by Governor of Maryland; Cesar Chavez Award by National Hispanic Leadership Institute; and the Champion of Digital Equity Award by the Multi-Cultural Telecom & Internet Council (MMTC); among others. Antonio serves on various boards including Harvard’s Latino Leadership Initiative at the Kennedy School; The Hispanic Technology and Telecommunications Partnership (HTTP); University of Maryland’s Smith School of Business; PBS Sci-Girls; Nielsen’s Latino Advisory Counsel; America’s Promise Alliance; Latino Jewish Leadership Council; Ayuda; and Center for the History of the New America. Antonio also founded The American Project with Notre Dame University to treat immigrants with dignity.
Antonio’s blogs and media presence have made him a national voice on Latino issues and speaks on diversity and Latino issues from top companies, events, universities, US Congress, and The White House. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Maryland’s school of journalism and later was awarded a Doctorate of Humane Letters from The Chicago School.
STACEY WOOD JACKSON
Stacey is a Global Business Development Manager for Startups at Amazon Web Services Worldwide Public Sector, where she is responsible for developing and growing programs and partnerships within the global startup community. Her focus is on both facilitating the flow of innovation and emerging technology into the public sector via the startup channel, as well as helping social impact organizations and entrepreneurs understand how to better leverage cloud technology.
Stacey joined Amazon following eight years as a U.S. diplomat with the Department of State. Stacey has lived and worked in Shanghai, China; Accra, Ghana; and Salvador, Brazil. Prior to leaving the government, Stacey was responsible for developing innovation, entrepreneurship, and digital economy-related policy as the lead U.S. interagency coordinator for the Organization of Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). Stacey has professional proficiency in Mandarin, holds a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Pennsylvania, and a Master’s degree from Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs.
DELORIS WILSON
Deloris Wilson is an ecosystem builder, strategist, and social entrepreneur committed to promoting equity and inclusion worldwide. As Founder of Axl Impact Studio, she advises businesses, governments, and non-profits on strategies to enhance equity.
She previously served as Head of Strategy and Operations for BEACON: The DC Women Founders Initiative, supporting a community of over 400 women entrepreneurs through research and direct service in partnership with organizations across the District.
Deloris is a graduate of Spelman College, Harvard University, and Georgetown Law and currently serves on the advisory boards of Street Entrepreneurs.
LYNDSEY CLUTTEUR DEPALMA
Lyndsey Clutteur DePalma is a DC-area entrepreneur with a passion for small business and start-ups. Lyndsey has received her B.S. in Biology and M.B.A. with a concentration in entrepreneurship both from George Mason University. With a background in Human Resources, Retail and restaurant start-ups, and a bloodline of female business owners, Lyndsey welcomes opportunities to work with people, especially those in search of fulfilling their purpose through their enterprise.
Lyndsey has founded the House of Steep, Lyngo Solutions, and has assisted in the launch of over 30 companies most recently. She is authoring her first book on preparing actually and emotionally for the experience of starting a business. When not enjoying her young children, Lyndsey works with companies on operational excellence, as well as follows her passion for helping entrepreneurs and companies realize their potential and have fun while fulfilling their purpose. She serves on the Advisory Board of Street Entrepreneurs.
DELORIS WILSON
Deloris Wilson is an ecosystem builder, strategist, and social entrepreneur committed to promoting equity and inclusion worldwide. As Founder of Axl Impact Studio, she advises businesses, governments, and non-profits on strategies to enhance equity.
She previously served as Head of Strategy and Operations for BEACON: The DC Women Founders Initiative, supporting a community of over 400 women entrepreneurs through research and direct service in partnership with organizations across the District.
Deloris is a graduate of Spelman College, Harvard University, and Georgetown Law and currently serves on the advisory boards of Street Entrepreneurs.
RAJI RAMANAN
Raji Ramanan serves as a board member. Currently, she leads the Georgetown McDonough Executive Career Management team of experienced advisors, career coaches, and leadership experts. Before Georgetown Raji worked at Randstad, Lafarge, Iberdrola, Black & Veatch, and UST Global, and brings experience across 17 countries and four continents.
She has proven expertise in unleashing human capital and is an expert in leadership assessment and executive coaching. She has won numerous awards, including Woman HR Professional of the Year from the National Association for Professional Women and Outstanding Contributor to Global HR and Global Leadership Development from Asia Pacific HRM Congress.
Frank Carbajal
Frank Carbajal is Founder and President of Es Tiempo, LLC., Founder of the Silicon Valley Latino Leadership Summit (SVLLS) and co-author of Building the Latino Future: Success Stories for the Next Generation.
Mr. Carbajal holds an MA, with an emphasis in Human Resources Management. He lives with his wife and three daughters in Santa Clara, California.