Community builder. Advocate. Intellectual. Bon Vivant.
Director of Marketing + Community Engagement
Community builder.
I’ve dedicated my career to learning from the ground up and building relationships. I’ve held a diverse number of positions spanning hospitality, wine & spirits sales, food advocacy, faith-based social justice, and communications. In my former non-profit position, I managed existing relationships and regularly built new community partnerships with other non-profits and political contacts. I also oversaw several volunteer groups and student intern programs and greatly expanded Spanish-language communications across all platforms. During my years in the wine industry I organized numerous live auctions and special tasting events to benefit important causes and bring people together.
Advocate/Marketer.
Thanks to my love of storytelling and creative outlook, my career has always been marketing-focused. There is tremendous power in marketing as a method to advocate for the stories, messages, and information we want to share with the world. In my non-profit work it was essential that messaging/branding was always in line with institutional mandates while also giving voice to current concerns. The wine auctions required my oversight of catalog production, all advertising and promotional materials – print and web advertising, email and social media campaigns, website maintenance, and press releases, flyers, and New York Times advertisements. I am also committed to my volunteer work, taking on the marketing roles at 1stGenYale and Cabrini Coalition.
Intellectual.
I’m a dedicated life-long learner. I hold a bachelor’s in American Studies from Yale and a master’s in Integrated Marketing from New York University. Among my intellectual pursuits, I’ve co-founded a theology-themed book club, formed an online Italian literature “salon,” studied professional bartending, cupcake decorating, and worked on-site at a craft brewery. I’m currently completing certifications in InDesign and Photoshop.
Bon Vivant.
I was born in Puerto Rico and have inherited my love of life, food, personalities, and culture from my family and our community. While I’m a dedicated worker, I am proud to say I am as dedicated to living a rich, fulfilling, enjoyable life! I’m an avid runner, having completed 9 marathons (so far). I have traveled extensively and am fluent in Spanish and Italian (as well as English). I am known for bringing passion to all that I dedicate myself to – from my marketing work to my extensive volunteer and mentoring work to the boards I serve on and the communities I advocate for.
Credentials
Education: BA in American Studies, Yale; MS in Integrated Marketing, New York University.
Wine Certifications: Advanced Certificate awarded by the Wine & Spirit Education Trust (WSET); Certified Specialist of Wine awarded by the Society of Wine Educators (SWE).
Community Outreach: Executive Board, 1stGenYale; Mentor, Bigs & Littles NYC; Leadership Team, Cabrini Coalition (interfaith organization that offers practical and spiritual support to immigrants, particularly children, in East Harlem, NYC); member of The New York Junior League and Slow Food USA.
Personal Triumphs: 9 Marathons completed so far; fluent in Spanish and Italian.
