Staff
Misael A. Alvarado
Director of Development
Misael Alvarado is a philanthropy and community relations professional with over ten years of cross-sector experience dedicated to fostering social impact through strategic relationship building. Misael served in various fundraising capacities at NALEO Educational Fund, the nation’s leading civic nonprofit that aims to increase Latino participation in American politics and civic life. During his tenure with NALEO Educational Fund, he oversaw a diverse portfolio of over 100 cross-industry partnerships, including FORTUNE 500 companies, annually to support the organization’s $10 million operating budget. His role involved collaborating with programmatic teams to identify and enhance strategic partnerships. Before this, Misael contributed to community benefit initiatives at Kaiser Permanente Los Angeles Medical Center, evaluating grants and facilitating partnerships to align with organizational strategies. Misael holds a Master of Public Administration (MPA) in Nonprofit Management from California State University, Northridge, and a Bachelor of Science Business Management from California State University, Dominguez Hills. Beyond his professional achievements, Misael actively supports BIPOC and queer-led organizations, volunteering with groups like HONOR PAC. He is a recipient of a President’s Volunteer Service Award, reflecting his dedication to civic engagement and support for pro-global majority and LGBTQ+ initiatives.
Luis M. Garza
Director of Operations
Luis M. Garza is the Director of Operations for NALAC and is an alumnus of the NALAC Leadership and Advocacy Leadership Institutes. He is a technologist, naturalist, artist, and owner of LMG Photography and Art. Prior to joining NALAC, Luis worked with Jowdy Photography for over eight years, contracting with associations, conventions, and corporate events throughout the U.S. and abroad. His experiences have encompassed many facets of the photography business, ranging from fine art photography, video and photo documentation, studio photography, large format print, and digital photo editing. His core competencies include Salesforce Administration, computer networking and administration to digital content management, including graphic design, web design, and print output. He continues to produce and exhibit work in San Antonio, TX, while collaborating with artists in and around San Antonio to document their artworks, exhibitions, and events.
Frances Guajardo
Operations Manager
Frances Guajardo is the Operations Manager of NALAC and has over 24 years of nonprofit experience working with community-based organizations across the state. Ms. Guajardo joined NALAC in 2009 and worked closely on the implementation of upgrades to the Buena Vista Gardens building. She studied Nonprofit Management at the University of Texas San Antonio. She actively volunteers in the San Antonio community.
Mari Hernandez
CEO and President
Mari Hernandez is an Arts Administrator and Artist with nearly 23 years of experience in the nonprofit arts and leadership sector. She earned her BA in English from The University of Texas at San Antonio. Prior to joining NALAC, she served as the Education Manager for the Contemporary at Blue Star, where she developed and provided strategic oversight for the education department. As the Program Manager at San Anto Cultural Arts, Hernandez directed programs focused on promoting human and community growth through the arts. She is a recipient of the Joan Mitchell Foundation Emerging Artist Grant and The National Association of Latino Arts and Cultures (NALAC) Fund for the Arts Grant. She was a finalist in the 2023 National Portrait Gallery’s Outwin Boochever Portrait Competition and has shown her work locally, nationally, and internationally. She is an alumni of NALAC’s Leadership Institute and Advocacy Leadership Institute. As an arts worker, arts advocate, and visual artist with training in servant leadership, Hernandez has in-depth knowledge of the arts and culture ecosystem.
River Kiefer
Programs Associate
Growing up on a small border town farm, River Kiefer found a passion for expressing herself through visual and dramatic arts. After moving to the city and studying for four years at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, she obtained her Bachelor’s degree in English and English Language Arts, with a minor in Expressive Arts. River enjoys participating in local theater productions, creating unique self-portraits, and singing loudly in her car. Her passions include learning more about the world, connecting with people of diverse backgrounds, and being of service to others
Armani Martinez
Programs Manager
Armani Martinez is a Programs Associate at NALAC. A proud fronteriza from Brownsville, Texas, Armani brings her cultural roots and passion for technology into her work supporting artists and communities. She is currently pursuing a degree in Digital Media Innovation at Texas State University and approaches her work with a commitment to continuous learning and creative growth. Armani is especially driven by the power of digital media as a tool for connection, expression, and social change. Outside of her work, she enjoys quality time with her husband and their beloved fur baby, Margot.
April Orci
Senior Technology Manager
Meet April Orci, a tech enthusiast born and raised in Monterrey, Mexico, who found her calling in San Antonio in 2012. April kickstarted her career in tech as a radio operator for Multimedios Estrellas de Oro in Mexico back in 2010. However, it was her transition to non-profits that sparked her passion. Beginning as a broadcast and IT engineer for Texas Public Radio in San Antonio, April dedicated four transformative years to the cause. Seeking new challenges, April made the leap to the corporate sector, serving as a Multimedia Producer for VMware, a leading player in multicloud and SaaS solutions. Driven by her love for immersive experiences, she ventured into corporate events, mastering the art of orchestrating live, hybrid, and virtual events on a global scale. April’s journey led her to NALAC, where she combines her diverse skill set in operations, production, and IT services to make a meaningful impact. Outside of work, she cherishes moments spent with her wife and their four feline companions. Among them, her 14-year-old cat, who accompanied her on the journey from Mexico to the U.S., holds a special place in her heart. Join April as she continues to blend passion, technology, and community to create impactful experiences in both her professional and personal life.
Cat Rodríguez
Director of Programs
Cat Rodríguez (she/ella) labors alongside collaborators to collectively create and enact shared vision, from an imagined artwork to more just, liberatory futures. For over a decade, Cat’s worked across artistic forms and media, regions, borders, and languages. She wears many wigs: artist, advocate, arts administrator (among others). Whatever the role or task at hand, Cat centers people and works from a jubilant anti-oppression framework. Black / Latiné feminisms, as well as collectivist organizing experiences, fundamentally inform her artmaking and pathtaking. A “people person” with a politic and a love for the Ridiculous, she’s all about bringing critical rigor, playfulness, and specificity to process. Cat maintains an active artistic practice in theater + new media as a performer, director, dramaturg, and translator. She is co-foundress of the queer collective Fake Friends, who were Finalists for the Pulitzer Prize in Drama and with whom she won an Obie Award. Cat’s an alumna of the NALAC Leadership Institute and Sundance’s Latiné Fellowship and Interdisciplinary Program. She lives and labors in english y español, talks with her hands, and also anda con ganas. Cat names New York, New Orleans, and Nicaragua home.
Esthela Rodriguez
Facilities Associate
Penny Rodriguez
Director of Communications
Penny Marie Rodriguez is the Director of Communications for NALAC. A Texas native, Penny holds a Master of Arts in Mass Communication and a Bachelor of Science in Public Relations, both from Texas State University. Prior to working at NALAC, she served as the marketing and communications contact for the City of Austin Cultural Arts Division, lending key support to marketing, strategic messaging, and community engagement for multiple Cultural Arts programs. She is passionate about lifelong learning, storytelling and amplifying opportunities and resources for education, advocacy, and preservation of creative communities and cultural spaces.