Leadership
Julio A. Fuentes
Chairman
Julio A. Fuentes is President and CEO of the Florida State Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (FSHCC). In 2000, he founded the chamber in response to the tremendous growth of Florida’s Hispanic population. Today, the chamber has grown to 38 chapters and manages a database of over 80,000 minority-owned businesses. The United State Hispanic Chamber Commerce and MBE Connect Magazine has ranked FSHCC as one of the top five Hispanic chambers in the country. FSHCC is the only statewide economic development organization serving the needs of the Hispanic community.
Mr. Fuentes, of Cuban descent, received his degree in Business Administration from Iona College in New Rochelle, New York. After graduating, he began his career as an Investment Associate with Merrill Lynch from 1990-1992. For the next six years, Mr. Fuentes continued his career on Wall Street as an Investment Banker. Then in 1999, he joined the Jacksonville Chamber of Commerce as a Membership Specialist focused on the Hispanic market. During this time, Mr. Fuentes recognized the need for an organization exclusively dedicated to the Hispanic business market, leading him to found the Florida State Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.
He formerly served on the Step Up for Students Governance Board, on the Board of Directors for Florida Kidcare, as the Chairman of Latin CEO. Former Gov. Charlie Crist appointed Mr. Fuentes as a Commissioner for “A Blueprint for Juvenile Justice Reform.” He also served on Gov. Rick Scott’s Education Transition Team, and was appointed to former Presidential Candidate Mitt Romney’s Education Policy Committee. In 2018, Influence Magazine named Mr. Fuentes as one of the top 100 most influential people in Florida politics.
Mr. Fuentes resides in Wellington, Florida, with his wife and two children, Nicholas and Gabriella.
Matthew Gonzales
Vice Chairman
Matthew Gonzales is Consumer Energy Alliance’s Southwest Director, overseeing New Mexico, West Texas, and Arizona. He specializes in state policy and advocacy strategy, an area in which he has more than a decade of experience as an advisor.
Matthew is actively engaged in efforts to shape energy, environment, and natural resource policy development through educational outreach and direct advocacy.
Before joining CEA, Matthew worked as Vice President of Government Affairs & Public Relations for the Association of Commerce & Industry of New Mexico, Director of the New Mexico Good Neighbor Program for the New Mexico Oil & Gas Association, Village Administrator for the Village of Cimarron and Government Affairs Director for New Mexico Farm and Livestock Bureau. He played an integral role in helping shape and negotiate key pieces of agriculture and natural resource legislation in New Mexico, including the Pecan Buyers Licensure Act of 2018, the Healthy Soil Act of 2019, the Hemp Manufacturing Act of 2019, the Produced Water Act of 2019, the Water Data Act of 2019, and others.
Matthew is an Air Force veteran that served overseas in support of Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom. He is currently in his first term as Mayor for the Village of Cimarron and has served on the Cimarron Municipal Schools’ Board of Education. He is a Member of the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation and a Life Member of the VFW. Matthew has a home in the Sangre De Cristo Mountains of Northeast New Mexico, where spends his free time fly fishing and exploring with his rescue pit bull, India.
Board Members
Carlos Aldazabal
Board Member
Carlos Aldazabal is vice president of Energy Supply for Tampa Electric.
Since joining Tampa Electric in 1999, he has held multiple leadership positions in areas ranging from Accounting, Regulatory Affairs for Tampa Electric and Peoples Gas, Investor Relations, and Transmission Engineering and Operations. Most recently he has assumed responsibility for strategy as well as the development and profiling the organization’s nearly $10 billion 5-year capital plan.
Aldazabal received both his Bachelor of Science in Accounting and Master of Accountancy from the University of South Florida. He is a Certified Public Accountant.
He serves on the executive board of The Florida Aquarium and on the board of trustees of the National Hispanic Energy Council and The Tampa Museum.
Mr. Aldazabal was born and raised in Tampa. He has been married to his wife Angela for 26 years and has raised three wonderful kids, two of which recently graduated the University of Florida.
Jose Monsivais
Board Member
Jose Monsivais is the Manager of Policy Advocacy at the Edison Electric Institute (EEI), where he leads efforts across policy development, advocacy, public affairs, and political strategy.
Before joining EEI, Jose worked on advocacy campaigns across the country, securing policy wins through coalition building and strategic public engagement. He brings that experience to his current role, helping to support and to drive energy advocacy efforts at the national and local level.
EEI is the association that represents all U.S. investor-owned electric companies. EEI advocates for policies that strengthen grid reliability, reduce wildfire risk, bolster energy security, and increase access to safe, affordable, and resilient clean energy.
Raymond G. Sandoval
Board Member
Raymond G. Sandoval is a dedicated advocate for Hispanic outreach and community empowerment in New Mexico. A 15th-generation Santa Fe native, Ray’s lifelong dedication to celebrating and strengthening Hispanic culture is reflected in his leadership and community involvement. As Event Chair of the over 100-year-old Burning of Zozobra, he has helped preserve and revitalize Santa Fe’s iconic tradition, turning it into a vibrant celebration of local heritage that attracts visitors worldwide. His initiatives, such as the Zozobra Decades Project and centennial celebrations, promote cultural pride and education, ensuring these traditions remain meaningful for future generations. Since Ray took on this role in 2013, the Kiwanis have donated over $1.1 million to nonprofits serving underserved children in Northern New Mexico.
Ray’s commitment to Hispanic outreach extends to Santa Fe’s annual New Year’s Eve celebration on the Plaza, which highlights local culture and draws thousands of residents and visitors. In 2022, he pioneered Santa Fe’s Dia de los Muertos on the Plaza event, partnering with cultural organizations and the Mexican Consulate to create one of the city’s most anticipated fall festivities. This event provides a meaningful space for sharing heritage, fostering community and cultural pride.
Beyond cultural advocacy, Ray has a distinguished career in political organizing, successfully mobilizing Hispanic voters and community supporters. His work in grassroots activism and civic engagement aims to empower underrepresented communities, reflecting his lifelong dedication to service and leadership. His legal background and community-centered initiatives underscore his unwavering commitment to enriching Santa Fe’s cultural landscape and empowering Hispanic communities.
Ray is proud to work for Avangrid, a member of the Iberdrola Group, where part of his duties specifically focus on Hispanic outreach. He believes in a company that recognizes the potential within our community and actively demonstrates this commitment through action. It’s inspiring to be part of an organization that aligns its deeds with its values, fostering genuine community support and inclusion.
Synthia Jaramillo
Board Member
Synthia R. Jaramillo serves as the Chief Growth & Relationships Officer at the United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (USHCC), where she leads national corporate partnerships and high-impact fundraising initiatives that support Hispanic and small business enterprises across diverse industries. Working alongside more than 100 Fortune 500 companies, she oversees the USHCC’s Energy Initiatives, including the flagship USHCC Energy Summit, which brings together industry leaders to explore energy equity, infrastructure development, and the role of Hispanic-owned businesses in advancing an all-of-the-above energy strategy, embracing clean, renewable, and traditional sources to ensure a just, affordable, and resilient energy future.
Synthia is known for forging transformative collaborations that span the corporate, federal, and local sectors. Her leadership has positioned the USHCC as a national voice on procurement, energy policy, and inclusive economic development.
Before joining the USHCC, Synthia made history as the first woman to lead the City of Albuquerque’s Economic Development Department. During her tenure, she secured a $2 billion Netflix production hub, launched the city’s first Small Business Advocacy Office, and established one of only two city-operated, federally funded Minority Business Development Agencies (MBDA) in the nation. She also led Albuquerque’s International Trade Office, expanding global market access for local businesses and helping secure federal funding for major infrastructure projects, including the I-40 Tradeport and the Intermodal Connectivity initiative.
Synthia brings deep expertise in economic development incentives and business finance. She has implemented tools such as tax abatement programs, gap financing, and the Local Economic Development Act (LEDA), a public investment program supporting business growth and job creation. Earlier in her career, during nearly two decades with the Albuquerque Hispano Chamber of Commerce, she launched the country’s first bilingual entrepreneurship accelerator to empower immigrant entrepreneurs with business fundamentals.
She currently serves on the Board of Trustees for the National Hispanic Energy Council (NHEC), where she continues to advocate for energy affordability and representation in national policy dialogues.
A proud New Mexican and devoted mother to daughters Jasmine and Genesis, Synthia brings heart, strategy, and a fierce commitment to equity in every endeavor.
