Council Members

Born in Bogota, Colombia, Nicolas Fuentes-Zuluaga holds the distinction of being the first in his family to achieve a college degree in the United States, a testament to his family’s sacrifice and commitment to achieving academic excellence and personal advancement. He earned his Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering from NJIT in 2019, followed by a Master's degree in Data Science from Stevens Institute of Technology in 2023.

Nick’s career has been focused in the Healthcare and Pharmaceutical Industries. Starting his career as a Process Engineer for a commercial drug manufacturer, he quickly learned the importance of developing new therapeutics through clinical trials. Nick has a wealth of experience across multiple therapeutic indications (Phase I - IV), managing large complex global programs, global diverse teams, and strategic accounts. Currently, he is a Senior Program Manager at Medable; a leader in the Digital Health & electronic clinical outcomes assessment (eCOA) space to connect patients, sites, and clinical trial teams. His role focuses on leveraging technology to drive positive change in healthcare delivery and research methodologies.

As an NJIT alum, Nick has always been an advocate for diversity and empowering underrepresented communities. During his time as a student, Nick co-founded “First Fellow” a student organization focused on providing academic & financial support for First Generation College Students. His impact has led him to become a sought out keynote speaker & workshop lead for universities and companies such as Montclair State University, Bristol-Myers Squibb, and non-profit organizations. Away from work, Nick is an avid hiker & traveler.

Daniel Vargas is a Systems Safety Engineer at NVIDIA, focusing on ensuring that autonomous vehicles meet and exceed safety standards for real-world applications. Born in Morristown, NJ, to Guatemalan parents, Daniel is a first-generation college graduate. He earned a B.S. in Electrical Engineering from NJIT in 2015 and an M.E. in Systems Engineering from Stevens Institute of Technology in 2021.

While at NJIT, Daniel was actively involved in the Hispanic community through the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE) NJIT chapter. He began his career as a Systems Engineer at Boeing, continuing his community engagement with the Boeing Hispanic Employees Network (BHEN). Daniel further developed his technical expertise in the Aerospace & Defense industry with roles at L3Harris and BAE Systems before joining NVIDIA in 2022.

Outside of work, Daniel established the Vargas Family “Highlander Promise” Scholarship at NJIT to support Hispanic students pursuing STEM degrees with free education. He also serves as the treasurer for the SHPE NJ Professional chapter for the 2024-2025 fiscal year.

Bob Medina is a member of the Foundation Board of Directors. He is principal of Medina 43 Business Strategies LLC, a management consulting firm. After graduating from NJIT, he joined Goodkind & O’Dea, Inc. (now Dewberry) as Design Engineer. From 1977 to 1980, he served as Project Engineer at A.G. Lichtenstein & Associates (now TranSystems) and Project Manager at the RBA Group from 1980 to 1989. In 1989, he founded Medina Consultants, PC and grew the firm to be the third largest Hispanic-owned engineering firm in the US and an ENR top 500 firm. He later acquired Robinson Aerial Surveys, Inc., an aerial mapping and survey firm and Technical Associates, Inc., an MEP engineering firm. Medina Consulting offered the following services – general civil engineering and surveying, construction inspection and management, structural engineering for bridges and buildings, geotechnical engineering, and transportation and traffic engineering. In 2010, Medina Consultants merged with TY Lin International, an international engineering firm. He sold his interest in Robinson Aerial Survey and Technical Associates. Medina was appointed Senior Vice President and a member of the Board of TY Lin’s east district, overseeing business development and operations for five offices in New York City, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania. He retired from TY Lin in 2014. Medina is a member of the Conservancy Council of the Nature Conservancy in New Jersey. He recently re-joined the Board of Directors of the Morris County Hispanic American Chamber of Commerce in 2022. He is a recipient of the following awards – New Jersey Transit Entrepreneur of the Year (2001), Statewide Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Businessman of the Year (2002), Morris County Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Businessman of the Year (2004), US Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Region V Hispanic Businessman of the Year (2005), Latino Institute Empresario Award (2008), and Lifetime Achievement Award, Morris County Hispanic American Chamber of Commerce (12/2021). Medina received his B.S. degree in Civil Engineering from NJIT in 1975.

Angie Ogando received the following degrees from NJIT – B.S. degree in Civil Engineering in 2002 and MBA degree in 2011. She provides insight on conflict resolution, corporate values alignment, mission integration, and effective communication strategies. She is a Certified Master Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP) coach and trainer and a Certified Master Trainer in Hypnosis. She is co-founder of Yoshida Academy, a company focused on helping individuals improve their leadership talents and public speaking skills. She is also founder and chief executive officer of The Enriched Mind, a company that has offers leadership training for companies in finance, technology, and the fashion industry. Other positions held include Chief Operating Officer at Global Performance Group (2016) and Licensed Insurance Representative at Primeamerica (2003-2005). Ms. Ogando is a founding member of the Association of Ecuadorians/Americans United and was an advisor to the Institute of Ecuadorian-Latina Women Leaders. For eight years, she partnered with nonprofit organizations to provide legal and medical aid to the underserved Latino community through the association. Ms. Ogando was named Woman of the Year by the Dominican Parade in Essex County in 2009 and received the Community Activist award from Municipal Council of the City of Newark in 2010.

Luis De La Hoz was appointed First Vice President, Director of Community Lending at Valley Bank in 8/2020. As the principal subsidiary of Valley National Bancorp, Valley National Bank is a regional bank with approximately $37.5 billion in assets. Valley operates branch locations across New Jersey, New York, Florida and Alabama. De La Hoz is also principal of MarMar Enterprises, a tax preparation and financial services firm. He came to New Jersey in 2005 to help his friends start the company. De La Hoz previously served as Vice President, Business Community Development, BCB Community Bank (2017-8/2020) and Vice President, Lending Team, The Intersect Fund (2013-2017). He started his career managing a medical center and several restaurants in his native Colombia. He is chairman of the Statewide Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of New Jersey, trustee of the State Theater New Jersey and a member of the Board of Advisors for the Hispanic Chamber of E-Commerce. He is founder and chair of the Hispanic Business Expo, an annual event. De La Hoz received his undergraduate degree in economics from the University of Manizales in Colombia. .

Roly Acosta was appointed President and Chief Executive Officer of JAG Companies, Inc. in 2011. He previously served as executive vice president and general counsel. JAG Companies, Inc. is the parent company of construction industry firms Northeast Remsco Construction, Inc., Caldwell Marine International, LLC, Huxted Tunneling, LLC, and ECI Drilling International, LLC. JAG Companies was started by his father, Juan Gutierrez, in 1978. After graduating from Princeton University, Acosta started a career in the sports industry. He joined Northeast Remco as a superintendent. Acosta is a trustee of the Associated Construction Contractors of New Jersey Board (ACCNJ) and The Moles. His father, Juan Gutierrez, attended NJIT for three semesters. Acosta established an endowed scholarship in honor of his father in 12/2020.

Olga Garcia received two degrees from NJIT, B.S. in Civil Engineering in 2004 and M.S. in Civil Engineering in 2005. She received her A.S. degree from Passaic Community College. She participated in the Educational Opportunity Program at NJIT. Ms. Garcia serves as City Engineer for the City of Hoboken. She previously served as senior engineer at Bright View Engineering, LLC. From 2018 to 2020, she served as senior engineer at Pennoni, a consulting engineering firm. Other positions held include City Engineer, City of Passaic (2014-2017), Transportation Engineer, New Jersey Meadowlands Commission (2011-2014), Adjunct Instructor, Essex County College (2010), Urban Land Engineer, Stantec (2006-2009), and Civil Engineer, CMX (2002-2006). She serves as treasurer of the New Jersey Society of Municipal Engineers. In 2018, she received the Distinguished Alumni Award from Passaic Community College.

Dolores Martinez Wooden was born in Tegucigalpa, Honduras and migrated to the US at the age of 13. She attended Old Bridge High in New Jersey (NJ) and attended NJIT where she earned a Bachelor’s of Science in Architecture in 2005. In 2007, she completed a Master’s of Science in Civil Engineering and a Minor in Mechanical Engineering also from NJIT. In February of 2005, she started her career at Turner Construction as a Field Engineer where she remained for 17 years.

While at Turner, Dolores held several positions within this prominent construction firm. After her substantial experience in the private sector, following her passion for serving the community, she pursued the Director of Engineering position for the City of Newark, NJ. Appointed by the Honorable Mayor Ras Baraka in 2022, Dolores heads the Newark Department of Engineering, the state’s largest city.

I’m originally from Mexico City and a first-generation college student studying Applied Statistics and Data Analytics. As the President of SHPE at NJIT, I have the privilege of leading a team committed to creating opportunities and building community. From interning at Apple to developing AI-powered tools for family owned business, I’ve been blessed with experiences that push me to grow and the chance to use AI to help others rise. My journey has taught me the power of representation and not giving up, and I hope to serve as a reminder that where you start doesn’t define how far you can go.

John Canela’s purpose is to inspire people to see the light within themselves and empower them to realize their fullest potential.

He graduated from NJIT in 2015 with a degree in IT Network Security and a minor in Business. During his time at NJIT, John was actively involved in several key organizations, including the Educational Opportunity Program (EOP), serving as Vice President of the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE), working as a Resident Assistant with Residence Life, and serving as the Outreach Coordinator with InterVarsity Christian Fellowship.

In recognition of his contributions to the NJIT community, John was awarded the Presidential Leadership Award by President Dr. Joel Bloom in 2015, the highest honor the university bestows upon a student.

Currently, John is a Senior Managed Defense Consultant at Google, specializing in Computer Forensics and Incident Response. In this role, he advises Fortune 1000 companies, ensuring they stay ahead of evolving cyber threats and respond effectively to cyber attacks.

He founded Atula’o [AH-TOO-LAH-OH], with a mission to bridge the gap between ambition and achievement by helping underrepresented groups, early-career, and transitioning professionals navigate their career paths and develop critical skills to succeed in technology. His commitment to excellence and passion for cybersecurity make him a source of inspiration for many in the field.

When he's not working, John enjoys traveling the world, discovering new music, and in-line skating.

Alizanette Rodriguez is a consultant at Verizon, working in Channel Management within the Exclusive Distribution team under the Total Wireless Organization.  She is responsible for financial strategy, operations, and transaction services.

Alizanette was born in Brooklyn and raised in Jersey City by her Puerto Rican parents.  A first-generation college graduate, she earned her Bachelor of Business Administration from Pillar College in 2016 and a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from Strayer University in 2019.

Alizanette is an active V Teamer who enhances outreach to her community by creating space for inclusion. She is passionate about mentoring and inspiring youth, as well as seeing potential in and supporting other V Teamers. She is a member of all 10 of Verizon's employee resource groups; she served as Verizon NAV – Native Americans of Verizon Global Co-Lead from 2019 to 2020 and Verizon SOMOS – The Voice of the Latinx Community Global Lead from 2021 to 2023. She is Midtown Toastmasters' Vice President of Public Relations for 2024-2025 and has been a member since 2019. She is also a Verizon Talent Acquisition Ambassador supporting campus team.

Outside of work, Alizanette enjoys her iFIT community and spins, walks/runs, and rows in her home gym.  She loves to hike with her husband and visit her daughter, granddaughter, and family in Tennessee and her son in Arkansas. Her favorite quote is from Mahatma Gandhi: "Where there is love, there is life." Her mission and vision for life is to make a difference and impact someone's life every day.

Henry F. Medina was born in Cali, Colombia and is the second oldest of 4 siblings. At the age of 14 years old, he migrated to the United States along with his parents and established their new home in Elizabeth, NJ. As a result of this transition, Henry attended Elizabeth High School where he received multiple academic awards and graduated in 2003 as one of the top 50 students from his graduating class.

Upon high school graduation, Henry faced many obstacles financially due to his family’s legal resident status in the country. In the following years, he worked in the retail industry in order to pay his way through community college attending Union County College and graduating with an associate’s degree in Electromechanical Engineering Technologies in 2007. Henry’s dreams of continued education would not stop there but would merely be deferred until 2015. He was the first of his siblings to attend a 4-year university and graduated from the New Jersey Institute of Technology in 2019 with a bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering. This fulfilled not only a personal dream but served as validation for his parents’ vision of migrating to a foreign country in search of a better future and opportunities for the family.

Since earning his bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering, Henry has worked in the electrical utility industry and is currently employed by (YMC) Young Management & Consulting. His current role is Regional Construction Manager and works with different utilities across the United States such as PSE&G, Southern Company, Georgia Power, and Exelon specializing in construction projects for Electrical Substations and Gas Insulated Switchgears. Henry’s success would not be possible if it wasn’t for the help and mentorship received from family, friends, NJIT SHPE, and teachers along the way.

Henry takes pride in paying it forward and giving back to the community. He believes that this is a powerful way to create positive change and build a cycle of support. Mentoring minority students interested in STEM is one of Henry’s biggest passions. He embraces it and believes that mentorship can bridge the educational gap and empower students to overcome challenges, helping increase diversity and innovation in STEM fields.