Prospera

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National Team

Prospera’s Governing Board of Directors and headquarters staff listed below work to lead and support the organization across its national footprint.

Governing Board of Directors

Luz Aviles

CHAIR

Vice President of Customer Experience & Sales Orlando Utilities Commission Orlando, FL

Bio

George Bermudez

VICE CHAIR

Senior Vice President
Business Banking Market Executive
Bank of America
Miami, FL …

Lori Duarte-Roberts

SECRETARY

Ft. Lauderdale

Alex Sueiro

TREASURER

Partner
PAAST
Coral Gables, FL

Sharon Arroyo

DIRECTOR-AT-LARGE

Vice President of Government & Community Relations
Duke Energy
Tampa…

Carlos F. Escobar

DIRECTOR-AT-LARGE

Vice President, Market IT Operations & Planning
AdventHealth
Orlando, FL

Augusto Sanabria

President & CEO

Prospera

Bio

Directors

Sherry Ambrose

Economic Development Manager
FPL – Florida Power & Light
Juno Beach, FL…

Mercedes Angell

Senior Director
Cushman & Wakefield
Tampa…

Carolina Blanco

Shareholder
Hill Ward Henderson
Tampa, FL…

Carlos Brackley

Principal Counsel
Walt Disney Parks & Resorts
Orlando, FL…

Alex Dominguez

Director, Corporate External and Legislative Affairs
AT&T Florida
Miami…

Elisha Gonzalez

VP Community Relations and Government Affairs
Fairwinds Credit Union
Executive Director, FAIRWINDS Foundation
Orlando, FL …

Michael Hernandez

Michael Hernandez

Partner
LSN Communications
Ft. Lauderdale…

Isaac Juarez

Managing Partner
KPMG
Orlando, FL…

Ruben Perez

Owner & President
Perez of Florida
Zaza Cuban Comfort Food
Altamonte Springs, FL…

Luis Rosero

VP Corporate & External Affairs
NBCUniversal Telemundo Enterprises
Washington, DC…

Kate Wilson

Senior Vice President
Community Relations, Florida
Wells Fargo & Co.
Orlando, FL…

Headquarters Staff

Augusto Sanabria

President & CEO

Bio

Luis Otero

Chief Financial Officer

Bio

Maria Angelica Yabrudy

Vice President – Marketing

Bio

Erick Isaac

Vice President – Development

Bio

Iliana Tewes

Executive Assistant

Joanna Carolina Silvestri

Marketing & Communications Manager

Elizabeth Irausquin

Programs Director

Frances Vazquez

Frances J. Vazquez

Human Talent Manager

Carmen Soto

Accountant

Leonardo A. Peña

Accountant

Karla M. Perez Fernandez

Marketing Event & Campaign Coordinator

Leonardo Gonzalez

Accounting Assistant

Mirelle Martinez

Jr. Accountant

 

Vivian Ortega

Fund Development Coordinator

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Luz Aviles is Vice President of Customer Experience & Sales for the Orlando Utilities Commission (OUC—The Reliable One). She is responsible for revenue generation and growth through the full sales lifecycle, with a continued focus on sustainability and unsurpassed customer service.

Since joining OUC in 1994 Aviles has held several leadership roles, including Vice President of Customer Service, Director of Sustainability, a position with authority over conservation and renewables’ efforts, Manager of Community Relations, and Manager of Customer Service.

Aviles was appointed by Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried in 2020 to serve on the Florida Advisory Council on Climate & Energy. In 2019, Luz joined Prospera’s Board of Directors, and she had previously served on Prospera’s Technical Assistance Committee. Aviles’ community involvement also includes serving on other boards, such as the Advisory Board of the Florida Solar Energy Center, the Sustainability Advisory Board for Orange County, the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Metro Orlando National Entrepreneur Center, and the Orlando Day Nursery.

Aviles graduated from the University of Central Florida with a bachelor’s degree in business administration. She also earned a Master of Business Administration from Crummer Graduate School of Business at Rollins College.

Augusto Sanabria is the President and CEO of Prospera, an economic development, nonprofit organization that since 1991 helps start, sustain, and grow Hispanic-owned businesses to achieve community prosperity.

A native of Argentina, Augusto attended the University of Central Florida for his undergraduate and graduate studies. In 2003, he began his career at Prospera and advanced through the organization’s ranks until becoming its chief executive in 2009.

As President and CEO, Augusto has led the nonprofit organization to achieve significant growth, expanding its reach across three states, increasing the budget from one million dollars to six million, and growing the staff from nine to over 40 employees who sustain programs for the growing number of entrepreneurs served across all service areas. Furthermore, he has developed valuable partnerships and collaborations with national organizations such as the U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Aspen Institute, U.S. Small Business Administration, Hispanic Federation, NALCAB, Ascendus, and National League of Cities.

Prospera’s service area has grown exponentially, from the I-4 Corridor to three states. In 2011, it expanded beyond Tampa and Orlando to establish a presence in South Florida. In 2014, thanks to funding from the State of Florida, Prospera began delivering services periodically in other areas of Florida. In 2016, Prospera began providing services in North Carolina, and by July 2017 opened its office in Charlotte. Between 2021 and 2023, Prospera opened new offices to deliver year-round services in Atlanta, GA, Raleigh, NC, and Jacksonville, FL. Most recently, in 2024, Prospera opened an office with local full-time staff in Palm Beach County, FL.

A third-party economic analysis commissioned by Prospera concluded that in its first 30 years—with Augusto at the helm for 12 of those—Prospera generated $4.9 billion in economic impact, including over $116 million in local and state tax revenues, $1.6 billion in labor income, and impacting over 47,000 jobs.

In 2023, Augusto was named Leadership Florida Board Secretary/Treasurer and Finance Committee Chair and recognized among the Orlando Business Journal’s Power Players. When the COVID-19 pandemic began in 2020, Augusto was appointed to Mayor Jerry L. Demings’ Orange County Economic Recovery Task Force. In 2016, he received the Orlando Business Journal’s CEO of the Year Award and in 2015 the Orlando Business Journal’s 40 Under 40 Award. In 2013, he was recognized with Governor Rick Scott’s Award of Excellence and named among “Orlando’s Power Brokers” by the Orlando Sentinel. In 2012, he was recognized with the “Compadre Award” by the Kissimmee/Osceola County Hispanic Business Council and by Telemundo Orlando in their “Triunfadores” Hispanic leader and influencer spotlight series. Also in 2012, HCCMO’s Vision magazine recognized Augusto as one of Central Florida’s 25 most influential Hispanics.

Augusto holds a master’s degree in Business Administration and a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from UCF. His wife María Jesús is also Argentinian and they live in Central Florida with their three children.

A native of Puerto Rico, Luis E. Otero is the Chief Financial Officer for Prospera, an economic development, nonprofit organization that specializes in providing bilingual assistance to Hispanic entrepreneurs who want to establish or expand their business in the United States.

Luis began working with Prospera in 2015 as Controller, then transitioned to Vice President of Finance & Administration, and in late 2017 he was promoted to Chief Financial Officer. As CFO, Luis has optimized Prospera’s financial, accounting and operational functions, enhancing the transparency and efficiency of the nonprofit organization, even as it has tripled its annual operating budget. Luis and his team work to ensure compliance with multiple government contracts and every year successful external audits have been completed with no findings.

Luis has an extensive background in Accounting, Finance, and Auditing, with more than 25 years of domestic and international expertise in the areas of manufacturing, industrial, corporate, and consulting services. Prior to Prospera, he served in various finance leadership roles for large corporations like The Coca-Cola Company, Phelps Dodge Corporation, Kroll Ontrack, and several smaller companies. He is multilingual, with fluency in Spanish, English, and Portuguese.

Luis holds a bachelor’s degree in Accounting and Business Administration from the University of Puerto Rico, where he graduated Magna Cum Laude. He currently lives in Central Florida with his wife, and they have a daughter and a grandson.

Maria Angelica Yabrudy has worked in the nonprofit sector for more than 20 years. She has been responsible—at regional, statewide, and multi-state levels in humanitarian and economic development organizations—for marketing and communications, media and public relations, special events and fundraising strategies.

As Prospera’s vice president of marketing, Maria Angelica reports to the President/CEO and serves as an integral member of the senior leadership team. She develops Prospera’s marketing and communications strategy, plays a key role in the organization’s strategic planning, and implements efforts to create awareness of organization. She oversees branding, marketing, communications, and events in the various communities served, helping to advance the organization’s position with relevant constituents.

The marketing team led by Maria Angelica develops tools and strategies that support regional teams across Florida, North Carolina, and Georgia. They coordinate all promotions and advertising, digital marketing, and five annual signature events for Prospera. Highlights of Maria Angelica’s tenure at Prospera include spearheading the organization’s rebranding, leading its 25th and 30th anniversary celebrations, developing two websites, launching individual fundraising initiatives, and elevating the overall image of the nonprofitorganization as it grew from service across three regions in Florida to three states.

Prior to being hired by Prospera (then called the Hispanic Business Initiative Fund of Florida), Maria Angelica worked with the American Red Cross for nine years. During the first six, her marketing and communications responsibility grew from one Florida county to 13. She served as spokesperson, managed communications and public relations efforts, and led disaster public affairs for major disasters such as the 2007 Groundhog Day tornadoes, Hurricane Katrina, and the 2004 hurricanes. During the last three years at the Red Cross, Maria Angelica worked as a regional fundraising officer, leading the consolidation of four chapters’ individual and corporate major gifts programs, managing two major gifts donor affinity programs, and supported other fundraising activities such as direct mail and special events.

Originally from Colombia, Maria Angelica graduated from Texas Christian University with bachelor’s degrees in international economics and French. She has been actively involved in several chambers in the Central Florida region, participated in leadership development programs, and served as volunteer in community organizations and capacities. She currently lives in Central Florida with her husband and three sons.

Erick Isaac serves as the Vice President of Development at Prospera, a nonprofit that helps Hispanic entrepreneurs start, sustain, and grow their businesses. He is responsible for overseeing Prospera’s fund development efforts across Florida, North Carolina, Georgia, and beyond. He manages and implements the fundraising plan for the organization, leading the team in creating tools and strategies to support regional offices across three states. Additionally, he oversees all private and public investments, contributions, and grants for Prospera. Prior to this role, Erick worked for several years as a Prospera small business consultant across various regions, directly assisting clients and contributing to their entrepreneurial advancement. During his tenure at the organization, he has achieved several milestones, including establishing the fund development department, leading technology infrastructure efforts, driving service area expansion, and enhancing the overall fundraising culture as Prospera has scaled its services from three regions in Florida to three states.

With over 20 years of experience in the private and public sectors, Erick possesses expertise in compliance, operations, information technology, financial analysis, budgeting, and business process improvement. He has worked across various industries, including investment banking, technology, telecommunications, real estate, hospitality, and professional services. His professional journey includes roles in Miami Dade County’s Audit/Management Services and Management/Budget departments, leadership projects in the mayor’s office, and participation in the Office of Congressional and Intergovernmental Affairs for the U.S. Department of Labor’s Southeastern Regional Office. He also served as a compliance officer in private securities investment firms and worked with audit teams in the public and private sectors.

Erick’s academic pursuits reflect his dedication to continuous learning and professional development. After graduating from law school, he gained experience in a civil district court before transitioning to various compliance positions at private investment firms. While in South Florida, he furthered his education at Florida International University, earning bachelor’s and master’s degrees in public administration. His studies at FIU focused on Economic Development, leading to a certificate in Community & Economic Development, the field in which he has specialized since then

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