Dorene Dominguez and Xavier Gutierrez join the board of advisors to offer the program strategic guidance
Contact: Jon Purves
Senior Media Relations Manager
The Aspen Institute
Jon.Purves@aspeninstitute.org
Washington, DC, October 1 – Dorene Dominguez, Chairwoman and CEO of Vanir Group of Companies, Inc. and its subsidiaries Vanir Construction Management, Inc. and Xavier Gutierrez, President, CEO and Alternate Governor of the NHL Arizona Coyotes will serve on the Advisory Board to the Aspen Institute Latinos and Society Program (AILAS), announced Domenika Lynch, Executive Director. Dominguez has been recognized by “Fortune” magazine as one of “The 50 Most Powerful Latinas of 2017.” Gutierrez is the first Latino team president and CEO in National Hockey League history.
“Dorene and Xavier bring an accomplished level of experience, insight, and real-world perspective to the advisory board. Their commitment to equity and opportunity which is reflected in their extraordinary achievements will energize the work of AILAS as we continue to advance solutions to critical issues impacting Latinos and the nation,” said Gaddi Vasquez, Chairman of the Aspen Institute Latinos and Society Program.
Domenika Lynch, AILAS executive director, added, “We are excited to welcome Dorene and Xavier to our leadership! They are trailblazers whose achievements, as well as their community leadership, are both exemplary and expansive. We look forward to tapping into their keen intellect and passion for driving change as we find solutions to uplift the Latino community during these unprecedented times..”
Through Dominguez’s visionary leadership, Vanir is a leading minority- and woman-owned program, project, and construction management firm operating strategically throughout the United States. Vanir has delivered over $23 billion worth of projects since its inception and employs a growing staff of more than 400 talented executives, architects, engineers, construction managers, developers, contractors and support staff across seventeen regional offices located in major U.S. cities. Her philanthropic commitments focus access to higher education for students from underserved communities. In honor of her father’s memory, she founded The Dominguez Dream, a non-profit, which supports Literacy and STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Math) programs in ten partner elementary schools. She is also committed developing college pipeline programs in collaboration with the Nicholas Academic Centers and her alma mater, the University of Norte Dame. In addition to her corporate and philanthropic leadership, Dominguez holds the distinction of being the first Latina Governor of a National Basketball Association team, Sacramento Kings. She also serves on various corporate boards of publicly traded companies.
“I am excited to join the Aspen Institute’s Latinos and Society Program Advisory Board, which actively drives positive change that impacts individuals and families throughout the world. The Institute values diversity, equity and justice and I can think of no greater investment, during these challenging times,” said Dominguez.
This year Xavier Gutierrez made history as the first Latino President and CEO of the National Hockey League, leading the Arizona Coyotes franchise. In this role, Gutierrez oversees all business operations, strategic planning, significant organizational decision-making, and government relations for the club. Previously, he served as Managing Director at Clearlake Capital Group, a leading private investment firm that oversees $25 billion of institutional capital. Born in Guadalajara, Mexico, he and his family relocated to San Jose, California when he was a toddler. The quintessential American success story, Gutierrez graduated from Harvard and Stanford Law School, and for two decades built a sterling reputation in business and investment. A dedicated philanthropist and corporate leader, he serves on multiple boards and advisory councils including the Board of Directors and Investment Committee of the Arizona Community Foundation (ACF), a public charitable organization founded in 1978 that stewards nearly $1.0 billion in assets and manages more than 1,700 charitable foundations, funds and legacies for the greater Arizona community, and the Hispanic Scholarship Fund, the national organization focused on providing financial support for US Latinos to pursue higher education.
“The Latinos and Society Program is critical to the success of current and future Latino leaders. I am honored to serve on the advisory board with members who recognize that the economic empowerment of the Latino community in particular is vital to the US, and that our nation, now more than ever, needs the talent and dedication Latinos bring to industry, community service and government, said Gutierrez.
###
The Aspen Institute founded the Latinos and Society Program in 2015 to identify and promote ideas and solutions that foster greater opportunity for American Latinos, and enable a more prosperous, inclusive America for all. AILAS offers a series of initiatives, programs, convenings and conversations collectively aimed at increasing the economic advancement of Latinos by seeking to generate solutions and catalyze actions that advance a more prosperous and inclusive future for all.
The Aspen Institute is a global nonprofit organization committed to realizing a free, just, and equitable society. Founded in 1949, the Institute drives change through dialogue, leadership, and action to help solve the most important challenges facing the United States and the world. Headquartered in Washington, DC, the Institute has a campus in Aspen, Colorado, and an international network of partners. For more information, visit www.aspeninstitute.org.