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CHAIRMAN'S AWARD
Recognizing outstanding Latino leadership and significant contributions that uplift our community.
The Chairman’s Award honors an outstanding Latino leader whose leadership, service, and contributions have made a significant and lasting impact on our community. Through their dedication to advancing opportunity, strengthening communities, and uplifting others, recipients embody the values of leadership, service, and community that are central to the Latino Leaders Network.
Established
2015
Total Recipients
17
Alan Salazar
Denver Water CEO/Manager
August 2026
Alan Salazar is CEO/Manager of Denver Water and a longtime Colorado public servant with more than three decades of experience in local, state, and federal government. Previously Chief of Staff to Denver Mayor Michael Hancock, he also held senior leadership roles with Governor John Hickenlooper, Congressman Mark Udall, and Governor Roy Romer, building a career focused on public policy, natural resources, infrastructure, and community service.
August 2026
Alan Salazar is CEO/Manager of Denver Water and a longtime Colorado public servant with more than three decades of experience in local, state, and federal government. Previously Chief of Staff to Denver Mayor Michael Hancock, he also held senior leadership roles with Governor John Hickenlooper, Congressman Mark Udall, and Governor Roy Romer, building a career focused on public policy, natural resources, infrastructure, and community service.
Hon. Lena Gonzalez
Chair,
California Latino Legislative Caucus
November 2025
Lena Gonzalez served as California State Senate Majority Leader and Chair of the California Latino Legislative Caucus in 2025, representing the 33rd Senate District, including Long Beach and Southeast Los Angeles. A former Long Beach City Councilmember, she has championed working families, environmental justice, digital equity, expanded paid sick leave, and economic opportunity for underserved communities.
California Latino Legislative Caucus
November 2025
Lena Gonzalez served as California State Senate Majority Leader and Chair of the California Latino Legislative Caucus in 2025, representing the 33rd Senate District, including Long Beach and Southeast Los Angeles. A former Long Beach City Councilmember, she has championed working families, environmental justice, digital equity, expanded paid sick leave, and economic opportunity for underserved communities.
Hon. Adrian Fontes
Arizona Secretary of State
Secretary of State
March 2025
Adrian Fontes served as Arizona’s 21st Secretary of State in 2025. A U.S. Marine Corps veteran, attorney, and former Maricopa County Recorder, he has focused his public service on strengthening election security, expanding voter access, increasing transparency, and building public trust in Arizona’s election system.
Secretary of State
March 2025
Adrian Fontes served as Arizona’s 21st Secretary of State in 2025. A U.S. Marine Corps veteran, attorney, and former Maricopa County Recorder, he has focused his public service on strengthening election security, expanding voter access, increasing transparency, and building public trust in Arizona’s election system.
María Teresa Kumar
Voto Latino
President & CEO
August 2024
María Teresa Kumar served as President and CEO of Voto Latino in 2024, leading one of the nation’s prominent Latino civic engagement organizations. A political strategist and Emmy-nominated media commentator, she has dedicated her career to expanding voter registration, civic participation, and political engagement, particularly among young Latino voters.
President & CEO
August 2024
María Teresa Kumar served as President and CEO of Voto Latino in 2024, leading one of the nation’s prominent Latino civic engagement organizations. A political strategist and Emmy-nominated media commentator, she has dedicated her career to expanding voter registration, civic participation, and political engagement, particularly among young Latino voters.
Miguel Santana
California Community Foundation
President & CEO
November 2023
Miguel A. Santana became President and CEO of the California Community Foundation in 2023, bringing more than three decades of leadership across government, philanthropy, nonprofit, and community sectors. A former Los Angeles City Administrative Officer and Los Angeles County Deputy CEO, he has dedicated his career to advancing equity, addressing homelessness, and strengthening opportunities for communities throughout Southern California. Miguel previously served on the Latino Leaders Network Board of Directors.
President & CEO
November 2023
Miguel A. Santana became President and CEO of the California Community Foundation in 2023, bringing more than three decades of leadership across government, philanthropy, nonprofit, and community sectors. A former Los Angeles City Administrative Officer and Los Angeles County Deputy CEO, he has dedicated his career to advancing equity, addressing homelessness, and strengthening opportunities for communities throughout Southern California. Miguel previously served on the Latino Leaders Network Board of Directors.
Hon. Tom Perez
The White House
Senior Advisor & Assistant to the President
September 2023
Tom Perez served in 2023 as Senior Advisor and Assistant to the President and Director of the White House Office of Intergovernmental Affairs. A former U.S. Secretary of Labor and Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights, he has built a career advancing civil rights, worker protections, and opportunity through leadership at the local, state, and federal levels.
Senior Advisor & Assistant to the President
September 2023
Tom Perez served in 2023 as Senior Advisor and Assistant to the President and Director of the White House Office of Intergovernmental Affairs. A former U.S. Secretary of Labor and Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights, he has built a career advancing civil rights, worker protections, and opportunity through leadership at the local, state, and federal levels.
Hon. Will Hurd
U.S. House of Representatives
Congressman
August 2020
Will Hurd served as U.S. Representative for Texas’ 23rd Congressional District from 2015 to 2021. A former undercover CIA officer, he brought extensive national security and intelligence experience to Congress and became a leading voice on technology, cybersecurity, border security, and bipartisan problem-solving.
Congressman
August 2020
Will Hurd served as U.S. Representative for Texas’ 23rd Congressional District from 2015 to 2021. A former undercover CIA officer, he brought extensive national security and intelligence experience to Congress and became a leading voice on technology, cybersecurity, border security, and bipartisan problem-solving.
Hon. Tony Cárdenas
U.S. House of Representatives
Congressman
January 2020
Tony Cárdenas served as the U.S. Representative for California’s 29th Congressional District, representing communities throughout the San Fernando Valley. A former California State Assemblymember and Los Angeles City Councilmember, he dedicated his career to expanding opportunities for working families, youth, and Latino communities.
Congressman
January 2020
Tony Cárdenas served as the U.S. Representative for California’s 29th Congressional District, representing communities throughout the San Fernando Valley. A former California State Assemblymember and Los Angeles City Councilmember, he dedicated his career to expanding opportunities for working families, youth, and Latino communities.
Hon. Richard Alatorre
State Assemblymember
November 2020
Richard Alatorre was a pioneering California political leader who served in the State Assembly and on the Los Angeles City Council. The first Latino elected to the City Council in more than two decades, he played a pivotal role in expanding Latino political representation and championed civil rights, economic opportunity, and public transportation.
November 2020
Richard Alatorre was a pioneering California political leader who served in the State Assembly and on the Los Angeles City Council. The first Latino elected to the City Council in more than two decades, he played a pivotal role in expanding Latino political representation and championed civil rights, economic opportunity, and public transportation.
Hon. Richard Polanco
California State Senate
State Senator
November 2018
Richard Polanco is a former California State Senator and Assemblymember who became the first Latino to serve as Senate Majority Leader. A longtime advocate for Latino political representation, he played a significant role in expanding civic participation and developing a new generation of Latino leaders throughout California.
State Senator
November 2018
Richard Polanco is a former California State Senator and Assemblymember who became the first Latino to serve as Senate Majority Leader. A longtime advocate for Latino political representation, he played a significant role in expanding civic participation and developing a new generation of Latino leaders throughout California.
Hon. Eric Garcetti
Mayor
City of Los Angeles
January 2018
Eric Garcetti served as Mayor of Los Angeles from 2013 to 2022, becoming the city’s youngest mayor in more than a century when first elected. A longtime public servant and former Los Angeles City Council President, he focused his leadership on economic growth, transportation, sustainability, and expanding opportunity across the city.
City of Los Angeles
January 2018
Eric Garcetti served as Mayor of Los Angeles from 2013 to 2022, becoming the city’s youngest mayor in more than a century when first elected. A longtime public servant and former Los Angeles City Council President, he focused his leadership on economic growth, transportation, sustainability, and expanding opportunity across the city.
Hon. John Giles
Mayor
City of Mesa, AZ
June 2019
John Giles served as Mayor of Mesa, Arizona, after first being elected in 2014. A Mesa native, attorney, and former city councilmember and vice mayor, he focused his leadership on economic development, education, community engagement, and improving quality of life for Mesa residents.
City of Mesa, AZ
June 2019
John Giles served as Mayor of Mesa, Arizona, after first being elected in 2014. A Mesa native, attorney, and former city councilmember and vice mayor, he focused his leadership on economic development, education, community engagement, and improving quality of life for Mesa residents.
Hon. Catherine Cortez-Masto
United States Senator
January 2017
Catherine Cortez Masto became Nevada’s first woman and first Hispanic American elected to the U.S. Senate, taking office in 2017. A former federal prosecutor and two-term Nevada Attorney General, she has focused her public service on law enforcement, consumer protection, and issues affecting Nevada families and communities.
January 2017
Catherine Cortez Masto became Nevada’s first woman and first Hispanic American elected to the U.S. Senate, taking office in 2017. A former federal prosecutor and two-term Nevada Attorney General, she has focused her public service on law enforcement, consumer protection, and issues affecting Nevada families and communities.
Hon. George Gascón
District Attorney
City of San Francisco
June 2015
George Gascón served as District Attorney of San Francisco, becoming the first Latino to hold the office. A former San Francisco Police Chief and longtime law enforcement leader, he became nationally known for criminal justice reform initiatives focused on public safety, alternatives to incarceration, and reducing recidivism.
City of San Francisco
June 2015
George Gascón served as District Attorney of San Francisco, becoming the first Latino to hold the office. A former San Francisco Police Chief and longtime law enforcement leader, he became nationally known for criminal justice reform initiatives focused on public safety, alternatives to incarceration, and reducing recidivism.
Hon. Rushern L Baker III
County Executive
Prince George
January 2015
Rushern Leslie Baker III is an American lawyer and politician who served as the 7th county executive of Prince George's County, Maryland from 2010 to 2018. He previously served as a member of the Maryland House of Delegates from 1994 to 2003, representing District 22B in northern Prince George's County.
Prince George
January 2015
Rushern Leslie Baker III is an American lawyer and politician who served as the 7th county executive of Prince George's County, Maryland from 2010 to 2018. He previously served as a member of the Maryland House of Delegates from 1994 to 2003, representing District 22B in northern Prince George's County.
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