Board of Directors

The foundation is managed by an Executive Committee that contributes its expertise in support of our mission, vision, and goals. Our Board Members are made up of volunteers, educators, leaders, parents, employment counselors, and administrators.

Each Board Member is asked to contribute in at least one area of their interest and where their expertise is the most beneficial towards accomplishing the mission of the foundation.

If you are interested in joining our Advisory Board, please email us at [email protected]

Executive Committee

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Lileana de Moya

Chair

Lileana (Lily) de Moya is a longtime advocate for the rights of children and young adults with disabilities. She is a registered nurse who holds a BSN; she obtained her Master's Degree in Special Education, at the University of Miami and has extensive training in the fields of special education and disabilities. Mrs. de Moya joined Parent to Parent of Miami in 2001 and held the position of training director until 2006; she later served on the Board of Trustees and as the Board President. She was the founder and director of JAG Education Consultants; has held consultant positions with Florida International University, University of Miami School of Law and other community agencies; and founded Project Panther LIFE: Learning is for Everyone, a college transition program for students with intellectual disabilities at Florida International University.

Currently Mrs. de Moya is the founder and CEO/President of The de Moya Foundation, a 501(c)(3) non-profit that is committed to creating employment opportunities for young adults with unique abilities by building long term partnerships with the employers and providing support for the employees while fostering hope, confidence and independence to ensure successful employment outcomes and community inclusion. Mrs. de Moya has a long history of service to the Miami-Dade community. Governor Rick Scott appointed Mrs. de Moya to The Children's Trust Board of Directors in 2011, where she served as chair of the Program Services/Childhood Health Committee and served as vice-chair until 2018. She served on Florida International University's College of Education Dean's Advisory Council, the State Advisory Committee for the Education of Exceptional Students, and the University of Miami Mailman Center for Child Development Advisory Committee, the Florida International University Special Education Advisory Board and the State Secondary Transition Interagency Council. She was awarded the "Henry Bandier C.A.M.P for Justice Fellowship" by the University of Miami Children's Youth and Law Clinic for her work with children and young adults with disabilities in foster care. She has been honored as Junior League of Miami’s Women Who Make a Difference in 2020, Univision has selected Mrs. De Moya for their new Univisarios documentary series in 2022. She has two sons, Jorge and Alex. Alex has very unique abilities and is the engine that keeps the train moving. She is blessed with three grandchildren, Alice, James and Violet.

Natalie Roque-Sanchez

Vice Chair

Natalie was born and raised in Miami, Florida and has 15 years of experience in the public sector. Upon graduating with her Bachelor’s in Business Administration from Florida International University she began working with a purpose at a local non-profit that supported families of children with disabilities. She later moved to higher education in the public sector where she reviewed and submitted research grant proposals, budgets, reports, processed awards, and ensured compliance with University policies and regulations for federal, state and local funding that included private foundations. When the opportunity arose with The de Moya Foundation to pioneer innovative solutions to the unemployment and underemployment of young adults with disabilities, she accepted the challenge and has been honored to witness the growing list of accomplishments a team inspired by one passionate individual can make in the community.

Kirsten Schwarz

Secretary

Kirsten Schwarz Olmedo is the Director of Design Therapy of Miami, she was born and raised in Miami, FL and earned her Bachelor of Arts in Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology from the University of Florida. She went on to earn her Master of Science Degree from Nova Southeastern University where she is currently completing her doctoral degree in education with a major in speech-language pathology. Her current research focuses on the language-literacy connection. Kirsten has also worked with Miami-Dade County Public Schools for over 14 years servicing elementary, middle, and high school students. Kirsten is fluent in American Sign Language, serves as a faculty member at the University of Miami, within the College of Education, and also provides baby sign language workshops for parents and families. Kirsten has always strived to stay up-to-date on the latest research and evidence-based practices. In 2001, Kirsten earned her National Board Teaching Certificate as an Exceptional Needs Specialist, focusing on students who are Deaf/Hard of Hearing. Kirsten truly loves working with her clients and their families as well as providing local, state, and national trainings for educators, other team members, and families to further enhance early intervention and appropriate referrals as well as increase the carryover of skills learned in therapy.

Richard Espinosa

Treasurer

Richard was born and raised in Miami, Florida. He is the son of a Cuban American father and Greek American mother. Richard is a graduate of Christopher Columbus High School. He received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Business Administration from the University of Florida and a Master of Science degree in Finance from Florida International University. Richard is a licensed Investment Advisor and is currently employed as a Director of Portfolio Management by Alvarium Investment Advisors (previously known as Guggenheim Partners Latin America). He has been with the company since 2014 serving in many capacities within the Portfolio Management division including client relations, market research, manager due diligence, real estate coinvestment due diligence, and portfolio construction for ultra-high net worth clients. Before joining Alvarium in 2014, he worked in Corporate Finance at MasterCard managing the P&L for a business unit responsible for over $300m in annual revenues.

Elvis Adan

General Counsel

Elvis John Adan is a brilliant attorney with deep knowledge and experience in Workers’ Compensation and employment law. Mr. Adan has achieved outstanding results on behalf of his clients. His commitment to protect the working class is evident throughout his career. He has handled all aspects or Workers’ Compensation claims as well as several types of employment claims including wrongful terminations, discrimination claims, unpaid overtime and unpaid wage claims. He knows how to run a law firm and he brings a diverse knowledge in other areas of law aside from Workers’ Compensation and employment law. Thanks to his bilingual and teaching background, Mr. Adan knows how to transmit the message in clear and concise terms to his clients. You will feel at ease with his approach. He received a Juris Doctor from St. Thomas University School of Law and has not stopped serving South Florida and clients from all over the world since then. He also studied at the World Institute of Legal Studies in Innsbruck, Austria where he was taught by former United States Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia. There he earned a Certificate in Comparative Constitutional Law. Also while in law school he served his school and community as a member of the Student Senate all three years. As a member of the Student Senate he gave back to the community by being part of the tax clinic where he prepared people’s taxes who could not afford those services. Additionally, while at St. Thomas he also received the Book Award for highest grade in Appellate Advocacy, a class which showcased his legal writing and researching skills.

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Alex de Moya

Program Ambassador

Alex de Moya works full time at The de Moya Group where he is his Compound Supervisor Assistant and clerical assistant for The de Moya Foundation and the CEO. He plays Special Olympics flag football, bocce, softball and golf. He is a huge UM Hurricane fan and enjoys attending their basketball and football games along with the Miami Dolphin and Miami Heat games. . He helps the Foundation by fundraising, networking, and helping to plan and working events. Alex is the motivation behind The de Moya Foundation and represents the Foundation with pride.

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Jill Brookner

Employment Program Liaison

Jill Brookner, Employment Project Director, DMF Employment Opportunities holds an Ed.S. in Guidance and Counseling, a Master’s in Administration and Supervision, and a Bachelor’s of Science in Special Education. She brings 40 years of experience and advocacy in the special education field, in both the public and private sector. Jill was employed with Miami Dade County Public Schools for 36 years as a special education teacher, behavior management teacher, educational specialist, and instructional supervisor of programs for students with intellectual disabilities, physical impairments, assistive technology and transition services which serves approximately 12,000 transition-aged students with disabilities per year. Her team created inclusive and innovative transition programs throughout the county in locations such as Zoo Miami, Miami International Airport, Cities of Miami and Hialeah and Florida International University. As Director of DMF Employment she brings her history of passion and advocacy for those with unique abilities with a reinforced commitment to employment equity and inclusive practices in the workplace.

Board Members

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Carlos Valdes

Carlos Manuel Valdes grew up in Havana, Cuba. Arrived in the United States in 1981 at the age of fifteen. He is a technologist and a social entrepreneur. Has founded three successful companies, all working in some fashion to eradicate the digital divide in America. Carlos started his technology career at the Miami Herald in 1987. He grew from programmer to manager of systems support. While at the Herald, Carlos founded Zipdata.net, a twenty four year old technology and support company in Miami, Florida. He provides strategy consulting and technology investment advice to major non-profits in Florida. Working with the Health Foundation of South Florida, has served as a technology rider for non-profits organizations. He improved their technological capabilities with grants from the Foundation. Carlos is also the CEO of Bluejeanware, a software development company with clients like the Knight Foundation and the Epilepsy Foundation of Florida. Bluejeanware employs many recent immigrants as software developers. One of Carlos’ great accomplishments is to help bridge the cultural gap for these individuals in the American economic landscape. He has many stories of immigrants embracing their own American dream. Carlos co-authored the WELS System. A web software that measures the quality of child care facilities and helps improve it. The software makes education in child care measurable and accountable. WELS works with the ELC, the children’s trust, the University of Washington State, City University of New York, Florida International University, University of New Mexico, and others to improve the quality of subsidized childcare for all. Carlos is a past board member of the WOW Center in Miami. He is currently a member of the Cuban studies group for Harvard University. For fun, Carlos enjoys sailing on Biscayne Bay, he is an avid barbecue connoisseur, and a software developer at night. He has five children and wishes they did not play so many video games. He predicts that in the future, machines will build things, not humans. And programmers will be in high demand.

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Dorcas Mateu Gonzalez

Dorcas Mateu Gonzalez is a Registered Dental Hygienist with nearly three decades of experience in her field. Dorcas was born in Holguin, Cuba and immigrated with her family to Miami as a young child. Despite completing all requirements and gaining admission to dental school in the United States, Dorcas decided to pursue Dental Hygiene to allow her to focus more on her family. She completed her studies in the Dental Hygiene Program at Miami Dade College and immediately became nationally certified and obtained her state of Florida licensure. Despite practicing dental hygiene, Dorcas’ focus over the past 20 years has been with her 3 special needs boys. She began the “on the job training” when her first born was only a child. Through the development of these 3 young boys, Dorcas has dealt with psychologist, neurologist, speech pathologist, occupational therapist, behavior therapist, and even with the state of Florida Agency for Health Care Administration in obtaining the Medicaid waiver for her son. The multitude of assistance needed by her children and the flexibility needed in her schedule led Dorcas to pursue a career as a Mary Kay Sales Director. She drove the coveted Pink Cadillac while recruiting nearly 200 women to her team. As the children’s needs changed, Dorcas was instrumental in developing a program at Baptist Health to provide the opportunity for special needs high schoolers to obtain a work experience. That program led to the employment of young adults with unique abilities in Baptist Health. Her involvement in The DeMoya Foundation allows her to continue her desire improve the employment of those with disabilities. On her spare time, Dorcas enjoys playing the piano, leading worship at her local church and helping mothers of special needs children navigate the rough waters of raising a youngster with unique abilities.

Jorge de Moya

Jorge de Moya is the Media & Outreach Manager for the foundation. He graduated from Full Sail University with a Bachelors in Film Production and a Masters in Entertainment Business. Jorge worked in the industry for over a decade on multiple media projects from Discovery Channel, OWN, Red Bull & a variety of digital media projects. As an older sibling of a young adult with a developmental disability, Jorge understands the importance of pushing young adults to exceed expectations the same way he did for his younger brother. Always believing that there were no such things as labels or obstacles, Jorge constantly advocated for his young brother and the disabilities community even at a young age in school. Jorge still runs a small digital media company called 90 Miles Media in addition to his full time commitment to The de Moya Foundation. Dedicated to being an avid dance dad, hockey dad and husband, Jorge loves hockey, golf, movies and dogs while always remembering his Cuban roots. Jorge looks forward to providing this digital media expertise to take the board to new levels.

Marcel Monnar

As a child, Marcel was a struggling learner and understands, first-hand, many of the struggles students face daily in and out of school. His career in education began when he was 20 years old, while attending community college, working as an after-school counselor at a school for children with special needs. During his time there, he learned how living in a multi-cultural city, children from different backgrounds have varying needs and require different support necessary to be successful in school. Still pursuing his degree, Marcel recognized the need for a quality program offering individualized instruction to struggling learners in a "one-on-one" setting, thus founded One on One Learning. Twenty-two years later, One on One Learning services students of all ages and abilities nation-wide. Marcel graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Specific Learning Disabilities and an Educational Specialist Degree in School Psychology from Florida International University. Marcel is the recipient of the 2011 Education Leader of the Year award from the South Florida Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and sits on the board of Amigos for Kids, a non-profit organization that operates to prevent child abuse and neglect. His efforts focus on creating individualized remedial programs for all students no matter their learning style, need, or background. His goal in life is to provide students with real, innovative opportunities to learn and be successful in school. His involvement with students provides mentorship, counseling, and prescribed academic programs by incorporating diagnostic evaluations and modern curriculums. Founded in 2000, One on One Learning specializes in offering high-quality academic assistance to at-risk students and their families. As a nationally accredited educational services provider, their programs have expanded to include counseling and student mentoring in addition to academic support. Currently, One on One Learning provides services to over 10,000 students annually.