Gonzalez received his B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Texas A&M University in 1995. In May 2005, he completed his Master of Public Administration with a Nonprofit Administration emphasis at the Andrew Young School of Public Policy at Georgia State University. In 2003, the Andrew Young School recognized Gonzalez’s outstanding academic achievement by inducting him into the Pi Alpha Alpha National Honor Society for Public Affairs and Administration. He has a history of political activism. As a previous member of the DeKalb County Democratic Party, he was the 2nd Vice Chair overseeing the Election Procedures, Campaign Research, and Voter Registration Committees. For his dedication to these committees, he was honored with the party's Chairman's Award in 2001. In addition, he was the only Hispanic to represent the Georgia delegation at the 2000 Democratic National Convention in Los Angeles, CA.

Lydia Jones, Director, Small Business Development Center  

Her previous work experience includes upper management and executive-level functions in several mid-sized companies. She has extensive experience in all phases of organizational operations, including financial, human resources, and marketing management. Her experience also includes business ownership and service on several corporate boards.Prior to joining the KSU/SBDC, Ms. Jones was a business consultant and instructor at the Georgia State University Small Business Development Center. She is certified by the Kauffman Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership to facilitate FastTrac Planning® and New Venture™ programs, and by the National Women Business Owners Corporation for WBE Certification, a process that assists with certification of women-owned businesses. She is also a taskforce member of the Georgia Women Entrepreneurs (GWEN).

Teodoro Maus, International Issues Consultant

B.S. in Architecture, National Autonomous University of Mexico (U.N.A.M.). Mr. Maus has held appointments as Cultural Attaché; delegate to the Permanent Mission of Mexico to the U.N.; Consul General of Mexico in Atlanta; Director General (Assistant Under-Secretary) to the "Program for Mexican Communities Abroad" of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mexico; President of the Mexican-American Business Chamber; Vice-Chairman of the Regional Health Forum and the Georgia Arts Council; member of the Board of Trustees of the Atlanta International School and of the Board of Advisors of the United Americas Bank.  

Ashok K. Roy, Assistant Vice President for Financial Services

Dr. Ashok K. Roy is the Assistant Vice President for Financial Services at Kennesaw State University. He has significant management experience in the private sector, government, and academia. Dr. Roy is the author of more than fifty-five articles on a wide range of topics. His scholarship and interest in Latin America includes publications on the Brazilian economic miracle from 1965-1973 and paper presentations on the Latin American Debt Problem. Dr. Roy holds multiple advanced degrees and professional certifications. In recognition of his public service, Dr. Roy was awarded the honorific title by the State of Tennessee of Colonel ---- the highest civilian award bestowed by the Governor. .

Daniel "Dan" Vargas

Dan Vargas, has more than 30 years of experience in advertising. In New York City he worked as lead Art Director on the client’s side at Avon Products, served as an Art Director for many top New York agencies such as: Wells Rich & Greene, Shaller Ruben, and William Douglas McAdams.
In 1990 he founded Vargas Flores & Amigos, the only Latino agency in Georgia during the last 12 years. He sold his interest in the company, and is now consulting on numerous projects representing the Latino market, both in and out of the state of Georgia. Vargas has works as a Latino consultant on numerous HUD projects, the CDC, the Georgia Dept. of Medical Health and the National Arthritis Foundation. In Miami, Florida Dan was assigned, AMI Hospitals for the Southeast region on both mainstream and specialized Latino advertising. One of the important issues he covered was Colorectal Cancer.

Ignacio Luis Taboada, Honorary Vice Consul, Spain
& President of Phonix Global Mortgage Corporation
1010 Huntcliff, Suite 3215, Atlanta, GA30350
(770) 518-2406 Fax (770)518-2411
itaboada@aol.com