Together We Make A Difference

Nominee Biographies for 2017 Election

President-Elect – serves 1-year as President-Elect followed by 1-year as President
Ruth Hurtado-Day
Julissa Isabel Reyes
Elizabeth B. Russell

Treasurer – serves a 2-year term
Maritza Ortega

Board Members at Large (2 positions) – serves a 2-year term
Christina Principe
Natalia Vargas

Ruth Hurtado-Day

Name	Ruth Hurtado-Day
Address	20421 Cabana Drive, Germantown, MD United States of America
Phone	301-233-5725
Email	rhurtado-day@hrsa.gov
Board Position	President-Elect
Education	Hood College University of Maryland University College
Current Employment	Health Resources and Services Administration
Professional Organization(s)	National Association of Hispanic Federal Executives (NAHFE) Young Government Leaders (YGL) Bethesda Chapter Toastmasters
Past Offices Held	NAHFE Secretary YGL- Bethesda – Co-Director of Membership and Recruitment Toastmasters – Sargent at Arms
Goals and Objectives to Accomplish if Elected	1) Work on professional development opportunities for current HHS Hispanic staff 2) Assist with recruitment efforts to improve the number of Hispanics hired within HHS 3) Provide a strong network of Hispanic employees across HHS
Consent to Serve	I consent to serve if elected to office

Julissa Isabel Reyes

Name	Julissa Isabel Reyes
Address	10600 Montrose Avenue, Bethesda, Maryland 20814 United States of America
Phone	3016743461
Email	reyesju@cc.nih.gov
Board Position	President-Elect
Education	Bachelor Science in Nursing. BLS Instructor ACLS Certification PALS Certification ONS Chemotherapy and Biotherapy Provider Currently applying for a Masters degree in Nursing
Current Employment	NIH Clinical Center Intensive Care Unit
Professional Organization(s)	AACN (American Association of Critical Care Nurses) NAHN (National Association of Hispanic Nurses) Including Washington DC Chapter.
Past Offices Held	Acting President of Nursing Chapter at Montgomery College Board of Governors Alumni Montgomery College- Participated in Government Affairs. Sub-committee Scholarship Awards NIH Recruitment and Retention Hospital wide committee administration liaison NIH Nursing Department Award Committee
Goals and Objectives to Accomplish if Elected	I would like to be considered for President-elect. With my experience, I can contribute in health improvement and awareness among Hispanic population in general. Promote education in BLS. Encourage volunteering to give back to the community. Serve as a bridge between agencies focusing on health, nutrition and wellbeing. In addition, create opportunities for networking and social gathering.
Consent to Serve	I consent to serve if elected to office

Elizabeth B. Russell

Name	Elizabeth B. Russell
Address	330 C ST SW, Room 5123, Washington, DC 22303 United States of America
Phone	6463732253
Email	elizabeth.russell@acf.hhs.gov
Board Position	President-Elect
Education	Bachelor of Arts (BA), Psychology, City College, NYC 1999 Master of Public and Urban Health (MPH), Hunter College, NYC 2001 Master of Public Administration (MPA), Baruch College, NYC 2003 Certificate in Theology, AG Bible Institute, NYC 2003 Grants Management Certificate, Management Concepts, DC 2005 Leadership and Management Certificate, Management Concepts, DC 2008 Federal Financial Management Certificate, Management Concepts, DC 2008 Interagency Humanitarian Assistance/Disaster certificate, USAID/OFDA 2009 Financial Management Certificate, Management Concepts, DC 2011 Advanced Certificate in Crisis Response and Trauma Care Counseling, Light University 2014 Field Medical Emergency Readiness, USPHS Responder E-learn 2016 Graduate Certificate in Global Health and Global Health Engagement, USUHS Currently Enrolled
Current Employment	HHS/ACF/ORR HHS Repatriation Program Coordinator and Emergency Management Coordinator for Refugee Programs • Lead the HHS Repatriation Program emergency and non-emergency activities. • Accountable for day-to-day operations and direction. • Oversee case management database, case eligibility determinations, and provision of multitude of services necessary for the welfare (e.g. social services) and wellbeing of approximately 1000 individuals referred by the U.S. Embassies annually. Responsible for the resettlement assistance provided in the U.S. states and/or territories for up-to-90-day. • Responsible for the development and/or implementation of Program statue, regulations, policies, national plans, operating procedures, strategic solutions, and guidelines. • Responsible for the maintenance and execution of the HHS National Emergency Repatriation Plans, Ebola Annex, and oversight of all the U.S. territories’ and states’ emergency repatriation plans (SERPs) • Direct, supervise, monitor, train, and/or guide the repatriation staff, states, grantees, local providers and federal agencies on overall Program activities, policies, and operation. • Manage the administration and revision of grant actions, agreements, contracts, repatriation loan collections, and Program finances. • Represent HHS on various meetings, conferences, and taskforces both in-person and remotely. • Responsible for developing responses to internal and external correspondences and complaints (E.g. Congressional and international). • Lead and as applicable serve as the HHS/ACF liaison to various interagency workgroups, including the Department of State Washington Liaison Group. • Serve as the lead ACF liaison to HHS/ASPR and stakeholders on U.S. Repatriation Program, Mass-migration, and Refugee emergency related activities. • Manage COOP activities for the U.S. Repatriation and Refugee Programs. • Coordinate the development, maintenance and execution of all emergency management and operation activities for the Refugee programs.
Professional Organization(s)	Assemblies of God Church Licensed Minister 2015 – present American Public Health Association Member 2014 – present American Association of Christian Counselors Member 2014 – present COA – National/DC Metro Branch Member 2012- present Medical Reserved Corps, Alexandria VA Volunteer 2012 – present Military Officers Association of America Member 2012- present National Council on Interpreting in Health Care Member 2011-present
Past Offices Held	Committee Board President – Façade Program, New Haven, CT (2005) Community Fund Board Member – New York Presbyterian Hospital (1998-2000) PHPAG Awards Subcommittee Co-chair – 2017-present PHPAG Policy Submitted Co-chair 2014-2015 PHSPAG Awards Subcommittee Secretary 2014-2016 PHPAG Awards Subcommittee Resource Coordinator 2012-2014 PHPAG Policy Subcommittee General Member 2013 – present PHPAG Global Health Group Member 2015-2016 PHS Women’s Leadership Support Group, DC Area General Member 2016-present
Goals and Objectives to Accomplish if Elected	Eagerly support the HHS-HEO goals and agenda by successfully executing the duties of the job. Successfully facilitate and promote a healthy and fluid communication between the HHS-HEO and its members.
Consent to Serve	I consent to serve if elected to office

Maritze Ortega

Name	Maritze Ortega
Address	353 Fallsgrove Drive, Unit B, Rockville, MD 20850 United States of America
Phone	3017965625
Email	miaugirl@comcast.net
Board Position	Treasurer
Education	University of Maryland, College Park Master’s Degree 12/2015 Professional Studies in Clinical Psychological Science GPA: 3.53 of a maximum 4.0University of Maryland, University College (UMUC) Bachelor’s Degree 12/2010 GPA: 3.56 of a maximum 4.0 Credits Earned: 120 Semester hours Major: Psychology Minor: BiologyMontgomery College Associate’s Degree 08/1999 GPA: 3.15 of a maximum 4.00 Major: Computer Applications
Current Employment	Food And Drug Administration (FDA) Center for Devices and Radiological Health (CDRH) Office of Device Evaluation (ODE) Division of Ophthalmic and Ear, Nose and Throat Devices (DOED)Position Title: Assistant Director for Program Operations (ADPO)
Professional Organization(s)	n/a
Past Offices Held	Parent Representative (Advocate/ outreach) for Hispanic Community at Richard Montgomery High School
Goals and Objectives to Accomplish if Elected	I would like to learn more about this position and provide my expertise as the budget administrator in my current job
Consent to Serve	I consent to serve if elected to office

Christina Principe

Name	Christina Principe
Address	330 C St SW, Washington, DC 20011 United States of America
Phone	202-205-4626
Email	christina.principe@acf.hhs.gov
Board Position	Board Member at Large
Education	University of Delaware – BS – Human Development & Family Studies (1996) Howard University – Masters in Social Work: Macro concentration – Displaced Immigrant/Refugee populations (2014)
Current Employment	Department of Health and Human Services Administration for Children and Families Family and Youth Services Bureau Family Violence Prevention Services ProgramPosition: Program Specialist
Professional Organization(s)	National Association of Social Workers Licensed Graduate Social Worker (LGSW)
Past Offices Held	Board Member: Delaware Coalition Against Domestic Violence (former)
Goals and Objectives to Accomplish if Elected	In my previous position as a Program Specialist with the Department of Justice/US Attorney’s Office I served as the Special Emphasis Hispanic Program Manager and represented the group for the US Attorney’s Office. I was also a member of the Department of Justice Association of Hispanic Employees for Advancement and Development (DOJ/AHEAD) and participated in their mentoring program. I’m committed to Hispanic representation in the Federal Government and efforts to undertake these endeavors. I would love the opportunity to contribute to HHS initiatives for Hispanic federal employees.
Consent to Serve	I consent to serve if elected to office

Natalia Vargas

Name	Natalia Vargas
Address	5600 Fishers Ln, Ste 06E85, Rockville, Maryland 20857 United States of America
Phone	301-427-1947
Email	natalia.vargas@ahrq.hhs.gov
Board Position	Board Member at Large
Education	Doctor of Philosophy in Public Health (Epidemiology), Walden University, June 2015-present Masters of Public Health (Global Health), University of South Florida, Aug 2008-Dec 2010 B. S. in Interdisciplinary Biomedical Sciences, University of Central Florida, Aug 2004-May 2008
Current Employment	U.S Department of Health and Human Services, Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, Office of Extramural Research, Education and Priority Populations
Professional Organization(s)	American Public Health Association
Past Offices Held
Goals and Objectives to Accomplish if Elected	If elected, I would encourage the AHRQ leadership to promote diversity and support Hispanic employee retention and hiring through partnerships with other HHS/HEO organizations. AHRQ does not currently have an HEO and the few Hispanic employees in my organization are disconnected and scattered. I intend to bring a sense of community to the Hispanic employees at AHRQ and work in partnership with other agency HEO’s to utilize their best practices and lessons learned to engage AHRQ leadership in productive conversations that address the salient issues that Hispanic employees face, and support agency-wide efforts to hire talented Hispanics, incentivize them to stay and engage with the agency’s priority’s around minority health initiatives where a different voice and perspective from minority communities is much needed. In addition, if elected, I am hoping to work in partnership with other Board members to carry out the vision for the HHS/HEO. WE must work together to leave a footprint in this Administration by representing our communities within and outside of government. Lastly, we must aim to give a voice to Hispanics throughout HHS and continue to encourage that the valuable work of HHS considers the needs of Hispanics in the programs we fund and support.
Consent to Serve	I consent to serve if elected to office