Brandon Ivan Peña is a proud Mexican-American entrepreneur, born and raised in the El Paso/Juárez region. He is the CEO of 787 Coffee, a company dedicated to offering a true farm-to-cup experience. He is also the author of the Amazon-recognized best-selling book Creative Fcker* and the owner of Hacienda Iluminada, a coffee farm in Maricao, Puerto Rico, where coffee is grown, processed, and roasted.

Today, 787 Coffee operates more than 30 locations across Puerto Rico, New York, and Texas, with expansion plans in Mexico City. Beyond coffee, Brandon leads his personal brand, brandON, where he provides business consulting, motivational keynote speaking, and his signature Business Labs workshops. With more than 20 years of experience, he has mentored entrepreneurs and inspired countless professionals worldwide.

Throughout his career, Brandon has collaborated with Fortune 500 companies including One World Alliance, Tevisa, INC., and more. He has been a featured speaker and event designer at international platforms such as Social Media Week Puerto Rico, Design Shanghai, and Latinos Pa’Lante. In 2025, he was awarded the Google Ads Impact Award for innovation in AI and business excellence.

Recognized by Forbes as one of the entrepreneurs with the greatest potential in its initiative The Next 1000, Brandon also holds an MBA from the University of Miami. He is celebrated as a humanizer of brands, committed to building businesses with integrity and purpose, and continues to share his expertise on the global stage.

Chris Cordova is the Community Manager for the San Antonio /  Austin, TX for Community & Business Development. He is a local ambassador for Chase whose job is to build and nurture relationships with key community leaders, nonprofit partners, and small businesses. Chris hosts financial health workshops, facilitates non-profit partnerships and offers community programming. He is helping to advance opportunity by supporting underserved communities with tools and resources to help them improve their financial wellbeing.

With over 12 years of experience in the financial literacy industry, Chris has held several positions including Financial Education Coordinator for Foundation Communities. Prior to this role, Chris served as Community Outreach Coordinator at United Way’s 211 Program and Bank on Central Texas. He is currently an active member of JP Morgan Volunteer Leadership / Latino Business Resource Group and has served on Community Boards for various non-profits.  Chris has worked as a Consultant for Austin Based Community Engagement Firm, Cultural Strategies and is a graduate of Leadership Austin’s Essential Cohort for 2025.

Hugo Rojo is a proud El Pasoan who currently serves as the head of communications for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, a newspaper with 157 years of history undergoing a rapid digital transformation, in Atlanta, Georgia. Hugo joined the AJC in August 2025 after a decade living and working in Washington, DC through different communications roles with NPR, The Atlantic magazine, and CBS News. Hugo is a graduate of Americas High School and the University of Texas at Austin, where he earned a bachelor's of science in public relations.

Jacob Pace is an internet entrepreneur from El Paso, Texas. He began producing music and building online audiences as a teenager, launching his first YouTube channel at 14. After graduating high school, he moved to Los Angeles at 16 to join music tech startup Create Music Group, now a billion-dollar company, where he served as Vice President of Business Development.

At Create Music Group, Jacob identified and led the acquisition of Flighthouse, a small social media account that he transformed into one of TikTok’s largest Gen Z content studios, amassing tens of millions of followers. As CEO, he guided Flighthouse’s growth into a multi-million-dollar business, shaping its creative direction and brand partnerships across music and digital culture.

In 2021, Jacob joined the creator economy startup Pearpop, co-founded by Guy Oseary, the longtime manager of Madonna and U2, as Chief Strategy Officer. Today, he is building a venture studio that connects investors with emerging founders at the intersection of deep tech, media, and the creator economy, helping shape the next generation of entrepreneurs driving the future of culture and technology.

Jacob has been recognized by Rolling Stone’s “Future 25” and Forbes’ “30 Under 30” lists for his contributions to the evolving landscape of digital media and entrepreneurship.

Jonathan is a licensed professional engineer and a Structural Steel Specialist with the American Institute of Steel Construction (AISC). He consults with architects, engineers, and developers to explore sustainable building design solutions with structural steel. He has experience with high-rise building design, design for safety-related nuclear power plant structures, and oversaw the development and publication of two ANSI-accredited structural steel design standards. He is the Founder of Borderland Big Ideas (BBI), an accessible ideas platform that aims to inspire curiosity and innovation in the El Paso borderland region and beyond through curated shared experiences and impactful conversation. Jonathan obtained his Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from the University of Texas at El Paso, and a Master of Science in Structural Engineering from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

Luisa Garcia is an accomplished engineering professional originally from El Paso, Texas, who spent her early years in Ciudad Juárez, Mexico. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering and a Master’s degree in Systems Engineering from The University of Texas at El Paso. Luisa began her career at UTEP’s Aerospace Center, where she conducted research on the fabrication of 3D-printed sensors for humidity detection. Her passion for advanced technology and innovation led her to Lockheed Martin, where she initially contributed to the Hypersonic Missiles program. Today, Luisa serves as an Associate Manager in Electronics Engineering for the F-35 program in Fort Worth, Texas. Outside of work, she enjoys spending time with her two corgis, Dobby and Casper, who frequently join her on trips back home to El Paso.

S. David Ramirez, CFEE, is an award-winning marketer and technologist based in San Antonio. His agency, SDMRamirez, serves events, entrepreneurs, and economic development organizations across the nation. David serves on the boards of the International Festivals and Events Association Foundation and the Texas Festivals and Events Association. He is the conference director for San Antonio Startup Week, faculty at the IFEA/NRPA Event Management School, and a facilitator for the U.T. San Antonio Institute for Economic Development.

Yvonne Loya is the Assistant Director for K–12 Initiatives at the UTeach Institute at The University of Texas at Austin, where she leads efforts to expand computer science and STEM professional development for educators nationwide. Her team designs and delivers high-impact, STEM-focused learning experiences tailored to the unique needs of teachers and the diverse learning styles of their students.

Raised in northeast El Paso and a proud graduate of Irvin High School (go Rockets!), Yvonne earned her bachelor’s degree in psychology from UTEP and a master’s in Higher Education Administration from UT Austin. She’s the first in her family to earn higher ed degrees, and she’s passionate about opening doors for others to do the same.

With over 20 years of experience in her field, Yvonne has led outreach and engagement initiatives at UT Austin, including the OnRamps program and the Division of Campus and Community Engagement. Her work centers on building meaningful partnerships, especially with underrepresented communities, and translating big ideas into real-world impact. She also co-founded the El Paso in Austin Network, which provides scholarships to El Paso high school grads pursuing college in Central Texas.

Yvonne loves connecting with fellow El Pasoans who’ve made their way beyond the Franklin Mountains. Fun fact: Yvonne is a die-hard fan of chilaquiles, retro music, and cheesy 80s movies. She’s powered by the love of her two amazing daughters and her soulmate, an Eastwood grad she met through the UTEP alumni association.