SOCIETY OF HISPANIC PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERS HIRES NEW CEO
LOS ANGELES– The members of the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE) are proud to announce the addition of a new CEO, Pilar Montoya, effective September 28, 2009.
As CEO, Montoya will be leading SHPE, and she’ll manage the Los Angeles office and implement government relations efforts in Washington, D.C.
“Pilar has spent much of her life promoting both the Hispanic community and educational attainment, and we are excited about her addition to our organization,” said Manny Hernández, president of SHPE. “With Pilar’s expertise, we plan on expanding our presence nationally, build stronger partnerships and alliances, and increase brand awareness and membership to help ensure SHPE continues to uphold its mission to transform lives through technical education, academic development and professional growth for our members.”
With a strong background managing non- and for-profit organization’s operations and finances, Pilar Montoya will provide crucial marketing, business management, corporate relations and entrepreneurial skills to SHPE.
Comprised of 10,000 members, SHPE is the source for quality Hispanic engineers and technical talent. Its board of directors and staff offer programs to pre-college students, undergraduate and graduate students, educators and professionals in the engineering and technical fields.
Prior to joining SHPE, Montoya worked with several non-profits in the development of strategic plans to successfully increase fundraising efforts, operational success and financial growth. These positions included serving as the vice-president of regional outreach for The San Diego Foundation, where she expanded the $500 million granting foundation’s presence regionally, and acting as the director of community affairs for the Neighborhood House Association where she tripled fundraising revenues in one year.
Montoya also has extensive experience in the private sector. She was the president and owner of Montoya Communications, Inc., a nationally recognized and award winning public relations and advertising firm.
Outside of her professional achievements, Montoya has been recognized as both a community and business leader in the Latino and California community. For her civic contributions, she’s been recognized with an assembly resolution for efforts with Latino youth, has been awarded the Latino Political Action Committee, Business Woman of the Year Award, the Sacramento Urban League’s Community Service Award, American Cancer Society’s Rose Award and the Sacramento Child Abuse Prevention Council, Volunteer of the Year Recognition. Additionally, she was awarded the Sacramento Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce, Small Business Person of the Year. Montoya has also received advertising and public relations awards from Hispanic Business Magazine’s “Se Habla Espanol” and Association of Business Communicators.
About SHPE and AHETEMS
With 10,000 members, SHPE, Inc. is the source for quality Hispanic engineers and technical talent, committed to enhancing America’s position in math, science, engineering and technology with a strong and talented Hispanic workforce. For more information, please visit www.shpe.org.
The AHETEMS Foundation directs and develops informal science education, educational enrichment, college awareness initiatives and college prep programs for Hispanic pre-college, undergraduate and graduate students. Funding for AHETEMS initiatives is derived from various federal, state, local and private grants and private tax-deductible donations.
For more information, please visit www.ahetems.org.
