Latina Venezuelan American Strategist, Community Builder

by Elaine Vasquez

Meet Alex Llerena, 2026 Hispanic Woman of Distinction, Managing Senior Director, Alumni Engagement, Emory University Director, Alumni Engagement.

Leadership is about helping others discover their strength, claim their voice, and use their purpose to lift the communities around them

Alex Llerena

is a proud Venezuelan American strategist, community builder, wife, and mother whose Hispanic heritage has deeply shaped the way she leads, serves, and builds connection. After coming to the United States from Venezuela at 19, Alex learned firsthand what it means to enter unfamiliar rooms, build belonging across cultures, and turn uncertainty into purpose. She is deeply aware that her path was shaped by women who paved the way before her: women who led with courage, sacrificed with love, and created possibilities they may not have had for themselves. That legacy fuels her commitment to do the same for others, especially women and girls who are still discovering the power of their own voice.

As Managing Senior Director of Alumni Engagement at Emory University, Alex leads a nationally distributed team and oversees engagement strategies that connect Emory’s global alumni community across regions, cultures, and generations. Her work centers on relationship-building, volunteer leadership, strategic communication, and creating meaningful pathways for alumni and community members to remain connected to institutions they love and support causes that matter to them. Known for her ability to see possibility, build systems, and mobilize people around a shared vision, Alex leads with both strategy and heart.

Her commitment to Hispanic and multicultural communities has been present throughout her professional journey. Earlier in her career, she led marketing and recruitment efforts focused on serving Hispanic adult learners in South Florida, helping expand access to education through bilingual outreach, community partnerships, and culturally relevant communication. She has also served organizations including Hispanic Unity of Florida, Mujeres Latinas Impulsando Mujeres Latinas, and Emory’s Latinx Employee Resource Group, using her voice and skills to support leadership development, belonging, and opportunity.

Alex is also the founder of Impact Mosaic Consulting, a purpose-driven consultancy created to help mission-driven organizations and multicultural executives strengthen their engagement, communication, leadership, and growth strategies. Through this work, she supports clients in clarifying their message, building stronger systems, navigating change, and expanding their impact in the communities they serve.

Her volunteer leadership and service extend throughout South Florida. Alex is the incoming 2027 Chair of Women Leading Broward, a Girl Scout troop leader, a Distinguished Toastmaster, and an active volunteer dedicated to mentorship, civic engagement, and leadership development. She has been recognized with the President’s Volunteer Service Lifetime Achievement Award, Girl Scouts’ Honor Pin and Volunteer of Excellence awards, Broward College’s Alumni Hall of Distinction, and a Broward County proclamation as a Hispanic leader.

Alex is grounded by faith, family, and a calling to help women and girls recognize their strength, claim their voice, and lead with purpose.

She lives in Cooper City with her husband, Francisco, and 11-year-old daughter, Michelle. Her work reflects the resilience, passion, and strength rooted in her Hispanic heritage, and the doors she is determined to open for future generations.”

The 25th Hispanic Women of Distinction  charity luncheon and business expo

The 25th annual Hispanic Women of Distinction charity luncheon and business expo will take place Friday, Aug. 21, 2026, at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Florida, marking a milestone year honoring Latina leadership across South Florida. Founded in 2001 by the late Erwin M. Vasquez, M.D., a Venezuelan-born cardiologist and publisher of El Heraldo de Broward, alongside his wife, Elaine Miceli-Vasquez, the program was established to recognize Latinas whose leadership, service and professional success continue to shape the region.

Over the past 25 years, the initiative has grown into one of South Florida’s most recognized platforms celebrating Latina achievement across business, government, health care and community service. “The remarkable Latinas I have met over the past 25 years have created a true sisterhood — supporting one another in business, community service, and in preserving and sharing their culture and traditions,” said Miceli-Vasquez, producer and co-founder. “Our Dos Culturas reception brings together past and current honorees, reinforcing those connections year after year.”

The annual sold-out luncheon draws approximately 1,000 attendees in partnership with Nicklaus Children’s Health System, the region’s only licensed health care system exclusively for children. More than 30 corporate and media partners support the event. Latin Business Today, a longtime media co-sponsor, features honorees through dedicated editorial coverage. Each year, a charitable organization benefits from proceeds generated through the event’s silent auction, raffles, sponsorships and advertising. The 2026 beneficiary is the American Lung Association, which works to improve lung health, prevent lung disease and advance clean air initiatives nationwide.

The 25th Hispanic Women of Distinction  charity luncheon and business expo

The 25th annual Hispanic Women of Distinction charity luncheon and business expo will take place Friday, Aug. 21, 2026, at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Florida, marking a milestone year honoring Latina leadership across South Florida. Founded in 2001 by the late Erwin M. Vasquez, M.D., a Venezuelan-born cardiologist and publisher of El Heraldo de Broward, alongside his wife, Elaine Miceli-Vasquez, the program was established to recognize Latinas whose leadership, service and professional success continue to shape the region.

Over the past 25 years, the initiative has grown into one of South Florida’s most recognized platforms celebrating Latina achievement across business, government, health care and community service. “The remarkable Latinas I have met over the past 25 years have created a true sisterhood — supporting one another in business, community service, and in preserving and sharing their culture and traditions,” said Miceli-Vasquez, producer and co-founder. “Our Dos Culturas reception brings together past and current honorees, reinforcing those connections year after year.”

The annual sold-out luncheon draws approximately 1,000 attendees in partnership with Nicklaus Children’s Health System, the region’s only licensed health care system exclusively for children. More than 30 corporate and media partners support the event. Latin Business Today, a longtime media co-sponsor, features honorees through dedicated editorial coverage. Each year, a charitable organization benefits from proceeds generated through the event’s silent auction, raffles, sponsorships and advertising. The 2026 beneficiary is the American Lung Association, which works to improve lung health, prevent lung disease and advance clean air initiatives nationwide.

2026 honorees: Selected from more than 60 nominations across Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties:

2026 Latina Pioneer of the Year

Rosanna Cordero-Stutz, sheriff of Miami-Dade County. With more than 29 years in law enforcement, she is the first Hispanic American woman sheriff in Florida’s history. The achievements of this year’s honorees underscore the continued advancement of Latinas in leadership roles, despite longstanding barriers in professional and civic spaces. The event will feature a complimentary cocktail sponsored by Tito’s Vodka, live entertainment, a business expo, silent auction and a tribute recognizing more than 350 honorees since the program’s inception. Sponsorships begin at $1,500, and individual tickets are $125.

For more information visit: Hispanic Women of Distinction or email

 Gran celebración del 25.º aniversario de Hispanic Women of Distinction:
almuerzo benéfico y expo empresarial

Comunidad • Cultura • Filantropía

El 25.º aniversario del almuerzo benéfico y expo empresarial Hispanic Women of Distinction se llevará a cabo el viernes 21 de agosto de 2026 en el Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino en Hollywood, Florida, marcando un año emblemático en reconocimiento al liderazgo latino femenino en el sur de Florida. Fundado en 2001 por el fallecido Erwin M. Vasquez, M.D., cardiólogo venezolano y editor del periódico El Heraldo de Broward, junto a su esposa Elaine Miceli-Vasquez, el programa fue creado para reconocer a mujeres latinas cuyo liderazgo, servicio y logros profesionales continúan impactando positivamente a la comunidad. A lo largo de 25 años, la iniciativa se ha consolidado como una de las plataformas más reconocidas del sur de Florida para destacar el talento y la trayectoria de mujeres latinas en los sectores empresarial, gubernamental, de salud y comunitario.

“Las extraordinarias mujeres latinas que he conocido durante estos 25 años han creado una verdadera hermandad, apoyándose en los negocios, el servicio comunitario y en la preservación de sus culturas y tradiciones,” expresó Miceli-Vasquez, productora y cofundadora. “Nuestra recepción privada Dos Culturas reúne a homenajeadas de años anteriores y actuales, fortaleciendo esos lazos.” El evento anual, que tradicionalmente se presenta con entradas agotadas y reúne a aproximadamente 1,000 asistentes, es presentado por Latina Style Inc., líder nacional en el desarrollo empresarial de mujeres hispanas, en alianza con Nicklaus Children’s Health System, el único sistema de salud pediátrico con licencia especializada en la región. Más de 30 socios corporativos y medios de comunicación respaldan este evento. Latin Business Today, copatrocinador de larga trayectoria, presenta perfiles editoriales de las homenajeadas cada año.

Como parte del evento, se selecciona una organización benéfica beneficiaria de los fondos recaudados a través de subastas silenciosas, rifas, patrocinios y publicidad. En 2026, la organización beneficiaria será la American Lung Association, cuya misión es mejorar la salud pulmonar, prevenir enfermedades respiratorias y promover aire limpio para todos.

Homenajeadas 2026:

HWD
2026 Hispanic Women of Distinction

Seleccionadas entre más de 60 nominaciones de los condados de Miami-Dade, Broward y Palm Beach:

 Latina pionera del año 2026

Rosanna Cordero-Stutz, alguacil del condado Miami-Dade Con más de 29 años de experiencia en el orden público, es la primera mujer hispanoamericana en ocupar el cargo de alguacil en la historia de Florida. Los logros de las homenajeadas reflejan el avance continuo de las mujeres latinas en posiciones de liderazgo, a pesar de los desafíos históricos en el ámbito profesional y cívico. El evento incluirá un cóctel de bienvenida cortesía de Tito’s Vodka, entretenimiento en vivo, expo empresarial, subasta silenciosa y un homenaje especial a más de 350 mujeres reconocidas desde la creación del programa. Los patrocinios comienzan en $1,500 y las entradas individuales tienen un costo de $125.

Para más información, visite: For more information visit: Hispanic Women of Distinction

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