Lissette Andino (President) is the Public Affairs Coordinator for The Southern Connecticut Gas Company (SCG) headquartered in Bridgeport and the Connecticut Natural Gas Corporation (CNG) headquartered in Hartford. She is responsible for community outreach, employee volunteer initiatives and corporate giving throughout the 44 towns they serve and as such is member of the American Gas Association and the Connecticut Chapter of the American Association of Blacks in Energy.   

A native of Rochester, New York, Lissette received her Bachelor's of Science Degree in Organizational Management from Roberts Wesleyan College in Rochester. She is a founding member and current chair of the Public Relations committee of the Greater Bridgeport Latino Network (GBLN). She is active currently serving on the board of directors of Alpha Community Services, Arte Inc., Bridgeport Public Education Fund, Mutual Housing Association of South Central Connecticut, School Volunteer Association of Bridgeport, and the ad-hoc committees for the Central CT Coast YMCA Strategic Board Development Task Force, Hispanic Heritage Month Committee of Bridgeport and the Hispanic Business Expo. 

Rick Cruz (Vice President) a lifelong native and resident of Bridgeport, Rick is a founding member of GBLN and serves as chair of the Special Events Committee. He has worked at St. Vincent's Medical Center as a Respiratory Care Therapist for over 21 years where he has received several value recognition awards.  

As an active community volunteer, he has also been recognized for dedicating time and energy to the Hispanic Heritage Committee, the American Lung Association, National Kidney Foundation and received the John and Louise Award from the CT Society of Respiratory Care for Outstanding Contributions to the Profession for starting an asthma program in Bridgeport.     

In his free time Rick plays pool and golf and loves listening to Latin Music. He is a graduate of Central HS in Bridgeport and holds a A.S. in Respiratory Therapy from Sacred Heart University in Fairfield.

Eileen Lopez-Cordone (President Emeritus) - is the co-founder and driving force of GBLN. Her vision and leadership are shaped by a strong commitment to Latinos, the community as a whole and a desire to get things done. As such, she has inspired a dedicated group of Latino professionals to work together to develop the Greater Bridgeport Latino Network.

She is employed as a Community Development Specialist with The United Illuminating Company and serves on the boards of the Trumbull Business Education Initiative, Valley Chamber of Commerce, Valley United Way and the City of Bridgeport School Volunteer Association. Eileen also volunteers her time as a mentor in the Wi-Mentor program operated by United Way of Coastal Fairfield County and the MAAC program administered by the Bridgeport Public Education Fund.

Eileen’s work has been recognized by a variety of groups. In 2001, Lopez-Cordone received the Above and Beyond award from the Regional Youth and Adult Substance Abuse Project (RYASAP), and in 2004 she received an award from the GBLN board for her vision and leadership in creating the network. Eileen was also honored in April 2007 with a Woman of Distinction Award from the Girl Scouts of Housatonic Council.

Eileen holds a BA from Fairfield University and lives in Shelton with her husband and two children.

Gail Solis, MBA (Treasurer), a former banking vice president holds a double-major BS degree in Finance and International Economics and two Master degrees in Business Administration and Marketing.  She is currently employed as Executive Director of the Bridgeport Chamber of Commerce.  Gail is an entrepreneur and small business owner, and an active community member.  She serves as Treasurer to the GBLN Board of Directors, a Mentor to Micro-Credit Business and has served on the boards of Girl Scouts of the Housatonic Region, Neighborhood Housing Services, and Mutual Housing Association of Southwestern CT. A Bridgeport Regional Business Council - Leadership GreaterBridgeport Class IX graduate, Gail has also been a Cultural Diversity Trainer and a CT Hospice Volunteer.  She is a native-born Bridgeport resident, a professional Singer member of AGMA, a  Church Cantor, and founding director of a Music Ensemble.  

Priscilla Rodriguez, LCSW (Secretary) is a Licensed School Social Worker with the Bridgeport Board of Education.  A Bridgeport native and resident, Priscilla holds a BA in Psychology from Fairfield University and a Masters in Social Work from Boston University School of Social Work in Boston, MA. She serves as Secretary of the GBLN Board of Directors and enjoys reading, traveling, eating out, and the performing arts.  

Andres Ayala, Jr. is a teacher and community leader. He serves as Bridgeport’s Representative to the CT State House for the 128th District and also as Bridgeport City Council President. Andres also participates on the boards of ABCD (Action for Bridgeport Community Development), the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials (NALEO), and co-founder and member of the Bridgeport Hispanic Heritage Committee. He lives in Bridgeport and is employed by the Bridgeport Board of Education as Dean of Students at the Cesar Batalla School. 

Ruben Felipe – Bio Not Available At This Time

Carolyn I. Gonzalez is a Bridgeport native and resident. She has worked in the economic and community development field for over 10 years and is currently employed as Business Development Officer with the Community Capital Fund in Bridgeport. Carolyn is a founding member of the Greater Bridgeport Latino Network and serves as chair of its website committee. She has served on a variety of boards and committees including Groundwork Bridgeport, Park City Brownfields Partnership, Community Capital Fund, co-chair of Bridgeport’s Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) and Bridgeport’s Urban Land Institute - Economic Development Sub-Committee. She attended the University of Puerto Rico in Rio Piedras, holds a B.A. in Political Science from the University of Bridgeport and is currently enrolled in an Interior Design program at Fairfield University. She enjoys spending time with her family and playing/singing with the musical group “Romance y Trova”.

Ramon A. Jimenez, Jr., MSW is a social worker employed with the Child Guidance Center in Bridgeport, CT. He serves on a variety of boards and committees including the Puerto Rican Parade of Fairfield County, YMCA, ASPIRA of Connecticut, the Hispanic Heritage Committee, the National Association of Social Workers and as Grand Knight of the Knights of Columbus. Ramon has been widely recognized for his service and has most recently been awarded the 2007 Community Service Award by the Hispanic Merchants Association of Bridgeport. A long-time Bridgeport resident, he enjoys Latin Jazz, volunteering in his church and being the proud father of two daughters and four grandchildren.

Carmen A. Nieves is a Bridgeport resident and founding member of GBLN with over 10 years of experience in civic engagement efforts and program development. She has dedicated herself to working with non-profits, small businesses and community groups throughout Fairfield County and helping them to share resources and work together on civic reinvestment projects.  Her efforts have resulted in over 1000 volunteer service hours per year, and have earned her wide recognition and several awards from organizations such as the Workplace, Inc., The Latino Foundation of Stamford, Inc., the Girl Scouts of the Housatonic Council, RYASAP, the Points of Light Foundation and other community organizations.

Carmen is currently the Volunteer Coordinator at Casey Family Services and is pursuing a degree in Psychology form the University of Bridgeport.

Hernan Sanchez

Carmen Colon, MSW is is the Executive Director of Alpha Community Services, a branch of the Central Connecticut Coast YMCA where she has been employed for fourteen years and instituted the Annual Walk To End Homelessness in Bridgeport.  Carmen is an avid volunteer and activist.  She conducts voter registration/education and serves on boards of the Connecticut Coalition to End Homelessness, Community Capital Fund, and the International Performing Arts Center and is also a member of Project Blue Print’s (United Way of Eastern Fairfield County) Alumni Committee, founding member of the Greater Bridgeport Latino Network (GBLN), and the Hispanic Heritage Committee.  

Carmen received the NAACP’s 2003 Community Service Award, was a 2005 Women of Distinction Honoree by the Girl Scouts of Housatonic Council, selected as a “Hometown Hero” in 2005 by News 12 Connecticut and was featured in the “Women Wise” section of the Connecticut Post and named their “Woman of the year 2005.”  

Born in Villalba, Puerto Rico, Carmen came to Bridgeport at the age of 5 and became a life-long resident. She graduated from Harding High School in Bridgeport and went on to study Criminal Justice and Sociology at Sacred Heart University before transferring to Springfield College, where she earned a BS in Human Services and a Masters in Social Work.

Alma L. Maya – Bio Not Available At This Time