Our Team
The Board
Nancy White – Steptoe and Johnson LLP
Board MemberNancy is a business lawyer at Steptoe & Johnson representing businesses at the time of their formation through various stages of growth. She helps them with contracts with third parties including banks and investors, landlords, customers and suppliers. Nancy has been on Xico’s board since 1995 and has donned many ‘colorful’ costumes as a celebrity waiter over the years, most notably Carmen Miranda and Lucy Ricardo. Nancy commutes regularly between Phoenix and LA to practice in Steptoe’s offices in both cities.
Art Pérez – Ally
PresidentArt Perez works in Compliance for Ally Financial and has been on Xico’s board since 1998. He previously served as the Treasurer of the Board. He’s worked in the banking industry for 26 years and lives in Tempe with his wife and two sons.
Rhonda Carrillo – Arizona State University
Vice President / SecretaryRhonda Carrillo is currently an Assistant Director in the ASU Office of Public Affairs. She’s a Arizona State University graduate with a B.S. in Marketing and grew up in Superior, Arizona. Before starting at ASU, she worked as a Project Manager for Ashton Tiffany and Marketing Coordinator at Ringel Kotzin Valuation Services. Prior to joining the Xico board, Ms. Carrillo was involved in the organization as interim Executive Director in 2006 and Bookkeeper from 2006 – 2008.
Martin Quintana – Chicanos Por La Causa
TreasurerMartin Quintana serves as Chief Operating Officer of Chicanos Por La Causa, Inc. (CPLC), overseeing the areas of Health and Human Services,Education, Workforce Development, Human Resources and
Communications. In this role he is responsible for the strategic operational leadership of CPLC’s statewide services. He has more than 20 years of financial and operational management experience in both for-profit and nonprofit environments.
Gema Duarte – Luna Duarte – Luna Consulting
Immediate Past PresidentGema Duarte Luna is the owner of Duarte Luna Consulting which specializes in strategic relationship management for companies and organizations seeking to increase brand awareness and maximize community investments. Gema currently serves on the City of Phoenix Heritage Commission and is a board member of Chrysalis. She is the immediate past-president of the Xico Board and has served on the Board of Directors for over 15 years.
José Cárdenas – Arizona State University
Board MemberJosé Cárdenas is Senior Vice President and General Counsel of Arizona State University. He graduated from UNLV in 1974 and from Stanford University Law School in 1977. Before joining ASU in 2009, Mr. Cárdenas practiced law for 30 years as a commercial litigator with the Phoenix based law firm of Lewis and Roca.
Brian Barabe – Language Teacher
Board MemberBrian Barabe taught English and Spanish for 33 years. He has been an active participant and Xico Board Member since 1986 and recently has been very active in an immigration reform group. Brian is a valuable resource for the organization on the Spanish language and Latino art. He collects Mexican and Chicano art and travels frequently to Mexico.
Andrea M. Esquer – Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law
Board MemberAndrea M. Esquer, has served on the Xico Board of Directors since 1999. A native of Tempe, she graduated in May 2011 from the Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law. She holds a master’s degree in public administration from Arizona State University and a bachelor’s degree in journalism from the University of Arizona. Prior to entering law school, Esquer most recently served as Press Secretary for the Arizona Attorney General’s Office and former Attorney General Terry Goddard. She is now a Program Manager at the Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law.
James Ryan – Quarles & Brady LLP
Board MemberJim is a senior partner in the law firm of Quarles & Brady LLP and a resident of Chandler. He’s been a member of Xico’s Board of Directors since 2004. In addition to his work with Xico, Jim is the Vice Chair of the City of Chandler’s Museum Advisory Board, a former President of the Chandler Industrial Development Authority, former School Board President of Seton Catholic High School in Chandler, and former Vice President of the Chandler Historical Society.