Do You Know These Latinas Making Bold Moves in San Antonio’s Tech Industry?

Amanda Keammerer is the Founder and CEO of Javilud LLC and vice president of cybersecurity at the San Antonio Chamber of Commerce. DeAnne Cuellar is the Texas state director for OATS (Older Adults Technology Services). To commemorate Hispanic Heritage Month which runs September 15 through October 15 these co-authors seek to highlight the Latina thought leaders in San Antonio’s tech industry. 

There’s no debating it — by multiple measures Latina women are underrepresented in the world of tech.

Minorities participate in just 26% of the cybersecurity workforce according to a 2018 study by (ISC)2. That same study shows only 17% of the cybersecurity workforce who identify as a minority are female.

Looking at STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) jobs more broadly, Hispanic women comprise a startling 2% of all science and engineering positions.

With 1 in 5 women identifying as Hispanic in the United States, the number of Latinas in STEM careers is abysmal. Still,  we are in the workforce.

To increase the visibility of San Antonio’s Latinas working in the tech sector, we compiled a small sample of many brilliant women in tech.

These women recruit top talent for large employers and run businesses. We serve our communities through local government and non-profit organizations.  We teach the next generation of technical experts and teachers — and we upskill and train everyone from transitioning military professionals to senior citizens.  We are mentors, professors, advocates, and strategists.

Being the only Latina in a room can be lonely. Let these leaders be a source of inspiration to everyone, all year round.

San Antonio Latinas in Tech

• Adriana Andrade, Technical Recruiter, Peyton Resource Group
• Stacey Alvarado, Business Development Manager, Bestica
• Esme Araiza, Marketing Strategist, FunnelAI
• Nyssa Arcos, STEAM Education Consultant, EduTechSpec
• Mariana Barham, Social Network Analyst, Bexar County
• Jordana Barton, Senior Advisor, Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas
• Mariana Cano, Sales Development Representative, Inspired eLearning
• Sarah Ann Cantu, Director of Marketing, Qualaroo
• Anastasia Carter, Manager of Business Development , IT Net Pros  
• Magaly Chocano, CEO, Sweb Development
• Monica Cholico, Software Developer, USAA 
• Dr. Vanessa Garza Clark, Chair, Computer Information Systems and Security Program, Our Lady of the Lake University
• Veronica Colon, Cyber Analyst, IPSecure
• Andrea Figueroa, Executive Director, Martinez Street Women’s Center
• Mariana Rios Holguin, Family and Community Engagement Specialist, CAST Tech High School
• DeAnne Cuellar, State Director, Texas, Older Adults Technology Services (OATS) & Senior Planet Center
• Stephanie Garcia, Business Development Coordinator, Port San Antonio
• Jess Garza, CEO, Earth Class Mail
• Marina Gavito, Innovation Business Development Director, USAA
• Illeana Gonzalez, Activator, TechBloc
• Iris Gonzalez, Board of Directors, Building a Purpose
• Janie Gonzalez, CEO, Webhead
• Erica Salinas Hakim, Corporate Recruiter – Client Facing, Accenture Federal Services
• Aaryn Hernandez-Smith, Director, Innovative Services, VIA Metropolitan Transit
• Amanda Keammerer, Founder and CEO, Javilud LLC and Vice President of Cybersecurity and Director of CyberSecurity San Antonio, San Antonio Chamber of Commerce
• Elexus Liggins, Intern, Moki and Outreach Coordinator, School’s Out Hackathon
• Laura Lopez, Associate Product Manager, Earth Class Mail
• Amanda Loredo, Test Engineer, COLSA Corporation
• Romanita Matta-Barrera, Executive Director, SAWorks, San Antonio Economic Development Foundation 
• Candelaria Mendoza, Smart City Coordinator, City of San Antonio
• Elaine Mendoza, Conceptual Mindworks CEO and Chair of the A&M Board of Regents
• Evangelina Mendoza, Executive Director of Information Technology, San Antonio ISD
• Ina Minjarez, Texas State Representative House District 124  and Attorney 
• Caroline Mora, IT Instructor, St. Philip’s College
• Edith Orozco, Dean for Academic Success, Applied Science & Technology, St. Philip’s College
• Lizette Ortiz, UTSA Student, Entrepreneur and CyberPatriot mentor
• Clarissa Renee Ozuna,  Lead Insights Research Analyst, USAA
• Lettie Ozuna, Systems Engineer/Lead Associate, Abacus Technologies
• Edith Pena, Senior Lead Technologist, Booz Allen Hamilton
• Clarissa Ramon, Government and Community Affairs Manager, Google Fiber
• Pamela Rachel, Director of PR & Marketing, IPSecure
• Roxanne Ramirez, CEO, CNF Technologies 
• Duvelza Saenz, Lead Associate Cyber Operations Intelligence Analyst, Booz Allen Hamilton
• Torii Salinas, Operations Manager, Geekdom
• Cheyenne Sanchez, Student, UTSA
• Sarah Sanchez, Executive Vice President of Global Development, San Antonio Economic Development Foundation 
• Katherine Sanchez-Rocha, Executive Director, Alamo Academies 
• Tori Santos, Director, Claims Modernization at USAA
• Ravae Shaeffer, Coordinator III, Strategic Partnerships and Innovation, Education Service Center, Region 20
• Melanie Tawil, CEO & Co-Owner, SwipeTrack Solutions, LLC
• Estrella Torres, President, Cyber Tigers, St. Philip’s College 

Did we miss someone? Know a Latina in tech who should be on this list? Post a comment below and connect with us on LinkedIn. We would love to hear from you!

Featured image: Latinas in tech are underrepresented. Here’s 35 Latinas in San Antonio’s tech industry to follow. Photo by William Iven on Unsplash.