Leadership

Melissa Ramos

A “veteran” member of Northwestern Mutual (NM) and began her financial services journey back in 2001.   Her humble beginnings as a graduate student  from the University of Hawaii, she obtained her Master’s Degree in Organizational Management with a minor in Business Administration.   Melissa opted to remain within NM and has worked at many capacities successfully within the organization leveraging her expertise in business operations, product knowledge and professional experience.  She has built a remarkable reputation of “putting the client first”.  In the last couple of years, Melissa has focused on what she does best, her efforts and concentration on Financial Planning by ensuring that her clients have a comprehensive plan tailored to their goals and needs.   As a Financial Advisor with NM, she is able to fulfill one of her purposes by serving her diverse community ranging from business owners to the young professionals.

Her Puerto Rican “raices”, “Army brat” upbringing, familia dynamics, and former military spouse experiences taught Melissa to attach herself to a mission, a calling and ultimately, a purpose.  In her spare time, Melissa is heavily involved within her community and serves on the board for local Hispanic organizations.  You may see her volunteering for Alex’s Lemonade Stand, Miles for Moffit, walking for Awareness on Military Suicide, Ronald McDonald House, etc.  For fun, she enjoys her travel adventures by exploring new food spots and discovering domestically or international destinations.

Diana Walker

A dedicated professional known for her dynamic contributions in civic involvement. With a strong commitment to promoting diversity and community engagement, Diana oversees the compliance of construction contracts, focusing on MBE participation. She’s a key figure in educational training sessions, guiding businesses on successful bidding with the County, and offers invaluable assistance with MBE/SBE certification applications. Her dedication extends to various community-oriented ventures, including her role on the Hispanic Professional Women’s Association mentorship committee. Diana remains a vibrant contributor to the local business landscape. 

Diana’s leadership prowess shines through her involvement with prestigious organizations, including: Leadership Hillsborough – Class of 2023 graduate, serving on the committee for the mentorship program for the 4th year with HPWA, committee member of USF Status of Latinos (SOL), committee member for the Minority and Small Business group for Pinellas Economic Development and previous board member of Tampa Hispanic Heritage in 2019. 

Her dedication has been recognized by the University of South Florida, earning her the Status of Latino Award in 2021, the Emerging Leadership award in 2012 and the Latino Leader Institute Award in 2011. And most recently being recognized by the Girls Scouts of West Central Florida as the 2024 Woman of Promise,  Tampa Hispanic Heritage Inc as part of their 2023 Leadership Class for the Civic Engagement Award and the City of Tampa, Mayor’s Hispanic Advisory Council as their first recipient for the Estrella Award in honor of Dr. Anh-Kay Pizano. 

Diana Walker embodies a spirit of community empowerment, entrepreneurship, and leadership, leaving an indelible mark on the organizations she’s part of and the causes she champions.

Danielle Hernandez

The President of the Tampa Bay Latin Chamber of Commerce, drives the organizational growth, direction and community engagements of the organization through collaborative efforts and strategic partnerships. Through the launching her own immigration law practice, she became immersed in the world of entrepreneurship. This fueled her desire to ensure that the community and new entrepreneurs all have the ability to launch and scale their businesses and connect to resources in the local community. 

During the last five years in Tampa Bay, Danielle has immersed herself in various charitable organizations and volunteer groups. Danielle has over a decade of legal experience and owns and operates her own law practice in three states. She has litigated and defended hundreds of immigration cases and is a proud r of the City of Tampa Mayor’s Hispanic Advisory Council among her community peers.

Mike Solivan

A dedicated CPA who holds a Bachelor’s degree in accounting from Kean University, NJ. With over 20 years of experience, he spent 7 years working at prominent tax companies before establishing Mike Taxes PLLC in 2007. Mike’s passion for helping others at reasonable prices is evident in his business philosophy—he won’t say no to anybody. Committed to providing stress-free tax services, Mike Taxes is seamlessly connected with the IRS direct system to ensure better and more accommodating assistance for every customer.