Upcoming events and trainings at LEDC

donate through network for good

 

LEDC--DC Office
2316 18th St NW
Washington, DC 20009
Phone: (202) 588-5102
Fax: (202) 588-5204
Fax (Housing): 202-265-0454

 

LEDC--Maryland Office
11319 Elkin St.
Wheaton, MD 20902
Phone: (240) 777-4960
Fax: (240) 777-4941

LEDC staff photo

Manuel Hidalgo, Executive Director
Leda Hernandez, Director of Finance and Administration
Gustavo Velez, Financial Specialist
Angelica Rufino, Receptionist
Mark Reyes, Director of Development
Kate Drew, Manager of Communications and Evaluation
Emily Coronado, Outreach Manager - DC
Coite Manuel, Director of DC Small Business Program
Christine Baumann, Façade Improvement Program Manager
Trisha Clauson, Local First Program Manager - DC
Rob Vickers, Director of Lending
Charlene Van Dijk, Loan and IDA Administrator
Chris Behr, Business Program Manager
Yvette Zaragoza, Business Program Manager 
Daniel Parra, Managing Director, Maryland
Emily Adelman, Local First Program Manager- Maryland
Eric A. Aldrette, Business Outreach Manager - Maryland
Erick Gutierrez, Regional Director of Homeownership
Walda Yon, Housing Counselor
Marcia Camilo, Housing Counselor
Wendy Alvarenga, Housing Counelor
Patricia Belbusti, Housing Counselor
Jose Rodriguez, Housing Counselor
Farah Fosse, Director of Affordable Housing Preservation
Daniel del Pielago, Tenant Organizer
Anna Duncan, Tenant Organizer

Manuel Hidalgo, Executive Director, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Manuel Hidalgo has served as Executive Director of the Latino Economic Development Corporation (LEDC) in Washington, D.C since May 2005. Manuel has over 17 years of experience in the field of community development and advocacy.  In the Washington area, Manuel has served as Executive Director of the Spanish Catholic Center, Director of Development at CASA of Maryland, and YouthBuild Program Manager at the Latin American Youth Center.  He sits on various boards and steering committees in the Washington area including the Coalition for Nonprofit Housing and Economic Development and Nonprofit Montgomery!.  He also serves on Montgomery County Executive Ike Leggett's Wheaton Redevelopment Advisory Committee. Manuel has a Bachelors degree in History from Georgetown University and a Masters degree in Latin American and Caribbean Studies from Florida International University.  Originally from Miami, Florida, Manuel is a second generation Cuban-American who has published several articles about Cuba in various academic journals and newspapers.  He, his wife, and four children live in Wheaton, MD.

Leda Hernández, Director of Finance and Administration, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it   

As Director of Finance and Administration at LEDC, Leda Hernández is responsible for all bookkeeping and procurement activities, managing and reconciling all bank accounts, and preparing financial reports for internal and external use. Leda has been working at LEDC in this capacity for the past nine years. Prior to joining LEDC in June 1998 she worked for the City Tavern Association where she served as an accountant. She received a B.S. in Accounting with a minor in Business Management from Strayer University in 1997. Leda says “my observation and experience of the under-representation in the government and the poor quality of life that is prevalent in so many communities has inspired me to consider the role I can play in making changes in these situations.” Leda serves the community with passion. She volunteers her time on Fiesta DC’s Board of Directors and enjoys partaking in DC’s various cultural activities.

Gustavo Velez, Financial Specialist  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it   

Gustavo supports the work of the Director of Finance, specifically in the payment of suppliers, reconciling bank accounts, inventory control, and the elaboration and maintenance of internal controls.  Gustavo is excited to do all this because he is able to build on the experience he gained at the University of Texas, where he received his Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration.  As a first-generation American, he can identify with many of our clients, and is proud to help lower-income families become financially independent through education and assistance.  For fun, Gustavo likes to build wood projects, stay fit and sightsee.

Angelica Rufino, Receptionist This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Mark Reyes, Director of Development  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it   

Mark brings to LEDC ten years of experience in the nonprofit sector.  Mark recently received his MBA, with a focus in nonprofit management, from Yale School of Management in New Haven, CT.  Prior to graduate school, Mark was the Development Coordinator at the Audre Lorde Project, a community organizing center for LGBT people of color.  Previously, Mark had been the Executive Director of a LGBT health and wellness organization in the Bronx, NY.  He is excited to be working with an organization that has such direct impact on our communities’ lives.  Mark is glad to be part of the team to help LEDC reach its mission.As Director of Development, Mark manages all of LEDC’s fundraising activities and supervises LEDC’s program evaluation and communication/marketing. Mark loves reading, spending time with friends, dancing, capoeira, tennis and squash.

Kate Drew, Manager of Communications and Evaluation This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it   

Kate Drew is LEDC’s Manager of Communications and Evaluation. Before beginning with LEDC in October, 2006, Kate was involved with many different projects and organizations where she learned how to do things that she does everyday at LEDC. At Cornell University, Kate got a Bachelor of Science degree with majors in Communication and Development Sociology. There she learned how to communicate about changes in a community, which is the essence of what she does with LEDC. Kate also studied abroad in Guayaquil, Ecuador, where she volunteered with a microfinance lending project. Kate is thrilled to do what she can to make LEDC’s vision come true, and to make DC a more equitable and diverse place. But more than that, Kate loves getting other people involved with making our vision a reality. In her free time, Kate loves to read, listen to alt-indie rock and Broadway show tunes, and explore DC.

Emily Coronado, Outreach Manager - DC This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it   

As Outreach Manager in LEDC’s DC office Emily Coronado works between programs to organize efforts around client outreach and marketing. She promotes LEDC’s services among other organizations and institutions, develops web and promotional materials, keeps past clients informed about upcoming classes and coordinates LEDC’s presence at community events. Her experience establishing Project ABC, a non-governmental organization based in the Dominican Republic, combined with her experience managing programs for domestic nonprofits has prepared her to work in the dynamic environment of local community development. Emily is a graduate of the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs where she earned her Master’s in Public Administration. She finds it exciting to be working with an organization that has such a clear and tangible impact in the community where she herself resides.

Coite Manuel, Business Director This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it   

As Director of Small Business Development in the DC office of LEDC, Coite Manuel manages the services which assist small businesses in lower income parts of Washington, DC. Coite Manuel brings 5 years of experience in corporate strategy consulting, process improvement and project management to LEDC. Additionally, he served as a grassroots volunteer in Guatemala for a year, where he improved his language skills and gained economic development experience. In his spare time Coite enjoys gardening, reading, and riding his bicycle.Coite is especially enthusiastic about his work at LEDC when the business team helps a client launch a retail business. The impact of the client's and the LEDC team's efforts culminates in the grand opening, which is always an incredibly rewarding experience.

Christine Baumann, Façade Improvement Program Manager This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it   

Before Christine started managing LEDC’s Façade Improvement Program, she worked for two different housing construction projects in El Salvador after thousands of homes were damaged or destroyed from earthquakes. She has also helped organize community groups, such as a parent committee for the construction of a new school in her Peace Corps site, youth groups and women’s groups in El Salvador. Most currently, she managed projects which provided technical assistance in farming practices to small & medium-sized farmers and microprocessors to increase their sales and incomes.  In managing all details of the Façade Improvement Program, from the design to the final construction of new storefronts, Christine is thrilled to help small business owners.  She believes in helping small business owners grow their businesses so they can improve the quality of life for their children and families.  For fun, Christine likes to run, sing and read.

Trisha Clauson, Local First Program Manager This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it   

Trisha Clauson drove cross-country from Seattle, Washington in August 2006 to join the LEDC staff as the Business Training Manager. She now oversees the Local First campaign linking local entrepreneurs in the DC area through a business alliance and educating consumers about the benefits of shopping locally. Prior to working at LEDC, she served as a Small Business Development Peace Corps Volunteer in Sacatepequez, Guatemala, where she developed a micro-enterprise development program at a local artisan training center while perfecting her tortilla-making skills. She has also worked in international trade at Da Vinci Gourmet, a flavored syrup manufacturer that is distributed worldwide. She is excited to combine her passion for entrepreneurship and development and finds great satisfaction in patronizing her client’s businesses, whether eating schwarma from a street vendor or getting her haircut at Salon Camila. In her spare time, Trisha goes outside. She loves hiking, camping and competing in adventure races.

Rob Vickers, Director of Lending This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it   

Rob Vickers joined LEDC as the Senior Loan Manager in April 2006 with the goal of expanding LEDC’s micro lending program to reach the many underserved clients in the greater DC metro area. Rob is most excited to be working directly with entrepreneurs to provide hands-on technical assistance and education along with access to micro loans. Rob provides credit counseling, financial statement and business plan support, and micro loans with the goal of having a real impact on the client’s knowledge and thus their bottom line. Rob has a Masters of Business Administration from George Mason University and an undergraduate degree in International Relations and Spanish from Bucknell University. He has more than 10 years of experience in the public and private sectors. Before joining LEDC, Rob spent 5 years with the World Bank implementing innovative microfinance projects, as well as a year consulting on small business projects for the International Finance Corporation. He has worked in the field throughout Latin America with small businesses, non-profit institutions and governments to ensure project sustainability. In his spare time, Rob enjoys writing music on the piano and guitar, improvisational acting, and tennis.

Charlene Van Dijk, Loan Administrator This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Charlene comes to LEDC after extensive experience living and studying abroad (and learning to understand just about any Spanish accent) in San Juan, Puerto Rico; Buenos Aires, Argentina; and Santiago, Chile. Also, she Latin American Political Economy at Georgetown University’s Center for Latin American Studies, where she took classes on development and microfinance while getting her graduate degree through the School of Foreign Service. Also, she wrote her undergraduate thesis on a development program in Puerto Rico during the 1950s called La Division de Educacion de la Comunidad (DIVEDCO), which was based on community education focused on industrialization and the changing Puerto Rican economy.  These things all help her I manage LEDC’s loan portfolio.  She ensures timely payment of loans and mitigates risk by remaining in constant contact with clients, and help the lending team develop lending strategies that will allow them to continue providing loans to minority, small business owners, even in this difficult economic climate. Charlene looks forward to being able to help clients make wise and informed decisions about their financial well-being, and providing loans to small businesses within her own community.  When she’s not at LEDC, she enjoys cooking (especially Chilean cuisine), yoga, and occasionally, she has been known to knit.

Chris Behr, Business Program Manager This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it   

As Small Business Program Manager, Chris develops and manages services for LEDC’s small business clients. Prior to joining LEDC, Chris Behr worked one-on-one with entrepreneurs and small business managers in Bolivia, Spain, Chile, and Argentina, exposing him to a wide variety of entrepreneurial challenges and management issues.  He says “while every situation is different, there are certain business areas – cost analysis, marketing, customer service, technology implementation, product development, to name a few – that share similarities across different cultures and geographies.”  He incorporates “lessons learned” into his work at LEDC, while taking into consideration the specific characteristics of doing business in the US in general and the DC area in particular. Chris believes that many of society’s social and service needs can best be addressed though the power of entrepreneurship. He is excited about the prospect of contributing to the long-term success of the community through support of committed individuals in their efforts and finds this kind of work meaningful, tangible, and invigorating. In his spare time Chris enjoys travel and reading economic history, with a focus on the development of Latin American cities and trading systems.  Other interests include youth mentoring, scuba diving, and museums.

Yvette Zaragoza, Business Program Manager  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Yvette Zaragoza provides technical assistance to small business owners to improve their financial management, marketing and operations. She also advises people who have a good business idea or a special ability that can be translated into a viable business. Finally, along with Chris, she gives low-cost or free courses on these subjects. Yvette studied industrial engineering in Peru and has a Master's degree in Business with concentration in Finance and International Development at American University in DC. Since Yvette was little, she has been involved in business. Her parents have a medium-sized enterprise, as do most of her relatives too. After completing her Master's, she and her husband, along with other family members, opened a restaurant in Arlington. Although things have gone very well, Yvette has faced many of the same daily problems faced by many of her clients. In LEDC, Yvette wants to contribute to the success of many talented, creative and hardworking Latinos who come to this country hoping to realize many of their dreams. On a personal level, she wants to stay in touch with the Latin culture and people, and hopes they will be an important and positive force in the DC area. Like a good Latino, one of her favorite activities is eating well. Yvette enjoys the influence of the different cuisines in this area. She also loves to be in touch with nature: hiking, camping and climbing.

Daniel Parra, Managing Director, Maryland  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it   

Daniel Parra is the Managing Director of the Maryland satellite office. Prior to working with LEDC Daniel owned his own business for 12 years in Colombia. This experience made him realize how hard business owners have to work to overcome the daily struggles.  He came to the US in 1999 and gained additional experience working with the immigrant community. This allowed him to understand the differences--in terms of culture, language and vision--between the entrepreneurs who aspire to start a business in Latin America and in this country. He says the most exciting thing about working for LEDC is being part of the process of making a dream become a tangible reality. He says, “everything begins as a dream; planting the seeds of an idea in a business plan and discussing different ways to make it grow. It is a wonderful experience that has a great reward: the grand opening or expansion of a business.” Daniel loves music, dance, movies, good books, spending time with his family and friends, and long road trips.

Emily Adelman, Local First Program Manager- Maryland This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it   

Emily Adelman is the Local First Program Manager in LEDC’s Maryland office. She works with local, independently-owned businesses in Silver Spring and Wheaton to develop tools to stengthen the local economy. Prior to being named to this position, Emily was a loan officer for LEDC’s microloan program in the MD office and previously worked in outreach and community organizing in the DC office. Since joining LEDC in 2005, Emily has had the privilege to get to know business owners and their families, government officials, bankers, police officers, neighborhood residents and others. Developing relationships with different members of the community has prepared her to relate to the entrepreneurs who come to LEDC to seek services. Emily comments, “When we see one of our clients do business with another client, teach a friend about how to build good credit, or testify before the local government about legislation that affects his or her neighborhood, we can actually see the impact of community development happening before our eyes.” Emily can usually be found trying a different kind of world cuisine at one of the many restaurants in Wheaton, taking a dance class, going to concerts, or exploring the beautiful parks and landmarks in the area.

Eric Aldrette, Business Outreach Manager- Maryland This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it   

Eric Aldrette serves as the Business Outreach Manager for LEDC, in Montgomery County, providing outreach support to all LEDC-Mayland’s business programs. In this capacity Eric also serves as the coordinator for “Local First Wheaton” by promoting, publicizing and advocating for these businesses in a strong, culturally diverse network. Eric is motivated by the real possibility he has to change the life of our clients and revitalize the business communities by expanding the asset and wealth-building capacity of business owners through our loans, technical assistance and training. Eric has worked in business and human resources management capacities and has a background in corporate law. These experiences have prepared him to deal with the challenges that his job implies in a very diligent and professional way. In his spare time he loves to play and have fun with his two daughters, cook, work on small improvement projects in his home, fish, and try a good Tequila and/or cigar with friends.

Erick Gutierrez, Regional Director of Homeownership This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it   

In his role as the Regional Director of Homeownership, Erick Gutierrez is responsible for day to day operations; community, public and government relations; fundraising and creating new initiatives for the Program. Erick brings extensive work experience in grassroots and tenant organizing to LEDC. For the past fourteen years Erick has worked in multicultural housing program management, including housing counseling and relocation services, community development programs, and property management. Erick is happy to help empower people in the community to achieve a brighter financial future. In his spare time Erick enjoys music, soccer and happy hours.

Walda Yon, Housing Counselor This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Walda Yon brings six years of experience working with the Latino Community in Washington, DC.  Prior to working with LEDC Walda worked in administrative and out reach capacities with Health Services for Children with Special Needs, Carlos Rosario International Career Center & Public Charter School, International Migrants Development Fund, and Alfa Omega Tax Service.  Originally from Guatemala, Walda came to the US in 2000 with solid work experience in customer service and procurement at one of the leading sugar refineries in the country. In her position as Housing Counselor Walda educates clients on the credit system, financial literacy and the home buying process.  She can also be seen in the community leading workshops at off site venues. Walda is motivated by the fact that she is helping to improve the financial health of the community.  She knows that by providing the tools for wealth-building to each client, she is helping their families and the community as a whole. Walda in her spare time enjoys keeping up to date on information related to her work. She also likes to take walks and enjoy the scenery of Rock Creek Park.

Marcia Camilo, Housing Counselor This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it   

In her role as Housing Counselor Marcia Camilo helps clients understand the home buying process and whether or not they are ready to buy. Marcia’s training with the Neighbor Works Institute has provided her with a strong base of knowledge. However, she credits her own clients as the reason she is great at her job. With each new client Marcia learns a new experience. Marcia sees LEDC's mission coming true with her work every time a client goes to closing or every time she learns of her client becoming a homeowner.  In her spare time Marcia likes to walk, dance, cook and read interesting books.

Jose Rodriguez, Housing Counselor This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it   

Jose Rodriguez, as Housing Counselor helps clients through the steps of homeownership by hosting HPAP seminars, counseling clients on how they can improve their credit, and by calling lenders and other professionals to speed up the home-buying process. Since the inception of the Homeownership Counseling program in October 1993, Jose has been counseling, educating, organizing, and serving as one of the Latino community’s “go-to” guys for any question about housing issues. Involved with housing counseling and tenant organizing since 1990, José has helped organize and incorporate countless tenant associations, helped hundreds of tenants resolve issues and improve communication with their landlords, and walked hundreds of families through every step of the homebuying process. Jose says he finds the rewards of his work in the happiness of his clients upon becoming homeowners.

Wendy Alvarenga, Housing Counselor This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Wendy is a Senior Housing Counselor in LEDC’s Maryland office.  Prior to coming to LEDC, Wendy worked for Wells Fargo assisting homeowners over the age of 62 with reverse mortgages.  Wendy has also worked with Housing Counseling Services as an Intake Specialist and assisting counselors with the HPAP applications, as well as with the Greater Washington Urban League as the Document Control Process or Coordinator of the HOPWA program. Wendy enjoys shopping, going to the movies, dance, and spending time with her daughters. Wendy says, “The most exciting thing is when you see the faces of families go from bitter sweet to happiness because you were able to help them.”

Patricia Belbusti, Housing Counselor This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Originally from Argentina, Patricia joined LEDC this year as a Housing Counselor in the Wheaton, MD office. Patricia formerly worked in real estate and holds a real estate license in both MD and DC.  She has also acted and played the guitar as part of LEDC’s teatro callejero, bilingual, musical plays performed in the streets at outdoor festivals, telling the story of a family trying to improve their housing situation.

Farah Fosse, Director of Affordable Housing Preservation This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it   

As Program Director, Farah coordinates the work of the Affordable Housing Preservation Program to educate residents on their rights as tenants in DC, assist residents in preserving their housing as affordable, and advocate for affordable housing policies in DC. Farah Fossé joined LEDC in October of 2005 as the Director of LEDC’s Affordable Housing Preservation Program. Previous to working at LEDC, Farah worked on local affordable housing policy and tenant organizing with Buyers and Renters Arlington Voice in Arlington, Virginia, where she worked primarily with the Latino community. Farah is a graduate of Smith College in Northampton, MA with a BA in Latin American Studies and Economics. During college she studied in Xalapa, Veracruz, Mexico and has traveled extensively in Latin America. Farah is originally from Connecticut but her diverse family hails from the Midwestern United States and Puerto Rico. Farah has lived in Northwest DC for the past seven years and is passionate about preventing the displacement of low and moderate income residents, particularly Latinos, from the area. She is excited about being part of the efforts to preserve the economic and cultural diversity of the city. In addition to her work at LEDC, Farah also teaches self defense classes for women and girls and enjoys working at her community garden plot.

Daniel del Pielago, Tenant Organizer This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it   

Daniel del Pielago is a tenant organizer. He works closely with tenants to make them aware of their rights in the District and help them work cooperatively to come up with solutions for the problems they face. Daniel attributes his success as a tenant organizer to the fact that he grew up in very similar neighborhood to those he serves in the District. Additionally, he has a passion for interacting and working with people who have similar experiences to his own. Daniel feels LEDC can educate and help to put under-represented communities on the level of the more “traditional”, established communities in the District. Daniel loves music. In his spare time he enjoys collecting records (not CDs) from around the world.

Anna Duncan, Tenant Organizer This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it   

Anna Duncan organizes and educates tenants about their rights, supports tenant associations to develop strategies for improving conditions in their building and keeping it affordable, and advocates for the preservation of affordable housing in DC. Anna joined LEDC in October, 2007 as a Tenant Organizer with the Affordable Housing Preservation Program. Before coming to work with LEDC, Anna was a community organizer with The Immigrant Worker Project in Ohio, working with Latino agricultural workers. She also spent two years living in Chihuahua, Mexico, coordinating a Teatro Indigena project, utilizing theater as a popular education tool with indigenous youth in the Sierra Tarahumara. Anna is a recent graduate of Oberlin College with a degree in Political Science. A DC native who grew up in Mount Pleasant, Anna is excited to be back working in the area, supporting tenants in Latino and other communities, preventing the displacement of low-income residents, and making sure this city is a place that is welcoming and accessible to everyone who lives here.