Meet Our Senior Leadership Team

Raíces Cyber Continues to assemble a world-class team of Volunteers to support our mission of enabling Hispanics, Latinos, Latinas, and LatinX people in the exciting Field of Cyber Security

Founder & Executive Director

A US ARMY Military Intelligence Veteran of Bosnia and Kosovo with NATO; Eric Brings over 30 years of Cyber Security & Online Safety Experience across many industry domains including Civilian Government, Department of Defense, International, Financial, and Civilian markets. Where he has supported organizations in strategic direction, program assessments, remediation and monitoring, intelligence services (VIP & High Value individuals), and Security Risk Mitigation and Security Education.
Eric’s experience in the cyber security field encompasses the areas of Security Operations, Incident Response, Business Continuity & Disaster Recovery, Digital Forensics, Certification and Accreditation, Enterprise Security Architecture, and Security in Mergers & Acquisitions in over 20 Countries.
Eric is the Founder and Executive director of Raices Cyber Org, an organization dedicated to increase the representation of Hispanics, Latinos, Latinas and LatinX in the field of Cybersecurity.

Deputy Executive Director

Little Fury, Mighty Mouse, and the Short Stick of Dynamite—these are the nicknames given to and earned by Yvonne Rivera as a result of her time in the military and the male dominated field of cybersecurity. Yvonne has served tours in the Army, innovated software and cyber programs, won medals, and launched a business. But to understand the full breadth of her accomplishments, it’s important to explore her origins. As a third-generation military child, Yvonne lived with her single mother and two siblings to escape domestic abuse. Yvonne would soon escape once more, as her mother moved their family from the overcrowded, underfunded schools of Miami to the Spanish-only schools of Puerto Rico. She lived without a computer or internet access. Yet in the wake of the September 11th attacks—when necessity and national pride drove her to join the United States Army—she would enter the field of IT. After 8 years in the military, Yvonne would spend the next 10+ years in the federal workforce as a government employee and contractor. As a security engineer, she contributed to the Army, Navy, Marines, and FBI. But it was her work within the Army, DoD, and as a contractor that led to one of the biggest turning points in Yvonne’s life. Yvonne found herself fixing the same cybersecurity issues over and over. In response, she founded her company, CyberMyte, to help small businesses bring their innovations to the federal government atop the foundation of a secure, efficient, and empowering cybersecurity platform. One of her greatest passions is converting others to the perspective that cybersecurity delivers not only protection and peace of mind, but also the ability to drive business forward without fear or hindrance. In addition to her experiences and contributions to her country, Yvonne earned her nicknames because she discovered that efficacy alone wouldn’t be enough in a field in which women are such a rarity. She learned that extreme knowledge of subject matter, passion for enabling through cybersecurity, and a willingness to make herself heard were paramount to reaching her goals. In her life and career, Yvonne is supported by her husband, five children, and emotional support animal, Lyon. That support system empowers Yvonne to continue her endeavor of convincing the world to view cyber not as something to hate or fear, but as something that can nourish and protect innovation.

Chief Marketing Officer (CMO)

Hello community, I am a marketing professional with a background in recruiting, tech consulting, and DEIBA. I'm passionate about creating and sharing compelling stories with the world that highlight the lesser known stories. Over the years, I've honed my expertise in content creation, social media strategy, and digital marketing. I especially love creating events and conferences that can impact people at scale.

Chief People Officer (CPO)

Amy Knoell is the Practice Director for the new Cybersecurity Division of TBG. With over 20 years of experience in technical recruiting and the last 17 years focused on Cybersecurity, she has built a name for herself and is well-connected in the industry. Amy co-founded SecureRecruit, a cybersecurity recruiting firm recently acquired by TBG.
Throughout her career she has managed teams and created training programs, all while working a full desk. Amy prides herself on her collaborative and supportive nature. Recruiting can be tough sometimes, so she tries to have fun and be a positive, inspirational light to those around her. Amy attended school at the University of Georgia, earned her BS in Child Development, and was a Montessori teacher for six years.

Chief Operation Officer (COO)

Melanie is an accomplished information security professional based in Chicago, specializing in vulnerability management, incident response, and governance, risk, and compliance (GRC). Melanie formerly served as Chief of Staff of Information Security at a Fortune 100 financial institution, leading a global team of over 90 information security professionals. This role marked a significant career pivot for Melanie, who transitioned in 2021 from an 8-year tenure in the education sector.
With over 13 years of operational experience across various industries and disciplines, Melanie brings a dynamic, versatile, and adaptable approach to her work. She holds a Master's degree in cybersecurity from DePaul University and a Bachelor's degree in psychology, forming a unique blend of technical and behavioral insights that shapes her approach to cybersecurity. Melanie received distinguished recognition by the National Society of Leadership and Success (NSLS) in 2019 and has since continued her commitment to promote a culture of inclusion in the IT and cybersecurity profession, ensuring that the industry represents the diverse communities it serves.
Melanie serves as the Chief Operating Officer of Raices Cyber Org, leading all operational initiatives and promoting diversity and inclusion, with a particular focus on advancing Latinos in IT and cybersecurity.

Deputy Chief Operation Officer (DCOO)

1st Lieutenant David Merida assumed the role of Chief of Training of the 112th Cyberspace Operations Squadron in January 2022. Before being commissioned as a cyberspace effects officer, Lt Merida enlisted as a hydraulic systems technician in August 2016. He served at McGuire Air Force Base in the Air Force Reserve before transferring to the Pennsylvania Air National Guard. Lt Merida trained and qualified as a cyber warfare operator, then mobilized in 2021 to perform defensive cyber operations on several Air Force weapon systems.
Lt Merida attended Officer Training School and received his commission in December 2021. He currently serves at Biddle Air National Guard Base in Horsham, PA.
Lt Merida is a Penn State alumnus representing the class of 2007.

National Education Director

Sam is a seasoned trainer, educator, and student advocate with two decades of experience spanning public and private sectors, including roles in city, state, and federal departments, sales, insurance, banking, and education.

Having worked with both child and adult learners across diverse environments, Sam excels at bridging gaps between needs and available resources for students, educators, trainers, and administrators.

Drawing from a rich background, Sam also brings extensive IT Program experience, successfully managing regulatory, compliance, infrastructure, and security initiatives.
In the role of National Education Program Director, Sam envisions creating a robust and inclusive learning ecosystem that fosters the growth of cyber enthusiasts across all backgrounds. He is committed to promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion within the educational content and volunteer engagement, ensuring that every participant feels welcomed and empowered to excel in the field of cybersecurity.

Deputy National Education Director

A journeyman of sorts, Ulises has traversed various industries before rekindling his passion for computers. Since childhood, his fascination with computers led to some misadventures—disassembling the family computer and inadvertently infecting his systems while indulging in music downloads from torrenting sites. Faced with recurring technical issues and a less-than-helpful “Squad”, Ulises taught himself computer repair, progressing from mischief with an old laptop to exploring cybersecurity tools like Backtrack.
As an adult, Ulises devotes himself to refining his IT and cybersecurity skills, pursuing dual ambitions: a career in cybersecurity and a teaching role, working on certifications such as SANS GSEC and GCIH and pursuing his Bachelors in teaching. Though less experienced than some peers, he embraces challenges head-on and refuses to shy away from uphill battles.

Puerto Rico Operations Officer

For over 25 years, Yarice has used her communication skills and commitment to empower individuals and their communities to promote community and economic development in Puerto Rico, the United States, and internationally. Some of her leadership roles include Deputy Advisor to the First Lady of Puerto Rico, Chief Development and Diversity Officer for Centros Sor Isolina Ferré, Philanthropy, and Communications Officer at the Puerto Rico Community Foundation, Assistant Dean of Communications at the Harvard Graduate School of Education, among others. She has published several articles on philanthropy, community development, education, and diversity & inclusion. Creator of the Green Philanthropic Ribbon (social awareness icon) adopted by Mexico, St. Lucia, Panamá, the United States, and Puerto Rico. This icon is used to promote the role of philanthropy and serves as a fundraising tool for nonprofits around the world. Yarice was part of the Puerto Rican delegation for the Clinton Global Initiative delegation. Nominated three times for Regional Emmy, recognized by the Council on Foundations with the Emerging Philanthropic Leadership Award, and Excel Award winner presented by the Association of Public Relations Professionals. She completed her Bachelor's Degree in Communications and Economics at Boston University and her Master's in Philanthropy and the Media at Suffolk University. Yarice lives in Arlington, MA with her husband and three children.

Chapter Operations Director

From an early age, Juan Fernandez swapped the traditional bike for a gateway to the digital world—a Windows 95 computer. This unconventional choice not only left him with a charming quirk (he still can't ride a bike!) but sparked a lifelong passion for technology and electronics. Guided by his father's words, "There's no self-destruct button on a computer," Juan cultivated an adventurous and inquisitive approach to tech.
Now, Juan skillfully navigates the tech landscape, merging his role as a Voice Engineer at RevenueWell with impactful volunteer positions. He serves as the Illinois State Coordinator for the Information Technology Disaster Resource Center (ITDRC), where he harnesses technology to connect communities in crisis. Additionally, he channels his personal journey as an immigrant and leadership experience as the Chapter Operations Director for Raíces Cyber, encouraging and supporting the Hispanic and Latino cyber and technology community.
Juan's journey from a six-year-old tech enthusiast to a multifaceted tech professional is a testament to where passion, dedication, curiosity, and a dash of unconventional choices can lead.

Deputy Chapter Operations Director

Vanessa brings over 30 years of Systems Engineering and Cybersecurity across many industries including Department of Defense, Scientific Space Programs, Telecom, Healthcare, Cable and Mobile. She has supported organizations in strategic planning, product and services development, risk management and compliance policy enforcement, audits, international market expansion, and workforce training.
Vanessa’s experience in the Cybersecurity field encompasses Security Operations, Incident Response, Network provisioning, Business Continuity and Disaster Recovery planning, Federal Certification and Accreditation in FISMA, FedRAMP, and tScheme ISO 27001 compliance. Additionally, she has managed healthcare security in COVID patient portal development.
Vanessa is passionate about inspiring individuals to live their best life through education, community, and mentoring. She is a Project Management Institute (PMI) coaching pod leader, an adjunct professor, and a volunteer in DELL “Coding for Good” ERG. She mentors Dell college interns every year to support those entering engineering and cyber careers.
Work-life balance is important to Vanessa who enjoys long distance cycling, running, golf, gourmet cooking, meditation, being a bird mom to her parrots, and volunteering in the community.

Infrastructure Director

Jacob brings almost a decade of experience in managing and developing communities on a range of social medial platforms, maintaining communities and groups of up to 20 thousand people.
Now he is leveraging his skills in IT operations to maintain and grow our infrastructure, ensuring it keeps pace with our expanding roster of staff and volunteers.
His insistence on following procedures (and making new ones) keep our systems well-organized and running as seamlessly as possible.

Meet Our Senior Leadership Team

Dr. Aunshul Rege

Dr. Melissa Sassi

Tennisha Martin

Ray Espinoza

Caroline Sanchez Crozier

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