LCAC TEAM
The LCAC Team brings a range of talentos in community development, education research, finance, real-estate, philanthropy, programming, marketing, events planning, business and non-profit management.
BOARD OF TRUSTEES
Celina Benavidez
Chairwoman of the LCAC Board
Denver native and former State Representative Celina Benavidez brings extensive leadership and fiscal expertise to The LCAC. With 25 years at the Colorado Department of Transportation as Director of Administration, she also chaired the National Association of Transportation Officials’ Subcommittee on Civil Rights. Celina supports community-driven initiatives with her business acumen. She holds a business degree from the University of Albuquerque and is a Gates Fellow, having completed Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government’s Senior Executive Fellows Program.
Eileen Muñoz
Vice-Chair
A construction and risk management expert at Holmes Murphy, Eileen is a longtime LCAC supporter. Her leadership will be key to making Las Bodegas a reality -- a space where artists, educators, and families can thrive.
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Marco Antonio Abarca
President of Ready Foods, Inc., Denver
Mr. Abarca is the President & CEO of Ready Foods, Inc. Marco Antonio is interested in advancing education and supports a number of reform initiatives. His hobbies include reading and traveling to historic sites.
Ryan Patterson
Associate at Northwood Investors
Mr. Patterson has several years of experience in non-profit foundation work and social impact investing. He received his MBA, with an emphasis in real estate and finance, from the University of Colorado-Boulder. Ryan is also actively engaged in la comunidad as a volunteer and mentor for high school students.
Bobby Lefebre
LeFebre is an award-winning writer, performer and cultural worker fusing a non-traditional multi-hyphenated professional identity to imagine new realities, empower communities, advance arts and culture, and serve as an agent of provocation, transformation, equity and social change.
Justin Gilmore
Justin Gilmore brings over 20 years of experience in the construction industry. As an engaging and passionate professional, he develops trust-based relationships by maximizing their strengths to create successful strategic alliances. His diverse background in complex construction projects will lend itself to prepare of breaking ground at
Las Bodegas.
Sofia Garcia
A historian and community advocate, Sofia brings experience from History Colorado, where she has shaped conversations on Latino identity, restorative justice, and storytelling. As a young leader, she ensures LCAC stays connected to the next generation of change-makers.
Armando B. Somoza
An artist, entrepreneur, and futurist, Armando specializes in digital learning, cultural advocacy, and creative strategy. His work merges art, technology, and education, keeping LCAC at the forefront of cultural transformation.
LCAC TEAM
Alfredo Reyes
Executive Director
Alfredo is responsible for translating the LCAC vision into action through cutting-edge partnerships and programas. He draws upon his training in leadership + pedagogy to highlight the complexity and depth behind the Latino imaginación.
720-496-9375 / Alfredo@LCAC-Denver.org
Joyce Sanchez
Operations Manager
Joyce comes with 25 years of professional experience empowering and supporting the most vulnerable people in our comunidad through youth and family services. She is a fearless advocate and is dedicated to helping people reach their full potential a través del arte y la cultura.
303-946-8873 / Joyce@LCAC-Denver.org
Mandy Medrano
Community Arts Coordinator
Mandy Medrano is a Denver native and a descendant of the Apache, Comanche, Mexican and Andean Indigenous. She has deep roots in the La Alma and Westwood neighborhoods of Denver. Mandy brings 30 years of experience cultivating intergenerational spaces in Metro Denver with a focus on Día de los Muertos, and cultural programs that integrate mental wellness.
720-987-9080 / MMedrano@LCAC-Denver.org
Andrew K. Shepherd
Public Art Mentoring Coordinator
Born in Las Vegas, NV and with roots in the San Luis Valley, Andrew Shepherd is a multidisciplinary artist and arts advocate. He holds a BFA in Painting from the Savannah College of Art and Design and brings experience in corporate art consulting, public art, and artist mentorship. Passionate about the power of art to shape communities, Andrew helps emerging artists develop their ideas, navigate the public art process, and build prosperous creative careers.
702-416-5303 / PublicArt@LCAC-Denver.org