September 01, 2016
Thursday, September 1, 2016
LANSING, Mich. – Gov. Rick Snyder today announced the appointments of Esperanza Cantu of Berkley, Jose Lopez of Detroit, Kelsey Switzer of Bloomfield Township and Ivonne Soler of Livonia to the Hispanic/Latino Commission of Michigan.
Housed within the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs, the 15-member commission develops and maintains a unified policy and plan of action to serve the needs of Michigan's Hispanic and Latino residents.
"This group of individuals has a variety of experiences that will allow them to contribute and serve Michigan’s Hispanic and Latino community well," Snyder said.
Cantu is the manager of health equity and collaboration for Authority Health. She serves on the Mentorship and Pathways to Success for the Underserved Student of Color committee at Kalamazoo College and the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services’ Hispanic Data Advisory Committee. Cantu holds a bachelor’s degree from Kalamazoo College and a master’s degree from the University of Michigan. She will fill a vacancy created by the resignation of Julio Morales.
Lopez is the manager of Lopez Tire Repair Inc. He also is a sales representative and brand ambassador for Cabresto Imports Corporation. He has served as a board member for the Business Improvement District in Detroit for six years. He will fill a vacancy created by the resignation of Armando Hernandez.
Switzer is an attorney in the automotive industry. She previously was an associate in the Labor and Employment Department for Honigman, Miller, Schwartz, and Cohn, LLP and has served on the board of directors for the Detroit Hispanic Development Corporation. Switzer holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, a master’s degree from Florida International University, and a law degree from Northwestern University School of Law. She will fill a vacancy created by the resignation of Norma Huizar.
Soler is an associate attorney at Butzel Long. She previously worked as a project coordinator for the Detroit Parent Network and was an assistant conference coordinator for Wayne State University School of Medicine. Soler is a member of the Hispanic Bar Association of Michigan and the Butzel Long Women’s Leadership Initiative. Soler holds a bachelor’s degree from Wayne State University and a law degree from the University Of Detroit Mercy School Of Law. She will fill a vacancy created by the resignation of JoAnn Chavez.
Cantu, Lopez, and Switzer will serve the remainder of three-year terms expiring Dec. 10, 2016, and Soler will serve the remainder of a three-year term expiring Dec. 10, 2017. Their appointments are subject to the advice and consent of the Senate.
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