About
Board of Directors
Dan Arce
Dan Arce
Daniel Arce is truly a Renaissance man. Wearing two hats, he currently serves as president of Sun Optics, a position he has held for 28 years, and as general manager of Tropical Optical Vision Centers, which he has held for 24 years. His extensive knowledge of the vision care industry has allowed him to administer the vision program for the city of Chicago Mayor\'s Office of Employment & Training and the vision program for the Chicago, Cicero and Berwyn schools. Well respected in his field, he also served as the general contractor of the State of Illinois Healthy Kids/Healthy Minds Program.
Proud of his Mexican-American heritage, Mr. Arce relishes the opportunity to give back to his community by serving as a member of the Board of Directors of the Chicago Boys and Girls Club; past president of the General R.E. Wood Unit of the Chicago Boys and Girls Club; past president and current member of the Chicago Azteca Lions Club; past president of the Little Village Chamber of Commerce; current member of the Board of Directors, Back of the Yards Community Council; past vice president of the Mexican-American Chamber of Commerce; member of the Pilsen IETC community Work Force Employment Council. Current President of the Little Village Rotary Club.
He is also a member of the Optician Association of America; Illinois Latino Legislative Caucus Foundation and a founding member, current Board member of the Mexican-American Democratic Organization and currently serves as president of PAC.
Daniel Arce holds a certificate in Advanced Management Education from Northwestern University's Kellogg School of Business.
He is the father of a daughter.
Neli Vazquez Rowland
Neli Vazquez Rowland
Neli Vazquez Rowland is a visionary and the pioneering architect for one of the most lauded models in the world that consistently helps break the cycle of poverty and homelessness. She’s a fearless advocate, serial social entrepreneur, real estate developer, author, speaker and the co-founder of A Safe Haven (ASH), the organization she co-founded with her husband.
ASH’s innovative approach provides individualized, community based, state-licensed food, shelter, substance abuse treatment, healthcare, education, job training, placement, and phased-housing programs to those in need.
Neli is an experienced and trained finance professional with a social entrepreneurial spirit. She understands the need to establish a more accountable and sustainable nonprofit model to solve big societal problems. Neli was born and raised in Little Village.
Arabel Alba
Rosales
Arabel Alva Rosales
Arabel Alva Rosales is President and CEO of AAR Tech, with over 17 years as a successful Management and Technology Firm. She is Vice Chairman on the CTA board of Directors and serves on several other boards, including IHCC, WBDC, and the City Club of Chicago.
She is the founder and producer of RUNWAY LATINX, a multi-day branded entertainment environment providing opportunities for those in the fashion industry. She is also co-founder of the former Latino Fashion Week® (LFW™). She is also the proud founder of Pivoting in Heels (PIH) a digital NFP dedicated to empowering women.
Jason
Roberts
Jason Roberts
Jason Roberts family migrated from the Caribbean to pursue better opportunities in America. His Father\'s first job in America was driving a taxi cab in New York, while his Mother worked as a Nanny. His Father then went on to study at New York Community college and after graduating he began his career in banking. He later went on to follow his entrepreneurial spirit and started his first Automotive Dealership and Jason Roberts joined him soon thereafter as a porter washing floors in the service department in 1988.
Jason Roberts started his Automotive career, working as a porter at his Father\'s first dealership, while still in High school. Jason Roberts graduated High School and left his Father\'s business to attend The Ohio State University. There he studied Business Economics and after completing his fourth year, he returned to sell cars at his Father\'s dealership. Jason has held every key position in his Father\'s business from porter, to salesman, and is now the Managing partner of Advantage Chevrolet of Hodgkins. Since he became Managing partner, they have expanded their business from one dealership to currently three dealerships.
Jason is very passionate about giving back to the community he serves. He has been a Proud sponsor of the Little Village Scholarship drive since 2007. He has sponsored the Little Village Little Baseball League since 2012. Jason Roberts also established the Annual Advantage Chevrolet Pretty in Pink Walkathon for the Fight Against Breast Cancer in 2010. He strongly believes that a business is an extension of the neighborhood it serves and should support the community wholeheartedly. It is those values which he believes has afforded his business the opportunity to grow and prosper through the ever changing economic environment.
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