{"id":25173,"date":"2020-06-03T17:19:39","date_gmt":"2020-06-03T22:19:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lvcf.wpengine.com\/?page_id=25173"},"modified":"2026-03-26T14:38:54","modified_gmt":"2026-03-26T19:38:54","slug":"team","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/flvchicago.org\/es\/about-us\/team\/","title":{"rendered":"Nuestro equipo"},"content":{"rendered":"
Acerca de<\/h5>

Nuestro equipo<\/h1>\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\"KimClosec\"\n\t\t\t\t \n\t\t

Kim Close<\/h4>Executive Director \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t<\/a>\t\t\t\t\n\t\t<\/a>\t\t\t\t \n\t\t\t

Kim Close<\/h3>\n\t\t\t

Kim Close, Executive Director, has been with the Foundation of Little Village since it was established in 2018 and was charged with expanding programmatic capacity for the Xquina Incubator. During her time, she has increased the resources and opportunities available to small business in Little Village.<\/p>\n

Kim emplea un enfoque hol\u00edstico en su b\u00fasqueda del desarrollo econ\u00f3mico como medio para lograr una mayor equidad. Este enfoque combina inversi\u00f3n directa en la comunidad a trav\u00e9s de la implementaci\u00f3n de programas educativos dise\u00f1ados para crear impacto econ\u00f3mico en La Villita.<\/p>\n

Kim holds a degree in International Relations with a minor in Spanish from Austin College. Prior to her work in Little Village, she owned a small business for ten years – an experience that taught her the challenges and rewards of entrepreneurship.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\"Diego\n\t\t\t\t \n\t\t

Diego Murillo<\/h4>Chief of Staff\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t<\/a>\t\t\t\t\n\t\t<\/a>\t\t\t\t \n\t\t\t

Diego Murillo<\/h3>\n\t\t\t

Diego Murillo, Chief of Staff, plays a crucial role in ensuring the smooth operation of the organization and alignment with its strategic goals. His position involves overseeing daily operations, managing staff, and coordinating between different departments to streamline communication and foster collaboration.<\/p>\n

Diego helps shape and execute initiatives that drive economic growth and community empowerment, often working closely with stakeholders, ensuring that the programs and policies effectively address the needs of local entrepreneurs and contribute to long-term economic sustainability.<\/p>\n

Diego is a graduate of University of Illinois Chicago School of Art and Design with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Studio Arts.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\"Xamanek\n\t\t\t\t \n\t\t

Xamanek Carrasco Ch\u00e1vez<\/h4>Program Director\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t<\/a>\t\t\t\t\n\t\t<\/a>\t\t\t\t \n\t\t\t

Xamanek Carrasco<\/h3>\n\t\t\t

Xamanek Carrasco, Program Director, is passionate about supporting individuals and businesses in realizing their full potential while contributing to sustainable economic development.<\/p>\n

With a strong background in global marketing and extensive experience in emerging economies, Xamanek brings decades of leadership in the medical device industry. In recent years, her focus has centered on collaborating with small businesses through customized support in marketing, business planning, and strategic growth-key drivers of economic resilience and job creation in underserved communities.<\/p>\n

She values the power of collaboration, believing that meaningful and scalable outcomes are only possible through strong teamwork.<\/p>\n

Xamanek holds a Marketing degree and an MBA from ITESM-Monterrey Institute of Technology and Higher Education. Outside of work, she has a strong appreciation for graphic arts, enjoys reading historical fiction, and finds clarity and balance through long walks.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\"Janet\n\t\t\t\t \n\t\t

Janet Lagunas<\/h4>Program Manager\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t<\/a>\t\t\t\t\n\t\t<\/a>\t\t\t\t \n\t\t\t

Janet Lagunas<\/h3>\n\t\t\t

Through her work as the Juntos Program Manager at the Foundation, Janet\u00a0supports local entrepreneurs and small business owners by helping them launch a new business and providing the resources they need to thrive. Her work as Program Manager aligns with her vision of being a community leader and her commitment to creating opportunities that lead to long-term success for the Latinx community.<\/p>\n

Janet’s unwavering passion for data drives her to spearhead the Fund for Equitable Business Growth grant, where her leadership and expertise empower innovative solutions and impactful outcomes.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\"Paul\n\t\t\t\t \n\t\t

Paul Callejas<\/h4>BusinessAdvisor\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t<\/a>\t\t\t\t\n\t\t<\/a>\t\t\t\t \n\t\t\t

Paul Callejas<\/h3>\n\t\t\t

As Business Advisor, Paul Callejas provides invaluable guidance and technical assistance to new and established entrepreneurs in the neighborhood. His collaborative approach has not only delivered results, but also significantly improved the quality of life for many Chicagoans. <\/p>\n

Paul’s role as a bridge between organizations is a testament to his leadership and his unwavering commitment to community improvement.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\"GREG\n\t\t\t\t \n\t\t

Greg Gutierrez<\/h4>Juntos Program Instructor \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t<\/a>\t\t\t\t\n\t\t<\/a>\t\t\t\t \n\t\t\t

Greg Gutierrez<\/h3>\n\t\t\t

Greg Guti\u00e9rrez, Juntos Program Instructor, serves as the lead instructor for our multi-week classroom education. Driven by a motivation to help others, Greg teaches through his own experiences as a business owner and seeks to inspire others with his journey from humble beginnings. This motivation led him to the Foundation and allows him the opportunity to make a positive impact in the community<\/p>\n

In 2004, Greg moved to Illinois to pursue his MBA at the University of Western Illinois, shortly after obtaining his bachelor’s degree in marketing and management at Universidad Pan Americana in Jalisco, Mexico.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\"Ramiro\n\t\t\t\t \n\t\t

Ramiro J. Atristain-Carri\u00f3n<\/h4>Financial Literacy Instructor\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t<\/a>\t\t\t\t\n\t\t<\/a>\t\t\t\t \n\t\t\t

Ramiro J. Atristain-Carri\u00f3n<\/h3>\n\t\t\t

Ramiro J. Atristain-Carri\u00f3n, Financial Literacy Instructor, serves as our multi-week classroom instructor for Juntos Avanzamos and our finance-focused topics. Ramiro leverages his expertise to support entrepreneurs, business owners, and organizations in optimizing finances, building effective teams, and achieving long-term goals. His guidance helps aspiring business leaders navigate financial complexities and create sustainable strategies.<\/p>\n

Ramiro serves as the Managing Director of Atristain Advisors, LLC, is the Executive In Residence and Adjunct Professor of Finance at Dominican University’s Brennan School of Business, and is a published author of financial wellness resources. With an MBA in Finance, BA in Economics and numerous certifications, including Behavioral Financial Advisor (BFA) and Associate Certified Coach (ACC), he combines financial expertise with coaching to empower individuals and organizations.\u00a0<\/p>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\"Gaston\"\n\t\t\t\t \n\t\t

Gaston Linan<\/h4>Access to Capital Specialist\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t<\/a>\t\t\t\t \n\t\t\t

Gaston Linan<\/h3>\n\t\t\t

Gaston Linan, Access to Capital Specialist, coaches small business owners within our Business Finance Resources leading them to capital opportunities and financial sustainability. Gaston is a seasoned financial services professional with over 25 years of experience in retail banking. Specializing in providing tailored financial solutions to small business owners, he has developed a deep understanding of the unique challenges and opportunities faced by entrepreneurs.<\/p>\n

Throughout his career, Gaston has built a reputation for delivering personalized, effective advice and strategic support to help small businesses navigate their financial needs, from securing funding to optimizing cash flow and managing risk. His extensive expertise, coupled with his commitment to customer success, has made him a trusted partner for countless small business clients.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t

Careers<\/h3>\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t

The Foundation of Little Village provides equal employment opportunities to all qualified individuals regardless of race, ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, native language, religion, age, disability, or any other characteristic protected by law. Regardless of protected status, the Foundation of Little Village is committed to providing quality services to individuals in our community and upholding a safe and respectful working environment for our employees.<\/p>\n

The Foundation offers competitive pay and a generous benefits package including paid holidays, paid time off and sick days, health insurance, and other benefits.<\/p>\n

At this time, the Foundation does not have any open positions available. Please watch our social media pages for the most up to date information as we primarily post job announcements on those sites.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

About Our Team Kim Close Executive Director Kim Close Kim Close, Executive Director, has been with the Foundation of Little Village since it was established in 2018 and was charged with expanding programmatic capacity for the Xquina Incubator. During her time, she has increased the resources and opportunities available to small business in Little Village. […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"parent":26668,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"site-sidebar-layout":"no-sidebar","site-content-layout":"page-builder","ast-site-content-layout":"full-width-container","site-content-style":"unboxed","site-sidebar-style":"unboxed","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"disabled","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"disabled","footer-sml-layout":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"default","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"default","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"set","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-25173","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"yoast_head":"\nOur Team - Foundation of Little Village<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/flvchicago.org\/es\/about-us\/team\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"es_MX\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Our Team - Foundation of Little Village\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"About Our Team Kim Close Executive Director Kim Close Kim Close, Executive Director, has been with the Foundation of Little Village since it was established in 2018 and was charged with expanding programmatic capacity for the Xquina Incubator. 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