Doris Karolczyk (she/her)

Doris Karolczyk is a Title VI Local Agency Compliance Lead at the Washington State Department of Transportation, Office of Equity and Civil Rights. She manages, trains, and assists over 100 Local Public Agencies that receive funding from the Federal Highway Administration. She has a PhD from Louisiana State University and taught, researched, and published in the social sciences for many years. 

Corwin Scott (he/him)

Corwin R. Scott is a lifelong resident of Tacoma, and the Executive Director of the Evergreen Empowerment Group (EEG). The EEG’s main purpose is to assist people returning from prison to vacate and expunge their nonviolent criminal records and get relief for their Legal Financial Obligations. Corwin earned a bachelor’s degree from the Evergreen State College in Tacoma, obtained a double MBA in Marketing and Management and attended law school, however is not an attorney.

Corwin is the Title VI Specialist at the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT). In this role, he is a statewide subject matter expert and have agency-wide responsibility for the administration, direction, and oversight of WSDOT’s statewide Title VI Program under the Environmental Justice Manager, Mr. Valentin.  The Title VI program ensures all agency programs, activities and services are equitable and implemented in a non-discriminatory fashion. 

Corwin was recently appointed to the Washington State Commission on African American Affairs by former governor, Jay Inslee. Corwin is also a panel member on the Washington State Justice and Training Commission’s Certification hearings.

Alberto J. Valentin, JD, LLM

Mr. Valentin is from San Juan, Puerto Rico and has a bachelor’s degree in political science, a Juris Doctor, and a Master In-Laws (LLM) in Environmental Law’ from Vermont Law School. Mr. Valentin has a vast experience working for the public sector and with social justice and environmental awareness organizations. Before moving to Washington State, Mr. Valentin worked as Legal Advisor of the Governor of Puerto Rico, executive director of the LGBT & Human Rights Advisory Board of the Governor, member of the National Environmental & Recycling Board of the Island, and director of the Office of Civil Rights of the Department of Education.

Currently Mr. Valentin is the Environmental Justice Manager of the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT). Mr. Valentín oversees the statewide compliance of the agency towards Environmental Justice, to implement public policies and reduce, mitigate, and eradicate environmental effects, health disparities and racial discrimination in all transportation actions, projects and construction against vulnerable populations, overburdened communities, and indigenous communities. 

Herminia Esqueda (she/her/ella)

Herminia Esqueda is a Strategic Alignment Administrator for the DSHS Office of Equity, Diversity, Access and Inclusion.  She has worked for DSHS for 35 years. Through the years, she has weaved her passion for immigration policy, continuous improvement, language equity, and cultural awareness into her work. Herminia recently graduated with her Master of Arts degree and holds credentials as a Certified Diversity Executive, Certified Public Manager, and Certified Instructional Designer.

Karen Gonzalez (she/her)

Karen Gonzalez, originally from Hanford California, works with Washington State Department of Enterprise Services (DES), she leads the Procurement Inclusion and Equity (PIE) program's efforts to promote small, diverse, and veteran businesses to state agencies and statewide contract users.

As a first-generation immigrant Latina. Karen grew up hearing “Échale ganas y si se puede” words that reminded her that with hard work and determination, anything is possible. Her parents always instilled in her the value of hard work and determination at a very young age her father would take her to would take her to the fields in California to turn the raisins, not because she was much help, but to show her firsthand the sacrifices that came with hard labor. That labor of love and passion is what fuels her commitment to equity work.

With 10 years of experience working in equity-driven spaces, Karen has worked in large nonprofits, the private sector, and now state government. She is grateful for the mentors who guide her today and believes that everything we do is possible because of the path paved by those before us.

Teddy Kemirembe (she/her)

Teddy Dianah Kemirembe, She/Her pronouns: Born and raised in Uganda, Teddy comes from a walk of humble beginnings.

Teddy’s story is long but in short here is the version: Teddy has a master's in social work (MSW) from Columbia University School of Social Work. She has a passion in Diversity, Equity and Inclusion hence has attained Certificate of Diversity Profession (CDP) and Certificate of Diversity Executive(CDE) from the Institute of Diversity Center (IDC).

Teddy has over twenty years in Social Work, working primarily with children and families and has tremendous experience in child welfare, working with children affected by developmental disabilities, and over 7 years working in emergency rooms as a social worker assisting patients with mental health and homelessness.

Teddy currently works with the Developmental Disabilities Administration (DDA) under DSHS as their Community Engagement and Client connection administrator. She is a mother of two beautiful girls, 12 years and 9 years both with special needs. Her 12-year-old daughter is diagnosed with Autism and her 9-year-old daughter is diagnosed with Rett Syndrome.

Teddy loves drumming, gardening, and watching movies in her free time.

JESSICA CAMACHO (she/her)

Jessica Camacho (she/her) is the Director of the Small Business Resiliency Network (SBRN) at the Washington State Department of Commerce, leading efforts to expand access to resources for systemically oppressed and excluded entrepreneurs.

A former farmworker and immigrant, Jessica’s lived experience drives her passion for equity. From supporting her parents’ small business ventures to navigating complex systems herself, she understands the challenges faced by underserved entrepreneurs.

Under her leadership, SBRN served over 11,000 businesses in 180+ Washington cities in the last fiscal year, provided support in 41 languages, and launched a low-barrier low-risk loan program helping over 600 businesses access capital. Jessica and her team have also co-developed a co-governance model with trusted, by-and-for partners to ensure shared power in decision-making.

Jessica believes economic opportunity is a right, not a privilege, and is deeply committed to building generational wealth through entrepreneurship, equity, and community power.

DEVIN GONZALEZ (he/him)

Devin is a bilingual Business Advisor with the Center for Inclusive Entrepreneurship (CIE), where he leads food business development and community outreach across the Olympic Peninsula. A former restaurant and catering business owner, Devin brings firsthand experience, deep empathy, and entrepreneurial wisdom to the small business owners he supports.

Rooted in lived experience, Devin empowers underestimated entrepreneurs to move from idea to launch to growth with confidence. Whether it’s helping someone develop their first business plan or navigate access to capital, he ensures each client is supported, seen, and valued.

Devin is intentional in his work and vocal about the need for systemic change. He believes that if our ancestors endured harder things, we too can persevere—and that resilience, when matched with opportunity, leads to transformation. With heart and hustle, Devin helps build stronger businesses, stronger communities, and a future where everyone has the chance to thrive.

HUGO NICOLAS (he/him)

Hugo Nicolas is the Small Business Consultant at the Governor's Office for Regulatory Innovation and Assistance (ORIA). Born in Veracruz, Mexico, and raised in Oregon, Hugo is a former DACA recipient whose personal journey fuels his passion for fighting systemic barriers. As a community organizer, he advocated for Dreamers and immigration reform, empowering underserved communities to rise above challenges.

Hugo transitioned into banking and consulting for the Mexican Foreign Affairs Office, where he used his expertise to uplift minority-owned businesses and help Latinos access professional opportunities.

Today, he leads the Small Business Liaison Team (SBLT), a group of 27 state agencies working to break down regulatory obstacles for small businesses, with a special focus on addressing language barriers.

Hugo is committed to ensuring that entrepreneurs, particularly those from immigrant and non-English-speaking backgrounds, have the resources and support they need to thrive and build a legacy of generational wealth.

Ada Adler (she/her)

Ada Adler is a compassionate observant leader dedicated to building flourishing communities where everyone sees value in themselves and others.  Ada's diverse background has shaped her unique perspective on societal challenges, fueling her passion for community support and restorative justice. Her multifaceted life experiences have molded her into an ambitious advocate, committed to helping others rebuild their lives and contribute positively to society.  Ada's work is currently dedicated to reentry programs, because of her profound belief that at any point in time someone can choose to change their life and do better. 

Elizabeth Rice (she/her)

Elizabeth Rice is a human-focused strategist with over two decades of experience in the carceral system and community organizations. As Executive Director of The STAR Project, she supports justice-impacted individuals in Southeast Washington. Elizabeth also serves as CFO for Unincarcerated Productions, amplifying voices of justice-impacted humans. Her expertise lies in designing programs for personal and professional growth, championing restorative business practices, and removing stigma associated with criminal records. Elizabeth's board memberships in nonprofits reflect her dedication to transforming societal misconceptions about justice-impacted individuals at local and national levels, bridging the gap between employers and formerly incarcerated job seekers.