Doris Karolczyk

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

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

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

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

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

Jessica Camacho of Yakima will lead Commerce’s Small Business Resiliency Network, a statewide program formed in Spring 2020, that works to ensure historically underserved business owners have access to business assistance, including COVID relief funding and support.  Camacho will work closely with Commerce’s trusted community messenger the network partners in the network to help strengthen the network’s reach and impact.  She will also work with Commerce’s community engagement specialists and the rural small business assistance team in the agency’s Office of Economic Development and Competitiveness.

“Small-business owners add so much value to the quality of life in our towns and cities, yet many are underserved and underrepresented,” Camacho said. She explained that many of these business owners may not always have access to a small-business advisor who speaks their language, a computer with high-speed internet or even a trusted guide who can help them maneuver through all the complicated language for grant and loan applications.

“Our Small Business Resiliency Network’s collective efforts provide underserved business owners with the connections and resources they need to be successful. By doing so, we empower them to continue running their businesses while encouraging locals and visitors to support these community businesses,” Camacho said.

Hugo Nicolas

Small Business Consultant, Office for Regulatory Innovation and Assistance
Hugo Nicolas was born in Mexico Veracruz and grew up in Oregon, later attending the University of Oregon. As a formerly undocumented immigrant and one of the first recipients of DACA, Hugo gave back to his community by organizing campaigns to protect undocumented families in Oregon. Hugo was involved in advocating for Dreamers and immigration reform at the national level and remains connected with the Latino community in Washington and Oregon. Hugo found a passion in economics that lead a transitioned to a professional career in banking for six years and Consulting for the Mexican Foreign Affairs office. In his corporate career he was able to use his knowledge and resources to provide financial literacy education to minority owned businesses and assist creating opportunities for Latinos looking at professional careers. He joined ORIA two year ago as the Small Business Consultant and is currently working to connect small business to state agency regulatory services and programs.