The Officers and Board Members have a strong commitment to serving the many constituents of the organization. But first and foremost, they focus their energies on making sure the entire organization is focused on its mission and its outreach programs.
2025-2026 BOARD OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS
Co-Founder/Chief Executive Officer
Leticia Gallegos is the Co-Founder and CEO of the Hispanic Real Estate Brokers Association (HREBA), where she brings decades of leadership, expertise, and a passion for empowering communities of color. As a trailblazer in the real estate industry, Leticia co-owns Showcase DFW Realty LLC, an Arlington real estate firm established in 2004.
Before transitioning to real estate sales and management, Leticia held a successful career leading corporate sales and marketing teams, honing her strategic vision and collaborative leadership style. This foundation has been instrumental in driving HREBA's mission to provide underserved and underinvested communities with the knowledge and resources needed to achieve sustainable homeownership and financial stability.
Leticia’s dedication to HREBA’s mission is further exemplified by her achievement as a HUD-certified housing counselor. Under her leadership, HREBA became a HUD-approved housing counseling agency, solidifying its role as a trusted resource for families seeking guidance on credit, savings, mortgages, and homeownership. Committed to lifelong learning, Leticia earned an SMU CFT Social Entrepreneurship Certificate, which deepened her expertise in nonprofit management and strategic innovation. Her leadership has positioned HREBA as a powerful advocate for equitable access to housing, serving both real estate professionals and the communities they represent.
Beyond her professional accomplishments, Leticia is a lifelong volunteer, she champions initiatives that create lasting impact within her community. Balancing her career, she finds joy in her personal life as an avid Dallas Cowboys fan and enthusiastic gardener. Leticia resides in Arlington, TX, with her husband, Salvador (Sal), and cherishes her role as a proud mother of five and grandmother to six.
Chairwoman of the Board 2025-2026
Vanessa Romero began her career in the real estate industry with Providence Title in 2009, gaining unparalleled experience in the real estate industry, while also establishing herself as a respected Director of Business Development. Vanessa is widely recognized for her passion to help her peers with their own growth and success. Vanessa’s driven spirit comes from her love for her beautiful children and family. When not attending children’s activities or at a networking event, you can find her supporting small businesses in the Arlington area or traveling with her other half. Vanessa enjoys giving back to the community and serving as a leader on the HREBA Board of Directors, and is dedicated to working towards cultivating the mission statement of HREBA.
Chairwoman-Elect 2025-2026
As a dedicated mother of four wonderful adult children and a proud grandmother of two, family has always been at the core of Hilda's life. For over two decades, Hilda has worked in the insurance and real estate industry. She has navigated these fields while also serving on a board, and a committee chair.
In Hilda's first year as the Membership Director, she actively contributed to fostering a vibrant community within the organization. Additionally, as the owner of two small businesses , Hilda has embraced entrepreneurship with passion and commitment. Outside of work, her heart finds joy in traveling, cherishing those moments exploring the world with her family and friends.
Secretary/Treasurer
Alex Ruiz has been an agency owner with Allstate since 2022. Alex has 15+ years of financial services experience, from banking, nonprofits, and it eventually led to him becoming a realtor in 2014. There he quickly learned how important lending and insurance partners are to the success of a real estate deal. This knowledge, plus his passion to help others, is what led to him being a part of the insurance business. Alex is proudly from the South side of Chicago. Alex, his wife, and their two children have made Fort Worth their home.
Immediate Past Chairman of the Board
Salvador Villalobos is a devoted husband to Melissa, his bride of 20 years and is also the proud dad of three young high-energy kids, who keep him very busy.
Salvador has the strong belief that as a parent, he must be very involved in their children’s lives. He currently serves as a local PTA board member, room-parent, robotic booster club board member, chaperone, grammar school morning safety patrol for the past 7 years- whether rain, shine, sleet, or snow. Salvador and Melissa both have serving hearts and have instilled the same in their children.
For the past 32 years Salvador has been in the financial service sector, mostly in real estate financing, as well in insurance and in investment services. For the past 4 years Salvador has been a Residential Mortgage Loan Specialist with Sun West Mortgage Company, a family-owned business for the past 43 years.
Salvador decided to become a residential mortgage banker after discovering that his parents were victims of predatory lending, by a “trusted” family-friend who he had referred them to. Salvador wanted to prove to his “trusted” family friend that a mortgage loan originator could earn a respectable living, without preying on unsuspecting homebuyers and homeowners.
Salvador has proudly served HREBA since January 2019. He has had the privilege to serve as the HREBA Community Outreach Director, the host of the HREBA Show since its inception, Secretary, and Chairman-Elect. Salvador truly believes in the HREBA Mission Statement of providing high quality financial literacy to our low- and moderate-income communities. He takes almost every opportunity to get his family involved in the events HREBA organizes or participates in.
Salvador defines success as: "Providing assistance to those individuals that we can help, and referring those that we cannot, to those that can. We need to keep in mind that we will all need help, during our lifetime.”
Salvador invites you to be part of something bigger than yourself, become part of the HREBA FAMILY!
Founder and CEO Emeritus
Marty Martinez is Founder and CEO Emeritus of the Hispanic Real Estate Brokers Association (HREBA). Marty is a Marine Corps veteran and served our country as a Viet-Nam Veteran. Prior to founding HREBA, Marty served the Real Estate industry in various positions. A licensed Real Estate Broker for more than 30 years, Marty has 20+ years of dedicated service on the Board of Directors of local and Texas State Associations of Realtors. Marty is a Certified International Property Specialist (CIPS) having the ability and network to help clients that seek property internationally especially in Mexico. Marty and HREBA are dedicated to helping the low to moderate income families in achieving financial stability through education and housing. HREBA’s Mission Statement is a high priority to HREBA and its members.
Director
Fabian Medrano, is owner of Medrano Financial Services. Fabian has over 25 years of public accounting and tax experience. Fabian enjoys giving back to the community and is dedicated to fulfilling HREBA’s mission of serving our community.
Director
Val describes himself as coming from a humble upbringing where faith, family and integrity were his foundation. He and his wife have worked to instill these values in their children and make them the focus while raising their family. He has used the same principles to build his Real Estate Brokerage, Valen Realty. His business model is based on the Golden Rule and without our integrity we have nothing. He has worked in the residential and commercial construction industry and helps educate his clients on different aspects of properties. Twenty plus years of sales experience has honed his negotiation skills.
Director
While studying at the University of North Texas in 2000 with aspirations of becoming an attorney, Maria unexpectedly discovered her true passion after enrolling in a real estate course, which was supposed to be an elective. Captivated by the dynamic world of real estate, she shifted her focus and, by 2001, while in California launched her career as a Mortgage Advisor. Since then, Maria has never looked back, dedicating herself wholeheartedly to helping people achieve their dreams of homeownership and empowering them to build generational wealth through real estate. Her enthusiasm for mortgages shines through in every client interaction.
Maria is married to Roland Simons, who is also a Mortgage Advisor, and together they lead a successful mortgage team. They reside in the Arlington-Mansfield area, where they have lived since 2014, raising their three daughters and cherishing time with their grandchild. Family is Maria’s top priority, but she also finds joy in traveling, getting lost in books, listening to podcasts, and exploring new adventures and restaurants with friends.
On Sundays, Maria serves her church community in the children's ministry and is an active homeroom mom for her youngest daughter, Naomi. She is a passionate advocate for domestic violence awareness, speaking on the topic through panel discussions and community events. Maria’s commitment to her community extends beyond her mortgage work, as she constantly seeks meaningful ways to give back and make a difference.
Director
Rolando Lopez is married to Evelyn Bonilla and is the proud father of two wonderful children, Rolando Jovan Lopez and Kaylee Joana Lopez. Rolando enlisted in the Army straight out of high school and proudly served for nearly a century at various duty stations and overseas assignments. After his military service, he became a military contractor, supporting several missions and training allied forces in the Middle East, Africa, and Europe. During this time, Rolando successfully completed a bachelor’s degree in business and an MBA in Finance. Later in his career, he transitioned into a Program Manager role, overseeing numerous international contracts in the Middle East, Asia, Africa, and Europe. After 20 years in the military contracting field, Rolando decided to make a career change and return closer to home and family. In 2022, he joined Providence Title as an Escrow Officer, working alongside his wife, Evelyn. Their team, known as Team Evelyn, has achieved significant success and continues to grow in the industry.
Changes in life continued for Rolando as he became a part of HREBA, forming lifelong relationships with the organization's valuable members. In 2023, he was honored to be appointed as the Director of Community Outreach, where he works closely with his mentor, Leticia Gallegos. This role is particularly fulfilling for Rolando, as he enjoys engaging with the community and helping others.
Though life is busy, Rolando now can support his children in all their activities and actively volunteers for various organizations that foster unity and support within the community. For the past two years, he has been an active committee member of Unidos with the Grand Prairie Police Department and supports Unidos in the Arlington Police Department. He is also a member of the Campus Improvement Committee for Ronald Reagan Middle School, participates in the PTA, serves as a parking lot monitor, and is part of the American Legion Post 424 in Dallas. In May 2024, Rolando and his brothers-in-law launched a small dump trailer business, which has seen significant growth in recent months.
At the core of Rolando’s life are God, Country, and Family. His ultimate mission is to raise two productive members of society who will make a positive impact on the world.
