HispanicBusiness

In addition to the five women featured in our April issue -- Frances Garcia, Lily Eskelsen, Marion Luna Brem, Amelie Ramirez, and Ramona Romero -- here are the other finalists that comprise our Top 25 for 2009.

Cecilia R. Aragon
Staff Scientist, Computational Research Division
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
Her research involves developing collaborative visual interfaces to foster scientific insight. Previously, she was a computer scientist at NASA Ames Research Center, and before that, the founder and CEO of Top Flight Aviation, where she was an air show and test pilot and aerobatic champion. She is a founding member of Latinas in Computing. Ms. Aragon received her Ph.D. in computer science from the University of California, Berkeley, and her bachelor's degree in mathematics from California Institute of Technology.

Christine Marie Arguello
Federal Judge, U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado
She has been a federal judge since October 2008. Prior to her presidential appointment, Ms. Arguello was the managing senior associate counsel at the University of Colorado. Previously, she was a partner at Davis Graham & Stubbs LLP and a professor at the University of Kansas School of Law. In 1999, she left academia to join Ken Salazar's new administration in the Colorado Attorney General's office. Ms. Arguello was the first Latina from Colorado to be admitted to Harvard University School of Law, graduating in 1980. She also holds an undergraduate degree in elementary education from the University of Colorado.

Violeta Bermudez-Pardo
Systems and Process Assurance Partner, PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
She has been with the company for 22 years and has been a partner in SPA for 10 years. Ms. Bermudez-Pardo has led technology audits and other assurance related projects. Some of her recent clients include Thomson-Reuters, Dun & Bradstreet and Pitney Bowes. She has also worked closely with firm leadership to support people initiatives, including diversity and work/life balance. She has a bachelor's degree in accounting from Rutgers University. She holds a Certified Public Accountant license in the states of New Jersey, New York and Connecticut.

Laurie Carrillo
Spacecraft Thermal Design Engineer, NASA Johnson Space Center
She conducts thermal analysis to support the development of the Orion Crew Exploration Vehicle, NASA's next generation spacecraft. Ms. Carrillo came to work at NASA in 1995 through a student internship. She has also been a flight controller in the Mission Operation Flight Design and Dynamics Office. She spent five years in the Advanced Space Propulsion Lab conducting thermal analysis. Ms. Carrillo has bachelor's degrees in Mathematics, Computational and Applied Math, and Materials Science and Engineering from Rice University. She also holds a master's degree in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Colorado.


Felicity Fowler
Partner, Haynes & Boone LLP
She is a partner in the Labor and Employment Practice Group and has more than 16 years experience representing management in employment litigation and related proceedings. Ms. Fowler is also the chair of the firm's Attorney Diversity Committee. She counsels employers on all aspects of labor and employment law and is certified by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization as a specialist in the field of Labor and Employment Law. She has frequently lectured on employment law topics for both lawyers and human resources professionals.