Meet Our Co-Executive Directors

Since we began as Interim Co-Executive Directors of Conexión Américas in July 2021 our work hasn’t stopped. We continue to host food distributions and vaccine events, while making sure our community continues to receive vital and up-to-date information about the pandemic. Our positions at Conexión Américas may be new, but we are not. Our experience of over 10 years each has allowed us to hit the ground running. We have been working closely with the Board and our Leadership Team to strengthen systems, identify internal and external growth opportunities, and take steps to formulate a strategic plan for the coming years. 

A native of Bogotá, Colombia, Martha obtained her B.S. in Business and Strategic Management at Escuela de Administration De Negocios EAN, and an M.B.A. in Human Resources Management from Universidad Externado in Colombia. 

Martha joined us in 2010 and has led all operational efforts for Casa Azafrán since its opening. Martha also ensured the smooth running of Mesa Komal, Conexión Américas’s fully licensed commercial kitchen at Casa Azafrán, which serves as a culinary incubator for food entrepreneurs in Nashville. She has overseen a number of Conexión Américas programs supporting immigrant families on their way to achieving their version of the American dream. Martha drove Conexión Américas’ Negocio Próspero (Prosperous Business) class, a multi-week course for budding and existing entrepreneurs looking to start or expand their small businesses; the Puertas Abiertas (Open Doors) program, which assists Latino families in achieving the dream of homeownership by offering financial education, counseling and access to financing; Conexión Américas’ free tax preparation service for immigrants; and our ESL classes for immigrants wanting to learn English. 

A native of Blowing Rock, North Carolina, Tara graduated from Wake Forest University where she majored in religion and Spanish, and studied in Costa Rica. In 2011, Tara received a Master of Divinity degree from Vanderbilt University with a Certificate in Latin American Studies.

Tara joined Conexión Américas as an intern in 2006, and developed many of our hallmark education programs, including our Padres Comprometidos program to help Latinx parents understand the school system and support their children to succeed in school, and our after school programs supporting middle- and high-school students as they become the first in their families to pursue higher education.  During the process of creating Casa Azafrán, the nonprofit collaborative and community center led by Conexión Américas, Tara led the work to identify and co-locate partner organizations. Most recently, Tara led our development efforts to engage foundations, corporate sponsors and individual donors with our mission and drive strategies for sustainable, strategic and mission-focused growth.