President & CEO

Esther Aguilera, President & CEO

Esther Aguilera, one of Washington's top strategic thinkers, is President & CEO of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute (CHCI), a position she has held since November 2004. She has been recognized as one of the 100 most influential Hispanics in Washington, D.C., presented with Hispanic Magazine's 2006 Latina Excellence Award in Education, and was featured in Latino Leaders Magazine's 2007 women's issue for her positive impact in the Hispanic community.

Aguilera's unique expertise - derived from extensive senior management experience in corporate, public affairs, policy, legislation, fundraising and the non-profit sector - makes her a sought out expert. Under Aguilera's leadership, CHCI continues to aggressively expand national programs and services to Hispanic college and graduate students - growing the organization's annual budget.

She began her career in Washington, DC in 1990 as a policy analyst for the National Council of La Raza, a prominent national think tank, with extensive national policy development and research responsibilities leading Aguilera to author several major publications.

Aguilera was executive director of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, a legislative group on Capitol Hill, whom she worked for from 1993-98. Her responsibilities included legislative and relationship building among congressional, White House and constituency allies.

In October 1998, Aguilera was appointed to serve as senior advisor to Energy Secretary Bill Richardson and executive director of the Department of Energy (DOE) Small Business Office. Under Secretary Richardson, Aguilera developed senior policy recommendations leading to the implementation of a nationwide Hispanic outreach program, increased DOE's small business contracting, established long-term partnerships with business leaders and launched the first DOE small business conference, now an annual event.

Prior to joining CHCI, Aguilera served as Principal at the Dewey Square Group, a nationally renowned public affairs firm, directing strategic national projects for a variety of Fortune 100 companies, trade associations and non-profits.

Aguilera has also led strategic membership fundraising for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, exceeding fundraising goals while implementing national outreach programs. She has been a featured speaker at numerous national conferences and forums, including Harvard University's Kennedy School of Government, National Council of La Raza, Latina Style Magazine, among others.

She holds a BA in Public Policy from Occidental College, Los Angeles. A native of Mexico, Aguilera's family relocated to Los Angeles in 1972. Overcoming numerous obstacles, today the Aguilera's have achieved the American dream. She is married and the mother of two wonderful boys, Mackie and Jacob.