PARTNERS & STAFF
Ruben Alvarez, Managing Partner
ralvarez@moleraalvarezgroup.com
As Co-founder and Managing Partner of the Molera Alvarez Group, Ruben Alvarez is involved in all aspects of client services. The Molera Alvarez Group, named by the Arizona Business Journal as “one of the state’s best government lobbying firms”, is based in Phoenix, Arizona, and represents a wide range of Fortune 500 companies, non-profit groups and governmental entities.
Prior to forming the Molera Alvarez Group, Ruben worked in the State of Arizona’s Executive branch for 12 years, last serving as Governor Jane Dee Hull’s Policy Advisor for Mexico and Hispanic Affairs. In this role, Mr. Alvarez interacted with U.S. and Mexican federal, state and local government officials in regards to the development and management of bi-national issues, cross border initiatives and Hispanic community affairs.
In addition, before becoming Policy Advisor, Ruben served as the Governor’s Director of the Office of Equal Opportunity where he was responsible for implementing and overseeing outreach efforts to develop greater communication links between state agencies and underrepresented communities to disseminate information on contracting and employment opportunities.
Given his extensive understanding of how government operates, Ruben’s expertise is formulating strategies that can impact policy making decisions and resolve bureaucratic challenges for clients.
Mr. Alvarez graduated from Arizona State University with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, where he received ASU’s Hispanic Convocation’s Undergraduate of the Year Award. He currently serves as a board member of the Washington, DC based Latino Leaders Network, Desert Mountain’s Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, Maricopa Partnership for Arts and Culture, Voto Latino (founded and chaired by actress Rosario Dawson) and is Chair of Maricopa County’s Integrated Health Service’s Diversity Council.
Jaime Molera, Partner
jmolera@moleraalvarezgroup.com
Jaime A. Molera is a founding partner of the Molera Alvarez Group. The Molera Alvarez Group is a government relations firm based in Phoenix, Arizona. After just a few short years, the Molera Alvarez Group is viewed by Arizona Business Magazine, the Arizona Business Journal, and the Arizona Republic, as one of the top lobbying business’ in the state.
Mr. Molera held a variety of high-level state positions. Among these were Arizona’s Superintendent of Public Instruction (2001-2003) and top advisor on policy and legislative affairs to Governor Jane Dee Hull (1997-2001). In 2008, Mr. Molera was appointed to the State Board of Education by Governor Janet Napolitano, and unanimously confirmed by the Arizona Senate.
Among his many accomplishments, Mr. Molera led the charge for Proposition 301, overseeing a $2 million initiative, as Campaign Director, to bring Arizona out of the national basement in education funding through new-dedicated resources (nearly a half billion dollars per year) for K-12, Community College, and University education. He also was a major force to reform the way development occurred in Arizona through the “Growing Smarter” legislation. Recently, Mr. Molera led the legislative effort to help secure the funding (near a half a billion dollars in the construction financing) necessary to expand the University of Arizona’s College of Medicine in Phoenix. In addition, Mr. Molera served as a senior consultant to U.S. Senator Jon Kyl’s successful ‘06 re-election campaign. Moreover, Mr Molera has appeared on numerous television, radio and print media news outlets, including the Lehrer Newshour, The New York Times, Wall St. Journal, and National Public Radio.
Mr. Molera was recognized by the Arizona Business Journal in November, 2006 as one of the fifty most influential leaders in Arizona, as well as by Hispanic Business Magazine as one of the top 100 Hispanic leaders in the United States.
Mr. Molera is a board member of Sunrise Bank of Arizona and the Arizona School Choice Trust. He also serves as Chairman of the Arizona Prevention Resource Center.
Sheila Harris Ph.D, Senior Vice President
sharris@moleraalvarezgroup.com
Sheila serves as Senior Vice-President for the Molera Alvarez Group. In that capacity she oversees housing and economic development activities of the firm and focuses upon providing consulting services for private sector, local, county, state and federal governments and tribal entities.
Dr. Harris received her doctorate in Public Administration from Arizona State University. Her dissertation focused on the creation of affordable housing. She holds a Master’s degree from the University of Kansas and a Bachelor’s degree from Ottawa University.
Her employment career includes serving two Arizona Governors as the Arizona State Department of Housing and Arizona Housing Finance Authority Directors. During her nearly six year tenure in those positions she oversaw the financing of mortgage revenue bonds, HUD funds, state Housing Trust Funds and IRS Low Income Housing Tax Credits totaling more than $1.5B in housing and community economic development.
Dr. Harris was appointed by then Chairman Alan Greenspan of the Federal Reserve Board of Governors as a board member of the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco. She was the first Arizonan to serve as a member of the San Francisco Head Office Board and during her tenure served as Deputy Chair of the Board.
Elizabeth Hatch, Director of Legislative Affairs
ehatch@moleraalvarezgroup.com
Elizabeth Hatch has spent the last nine years working for the Arizona House of Representatives. A graduate of Arizona State University she began her career at the House of Representatives as an intern for the Majority Whip. During her tenure at the House she has worked as an Assistant Analyst, an Analyst for the Government Reform and the Federal Mandates and States’ Rights Committees, a Policy Advisor to the Majority and as Director of Operations. She has worked for and advised the last five Speakers of the House.
As an analyst Elizabeth worked on a variety of issues encompassing all of the Arizona State Statutes. As a Policy Advisor she worked on City and County issues, Corrections, Elections and Health Care issues. She was instrumental in helping to pass legislation to implement Proposition 204 which guarantees health care for anyone under 100% of the federal poverty level. She also worked on legislation creating the Maricopa County Healthcare District. Additionally, she worked diligently to end the contentious Special Session regarding Corrections in 2003. As the Director of Operations, Elizabeth was charged with shepherding hundreds of bills through the legislative process as well as running the day to day operations of the House.
Yvonne Jimenez, Director of Special Events & Community Affairs
yjimenez@moleraalvarezgroup.com
Yvonne is primarily involved in producing special events and oversees the design and production of the Molera Alvarez Group website and marketing/advertising materials. Ms. Jimenez has an extensive background in non-profit and government relations having served on several boards and commissions. Currently, she is a commissioner for the City of Phoenix Women’s Commission, serves on the Executive Planning Committee for the Hispanic Women’s Conference and is a member of the Board of Directors for the National Association of Latino Independent Producers (NALIP), Phoenix Chapter.
Brittany McMaster, Project Manager
bmcmaster@moleraalvarezgroup.com
Brittany McMaster serves as Project Manager for the Molera Alvarez Group. Prior to joining MAG in 2009, Brittany worked in the Executive and Legislative branches of government in Washington, D.C. Most recently Brittany served the previous administration as the Deputy Assistant Administrator for the Office of Congressional and Legislative Affairs at the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). As the Deputy, Brittany worked on issues relating to access to capital, government contracting and entrepreneurial development. Brittany worked with White House Legal Council to craft policy statements on behalf of the Administration. Brittany developed policy positions, legislative proposals and congressional testimony on behalf of Agency officials. Brittany was an integral part of a team within SBA charged with developing policies and ideas to address the declining credit markets and access to capital for small businesses. Brittany also served as the liaison with the U.S. Senate and U.S. House of Representatives in negotiating legislation to reauthorize the Small Business Act.
Prior to her executive service, Brittany worked on Capitol Hill, as the Senior Legislative Assistant for former Congressman Ric Keller (R-FL), and was the key liaison with the Education and Workforce Committee. She represented Congressman Keller during the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act conference negotiations with the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pension Committee. Brittany managed the Pell Grant Caucus, building membership and support for increased funding for Pell Grants Awards. Brittany also worked in the U.S. Senate Majority Whip Office for Senator Mitch McConnell (R-KY). While in the Whip Office, Brittany was responsible for informing Members of the Senate and Federal Agencies the status of floor activities.
Estrella Mosqueda, Project Specialist
emosqueda@moleraalvarezgroup.com
Estrella Mosqueda serves as Project Specialist for the Molera Alvarez Group. Her primary responsibilities are to assist with various special projects and events as well as manage the day to day operations of the office.
Estrella received her Bachelor of Science in Marketing from Arizona State University. She was a member of the Sports Business Association and a recipient of a tuition scholarship through the Hispanic Women’s Corporation (HWC) during her college tenure. Estrella also earned her Arizona Property and Casualty insurance license in 2007 while working at Country Financial for five years. Her other previous employment includes the Arizona Diamondbacks, Community Affairs Department where she gained extensive knowledge related to non-profit organizations and planning special events.