President and CEO
Congressional Hispanic Leadership Institute
Washington, DC
www.chli.org 

Mary Ann Gomez Orta is the President & CEO of the Congressional Hispanic Leadership Institute (CHLI). A unique blend of public relations, public affairs, marketing, advertising and teaching brought Mrs. Gomez Orta to CHLI after serving as a corporate marketing manager with Coors Brewing Company and McDonald's Corporation. She managed multi-million advertising, marketing and public relations campaigns, collaborated with peers across the country and with national ad agencies. Also managed the region’s multi-lingual creative and placement of broadcast, print and outdoor executions. She represented the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA) as a National Alliance Development Consultant supporting national and regional non-profits with healthcare initiatives. Her career started managing multi-cultural projects and business development for public relations firms in Northern California.

She has taught courses in business, marketing and communications at American University, University of Phoenix and Heald College. She also developed and conducted workshops for small business owners on marketing, public speaking tips for women, networking and Hispanic marketing.

Gomez Orta is a board member and Co-Chair of the Public Relations Society of America Miami Chapter College Relations Committee. Former community involvement includes serving on the boards of the University of the Pacific's Alumni Association, Chicano Latino Youth Leadership Project, Citizens Against Lawsuit Abuse and of the Astronaut Jose M. Hernandez Reaching for the Stars Foundation. Mary Ann earned a B.A. in Communications at the University of the Pacific in Stockton, California and an M.B.A. at St. Mary's College in Moraga, California.

Mary Ann is extremely proud of her parents. Her father is from Michoacán, Mexico and her mother was born in Brownsville, Texas. They raised five children while working in the fields of California’s Central Valley and encouraged and watched as all five earned undergraduate degrees and two went on to obtain masters degrees. Gomez Orta strongly believes that divers points of view create exponentially better results for all and it is with that passion and commitment she prepares and promotes Hispanic college students to be there tomorrow’s global leaders at CHLI.