Selection Committee
Jennifer Vogel Bass, Communications Manager, Rainforest Alliance
Jennifer Vogel Bass is the communications manager for the U.S. and Canada for the Rainforest Alliance, heading up the organization’s website and North America media strategy. Prior to joining the Rainforest Alliance she earned a master's degree focused on agriculture and international development at the Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Studies and spent four years working at Earthwatch Institute, where she developed conservation research initiatives in Kenya, Brazil, Australia and the US. She has a BA in anthropology from Tufts University.
Tom Castro, Entrepreneur and Civic Leader
Tom Castro, the founder of El Dorado Capital, LLC, an investment firm, has served as its President and Chief Executive Officer since June 1, 2008. Prior to that, he was the co-Founder and Vice Chairman of Border Media Partners, LLC, a radio broadcasting company that primarily targets Hispanic listeners, from July 2007, having served as its President and Chief Executive Officer from 2002. Prior to that, Mr. Castro, an entrepreneur, owned and operated other radio stations and founded a company that exported oil field equipment to Mexico. Mr. Castro has served as a director since July 2006.These experiences have provided Mr. Castro with significant operating and financial experience as well as an in-depth understanding of the Company?s business and industry. In addition, through his entrepreneurial experience and community work, Mr. Castro brings an appreciation and awareness of issues important to the Hispanic community, an increasingly important customer base for the Company.
Charlie Hale, Vice-President of IT & Operations, Food Bank of Central & Eastern NC
As Vice-President of IT & Operations for the Food Bank of Central & Eastern NC, Charlie Hale is responsible for the day to day oversight of both the IT and Operations departments for the Food Bank. Prior to joining the Food Bank of Central & Eastern NC, he was the IT Director for Smithfield Premium Genetics. Charlie holds a BS degree in Meteor
Wade Henderson, President, The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights
Wade Henderson is the president and CEO of The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights and The Leadership Conference Education Fund. Mr. Henderson is also the Joseph L. Rauh, Jr., Professor of Public Interest Law at the David A. Clarke School of Law, University of the District of Columbia. He currently serves on the National Quality Forum Board of Directors; the FDIC Advisory Committee on Economic Inclusion; the Board of Directors of the Center for Responsible Lending; and the Board of Trustees of the Education Testing Service.
Prior to his role with The Leadership Conference, Mr. Henderson was the Washington Bureau director of the NAACP. In that capacity, he directed the government affairs and national legislative program of the NAACP. He was also previously the associate director of the Washington national office of the ACLU, where he began his career as a legislative counsel and advocate on a wide range of civil rights and civil liberties issues. Mr. Henderson also served as executive director of the Council on Legal Education Opportunity (CLEO).
Mr. Henderson is a graduate of Howard University and the Rutgers University School of Law. He is a member of the Bar in the District of Columbia, and the United States Supreme Court. He holds an honorary Doctorate in Law from Queens College School of Law, City University of New York.
Robert Raben, Founder and President, The Raben Group, LLC
Robert Raben is the founder and President of The Raben Group, LLC, which provides clients with a range of services including policy development, direct lobbying, coalition building, grasstops campaigns, political counsel and strategic communications. Mr. Raben began his legislative career as Counsel to Congressman Frank Barney, where his responsibilities included all matters relating to the judiciary committee and civil rights. Soon Mr. Raben was asked to join the staff of the judiciary committee itself, initially as Democratic Counsel for the Subcommittee on the Constitution. Mr. Raben later moved to the Subcommittee on Intellectual Property, again as Democratic Counsel.
In 1999 Mr. Raben was appointed by White House as Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General, and shortly thereafter was nominated to be Assistant Attorney General. After a unanimous confirmation hearing, Mr. Raben oversaw Attorney General Janet Reno’s legislative initiatives and handled congressional oversight of the department.
Mr. Raben serves on the Boards of the Hispanic Bar Foundation and of The Victory Fund. He is a past adjunct faculty member of Georgetown Law School and a past President of the Hispanic Bar Association of DC. Mr. Raben is a graduate of both Wharton College and New York University Law School.
