DAVID CHITEL
Founder & CEO
As the Chief Brand Officer at mitú, I oversee all the social brands for mitú and NGL, including: we are mitú, FIERCE, crema, Things That Matter, Somos mitú, and now Hispanic Kitchen, Latina Moms, and Hispanicize. Our social brands connect with millions of Latinos across various social platforms to fulfill our mission of representing, entertaining, and super serving our communities. We’re committed to showcasing both the collective and unique experiences of Latinos that are fully American and are closely tied to their culture.
As a U.S. born Latina, I always admired mitú as a company that accurately captured my experiences. With 17 years of experience in media and marketing, I jumped at the opportunity to become part of the mitú team in 2019 when I made the switch from the agency to the publisher side. I love working with a team of talented and passionate Latinos that are as dedicated to mitú’s mission and success as I am.
Contact
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/vanessa-vigil
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VANESSA VIGIL
Chief Brand Officer
I've spent more than 15 years as a director and producer in the U.S. Hispanic, urban, and youth markets. As an award-winning documentary filmmaker, music video veteran, and episodic TV director, I've been at the helm of 100+ hours of content, including television shows, commercial work, and digital content. My content on YouTube alone has reached over 750 million views. Working in Hispanic media allows me to bring my own cultural experiences and nuances to content that I love to create. For me, each new project represents an exciting challenge on how to reach the Latino market in a more effective and innovative way. Today’s consumers and viewers are savvier and more diverse than ever. NGL Collective has made it our mission to never stop innovating—by creating content and media solutions that resonate with audiences everywhere. Our team's passion, sensibility, and experience has prepared us well for the latest evolution in Hispanic and multicultural media. We live and breathe the New Generation Latino experience. For us, it’s not about the latest catchphrase or industry jargon—it’s about authenticity and capturing the cultural experience of what it means to be a Latino in today’s world.
Contact
Phone: 646-345-1744
Email: bdejesus@nglmedia.com
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BEN DEJESUS
Partner & President, NGL Studios
Multi-faceted performer and Emmy Award winner John Leguizamo’s notable career defies categorization. Possessing boundless energy and creativity, Leguizamo’s work spans the genres of film, theatre, television, literature and beyond.
As writer and performer, Leguizamo created the Off-Broadway sensation Mambo Mouth, in which he portrayed seven different characters (Obie, Outer Critics Circle, Vanguardia Awards). His second one-man show Spic-O-Ramaenjoyed extended sold-out runs in Chicago and New York (Dramatists’ Guild Hull-Warriner Award for Best American Play, Lucille Lortel Outstanding Achievement Award for Best Broadway Performance, Drama Desk Award for Best Solo Performance). His third solo show Freak completed a successful run on Broadway in 1998. A special presentation of Freak, directed by Spike Lee, aired on HBO (Emmy Award for Outstanding Performance in a Variety or Music Program and nomination for Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Special). In Fall 2001 Leguizamo returned to Broadway with Sexaholix…a Love Story, directed by Peter Askin (Outer Critics Circle Award nomination for “Outstanding Solo Performance” and Tony Award nomination for Best Special Theatrical Performance). Sexaholixaired as an HBO Special in Spring 2002 and toured widely. Other stage credits: A Midsummer Night’s Dream and La Puta Vida at the New York Shakespeare Festival and Parting Gestures at INTAR. Presently, Leguizamo delights younger fans as the voice of Syd in each of the Ice Age movies.
He has been seen in countless films including Love in the Time of Cholera opposite Javier Bardem and Benjamin Bratt, The Happening opposite Mark Wahlberg, Righteous Kill opposite Robert Deniro and Al Pacino, The Babysittersopposite Cynthia Nixon and The Take opposite Rosie Perez as well as Miracle at St. Anna, Land of the Dead, The Groomsmen, Lies & Alibis, Assault on Precinct 13, Sueno, Spin, Moulin Rouge, Summer of Sam, King of the Jungle, Spawn, William Shakespeare’s Romeo + Juliet, Dr. Doolittle, Carlito’s Way and Casualties of War.
John recently returned to Broadway with his latest one-man show Latin History For Morons, inspired by the near total absence of Latinos in his son’s American history class. In LHFM John embarks on a frenzied search to find a Latin hero for his son’s school project.
NGL Collective is John’s second venture in partnership with CEO, David Chitel. Their first company, iCaramba.com (later LatCom Communications) was sold to Batanga Media in 2006.
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JOHN LEGUIZAMO
Partner
JAVIER CHANFREAU
President, NGL Publishing
A seasoned marketer and communicator, John brings over 20 years of insights and experience in developing and executing strategic and innovative multi-platform campaigns for blue-chip brand partners. Previously at NBCUniversal, he held a VP position with the network partnerships team at Telemundo Enterprises where he oversaw the programming genres of both Reality and Tentpole Specials for four years before being tapped to help create a partnerships team to work across the entire NBC network portfolio. Prior to NBCU, John worked as a General Market Account Director at Walton Isaacson, was the Director of Integrated Marketing at VIACOM’s MTV TR3s where he helped relaunch the cable channel for young urban bilinguals and began his career by honing his marketing acumen at The Bravo Group for over a decade, where he held multiple account management posts and formed their department of Business Management.
John has built best-practice initiatives in the Banking, QSR, Auto, Government, CPG, Pharma, Telecomm, Insurance and Retail industries for blue chip clients such as AXE, Lexus, Mazda, Banco Popular, State Farm, T-Mobile, McDonald’s, The New York Times, Samsung and Target just to name a few. John has been recognized with marketing awards from Telemundo Enterprises for his work on AT&T, Coca-Cola and Gain, a Gold Ex Award for the AXE One Night Only experiential music program and a Gold Effie and 4A’s Multicultural O’Toole Award for his work with The U.S. Postal Service.
An east-coast native, John lives the U.S. bi-cultural Hispanic experience first hand. Fluent in Spanish, he has roots that extend to both Puerto Rico and Costa Rica. He received his Marketing BBA from the accredited Hagan School of Business at Iona College in Westchester, New York where he also attended grad school specializing in both Corporate Communications and Public Relations and where he held posts as a former Director of Undergraduate Admissions along with holding a Board of Directors seat with their Alumni Association.
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JOHN C. SOSA
Senior Vice President, Ad Sales Marketing
I am the VP of Brands at mitú where I lead the Community Team to define the social media and editorial strategies across all of mitú’s brands; we are mitú, FIERCE, crema, Things That Matter, and Somos mitú.
I became part of the mitú team seven years ago after working at an entertainment-focused media outlet that highlights Latinos in mainstream media. I joined mitú to create an impact on the voice that is representative of millions of US-Latinos who are first generation like me. During my time at mitú, I was one of the first editors to launch mitú, I founded FIERCE, and helped bring to life crema, Things That Matter and Somos mitú.
Currently, I am working on establishing mitú’s newest brands so they are just as recognizable as the flagship mitú brand. I hope to help grow the company to have a bigger presence at in-person events like schools, music festivals, panels and sporting events.
Contact
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/wendybarba1
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WENDY BARBA
Vice President, Brands
DIEGO ANDRADE
Vice President, Creative Strategy
I am a strategic professional experienced in developing integrated marketing initiatives in partner and client-facing roles working for multi-platform media companies such as Univision Communications, Discovery Communications and Yahoo!. Working at such expansive media companies seasoned me in managing end-to-end cross-platform marketing strategies with out-of-the-box thinking to deliver measurable results. In my 15+ years as a marketer, I’ve secured over a $100M in revenue especially focused on 5 growth verticals for the Hispanic market (Auto, Pharma, Finance, Consumer Products & Studios). I strive to be a culturally relevant leader able to drive excellence working with cross-functional teams in highly collaborative projects and campaigns. I’ve developed keen strategic skills used to translate digital and social media data and analytics into effective marketing solutions that focus on brand storytelling and content creation that especially resonates with Hispanics.
I’m originally from Guayaquil, Ecuador, and have been adopted by the Miami community for almost 20 years. I am proud to be part and represent the thriving US Hispanic segment. It is a privilege to use my inherent knowledge about Hispanics, our passion points, and marketing to help clients craft an emotionally relevant multicultural message for their brands.
I’m a Golden Panther through and through, completing my undergraduate and MBA at Florida International University.
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MARIA YCAZA
Ad Sales Marketing Director
BENNY ALBURQUERQUE
Director of Sales, East Coast
I have over 20 years of successful multi-platform media experience on both the agency and sales side of the U.S. advertising business, most recently at NBCUniversal selling opportunities in linear, digital, social, and integrated custom content programs. I am passionate about the Hispanic marketplace and look forward to the continued evolution of this multi-faceted group that I am proud to be a part of.
Over 55 million strong and spanning multiple generations and language preferences, Hispanic, Latino, or Latinx…however we choose to call ourselves on any given day almost does not matter since what brings us together as a community is our culture, and we are a force. And, this is what NGL Collective understands best, and why I am excited to continue to level up my career as part of this collaborative and creative team. Our authentic approach to Hispanic and Multicultural marketing will continue to provide effective and culturally relevant client solutions that span our Media, Studios, Social, and Live verticals with the ultimate objective to help brands drive ROI alongside data and targeting.
Contact
Phone: 914-826-6340
Email: eleonkelly@nglmedia.com
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ELIANETTE LEON-KELLY
Director of Sales, East Coast
ASHLEY BARTHEL
Director of Sales, Midwest
CHRISTY KAPLAN
Director of Sales
Advertising is in my DNA. Growing up in my dad’s ad agency, watching the excitement, interacting with creative staff and clients from El Paso and Ciudad Juárez, absolutely inspired my career path. After a few years building media plans at The Richards Group in Dallas and FCB West in San Francisco, I gravitated to media sales. This opened up a deeper understanding of business, working closer with clients, and a peek into entrepreneurship.
Strong partnerships, new business wins and navigating the evolution of media, highlighted roles at Hearst, Condé Nast, Style Haul and iHeartMedia. Launching my consultancy tapped further into social media strategies and eventually working with multicultural audiences. Twenty years later, I’m still fueled finding creative, impactful, and effective solutions for clients.
The Latinx audience is complex and critical for client’s growth. The nuances of this diverse landscape are as important as being genuine and consistent in communication. NGL has a deep understanding of this and it’s reflected in compelling work and effective results.
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MONICA APODACA
Director of Sales, West Coast
I'm a 10-year content producer in the U.S. Hispanic market, with a focus on branded content and documentary work. I love the vibrant energy and forward movement in Hispanic media, especially now in this time of evolving technology. The market has evolved too. There’s an opportunity to create authentic and refreshing content for an audience that’s savvier and more diverse than ever before. We’re in a time of exciting change for American culture. At NGL Collective, it’s our mission to ensure that the Latino media and entertainment narrative is keeping up with that change. Our team brings unique insights, pioneering experience, and a refreshing approach to reaching today’s New Gen Latinos in authentic and impactful ways. Our insights—into the past, present, and future of the Latino market, our diverse capabilities, and our flexibility in adapting to the varied needs of our clients—make us a unique partner. We’re nimble, we’re innovative, we’re dedicated to serving this dynamic market—and we’re pretty fun to work with, too!
Contact
Phone: 508-259-7794
Email: jkrikorian@nglmedia.com
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JILL KRIKORIAN
Vice President, Content & Production
As the VP of Content Development and Operations, I oversee the intersection between creative and execution, facilitating resources, personnel, and funding required to bring ideas across all of mitú’s brands to life.
With over 15 years of experience in content creation, I offer an award-winning background in the realm of short films, commercials, digital originals, branded, music videos, supper clubs, and experiential.
My journey at mitú began with a desire to contribute to something bigger than myself. My dedication is towards the making of conscious content meant to elevate and empower the Latino experience in the U.S. and around the world.
Contact
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/erick-varillas
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ERICK VARILLAS
Vice President, Content Development & Operations
CARLOS ARATA
Vice President, Post-Production
ALEXIS RODRIGUEZ
Client Services Director
I’m an advertising/media professional passionate about the media, entertainment, and fashion world. I am originally from Cartagena, Colombian, and have lived in the US for over 15 years. As a media professional, I have worked within different media agencies on the media/strategy team for the US and Latin American markets, gaining experience managing communication with people from different backgrounds and cultures.
My knowledge in strategy has greatly expanded from learning about budgets, media buying, strategic thinking to supporting different teams and managing accounts. A few accounts that I have managed and been a part of throughout my career include Microsoft, Coca Cola, Unilever, Heineken, Red Stripe, Amstel Light, Rubbermaid, BNP Paribas and 2 clients under the HP Hewlett Packard account with a focus on the Central and South American businesses.
As a Latino and bilingual person living in the US, I believe that every year our community grows in the country and takes more space in the entertainment, political, cultural, and media environments, giving us the responsibility to generate meaningful and valuable content for the community, and keep bringing opportunities to the future Latino generations in this beautiful country.
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WILL PAEZ
Client Services Manager
FRANCESSCA YANNUZZELLI
Senior Director, Sales Planning
ROCIO DOMINGUEZ
Demand Side Partnerships Manager
MATIAS BORRELL
Publisher Relations Manager