San Antonio

Vice President at Comerica Bank

Joe Bochat is a seasoned banking professional with over eight years of experience in relationship management and financial services. He currently serves as Vice President at Comerica Bank in San Antonio, Texas, where he plays a key role in managing client relationships and delivering tailored financial solutions. Prior to this, Joe held several leadership roles at Frost Bank, including Assistant Vice President and Associate Relationship Manager, gaining deep expertise in commercial banking and client engagement.

Joe began his finance career as an intern at Frost Bank in 2016, leveraging that early experience to build a strong foundation in the industry. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Finance from Texas State University and has earned the Bloomberg Market Concepts certification, reflecting his commitment to financial literacy and market analysis.

Senior Manager of Energy Equity

Andrea Guadarrama, MBA is a seasoned professional with over 18 years of experience in the utilities and financial services sectors. She currently serves as Senior Manager of Energy Equity at CPS Energy in San Antonio, Texas, where she leads initiatives aimed at promoting equitable access to energy resources and services.

Throughout her tenure at CPS Energy, Andrea has held various leadership roles, including Senior Manager of Enterprise Alignment and Senior Manager of Safety and Health. Her diverse background encompasses financial analysis, safety program management, and strategic enterprise alignment, reflecting her adaptability and commitment to organizational excellence.

Andrea began her career in the financial services industry, working as a Financial/Budget Analyst at CPS Energy and as a Pension Client Record Keeping Analyst/Team Lead at AllianceBernstein. She also gained experience as a Financial Management Analyst at Headquarters Air Force Services and in operations support at the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas.

She holds a Bachelor's degree from Texas State University and an MBA from Colorado Technical University, underscoring her dedication to continuous professional development.

Media Personality and Digital Media Entrepreneur

Melanie Mendez-Gonzales is the owner of MMG Media, LLC and the founder of the
award-winning blog Que Means What - where she amplifies stories about Latina leaders and
shares her own experiences exploring her Mexican-American identity. She is also the tv show
host of one of KLRN’s most-watched original programs, ¡SALUD! - highlighting Hispanic women taking charge in San Antonio.

As a member of Google’s Class of Next Gen Policy Leaders, Melanie is part of a national cohort of fellow public interest advocates, creatives and public policy advocates who are invested in developing their tech policy expertise for the public good. She is a graduate of 2020 Cohort of Leadership SAISD; 2019 Cohort of Latina Leadership Institute, as well as the 2022 Co-Chair. She is Dare to Lead™ Trained and holds a DEI Certificate from University of South Florida.

She has spoken on many conference stages such as SXSW and Voto Latino Power Summit.
While Melanie has received various recognitions, she is most proud of receiving the 2018
TECLA Award “The Jewel Award” for Social Good Content Creator.

As a proud seventh-generation Tejana, Melanie, along with her husband, is raising her two sons in San Antonio. Find her on social media as @QueMeansWhat.