Board Members

The oldest of 4 and a second-generation Cuban-American, Vanessa M. Chaviano was born in Elizabeth, New Jersey. Later moving throughout South Florida her family settled in Cape Coral before high school.

Early in life, Vanessa quickly learned how to adapt and overcome life’s unexpected obstacles. At the age of 11 she took on the responsibility of cooking and cleaning for her family while also helping to raise her infant sister when her brother was diagnosed with brain cancer. This pivotal time taught her how to be independent and work hard.

As high school graduation approached Vanessa mentally made the decision to continue working and not pursue a college education since her family could not afford it. Through her mother’s persistence and persuasion, she decided to go to college and just pay her way through. When Vanessa arrived at Florida Gulf Coast University she learned she had received the Bright Futures Scholarship as well as a few other small outside grants. It was at that point she decided to take advantage of the opportunity. 

She earned a double Bachelors degree and then pursued a Masters degree in Criminal Justice & Forensics. Later on in her career she earned her Masters in Business Administration with a focus on Organizational Leadership. She had her eyes set high on the corporate ladder when she realized of the top 18 leaders in the company, only 5 were women and only 1 was of ethnic decent. This revelation is what sparked the launch of Leading Latina. She continues to pursue personal and professional growth while being active in her community.

Currently, Vanessa is a member of the Cape Coral Rotary Foundation, a Board Member on teh Cape Coral Mayor Schoarship Foundation, Wish Grantor Volunteer with the Make-A-Wish Foundation and a Committee Member on the Dress For Success SWFL Fashion Show Event. She is also a wife and proud mother to two beautiful girls. In her free time she likes to travel, relax at the beach or spend time with family and friends. 

Aida Proenza is the eldest of 3 children and a first-generation Cuban American. Aida’s parents escaped the Communist regime of Cuba in 1956 just before Fidel Castro came into power. They came to the United States separately and met at a New Year’s Eve Party in New York. They were later married and moved to New Jersey. Aida was born in Belleville, New Jersey and lived in Newark, New Jersey until she was 15 years old. She and her family moved to Elizabeth, New Jersey where she remained until March of 1992.

Aida met her first husband at Rutgers University in New Brunswick, New Jersey and in 1984 became a mother at the age of twenty-two to a set of twin girls. Unable to finish school, she also found herself divorced and raising the then 7-month-old twin girls on her own. In 1992 she packed up her belongings and her then 8-year-old twin daughters into her 1990 Toyota Corolla and drove to Florida. In 1993 Aida met her second husband and later gave birth to a son in 1994 and then a daughter in 1995. Finding herself divorced for the second time and raising 4 children on her own ranging in age from 12 years to 12 months, she was also faced with coping with her 16-month-old son’s diagnosis of stage 4 brain cancer.

Education was very important to Aida and she has remained in constant pursuit of her degree. Aida currently attends Florida SouthWestern State College in pursuit of a bachelor’s degree in Health Information Technology. Aida has worked in the medical field on the Administrative side for over twenty years. She’s worked for Anthem, Inc. for the last six years as a Medicare Risk Adjustment Auditor and is part of their Open Enrollment Ambassador Program (OEAP). She is a member of both the American Academy of Professional Coders (AAPC) and the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) and is on the AAPC Coding Advisory Committee.

Aida is also a Wish Grantor Volunteer with the Make-A-Wish Foundation. She serves on both the Cape Coral Technical College (CCTC) and Fort Myers Technical College (FMTC) Advisory Board Committees and is a World Vision Sponsor. She is the proud mother of four beautiful children and five grandchildren. She is also the primary caretaker of her 90-year-old father with Alzheimer’s. In her free time, she likes to travel, practice range shooting, going to the gym and spending time with her grandchildren, family and friends.

Brittany Belaunzaran is the youngest of four children and a second generation Cuban-American. Born in Naples, Florida and later moving throughout South Florida her family settled in Cape Coral. She graduated Suma Cum Ladue from Cape Coral High School in 2014. Her senior year she began working at Honda of Ft. Myers where she stayed for the next four years while taking classes at Florida Southwestern State College. The last 2 years she has been working full time for the City of Ft. Myers and is still a full-time student. Brittany is studying in the Medical Coding program through Fort Myers Technical College and plans to be done by the end of 2020 and pass her certification exam by Fall 2021. In her free time, she enjoys cooking, going to the beach and spending time with friends and family.