Orlando Bravo

Founder of Bravo Family Foundation Chairman of the Board of Directors
Founder and Managing Partner of Thoma Bravo

Orlando was born and raised in Mayaguez, Puerto Rico, and he has focused his philanthropic efforts on improving economic and educational outcomes for residents of the island. As Co-Founder and Chairman of the Board of  Bravo Family Foundation, he directs the organization’s many initiatives to promote entrepreneurship, community-based leadership and economic development.

In the wake of Hurricane Maria in 2017, Orlando personally led a humanitarian mission to deliver resources to remote communities in Puerto Rico. The experience paved the way for the $100 million commitment he announced in 2019 to create the Foundation’s Rising Entrepreneurs Program (REP), an accelerator designed to support early-stage startup founders contributing to the Puerto Rican entrepreneurship ecosystem. 

In addition to his philanthropic involvements, Orlando is a Founder and Managing Partner of Thoma Bravo, one of the largest software investors in the world based in San Francisco, Miami, New York, Chicago, and London that makes investments in software and technology-enabled services companies. Today, Orlando directs the firm’s strategy and investment decisions in accordance with its principles of partnership, innovation, and performance. Orlando has overseen over 440 software acquisitions conducted by the firm, representing more than $250 billion in enterprise value (including control and non-control investments). Forbes named him “Wall Street’s best dealmaker” in 2019, and he was part of Thomson Reuters “Eight Buyout Pros to Watch” in 2009. 

Orlando graduated Phi Beta Kappa with a bachelor’s degree in economics and political science from Brown University in 1992 and earned a JD from Stanford Law School and an MBA from the Stanford Graduate School of Business in 1998. 

Blanca I. Santos

Member of the Board of Directors, Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer

Blanca Santos has over 24 years of experience in the public, private, and non-profit sectors. She has a proven track record in leading business initiatives and implementing organizational strategies focusing on social impact. She has held key roles such as COO, CFO, and Executive Director in educational, telecommunications, and environmental organizations, where she has optimized resources and ensured organizational sustainability.

As CEO & CFO of the Bravo Family Foundation, Blanca is responsible for executing Orlando Bravo’s vision of empowering young people and adults in Puerto Rico with the tools and resources to become top-tier entrepreneurs. Her ability to secure and leverage funding for impactful actions has been instrumental to the foundation’s growth.

A certified Project Management Professional (PMP), Blanca holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration, a master’s in finance, and a certificate in Equitable Community Change from Cornell University.

Blanca is deeply committed to the belief that educational and business opportunities are key to individual and community empowerment. At Fundación Bravo, she is dedicated to transforming the lives of young people and adults in Puerto Rico, helping them become agents of change in their communities. Her focus on efficiency and sustainability has made the foundation a thriving social and economic model.

Kyle Klopfer

Member of the Board of Directors and Advisor

Kyle, a certified public accountant and member of the California Bar Association, oversees all financial operations of the Bravo Family Foundation. He has more than twenty years’ experience in public accounting and tax law, most recently as founding partner of Golden Gate Associates, a San Francisco-based accounting firm that specializes in family office services including foundations and charitable entities. He previously worked at Deloitte & Touche for ten years.

Kyle was raised in Ohio and attended Wittenberg University, where he majored in business with an accounting concentration. He holds an LLM in Taxation from the Golden Gate University School of Law.

Kyle often cycles to the office on weekdays, and spends the other days hiking with his wife, two children and Kenna, a black Labrador — the Klopfer’s have been a host family for a breeder dog through the Guide Dogs for the Blind for five years.

Jennifer James

Member of the Board of Directors

Jennifer James is Managing Director, Chief Operating Officer and Head of Investor Relations & Marketing at Thoma Bravo. Based in San Francisco, she joined the firm in 2015 with 20 years of experience in private equity/venture capital investor relations, fundraising, and marketing. Today she leads Thoma Bravo’s business operations strategy, efforts to serve the needs of new and existing investors, and the firm’s industry communications programs. 

Wall Street Journal and WSJ PRO Private Equity named Jennifer one of the Women to Watch in fundraising, and San Francisco Business Times honored her as one of the Most Influential Women in the Bay Area. Before Thoma Bravo, she served as Partner, Investor Relations & Marketing, for Sofinnova Ventures. Previously, she served as Director of Marketing & Communications for Alta Partners, and she held several marketing and financial services leadership roles.

Jennifer earned her MBA from Northwestern University and her AB degree in History from Bowdoin College.

Alejandro Bravo

Project Manager

Alejandro (Ale) Bravo, a native of Mayaguez, Puerto Rico, lends his talents and insight to the Bravo Family Foundation as its project manager. Immediately after Hurricane Maria struck the island, Alejandro was on the ground organizing the Foundation’s early relief efforts and working with community leaders and local residents to ensure supplies were delivered into the hands of those most in need.

Alejandro attended Southwestern Educational Society (SESO) for high school in Puerto Rico before enrolling in Brown University, graduating with a concentration in Modern Latin American History. He has done coursework at the United Nations Human Rights Commission’s headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, and obtained his law degree from The George Washington University Law School.

A practicing attorney in South Florida specializing in criminal defense, Alejandro is a member of the Florida State Bar Association and the Federal Southern District of Florida.

Frances Molina

Senior Accountant and Human Resources Specialist

Frances has extensive experience in accounting and human resources, both in the private sector and nonprofit organizations. In the latter, she identifies the most, recognizing the importance of their contribution to society.

She is a passionate volunteer in various community-based organizations and activities, most focused on fundraising and pursuing social justice in all its forms.

Frances holds a master’s degree in human resources and a bachelor’s degree in business.

Administration with a concentration in accounting.

In her free time, she enjoys exercising, with running being her favorite activity. In 2022, she completed her first marathon in Chicago. Additionally, she is a strong advocate and lover of animals: she has fostered several dogs and has adopted others.

Frances is a dedicated and committed professional, always seeking opportunities to contribute and make a positive difference in her community.

Leah Santiago

Accounting Associate

Leah manages the Foundation’s grant work and day-to-day accounting needs. She joined the Foundation from Golden Gate Associates, having previously worked in Wells Fargo’s Social Responsibility department.

Born and raised in the Philippines, Leah moved to the United States when she was fifteen. She enrolled in San Francisco State University, where she graduated with a degree in business administration and accounting concentration in 2015.

She enjoys reading, playing guitar, and frequently volunteers with her local church’s Children’s Ministry program.

Francisco Méndez

Field Operations Manager

Francisco (Paquito) Mendez was born in Puerto Rico and has spent much of his career in construction management in both the public and private sectors. He earned an undergraduate degree in business administration from Universidad Interamericana de Puerto Rico and a master’s degree in business administration from Polytechnic University of Puerto Rico.

Jaime Morales

Program Director
Rising Entrepreneurs

Jaime has extensive experience as an economic development practitioner in leading managerial positions, with local governments, business associations and nonprofit organizations. Before joining Bravo Family Foundation, he was a consultant on economic development and small business promotion, primarily for the Puerto Rico Manufacturing Extension Inc. (PRiMEX) and Executive Director for Foundation 2010 in Mayaguez.  

Jaime has managed and participated in several local and regional economic development and infrastructure projects with an investment of over $200 million. These include, the regional business incubation facilities financed by EDA; INOVA, the first network of its kind in Puerto Rico for virtual and traditional incubation; ODECUT, a Public-Private development that spearheaded a far reaching initiative to revitalize traditional town center; INTECO, a breakthrough regional, tech-based economic development organization that brings together academia, local governments and the private sector to commercialize new technologies and services; and Workforce Innovations for Regional Economic Development (WIRED), a $5 million regional initiative funded by the US Department of Labor to upgrade the talent development system. 

Jaime holds a BSBA in Finance from the University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez and a Master of Arts in Urban and Regional Affairs from the University of Texas at Arlington. 

Carlos González

Operations Manager
Rising Entrepreneurs

Carlos is a seasoned professional with over twenty years of experience in sales, marketing, and human resources, both in the private and government sectors. His dedication to education, music, and community economic development sets him apart. He has overseen the direction and administration of federal proposals in universities in Puerto Rico, as well as the implementation of financial projects in critical sectors such as health, security, and education.

With a strong background in recruitment, training, payroll, conflict resolution, international sales, and commercial operations, Carlos is known for his skills as a speaker, motivator, producer, and event moderator. Furthermore, his passion for fine arts and music has led him to establish and lead two musical groups.

Carlos holds a Master’s Degree in Human Resources from Universidad Ana G. Méndez, Carolina Campus, and a bachelor’s degree from the University of Puerto Rico, Mayagüez Campus. He is pursuing his doctoral studies in International Business Management, demonstrating his ongoing dedication to professional and academic growth.

Jose Vega

Faculty in Residence
Rising Entrepreneurs

Dr. Jose Ivan Vega Torres retired in June 2019 from the Business School of the UPR Mayaguez Campus (UPRM), where he held the positions of professor of marketing and entrepreneurship and director, since its inception in 1986, of the Business and Economic Development Center. Through the Center, he provided mentoring and technical assistance to hundreds of startups across diverse industries. In 2015, he was appointed to lead the UPR System Group for Entrepreneurship and Innovation by the President of the University. That same year, he co-founded the UPRM Eship Network, a support ecosystem for the campus innovation community, including alumni from a minor in entrepreneurship, and co-led the effort to obtain the designation in 2018 of UPRM as an NSF I-Corps site. In 2017, he was recognized by Echar Palante Allegiance as a national pillar for the agenda of entrepreneurial development because of his multidisciplinary endeavors and ecosystem contributions. Dr. Vega conducted research presented at international peer-reviewed conferences, co-authored books that are valued references for educators and practitioners, and served on the advisory board of key ecosystem players such as Colmena 66.

Dr. Vega likes to exercise outdoors, surf, fish with light tackle, and travel with his family, which includes his wife Canny, also a professor at UPRM, and siblings Kiara and Gabriel, both graduate students. His favorite book is “One Hundred Years of Solitude,” and his favorite artist is the Fiel a la Vega rock band. He was appointed Faculty in Residence for the Rising Entrepreneurs Program (REP) of the Bravo Family Foundation in January 2020, and since then, has led the deployment of REP’s educational curriculum that, as of 2024, counts 60 innovative enterprises as alumni. He believes his superpower is being a connector to opportunities for emerging and seasoned entrepreneurs alike

Valeria Rivera

Marketing and Outreach Coordinator Rising Entrepreneurs

Valeria Rivera is a young, distinguished professional with a robust academic and professional background in business and marketing. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a Marketing (BSBA) major from the University of Puerto Rico-Mayagüez. While completing her bachelor’s degree, Valeria began her career in the business ecosystem of Puerto Rico in 2022 as a marketing intern. She continued exploring various opportunities, eventually joining the Rising Entrepreneurs Program as an intern. She has obtained several certifications, including Inbound Marketing, Email Marketing, the Meta Social Media Marketing Professional Certificate, and the SAP Technology Consultant Professional Certificate, demonstrating her commitment to continuous learning and professional development. Valeria plans to continue her studies by pursuing a master’s degree in marketing and obtaining more certification. Her extensive knowledge and skills in these areas make her a versatile and qualified individual in marketing.

Fernando Silva

Program Director
Exceptional Community Leaders

Fernando brings an extensive and diverse experience and knowledge in the development of community capacity and resilience programs. Advisor and consultant in project areas based on history, geography and social and environmental sciences applied to place-based community development, education, and interpretation planning and training. Senior project designer and manager of research, planning, design, development and training on natural and cultural heritage resources of community tourism, interpretation, environmental education projects.

His island-wide community work seeks the development of alternatives to overcome socioeconomic, cultural and environmental challenges throughout diverse strategies of participatory research, formal and informal education, community leadership support and capacity building. 

Over the past 25 years, Fernando worked with well-recognized institutions directing and managing natural and cultural heritage resources, conservation programs in Puerto Rico, including founding and working as Executive Director of the Puerto Rico Institute for Sciences for Conservation during the last 12 years. He also taught, trained and coached about heritage resources, interpretation programming and practice to amateurs, professional interpreters, and to youth and nontraditional audiences in several urban and rural communities across the Island.

Fernando has a B.A. from the University of Puerto Rico in Sociology and Anthropology, and a Master Degree in Environmental Studies from Yale University, School of Forestry and Environmental Studies. 

Belén Rosado

Operations Manager
Exceptional Community Leaders

Woman, mother, and professional, with over 15 years of experience in interpretation and environmental education in protected natural areas and historical sites in Puerto Rico. She is grateful for dedicating her time, skills, and knowledge in favor of environmental education and interpretation, conservation efforts of natural and historic areas, and social justice; these as powerful strategies to offer experiences that contribute to personal changes and sustainable lifestyles, which favor equitable development and a better quality of life for all. 

As a biologist, she has the opportunity to collaborate with multiple professionals from different expertise and areas of study, government, private and federal organizations in conservation projects, education, environmental awareness, community participation, volunteering, citizen science, and more recently, social entrepreneurship.  She is always willing to continue learning and sharing what she has learned, happy to work in dynamic, organized, proactive environments, and in contact with people. 

Graduate of the University of Puerto Rico at Bayamón, holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Biology, a long trajectory as an NAI Certified Interpretive Guide and environmental & community project coordinator.   

Adiana Ortiz

Facilitator
Exceptional Community Leaders

Professional with 25 years of experience in administration and customer service in protected natural areas, museums, and informal education areas.

Since 2003, she has worked as an Environmental Interpreter in protected natural areas, offering guided tours in English and Spanish. From 2005, she was the Coordinator of Interpreters. Her role involved supervising staff, developing regional activities and events, establishing partnerships with community groups, government agencies, and private companies, and coordinating interpreter events and schedules. For five years, she managed and supervised all administrative aspects of purchasing, admissions, facility rentals, and events at one of Puerto Rico’s most prestigious museums.

Her qualifications include a Certified Interpretative Guide certification from the National Association of Interpreters (NAI), a Medical Billing and Coding certification from the University of Puerto Rico, and a Bachelor of Science degree with a concentration in Biology from the Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico.

Marisol Quiñones

Facilitator
Exceptional Community Leaders

Marisol has approximately 28 years of experience in different formal and non-formal education projects in Puerto Rico. Her interest in integrating the arts into the discipline of Education has led her to successfully design and implement innovative projects that significantly contribute to diverse communities.

She has worked in formal and informal education and environmental and scientific education programs. Among the projects she has worked on are museums, ecological organizations, secondary and post-secondary educational institutions, and community organizations. In academia, she has collaborated in teacher training projects, offering graduate courses in education, and creating informal and school curricula. What stands out in her career is the operationalization of the Criollo Center for Sciences and Technology Educational Program and the curricular development of the Escuela con Causa of the organization Caras con Causa. These two projects are still in operation.

Marisol M. Quiñones is an esteemed educator. In 2002, she completed her bachelor’s degree in Modern Languages from the Faculty of Humanities at the University of Puerto Rico, Río Piedras campus. She further honed her skills by obtaining a master’s degree in art integration in the curriculum from Lesley University in Cambridge, Massachusetts, in 2004, solidifying her expertise in the field.

Jenipher D. González Aponte

Operations Manager
Empowering Young Entrepreneurs

Jenipher is a Management Information Systems doctoral student at Universidad Ana G. Méndez. She has an MBA in Project Management and a bachelor’s degree in Computer Engineering. She developed research in different investigation topics at the National Astronomy and Ionosphere Center (NAIC or Arecibo’s Observatory), MIT Haystack Observatory, Purdue University, Georgia Institute of Technology, NASA, Nano Material Research Group, and her former engineering school. 

She was awarded the NASA MUREP Scholarship for three years, which provided a research opportunity at NASA Ames Research Center in Moffett Field, CA, where she worked for two summers. In her master’s degree, she was awarded the American Association of University Women (AAUW) Selected Professions Fellowship. She has experience teaching at the college level; she’s an engineering lecturer, professor at the Division of Engineering, Design, and Architecture from her current university. Also, she worked as an IT Project Manager at an internet service provider organization.

Maribel Oyola-Thomas

Program Coordinator
Empowering Young Entrepreneurs

Maribel has over thirty years of experience, twelve in human resources and eighteen as a nonprofit organization administrator. Among her duties, she has worked in recruitment, hiring, training, payroll preparation, general office coordination, managing finances, permits, and customer service. She has had experience working with high school students in Vocational Rehabilitation Administration transition services workshops. 

Maribel has a master’s degree from Vision International University and a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, with a concentration in Finance from the University of Puerto Rico, Mayagüez Campus. 

Francisco González

Program Director
Empowering Young Entrepreneurs

He was born in New York as part of the Puerto Rican diaspora and grew up on the island, where he studied in public institutions, standing out in academia and athletics. His life experience in communities with limited resources forged his commitment to the educational, social and spiritual development of economically disadvantaged populations.

With more than 36 years of experience, he has led transformative initiatives in the Puerto Rico Department of Education, including the integration of technology in classrooms, Internet access, and teacher training in digital tools, all achieved through federal funds. He has also worked as a consultant in the pharmaceutical industry, designing employee training programs and managing resources to strengthen these initiatives. His social commitment has led him to participate in both local and international humanitarian missions in countries such as the Dominican Republic, Venezuela and Colombia, bringing medical and social support to vulnerable communities, including those in the Amazon jungle.

From the Bravo Family Foundation, he leads innovative educational projects that impact high school and university youth, promoting an entrepreneurial mindset, economic development, and social justice in Puerto Rico. He is the first in his family to obtain a university degree, completing a baccalaureate in Electronic Technology Engineering, a master’s degree in Educational Supervision and two doctorates, one in Educational Leadership and the other in Philosophy. His training includes certifications in neuroscience, leadership and project management. His career reflects a deep commitment to youth empowerment, social equity, and creating opportunities to build a sustainable future on the island.

José Santana

Program Director
Empowering Young Entrepreneurs

Jose A. Santana González has a solid background in education and technology and valuable experience in integrating technology into the curriculum. Currently, he serves as a project director at Bravo Family Foundation, where he leads social justice projects focused on cutting-edge technological training, entrepreneurship, leadership, and personal growth of high school students, primarily from low-income backgrounds.

He has participated in instructional design and organizational transformation projects at international companies such as McKinsey & Company, Ikon Group, and others. He has also collaborated with non-governmental organizations and government agencies in Puerto Rico.

In addition, he has complemented his training with an International Diploma in Social Responsibility sponsored by the Pontifical Catholic University of Valparaíso and leadership programs at The New York State School of Industrial and Labor Relations at Cornell University and the Leadership, Strategy, and Execution Academy at Arroyo & Associates Management Consultants.