Architects of Latino Success

A Story of Resilience: Rebuilding with Purpose

For much of Eva's early life, decisions were made for her. Working as a teacher and raising her family on her own, she reached a point where she had to decide what came next, and for the first time, that choice was hers to make. She packed up and started fresh in Nashville, and it was there that a mentor introduced her to sales, giving her the opening she needed to build something of her own. That leap turned into Evaco Properties and, eventually, her current role as Owner and Principal Broker of Century 21 Capital Partners, leading across residential sales, development, investment, and luxury real estate.

Join us as Eva talks about what it took to start over in a new city with no roadmap, find her footing, and build from the ground up. Since then, she's made it her practice to stay a constant learner, always growing and always looking for the next lesson, while putting that growth back into serving others and her community. Through it all, Eva's approach to leadership has stayed consistent: choices made in service of others, and a legacy she hopes her children will carry forward.

More voices, more stories, and more inspiration to come—stay tuned!

A Lifelong Drive to Grow and Learn, Navigating Corporate America.

From corporate marketing to industry advocacy to global growth, Jason's career reads less like a resume and more like a masterclass in reinvention. Every pivot has been intentional, chasing impact over titles, and letting each new chapter sharpen the last. Along the way, he's stepped into leadership at the intersection of business and community, championing Hispanic wealth-building on a national scale and earning a reputation as someone leaders trust to open doors and build bridges across industries.

Join us as Jason breaks down what it really takes to build a career on your own terms. He gets candid on how staying curious, embracing discomfort, and building real relationships across industries became his ultimate competitive edge, plus practical, no-fluff advice on knowing when to leap, when to stay, and how to make either move work in your favor. Jason also opens up about the mentors and communities that shaped him along the way, and why he's made it a point to pay that forward wherever he lands. His biggest takeaway: success isn't a solo sport. There's room at the top for everyone, and lifting others up is what gets you there.

More voices, more stories, and more inspiration to come—stay tuned!

A passion she never saw coming.

Real estate wasn't in the books for Nora Aguirre. Growing up as her parents' de facto translator, Nora was the one who brought ease to what were, at the time, simply family experiences of navigating a home purchase. A mentor noticed that gift before she did and pushed her, persistently, toward becoming an agent herself, a nudge Nora credits with becoming something far bigger than either of them expected. She didn't take it seriously at first, but that changed once she saw the impact she was making in her own community and recognized how naturally the business meshed with who she already was: someone driven by people, connection, and a genuine passion to help. That shift has carried her from buyer's agent to leading the #1 Century 21 team in Nevada, founding the Greater Las Vegas NAHREP chapter, and serving as NAHREP's National President for the 2024–2025 term. After more than eight years with Century 21, Nora recently made the leap to Epique Realty, the newest chapter in a career built on knowing when it's time to grow.

Join us as Nora touches on how hard 2008 was, not just for her business but for her clients, and how her passion for community is what carried her through. Her message is simple: this business comes from the heart. Find your why, and the success will follow. Staying grounded through it all has meant leaning on spirituality, something she believes looks different for everyone, but that everyone needs in some form.

More voices, more stories, and more inspiration to come—stay tuned!

Opportunity isn't given. It's built, shared, and passed on.
Felix DeHerrera grew up with parents who made up in spirit what life didn't always offer in resources. Their optimism and desire to see their children succeed became the through line of everything Felix would go on to build — a career spanning four decades in brokerage, mortgage banking, and investment, and a legacy defined by one constant: making sure the next person had a way in. That drive led Felix to found the very first NAHREP chapter, a leap that revealed a capacity for leadership others quickly recognized. What started as one chapter became a national platform, with Felix eventually serving as National President in 2007. 

Join us as Felix reflects on what it means to create access, not just success. From the values instilled in him early, to personally awarding over $150,000 in scholarships to Hispanic students, to what he hopes the leaders coming up behind him will carry forward. 

This is a conversation about legacy. About what we owe each other. And about what happens when someone with the power to close doors chooses, every single time, to open them wider.

More voices, more stories, and more inspiration to come—stay tuned!

Build with intention. Lead with heart. Never Settle. 
Nuria Rivera — CEO and Founder of Novation Title — has built her career and her company on a simple but powerful truth: people are everything. Her drive to connect, grow, and show up fully for her team and clients isn't a strategy. It's who she is. 

In this episode, Nuria shares how her background shaped the leader she's become, why lifelong learning is a non-negotiable for her, and how leading with genuine care for people has become her greatest competitive advantage. A go-getter at heart, she opens up about what it means to always be reaching for more — not out of restlessness, but out of a deep passion for growth and excellence. 

Whether you're building a business, leading a team, or simply looking for a reminder that purpose and ambition can coexist, this conversation will move you. Lead with heart. Never stop learning. Keep building.

More voices, more stories, and more inspiration to come—stay tuned!

Success is not just about closing deals. It is about the lives you impact along the way.

Joe Castillo welcomes Erika Villegas, a respected real estate professional serving the Chicago market, known for her commitment to community, leadership, and advancing Hispanic homeownership.

In this episode, Erika shares a candid and vulnerable look into her real estate journey, including the challenges she has faced and the lessons that shaped her approach to the business. She speaks to the importance of leading with purpose, emphasizing that real estate is not just transactional, but a platform for education, problem-solving, and advocacy for the families she serves.

Erika discusses her passion for helping Hispanic communities navigate the path to homeownership, protect their investments, and build generational wealth. Grounded in a mindset of service, she reflects on the belief that what you give to others will ultimately come back to you, and that putting people first is the foundation of long-term success.

More voices, more stories, and more inspiration to come—stay tuned!

The most powerful careers are not built on strategy alone. They are built on purpose.

Josue Soto is a real estate professional whose path was shaped by the right people showing up at the right time, reminding him of the strengths he carried and encouraging him to put them to work. His natural ability to connect, listen, and genuinely serve others laid the foundation for a career rooted in something bigger than business.

His path with NAHREP deepened that conviction. What began as a simple introduction grew into a defining experience. Walking the halls of Capitol Hill, engaging directly with representatives, and witnessing the scale of NAHREP's advocacy for Hispanic homeownership showed Josue exactly what it looks like when a mission meets momentum.

In this episode, Josue shares the mindset that has carried him through his toughest seasons, why slowing down to truly listen is one of the most powerful tools a leader can develop, and how pouring into others is not a sacrifice but a strategy. If you are navigating a hard stretch, searching for your next level, or simply need a reminder of why the work matters, this conversation will meet you there.

Lead with purpose. Serve with intention. Keep moving forward.

More voices, more stories, and more inspiration to come—stay tuned!

Success doesn’t always begin with a plan. Sometimes it starts with a simple conversation.

Joe Castillo welcomes A.T. Almeida, CEO and Team Leader of The American Dream Group in Dallas–Fort Worth and a National Board Director with the National Association of Hispanic Real Estate Professionals (NAHREP).

Originally from Brazil, A.T. came to the United States with limited English and a determination to build a better future. Before finding his path in real estate, he worked a variety of jobs while searching for opportunity, including driving for Uber. It was during those rides, through conversations with passengers, that he first began hearing about real estate and started to imagine a different career path.

In this conversation, A.T. shares the moment he decided to pursue his real estate license, the mentorship that helped guide his early success, and the role the NAHREP community played in his journey. Within his first year in the business, he earned recognition among the NAHREP Top 250 Latino Agent Award honorees and has continued building a career centered on helping Latino families achieve homeownership.

Tune in for a powerful story about resilience, taking chances, and how one conversation can open the door to a completely new future.

More voices, more stories, and more inspiration to come—stay tuned!

Leading from Within: Elevating Professionals and Expanding NAHREP’s Global Vision

In this episode of Architects of Latino Success, Joe Castillo sits down with Oralia Herrera, 2025 NAHREP National President, to reflect on her leadership journey and the impact of serving at the highest level of the organization.

Oralia shares how she was first introduced to real estate and given the opportunity to grow in the business by a mentor who believed in her early on. That belief helped shape her confidence, expand her vision, and lay the foundation for her success. She speaks openly about how NAHREP challenges professionals to grow beyond what they think they know. Being in rooms with accomplished business owners and entrepreneurs raises your standards. It sharpens your mindset and pushes you to operate at a higher level.

As President, Oralia focused on strengthening NAHREP from within by deepening leadership and engagement across the organization. One of her goals was to take members internationally to explore real estate opportunities beyond the U.S. That vision became reality with a milestone trip to Spain, where this episode was recorded. The experience marked a defining moment for NAHREP’s expanding global presence and reflected the ambition and caliber of its leaders.

Oralia’s presidency is a testament to what is possible when preparation meets service, and her journey stands as an invitation to the next generation of leaders to step forward, raise their standard, and lead with purpose.

More voices, more stories, and more inspiration to come—stay tuned!

 Building Cultures that Support People, Progress, and Possibility

In this episode, Joe Castillo speaks with Teresa Palacios Smith, Chief Inclusion and Engagement Officer at HomeServices of America, about leadership, inclusion, and long-term impact.

Teresa shares how her professional journey has shaped her approach to inclusion as an ongoing practice rooted in trust, accountability, and engagement. She reflects on leading within large organizations, building cultures where individuals feel valued, and aligning people-centered leadership with business and community outcomes.

The conversation explores the role leaders play in shaping culture, the importance of meaningful engagement, and how inclusive leadership can strengthen organizations while supporting the communities they serve.

This episode offers thoughtful insight into how purpose-driven leadership and inclusion can create lasting impact and support NAHREP’s mission to advance opportunity and generational progress.

More voices, more stories, and more inspiration to come—stay tuned!