Mariggi Lopez-Houck
President
Mariggi Lopez-Houck was born in Lima, Peru. She along with her parents immigrated to New Jersey in 1988. They settled in Garfield in 1990 and she alongside her siblings were raised there since. She is the product of the Garfield Public school system having graduated from Lincoln school #6 in 1997, Thomas Jefferson Middle School in 1999 and Garfield High School in 2003. She then attended Bergen Community College where she became the President of the Latin American Students Association and went on to obtain an Associate in Criminal Justice. In 2007 she was hired as a Police Officer in the City of Garfield, making her the second female in the department and the very first Latina police officer in Garfield. Over the years as a police officer she has received various commendations for her contributions in Law Enforcement as well as in the Garfield Police department. She was an instructor for the law enforcement career development program for the New Jersey Community Affairs Association and for The International Council of Women in Law Enforcement. She has also received recognition from the Hispanic Alliance of Garfield in 2017.
Marcial Caraballo
Vice President
Marcial Caraballo is a Native of Puerto Rico. He was raised in NY City and enlisted in the US Army in Fort Hamilton NY. After serving 7 years, he enrolled in and graduated college with a degree in computer science. Marcial worked with fortune 500 companies in fields such as Data Communications, Data Processing Operations, Disaster Recovery, Customer Service and Project Management. Currently Marcial is a state licensed agent working as a medicare advisor with a major healthcare corporation. In addition, he volunteers his time as Secretary to The Hispanic Alliance of Garfield.
Angel Quiles
CEO
Garfield resident for over 20 years. I served in the United States Military for 22 years Sergeant. Over those years I served in Iraq twice and was mobilized 3 times, in 1990, 2003, and 2006. In 2009 after 22 years of service I decided to retire. Past Commander of the Garfield VFW Post 2867. I am supporter and member of many community organizations including Boys and Girls Club of Garfield and its Coaches Association as well as “Meals with a Mission”, providing food for the community, Garfield Middle School Blue Star Kids. First elected Hispanic to the Board of education of Garfield. In 2015, I was selected to serve on U.S. Congressman Bill Pascrell’s, Military Academy Nomination Selection Committee. In 2016 awarded the Outstanding Veteran of the Year Award, received awards from the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey, and the United States House of Representative. In 2018 was inducted to the Garfield Boy’s and Girls club Wall of Champions.
Jesus Rodriguez
Treasurer & Founder
Jesus Rodriguez, born and raised in Puerto Rico, has been a Garfield resident for over 28 years. He began his professional career after receiving a college degree certificate in banking and business administration in 1976 and enlisting in the US Army National Guard 130th Engineer Battalion, located in Tortuguero Base Vega Baja, Puerto Rico. He later transferred to NYARNG Headquarters Company 102nd Engineer Battalion New York City.
In 1981 Jesus married his teenage sweetheart, Maribel Rodriguez, in Puerto Rico and shortly thereafter moved to Brooklyn, New York where they had their first child, Molly Rodriguez, in 1985. He continued his education with the New York Empire State Military Academy and completed the Reserve Component Noncommissioned Officers Course, Camp Smith Peekskill in 1986. Jesus reported to active duty to provide security for the NY Army National Guard Armories 1986-1989. They then had their second daughter, Marieliz Rodriguez in 1990.
In 1993, Jesus became a Certified Applicant Counselor Field Investigator for the NYSDOH Medicaid program. Throughout his career, Jesus always had one major common denominator which was helping out his community. Whether in Brooklyn, NY or when the family moved to Paterson, New Jersey in 1993 then Garfield, NJ in 1994, Jesus was constantly looking for new opportunities to volunteer his time to assist those in need. His passion for charity based work continued in 1997 when Jesus became the Program Director for a nondenominational faith-based humanitarian nonprofit organization that exists to meet the physical, spiritual and relational needs of children in need, Hope Worldwide.
Jesus enrolled in a CAC Medicaid program 2001 as a Volunteer and was the Former President of the Hispanic Multi-purpose Center Paterson 2001. In 2002 Jesus founded one of the pinnacles for the Hispanic community, the Hispanic Alliance of Garfield and received recognition for it by Paterson Mayor Hon. Joey Torres. He was also a council election candidate for Team Garfield in 2004 and Founder & Chairman of the Hispanic Heritage Month Commitee in 2016 and received more recognition for the Hispanic Alliance of Garfield by Passaic/Bergen County Senator Hon Nelly Pou 2016.
Because of Jesus’s constant perseverance and advocacy for the Hispanic community, they continue to be represented and have a voice in the City of Garfield. Jesus continues to be Hispanic Alliance Founder as well as an active Board member of volunteerism in the City of Garfield for the last 18 years. He’s also currently working as a Certified Applicant Counselor Field Investigator for the New York State Department of Health Medicaid program.
All of Jesus’s achievements wouldn’t be possible without the encouragement and support of his wife of 39 years, Maribel Rodriguez who is a special education teacher at PCTI for over 20 years. His daughters Molly and Marieliz Rodriguez also admire their dad’s consistent determination for racial equality and his advocacy for those families that are less fortunate and disadvantaged. Jesus Rodriguez is proud of the progress the City of Garfield has made throughout the years but knows there is much more work to be done. He believes that we can achieve better together and that’s why, as a community leader for the People of Garfield, Jesus Rodriguez looks forward to elevate his service to the community and create more opportunities for all by connecting our cultures for a better way to communicate with all families in the City of Garfield.
David Scott Jr.
Secretary
David was born in the Bronx in 1985. Through his upbringing, David learned many staples of the Puerto Rican and Dominican cultures. He attributes his sense of responsibility to taking care of his younger siblings since the age of 5. After living in NYC for over 13 years, David’s family moved to Meriden, CT.
David graduated from H.C. Wilcox Vocational Technical High School as Class President, Salutatorian and member of the National Honors Society. Through his academic successes and extensive research, he gained enough scholarships to completely pay for his college education. David went to Quinnipiac University and majored in Computer Science. David became a member of the Latino Cultural Society to spread awareness about Latin America’s cultures on campus. He graduated in 2007 with Summa Cum Laude honors and a Bachelors degree.
Over his 15+ year career David has worked in IT in multiple industries from Higher Education and Workplace Management to Finance and Insurance. David gained his PMP & CSM licenses in 2017. In addition to his full time career, David founded his small company Scott Team Consulting, LLC in 2018. Through Scott Team, David partakes in freelance work. His company’s mission is to help small organizations and businesses improve their web presence.
In 2010 he connected with Evelyn, who would quickly become the love of his life and his better half. David would move to New Jersey in 2013. Evelyn and David married in 2015 and in 2021 they welcomed their first born son.
David joined the Hispanic Alliance of Garfield as a member in 2019. His impact has enabled him to become a Board Member in 2020. David is part of the Heritage Scholarship committee which brings his journey full circle. David’s approach has helped the Hispanic Alliance reach new levels all the while helping the community.