Meet The Board
Leaders Committed to Empowering the Next Generation
Jacqueline N Hernandez
Founder
Jacqueline Hernandez is a business strategist, leadership advisor, and the powerhouse behind Strategic Growth Solutions by Entrepreneurial Empire, a consulting firm that partners with CEOs and leadership teams to recalibrate growth, streamline operations, and unlock profitable scalability without chaos. With over 17 years of experience, Jacqueline has helped companies and entrepreneurs accelerate revenue, align leadership focus, and build businesses designed for long-term legacy. She’s known for her direct, no-fluff approach that gets leaders out of reaction mode and back into strategic command. Jacqueline is also the author of Entrepreneurial Empire and co-founder of YES! Youth Entrepreneurship Services, a nonprofit dedicated to equipping the next generation of entrepreneurs with real-world leadership, ownership, and economic empowerment skills. Her passion for youth development is a direct extension of her work in business. After two decades of guiding companies to success, Jacqueline and her business partner, Faten Bazzi, recognized the urgent need to bridge the gap for young people providing resources, mentorship, and hands-on experience to break cycles of generational poverty and expand access to opportunity. For Jacqueline, philanthropy isn’t an afterthought. It’s a responsibility. And through YES!, she’s building a pipeline of future leaders who are ready to take their seat at the table.
Faten Bazzi
Founder
Faten Bazzi is a strategic growth consultant and founder of Entrepreneurial Empire, where she helps businesses optimize systems, align goals, and scale sustainably through strategy, structure, and leadership development. With over 10 years of experience, Faten has worked alongside entrepreneurs and leadership teams to streamline operations, clarify priorities, and implement solutions that drive measurable results. She brings a calm, focused approach that transforms business chaos into clarity and forward momentum. Together, Faten and her business partner Jacqueline Hernandez, lead both Entrepreneurial Empire and Y.E.S.! Youth Entrepreneurship Services. Their collaboration is rooted in mutual respect, complementary expertise, and a shared vision of helping businesses grow while empowering the next generation. They’ve built a strong foundation of trust and strategy, committed to making meaningful impact through both consulting and community development. As founder of Y.E.S.!, Faten is passionate about equipping youth with the confidence, tools, and mindset needed to step into their full potential. She believes mentorship and real-world experience are key to long-term transformation. For Faten, building stronger businesses and stronger leaders go hand in hand. Structure creates freedom and she’s here to help build both.
Vanessa Richaud-Villard
Board Member
Vanessa Richaud, a native of vibrant Mexico City, began her entrepreneurial journey early, immersing herself in the business world and developing strong skills in accounting, bookkeeping, and management. Driven by her entrepreneurial spirit, she embarked on a quest to find her ideal venture in 2019. Despite the challenges of the global pandemic, Vanessa persevered, opening Chill N Nitrogen Ice Cream in San Antonio in July 2022.
At just 21, Vanessa achieved the remarkable milestone of becoming a franchise owner, making her a trailblazing Latina in the business world. Her story is one of resilience, determination, and success, marking her as a rising star in entrepreneurship. Vanessa also serves on the Y.E.S.! Youth Entrepreneurship Services board, bringing her expertise and passion for empowering young entrepreneurs.
Crystal Lopez
Board Member
Crystal Lopez is a Mortgage Broker with The Heart of Mortgage, bringing over 20 years of experience in helping clients achieve homeownership and supporting real estate professionals. As a proud board member of Youth Entrepreneurship Services (YES), Crystal is dedicated to empowering the next generation of entrepreneurs. She believes in providing young people with the tools, skills, and mentorship they need to turn ideas into success. Through YES, she is committed to creating life-changing opportunities and building a brighter future one young entrepreneur at a time. My passion for education and leadership led me to serve as PTA President at the campus level, where I was honored with a Texas PTA Leadership Award. I also had the privilege of serving as a school board member for NEISD, representing District 3, as well as an advisor for the Texas State Board of Education and the Department of Education. In recognition of my dedication to service, I have been awarded two Presidential Volunteer Service Awards—one gold and one silver. I firmly believe in the importance of supporting and empowering the future business leaders of tomorrow, ensuring they have the tools and opportunities to succeed.
Matthew Belver
Board Member
From a small town in East Texas to Harvard, the U.S. Navy, and law enforcement, Matthew Belver’s journey is one of purpose, resilience, and service. After earning his degree, he enlisted in the Navy, serving as a submariner and nuclear power technician before becoming a Naval Flight Officer with deployments to Afghanistan and Southeast Asia. After active duty, he joined the San Antonio Police Department and now serves as a Master Sergeant in the U.S. Army Reserves. Alongside his wife, Matthew owns and operates five Aqua-Tots Swim Schools in San Antonio and Orlando, focused on teaching life-saving swim skills to children and families. With Master’s degrees in Criminal Justice & Public Policy and Education, he is passionate about mentorship, youth development, and community impact—committed to empowering others and shaping future leaders.
Amber Wilkins
Board Member
Passionate, hardworking and fierce, Amber is a long-time Personal Injury Trial Attorney in South Texas. Amber has had had offices in Brownsville, McAllen, and now her principal location in San Antonio. Motivated to help those in difficult times with compassion and dignity, she started her own law firm, now named Lady Law Amber, in 2012. Amber’s passion for being an advocate for those who cannot represent themselves, is the reason she got involved in law, politics, and philanthropy. She has served her community in many capacities including: three terms as an elected county official, numerous non-profit boards, various school programs and volunteer work. She is continuously humbled in the service of her clients and her community.
Jeri-Ashley Bremer
Board Member
Jeri-Ashley Bremer, M.S., Ed., is an Executive Well-Being and Leadership Advisor with nearly 20 years of experience supporting leaders, organizations, and communities through growth and change. Her work centers on building leadership capacity, strengthening organizational culture, and designing systems that support sustainable performance—particularly within education, nonprofit, and mission-driven spaces. Throughout her career, Jeri-Ashley has held leadership roles across K–12 education and community-based initiatives, where she led large-scale efforts focused on leadership development, educator capacity-building, and community engagement. She brings a trauma-informed, research-backed approach to her work, helping leaders navigate complexity, manage burnout, and lead with clarity and purpose. Jeri-Ashley is deeply passionate about expanding access to opportunity for young people, particularly those navigating systemic barriers. She believes entrepreneurship and leadership development are powerful tools for cultivating agency, confidence, and long-term economic mobility among youth. As a board member, she brings strategic insight, a strong commitment to equity, and a collaborative mindset to advancing the organization’s mission and impact.
Justine G. Eckert
Board Member
Born and raised in San Antonio, Texas, Justine is a dedicated insurance professional specializing in commercial property and casualty insurance. She holds an MBA from Texas Tech University and brings a strong foundation in business management, finance, and strategic planning to her work. After beginning her career as a Farmers Insurance Agent and building a successful book of business, she sold her agency to pursue her vision of becoming an independent agent focused on serving businesses and commercial property owners.
Justine thrives in the complex commercial insurance space and is known for her client-first approach, deep industry knowledge, and commitment to delivering tailored solutions that provide peace of mind. She is an active member of CREW–Commercial Real Estate Women, serving on the Board of Directors and as Director of Special Events.
christine colburn
Board Member
With a background in venture capital, business development, partnerships, and community development, Christine currently serves as VP, Community and Strategic Initiatives at Emerge and Rise. She is a strategic leader dedicated to building collaborative ecosystems that drive sustainable economic growth across Texas. Christine connects regional stakeholders and industry partners to create meaningful opportunities, with a focus on strategic collaborations, economic development initiatives, and supporting women- and veteran-led ventures.
In her role, Christine leverages her expertise to cultivate strong corporate partnerships, strengthen community ties, and expand access to mentorship and growth opportunities for underserved entrepreneurs. She is passionate about fostering inclusive innovation and empowering founders to build resilient, scalable businesses.
Jessica Martinez
Community Engagement Director
𝐉𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐜𝐚 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐳 is a financial professional dedicated to empowering families and leaders through education, protection, and smart planning. Community-driven at heart, she’s passionate about helping others build lasting legacies, and inspiring the next generation of youth entrepreneurs.
Financial Services Professional
Empowering families and leaders through financial education, protection, and planning , while inspiring the next generation of youth entrepreneurs.
Meet The Junior Board Members
Oscar Amaya
Samuel Torres
Jade Aguirre
