Gabriel Rodriguez, Jr. C.P.A.
President/ North Region Director
Gabe is a senior manager in Ernst & Young’s Northeast Sub-Area Assurance and Advisory Business Services (AABS) practice. Gabe has 11+ years of diversified public accounting experience in external audit services and has provided accounting and auditing services to both publicly and privately held companies primarily in the consumer products, technology, telecommunications, manufacturing, and distribution industries. Gabe has extensive experience with US GAAP, SEC, and Sarbanes-Oxley Section 404 compliance and reporting, and has assisted clients in filing registration statements in connection with initial public offerings. As an audit senior manager, Gabe is primarily responsible for the planning, coordination and execution of multi-location integrated audits, which includes SEC and SOX 404 compliance and reporting. Prior to beginning his career with Ernst & Young, Gabe completed a summer internship in the Asset Management and Accounting Group of Smith Barney, Inc. in New York City.
Since March 2006, Gabe has served as the President of the New Jersey Chapter of the Association of Latino Professionals in Finance and Accounting (ALPFA), a not-for-profit organization whose mission is to create opportunities, add value, and build relationships for its members, the community, and its business partners while expanding Latino leadership in the global workforce. As President, Gabe works diligently and collaboratively with the ALPFA New Jersey Board of Directors to plan and coordinate the kinds of quality events that will bring its members the most value for their membership, with event themes focused on leadership, mentoring, networking, professional development, and community service.
Gabe is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA), the New Jersey Society of Certified Public Accountants (NJSCPA), and the Elizabeth Cuban Lions Club. Gabe is also co-chair of Ernst & Young’s New Jersey Diversity Steering Committee and is an active member of Ernst & Young’s EY/GOLD (Generating Opportunities for Latinos and Diversity) affinity group. Gabe received his Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting from the School of Business at Rutgers University in New Brunswick, New Jersey, and is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) in the State of New Jersey.
Gabe is very passionate about giving back to his community and has been instrumental in the development of students and young professionals. In his free time, Gabe enjoys playing golf, traveling, and spending quality time with family and friends.
Yesenia Cabrera
Vice President and Secretary
Yesenia Cabrera, born to Puerto Rican parents, is a Manager, Financial Reporting at Prudential Financial, Inc. for the Life Insurance Division and has been with the company for 12 years. She is currently responsible for internal & SEC financial reporting for two life insurance companies and two reinsurance companies.
Yesenia began her career as an INROADS intern at Prudential as part of a four year rotational summer internship program commencing with her first year at Seton Hall University. However at the request of her supervisor each summer, Yesenia continued to work part-time through out the academic year for all four years. Upon graduation in December 1999 with a Bachelor’s of Science in Accounting, she accepted a full-time position as an Accounting Associate in the Subsidiary Reporting, Corporate Division. Within less than a year, she was given the opportunity to become part of the GAAP Consolidation Dept where she accepted a Senior Accounting position in the External Financial Reporting Division for the entire company and was promoted to Accounting Specialist. After five years, Yesenia transferred to the Life Insurance Division as a Financial Analyst where she was promoted within a year to her current position.
Yesenia was first introduced to ALPFA when she was given the opportunity by Prudential Financial to attend the 2002 Convention in Orlando, Florida. She then attended the 2005 Convention in Miami, Florida where she was motivated and inspired to get involved with ALPFA and its New Jersey Chapter. Yesenia served as the Treasurer for the ALPFA NJ Chapter from May 2006 – October 2007. She also served as the Secretary from November 2007 – August 2008.
Irene Carpio
Treasurer
Irene Carpio works as Senior Accounting Associate for Prudential Financial in Newark, NJ. She works for Separate Accounts in the Annuity area. She started working for Prudential in November of 2005 as an Accounting Associate and only 6 months after being with the company Irene was promoted to her current position.
Prior to Prudential, Irene worked for a manufacturing company as Office Manager for 8 years. She was responsible for bookkeeping, sales and inventory control. While working full time, she attended Rutgers University where she obtained her Bachelor’s of Science degree in Accounting.
Irene became a member of ALPFA in May of 2006. From the beginning, she became very involved with the ALPFA organization. She was elected Deputy Chair of Treasurer for the ALPFA Newark Chapter in July 2007. Irene was born in Riobamba – Ecuador.
Linda Bostel
Director of Events
I am an Audit Manager at Prudential Financial Inc., responsible for audits of Corporate functions which include GAAP/SEC financial reporting, tax reporting, actuarial, employee benefits administration, payroll, accounts payable, etc. I have also audited other business segments within Prudential that have included Investments, Group Retirement, and Group Life Insurance and Disability. I have been with Prudential since 1987.
I have an undergraduate degree in Accounting from Seton Hall University, and also hold a Series 65 designation. I began my audit career in the banking industry and worked with two large NJ commercial banks before joining Prudential. Early in my career, I also sold residential homes and mortgages to low income families in the Union County area.
I have been an ALPFA member since 2006, and strongly believe in the positive message and impact they have on the community in bringing together individuals of all diverse backgrounds to support their career and professional development as well as the needs of the community. ALPFA is an organization that I am proud to say I am part of.
Carlos Zuniga, CPA
Director of Student Affairs
Carlos became a member of ALPFA on December of 2006 and is currently the Director of Student Affairs. Carlos is a senior associate in The Siegfried Group, LLP a leading provider of Accounting Resource Services to Fortune 1000 companies and is a member of the recruiting committee. Prior to working at The Siegfried Group, LLP, Carlos began his career in the audit practice of KPMG LLP. Carlos has 3+ years of public accounting experience in external audit services and has provided accounting and auditing services to both publicly and privately held companies primarily in the consumer electronics and manufacturing industries, with such clients as Panasonic Corporation of North America, Sealed Air Corporation and AEP Industries, Inc. At KPMG, Carlos actively assisted the recruiting department by attending job fairs, greeting students during interviews and attending company sponsored events for potential recruits. In February of 2006 Carlos became a certified public accountant in the state of New Jersey.
As Director of Student Affairs, Carlos is actively involved in the planning and coordinating of quality student programs focused on professional development. Carlos is committed to giving back to his community and assisting students and young professionals develop their networking, interviewing and resume preparation skills.
Carlos graduated from Montclair State University in the Spring of 2004 with a bachelors degree in business administration with a concentration in Accounting. He is also a member of the New Jersey Society of Certified Public Accountants and the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants in good standing and Toastmasters International.
Carlos enjoys playing tennis, traveling, taking salsa lessons and spending quality time with friends and family.
Wilson Lopez
Director of Technology
Wilson Lopez is a Media Systems Coordinator at the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation in Princeton, NJ, a $10B not for profit organization that provides $500M+ annually in health related grants. At RWJF, Wilson provides information communication support to professional and executive staff. He is also responsible for video production/reproduction services, intranet support, and consults national program offices on the use of information communication technology to enhance and create efficiencies.
Wilson is a recent graduate from Rutgers University’s School of Communication, Information and Library Studies in New Brunswick, New Jersey where he received a Bachelor of Arts and Science degree in Communication. While at Rutgers, Wilson was a member of the Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA), where he was directly involved in the promotion of events and activities for various university groups and organizations. Prior to his studies at Rutgers University, Wilson attended Mercer County Community College and graduated in 2003 with a double Associates of Science degree in Television Productions and Communications. Currently Wilson is enrolled in the Digital Media Marketing program at New York University, School of Continuing and Professional Studies.
Wilson became a member of the ALPFA NJ Chapter in September 2006. Wilson is currently the Director of Technology and Chairs the Technology Committee.
Sharon Gonzalez-Demetriou
Director of Public Relations
Sharon Gonzalez-Demetriou is an Internal Audit Senior Manager for Prudential Financial’s Group Insurance and Retirement (GIR) divisions. Sharon is primarily responsible for the planning, coordination and execution of integrated audits, which encompass financial, operational, and technology risks, as well as special projects such as pre- and post-implementation reviews. Prior to joining Prudential, Sharon spent six years with Ernst & Young performing external financial and technology audit and consulting services for clients of varying industries. She also held the position of Financial Controller, reporting directly to the Chief Information Officer (CIO) of Global Crossing, a telecommunications company. Throughout her 10+ years of professional experience, Sharon has dedicated time to the professional development of staff and recruitment of quality candidates.
Sharon graduated from Seton Hall University’s Stillman School of Business where she received a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting. During her sophomore year, Sharon secured a part-time position at Ernst & Young’s Finance and Administration office as an Ad Hoc Reporting Associate. She also interned with Ernst & Young’s audit practice during her final semester at Seton Hall. As President of the Beta Alpha Psi Accounting Honor Society, she led the Seton Hall chapter to Superior Chapter status in her senior year. Within three years of graduating from Seton Hall, Sharon earned both her Certified Public Accountant (CPA) and Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA) licenses.
Sharon is the Deputy Chair of Communications for the NJ chapter of the Association of Latino Professionals in Finance and Accounting (ALPFA), a not-for-profit organization. Sharon is also the President and Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of a side deejay entertainment business, in which she acts as an emcee, singer, dancer, event planner and business manager.
Camilo T. Guerra, CPA
Deputy Chair of Member Relations
Camilo Guerra is a Manager, Financial Reporting at Prudential Financial, Inc. for the Annuities Finance Division and has been with the company for 10 years. He is currently responsible for profit center reporting for the Annuities Segment, which includes management reporting, SEC reporting and SOX compliance and reporting. Camilo worked in the following areas at Prudential before joining Annuities Finance: Broker-Dealer Reporting, Subsidiary Life Reporting, Individual Life Reporting, and PSI Legacy Finance.
Before joining Prudential, Camilo worked for the Bank of New York in Commercial and Consumer Lending. He graduated from Montclair State University in 1997 where he received a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting and earned his Certified Public Accountant (CPA) license in 2002.
lliana Estrada , CPA
Deputy Chair of Student Affairs Committee
Iliana Estrada is a Tax Associate for Ernst & Young’s Northeast Sub-Area. She contributes to the planning, delivery, and execution of tax services. Her experiences include FAS 109, FIN 48, Sarbanes-Oxley Section 404, state and local, and federal tax issues. She is heavily involved in community service and her Church where she is currently serving as Secretary of Finance and Music Director.
Before joining Ernst & Young, Iliana interned for Lehman Brothers International Europe in London. She is a recent graduate from Seton Hall University’s Stillman School of Business where she received a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting and a Master of Science in Professional Accounting. While at Seton Hall, she co-founded the Seton Hall Union of Cuban American Students and served as Treasurer for two consecutive terms. She was also a member of the National Society of Collegiate Scholars and the professional business fraternity, Alpha Kappa Psi.
Since 2004, Iliana has been a member of ALPFA. As Deputy Chair of the Student Affairs Committee, she plans to mentor and develop student leaders at the college level and increase membership and student involvement.
Paola Fernandez
Deputy of Student Affairs
Paola Fernandez is a first year audit associate at Ernst & Young. She works in the Assurance and Advisory practice serving clients in the manufacturing industry. She graduated from the Rutgers Business School in Newark, NJ where she served as secretary of the Rutgers Accounting Society and consulting officer for the Students of ALPFA Rutgers Newark Chapter. Paola joined ALPFA in 2005 and currently serves as Deputy Chair of the Student Affairs Committee. She enjoys working with the students as they show a great attitude and enthusiasm to bring successful and beneficial events on campus. Paola pledges to continue her support for ALPFA for many years to come.
