Conexión wishes everyone a happy Hispanic heritage month!
Conexión wishes everyone a happy Hispanic heritage month!
Meet the Team
Adrian saenz
Partner
Adrian Saenz most recently served as Special Assistant to the President and Deputy Director of the White House Office of Public Engagement.Prior to joining the Biden-Harris Administration, Adrian served as the senior advisor for Latino paid media on the Biden for President campaign and during the Obama-Biden Administration served as a Special Assistant to the President and Senior Advisor in the White House Office of Intergovernmental Affairs.
A senior level manager, Adrian has experience developing strategic legislative, advocacy and electoral campaigns, managing staff and consultant teams, and leading stakeholder engagement, coalition building and partnerships with federal, state, and local leaders.
In addition to leading the development and management of President Biden’s Office of Public Engagement, Adrian managed President Obama’s relationships with Governors, legislators, and other state elected officials, a nd developed the State Policy Project , an initiative focused on advancing the President’s domestic policy agenda via state legislatures. He has also served as a Continuity of Government Plan team lead in two Administrations and as the in - state coordinator of the White House 2014 Ebola outbreak response.
Previously, Adrian spent nearly a decade on Capitol Hill as a Chief of Staff and Communications Director. A veteran of four presidential campaigns, he served on both Obama - Biden campaign s, as State Director in 2008 and as the National Latino Vote Director in 2012 . H is experience also includes serving as Executive Vice President of the Latino Victory Project, Constituency Director for the 2013 Presidential Inaugural Committee, a senior advisor at Organizing for Action , and as the National Field Director and Latino Vote Director for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee.
Keep reading >>
Colin Rogero
Partner
Colin Rogero is the Co-Founder and Creative Director of Conexión, the most diverse media agency in democratic politics. Rogero is regarded as one of the most creative Latino filmmakers and media consultants in politics. His distinctive visual style and emotionally poignant ads have resulted in election wins at every level of office in the United States and internationally.
Colin produced President Joe Biden’s Spanish - language launch video, which introduced him to Hispanic voters and powered his path to the Democratic nomination. He also designed ad campaigns on behalf of several major IEs for the Biden - Harris ticket. Most recently, he helped to elect Gabe Vasquez to the U.S. Congress , which was only one of two Republican - held seats that Democrats flipped in 2022. In addition, he created English and Spanish advertising for campaigns in Arizona, Pennsylvania, Georgia, and Nevada – ensuring the Democrats’ Senate majority.
Colin’s career is defined by historic firsts. He helped to elect the first Latina Democrat and immigrant members of Congress in Florida, Texas and Nevada . He was also instrumental in electing the first Latina and Black female mayors in Knoxville, Atlanta, Charlotte, and St. Louis.
In addition to his domestic clients and campaigns, Colin has worked extensively in Europe, Mexico, Central America and South America, notably helping to elect the first woman vice president of Colombia. Colin’s creativity is sought after in public affairs work too. His corporate clients have included some of the U.S.’s largest corporations like AT&T, Verizon, and Sony, and pivotal ballot measures like amendment 4 in Florida
Colin began hi s career in Los Angeles, where he was the lead creative on multiple award - winning advertising and film campaigns. For his impact, he’s earned more than 100 creative and strategic awards, including 100 Most Influential Political Consultants in the World, Ca mpaign of the Year, Spanish Language Ad of the Year, a CLIO and Cannes awards, and the Independent Lens Documentary Award and many more. Colin was raised in south Florida and currently lives in Washington, DC.
Keep reading >>
Pili Tobar
Partner
Pili Tobar is the former White House Deputy Communications Director for President Joe Biden. At the White House, Pili oversaw communications around domestic policy issues, climate, immigration, and the western hemisphere. In this position she worked closely with the State Department, National Security Council, Domestic Policy Council and many government agencies to draft messaging, do rapid response, plan rollout of new policies and coordinate between the different agencies, governments, and stakeholders.
Prior to serving at the White House, Pili was the Communications Director for the Presidential Inaugural Committee for President Biden and the Communications Director for Coalitions for the Biden for President campaign where she managed the team that executed the out reach and communications strategy to reach Hispanic media, African American media, women media, AAPI media, tribal media, disability media, ethnic media, faith media, LGBTQ+ media, progressives, rural media, seniors, small business, veterans and military families, and youth outlets.
Pili has over 12 years of experience in communications in the political, advocacy, and government arenas working for a wide range of candidates, elected officials and organizations. She has started communications departments from scratch, completely overhauled departments that were not performing up to par, and advised candidates, elected officials and organizations on message testing and the best communications strategies to utilize. Pili has appeared on MSNBC, Telemundo, Univision, CNNE, Peacock, VOA, and been quoted in the pages of the Washington Post, NYT, The Hill, Politico, and many more publications throughout the country.
Before jumping on the Presidential campaign, Pili was the spokesperson and Deputy Director for the pro - immigrant organization America’s Voice and head of advocacy and communications at the Latino Victory Project, where she hit the campaign trail in the 2016 election cycle on behalf of Hispanic Democratic candidates.
Pili also served as Hispanic Media Director for now Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer (D - N.Y.) in 2017, Communications Director for Rep. Ruben Gallego (D - AZ) in 2015, and Hispanic Media Director and Western Press Secretary for the Democratic National Committee through the 2014 midterm elections.
Pili was born in Florida and raised in Guatemala City. She graduated from the University of Miami with a Bachelor in Science and a Master’s in Public Administration. Pili currently lives in Washington D.C. with her wife and daughter.
Keep reading >>
Marsha Espinosa
Partner
With more than 20 years of experience in national security and congressional and public affairs, Marsha Espinosa has a love for helping others see public policy work, telling compelling stories, and navigating through crises.
Before joining Conexión, Marsha held senior leadership positions at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), where she led public affairs strategies for some of our nation ’ s most critical issues, including law enforcement matters, cybersecurity, immigration, border and aviation security, disaster response and recovery, and domestic and international crisis management. She had the privilege of working for three DHS secretaries and is most proud of her efforts to champion the work of DHS employees, including the hardest working K - 9 ’ s you will ever meet.
During her years on Capitol Hill, Marsha served as Senator Dianne Feinstein ’ s Press Secretary, Congresswoman Linda Sánchez ’ Chief of Staff and Communications Director, and Congresswoman Nanette Barragan ’ s Chie f of Staff. She began her career as a waitress: a lifelong dream since the 2 nd grade career fair. Espinosa spent years helping goo d people get elected , and serving in government for her beloved home state of New Mexico under the leadership of Governor Bill Richardson.
Marsha is a graduate of New Mexico State University and received a Masters of Arts in Communication Studies from Texas State University. She is a proud military spouse, whose husband serves as a Master Gunnery Sergeant in the U.S. Marine Corps.
Keep reading >>
Joaquin Guerra
Partner
With more than two decades of experience, Joaquín is a versatile leader, manager, and operative whose work with non-profits, advocacy, and electoral campaigns has been pivotal in building people-powered campaigns that drive political change and social impact.
He most recently served as the National Political Director for the Campaign for Our Shared Future Action Fund. There, he established an Independent Expenditure electoral and candidate endorsement program, focusing on school boards threatened by anti-equity candidates. He concluded his service with over forty victories across nine states.
Born in the borderlands of rural South Texas to farmworker parents, Joaquín has a deeply personal and intersectional understanding of the interplay between narrative, place, power, policy, race, and class. This understanding informs his commitment to breaking down the systemic barriers that hinder progress and hope for underserved communities.
He is a veteran of Senator Bill Bradley and Governor Richardson's presidential campaigns. He has served as a Senior Advisor to Latino Victory and Greenberg Quinlan Rosner Research on two Mexican electoral campaigns. As a National Education Association’s national political team member, he managed Independent Expenditure (I.E.) programs in four states. He previously managed digital campaigns for MoveOn.org, the Center for Community Change, and the Service Employees International Union (SEIU). At SEIU, he developed the online campaign model for stopping the deportations of DREAM Act-eligible students.
A passionate advocate for leadership development, Joaquín co-founded the New Leaders Council chapters in Houston and San Antonio, Texas, and has served as a coach and trainer for the DCCC, New Leaders Council, and previously with the New Organizing Institute and Democracy for America.
Joaquín's contributions to the field have been recognized with the SXSW Social Revolución Mobilizer Award, underscoring his impact in leveraging technology, communications, and organizing for social and electoral impact. He lives in San Antonio, TX, with his wife, dog, and cat.
Keep reading >>
Gretchell T. Aguilar
Campaigns Director
Gretchell T. Aguilar currently serves as Campaign Director at Conexión Agency, the most diverse media firm in Democratic politics. Notable clients include major organizations across the country, along with candidates up and down the ballot in battleground states.
With over a decade of experience in southern politics as a fundraiser, Aguilar has held pivotal roles as the finance director on Jen Jordan’s campaign for Georgia Attorney General, as well as for the Florida House Democrats and Ruth’s List—an organization dedicated to empowering pro-choice female candidates for public office.
She serves on the Out of Hand board, an organization that leverages theater and art to address racism, financial inequity, and challenges societal norms. Committed to fostering diversity and inclusion, Gretchell co-chairs the Transformative Narrative Committee of the Georgia Latinx Alliance. She is a valued committee member of the Unidos 2024 Campaign of the Boy Scouts of Greater Atlanta and has previously held the role of co-chair of the Tampa Bay chapter of New Leaders Council—an organization dedicated to training the next generation of progressive young leaders. In 2019, she was named a Rising Star in Florida Politics by INFLUENCE Magazine.
Aguilar was born and raised in Miami as a first-generation Honduran American. She lives in Woodstock, GA with her husband Sam and their pups.
