Our Team:
NCN Executive Director
Héctor Sánchez-Flores presently serves as the Executive Director of the National Compadres Network (NCN). His present efforts are to solidify the strong position that NCN has developed with the National Latino Fatherhood & Family Institute (NLFFI) as the leaders in program development on topics of Male Involvement, Fatherhood, Parent Engagement, and culturally appropriate child develop programs. Together, NLFFI & NCN are launching the California Fatherhood Initiative to bring attention and focus to the varied needs that fathers have and to build the capacity of organizations that serve families to include fathers in their services.
Héctor specializes in program development of comprehensive teen pregnancy prevention efforts, capacity building in cultural proficiency, evaluation and the development of locally based assessment measures that lead to programmatic improvements. His expertise in the development of Male Involvement Services and Latino parent engagement is widely recognized.
NLFFI Director and Lead Trainer
Jerry Tello comes from a family of Mexican, Texan roots and was raised in south central Los Angeles. He is co-founder of the National Compadres Network and the Director of the National Latino Fatherhood and Family Institute (NLFFI). Jerry Tello is an internationally recognized authority in family strengthening, culturally based violence prevention/intervention issues, therapeutic healing, community mobilization, cross cultural issues and motivational speaking. He has extensive experience in the treatment of victims and perpetrators of abuse and in addictive behaviors, with a specialization in working with multi-ethnic populations.
As a noted therapist, author, performer and program developer, over the last 30 years Mr. Tello has incorporated his real life experience, together with research based knowledge and indigenous cultural based teachings to engage all in a reality-based healing and growth-inspiring experience. He is the author of a Multicultural Young Fatherhood Curriculum, Latino Male Rites of Passage Curriculum, and Latino Parent Education Curriculum and DV Prevention/Intervention program. He is the co-editor of Family Violence and Men of Color and has appeared in Time, Newsweek and Hispanic magazines. He is the author of a series of children's books and a master storyteller. In April 1996, Tello received the Presidential Crime Victims Service award, which was presented to him by President Bill Clinton and Attorney General Janet Reno, and in June 1997 he received the Ambassador of Peace award from Rotary International.
Administrative Operations, Program and Technical Assistance
Ray Cuellar currently provides operations, program and development technical assistance for the National Compadres Network. Ray’s experience with community based organizations, public and private schools/business, faith-based organizations, and non-profit organizations is broad and extensive, with over 15 years of dedicated service to communities across the United States. Ray has served as a parent educator and advocate for over 15 years with a dedication to empowering single fathers and promoting teen pregnancy prevention. He is experienced in facilitating workshops, focus groups, and presentations and has taught on topics such as; child abuse, building healthy relationships, anger management, communicating with your child, establishing parental rights and developing working relationships between parents to maintain a consistent and healthy upbringing for children.
In addition, Ray has helped facilitate organizational meetings with community programs designated to work with youth and disenfranchised adults. He serves as a liaison, lead grant writer and program monitor for NCN. He has an expertise in building collaboration between secondary and postsecondary education institutions, community based organizations, faith based organizations and local industry partners, with a focus that specifically targets traditionally underrepresented populations and helps raise community awareness, promotes leadership and career opportunities.
Dr. Ricardo Carrillo has a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, a Master of Arts in Clinical Psychology, and a Doctor of Philosophy in Clinical Psychology. He is currently a Clinical Director/EAP Consultant/Trainer at the Tulare County Hispanic Commission on Alcoholism, Inc. - Angela's House. Carrillo has developed culturally competent programs for women and their children with dual disorders, substance abuse, mental and physical disabilities, and mental illness. He provides training, technical assistance, clinical supervision and employee assistance consultation. His teaching and research include: Consultation and Organizational Development, DV, Expert Witness Testimony, Forensic Psychology, Cross Cultural Psychology and Research, Clinical Practicum, Psychology of Addictions: Treatment & Recovery, Community Psychology, History and Systems, Ethics, Group Process, Multicultural Competence and Practicum Supervision. He is co-author of Family Violence and Men of Color: Healing the Wounded Male Spirit.
Isaac Cardenas is a member of the Tap Pilam Coahuiltecan (Qua-wheel-tek-can) Nation, Native American Indian, son of an Apache mother and a Coahuiltecan father, raised in the inner city west side of San Antonio, Texas. Isaac is a father of two young adult sons, and married to his wife Sylvia for 32 years. Isaac is currently working as Director of Programs for the American Indians in Texas at the Spanish Colonial Mission’s “Rites of Passage Program”. He was also involved in the conceptualizing of the Avance’s “Fatherhood” project in 1988. Isaac is a graduate with a Masters in Science, Psychology Counseling (LPC Intern) at Our Lady of the Lake University in San Antonio, Texas. Isaac is also a Mental Health Psychotherapist working with children and families at Mental Health Clinics in the city. It should be noted that Isaac has chosen to reside in the inner city, working with high-risk, minorities, families, and youth for over twenty years. His purpose is to help strengthen the families in the community by providing culturally competent spiritual support, mental wellness and emotional enlightenment.