Moises Vela

Moises V. "Moe" Vela, Jr. is an American attorney and political advisor.[1] Vela is the CEO and President of The Vela Group, LLC, a global business development consulting firm based in Washington, D.C. He is also Of Counsel at the law firm of Stein Mitchell Beato & Missner.

Moe Vela
Born
Moises V. Vela Jr.

Harlingen, Texas, U.S.
Alma materUniversity of Texas at Austin (BA)
St. Mary's University School of Law (JD)
OccupationAttorney, political advisor
RelativesFilemon Vela Sr. (uncle)

Vela is the first Hispanic to serve in two senior executive roles in the White House, first during the Clinton Administration as Chief Financial Officer and Senior Advisor for Latino Affairs in the Office of Vice President Al Gore, and later during the Obama Administration as Director of Administration for Vice President Joe Biden.[2]

Early life and education

Vela is a native of Harlingen, Texas, graduating from Harlingen High School in 1980.[3] His father, Moises Vela, was a Cameron County judge, and his uncle, Filemon Vela Sr., was a Judge on the United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas.[3] Vela is a graduate of the University of Texas at Austin and St. Mary's University School of Law.[4]

Career

After serving on the staff of Vice President Al Gore, Vela helped launch a cyberspace company, later creating the consulting company "Diverse Directions," supporting the development of Latino marketing strategies and community outreach.[2]

His achievements have included the creation of El Centro Legal Latino in Birmingham, Alabama, helping to educate members of the Southeastern United States United States Latino community on their legal rights.[2] He also founded and served as first chair of the Alabama Hispanic Chamber of Congress.[2] He also served as executive director of the "National Association of Hispanic Real Estate Professionals," an organization that includes over 12,000 members from 48 states.[2] He later served as senior vice president of Multicultural Strategies at United Dominion Realty Trust, and then president of his own consulting business, Comunidades LLC.[2]

He worked as a staff member in the Texas House of Representatives, serving as committee clerk and legislative director for Representative Rene Oliveira, and then committee clerk for Senator Eddie Bernice Johnson, working to support the Interim Committee on Minority and Women Business Ownership Opportunities.[2]

He also worked as a partner in the Public Policy & Regulation Group of Holland & Knight.[2]

Professional awards and honors
  • Top 100 Most Influential People for Hispanics in the Nation's Capitol, El Tiempo Latino, 2017
  • Top 101 Latino Leaders, Latino Leaders Magazine, 2010 and 2011
  • Top 300 Washington, D.C. Insiders, National Journal, 2010
  • Top 100 Hispanics in America, Hispanic Business, 2009

References
  1. The Vel Group website, retrieved September 1, 2017.
  2. Extended bio page, Stein Mitchell website, retrieved September 1, 2017.
  3. RGV Native Tapped for White House Job, Valley Freedom Newspapers, January 4, 2009, retrieved February 5, 2012.
  4. "Senior White House Official Moe Vela joins Holland & Knight as partner," hispanictips.com, retrieved February 5, 2012.
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