Director of Partnerships & Strategic Initiatives
Adrian Rodriguez Adrian Rodriguez is dedicated to public service, leveraging data, technology, and social science to design inclusive strategies that expand economic opportunity. As Director of Partnerships and Strategic Initiatives at the Hispanic Alliance for Career Enhancement (HACE), Adrian leads cross-sector collaborations that accelerate Latino career advancement and foster inclusive leadership across industries.
With a strong foundation in microeconomics and entrepreneurship, Adrian has developed high-impact programs that support small business ecosystems and workforce pipelines. He holds a master’s degree in Public Policy from the University of Chicago’s Harris School of Public Policy, a bachelor’s degree in law from the Autonomous University of Baja California, and completed the Leading Economic Growth program at Harvard’s Kennedy School. He is also certified in econometrics, digital marketing, and integrated communications.
Adrian’s diverse career spans government, nonprofits, and the private sector. He served as Legal Affairs Coordinator for the Mexican government in Baja California and worked at the Consulates of Mexico in Fresno and Chicago, focusing on immigration and community engagement. He later transitioned into the tech industry and then into leadership at the Illinois Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, where he founded and directed the Latino Business Policy Institute.
At IHCC, Adrian also launched and led CORAMA (Contract Radar Maximizer), an award-nominated AI platform that simplifies procurement for small, minority-owned, and women-owned businesses. In 2023, CORAMA was recognized as a finalist at the 13th World Chambers Congress for innovation in economic development.
In 2024, Adrian was named one of the “40 under 40” Latinos by Negocios Now under the headline “Dedicated to Public Service.” He also contributes to the Healing-Centered Illinois Task Force under Lieutenant Governor Juliana Stratton, serving on its subcommittee on Workforce and Training.
Originally from California and raised on the Mexico-U.S. border, Adrian’s bicultural and binational upbringing informs his lifelong commitment to equity and empowerment. He lives in Chicago with his wife, performer and arts educator Pauleth Jauregui, and their daughter, Isabella.