Our Team
A movement leader who dreams big and envisions the abundant possibilities around her, Francesca Mayca Wegner has dedicated her life to helping others stand in their power. Appointed in April 2021, she is an advocate, connector, and convener, and has led the organization through a record growth period with its membership, philanthropic gifts, and revenue during one of the most challenging times within the global landscape.
With Francesca's leadership over the past 4 years HPGM has nearly doubled membership, secured the largest grant in the organization’s history, redefined what ‘professionals’ means within HPGM, co-founded the Poderosa Collective (the first-ever Wisconsin Latina alliance to unite, elevate, and highlight Latina voices in order to grow their social and economic power), and is the founding director of the Techqueria Chapter of Milwaukee.
A trailblazer known for her advocacy of others, Francesca was recognized in 2021 by Madison365 as one of ‘Wisconsin’s 36 Most Influential Latino Leaders,’ as both a ‘40 Under 40 Winner’ and as a ‘Power Broker & Executive to Watch’ by the Milwaukee Business Journal in 2022, and BizTimes named her a 2023 ‘Notable BIPOC Executive,’ which was especially meaningful as she was nominated by her HPGM team.
Francesca earned both her Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and Master of Business Administration degrees from Marquette University, and in June 2022 she was selected by the Greater Milwaukee Committee to represent Milwaukee at the Harvard Business School Young American Leaders Program.
In her free time, you can find Francesca cozying up with a good book or podcast with a cafecito in hand, cheering on the Milwaukee Bucks, or hanging out with her dog Michael Jordan.
Amanda brings over 20 years of experience in the nonprofit sector and has her Master’s degree in Philanthropic Studies from Indiana University’s School of Philanthropy.
Amanda was most recently the Development Operations Manager at Sojourner. Prior to Sojourner Amanda spent nearly 10 years at Lutheran Services of Wisconsin and Upper Michigan in a variety of Advancement and Executive Support roles. Amanda has extensive experience developing and implementing business operations processes as well as using data analysis to inform operational decision making.
Isabella Rivera
Isabella Rivera has a strong background in entrepreneurship and community development. As the proud founder of Isla Bella Coffee Roasters Inc., she has a passion for working with a network of women farmers in Puerto Rico who have built the foundations of a more equitable coffee industry, where women farmers may experience lasting capitol impact and share their culture and knowledge beyond the island.
Prior to joining HPGM, Isabella served as Entrepreneur-in-Residence and Director of Experience at BizStarts Milwaukee, where she developed the Entrepreneur in Residence Program to help entrepreneurs of color access funding, business resources, and new revenue opportunities. Her work focused on fostering long-term economic growth for local businesses. Throughout her career, Isabella has remained dedicated to building strong, community-centered initiatives that drive meaningful change. She continues to be an advocate for equity, inclusion, and entrepreneurship as a means of creating lasting impact.
Rosa Aviña Zuñiga
Rosa Aviña Zuñiga is HPGM’s new Communications Director. Rosa joins us after having served as the Communications Manager at Acts Housing and as an Advisory Board Member for the Cutler Scholars Program at Ohio University. Her expertise in strategic communications and community engagement will be invaluable as we continue to expand our impact across Wisconsin. Outside of work, Rosa enjoys reading, journaling, and cooking, and exploring passions that help fuel her creativity. We’re thrilled to have her on board and can’t wait to see the incredible contributions she’ll bring to our team.
Summer Williams-Hummer is a dedicated professional with an education and community development background. As the new Operations and Engagement Manager for HPGM, she brings experience from her previous role as the Social-Emotional Development Program Manager for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Milwaukee, where she significantly supported the Milwaukee community. Before that, Summer served as a 2nd-grade teacher at St. Augustine Prep, where she honed her skills in education and mentoring.
Throughout her career, Summer Williams-Hummer has remained dedicated to empowering individuals to embrace their authentic selves. She has been committed to facilitating access to education and connecting people with the resources they need to succeed. Summer earned her Master of Business Administration in Education Leadership from the Milwaukee School of Engineering and her Bachelor of Science in Education from the University of Missouri.
Bryana Juarez
Bryana Juarez is a passionate advocate for education, creativity, and community development, with a background in Spanish, global studies, and peacebuilding. She earned her Bachelor of Arts degree from Mount Mary University, where she also gained a Peacebuilding certificate. In her previous role as the STREAM program project coordinator at Mount Mary, she spearheaded the rollout of the My Future Funded database, designed to connect students with external funding and educational opportunities. She also contributed to improving student programming across campus, leveraging their experience to enhance the student experience. With a deep commitment to the power of education to break barriers and create lasting change, Bryana is always looking to collaborate on creative solutions and community-driven projects.
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