WHERE POWERFUL MINDS MEET
RSVP Wildcat Heroes Award 2026
WHERE POWERFUL MINDS MEET
The Powerhouse group enjoys a lunch with the President of the University of Arizona, Dr. Robert C. Robbins.
December 20th, 2025 - Xmas
January 17th, 2026
February 21st, 2026
March 21st, 2026
Location:
DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Tucson - Reid Park
445 S Alvernon Way, Tucson, AZ 85711
Founded in 1998 with five diverse students from the University of Arizona. Today, our group has expanded to 14 amazing individuals - ranging from students in high school, to Ph.D. students, and post-undergraduate alumni.
The Powerhouse meets monthly with some of Tucson's highly rated community members to gather useful insights to become better; not only as a student, but as an active member in the community we live in.
We thrive on 3 main points:
If you do not go after what you want, you will never have it.
If you do not ask, the answer will always be no.
If you do not take a step forward, you will always remain in the same spot.
Now, more than ever, we are excited to give back to the community. We are excited to pave the path for generations to come by hosting the first-ever Wildcat Heroes Award by donating $20,000.00 and spearheading the logistics portion for the ceremony.
Jeremy is a PhD candidate in the University of Arizona Physics Department. He has experience in a wide range of experimental physics research with a focus on condensed matter physics in one-dimensional materials. In the future, he hopes to work in the semiconductor industry, producing the next generation of computer chips. Outside of work, he enjoys board games, fencing, and reading science fiction.
Javier has many accomplishments to be proud of, one of which is graduating from the Eller College of Management at the University of Arizona with honors and receiving both the Eller College of Management, Management and Organizations Department Head Student Award and the Eller College of Management Centurion Award. Since graduation, he has been working full-time with the United States Government and operating two businesses. One of these is Fast Prints USA, LLC, providing high-quality items to businesses all over the United States. During his time, he enjoys going on hikes, attending events around the community, and exploring the world.
If you would like to contact Javier, please email him at Javier@DominguezLTD.Com or call (520) 975-3674.
Marilu Castaño is an Account Administrator for Mission Management & Trust Co., where she has worked for over ten years. She graduated with honors from the University of Arizona with a bachelor's in Business Management and International Business and a minor in Spanish. Since the age of 5, she has enjoyed dancing Mexican Folkloric and modern dances and has performed in cities across the U.S. and Mexico. She currently enjoys traveling with her husband Gabriel and two kids, Hugo and Oliver. She loves being involved in her kids’ afterschool activities and continues to perform dance at local events, sometimes alongside her sons.
Leamon Crooms graduated Cum Laude from the University of Arizona with a Bachelor’s degree in Biology. He will be pursuing a career in Ecology.
Cole Barbier is a sophomore at the University of Arizona W.A Franke Honors College. He is currently pursuing a major in Aerospace Engineering under the College of Engineering and has his Spanish minor. With his major Cole intends to pursue new design theories in the domestic aviation industry, helping fuel a greener future for aviation and revolutionizing air travel. In his free time he enjoys film photography, reading and spending time with his dog.
Jessica Cox is a motivational speaker featured on TV shows like Ellen, CNN, National Geographic, Fox and Friends, and BBC News. Her speaking career spans 18 years, 28 countries, and audiences up to 40,000 people. Companies like AT&T, NASA, the Smithsonian, State Farm, and Cisco have asked her for inspirational workshops, keynotes, and more.
She was born without arms and uses her feet the way most people use their hands. Jessica grew up with frustration and anger, "Why me? Why do I have to be different?" She learned to see the blessings in her life and accept herself as a whole person. Now, Jessica flies airplanes, drives cars, is married, and otherwise lives a normal life.
Jessica is the author of Disarm Your Limits an autobiographical self-help book that has sold more than 10,000 copies. She also writes a monthly article for Flying Magazine. In 2020, Jessica announced plans to build The Impossible Airplane, a custom 200 mph, 4 seat airplane she will use to circumnavigate the world. When she's not flying off into the sunset, Jessica continues to train in Taekwondo, where she's a Fourth Degree Black Belt.
Gabrielle Lemes is a Brazilian student-athlete and professional triathlete representing Brazil. She graduated from the University of Arizona with a degree in Psychology and a minor in Sports Nutrition, where she was also a dedicated member of the Triathlon team. Gabrielle is currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Marketing while continuing to compete at a professional level.
Imani Harvey serves as a new Power House member for the Wildcat Heroes. She graduated Cum Laude from the University of Arizona's Eller College of Management with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with Marketing Emphasis in 2021. She is currently pursuing a Master of Science in Marketing degree at Eller. Imani currently works as the Graduate Assistant for the Beyond Juneteenth Initiative educating the community on Black history in the Southwest. As a born and raised Tucsonan, Imani engages with her community every day. Her favorite place is in the sea of concertgoers or the dance studio with her friends!
Aleco Dominguez is the Women's Triathlon Student Manager for Arizona Athletics and a former elite triathlete. He is pursuing a double major in Neuroscience and Cognitive Science, and Computer Science at the University of Arizona. Aleco is passionate about community engagement, volunteering regularly and contributing as a research assistant in the Departments of Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences and Neuroscience. He is currently a part of the Julie E Miller Lab which studies the zebra finch songbird model to understand the brain mechanisms involved in human vocal production as a consequence of aging, neurodegenerative diseases, and social-context dependent behaviors.
Zeyad Abbker is currently a junior at the University of Arizona W.A. Franke Honors College. He is majoring in Middle East and North African Studies and minoring in Biochemistry. He is a refugee from Sudan and he was the recipient of the first Wildcat Hero of Heroes award in 2023. In his free time, he is involved in many extracurricular activities, in particular, volunteering. He volunteers at Owl & Panter as a refugee youth mentor, at the JFCS of Southern Arizona as a refugee resettlement volunteer, and at the University of Arizona Campus Pantry as a food distributor volunteer. These activities help Zeyad serve his mission of giving back to both the communities of Tucson and the University of Arizona which have greatly helped him and his family throughout his life. He is also the co-founder and president of the Arabic Language & Culture Club at the University of Arizona which assists ongoing efforts to encourage students to learn and become involved with Arabic as well as makes Arabic-speaking students feel more welcomed through a club that promotes their language and interests.
Jairo Flores was born and raised in Wittmann, Arizona but grew up in a very Salvadorean household. Currently, he is a 3rd year student at the University of Arizona majoring in Physiology and Medical Sciences as well as Spanish Interpretation and Translation with an Emphasis in Healthcare. Additionally, he has a minor in Leadership Strategies and Practice. In 2024 he was a part of the cohort of the finalists for the Wildcat Heroes Award. He serves the Tucson community through Clinica Amistad and is the co-founder of HOSA-future health professionals at the university. His goal is to become a Trauma Surgeon and wishes to serve the underrepresented communities all over the world.
Carmen Bermúdez is a true powerhouse. She founded Mission Management & Trust Co. in 1994 as the first woman- and minority-owned trust company in the United States. Shortly after, in 1998, what started as an internship opportunity for University of Arizona students at Mission Management & Trust, came to become THE POWERHOUSE. Inspired by the “CNN Heroes” which honored individuals who contributed to humanitarian aid and with the help of this team of highly motivated and community-service oriented students, the Wildcat Heroes Award was then established to recognize the heroes who give back to our community.
Born in Costa Rica, Carmen came to the U.S. with her mother and worked tirelessly to bring her three siblings to Los Angeles, California. She was a professional bullfighter at just 18 years old, a career that taught her fearlessness and prepared her for the male-dominated business world. Ever a champion of hard work, she even became a triathlete at age 45, embracing the challenge of keeping up with athletes half her age. She served on the Board of Trustees at Xavier University in New Orleans and then on the University of Arizona Board for 6 years.
Beyond her professional achievements, Bermúdez is known for her infectious energy, mentorship, and deep commitment to the community. Her legacy of courage and discipline will continue to inspire.
Elaine is a retired Human Resources Executive. She has a bachelor’s in Business Management and a master’s in Organizational Development and holds professional certifications in Senior HR Professional, HR Project Management, and Strategic HR Business Partner. Elaine has extensive non-profit board experience, to include Vice Chair, Arizona Workforce Development Board (appointed), American Gas Association (national workforce development taskforce), Pima County Workforce Development, Jobs for At-Risk Youth, and most recently as Past President for Youth On Their Own. Over the years, Elaine has received numerous awards for her leadership and philanthropy to include Tucson Volunteer of the Year (Volunteer Center/Tucson), Greater Tucson Leader Award (Greater Tucson Leadership) and Excellence in HR Leadership Tucson (Society of HR Management). Elaine and her husband, Dwight, are committed to serving youth. They also enjoy their ranch, playing golf, and spending time with family and friends.