WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today the National Immigration Forum announced the addition of four new members to its Board of Directors, as well as a new board chair.
Joining the board are Irayda Flores of El Mar de Cortez Corp., Kai Hirabayashi of Amazon, Stephanie Martz of the National Retail Federation, and Laura Reiff of Greenberg Traurig. The Forum also confirmed the appointment of Elizabeth Neumann, Chief Strategy Officer at Moonshot, as the new board chair, and Glenn Hamer, CEO of the Texas Association of Business, assumes the officer role of Treasurer.
“Each of these new board members showcases remarkable leadership in different sectors,” said Jennie Murray, President and CEO of the National Immigration Forum. “We are also thrilled Elizabeth is stepping into this crucial leadership role. These new leaders’ extensive experience and insights will be invaluable in guiding our efforts for more humane and balanced immigration policies in what promises to be an eventful year.”
“I’m thrilled to help lead the Forum’s work toward immigration and border solutions,” said Neumann, who is also a Council on National Security and Immigration leader and served as the Department of Homeland Security’s Deputy Chief of Staff and Assistant Secretary for Counterterrorism and Threat Prevention in the Trump administration. “Our safety and security depend on a range of targeted reforms that the Forum long has tried to make reality.”
Irayda Flores is the President and CEO of El Mar de Cortez Corp. as well as a community leader. She founded the first and only Hispanic Rotary Club in the U.S., through which she has led significant fundraising efforts for medical equipment to help address dire needs in border communities. Irayda also has been involved in initiatives to guarantee in-state tuition for Dreamers.
“I’m living the American dream as someone going through the immigration process,” Flores said. “It’s a privilege for me to create jobs in the U.S. while providing customers with healthy, delicious seafood. Serving on the board of the Forum will allow me to help provide insights to a premier advocacy group on the rich economic and civic benefits of migration.”
Kai Hirabayashi is a Senior Manager for Public Policy at Amazon in Washington, D.C., advocating for the company’s labor and workforce priorities before Congress and the administration. He has an extensive background in government affairs, starting his career with the House Committee on Education and the Workforce under then-Chairman Rep. Howard “Buck” McKeon (R-California) and later serving in roles such as Senior Government Affairs Rep at Caterpillar, Inc., and Labor Counsel for the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee.
“I am honored to join the National Immigration Forum’s Board of Directors. For 40 years, the Forum has worked to advance sound federal immigration solutions, and Amazon is proud to serve as a partner. I look forward to contributing my expertise to help further our shared mission and advocate for the rights of immigrants and their families,” Hirabayashi said.
The Hon. Stephanie Martz is the Chief Administrative Officer and General Counsel at the National Retail Federation. Her career includes roles in government and various other legal and policy roles, including as Chief Counsel to U.S. Senator (now Majority Leader) Charles E. Schumer (D-New York), during which time she led the efforts on the immigration reform bill of 2013, through drafting, committee markup, and a successful floor vote. She also served as Senior Counsel and Special Assistant to the President in the Office of White House Counsel during the Obama administration. Martz has also worked at two prominent law firms in Washington, D.C., and at Monument Advocacy, where she was a partner.
“I have been engaged with the National Immigration Forum one way or another for years, and I’m honored to take on this position to help the Forum continue its leadership role on one of the most important issues of our time,” Martz said. “The Forum can and must continue to advocate for centrist, pragmatic answers to our border and labor crises, and I continue to be optimistic that through organizations like ours, we will eventually agree on a solution.”
Laura Reiff is a prominent business immigration attorney and immigration advocate. She founded Greenberg Traurig’s business immigration practice and is a co-managing shareholder at the firm’s Tysons Corner, Virginia, office. Her expertise includes founding and running two immigration advocacy coalitions, including the Essential Worker Immigration Coalition (EWIC). She has been advocating for immigration reform for more than three decades and has worked on all key legislative initiatives to overhaul immigration policy during that time.
“I’m absolutely thrilled to work with such an outstanding organization and an amazing board. The mission of the Forum is so critical to the nation, and the time is now to embrace that mission,” Reiff said.
The full membership of the Forum’s Board of Directors is available online.