Alma M. Tello brings years of policy, community, and economic development experience to HACIA. As HACIA’s Senior Director of Innovation and Impact, Alma oversees processes to ensure effective management of the daily operations of staff and structures that supports the organization's goals and objectives, while also leading HACIA’s Programs Department. Alma’s passion for workforce and economic development strategies that support minorities, veterans, and women influence her ability to support HACIA’s effort of changing the future of construction and diversifying the industry through programming, advocacy, and membership.
Prior to joining HACIA, Alma was the Deputy Director for the Office of Minority Economic Empowerment (OMEE) at DCEO where she led the economic development strategic plan for minority-owned small businesses throughout the state of Illinois. Alma was also in charge of developing the cannabis business programming for Illinois, which included the technical assistance and the cannabis business loan offered to social-equity applicants.
In 2014, Alma worked for the Federal Home Loan Bank of Chicago (FHLBC) as a Community Investment specialist focusing on underwriting applications for the Making Homes Affordable program and monitoring the various Community Investment portfolios.
Leading up to her work with the FHLBC, Alma was a Congressional Aide and Senate Aide to two members of Congress in Illinois, where she advised on veteran affairs, economic and community development priorities.
Alma earned a master's in urban planning, with a concentration in economic development, from the University of Illinois-Chicago and a Bachelor of Arts in Communication Studies from Loyola University. A proud United States Air Force OEF veteran, with service in Texas, Alaska and Kuwait, she is always looking for new ways to continue serving her country.
