Meet The Staff
Olga Kooi
Olga Christina Kooi is a graduate from Ohio University, specializing in visual communication, Kooi has experience working for fortune 500 companies, government agencies and international non profits.
As a visual artist proficient in the Adobe Creative Suites programs, Kooi has trained in branding, publication design, illustration and informational graphics.
Kooi has been with the chamber since September 2009. She has been in charge of hispanic marketing, community relations, sales, event planning, sponsorship.
She is fluent in Dutch, English and Spanish, and has studied Portuguese.
In her free time, she loves to travel, volunteer at the local animal shelter and spend time with family and friends.
Thomas Lianez
Executive Director
Tom Lianez became the first Executive Director of the Hispanic Chamber of Columbus in September of 2008.
Before taking this position Lianez spent over a decade as a Human Resources manager and director both in the corporate and non-profit sectors. He is a well known consultant and speaker on topics related to the Hispanic community and business as well as diversity and human resources.
Lianez has been involved in a number of community organizations both in Columbus and in Zanesville, Ohio where he resides with his family. He was a founding member, past board member and multi-term vice president for the Latino Empowerment and Outreach Network, (LEON) and is a current board member for the Central Ohio Diabetes Association and the United Way of Central Ohio’s Campaign Cabinet. In Zanesville he has been an active leader developing and coaching in youth sports programs.
