VIRGINIA CHAVEZ ROMANO
(Stanford, Princeton)
Virginia is the deputy general counsel and US general counsel at Havas, which she joined in February of 2023.
Before joining Havas, Virginia was a partner for six years at the law firm of White & Case, LLP. Prior to that, she spent 14 years in government as an assistant US attorney for the Southern District of New York, a deputy attorney general at the New York State Attorney General’s Office, and an associate deputy attorney general with the US Department of Justice.
MORE ABOUT VIRGINIA
Where are you originally from?
I was born in Tucson, Arizona to parents who came to the US from Mexico.
How long have you lived in the New York City market?
I’ve lived in New York City since 1997, when I graduated law school.
What is your absolute favorite thing to do in your area?
Walking and eating out.
Name your top five favorite local restaurants.
Impossible! Too many neighborhoods, too many cuisines and cultures, too many new places opening (and closing) all the time, and the apples to oranges problem (meaning that hole-in-the-wall can be just as good as an upscale establishment, but what you choose is all about the occasion). The last 15 years I’ve mostly frequented places in my own immediate neighborhood where I could take my kids, and in that tiny slice of the city, if forced to name five places, I would say Antonucci Cafe, Nicola’s, Toloache, Sushi of Gari UES, and The Mark. But there are many, many more in the neighborhood and beyond!
JESUS “JB” CUARTAS
(Georgetown)
JB is the regional emergency coordinator for emergency support function (ESF) #11 – agriculture and natural resources covering FEMA Region II (New York, New Jersey, Puerto Rico, and the US Virgin Islands) with the USDA’s APHIS.
His role involves ensuring the provision of nutrition assistance, addressing animal and agricultural health issues, ensuring the security of the nation’s food supply, and protecting natural and cultural resources. Prior to this, JB demonstrated his expertise in energy security and emergency management with Innovative Emergency Management, Inc., leading a major critical infrastructure and energy security portfolio. His past experiences include director for the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities’ Reliability and Security Division and department head for Con Edison’s Emergency Preparedness.
A decorated military veteran, he served nine years in the US Army, including two combat tours in Iraq conducting counter-IED operations. He is a doctoral candidate at Drexel University’s LeBow College of Business.
MORE ABOUT JB
Where are you originally from?
I was born in Elizabeth, New Jersey and raised in Linden, New Jersey (Union County), however my parents moved here from Medellín, Colombia a year before I was born and I spent almost every summer growing up back in Medellín with my extended family.
How long have you lived in the New York City market?
While I did grow up in the North Jersey/New York City metro area until my departure for college and the military, I spent 16 years between Kansas, Washington, DC, and Philadelphia before returning to the New York City area 8 years ago.
What is your absolute favorite thing to do in your area?
Well, New Jersey is the greatest state in the nation considering there is everything you’d want to do here. From skiing to beaches, from farms to iconic urban areas, from the Statue of Liberty to multiple NFL football teams and the second largest mall in America, there is so much to do. I would say my favorite thing to do is tailgating at a Giants game. The diversity of people, food, and conversations that are had are beyond anyone’s wildest imagination.
Name your top five favorite local restaurants.
Sabor De Mi Tierra in Verona, New Jersey; Samba in Montclair, New Jersey; Delmonico’s NYC; Lobel’s NYC (not a restaurant but the best butcher shop in the city); Bagelwich in Verona, New Jersey (again, it’s Jersey, so at least one bagel place has to be on my list).
What’s a random fact you’ve learned about your market that you’d like to share with others?
Not really random but more so interesting is that it only takes 30, at most 45 minutes, to be in a completely different world in this market. I mean different as in rural, suburban, farm, beach, high-rise, multi-family, skyscraper, ethic-specific, you name it. Within 45 minutes, the entire dynamics of the world you knew could be completely different.
The Alumni Society seeks to further expand the City Club program to more markets in 2024 and beyond. Submit the form below to express your interest in being a City Club leader. Please note: City Club leaders must be members of The Alumni Society.
