Robert Renteria
20 Pine Hill Drive
North Aurora, IL 60542
(312) 933-5619
Robert@fromthebarrio.com
Objective:
To use my life experiences, business expertise and leadership skills to help address conditions
that lead to violence, delinquency, drugs and gangs, while promoting education, personal pride,
accomplishment and self-esteem. The book, From the Barrio to the Board Room, with the
curriculum From the Barrio to the Classroom, and the graphic novel, Mi Barrio are demonstrating
that dreams can be realized through education, determination, perseverance and hard work. I
endeavor to inspire and motivate others so they accept ownership of their education and acquire
the social values to realize repeated success throughout their lives and contribute as effective
mentors to others.
Accomplishments as Author (Abbreviated List):
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November, 2011 – Keynote speaker at College Prep Fair for Latino Families sponsored by New
Futuro (6,000 plus participants)
October, 2011 – Presenter at Illinois Association of School Social Workers Annual Conference,
Lisle, IL, Central Asia Institute “Building Bridges of Peace” Annual Conference Panelist, Recipient
of Central Asia Institute’s Outstanding Humanitarian Award at their Annual Gala, Chicago, IL
September, 2011 – Keynote Speaker: First Presbyterian Church, Aurora, IL Community Mi Barrio
Event, McHenry County College Latino Empowerment Conference
2011, July – Guest Speaker: Principal’s Partnership (sponsored by Union Pacific Railroad),
Phoenix, AZ, Keynote Speaker: East Aurora High School Catskills Summer Program Graduation
ceremony, Puerto Rico Chamber of Commerce Annual Gala
2011, June, May – Keynote Speaker: Evergreen Middle School Academy, G. Washington High
School, Anixter, 40th Annual Conference Rainbow Push with the Veterans Administration
2011, April – Keynote Speaker, College of DuPage Latino Student Visit Day
2011, March – Keynote Speaker at Rockford LULAC Unity Dinner, Rockford, IL
2011, January – Keynote, Chicago School for Professional Psychology Cultural Impact Conference
2011 – Presenter at:
◊ Mutual Ground, Aurora, IL
◊ Washington and Jefferson Middle Schools , Aurora, IL
◊ Pathways Academy, Aurora, IL
◊ Boys II Men, Aurora, IL
◊ Monee Education Center, Monee, IL
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◊ Highland Park High School, Highland Park, IL
 2010/2009, October - Presenter at Illinois Association of School Social Workers Annual
Conference
 2010, November – Release Mi Barrio, graphic novel – English & Spanish both in print and digital
versions
 2010 - Presenter to students at schools:
o Evergreen Academy Middle School
o Taft High School
o George Washington High School
o Roosevelt Middle School
o Darwin Elementary School
o Westmont High School
o Waldo Middle School
o East Aurora High School
 2010, June - From date of publication more than 10,000 books donated to youth
 2010, May - Guest speaker for the Boy Scouts of America, Aguila Leadership Group, at Willis
Tower Board Room, Chicago, Illinois
 2010, April - Keynote speaker, Compassion Foundation annual gala
 2010, February - Guest Speaker and presenter, Chicago Principals and Administrators Annual
Conference
 2009/2010, 2008/2009 - Evergreen Academy, Chicago, Illinois, Keynote speaker for graduation
commencement exercise
 2009, December - Presenter at national League of United Latin American Citizens convention
Executive Board
 2009, September - Keynote speaker at the Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White’s Hispanic
Heritage Reception, received recognition award for achievement as a Hispanic author
 2009, August - Published “Desde el Barrio Al Exito,” with Spanish curriculum
 2009 - Presenter at Northeastern Illinois University workshop for parents of student “Gear Up”
program (Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs)
 2009 - Keynote speaker at the Latino Book and Family Festival in Cicero Illinois
 2009 - Featured author, National Council La Raza (NCLR) annual conference
 2009 - Keynote speaker, National Latino Educational Institute
• 2008, January - Published "From the Barrio to the Board Room," curriculum
developed
summer, 2008
 Audio book recorded by RFB&D (Reading for the Blind and Dyslexic) - available to more than
237,000 special needs students
Accomplishments as Civic Leader (Abbreviated List):
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Chairman of the Board of Directors, From the Barrio Foundation, Board of Directors for Aurora
Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Member of the Greater Aurora Chamber of Commerce,
Member of the Quad County African American Chamber of Commerce, Dupage Hispanic
Chamber of Commerce
October, 2010 – Keynote speaker, Veterans Administration Hispanic Heritage Month Event
September, 2010 – Keynote speaker and workshop presenter at the U.S. Dept. of Justice Weed &
Seed Symposium
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2009 - Nominated for the “Youth Spirit” Award by Illinois Congressman Bill Foster, Aurora Mayor
Tom Weisner, State Representative Linda Chapa-LaVia, Former Judge, Fred Morelli
2009 - Elected to the Aurora Cares Corporation, Executive Committee
2009 - Executive Producer Committee for Telly Award winning documentary, “We Together;
Gangs: A Community’s Problem and a Community’s Solution”
2008 - 2009 - Participated in Chicago Public Schools’ Principal for a Day program, by invitation of
Chicago’s Mayor Daley
2008 - Recognized by United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce as a member to be watched,
who is making a difference
2008 - Recipient of the “Making Choices for Excellence” Award
2008, September - Grand Marshal, “March Against Violence” East Aurora
Mentor to foster children at Aunt Martha’s
Mentor to 150 youth at Jericho Circle (a Section 8 housing complex) and donated books to the
housing complex for distribution by Tennant Advisory Council
Spoke to 40 women at Mutual Ground (domestic abuse shelter)
Other Keynote and Workshop Speaking Engagements: Hispanic National Bar Association
Conference in Chicago, Illinois Latino Legislative Caucus Foundation, City of Aurora Hispanic
Heritage Advisory Board Breakfast, Aurora University Criminal Justice students, East Aurora High
School, Aurora Rotary Club, Mutual Ground, Unity reception for Chicago Public Schools, Lions
Club of Aurora, DePaul University Bookstore
Accomplishments as Business Leader (Abbreviated List):
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2010, September - Chicago Latino Professional of the Year 2010, by Chicago Latino Network
2001 – 2009 - Owner and Operator of WashPro USA
o 2003 named highest volume producing distributor in US
2008 – 2010 - Published monthly in Crain’s “Coin Op Magazine”
2008 - Professional of the Year - Aurora Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
2005 – 2006 - Featured in coin laundry/dry cleaning magazine, “The Journal”
2004 – 2006 - President and Chairman of IPSO National USA Distribution Council
1997 – 1998 - Coin Laundry Association Board of Directors
1996 – 2001 - National and International Vice President of Commercial Sales for the Mac-Gray
Company, a Coin Industry Leader for over 80 years
o Managed sales for Chicago, St. Louis, Florida, Arkansas, Memphis, Indiana, Wisconsin,
Pennsylvania, New York, New England, Cambridge, Caribbean Islands
Accomplishments While in Military Service:
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1983 – 1990 - Honorably served in the United States Army as an elite soldier and NonCommissioned Officer
Served in:
o Nuremburg, Germany
o Fort Hood, Texas
o Fort Bragg, North Carolina
Received:
o Good Conduct Medal
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o Overseas Medal
o Military Achievement Medal
o Expert Marksman and Grenade Medals
Trained as a Paratrooper and Air Assault
Served in Psychological Operations and Military Tactical Operations
Spearheaded reactivation of the 3rd Special Forces Group at Fort Bragg
“Don’t let where you came from dictate who you are, but let it be part of who you become.” – Robert
Renteria, cover, “From the Barrio to the Board Room”
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