HDA Staff

Manuel A. Cordero, DDS, CPH, MAGD 
Executive Director & CEO (2018-2023)

Dr. Cordero came to the USA to go to medical school and become a surgeon. In his sophomore year he had a severe toothache for which his school sent him to a dentist in Bryn Mawr. That experience gave rise to a new interest in his life, dentistry. He admired the thoroughness of the exam and its accurate  diagnosis and resolution in less than 30 minutes.

He was the first Dentist to wear gloves and practiced universal infection controls in both of his two locations in the South Jersey areas..  His medical/dental perspective gave rise to curiosity and training in all areas of dentistry with a focus on healthy, long-term outcomes of Dentistry as a healing art.

His commitment to lifelong learning made him well known in many of the most important organizations in dentistry, his advanced training led him to be elected President of the Academy of General Dentistry after having been recognized as the President of the Academy of R.V. Tucker Study Clubs as well as one of its 29 global mentors.

Dr. Cordero has been the Executive Director and CEO of the Hispanic Dental Association (HDA) since 2018. His experience and familiarity with education pioneers has given him the knowledge and tools that helped him place the HDA as a beacon of hope and a roadway to success for all those that are engaged in providing and contributing to the improvement of both oral health and overall health to Hispanics as well as other under-served communities.
 
Juan Carlos Pierotti, MsM, MBA 
Operations Manager
 

A tenacious proponent of innovation, “JC” brings an exceptional background: with over 25 years of professional experience holding senior leadership positions in organizations of varying sizes and industries, he has led cross-functional teams and implemented successful strategies, delivering outstanding results working with globally renowned brands such as Levi’s, Budweiser, and Adidas, among others. He has also collaborated with leading strategic projects for Colombian holdings, including Grupo Éxito, Grupo Nutresa, and Postobon, where he contributed to their growth and success by successfully leading teams, projects and strategies.

Beyond his corporate accomplishments, he has actively engaged in civic leadership roles, having served as the President of the Antioquia's Merchant Association and as a consultant to the Chamber of Commerce of Medellin, as well as at several government tourism and economic development authorities and bureaus at the state level.

JC has pursued his passion for understanding consumer psychology through a specialization from the Universidad de Granada. He further honed his skills in digital marketing and e-commerce, earning a Master's degree from the Escuela de Negocios de Barcelona. In addition, he holds an MBA degree from the same school, further solidifying his expertise in business administration and strategic management. His commitment to professional development is evident, as he is a long time active member of the American Marketing Association and the Specialty Coffees Association.

Beyond his professional endeavors, JC is an individual with diverse interests. He is truly captivated by the emerging metaverse & AI, recognizing their potential impact on society and embracing its possibilities. In his leisure time, he finds solace in photography and painting, a testament to his creative spirit.

 

Lydia M. Ruiz-Trinidad
Membership & Operations Services Coordinator

 

Lydia M. Ruiz  has over 10 years of experience working with Dental Professionals. Prior to joining the HDA she was the Continuing Education Coordinator for the College of Dental Surgeons in Puerto Rico (CCDPR).
Throughout her 11 years of working at CCDPR she assisted in coordinating yearly programs for the Continued Education Committee, member compliance certifications for the State Dental Board, member platform services, and the organization’s Website.  She also coordinated the planning for the Dental Conference of the Caribbean, an annual event, in which over 2000 Oral Health professionals from the United States, the Caribbean including Puerto Rico and Latin America participated in. 
Lydia has a background in Accounting having worked as an Administrative Assistant for a large part of her professional career.
She is excited to be part of the Hispanic Dental Association family, and looks forward to contributing and enhancing the services we provide to our members.