Meet the Executive Staff

We can’t do this work alone – our executive staff is committed to leading
the VIP team to fight for our mission and our clients.

Margarita-website

Born in El Paso, Texas, Margarita Guzman is a queer Chicana and survivor of intimate partner violence. She received her bachelor’s degree from Georgetown University and her law degree from George Washington University School of Law.

Margarita Guzmán

Executive Director

Eli-website

Eliazar Suriel was born and raised in New York City and is the son of immigrant parents from the Dominican Republic who arrived to the United States in 1980, the year he was born.

Eliazar Suriel

Director of Finance and Operations

Asli-website

Asli Ozdemir is the Director of Quality Assurance and Compliance at VIP where she has been overseeing the data collection, quality management and reporting since 2016.

Asli Ozdemir

Director of Quality Assurance and Compliance

Rosaana-website

Rosaana Conforme is an indigenous immigrant Latinx survivor of domestic and sexual violence. She holds both a Master’s in Education in Counseling from Hunter College and a Master’s in Social Work from Fordham University School of Social Services.

Rosaana Conforme

Senior Clinical Director of Community and Specialized Programs

Dan-website

Daniel is a Licensed Social Worker who has experience working with both community-based organizations and government agencies, providing services to underserved populations, victims of crime and survivors of domestic violence. He has been working in the field of Social Services for 15+ years.

Dan Ortiz

Senior Director of Residential Programs