40 under 40: Elizabeth M. Hijar, 39

Hijar has laid roots with the Latino community in Northeast Ohio, having helped to manage Convencion Hispana, an event whose goal is empowering Latinos to improve their lives in the region, and serving as a board member of the Hispanic Roundtable.Almost immediately after The Centers for Families and Children -- which offers integrated health care, early learning centers and workforce development to individuals and families -- created the general counsel role, the organization started to pursue collaborations, requiring complex legal work, said president and CEO Elizabeth Newman.