Our Team

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Aquila Mendez-Valdez

Owner & CEO

Aquila is the Founder and CEO of Haute in Texas, an award-winning PR and Marketing agency which has grown from scratch into a multiple six-figures business. She’s been asked to speak and present to audiences across the US, Europe and Asia, and has been featured in Forbes, The Telegraph UK, Digiday, and PR on the Go, in addition to numerous TV appearances, publications, and podcasts. Her blog collaborations and client roster feature some of the world’s biggest brands, including Vogue, Prada, Lincoln, Neiman Marcus, Kendra Scott, Orangetheory, and many, many more. She graduated with honors playing Division I volleyball at Western Kentucky University and obtained her Master’s from Gonzaga University. She serves on various boards for a wide variety of non-profits, and in 2022 launched Haute in Network Agencies, a franchise model to help other women own their own agencies. In 2023 she was named a San Antonio Biz Journal 40 Under 40 honoree and launched the agency’s first satellite location with Haute in Austin. In 2025 she was named to the NAWBO National Top 10 Women Business Owners of the Year, and a member of the Leadership Texas cohort for the top business leaders across the state. Aquila and her college sweetheart, Orlando, have two girls and currently reside in San Antonio, Texas.

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Our team is made up of goal-getters and communication connoisseurs all about the pursuit of the haute life. We are passionate about helping our clients be better, every day.

Want a dedicated team curating and propelling your online and in person presence?

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Lauren Lopez

Lauren Lopez

Account Manager

Lauren brings over a decade of marketing expertise to her role as Account Manager at Haute in Texas. With experience spanning from the fast-paced world of quick-service restaurants to the meaningful missions of nonprofits, she’s spent the last four years honing her focus on community-driven marketing. A California native who spent time in Oregon and Austin, she now calls San Antonio home, and loves connecting local brands with the communities they serve.

Creative, outgoing, and driven, Lauren is passionate about thinking outside the box and helping clients bring bold ideas to life. With a background in digital strategy, social media, and grassroots outreach, she enjoys finding fresh ways to support each client’s unique goals. She was especially drawn to HIT PR’s strong female leadership and its focus on purpose-driven work. 

Outside of work, Lauren can usually be found enjoying the Texas sunshine with a good book, volunteering with children in her neighborhood, or spoiling her two fur-babies. 

Lauren Lopez

Pelumi Dunmoye

Account Executive

Pelumi is passionate about leveraging her understanding of society, culture, and the ways people connect to create meaningful and resonant messaging. She recently graduated from Harvard University with a bachelors degree in Sociology, minor in Psychology, and language citation in Spanish. Over the past four years, she has developed her skill set in graphic design, brand positioning, and strategic storytelling.

She currently works as an Account Executive, at HIT, creating branding and marketing materials for clients. Additionally, she serves as a Business/Sales Development Representative, working to connect promising prospects with the amazing HIT team!When she is not working you can find her hanging out with her younger siblings, doing her makeup, or practicing her tumbling skills!

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Eva Aivaliotis

Account Manager

Eva brings media relations, community relations and PR strategy experience to Haute in Texas. Her previous agency experience focused on the food & beverage sector, including serving as a key member of the account management team for one of America’s top QSRs. Her client-side background focused on the Travel & Tourism industry, including experiential media tours, curated promotional events, content creation and storytelling through media outreach strategy, both in the U.S. and Canada. She has been named a Destinations International 30 Under 30 and has won awards from the Public Relations Society of America. Eva loves a great craft chocolate bar! She’s a certified chocolate taster by the International Institute of Chocolate & Cacao Tasting.

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Zabrina Zulaica

Account Coordinator

Zabrina is currently an Account Coordinator at Haute in Texas, where she applies her skills in public relations, marketing, and social media. She graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Public Relations from Kutztown University of Pennsylvania and has a diverse background in non-profit organizations, real estate, sales, and marketing. Known for her goal-oriented approach and excellent communication skills, Zabrina is organized, creative, and effective in collaborative settings. Proficient in tools like Canva, InDesign, Hootsuite, Microsoft Office, and more, she brings a unique blend of expertise to her work.In her free time, Zabrina creates captivating mixed media artwork inspired by her personal visions. She finds joy in her artistic pursuits, as well as in traveling, spending time with family and friends, and binge-watching her favorite Netflix shows.

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Jade Robertson

Account Coordinator

Jade is a Georgia peach turned Texas cowgirl, based in Houston, Texas. She is an Account Coordinator at Haute in Texas with a background in Communication Disorders from Louisiana State University, along with minors in Spanish and Psychology.

Specializing in Social Media, Jade is an expert in navigating trends, creating engaging content, and bringing a well-rounded perspective to her work.Outside of work, Jade enjoys traveling, exploring new things, rollerskating, and spending time with her dachshund, Harlo who is always up for an adventure. Known for her positive and energetic approach, she brings a touch of sunshine to every project she takes on.