Team
Who We Are
Our team is comprised of individuals with experience at every level of government, the private sector, non-profits, grassroots organizing entities, and more. The backgrounds are diverse but the purpose is the same: being the best at what we do. Whether leading political campaigns or lobbying contracts, we are well equipped and utilize every skill and asset at our disposal to get our clients results. Scroll below to get to know our leadership team.
OUR TEAM
Mario Beltran
Founder & President
Mario is the President and Founder of The Principia Group, specializing in political consulting, government relations, policy issues, and communications strategy.
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Mario's relationships in Los Angeles County region are profound and longstanding. From his beginnings running political campaigns at the local and state level to his work over twelve years at the California State Legislature and his tenure as a planning commissioner and city council member, Mario created and continues to develop an extensive network of political relationships.
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Mario is known for his sound advice in the shifting political landscape and assertively working on client issues the right way from beginning to end.
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In addition to his work, Mario is very involved in the community. He is the co-founder of the Southeast Leadership Network, the Vice President of the Southeast Los Angeles Kiwanis Club and a former Vice President of the South Gate Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors.
Frank Aguirre
Senior Vice President
Frank is a community and government affairs professional with over 20 years of experience working in the private and public sectors. Frank has worked for various elected officials in several capacities and brings expertise in strategic planning, event management, communications, community outreach, public relations, and land use planning.
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Frank previously spent seven years with the largest Latino-focused retail grocer in the nation, developing their corporate and social responsibility strategy and developing and managing their government affairs program.
Additionally, Frank was a staff member for a California State Senator, a California State Assemblymember, and a Los Angeles City Councilmember. Frank has worked and managed several political campaigns across Southern CA for current and former legislators.
Enrique Vega
Vice President
Enrique is a government and public affairs professional with over 18 years of experience. Enrique emphasizes his coalition-building skills, community outreach, and community organizing.
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He spent seven years working as a Field Representative for members of the California State Assembly, specifically in the Southeast Los Angeles communities. Additionally, Enrique was contracted by the Chief Executive Office of Los Angeles County to provide community outreach and community organizing services for residents of unincorporated communities in South Los Angeles.
Enrique has also spent time working as a Director for Marketing and Development for the Archdioceses of Los Angeles and as an Associate for a National Public Affairs Firm.
He has worked on various local, statewide, and national campaigns and has served on the Board of Directors of Padres Unidos, The South Gate Chamber of Commerce, the Los Angeles County Democratic Central Committee, and as the Chair of the Government Affairs Committee for the Regional Hispanic Chamber of Commerce – Long Beach.
George Magallanes
Vice President
George counts with over 25 years of successful civic leadership and management experience for the City of Los Angeles and the State of California. He is a skilled communicator in advancing constituent affairs, project plans, negotiations, community events, and executing crisis management plans of actions.
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He served as trusted liaison for over 7 years in the California State Legislature and over 12 years in the Los Angeles City Council and created over 100-acres green space with passive and active recreation for residents of the City of Los Angeles, which included Los Angeles Historic Park, Rio de Los Angeles Park and Vista Hermosa.
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George has advised clients on major developments within the City of Los Angeles and served as a liaison to various city departments.​ He successfully brought together business and community stakeholders with the goal of developing consensus and compromise relating to proposed land use and development projects.
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Erika Hernandez
Program Coordinator
Erika Hernandez brings over five years of experience supporting monolingual and bilingual Latino communities, specializing in program coordination and community mental health promotion. Erika has a proven ability to guide and motivate community “Promotoras” (advocates), helping them navigate resources to overcome employment barriers and achieve their professional goals.
Previously, Erika served at Alma Family Services as a United Mental Health Promoter and Family Activator, where she developed and facilitated mental health classes and provided vital community resources. Erika’s experience also includes coordinating programs at Nuevo Amanecer Mujer Integral, where she supported workshop organization and community promoter training. Erika holds a B.A. in Sociology from UCLA, enriching her understanding of community dynamics and needs.
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Adriana Aguirre
Outreach Specialist
Adriana Aguirre, who goes by Ayopechtli, is a dedicated community organizer, educator, and cultural advocate with over 30 years of experience supporting grassroots initiatives throughout the greater Los Angeles area. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in Latin American and Latino Studies from the University of California, Santa Cruz, and completed extensive coursework in Chicano Studies at California State University, Los Angeles—academic foundations that have deeply informed her lifelong commitment to community service, cultural preservation, and social justice.
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Ayopechtli spent ten years as a teacher with the Los Angeles Unified School District, where she worked closely with students and families, bringing culturally responsive practices into educational spaces. Alongside her work in education, she has been actively involved in a wide range of community projects, including community gardening initiatives such as Proyecto Jardín, and Mesoamerican re-indigenizing and cultural and language revitalization efforts with groups like Calpulli Xochimecayahualli and Danza Azteca Xiuhcoatl. A longtime resident of Long Beach, Ayopechtli continues to serve her community while raising her two children.
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