Gilberto Pinela

Gilberto Pinela is the director of the Office of New Americans in the Office of Mayor Cara Spencer, where he helps make St. Louis a welcoming and thriving place for immigrants and refugees.

A native of Puerto Rico and a first-generation college graduate, he holds a master’s degree in communications and is currently pursuing his MBA at Webster University.

Gilberto previously co-owned a landscape company serving major corporate clients and served as president of the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. He also made history as Missouri’s first non-native Latine host of the Spanish-language community affairs show Ahora San Luis.

A passionate advocate for immigrant, refugee, and LGBTQ+ communities, Gilberto serves on multiple civic boards and is a St. Louis City Commissioner. A U.S. Air Force veteran, he has been a proud resident of Tower Grove South since 2016.

Personal mantra: ¡Sí se puede!