cURL Error: 0
“It is an incredible honor to be recognized as one of the top two most engaged business networks in Central Florida. This recognition demonstrates our continued commitment to being a beacon of opportunity and empowerment for the Hispanic business community” Said, Pedro Turushina, President and CEO of the Hispanic Chamber of Metro Orlando. “But beyond the numbers — it’s the people who define us: the entrepreneurs and members who lead with purpose and passion. I am deeply grateful to our community, whose energy and dedication continue to inspire everything we do,” he added.
“The Orlando Business Journal is so pleased to recognize the growth of the Hispanic Chamber of Metro Orlando and in growing their rank to #2 on our Chambers of Commerce list. This recognition reflects Pedro’s leadership, the dedication of the Chamber team and the engagement of the chamber members as a whole. The commitment that the Chamber demonstrates to its members and to the community collectively is one of the many reasons that it has experienced the growth that it has,” shared, Anne-Marie Hayward, President and Publisher of Orlando Business Journal.
According to the Orlando Business Journal, most chambers of commerce in Central Florida reported revenue growth, driven primarily by membership fees, sponsorships, and events. This underscores the vital role that member engagement and community partnerships play in sustaining and advancing the mission of chambers across the region.
Please view the link to the digital issueand access the landing page for additional details.
For more information related to this release and our upcoming events, follow us on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, LinkedIn.
ABOUT THE HISPANIC CHAMBER OF METRO ORLANDO
The Hispanic Chamber of Metro Orlando is one of the largest business organizations in Central Florida. The Hispanic Chamber has advocated for the Hispanic business community for over three decades. This organization is recognized as one of the main economic development entities in the region, serving as the central point of connection, fostering business success, unifying communities, and empowering Hispanic business owners and professionals to drive exceptional economic growth in the region. As a valued member of the Hispanic Chamber, you will be part of one of the largest, most engaged business networks in Central Florida, with exclusive access to unparalleled benefits, award-winning events, and programs focused on commerce opportunities, coaching, and community-building, making us the top choice for businesses of all industries in our region. For more information, please visit www.hispanicchamber.com.
]]>Elisha Gonzalez, 2024 Hispanic Chamber Board Chair, officially announced the establishment of the Hispanic Economic Advancement Foundation. This new non-profit entity will focus on advocating and cultivating relationships with procurement executives to enhance contracting and capacity building opportunities for second-stage Hispanic-owned companies. In addition, the organization will provide executive development opportunities for Hispanic professionals, contributing to the overall advancement of the Hispanic business community in Central Florida. The Hispanic Chamber board unanimously approved the establishment of this new entity in 2023 under Jeff Villanueva’s leadership and committed the chamber’s seed funding to its cause.
Gaby Ortigoni, who served as President & CEO of the Hispanic Chamber and has over 15 years serving the Hispanic business community in Central Florida, is now the new foundation executive who will spearhead this new entity.
Gonzalez also announced that effective February 1, 2024, Pedro Turushina, who served as Vice President since January 2021, became the new President & CEO of the Hispanic Chamber, one of the largest in the Central Florida region. As part of his vision, he aims to strengthen the current Chamber programs and announced new initiatives such as the CEO series, new technology to improve membership benefits, and a strategic expansion in Osceola, Seminole, and surrounding counties.
“We are honored to stand behind the vision of our two strong leaders, Gaby and Pedro, who will undoubtedly pave the way for growth, prosperity, and success for generations to come,” said Hispanic Chamber Board Chair Elisha Gonzalez.
“Since 1993, our Hispanic Chamber has been at the forefront of promoting contracting opportunities and creating programs to support our members’ companies’ growth,” said Gaby Ortigoni. “The vision of this new entity is to make Central Florida the number one hub for the most prosperous Hispanic-owned companies and the premier developer of Hispanic executives nationwide,” she added.
“We strive for a more purpose-driven community, and our commitment extends to the core of our organization,” said Pedro Turushina. “As one of the main economic drivers in this region, Hispanics comprise over 32% of the population in Orange County, over 54% in Osceola County, and over 20% in Seminole County. Therefore, we have a significant responsibility to continue diligently working on our mission to strengthen the Hispanic businesses in our region.”
Please see the link below with key event images; additional photos are available upon request.
ABOUT THE HISPANIC CHAMBER OF METRO ORLANDO
The Hispanic Chamber of Metro Orlando is one of the largest business organizations in Central Florida. The Hispanic Chamber has advocated for the Hispanic business community for over three decades. This organization is recognized as one of the main economic development entities in the region, serving as the central point of connection, fostering business success, unifying communities, and empowering Hispanic business owners and professionals to drive exceptional economic growth in the region. As a valued member of the Hispanic Chamber, you will be part of one of the largest, most engaged business networks in Central Florida, with exclusive access to unparalleled benefits, award-winning events, and programs focused on commerce opportunities, coaching, and community-building, making us the top choice for businesses of all industries in our region.
]]>IDB Invest, the private sector arm of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) Group, and the Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency of the World Bank (MIGA) announced a four-year partnership to mobilize more private sector capital in Latin America and the Caribbean to finance development projects. IDB Invest and MIGA, the political risk insurance agency of the World Bank, have agreed to work together to deploy de-risking and financing solutions in the region.
The agreement will strengthen collaboration between the two institutions and help develop a shared pipeline of projects. This will expand the number of bankable projects and deepen the relationship between the two institutions while attracting private sector investors. The partnership is expected to significantly impact the region’s development, recognizing the crucial role of the private sector in driving economic growth and reducing poverty.
“We are committed to expanding our impact in the region,” said James P. Scriven, CEO of IDB Invest. “We are evolving our business model and increasing capital to attract new investments and enhance development impact across Latin America and the Caribbean. The partnership with MIGA will enable us to access markets and initiatives that were previously considered too risky but are urgently needed now.”
The partnership comes at a time when the world is facing interconnected challenges to development and recognizes the crucial role of the private sector. The collaborative efforts between MIGA and IDB Invest aim to identify barriers to private sector investment, as well as promote activities that lead to innovation of new and scalable projects, while mitigating risk for investors.
“Amid multiple crises on the global front, MIGA’s role is to encourage private sector investors and provide increased stability by helping in managing and mitigating country risks,” said Hiroshi Matano, Executive Vice President of MIGA. “Collaborating with our partners will be crucial in crafting solutions to the challenges of our time, unlocking new opportunities, and ultimately mobilizing the much-needed private sector investment to meet our development goals.”
IDB President Ilan Goldfajn and World Bank President Ajay Banga signed a memorandum of understanding at IDB headquarters in Washington, D.C. to boost support for net-zero-deforestation efforts in the Amazon, strengthen the Caribbean’s resilience to natural disasters, and bridge the digital-access gap across Latin America and the Caribbean.
In June 2023, Ilan Goldfajn and Ajay Banga traveled to Latin America and the Caribbean and emphasized strengthening ties and identifying new, deeper ways for the two development institutions to work together to solve development challenges.
About IDB Invest
IDB Invest, a member of the Inter-American Development Bank Group, is a multilateral development bank committed to promoting the economic development of its member countries in Latin America and the Caribbean through the private sector. IDB Invest finances sustainable companies and projects to achieve financial results and maximize economic, social, and environmental development in the region. With a portfolio of $16.3 billion in assets under management and 394 clients in 25 countries, IDB Invest provides innovative financial solutions and advisory services that meet the needs of its clients in a variety of industries.
About MIGA
MIGA was created in 1988 as a member of the World Bank to promote foreign direct investment in emerging economies by helping to mitigate the risks of restrictions on currency conversion and transfer, breach of contract by governments, expropriation, and war and civil disturbance; and offering credit enhancement to private investors and lenders. Since its creation, MIGA has issued over $76 billion in guarantees across 123 developing countries, supporting more than 1,000 projects. Over the past decade, MIGA’s guarantees have generated more than 156,000 jobs in developing countries.
]]>This has occurred despite the suspicion that the Latino population has been undercounted and that the census process and count were hindered from operating at their full capacity because of the COVID-19 pandemic. While some states like California, New York, and Minnesota put a great deal of effort and support in accurately counting their population, the same cannot be said about other states with significant Latino populations. Arizona, Texas, and Florida all demonstrated lackluster efforts in ensuring that their total populations were accurately accounted for. The insignificant census efforts by some states are not only unfortunate and irresponsible, but it will also deny their state significant resources and funding. In addition, since these states have some of the largest Latino populations in the country, their census count may be considered inaccurate, unfair, and undercounted.
Nonetheless, the Latino community, business growth, and entrepreneurial spirit will not be denied. The Latino population grew by 23%, a significant increase compared to the overall 7.4% growth of the U.S. population. Slightly more than half (51.1%) of the total U.S. population growth between 2010 and 2020 came from the growth of the Latino population. The two states with the largest population in the nation, California and Texas, reported having a Latino population of 39%. The average age of the U.S. population is 38 years old, compared to the Latino population median age of 28 years. Latinos are not only the present; they are indeed the future.
Another indicator of the important contributions and significance of Latinos to the U.S economy and growth can be measured in terms of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Per recent statistics, the U.S. Latino market measured by GDP was $2.6 Trillion. Therefore, if the U.S. Latino market was its own country, it would be the 8th largest economy in the world and the largest Latino market in the world, larger than Brazil and twice the size of Mexico. The U.S. Latino market is growing GDP faster than India, and China – but as Sol Trujillo, Co-Founder of the Latino Donor Collaborative has stated “Why isn’t anyone talking about it”.
There are several leading organizations talking about it, but the problem is that the powers that be are not listening or paying enough attention. Thus, the collective challenge and goal of the leading Latino organizations must be to insist, compel, and enlighten those powers to acknowledge and respect the Latino community, including Latino organizations and businesses.
The NFLCCA recognizes that Latinos are underrepresented in the federal government, corporate boards, local and state governments, elected and appointed officials, the media, etc. Latinos can no longer accept to be a forgotten sector of our society that is considered to only be concerned with immigration reform and social issues. Instead, we must also be rightfully recognized as a powerhouse in our nation’s economy and as an essential part of our country’s labor force, and a catalyst in job creation.
Today, on the start of National Hispanic Heritage Month, as Latino leaders, we declare, “¡Ya Basta y Adelante!”. Enough is enough and the time to advance is long overdue.
]]>The NFLCCA was formed to advance economic empowerment and inclusion of our Nation’s largest minority. By leveraging their broad base at the state and local level, the organization is uniquely positioned to bridge the gap. Approximately 80% of all Latinos living in the U.S. are American citizens, however media coverage of Latinos tends to focus on immigration. The reality for the overwhelming majority of Latinos in the U.S. is much different. Latinos are entrepreneurs, homeowners, professionals, and hardworking family oriented blue-collar workers. Latino business owners and workers reflect and embody American values and a can-do attitude that is often left out of the media’s narrative of our community.
The Latino Community is the largest economically disenfranchised minority community in the U.S. Latino small-business owners are the fastest-growing group of entrepreneurs in the U.S. According to a recent study from Stanford University, over the past 10 years, the number of Latino business owners grew 34%, compared to 1% for all business owners in the United States.
NFLCCA is dedicated to advocating, increasing procurement and resource accessibility, and providing leadership development opportunities for state and local Latino businesses, organizations, and leaders. Our mission is to increase economic inclusion for Latinos in the public and private sector. The Latino Chamber Leaders unite to change the paradigm.
For questions, or comments contact Jaime di Paulo at j.dipaulo@nflcca.org or visit our website nflcca.org for more information.
]]>