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Hispanic Achievers Chairman & Presidents

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Danny Ramos
Chairman, NHCA
 

Philip A. Berry
President,
NHCA North

Lisa Pietri
President,
U.S. South

 

Hispanic Achievers Grant Council Members

(This Grant Council was created by Florida Law to administer the distribution of funds received from specialty license plate sales)

 

 

Lou was born in Puerto Rico, in the town of Manati, which is centrally located on the northern shore of the island. His family moved to Paterson NJ, which is located in the Northern part of the state, in the mid fifties where he attended school and graduated from Eastside High School. In the mid sixties, Lou attended technical school, where he received training in programming for a new growing technology and the first commercial computers. He served in the US Navy, during the Vietnam War, working in Data Processing, as it was called then. After the Navy, he was married to his wife Jean and started to raise a family in the town of Ringwood, NJ. Lou graduated from Rutgers University in New Jersey where he received a bachelor’s degree in Business Management. Lou has spent over twenty five years in the technology arena, where he managed and directed various National and International Companies Information and Technology centers in NY City and Northern NJ area. As Director of IT and Chief Information Officer, he managed all aspects of project management, systems development, technology acquisition, networks, staffing and client support. In 2001, Lou and Jean moved to Orlando, where he started a second successful career in the Financial Services Arena and Insurance. Lou holds various licenses, such as Series 7 (General Securities), Series 66 license (Registered Investment Advisor), a 215 license (Life, Health and Annuities), as well as a 220 (General Lines for Property & Casualty). He is the owner of two businesses, Soto Insurance Resources, LLC and Soto & Associates,LLC, which is a Consulting business. Lou is also associated with Decision Tree Financial, in Orlando, which is an Investment and Financial Planning business. Lou has been involved in many community organizations, including the Hispanic Chamber of Metro Orlando, where he served as Executive Board Member and Treasurer. The Kissimmee Chamber, where he is a Board Member of the Hispanic Business Council. Lou is also a member of the Puerto Rican Chamber of Commerce and ALPFA, the Association of Latino Professionals in Finance and Accounting, where he served as VP of Membership. Lou resides in Celebration, FL, with his wife Jean. He has two sons, Louis and Darren, who are both successful attorneys. His son Darren is also an elected State Representative for District 49 in Orlando and Kissimmee, and his son Louis is an M&A attorney in the Silicon Valley of California. Lou’s passions are golf, travel and his grandchildren, while he is not busy developing his business interests.
Lisa M. Pietri-Pozzi was born in New York and raised in Puerto Rico. She went to College at the University of Puerto Rico, where she received a Bachelor’s Degree in Secretarial Sciences, career that brought her new bridges to further her education. She has Master Degree studies in Business Administration specializing in Human Resources with a minor in Marketing. Lisa’s previous professional experience comes from performing in different industries such as Credit Unions, Customer Service and Marketing, Manufacturing, Food/Bakery & Family Businesses. Currently, Lisa Pietri is the Executive Director of the non-profit National Hispanic Corporate Achievers, Inc. (also known as Hispanic Achievers) and President of Hispanic Achievers, U.S. South Region. For the past six years, Lisa has been committed to the non profit’s mission assisting in developing and executing programs toward the benefit of students, corporate personnel, minorities, and for the community in general. Its objective is to promote the “Hiring, Retention, and Advancement” of Hispanics. Lisa is also the Administrator of the first official Hispanic License Plate in the Nation and official tag to be used in the State of Florida. She has also been Co-Host at Hispanic SpeakOut TV Show on Bright House Networks in Central Florida discussing and interviewing guests on issues of interest. She also had brief segments on radio shows to provide professional development tools to the radio audience in order to succeed in the search of a career. Following her passion to serve as a facilitator and to contribute with the betterment of others, Lisa has been a member and occupied Board of Director positions at different professional organizations such as: HAPWA (Hispanic American Professional and Business Women’s Association), Society for Human Resources Management, Hispanic Leaders Chamber of Commerce, International Association of Administrative Professional, and a member of We, Hispanic Women Chamber of Commerce of Florida. She is also Board of Director Advisor for Feed and Fortify, Board Member for Estrellas Cristianas Chaplaincy Ministry, and is the Founding Chair for the first bilingual Women Expo in Orlando. Lisa has also coordinated events supported by the Red Cross and United Way and had motivated students throughout her career volunteering in presenting educational conferences and mentorship. Lisa also likes to share and travel with her family and enjoy every instant of life.
Award winning journalist Sandra Carrasquillo has been on the spot light for 26 years as a broadcaster. She is the Hispanic News Anchor for Florida News Network for 4 years and also the Host and Producer for Florida Exclusivo which is a news and public affairs program that focuses on the Hispanic community and its cultural issues, and can be heard on radio stations throughout Florida that specialize in serving Spanish speaking communities. Host and producer Sandra Carrasquillo is engaged in the Florida Hispanic culture winning such prestigious awards as the "Outstanding Leading Hispanic Woman Award" for 2011 from Tu Revista Mujet (Your Women's Magazine), the "Hispanic Women That Make a Difference award" from La Prensa newspaper, the “Outstanding Female in Communications Award" also from La Prensa, and the "Outstanding Woman in Media" award from Latino Leadership. Florida Exclusivo is a highly interactive program featuring guests that shape the lives and culture of Hispanic Floridians. Visitors to the show include state government officials, educators, and community activists, among others. She also host and produces the Radio Show “Mujer de Hoy” for more than 6 years on WPRD Spanish Talk Radio.
Grace Resendez McCaffery moved to Pensacola from her home town of El Paso, Texas, in 1993. In 2002, McCaffery earned her BA in Communications with a specialization in Public Relations from the University of West Florida. After Hurricane Ivan struck the Gulf Coast resulting in an influx of Spanish-speaking residents, McCaffery founded the Language Bank of Northwest Florida, recruiting nearly 100 volunteer interpreters of about 25 different languages to help bridge the communication gap on the Gulf Coast. With Spanish speakers in high demand, McCaffery established a bilingual newspaper to begin distributing local news and information. Today, 10,000 copies of La Costa Latina Newspaper are distributed twice each month. McCaffery has formerly served the Gulf Coast community as the Public Relations Director of the American Red Cross of Northwest Florida, the Director of Development and Public Relations for Independence for the Blind of West Florida, and Communications Specialist for the Board of County Commissioners of Escambia County. In 2007, McCaffery received local and state awards for a bilingual hurricane preparedness instructional tool that she created and was distributed for Escambia County Emergency Management. As president of Latino Media Gulf Coast, Inc. McCaffery produces the only Latino media outlet in the Florida Panhandle and Southern Alabama. La Costa Latina Newspaper is distributed from Tallahassee to Mobile, AL. The publication also unofficially reaches parts of Mississippi and Louisiana, and can be found on the web at www.LaCostaLatina.com. McCaffery hopes to reopen La Costa Latina Radio in 2013. Since the beginning of the newspaper, McCaffery has also organizes the Latino Festival, the largest Latino festival in the Panhandle, during Hispanic Heritage Month. The event was originally created to provide a venue for local businesses and organizations to build relationships with the new Hispanic community. The annual Latino Festival now focuses on expressing, celebrating, sharing, and educating people about Latino cultures and building awareness that people from of every Latino nation live in the Northern Gulf Coast area. Latino Media Gulf Coast was recently awarded a substantial grant by BP to produce the Latino Festival, to initiate a Cinco de Mayo festival, and to promote tourism to destinations from New Orleans to Panama City its Latino readership. For most, this is the first time that these tourism destinations have advertised to any Latino market. The Gulf Coast Arts Festival also awarded Latino Media Gulf Coast with funds to begin a professional folklorico dance group. In May 5, 2011, McCaffery opened the Hispanic Resource Center in Pensacola which provides a meeting place, classroom, and information and service facility.
Yvonne Cortes Oliveras, oldest of three, was born in Brooklyn, New York. At the age of 12, her parents moved to their native Puerto Rico where she was raised and later in life married her high school sweetheart, Ed. She graduated with a 4.0 GPA from Cacique Agueybana High School, received Magna Cuma Laude in completing her bachelor’s degree in Education from the University Central de Bayamon. In 1986 she received a Masters in Education with a concentration in Reading from Furman University in South Carolina. She has 30 years of teaching experience, with 22 years in ESOL (English for Speakers of Other languages) and Reading as a Seminole County teacher. By taking the opportunity to impact more students she took a district level position by managing a federal grant that provided funds to develop face-to-face and online courses and train teachers that needed ESOL training. As a trainer for the Family Immigrant Connection Center for Seminole County one of her highlights was to empower families who felt limited by the language and cultural barriers that impeded full participation in their child’s education and mainstreaming with the community system. She is a strong advocate for bilingualism encouraging her students to retain their language by telling them “Two is better than one” and boosting their self confidence by mastering English while keeping their culture and language. She is a cancer survivor and a member of the Pink Army for Florida Hospital part of a unified effort to end breast cancer. As a Florida Hospital foot soldier, she plays an integral role in bringing education, awareness and hope to the people of her community. Currently involved in philanthropic organizations such as Malaria No More, and Breast Cancer Society. mother of three, grandmother of seven, enjoying life’s journey. Most weekends you can find her at the beach or camping.
Education Background: 1974 Fordham University B.A. 1977 St. John’s University Law School J.D. 1978 Jacksonville State University toward M.P.A. Legal Experience: Jan. 1991 – Present President – Law Firm Suarez & Associates, P.A. Orlando, Florida 32804 Sept. 1980 – 1991 Partner – Law Firm Suarez & Associates Bronx, New York 10458 Sept. 1977- 1980 Assistant District Attorney New York City 1975 and 1976 Legal Aid Society Civil Division, Bronx, Office Education Experience: January 2001 – Present Adjunct Professor of Law – Barry University School of Law – Orlando, Florida 1988 – 1990 Adjunct Professor - Bronx Community College, (CUNY) City University of New York January, 1982 Lecture – Hostos Community College (CUNY) City University of New York January, 1979 – 1981 Adjunct Lecturer – In Criminal Law College of New Rochelle Feb 1975 - May 1975 Adjunct Lecturer – Hostos Community College (CUNY) City University of New York GOVERNMENT: Commissioned CAPT., United States Army, Military Police Corp. and Military Intelligence Corp. 1974 – 1988 Commissioner: New York State Judicial Commission on Minorities Appointed by Chief Judge Wachtler – 1987 – 1991 Commissioner: Judicial Nominating Commission, 18th Judicial District Florida – 1996 appointed by Governor Lawton Chiles 1996- 2000 Legal Advisor to New York State Assembly Puerto Rican / Hispanic Task Force - 1987 – 1991 United States Presidential Delegate to the Guatemala Peace accords – December, 1996 appointed by President Clinton Citizen Police Academy – Seminole County Sheriff’s Office 1998 Florida House of Representatives 2000 State Representative – Elected March, 1999 Legal Advisor Orange County Soil and Water Commission – 2002 Governors Task Force on Education: Appointed by Governor Jeb Bush in 1999 Governors Task Force on Affordable Health Care: Appointed by Governor Jeb Bush in 2003
Over 25 years of international management in the Banking & Financial Industry. Direct experience in the following areas: international trade & cash; product, financial, commercial & credit management; global liaison with customers and field operations; project & operations management; specialty in payment and financing methods by providing innovative, flexible and worldwide financial services and products to Citibank’s customers and financial partners alike. Fluent command, verbal and written, of English & Spanish. Basic understanding of Portuguese. ü Exemplary relationship and communication skills: interfaced with diverse international clients, managing long-term relationships in different business segments including financial institutions, large, medium and small enterprises, and government agencies while ensuring excellent collaboration with co-workers & executive management across many countries in Citigroup. ü Focused and goal-directed, demonstrated by an ongoing versatility in mastering new challenges and goals; steady career progression based on accomplishments and merit. ü Experienced in documentation, reporting mechanisms (metrics & MIS), correspondence, information dissemination, process flows, product manuals, procedures, inter-departmental communications and operations. ü Current Certification by BAFT-IFSA as Certified Documentary Credit Specialist (CDCS) since April 2003. ü Appointed Citigroup’s representative for IFSA’s Collections Committee (International Financial Services Association) ü Ensured adherence and compliance to corporate and federal policies: know-your-customer, antimoney laundering (KYC & AML), banking practices, local and international laws, trade rules/regulations in UCP 600, ISP98, URR 725, URC522, ISBP and federal requirements such as Office of Currency Control, OFAC sanctions, US export controls and boycott laws. PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE: Citibank N.A. Tampa, FL Vice President – Client Delivery 10/2007 – 02/2012 Regional Quality Service Manager for Latin American Financial Institutions • Trade Technical Advisor for clients to attend technical escalations, complaints, Letters of Credit, text structuring, transaction flow, key deals, product support, and special transactions such as Cash Collateralized, Prepaid and Special government and multilateral programs (World Bank, IDB, Eximbank) • Ensured the best product delivery to meet clients’ expectations and maintain a high client satisfaction. • Scheduled and organized client service visits to review performance, service and training needs, covering over 350 financial institutions and 200 corporate clients in Latin America. • Developed a Cash & Trade training program for Latin-America clients (Corporate & FI) • Has delivered over 500 hrs on Cash & Trade workshops and seminars to over a 2000 banks’ personnel throughout the region, using different delivery models depending on clients’ needs • Enabled Citibank the #1 trade training correspondent bank in the region based on external survey-2011 • Contributed to the growth of the business in the region due to the excellent relationship maintained with the clients (more transactions, more revenue). Latin America was the top performer globally in 2011. • Prepared and presented scorecards with global transactional volumes to 16 Platinum clients under the Service Management Program Vice President – Client Delivery 01/2006 – 10/2007 Latin America & Caribe Regional Trade Head • Designed & developed a regional standardized model to service the Trade Corporate clients. • Implemented the Citiservice Trade Service Center (hub) for Corporate clients in Colombia to service Andean, Caribbean and Central American clients. Currently servicing 5 countries. • Realigned existing trade service models from 3 other hubs to newly implemented model • Implemented the TSP (Trade Service Professional) model for Platinum names across the hubs • Trade Technical Advisor and escalation contact for any trade service related matter Citicorp North America, Inc. Tampa, FL Vice President - Global Trade 10/2002 – 12/2005 Americas’ Regional Trade Operations Center – Customer Advocacy & Operations Engagement Manager • Co-designed, developed and implemented this new unit focusing on proactive management of clients (Corporate, Financial Institutions and Business Partners). Defined strategy, roles and responsibilities of the Customer Advocacy & Operations Engagement Management Team, based on key financial customers & partners – worldwide. Proactively managed the development of business relationships with new and potential customers, focusing on Latin America & EMEA. Managed internal and external teams, acting as liaison between Global Business Partners and trade processing sites such as India, Penang, China and London. As a Subject Matter Expert, offered profound trade experience and worked with businesses and service partners, as well as worldwide customers, in developing and recommending solutions for the proper delivery of trade product processes and services. Acted as the Senior point of escalation for new business developments, new transactions, Customers at Risk, quality issues, key transactions, technical advice, structuring, volume, revenue, metrics and others. Obtained over 20 new business relationships in growth market areas to ensure new revenue streams. Received and analyzed business proposals from partners/customers in order to develop strategic projects and implement by engaging operations teams, legal, risk and technology. Ensured compliance to trade processing guidelines and practices, maintained & exceeded customer satisfaction with current customers and business partners, and contributed to retain Customers At Risk. Actively participated in the migration of the Cash & Trade function from some countries’ Citiservice units to Tampa, ensuring the customers a smooth transition. Held conference calls with business partners to review and resolve pending matters and receive feedback from customers. Coordinated and designed customers and business partners visits, events and trainings. Assistant Vice President – Global Trade 11/1997 – 10/2002 America’s Regional Trade Operations Center - Latam and North America Trade Manager • Managed 4 operational units with 45 employees focusing on the process of the following trade products: Documentary Collections, Documentary Letters of Credit (Domestic, Import and Export), Standby Letters of Credit, Bank Guarantees and check collections. Ensured adherence and compliance to corporate and federal policies: know-your-customer, anti-money laundering (KYC & AML), banking practices, local and international laws, trade rules/regulations in UCP 600, ISP98, URR 725, URC522, ISBP and federal requirements such as Office of Currency Control, OFAC sanctions, US export controls and boycott laws. Responsible for departmental controls, processes, procedures and guidelines as needed. Appointed as Chairperson representing Citibank in IFSA’s Collections Committee. Reached the 6 Sigma standards for accuracy and timeliness as well as on projects like processes and functions migrations, branch regionalization, systems and applications rollouts. Collaborated & ensured a smooth migration of all Trade processes and functions from most Latin American branches and NY to the Centers of Excellence in Tampa, Mumbai and Chennai, resulting in economies of scale, increased quality, greater customer satisfaction and a 40% cost reduction. Lead process improvement & quality initiatives throughout the different trade departments. Provided technical advice and support in trade to internal and external customers. Coordinated training programs for all above-mentioned products (staff, branches and clients). Citibank Caracas, Venezuela Manager – Cash and Trade Operations 07/1996 – 10/1997 • Managed the processes and operations for trade related transaction. Worked closely with the Trade Product, Marketing, Sales and Relationship Management teams in order to expand and increase the customer portfolio for our Cash & Trade products by organizing joint visits to local corporate and multinational importers and exporters. Structured and processed trade import and export financing products. Managed Worldlink and Funds Transfers operations. Appointed Citibank’s representative before the Banco Central de Venezuela and the International Chambers of Commerce in Venezuela. Banco Latino – International Trade Area VP Caracas, Venezuela 1993 -1996 Industrias Jatu (ARROW shirts) – Sales & Marketing Assitant Mgr Caracas, Venezuela 1992 -1993 Banco Atlantico (Representation Office) – Representative Assistant Caracas, Venezuela 1991 -1992 EDUCATION: University Of South Florida Tampa, Fl Bachelor of Arts – Business Administration and Finance (double major) 1985 Community Engagement Summary Recognized as one of Tampa Bay’s Community Hispanic Leader Awarded Hispanic Citizen of Pasco County for 2010 Tampa Bay’s Spanish “Movers and Shakers” Award Winner, 2008 3700 Facebook contacts and growing… Over 500 Connections in Linked In NSHMBA – National Society of Spanish MBA’s. – Tampa Chapter ( #1 Chapter in the USA out of 39 Chapters. +20,000 members) Mission: Foster Hispanic leadership through graduate management education and professional development. NSHMBA works to prepare Hispanics for leadership positions throughout the U.S., so that they can provide the cultural awareness and sensitivity vital in the management of the nation's diverse workforce. • Public Relations Director: Prepare press releases, inform and promote all events and activities organized by the chapter and partners. Establish relationships with government, corporate and non-for-profit organizations as well as educational institutions to create partnerships. Lead the Community Outreach Program including Social Media and Mobile Marketing campaigns. Goal: Reach 1,000 FB likes and 500 Relevant Linked In profiles by Dec 2013. HBIF - Hispanic Business Initiative Fund is the leading Hispanic Economic Development, nonprofit organization in Florida that specializes in providing bilingual assistance to Hispanic entrepreneurs trying to establish or expand their business in Florida. • Regional Council Board Member: work with Sponsors to support programs and activities for the Hispanic community. Community outreach officer for the Tmapa bay area. Have qualified and referred over 15 clients, of which several have started healthy businesses in the Tampa Bay Area. Citibank Tampa Hispanic Network Diversity is a source of strength at Citi. One of Citi's Key Principles is to maintain a culture of leadership based on talented people with the best training who thrive in a diverse meritocracy that demands excellence, initiative and courage. This network was founded based on affinity and is open to all employees. The Employee Networks represent one of the ways that we affirm, reinforce and celebrate our commitment to diversity at Citi. Grew the network to 450 members, one of the largest chapters in the U.S. 2006 – 2012. • Tampa Network Founder 2006; Community Outreach Director– 2006 – 2010; Co-Chair 2010-2012: Co-lead and Executive Sponsor for other Tampa Branch Affiliate Networks. Best Practice Model for other Chapters in Europe, South America and the United States Hispanic Alliance of Tampa Bay – Organize and lead opportunities for networking, mentoring, coaching and community involvement. • Vice President 2009 – 2011; Director of Public Relations 2007 – 2009 Venezuelan Suncoast Association – Founded in 1999 to foster community and culture for the many Venezuelan Citizens. To date there are more than 500 members. Event Coordination, member recruitment, Media News and Sponsorship. • President 2007- 2009; Community Relations Director: 2006 - 2012

Melba C. Vasti
Lou Soto
Chairman, HAGC Grant Council

Lou Soto is Co-Chair National Hispanic Corporate Achievers Grant Council, Lou was born in Puerto Rico, in the town of Manati, which is centrally located on the northern shore of the island.  His family moved to Paterson NJ, which is located in the Northern part of the state, in the mid fifties where he attended school and graduated from Eastside High School. 
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Melba C. Vasti
Lisa M. Pietri Hispanic Achievers License Plate Administrator Grant Council Member

Lisa Maureen Pietri-Pozzi is License Plate Administrator Grant Council Member & President of US South for Hispanic Achievers, she was born in New York, and raised in Puerto Rico.  She went to College at the University of Puerto Rico, where she received a Bachelor’s Degree in Secretarial Sciences, career that brought her new bridges to further her education.
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Juan C. Pinto

Juan C. Pinto
HAGC Chair for Hillsbourough County

Juan C. Pinto has been appointed HAGC Chair for Hillsborough County.  He is a proud Venezuelan who migrated to the United States with his family, making Tampa his new home. With 25 years of international management in the Banking and Financial Industry, he occupied positions in Citibank from Managerial to Vice President.  He currently works on a project to start his own company. Juan is a very active professional and community leader who has being involved with many organizations such as: Venezuelan Suncoast Association, Hispanic Alliance of Tampa Bay, Citi's Hispanic Network, HBIF, National Society of Hispanic MBA's (Tampa), American Heart Association, the March of Dimes, United Way, and Habitat for Humanity.  He was recognized as "Latinos Movers and Shakers" by Latin Times Magazine and with the "Pasco's Hispanic Pride Citizen" Award by La Gaceta Latina Newspaper.  He is married and proud of his daughter and son, and honored to be part of this great community.

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Elena McMullough Vidal

Elena McMullough Vidal
HAGC Chair for Pasco County

Pasco Hernando Hispanic Chamber of Commerce President Elect Elena McCullough Vidal was born in the Dominican Republic and came to the United States as a teenager. Elena has been appointed as the HAGC Chair for Pasco County.  After serving the U.S. Coast Guard for 24 years, she retired as a Lieutenant.  During her career, Elena worked with the maritime industry to ensure the productive flow of commerce while meeting all important safety regulations.  She worked closely with small businesses in the parasailing industry, major cruise lines, product facilities and hurricane preparedness for the entire maritime industry. She holds a bachelor degree of science in Psychology and is an active community leader in Pasco County.  Elena is committed to the continued growth of PHHCC and the great things we can do to improve our community.

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Samuel C. Lopez

Samuel C. Lopez
HAGC Chair for Brevard County

Samuel C. Lopez has been appointed as the HAGC Chair for Brevard County.  Samuel’s background is in Education Management and currently is the Chairman for The Royal Order of Don Juan Ponce de Leon Historical V Centennial Celebration Committee, for the Florida Puerto Rican/Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Inc., and President of United Third Bridge, Inc., a 37 years old non-profit organization which fosters cultural, civil rights and other areas of education.  Samuel is a proud Puerto Rican descendent.

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Yvonne Cortes Oliveras
HAGC Chair for Seminole County

Yvonne Cortes Oliveras, has been appointed as the HAGC Chair for Seminole County.  She was born in New York and raised at Puerto Rico. Yvonne’s academic background is in Education with a concentration in Reading. She has 30 years of teaching experience, with 22 years in ESOL (English for Speakers of Other languages) and Reading as a Seminole County teacher. She managed a federal grant that provided funds for ESOL training. As a trainer for the Family Immigrant Connection Center, one of her highlights was to empower families who felt limited by the language and cultural barriers that impeded full participation in their child’s education and mainstreaming with the community system.  Yvonne is a cancer survivor and member of Malaria No More, Breast Cancer Society and the Pink Army for Florida Hospital.  

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Grace Resendez McCaffery

Grace Resendez McCaffery
HAGC Chair for Florida Panhandle-West Region

Grace Resendez McCaffery has been appointed HAGC Chair for Florida Panhandle-West Region covering the counties from Calhoun to Escambia.  Grace moved to Pensacola from her home town of El Paso, Texas, in 1993.  Her academic background is in Communications with a specialization in Public Relations. She founded the Language Bank of Northwest Florida to help bridge the communication gap on the Gulf Coast. She has served the Gulf Coast community through the American Red Cross of Northwest Florida, Independence for the Blind of West Florida, and for the Board of County Commissioners of Escambia County. Has received local and state awards for the creation of a bilingual hurricane preparedness instructional tool.  Grace is the President of Latino Media Gulf Coast, Inc. and produces the only Latino media outlet in the Panhandle and Southern Alabama (www.LaCostaLatina.com). She organizes a Latino Festival and founded the Hispanic Resource Center in Pensacola.

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Anthony Suarez
Grant Council Member

 

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Carla Abonia

Sandra Carrasquillo Grant Council Member

Award winning journalist Sandra Carrasquillo has been on the spot light for 26 years as a broadcaster.  She is the Hispanic News Anchor for Florida News Network  for 4 years and also  the Host and Producer  for Florida Exclusivo which  is a news and public affairs program that focuses on the Hispanic community and its cultural issues, and can be heard on radio stations throughout Florida that specialize in serving Spanish speaking communities.
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Grace Resendez McCaffery

Ana I. Rivera
HAGC Chair for Polk County, Florida

Ana I. Rivera, originally from Aiales, Puerto Rico, raised in New York City, NY.

Married and mother of one. President / founder of The Puerto Rican/Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Polk County and Producer of The Miss Polk Latina Scholarship Pageant , chamber has just celebrated it’s fifth year anniversary.
Publisher of MODA Polk and LATINO Biz. Mrs. Rivera also is a collaborative partner with the other PR/Hispanic Chambers under the same logo throughout the state of Florida.
She also sits on the Lakeland Mayors Business Roundtable and is Chairperson for the Advisory Council for The Business Admin Program at Polk State College. Along with all the busy areas, she is also the host of PGTV’s
“QUE Pasa POLK?!” on Polk County’s Government Television and head of The VIVA Florida 500 Celebration in Polk County.

Grace Resendez McCaffery

John Cortes
HAGC Chair for Osceola County

John Cortes 

Grace Resendez McCaffery

Maritza Avila Vazquez
HAGC Chair for Volusia County, Florida

Maritza Avila Vazquez

Peter A. Vivaldi Junior

Peter A. Vivaldi Junior
HAGC Chair for Orange County, Florida

Peter A. Vivaldi Junior

 

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Jaqueline Centeno Grant Council Member