INSIDE: LIFE LESSONS / TECHNOLOGY
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WHAT MATTERS NOW IN THE CITY
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ROCIO GONZALEZ Latin American Chamber director guides Latino business owners—of all kinds—through opportunities, accents
RICK HOVIS
BY TONY MECIA
FEW PEOPLE IN CHARLOTTE have a work background as varied as Rocio Gonzalez’s. She’s been a social worker, child abuse investigator, group home manager, accounts payable manager, and real estate agent. Today, in her role as executive director of the Latin American Chamber of Commerce of Charlotte, Gonzalez helps Latinoowned businesses thrive and connects them to the larger Charlotte business community. One of her main messages is that, contrary to the stereotype, Latinos in Charlotte are represented in just about every profession here—pursuing careers as diverse as hers, and more. Gonzalez was born in New York City but grew up in Bogota, Colombia. After she earned a computer science degree in Germany, she returned to the United States and lived in Pennsylvania for a time. When her then-husband was offered a job in Matthews in 1999, she was excited to try something new.
MAY 2020 // CHARLOTTE
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