Awards Gala 2022

Luis O. De La Hoz Chairman Valley Bank

Claribel Cortes Vice Chair The Setroc Group

Ana Rodrigues Independent Consultant

Blenda Pinto United Airlines

Cristina Pinzon Stateside Affairs

Dana Rodriguez, NJM Insurance Group

Dr. Arturo Osorio Secretary Rutgers Business School

Elisa Charters

Guillermo Artiles McCarter & English

John Lucas Wells Fargo & Company

Lilia Ríos Grupo La Providencia

Luis Alamo Alamo Insurance Group

Monica Martinez-Milan Stumpy's Green Brook

Robert J Polanco Valley Bank

Jeffrey Martinez Treasurer PNC Bank

Carlos A. Medina, ESQ. President/CEO Robinson Aerial Surveys, Inc.

LETTER FROM THE CHAIRMAN

Members and Familia. Get Ready to Access Growth with SHCCNJ in 2023!

Bienvenidos a la Gala Event 2022 del Statewide Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of New Jersey.

It is fantastic to have the opportunity to come together on this festive night, in the warmth of the holiday spirit, to reconnect with our peers and expand our familia with like-minded entrepreneurs ready to embrace continued prosperity in the new year.

What an incredible year SHCCNJ has had to buck the trend of skepticism during economic inflation and uncertainty.

As pragmatic leaders and advocates, we reflect your values, work ethic and ability to transcend the most challenging times. And with that level of commitment, the chamber went from a model based on membership to one based on results to generate value for our members and partners. That means that SHCCNJ is well-positioned as a leading small business resource and incubator for Latino business owners invested in capacity building.

However, we only can do this when we work together in a partnership for our shared goals. That is why we need to recognize that 97% of businesses in New Jersey are micro-businesses with fewer than ten full-time employees and less than $250,000 in revenue. Our resounding message to all of you: We want your business to grow. And it is with you in mind that we set on our mission and designed SHCCNJ programs providing participants with practical tools and resources needed to implement beyond the classroom for long-term growth.

Our diligence and outreach to Hispanic businesses continue to pay off as we expand our long-standing partnerships with companies such as Bank of America, PSE&G, Wells Fargo, and NJEDA. Together, we are rolling out rollout programs to support the growing needs of the Latino community accounting for 52% of all net new employer businesses in the country. Correspondingly, this year, we helped 98 companies to obtain vouchers to buy electric vehicles.

From the Hispanic Entrepreneurship Training Program (HETP) and the Latina Entrepreneurship Training Series (LETS) offering meaningful mentorship/coaching along with resources, we are investing in your preparedness so that your Hispanic-owned businesses can be ahead of the pack in every sector.

The question we have for you: Are you READY for ACCESS to knowledge and tools, capital and credit, networks and new markets and opportunities?

If you answered an unwavering “Yes”, we invite you to take a bold step toward us with confianza. Know that you have one of the most innovative and resourceful support systems to help secure a promising future. Believe in yourself and trust in the SHCCNJ to drive broader impact and empower more unicorns with your success.

It is time to go higher in 2023. Join me on this call to action to amplify our mission of reaching the American Dream by converting challenges into opportunities with the passion and drive that elevate Latinos’ success stories above the rest.

Together, we can.

Luis O. De La Hoz Chairman of SHCCNJ

Carlos Medina President & CEO of SHCCNJ

A NOTE FROM OUR PRESIDENT & CEO

Hispanic Business, the engine of Economic Recovery

Here we are once again in the company of our familia of business owners, peers, and partners for our year-end celebration.

While we gather as a small group tonight, we must take a moment to recognize that we represent 120,000 Hispanic-owned businesses contributing over $20 Billion to our state’s economy. We must embrace that significant economic impact number with great pride and let it guide our confidence in growing our businesses beyond 2023.

As Latino business owners our superpower is that we defy challenges head-on with our unwavering work ethic, innovative approach and laser-focused vision for upward mobility. So it is no surprise that on a national level, we are starting businesses at a rate roughly three times the general population and contributing over $800 billion to the U.S. economy.

These numbers are vital for us to assimilate within the broader context of a post-COVID era of economic recovery in the face of inflation and a looming recession. We must remember that we are a nimble and proactive business community that quickly pivoted in 2020. The Chamber was there to serve as your partner, providing guidance and access to tax incentives, financing and grant programs through the Economic Recovery Act of 2020.

Think about the fact that at the beginning of the pandemic U.S. Latinos started out as the eighth-largest GDP and finished 2020 as the fifth largest. Yet despite the challenges we faced during the pandemic, Latino real wage and salary income rose 6.7 percent while Non-Latino income shrank by 1.1 percent. And in 2020, the Latino labor force participation rate hit a new all-time high when U.S. Latinos were 6.5 percentage points more likely than their Non-Latino counterparts to be actively working or seeking work.

We can also look to the Great Recession as a point of reference and inspiration. From 2007 to 2012, the number of Latino-owned businesses in the U.S. grew by 3.3%, compared with a decline of 3.6% among other businesses during that same period. Many economic leaders, including U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, agree that Hispanic-owned businesses will drive the upcoming economic recovery.

SHCCNJ knows the direct influence that Hispanic businesses have on local economies with a dependable and hard-working labor force led by business owners who are ready to push forward. These factors boost the overall economy from the local to regional and beyond the state.

Respectively, we are continually expanding our signature programs and business partnerships to meet the growing demand for training and access to tools and resources that will get our members on a path to significant ROI. This year, the Hispanic Entrepreneurship Training Program (HETP) had a record-breaking 512% increase in

applications, with 50 graduates across health and wellness, restaurant and food, consumer goods, education and more sectors.

As your president and one of your most vocal advocates, I understand that the only way to strengthen the Hispanic Familia in the State of New Jersey is Together.

We need YOU, and we count on YOU to continue the work. I ask you to own your Superpower.

Together, we will lead 2023 into a record-breaking economic recovery year thanks to Hispanic business, the engine of economic recovery.

Leaning in on entrepreneurship

Leaning in on entrepreneurship

Leaning in on entrepreneurship

Leaning in on entrepreneurship

Small businesses and entrepreneurs are vital to thriving communities in New Jersey and around the United States.

Small businesses and entrepreneurs are vital to thriving communities in New Jersey and around the United States.

Small businesses and entrepreneurs are vital to thriving communities in New Jersey and around the United States.

Small businesses and entrepreneurs are vital to thriving communities in New Jersey and around the United States.

At JPMorgan Chase, we are taking actions to support business owners and entrepreneurs in Latino and Hispanic communities by: Providing additional loans

At JPMorgan Chase, we are taking actions to support business owners and entrepreneurs in Latino and Hispanic communities by:

At JPMorgan Chase, we are taking actions to support business owners and entrepreneurs in Latino and Hispanic communities by:

At JPMorgan Chase, we are taking actions to support business owners and entrepreneurs in Latino and Hispanic communities by:

• Providing additional loans

• Providing additional loans

• Providing additional loans

Increasing access to coaching, technical assistance and capital

• Increasing access to coaching, technical assistance and capital

• Increasing access to coaching, technical assistance and capital

• Increasing access to coaching, technical assistance and capital

Building on our supplier diversity efforts through additional spending with Latino and Hispanic supplier

• Building on our supplier diversity efforts through additional spending with Latino and Hispanic supplier

• Building on our supplier diversity efforts through additional spending with Latino and Hispanic supplier

• Building on our supplier diversity efforts through additional spending with Latino and Hispanic supplier

Learn more at jpmorganchase.com/racialequity

Learn more at jpmorganchase.com/racialequity

Learn more at jpmorganchase.com/racialequity

Learn more at jpmorganchase.com/racialequity

© 2022 JPMorgan Chase & Co.

POWERING PROGRESS

Latina Trailblazer of the Year Award 2022

Jennifer Velez

EVP, Health & Network

Solutions

Jennifer Velez is the Executive Vice President of Health & Network Solutions at Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey (Horizon BCBSNJ). Prior to joining Horizon BCBSNJ, Ms. Velez served as the Chief Impact Officer of Shatterproof — a national not-forprofit organization dedicated to transforming addiction treatment and reversing stigma. Her work focused on transforming the way addiction treatment is accessed and delivered in the United States.

Prior to Shatterproof, she served as an Executive Vice President of RWJBarnabas Health responsible for Community & Behavioral Health, where she led the health system’s interdisciplinary response to the opioid epidemic. During her tenure, she expanded the peer recovery specialist model and medication-assisted treatment as effective interventions to combat the disease of addiction and introduced the community health worker model as an evidence-based, effective workforce model to address social determinants of health.

Ms. Velez joined RWJBarnabas Health in March 2015, as Senior Vice President of Strategy and Planning, after serving eight years as the Commissioner of the New Jersey Department of Human Services under both Governors Chris Christie and Jon Corzine.

Ms. Velez is a deeply experienced community health executive whose

previous work has focused on improving the societal and economic issues that impact vulnerable communities. Ms. Velez has the distinction of being the state’s longest-serving Human Services Commissioner, where she managed the largest state agency with budget, personnel and operational responsibility for nearly $11 billion, approximately 16,000 employees, and eight operational divisions, including Medicaid, five developmental centers and four psychiatric hospitals. She previously served three governors in the Office of Governor’s Counsel (Christine Todd Whitman, Donald DiFrancesco and James McGreevey).

Ms. Velez received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics from Drew University and holds a Juris Doctorate from Rutgers School of Law, Newark. She was named one of the Top 25 Innovators in Healthcare by Modern Healthcare in 2019 and was Number 1 on the 2014 NJBIZ Power 50 Healthcare list, where she was

listed for six consecutive years.

Ms. Velez serves on the board of Drew University, where she is a member of the Executive Committee and chairs the Committee on Trustees, and is a Visiting Associate of the Eagleton Institute of Politics. She received a number of special awards, including:

· Distinguished Alumni Award from Rutgers Law School in 2017

· Codey Award from the Carrier Clinic in 2015

· Spirit of the Arc Award from Arc of New Jersey in 2015

· Women’s Initiative and Leaders in Law Award from the Women Lawyers Association of New Jersey in 2013

Every day, you

Every day, you help to build a stronger community.

Every day, you help to build a

Every day, you

Every day, you help to build a stronger community.

Every day, you help to build a stronger community.

We’re proud to be a member of the Statewide Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of New Jersey. And to share in the work they do to help our businesses — and the people who work there — flourish.

We’re proud to be a member of the Statewide Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of New Jersey. And to share in the work they do to help our businesses — and the people who work there — flourish.

We’re proud to be a member of the Statewide Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of New Jersey. And to share in the work they do to help our businesses — and the people who work there — flourish.

We’re proud to be a member of the Statewide Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of New Jersey. And to share in the work they do to help our businesses — and the people who work there — flourish.

Chamber of Commerce of New Jersey. And to share in the work they do to help our businesses — and the people who work there — flourish.

We’re proud to be a member of the Statewide Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of New Jersey. And to share in the work they do to help our businesses — and the people who work there — flourish.

888-PNC-BANK pnc.com

888-PNC-BANK pnc.com

888-PNC-BANK pnc.com

888-PNC-BANK pnc.com

888-PNC-BANK pnc.com

©2022

©2022

©2022

888-PNC-BANK pnc.com

©2022

The PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. All rights reserved. PNC Bank, National Association. Member FDIC

The PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. All rights reserved. PNC Bank, National Association. Member FDIC

The PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. All rights reserved. PNC Bank, National Association. Member FDIC

The PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. All rights reserved. PNC Bank, National Association. Member FDIC

0618-0106

Latino Trailblazer of the Year Award 2022 Ulises Diaz

Senior Vice President of Government and Community Affairs

Ulises Diaz is the Senior Vice President of Government and Community Affairs at Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey. Reporting directly to the CEO. Mr. Diaz leads the Government and Community Affairs team, representing Horizon BCBSNJ before the New Jersey Legislature, New Jersey departments and agencies, local and county governments as well as responsibilities for the Federal delegation and the Horizon Foundation for New Jersey.

Prior to joining Horizon BCBSNJ, Mr. Diaz served as Director of Government Affairs at Verizon in New Jersey. He was responsible for NJ State Legislative and Regulatory functions. During his tenure at Verizon, Mr. Diaz passed several landmark pieces of legislation and regulations that created a level playing field in an otherwise heavily regulated industry. Mr. Diaz helped Verizon establish a strong State House operation, effective political action committee and an aggressive local outreach plan. He enjoys strong relationships on both sides of the political aisle and throughout the state.

He previously served as Vice President of External Affairs at United Water in New Jersey where he was responsible for government and public affairs, communications and business development in the U.S., including Puerto Rico. Mr. Diaz was responsible for the regulatory and legislative functions of United Water’s utility footprint that included 26 states. At United Water, he was successful in privatizing the water and waste water concessions of Puerto Rico ─ the largest privatization of its kind valued at $5 billion.

Mr. Diaz is a former Chairman of the Hackensack University Medical Center Foundation where he continues to serve as a trustee. He was also appointed by Governor Corzine as a Commissioner on the New Jersey Turnpike Authority. Mr. Diaz is a member of the Hispanic Institute and the Meadowlands Chamber of Commerce and Commerce and Industry Association.

He holds a B.A. in business administration from Rutgers University and is a resident of Bergen County.

Business of the Year Award 2022

Cavany Foods

Chef Alejandro was born in Venezuela, he is a chef with a deep appreciation for international cuisine which was developed at an early age growing up in Maracaibo. Alejandro’s passion for cooking is rooted in a family tradition going back three generations. He attended the School for Food and Hotel Management in Buenos Aires, Argentina in which he showed a natural talent for cooking, excelling in all his courses.

He also attended the Chef Institute Gato Dumas in Argentina and the famous Le Cordon Blue in France. From there, his professional career took off with no geographic boundaries. His never-ending quest for the ultimate experience in finding exotic and exquisite flavors has taken him all over the world, providing unprecedented knowledge often translated on his signature dishes. He is also a frequent participant in international competitions in food shows in the US and Latin America.

CAVANY began offering products at the Grove Street Farmers’ Market in 2019. Alejandro quickly captivated loyal customers while pursuing his dream of helping people build a lifestyle that includes healthy and exciting meals. When COVID-19 changed consumers’ shopping routines, the future of Cavany Foods was threatened. Fortunately, Alejandro had enrolled in the SHCCNJ’s HETP program that

offered business training, counseling with a multidisciplinary team of specialists, and a vibrant business community that was supportive and ready to help Alejandro take Cavany Foods to the next level. Now open at a vibrant corner in Jersey City’s Downtown Area at 235 Grand Street, the light-filled space offers a new concept in organic prepared meal pick-up and delivery, meal plans, catering, and groceries along with the most amazing Dine-In experience. They also offer Room Service, serving more than 600 apartments as the newest concept for a residential building.

As an immigrant, knowing that he had such a skilled and dedicated team working on his behalf has been an inspiring and extraordinary experience for him and the business. It is one

of the empowering aspects of being an entrepreneur. The support Alejandro has received throughout the entire process was critical to make his idea a reality.

When he thinks about what this journey has meant to him, the word “familia” comes to mind. Being able to collaborate with the SHCCNJ team inspired Alejandro to believe in himself. He made a dream come true and committed to keep encouraging and leading other entrepreneurs because he believes in this beautiful country where everything is possible. We just need to ask for help and do the right things.

CAVANY FOODS is located at 235 Grand Street, Jersey City New Jersey, 07304 WWW.CAVANYFOODS.COM

The power of diversity

Diversity brings strength. Diversity creates solutions. Because we know that a diversity of perspectives, experiences and backgrounds is an incredibly powerful way to unlock new ideas and better understand the needs of others.

AT&T is honored to support the Statewide Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of New Jersey.

Congratulations to this year's award winners.

© 2022 AT&T Intellectual Property. AT&T and Globe logo are registered trademarks and service marks of AT&T Intellectual Property and/or AT&T affiliated companies. All other marks are the property of their respective owners.

foreign-born. It was a diverse pool of talented entrepreneurs with companies across various sectors, including health and wellness, restaurant and food, consumer goods, and education. One of our proudest milestones is expanding into the African American

HETP/LETS PITCH COMPETITION

This year’s Wells Fargo-sponsored Pitch Competition awarded three prizes estimated at $11,500.

1st Prize: Dr. Anna Locke of Charlandra Consulting & Counseling (estimated at $6,000)

2nd Prize: Bladimir Quito of Qinti Docum (estimated at $3000.00)

THE LATINA ENTREPRENEURSHIP TRAINING SERIES (LETS),

More than thirty women business owners joined this year’s LETS program to learn how to scale up their two or three-year company. Our tailored, comprehensive curriculum covered diverse business pillars appealing to the multi-faceted, multi-talented, modern Latina. Participants completed this course providing the foundational principles and best practices for implementation into their daily operations and as part of their business plan. They were also provided counseling on the necessary steps for moving into a brick-andmortar location, hiring employees, and obtaining loans. Experienced SHCCNJ bilingual instructors guided them in refining their business pillars toward sustainable growth. To further develop their business plans and areas of interest, selected participants received one-on-

organizations providing those certifications throughout the country. The second class focused on New Jersey certification programs for Small Business Enterprise, VeteranOwned, Woman-Owned, or MinorityOwned Businesses. The last class brought all the knowledge into the classroom, with participants creating capability statements for their small businesses.

SUMMER SERIES (MARKETING-FOCUSED)

SPONSORED BY BANK OF

PSEG CERTIFICATION TO TAP INTO THE $1 BILLION SECTOR

AMERICA

Continuing education and capacity-building opportunities continued for the alums of HETP & LETS programs. This summer series provided value-added and indepth classroom instruction and one-onone professional services with a plethora of brand exposure: access to marketing apps, advertising & promotions; access to e-commerce apps for online sales; access to vendors for API integrations; expanded media exposure through TV & Digital shows, including Qué Pasa NJ, Amigos de Univision and Chamber Talks; professional headshots; B-Roll footage for usage in brands marketing efforts.

Upon conclusion, participants earned a certificate of completion and completed a comprehensive survey to provide insight into their experience, guiding us for future offerings. Also, they receive access to additional free entrepreneurial seminars and a one-year complimentary membership to the SHCCNJ.

Energy-efficiency business opportunities are on the rise in New Jersey. To capitalize on the 1 billion energy-efficiency initiative, we partnered with PSEG in December of 2021 to offer its Clean Energy Job Readiness Program to our business community. This three-part masterclass began with an overview of the clean energy sector and provided guidance on available resources for professionals and websites to clean energy employment opportunities. The second class instructed participants on best practices for resumes, cover and Thank You letters. The final installment provided personalized, one-onone coaching to ten working professionals with 30-minute sessions for feedback on resumes and LinkedIn.

SMALL BUSINESS BONDING READINESS PROGRAM

Bonding can increase a contractor’s competitive advantage and project opportunities for revenue growth. Our bonding readiness program is a free, 100% virtual, and Bilingual offering that strengthens participants’ competitive advantage to secure increased project opportunities. This program helps increase insight and skills for accounting and financial presentation; operational efficiency; marketing, surety bonding capacity; construction and contract law; and certification and financing. Taught by subject matter experts, including SHCCNJ staff and 1099 consultants, participants also get access to one-on-one advisory services.

Also, in our continued effort to provide cutting-edge tools and resources, SHCCNJ will offer Proprietary Tracking Software or an online portal where entrepreneurs can upload documents and review online modules at their own pace. This enhanced feature will help participants apply what they learned in the classroom to practical, real-life business operations.

LISC TRAINING PROGRAM TOOLKIT FOR BUSINESSES IMPACTED BY CLIMATE CHANGE

Offering two-training modules, the Climate Preparedness Toolkit facilitates exercises with small businesses, helping them identify critical climate hazards and barriers to preparedness. The first provides participants with an overview of how to conduct a risk assessment (threat, hazard, vulnerability, impact) and prioritize investments and actionable steps accordingly. The second helps participants develop strategies that facilitate reconstruction, rapid innovation, and adaptation to short-term and long-term changes in their environments.

Coughlin’s legislative career has focused on lifting up working and middle-class families and New Jerseyans, and he has led the way on smart investments into communities and the state’s economy. Highlights of the Speaker’s twelve-year tenure include successfully raising the state’s minimum wage, sponsorship of four expansive anti-hunger bill packages, reforming the state’s economic and business incentive programs principally through the Economic Recovery Act of 2020, expanding the state’s micro brewing industry, implementing automatic voter registration, and modernizing the state’s brownfield remediation process. His wealth of knowledge of governmental operations has led to several key pieces of legislation being signed into law.

Craig J. Coughlin

Speaker of the New Jersey General Assembly.

Welcome Remarks OF AWARDS GALA 2022

The Honorable Assembly Speaker Craig J. Coughlin was born on January 31, 1958 in Perth Amboy, New Jersey. He attended public schools in South Amboy going on to graduate summa cum laude from St. John’s University in 1980 and then to earn his law degree from St. John’s University School of Law in 1983.

Serving his seventh term in the General Assembly representing the 19th Legislative District. Coughlin in January of 2018 garnered the support of the Democratic caucus to become the chamber’s 171st Speaker.

Advocating for taxpayers with the Middle-Class Tax Rebate and boosts to school funding, sponsoring the New Jersey College Affordability Act, fighting for the Senior Freeze, restoration of the Homestead Rebate, improving the fairness of landlordtenant relations, revitalizing the workforce through investments to childcare, and strengthening food security have been cornerstone achievements of Speaker Coughlin’s policy agenda.

A long-time champion for food insecure communities, Speaker Coughlin spearheads an annual bowling fundraiser to benefit local food pantries in his district. In partnership with dozens of area businesses and organizations, the event has raised over $300,000 since its inaugural year in 2010.

The Speaker also co-chairs the FeedNJ Campaign, launched at the height of the pandemic to connect local restaurants with soup kitchens feeding families. Before running for the Assembly in 2009, Coughlin was a member of the South Amboy Board of Education, then served as a City Councilman for six years. Speaker Coughlin has served in various legal capacities including as a municipal court judge, prosecutor and public defender.

Coughlin is a partner in Woodbridge-based law firm, Rainone, Coughlin, Minchello LLC. He and his wife, Letitia, have three sons—Craig Jr., Vincent and Nicholas.

Leadership Expansion Success

We celebrate that our Chairman, Luis De La Hoz, was in Phoenix in October to receive SHCCNJ recognition, named the Best Large Chamber of the Year by the United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce National Conference. Criteria for selection included leadership, community service, and advocacy for local Hispanic enterprises.

We are always committed to promote the continued growth and development of New Jersey businesses.

Statewide Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of New Jersey Best Large Chamber in the United States of the Year

Fearless, Confident, 2022 HETP Success Stories of Economic Impact

We know that nearly 5 million Hispanic-owned businesses in the United States contribute more than $800 billion to the American economy annually. According to the National Women’s Business Council, two million Latina-owned businesses in the U.S. provide jobs to over 550,000 workers who generate more than $100 billion in revenue. And HETP’s success stories emerge from this broader context and translate into real individual examples from our entrepreneurs.

We started the year with an unprecedented number of applications to the Hispanic Entrepreneur Training Program and the Latina Entrepreneur Training Program, culminating in the graduation of 50 business owners in our program and a competitive pitch competition, the Statewide Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of New Jersey has much to flaunt this year.

“You have to embrace – not fear – the challenges. Dream, be fearless, and follow through,” said makeup artist Rea Ann Silva and inventor of the egg-shaped makeup blending sponge, Beautyblender, with sales of over $175 million in 2019.

As part of our HETP program, we conduct followup sessions and surveys. We define success as opportunities for growth when participating businesses can roll out new products and services, shift to a viable business model of operations, and can target new market segments. We found that 35% of participants hired new personnel, part-time or full time or contractors, and not one business went bankrupt or closed. Here is a snapshot of some of those stories.

Barbara Bryant, who is not Latina, was delighted to have been welcomed into the program by the Director of Grants & Entrepreneurship, Dr. Jairo Borja. She initially joined HETP to gain resources for her business, I Say Yes Salon & Spa, LLC, an eco-friendly salon for an ethnically diverse clientele that she opened with her daughter Crystal D. Lewis. “It was a gift from God. The counseling from business coaches helped us qualify for business grants that helped us acquire another salon suite and open a beauty supply retail store.”

Quentin “Coach Q” Jordan, a weight loss coach, performance enhancement specialist, and Certified Personal Trainer, updated his prices at All Day Fitness, LLC, increasing his revenue by 13% in less than a year.

Dr. Anna Locke, Charlandra Consulting & Counseling, an international award-winning author and educator working in the mental health profession for more than 15 years, received the Most Promising Textbook 2022 Award from the Textbook and Academic Authors Association. Dr. Locke is also the winner of this year’s HETP pitch competition.

John Gavirla, Obra Xpress, LLC, a construction company with clients in the United States and Colombia, secured two significant contracts.

Yovanny Jimenez, Chicholitos LLC, an e-commerce children’s clothing store, completed all her company registrations and set up her online Shopify store.

Bladimir Quito, Qinti Docum, a social impact company dedicated to strengthening relationships between higher education institutions in the United States and Ecuador, officially launched on November 16 and created a partnership by hiring Sava Group LLC, which will offer live simultaneous translation during events. He shares that HETP helped him refine his services, better manage his team and strengthen the structure of his business with marketing techniques for social media too.

Updated his prices and increased his y 13%

a Xpress, LLC und two major clients and signed corresponding contracts.

Barbara Bryant - I Say Yes Salon & Spa, LLC Acquired another salon suite and opened a beauty supply retail store.

Award the 2022 Most Promising xtbook Award by

Yovanny Jimenez - Chicholitos LLC and the Shopify site is ready.

Sava Group LLC for live simultaneous

2022 HETP and LETS Pitch Competition!

On September 9, we held our Pitch Competition and awarded three prizes with an estimated total value of $11,500. Dr. Anna Locke of Charlandra Consulting & Counseling won the First Prize with an estimated value of $6,000; Bladimir Quito of Qinti Docum received the Second Prize with an estimated value of $3,000, and Dolly Martinez of Botanical Earth received with an estimated value of $2,500.

Our distinguished list of judges were: Lilia Rios (SHCCNJ

and Co-Founder of La Providencia),

Board Member

Monica Martinez Millan (SHCCNJ Board Member and Owner of Stumpy’s Hatchet House), Jose Taveras (Vice President of Business Development Wells Fargo), Rodney Beltre (AVP Compliance Liaison Affairs Cross River), Joseph Wilson (Relationship manager and Vice President Minority Business Development PNC Bank), Ariel Coss (Vice President Columbia Bank).

AWARDS GALA