The State of Hispanic/Latinx Business in the Pittsburgh Region
Event box
Hispanic businesses are the fastest-growing segment of the US economy, with 3.2 million enterprises contributing $486 billion dollars annually to the economy (US Hispanic Chamber of Commerce). Join us for a lively conversation with service providers that support Hispanic/Latinx businesses, Pitt and city officials, and local entrepreneurs about the current climate, trends, and opportunities for the Pittsburgh region’s Hispanic-owned business community. This panel discussion will cover topics such as minority business certification and local contracts, funding resources, and attraction and retention strategies for our region.
Registration is required. Visit calendar.pitt.edu/event/hbp to register.
Moderators
LaMonica Wiggins, University Library System, University of Pittsburgh
LaMonica Wiggins is the Entrepreneurship and Economics Librarian at the University of Pittsburgh. In her position, she supports students, faculty, staff and the public with small business research including market and patent analysis. She develops outreach programs to address disparities in the entrepreneurial experience of African American, women and other disenfranchised entrepreneurs. She collaborates with government and nonprofit organizations to design services for Pittsburgh-based entrepreneurs.
Brent Rondon, Small Business Development Center, University of Pittsburgh
Brent Rondon is the Senior Consultant for International Trade for the Small Business Development Center at the University of Pittsburgh.
Panelists:
Melanie Marie Boyer, Pittsburgh Metropolitan Area Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
Melanie Marie Boyer is the Director of the Pittsburgh Metropolitan Area Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. Melanie is a freelance marketing and production specialist in addition to being an emerging venture capital fund manager. Melanie Marie is passionate about helping businesses to reach their full potential and getting funding into the underserved American entrepreneurial ecosystem.
Guillermo Velazquez, Pittsburgh Hispanic Development Corporation
Guillerno Velazquez is the Executive Director of the Pittsburgh Hispanic Development Corporation’s Business Incubator, a multicultural space where Hispanic entrepreneurs can meet with experienced staff who speak fluent Spanish, Portuguese, and English, and who understand the perspective of a Hispanic in the entrepreneurship ecosystem. PHDC guides entrepreneurs to create business plans, cash flow projections, balance sheets, and market analyses, and to identify financing strategies.
Pierce Robinson, Urban Redevelopment Authority
Pierce Robinson is the Business Solutions Officer at the Urban Redevelopment Authority of Pittsburgh as well as leading the development of the URA's new Workforce Development department.
Jennifer Barnes, Panther Express, University of Pittsburgh
Jennifer Barnes joined the University of Pittsburgh in 2019 as the Supplier Diversity and Sustainability Coordinator. She works with the procurement team in Purchasing Services and Strategic Sourcing to advance socially and environmentally responsible purchasing. In her role, Jennifer collaborates with University departments and major contracted suppliers to track, analyze, and increase diverse and sustainable spending.