#LeadTheChange Latinx-Owned Business Roundtable – East MA

Join us for one of our Minority-Owned Business Roundtable Series geared towards Meaningful Access & Upward Mobility for All. This is an opportunity to meet with business leaders and community at large in an environment that fosters learning, networking and information exchange related to your business growth and workforce development.

About the Series

In the U.S., minority business enterprises (MBEs) contribute substantially to the economy. Minority firms are growing at a faster rate than non-minority firms and the minority-owned business sector plays a critical role in reducing the unemployment rate nationally. Language and cultural barriers, technology gaps, and the lack of existing credit lines make it challenging for minority entrepreneurs to get the help and funds they need to keep their doors open and staff on payroll– and the situation is only getting worse.

Job creation, innovation, economic parity, and productivity in the country will suffer as a result of the loss of MBEs. As a result, Commonwealth Corporation and our local partners are dedicated to aggressively address the constraints in place to ensure the short-term survival and long-term success of MBEs.

We will be hosting a dynamic speaker followed by an interactive roundtable, where we will be discussing how to create meaningful access for minorities to state funding, what barriers are in place and which programs are available to overcome these barriers and promote impact and success.

This event will also have a component of networking and referrals with local partners that cater to Minority-Owned Businesses. There is no cost to attend this event.

Learn more about this initiative and other local events geared towards Minority-Owned Businesses here →

Meet the Speakers

Josiane Martinez

Founder and CEO, Archipelago Strategies Group

Josiane holds nearly 20 years of experience working in public policy, cross cultural communications, public affairs and public administration. At ASG, she’s the marketing mastermind behind campaigns that have generated record results for clients, particularly in the Public Health sector. Prior to founding Archipelago Strategies Group, she served as Executive Director of the Massachusetts Office for Refugees and Immigrants. Born and raised in Puerto Rico, Josiane is a musician and poet at heart. She holds BA in Public Communications from the University of Puerto Rico and an MBA with a concentration in Marketing from Simmons University.

Marcela Aldaz-Matos

Co-Founder and CEO, Arka HR

Marcela is a business executive with extensive industry experience in financial services, healthcare, and  non-profit organizations. She has managed numerous U.S. and international teams locally and internationally. Marcela’s expertise includes organizational design, values-based performance  management and diversity, equity, and inclusion. Previously, Marcela was the Inaugural Director of Diversity,  Equity & Inclusion for Mass General Brigham (Formerly Partners HealthCare).  Marcela earned an MBA and post MBA from Simmons College School of Management in Boston.

Marcela is a dedicated advocate for women and minorities. She was appointed by Massachusetts’ Governor  Charlie Baker to serve on the State’s first Latino Advisory Commission where she is serving her third year. She  is also the Board Chair of ALPFA’s National Board of Directors, a professional association with more than 90  thousand members and 150, chapters across the country. Marcela is a member of the Greater Boston  Chamber of Commerce Women’s Network Advisory Board. She is also the Co-chair of the Hispanic Scholarship  Fund Advisory Committee. In 2018, Marcela was recognized as one of the Top 100 Executive & Emerging  Leaders in the USA by Diversity MBA Magazine. In 2015 she received the Women Leadership Achievement  Award by the World Women Leadership Congress in India.  

Juan Carlos Morales

Managing Partner, Surfside Capital Advisors LLC

Juan Carlos Morales is the founder and Managing Partner of Surfside Capital Advisors LLC (SCA), an advisory firm with offices in Boston and Zurich. SCA helps businesses design and execute high-conviction growth strategies by combining disciplined planning with “trajectory changing events” such as capital raising, buy/sell transactions, restructurings, and other transformation initiatives.

In 2016 he was appointed by Governor Baker to serve on the Board of Directors of Massachusetts Development Corporation (MassDev). MassDev is the state of Massachusetts’ economic development agency, stimulating business and driving growth by originating over $4 billion in capital transactions every year. He serves on the executive committee of the Board of the Alliance for Business Leadership as well as on the Boards of Eastern Bank and the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce. He is the co-founder of The Latino Legacy Fund at The Boston Foundation and the Boston Chapter of the Association of Latino Professionals for America (ALPFA).

Meet our Partners

EforAll / EparaTodos Merrimack Valley

Entrepreneurship for All (EforAll) is accelerating economic and social impact through inclusive entrepreneurship in communities nationwide. EforAll offers free one-year business training programs with dedicated mentors in English and Spanish.

Northern Essex Community College

Established in 2021, The Latino Economic Development Corporation’s mission is to work with different partners throughout New England area connecting the Latino Business community to: Capital Infusion, Coaching & Professional Development, as well as Connecting them to a network through advocacy to make their voices be heard.

ALPFA Boston

ALPFA (Association of Latino Professionals For America) was the first national Latino professional association in the United States, established in Los Angeles in 1972. Throughout our 50-year history we have experienced steady growth and demonstrated consistent value. ALPFA continues to build upon its proud legacy with a mission: To empower and develop Latino men and women as leaders of character for the nation, in every sector of the global economy.

Supplier Diversity Office (SDO)

The SDO’s mission is to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion in state contracting for businesses owned by minorities, women, Portuguese, veterans, service-disabled veterans, those with a disability, and LGBT individuals, as well as small Massachusetts businesses. The SDO certifies these businesses and manages several programs that help them enhance their marketability when bidding on public contracts.

The Merrimack Valley Chamber of Commerce

The SDO’s mission is to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion in state contracting for businesses owned by minorities, women, Portuguese, veterans, service-disabled veterans, those with a disability, and LGBT individuals, as well as small Massachusetts businesses. The SDO certifies these businesses and manages several programs that help them enhance their marketability when bidding on public contracts.