Meet Latina Venezuelan Successful Hispanic Business Facilitator
Meet Mary Sol Gonzalez, 2024 Hispanic Women of Distinction CEO/Co-Founder, Hispanic Entrepreneur Initiative
“Real role models lead by example, emphasizing the importance of compassion, integrity, and a commitment to improving the world.”
Even before co-founding the Hispanic Entrepreneur Initiative (HEI) in late 2019, Mary Sol Gonzalez has shown she is a dynamic leader and advocate for Hispanic and minority entrepreneurs.
As CEO, she has driven HEI’s mission to empower more than 3,000 primarily female individuals, from Broward and Palm Beach Counties, across 13 countries and16 industries to succeed in their efforts.
HEI’s flagship program, “Empowering the American Dream,” along with four other main programs, has facilitated the creation, expansion, or restructuring of more than 60 businesses. These programs offer comprehensive business plans, training, mentorship, networking opportunities, and access to essential resources, ensuring participants receive guidance in adopting the U.S. business culture to their endeavor.
Mary also serves as the Community Engagement Chair for SCORE Mentors Palm Beach County. There she has significantly enhanced outreach efforts, benefiting more than 600 Hispanic entrepreneurs. She also is a founding board member of the Broward County Hispanic Heritage Chamber of Commerce which promotes economic vitality and business advocacy through international partnerships and local initiatives.
Mary’s community involvement extends to founding the annual Baila Conmigo event at the YMCA of South Palm Beach County, engaging as many as 1,600 participants annually and raising funds for YMCA’s financial aid programs. She also founded and chairs the International Business Alliance at the Boca Raton Chamber of Commerce. These monthly round tables foster economic development for their 2,700 attendees.
Of Venezuelan descent, Mary’s board memberships include the Brazilian Business Group, where she bridges Hispanic and Brazilian business communities, and the Extending a Hand Foundation, supporting underprivileged youth and the elderly in Agua de Dios, Colombia.
She also advocates for community needs through Habitat for Humanity’s “Women’s Build” Program and attends the annual Fly-In events in Tallahassee with the Boca Raton Chamber of Commerce’s Economic Development Committee.
Mary’s dedication and impact have been recognized with numerous awards, including the U.S. Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award for her enduring commitment to volunteer service, the Boca Chamber’s Diamond Award, and The Children’s Museum Woman Volunteer of the Year honor.
The 2024 Honorees are:
MARIBEL FELICIANO – Broward Office of Economic & Small Business Development
MARY SOL GONZALEZ – Hispanic Entrepreneur Initiative
CHRISTINA D/ELOSUA LAMBERT- Chief Adm. Officer Gordon & Partners, WPB City Commissioner
YOLY MAGANA-VALENCIA – Latinas Who Trade & Wealth with Yoly
TARLIKA NUNEZ NAVARRO – Dean, Professor of Law St. Thomas University College of Law
SUSAN NYAMORA – South Florida Wellness Network, President, CEO
KARINA PAVONE – Amigos for Kids, President CEO
MARIA T. PLANAS – Care Plus Health Plans,
RACHEL EUGENIA PINEDO – Foundation of the Americas/Global Philanthropy Society, Founder
SILVIA MARIA QUINTANA – Broward Behavioral Health Coalition, Chief Executive Officer
LOURDES SANCHEZ-BRETON – United Badges of Honor Foundation, Founder & Firefighter
SANDRA NOEMI TORRES – United Latinas, Founder and CEO
2024 LATINA PIONEER of the YEAR
EMILY MARQUEZ-DULIN – -CEO, Brooke USA Foundation, a non-profit focused on providing aid to the to the developing world through economic and sustainable programs that advance the lives of people in equine dependent communities (600 million worldwide). A volunteer consultant for numerous charities and non-profit organizations as we
2024 UP & COMER HONOREE
TIFFANY ESCOBAR – Associate Attorney Beltran Brito Casamayor, LLP, Immigration & Nationality Law
Volunteer with Colombian Bar Association, Co-Founder of the Colombian American Student Bar Association and numerous community service activities.
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