Hispanic Business Leaders Celebrated during Indy Chamber’s Conexión 5 for 500

Hispanic Business Leaders Celebrated during Indy Chamber’s Conexión 5 for 500

Ind. (May 16, 2023)—Hosted by the Hispanic Business Council (HBC), a division within the Indy Chamber’s Entrepreneur Services department, Conexión 5 for 500 exists to recognize five, notable Latinos who are creating tremendous impact across Central Indiana. Today, the five honorees were awarded at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in front of nearly 500 business and community leaders from across the Indy region.

“Through the Hispanic Business Council, we’re able to offer Hispanic business leaders access to tools that are critical to their success,” said Juan Gonzalez, KeyBank Central Indiana Market President and Chairman of the HBC. “These valuable resources are helping create a diverse business community with opportunities for everyone to realize business ownership.”

Today, five Latino leaders were recognized during the event. Honorees included:

• Dr. Leonardo Ramón Ortega recipient of the Advocacy/Business Award.
• Mishell Cox recipient of the Business Impact Award.
• Rafael Sánchez recipient of the Leadership Award.
• Gina Becerra recipient of the Trailblazer Award.
• Wanda Ocasio Nelson recipient of the Vision Award.

“Hispanic business ownership continues to increase across the nine-county, Indy region, in the last year alone, the Indy Chamber’s Hispanic business membership increased by 64 percent,” said Marcela Montero, director of the Indy Chamber’s HBC. “The growth is only sustainable if we continue to equip Hispanic business owners with the resources they need at each stage of their business’ growth.”

Through the Entrepreneur Services department, which includes the Business Ownership Initiative, a Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) supported by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), small businesses can access microlending and one-on-one business coaching in Spanish and English. Those resources coupled with access to a connected network of regional businesses helps improve small business success outcomes.

To learn more about the Hispanic Business Council, please visit the Indy Chamber website.

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About the Hispanic Business Council (HBC)
According to a 2018 report prepared by the Indiana Business Research Center at the IU Kelley School of Business in partnership with the IUPUI Office of Community Engagement, Hispanic-owned firms generate roughly $1.1 billion in revenue across the nine-county, Indy region. Hispanic businesses can access coaching, lending, and business education in English and Spanish through the Hispanic Business Council in English and Spanish. These resources not only support entrepreneurs launching new businesses but also ensure that growing and scaling companies have access to mentorship to successfully navigate every stage of their business. Connect with the HBC.