PUERTO RICAN SUMMIT INC.
MIAMI, FLORIDA

www.helpforpr.com On Friday May 12, 2017, the eighth annual Puerto Rican Summit was held at the DoubleTree Hilton at Seaworld.  The Summit hosted speakers and guests from all regions of Florida, Washington DC, New York and Puerto Rico.  The Summit featured four workshops and a Business Luncheon entitled “Florida – Puerto Rico:  Two Markets that Work for You”.  As in past years, Dynamic Community Development Corporation (CDC), a 501 (c) 3 community and economic development corporation, was the principal sponsor and organizer of the event.  The second workshop “Increasing Entrepreneurship in our Community” was presented in partnership with the U. S. Small Business Administration (SBA).  It began with Opening Remarks by Mr. Jose E. Ramos, SBA Senior Area Manager, who provided an overview of SBA activities and programs.  The panel moderator was Mr. Gilbert Colon, SBA Deputy District Director for North and Central Florida, who interviewed four entrepreneurs who achieved business growth and success through participation in SBA’s 8a program - a program designed to help small, disadvantaged businesses compete in the federal marketplace.  The discussion centered on encouraging business people to “think big” and to seek to qualify for SBA business programs. (see picture for panel members) The Summit Business Luncheon – always popular and well-attended – was hosted by Master of Ceremonies Ms. Olga Aymat, on-air talent, news anchor and reporter with Telemundo.  The Summit organizer, Dynamic CDC, together with Hon. Wanda Rentas, Vice Mayor of the City of Kissimmee, presented a check to the Borinqueneers - the 65th Infantry Regiment of the United States Army – received by a Borinqueneer who served in the Korean War.  Also present was Mr. Oscar Gonzalez of Clean the World – an organization dedicated to distribution of soap and other hygiene products internationally – who, with the help of Summit attendees, prepared two hundred health kits for donation to Proyecto Somos Orlando.  Welcoming Remarks were presented by Hon. Tony Ortiz, Commissioner, City of Orlando and Hon. Wanda Rentas.  Special Remarks were made by Hon. Darren Soto and Mr. Julio Benitez-Torres, Esq., Deputy Secretary of the Puerto Rico Industrial Development Co. (PRIDCO).  The Keynote speaker was Hon. Carmelo Rios-Santiago Esq., Majority Speaker of the Puerto Rico Senate and Vice President, National Hispanic Caucus of State Legislators.  Following the Luncheon, the fourth and final workshop entitled “Puerto Rico:  Financial & Economic Development Initiatives” was moderated by Mr. Arnaldo Soto, Vice President, HUB International, Puerto Rico.  Panel members were:  Mr. Carlos Mercader Esq., Executive Director of the Puerto Rico Federal Affairs Administration (PRFAA) in Washington DC; Mr. David A. Rodriguez-Ortiz, President, Cámara de Comercio de Puerto Rico, San Juan; Hon. Carmelo Rios-Santiago Esq.; and Mr. Julio Benitez-Torres Esq.  Their discussion centered on the ongoing financial difficulty in which the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico currently finds itself, the efforts – both from within the Island and by the Federal government – to alleviate the debt crisis, and the continuing status of Puerto Rico as a market for trade, business, investment and tourism as a means for the Island to grow economically and to stem the current migration from the Island.   Standing L-R: Hon. Tony Ortiz, Commissioner, City of Orlando; Hon. Wanda Rentas, Commissioner, City of Kissimmee; Luis De Rosa; Hon. Darren Soto, US Congressman; Olga Aymat, News Anchor, Telemundo