Community Leaders, Entrepreneurs and prominent business leaders gathered Saturday to celebrate the closing of Hispanic Heritage Month by congratulating the first 20 Latino entrepreneurs to graduate from Pittsburgh Metropolitan Area Hispanic Chamber of Commerce’s first ever Business Success Academy (BSA) program sponsored by the Hillman Foundation. The ceremony, hosted by Point Park University included live music from Camerata 33 (a local Latin Orchestra), networking, brunch and a graduation ceremony.
The BSA program provided participating Hispanic Entrepreneurs & Business owners with development training that equips them with professional and business skills needed to improve leadership and get work done faster, better and at a lower cost thereby increasing overall professional performance, productivity and success. These Latino entrepreneurs were provided with Group and One on One trainings with the CE Leadership Group, Advertising with La Mega Media, Marketing Consultations by Higher Images, Financial Consulting by Jason Jones of the Forbes Funds, Featured in stories on the YaJagoff Podcast & Radio show, provided with Video Advertisements for their business, a graduation celebration and one year membership to the chamber.
“My small business benefitted ten fold through the program, by providing executive coaching, connections to other small businesses, increased visibility and a network of support! I am so fortunate and thankful.”
– Victoria Snyder, Founder & CEO, Self Care Señorita
Participants were also recommended for grants through Comcast, the Pittsburgh Steelers, Pittsburgh Pirates, the United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and more.
Participants range in the stage of their entrepreneurial journey from idea to seasoned small business owners. BSA Graduate Jesus Martinez is the founder and CEO of La Palapa which has been voted the best Mexican restaurant in Pittsburgh every year since 2019. Victoria Snyder is Founder & CEO of Self Cafe Senorita “a one-stop-shop for learning about all things self-care” and a 2022 Pittsburgh Steelers “Women of Steel” business. Maria Manautou is Founder & Editor of Pittsburgh Latino Magazine. Maria – along with the creator and administrator of the program, PMAHCC Executive Director, Melanie Marie Boyer – were named among the 2022 100 most
powerful Latinos in the state of Pennsylvania by the PA Hispanic Convention.
This program was sponsored by a $75,000 donation from the Hillman Foundation which provided scholarships to all 20 participants, allowing them to benefit from the program at no personal cost.
