Welcoming The New Year

& Governor Pedro  Pierluisi!

Congratulations Dr. Miguel Cardona!

Dr. Miguel Cardona is a former public school teacher, experienced administrator, public school parent, and a proven leader who is ready to lead on day one. He will implement the President-elect’s bold education agenda, starting with investing in all our students, supporting our educators, and making reopening our schools safely a national priority. 

Currently serving as the Education Commissioner of Connecticut — the first Latino to hold the position — Dr. Cardona is a former fourth-grade public school teacher from Meriden, CT, the same school district he attended as a child. He became the youngest principal in the state and, later, an assistant superintendent of schools in his hometown.

He is known as a collaborative leader with experience working to close persistent socioeconomic and racial education gaps — a champion of public education with the resolve needed to help schools reopen safely and get students and educators the resources they need to thrive.

In the midst of the ongoing pandemic, Dr. Cardona’s leadership helped make Connecticut the first state in the nation to ensure that every one of its public school students has a laptop and a high-speed internet connection to engage in remote learning — a key driver in preventing lost school time and closing long-term equity and opportunity gaps. 

Dr. Cardona brings a deep commitment to public education and a keen understanding of the links between students’ success and community circumstances — raised in a housing project by parents who had moved to Connecticut from Puerto Rico and the first in his family to go to college, Dr. Cardona was known for bringing new teachers in his district on tours of Meriden’s economically disparate neighborhoods during his tenure as assistant superintendent.

Dr. Cardona will work to ensure every student can get a high-quality education from pre-K to post-high school, no matter their zip code, parents’ income, race, sexual orientation and gender identity, or disability. He will be a strong partner for educators and parents — getting educators the raises they deserve, tackling the mental health crisis in our education system, and getting schools and communities the resources they need. 

Dr. Cardona is ready on day one to make getting our kids back to school safely a national priority, and will work closely with educators; state, local, and tribal officials; and parents and caregivers. If Congress provides the necessary funding and states put strong public health measures in place that we all follow, Dr. Cardona will help make President-elect Biden’s goal of safely reopening the majority of our schools within the first 100 days of his presidency a reality. 

Dr. Cardona brings a deep commitment to expanding access to community colleges, training, and public four-year colleges and universities to improve student success and grow a stronger, more prosperous, and more inclusive middle class. 

Dr. Cardona understands that the COVID-19 crisis has exacerbated long-standing inequities in our education system, and will make it his mission to close racial and socioeconomic equity gaps, including in high poverty areas, rural communities, and Indian Country. He will work to rectify funding gaps and secure much-needed support for Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Minority-Serving Institutions, and Tribal Colleges and Universities. 

Sponsors & Partners

Groundbreaking  Ceremony

Thank you to all who came out for our groundbreaking and everyone who has supported our chamber!

On September 15, 2020 history was made for Puerto Ricans in the Wynwood community of Miami. The groundbreaking ceremony for the Puerto Rican Chamber of Commerce facility (Puerto Rican Community Center) was held on the first day of Hispanic Heritage month. According to Luis DeRosa, President, Puerto Rican Chamber, it has taken 10 years from the conception of this project to groundbreaking. 

The speakers representing Government were:  Hon. Carlos Gimenez, Mayor of Miami Dade County; Hon. Francis Suarez, Mayor of the City of Miami;  and Hon. Audrey Edmonson, Chairwomen of the Miami Dade County Board of Commissioners.  Commissioner Edmonson has been the prime sponsor and mover in County government for the creation of the Puerto Rican Community Center and helped push the project forward. We are forever grateful for her contribution. Also speaking was Moishe Mana,  the prime private sector participant whose contribution to the Puerto Rican Community Center made the project possible. We are grateful as well for his commitment to the project. Miami Dade State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle spoke about the importance of collaboration among community groups and David Efron, Esq.. Honorary Israeli Consulate to Puerto Rico mentioned the support from Puerto Rico and Israel for the project.

Representing the Puerto Rican Chamber was Hector Rivera, Esq. Chairman of the Board who spoke at the groundbreaking ceremony on behalf of the membership.  Paul Velez, President of Borinquen Medical Centers and Eva Perez, Borinquen Chairwomen,  spoke about the many contribution the “Boricua” community has made to Miami starting with its first Mayor of Hispanic heritage, fellow Puerto Rican Former Mayor Maurice Ferre . Also attending were Puerto Rican Chamber board members Victor Gutierrez, Esq.; Rosie Hernandez, & Juan Bracete, Esq. . The groundbreaking was attended by local community leaders and residents of the Wynwood community among whom were Maria Rodriquez, President , Puerto Rican Leadership Council; Rafi Gonzalez, President, PROFESA, Manuel Mejia, President, PROOF, Maribel Camacho, Arts Instructor, Roberto Clemente Park, and Maruxa Cardenas, La Mesa Boricua.

Recent Events

Meeting with Puerto Rico Governor Wanda Vasquez

Meeting with Governor Vasquez to extend invite to this years 11th yr Puerto Rican Summit in Orlando May13-15 at the doubletree Hilton by Seaworld. Community & Economic DeveL, Power of the Vote, hurricane/ earthquake-readiness & Puerto Rico / Florida, 1 million plus PR’s 

Puerto Rican Chamber lunch Meeting in Miami produces “Action Plan”

The Puerto Rican Chamber 4th Quarter Luncheon Meeting Celebrates Puerto Rico Discovery Day with special guest from the Island and Orlando. The event held at the Doubletree Hilton in Miami had a 10:am pre-lunch discussion with members of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU)  signed at the annual National Puerto Rico Summit in Orlando May 17, 2019. The guest participants were: Amilcar Cordova, President, Puerto Rican Chamber of Central Florida, Orlando; Representing Miguel Vargas Jimenez, Exec. Dir. Cámara De Comercio de Puerto Rico, San Juan; was Eugenio M. Alonso, President Florida Consumer; Gustavo Torres Decos, CPA, President Chapter Puerto Rico Society of Certified Public Accountants; Luis DeRosa, President, South Florida Puerto Rican Chamber, Miami; Carlos M. Rodrigues, President, Puerto Rico Manufactures Association; Eduardo Arroyo, President, Arroyo & Associates Strategic Leadership; Edmary Abad, CPA, current Miami Chamber BD member;  Arminda Figueroa, President, Latin2latin; Monsy Irizarry, HR Executive, San Juan, & Angel Lopez, CPA,MBA, Esq. as the moderator of the event. Manuel Laboy, Secretary, Department of Economic Development, Government of Puerto Rico & Miriam Martinez, PR Summit coordinator,  were unable to attend.

The discussion centered on creating an action plan for MOU members to address the challenges and opportunities facing the growing Puerto Rican communities of Florida, to work in merging our forces to assist Puerto Rico recover economically, especially after the devastation of hurricane Maria and to promote Puerto Rico/Florida as viable markets for business development, tourism and partnership opportunities.

For more information please contact Angel Lopez, CPA, MBA, Esq., MOU Coordinator  

Relationship Building with Puerto Rican Leaders on The Island

Puerto Rican Senator Carmelo Rios welcomed delegation from Florida including Luis DeRosa, President Puerto Rican Chamber , Miriam Martinez, consultant, Maribel Camacho & others not pictured discussing the Miami (March 29th) Opportunity Zone presentation and the Orlando annual Puerto Rican Summit.

2019 Three Kings Day Networking Event at Mofongo's

The Puerto Rican Chamber of Commerce (PRCCSF) in cooperation with the Puerto Rican Bar and the Puerto Rican CPA Assoc. held its first networker at Mofongo’s Restaurant on Calle 8 with special guest President of La Cámara de Comercio de Puerto Rico Kenneth Rivera, CPA, who encourage everyone to see Puerto Rico as an opportunity for business exchange and as well, to visit the Island. Hector Rivera, Esq (PRCCSF) welcome those in attendance was also joined by BD members (Juan Bracete, Esq.; Isabel Villalon; & Victor Gutierrez, Esq.) Representing the Puerto Rican Bar was (Jessica Collazo,Esq.; & Richard Robles,Esq). Representing the Puerto Rican CPA Assoc. were Angel Lopez, CPA ; Juan Pizarro, CPA; & Gustavo Torres, CPA the incoming President of the Puerto Rican CPA Assoc. based in Kissimmee/Orlando gave special remarks pledging to continue working together promoting business & community development initiatives. Luis DeRosa, President, (PRCCSF) thanked everyone in attendance & reminded all that through networking & collaboration our community will continue to move forward. He also welcomed the President of the newly established Puerto Rico Business Network Alliance, Inc. represented by Ramon Ortega, CPA.  

Los Tres Reyes Magos 2019 Celebration - "Keeping the Tradition Alive”

Los Tres Reyes Magos – “2019 Celebration - keeping the tradition alive” was held at Roberto Clemente Park by the Dorothy Quintana Senior/Youth Affairs program and its Arts Instructor Maribel Camacho. The toy drive organized by Father - Luis Brignoni, Sr. and Son – Luis Brignoni, Jr., Co-Founders of the Wynwood Brewing company collected toys as gifts for the youth in attendance at Roberto Clemente Park in Wynwood, Miami. The event celebrated a Hispanic tradition. Borinquen Medical Center’s sponsored the food for the seniors in attendance purchased at and delivered by Mofongo Restaurant’s Owners: Jose & Omar Colon, two young brothers who opened on Calle Ocho to great reviews. Borinquen was represented by Eva Perez, Bd. Chair; Debbie Ponce & Jocelyn Michel, Bd. members; and Ivette Perez Bd. Vice Chair. Luis DeRosa represented the Puerto Rican Chamber.