SOMOS - #MakingItHappen!

🌊 Meet Miguel Avila, the visionary behind Daily View Pools & Spas, who took his roots in a traditional industry and gave it an innovative twist! From pool construction to tech-driven solutions, Miguel’s entrepreneurial journey is one of embracing change and uplifting others. Check out his story and how he's helping small businesses thrive through partnerships with Stanford University and Google.

📖 Dan Lugo’s commitment to Queens University of Charlotte is built on the values of inclusivity, opportunity, and empowerment. By rebranding the university’s role in Charlotte, Dan is expanding access to higher education and helping every student reach their potential. Watch his journey and share this video! #SOMOS #MakingItHappen

🌟 Jose Costa’s leadership journey is about more than business growth; it’s about redefining what it means to be a modern leader. With roots in marketing and an entrepreneurial mindset, Jose has led companies forward by fostering deep connections, continuous learning, and a commitment to making a lasting impact. Watch his story and share this video! #SOMOS #MakingItHappen

🌟 As the cofounder of Ethos Creative Studios, Eleazar Herrera helps businesses connect with the fast-growing Latino market through marketing. Check out his powerful story of building a successful agency, overcoming challenges, and empowering others. #SOMOS #MakingItHappen

🥖 Manuel "Manolo" Betancur came to the US as an immigrant, faced challenges, and created something extraordinary - Manolo's Bakery. His business isn’t just about bread; it’s about community, lifting up immigrant families, and never forgetting where you came from. Let’s celebrate Manolo’s journey by sharing his story. #SOMOS #MakingItHappen

💼 From the streets of Charlotte as a police officer to the courtroom as a lawyer, Ximena Sussman's journey is one of passion, perseverance, and purpose. As the founder of Sussman Law Firm, she’s on a mission to empower those who need it most — immigrants, families, and small businesses. Watch her inspiring story and help us spread the word by sharing this video. #SOMOS #MakingItHappen

🔥👨‍🍳 Meet Bruno Macchiavello, the heart and soul behind Viva Chicken and Yunta restaurants! From his abuela's kitchen in Peru to mastering culinary arts worldwide, Bruno's journey is a testament to passion, teamwork, and the love of food. Watch his inspiring story and see how his dedication to culinary excellence and community impact shines through. #SOMOS #MakingItHappen

📣 Celebrating Rafael Prieto, a journalist whose work has consistently shed light on vital community issues. His contributions to major media outlets have earned him numerous awards and honors. Originally from Colombia, Rafael’s journey through cities like Los Angeles, New York, and Charlotte is a testament to his dedication to advocacy and excellence in journalism. Watch the video and share it to amplify Rafael’s voice and achievements! #SOMOS #MakingItHappen

🌟 Discover Pat Martinez’s inspiring journey. CEO & Founder of Leadership in the Clouds, she transformed barriers into success. She empowers others with leadership skills and business growth strategies. Celebrate her inspiring story and share her video! #SOMOS #MakingItHappen

🛒 Join us in celebrating the success of Omar Jorge, CEO of Compare Foods. Omar’s journey from a small family market in New York to leading 40 supermarkets is a story of vision and determination. By transforming challenges into opportunities, Omar has grown Compare Foods to employ 3,500 people, making a significant impact on local economies. Watch and share Omar’s inspiring story! #SOMOS #MakingItHappen

🏙 Meet Richard Cuebas, co-founder of Integra Design Group, PSC. His journey from his secure beginnings to co-founding Integra Design reflects his adventurous spirit and passion for architecture. His work goes beyond designing buildings; it’s about embracing the unknown and creating something new that reflects our city's vibrant culture. Watch and share his inspiring story! #LatinoImpact #SOMOS #MakingItHappen

💼 Meet Manny Rodrigues, the driving force behind Broad River Retail's success as Chief Operating Officer. His journey, rooted in family values and a strong work ethic, exemplifies the spirit of Latino entrepreneurship. Through his leadership, Manny has cultivated a culture of care and community within Broad River Retail, driving both employee engagement and business growth. Join us in celebrating Manny and the impactful contributions of Latino leaders to Charlotte's economy. Watch his inspiring video today! #LatinoLeaders #SOMOS #MakingItHappen

Meet Alma Parvaz, the dynamo behind partnerships at the Charlotte Hornets, proving that Latina excellence knows no bounds. 🏀 Her journey embodies #SOMOS, rising to the top with a love for family as her guiding star. As one of the leading Latinas in her field, Alma’s passion fuels her role, bringing personal beliefs into professional success. Join us in celebrating Alma and her game-changing moves, showing the world that in our community, #MakingItHappen is not just a goal, it’s our legacy.

Meet Hilda Gurdian, the visionary behind La Noticia, one of North Carolina’s most influential Spanish news companies, showing that Latina power knows no bounds. 🌟 Her journey from Venezuela to North Carolina embodies #SOMOS, fueled by a passion for journalism and a commitment to empowering women. As a coach and mentor, Hilda shares her own story to inspire others, proving that with grit and determination, dreams can become reality. Join us in celebrating Hilda and her unwavering dedication, because in our community, #MakingItHappen is not just a headline, it’s our message of hope.

Lucia Zapata Griffith, founder of Metro Landmarks, blends sustainability and architectural innovation to redefine Charlotte's skyline. 🏙 Her story embodies the Latino excellence driving the U.S. economy forward. But Lucia's story is just one facet. Small business owners such as Christian Gallardo, from Carolina’s 1st Choice Agency, Wendy & Eliseo Pascual, from Pascuales Farm, and Norma Zuniga from Dulce Dreams cafe are other pioneers of Latino success. Together, they're not just breaking barriers, they're building bridges, showing the world that in our community, #MakingItHappen is not just a goal, it's our legacy. #SOMOS

🔨 Dive into the story of Francisco Alvarado, the driving force behind Marand Builders, Inc. More than just constructing buildings, he's building a legacy of empowerment and success. Francisco's commitment to fostering a vibrant workplace has resulted in Marand Builders employing 160 people and operating across 14 states. But it doesn't end there – it's a family legacy. Meet Marcelo & Andres, carrying the torch forward with the same spirit. Be inspired and share the impact of #MakingItHappen at Marand Builders. 🚀 #SOMOS #BuildingLegacy

🔥 The Hibachi Samurai: Bismarck's Impact 🔥 Bismarck, the visionary behind Charlotte's top hibachi spot Kabuto at Tyvola , Japanese Steak House and Sushi Bar, proves that dreams know no bounds. Starting as a dishwasher, he now leads a thriving restaurant. Share his inspiring story and let's celebrate the Latinos who are undeniably #MakingItHappen in the U.S. economy. #SOMOS

🎞 A Celebration of Latin American Culture: Cine Casual - Latin American Film Festival 🎞 We want to honor a pioneer like Giovanna Torres, the creative force behind Cine Casual. Her passion turned a dream into one of the Carolinas' most significant film festivals. Share this video, and let's recognize her impact. Together, we are #MakingItHappen, shaping our cultural legacy. Join us. #SOMOS.

🌟 Inspiring Resilience: Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month 🌟Meet Julio Colmenares, from CGR Creative, a resilient entrepreneur in Charlotte who turned challenges into opportunities. Despite facing monumental crises like 9/11, the housing bubble, and COVID-19, he turned obstacles into strategy, growing his digital marketing business. He now puts his experience to help other companies achieve their goals through digital marketing. His story is a beacon of resilience and innovation. Let’s inspire the creative resilience that makes Charlotte a thriving city. Share this video and let us celebrate all those who are #MakingItHappen! #SOMOS

🚀 Shaping the Future: Latino Entrepreneurs in Action 🚀 Discover how Latino entrepreneurs in Charlotte are making a real impact on our local economy. Today, we present Miriam Espaillat, from Raydal Hospitality, which runs restaurants such as Sabor Latin Street Grill, Three Amigos Mexican Grill & Cantina, La Caseta, SARU, Beyond Amazing Donuts, Carolina Cooks, and Figo36 Modern Italian. Miriam is a Social Mobility Trailblazer who's transforming the business landscape by providing jobs, education, and career advice to their employees. Be part of the movement—share this story, and let's keep #MakingItHappen together! #SOMOS