Issuu

Statewide Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of New Jersey Technical Education & Partnership Programs Annual Report 2025

Partnership Programs

GOVERNMENT SPONSORS

SPONSORS & PARTNERS

Letter f rom Leadership 2025 marks a new era for the Statewide Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of New Jersey (SHCCNJ) — a year of innovation, expansion, and collective progress. When we opened the doors of the SHCCNJ Innovation Hub at New Jersey City University, we didn’t just create a new space; we built a launchpad for entrepreneurs. It is a place where learning meets action, where collaboration drives innovation, and where small businesses can accelerate their growth and impact. The Innovation Hub reflects our belief that success should be accessible to all — that business owners can prosper in place, create opportunity, and build generational wealth within their own communities. It stands as a symbol of inclusion, innovation, and sustainable economic growth. For more than a decade, our programs — from the Entrepreneurship Training Program (ETP) to Level Up (formerly LETS) — have helped business owners grow stronger, smarter, and more connected. Together with partners like Wells Fargo, PSEG, NJEDA, and JPMorgan Chase, we continue to deliver free, high‑quality training, mentorship, and access to capital, networks, and markets — the four pillars that drive lasting impact. This year, we celebrated the 11th anniversary of ETP and the successful first cohort of Level Up, hosted at our new Innovation Hub. Each milestone reinforces our core mission: empowering entrepreneurs to build, lead, and thrive.

We build

We empower

We connect

pathways to

business owners

communities to

success.

to grow.

opportunity.

Our call this year is simple A Call to Grow Together. We invite our partners, sponsors, and community leaders to join us in shaping a more inclusive and resilient economy for New Jersey. Together, we continue to prove that collaboration is not just a value — it’s the foundation of progress.

Carlos Medina President & Chief Executive Officer

In n ova t i o n H u b at New Je rs ey City University ( NJCU)

In partnership with: SHCCNJ & New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA) Location: NJCU School of Business, Downtown Jersey City

Mission & Purpose The Innovation Hub was built to empower Hispanic-owned and diverse entrepreneurs, students, and small businesses through education, mentorship, and acceleration resources. It is more than a space — it is a declaration of economic empowerment and inclusive growth, enabling entrepreneurs to prosper in place and build wealth within their own communities.

Key Features & Offerings • Technical education programs tailored to small-business needs • On-demand digital course materials • One-on-one bilingual mentoring with industry experts • Business acceleration training and resource access • Coaching in finance, accounting, HR, marketing, sales, and leadership • Global reach through diaspora business-exchange programs

Strategic Partnerships & Stakeholders

Host institution linking academia and entrepreneurship

State partner advancing inclusive economic growth

Visionary and lead implementer driving Hispanic business development

SHCCNJ Education Training Programs BILINGUAL PROGRAMS

Empowering Hispanic entrepreneurs with the knowledge, skills and resources to grow and scale their businesses.

Entrepreneurship Training Program Who?

For small business owners who want to strengthen their managerial skills and build a solid foundation for growth.

What?

A hands-on training progrm focused on business managent and leadership.

When?

January - May 2026

Requirements

A registered business with at least on year of operation. Revenue profit.

Level-Up Entrepreneurship Training Series Who?

For experience business owners who are ready to scale their companies.

What?

Advance strategies to help you design and execute a growth plan.

When?

August 2026

Requirements

At least two years in business and an active website. Revenue: 100K

Bonding Readiness Program Who?

For goverment service-based and construction businesses that want to become bond-ready.

What?

Guidance on the bonding process and certification support to help your company quality for government contracts.

When?

Applications are open now. Program runs October 29 - December 17.

Requirements

A valid tax Clerance Certificate.

Impact & Significance The Hub represents a movement — a living proof that diversity is an economic force. It connects mentorship, capital readiness, and training to create measurable business expansion and generational wealth.

Where entrepreneurship, education, and opportunity meet. by Daniela Velez

Our Mission The Statewide Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of New Jersey (SHCCNJ) provides free bilingual business education and mentorship to empower entrepreneurs across New Jersey.

Our founding Four Pillars continue to guide all programs:

Access to knowledge and tools

Access to networks & technology

Access to capital and credit

Access to new markets and opportunities

Entrepreneurship Training Program (ETP) Overview

County Records

Atlantic 1

Middlesex 6

Bergen 7

Monmouth 1

Burlington 1

Morris 6

Camden 1

Other 1

Essex 5

Passaic 8

Hudson 11

Somerset 1

Hunterdon 1

Union 9

Mercer 3

Total 62

NJ Counties

The Entrepreneurship Training Program (ETP) celebrated its 11th year of empowering entrepreneurs to lead with confidence and strategy. This year, 57 participants from 14 countries successfully graduated, representing diverse industries from construction to technology. At the midpoint of the program, participants complete an in-depth business assessment to identify growth priorities, short-term goals, and immediate needs to take their businesses to the next level. Through SHCCNJ’s community of coaches, each entrepreneur receives expert mentorship in finance, accounting, HR, marketing, sales, public speaking, and business modeling. The hybrid format expands access statewide, allowing more participants from South Jersey and neighboring regions to engage fully while operating their businesses.

Participant Demographics 2025 Industry Records

Accounting and Taxes 3

Other 21

Business Consulting 1

Restaurant and Food 10

Cleaning 3

Retail 1

Consumer Goods 6

Services 3

Education 1

Technology 3

Event planning 2

Travel and Leisure 1

Financial Services 2

Total 62

Health and Wellness 4 Marketing 1

Gender Participants

12%

50%

Male, NJ

Female, NJ

Total 62

Our Personalized Coaching Pillar 1. General Business Area Assessment – Participants identify areas for support. 2. A Personalized Plan Creation – One-on-one session to define business goals and immediate next steps. 3. Goals & Needs Evaluation – Coaches align objectives and resources. 4. Plan Implementation – Plans distributed and tracked through SHCCNJ’s system. 5. Coaching Sessions – Entrepreneurs apply insights, measure outcomes, and share results. Coaching areas: Finance, Accounting, Human Resources, Marketing, Public Speaking, Sales, and Business Modeling.

By Business Owners for Small Business Owners SHCCNJ Coaches

Dr. Jairo Borja

Reina Valenzuela

Tatiana Orozco

SHCCNJ VICE PRESIDENT OF

SMALL BUSINESS OWNER

CORPORATE &

STARFISH GLOBAL

TOrozco Digital

ENTREPRENEURSHIP PROGRAMS

Graduation 2025

The ETP 2025 Graduation Ceremony celebrated a new generation of entrepreneurs ready to lead. Graduates received a complimentary Chamber membership and visibility opportunities at SHCCNJ events and media features — extending the impact far beyond the classroom.

Level Up Program (formerly LETS) Powered by Wells Fargo, the Level Up Entrepreneurship Training Series expanded in 2025 to serve established business owners earning $100K+ annually. This tenweek advanced program builds leadership, marketing, and operations skills for scalable growth.

Coaching Pillar Workflow PROGRAM:LEVEL-UP Objective: Help you individually reach your next short-term goal and/or business needs with a team of experts.

The 5 W’s. 1 Why coaching? It is one of the program pillars and our success formula that helps students apply what they have learned in class so that it can be implemented in your business in a personalized way.

2 Who gets coaching? This benefit is based on attendance, class participation, and engagement. (camera, on, and chat participation counts) We review these and list the LEVEL-UP students who will benefit from this pillar.

3 Why coaching? It’s a personalized session where you get one-on-one guidance from an expert in the field to help you expand and grow your business. The purpose of the session is to mentor and educate you on the subject that will guide you toward achieving your goals. The topics covered could include HR, accounting, marketing, sales, business models, etc.

Coaching Pillar Workflow PROGRAM:LEVEL-UP

4 When? September- October.

5 Where? Digital sessions through Zoom or Google Meet.

Process out a General Coaching 1 Fill Assessment. This will be done live in class during the coaching intro class. The form link will be delivered on the chat.

the personalized session; we 3 Attend will discuss further your goals and create a personalized coaching plan on the 20min Zoom call. the coaching and 5 Enjoy share success stories!

the Personalized 1:1 202 Schedule min session through Zoom with the program coach to create a plan based on needs and goals. You will receive an email from Tatiana with a Calendly to schedule the session. will receive the coaching 4 You plan via e-mail with the coaches’ directory, so you can request each one a link and schedule your session.

Responsibilities: • • •

You are responsible for requesting the link from coaches and scheduling your sessions. You are responsible for canceling 24h before the session to avoid losing the session and the entire coaching plan. You are responsible for keeping your timeline to get the plan completed.

Benefits: • • •

Gain clarity on your next steps. Mentorship, education, and guidance on the next steps with accountability. The multidisciplinary expert team of small business owners consultants.

Success Stories 2025 ETP & LEVEL UP When one entrepreneur rises, the entire community moves forward.

Pedro Peroni MV Sales and Logistics Corp Success Story Thanks to the NJ Program, I had the opportunity to establish an alliance with Ospino Consulting as a channel partner to offer our platform and related services.

Joyería Juquilita LLC. By Rosalía Ruiz Lopez Success Story Thanks to insights gaines from HETP Masterclasses, Rosalia successfully created and verified the Google Business Profile. By implementing strategies learned to attract more customers, they also acquired non-Hispanic clients. This marks focus on the Spanish-speaking community, resulting in increased revenue.

Jackeline Ocampo Success Story This tax season was definitely one of the toughest I’ve experienced. With all the changes from the new administration, a few clients decided to step back out of uncertainty and fear, which I totally understood. But even with those challenges, my business still managed to grow by 20%, which I’m really proud of. I stayed focused on supporting my clients however I could—keeping them informed, answering questions, and making the process as smooth as possible.

Pitch Competition 2025

Congratulation to the winners On October 30, 2025, SHCCNJ hosted its annual Pitch Competition at the NJCU Innovation Hub in Jersey City. Eight finalists, selected from over 40 submissions, competed for cash prizes, media exposure, and recognition at the SHCCNJ Annual Awards Gala.

Dr. Jairo Borja SHCCNJ VICE PRESIDENT OF CORPORATE & ENTREPRENEURSHIP PROGRAMS

This year, our ETP and LETS students participated in an intensive public speaking class where they refined their pitches and strengthened both their verbal and nonverbal communication skills. Students submitted a video pitch, and the top eight were selected for our Annual Pitch Competition. Their growth, confidence, Reina Valenzuela Tatiana Orozco and professionalism are a testament to the power of this SMALL BUSINESS OWNER SMALL BUSINESS OWNER STARFISH GLOBAL TOrozco Digital training and the impact of our entrepreneurial programs.

Masterclasses & Strategic Partnership 2025

PSEG Certifications Masterclass In partnership with PSEG and Starfish Global, SHCCNJ hosted a three-part masterclass guiding businesses through certification for state and federal contracting. Led by Reina Valenzuela, the sessions simplified complex processes for SBE, Veteran-Owned, Women-Owned, Minority-Owned, and LGBTQ+ certifications.

JPMorgan Chase Masterclass In October 2025, JPMorgan Chase partnered with SHCCNJ to present “Building Strong Credit for a Thriving Business,” focusing on financial literacy, credit management, and access to capital — reinforcing that inclusion and education are key to economic growth.

C l osi n g :

A Call to Grow Togeth er

By The Program Team: As we close this report, one truth defines 2025 — growth happens together. From the Innovation Hub launch to the evolution of ETP and Level Up, this year has demonstrated what is possible through collaboration, mentorship, and purpose. Our mission is not only to educate — it’s to transform. When entrepreneurs gain access to knowledge, networks, and opportunity, they strengthen both their businesses and the New Jersey economy. The Innovation Hub now stands as a living symbol of that commitment: a space where diverse entrepreneurs build legacies of growth and prosperity.

JOIN US IN THIS CALL TO GROW TOGETHER! Because every investment in people becomes an investment in prosperity, leadership, and lasting progress. When we lift one entrepreneur, we strengthen families, communities, and the economy we share. And together, we build the future of New Jersey.

One Success Story at a Time. Join us and reach out to: Dr. Borja e-mail: jborja@shccnj.org For any questions, please contact: Carlos Medina, President and CEO e-mail: medinac@robinsonaerial.com