The Rochester Hispanic Business Association has chosen its new leader, and for the second time in its 26-year history, the organization elected a woman to lead it. This September, the association voted to elect Vilma Burgos-Torres as the new chairperson.
Burgos-Torres was born in Puerto Rico and has extensive experience in local Rochester politics. She previously served on the first-ever Bilingual Education Advisory Board for the Rochester City School District. She was also a founding board member of the Puerto Rican Youth and Resource Center.
“I am honored to be the second woman chosen to head the Rochester Hispanic Business Association in its 26th year,” Burgos-Torres said. “With the help of the amazing board members and the membership, I hope to increase member benefits, enhance our website features, and review and update our governance policies.”
The Rochester Hispanic Business Association is an affiliate of the Rochester Business Alliance, and Burgos-Torres was just one of the Latina women elected to the board this month. Kelly Mullaney will serve as vice chair, Grace Tillinghast as chair adviser, and Lisa DeVinney as the group’s treasurer.
Rochester has a significant Puerto Rican and Hispanic community. When Hispanic Heritage Month officially started in Rochester this month, the flags of Latin American countries were displayed with great fanfare in Rochester City Hall (with the most applause for the Puerto Rican flag).
Since 1995, about 28 million small businesses (companies with 500 employees or less) have generated about 65% of net new jobs in the United States. And as the U.S. Latino population grows year after year, groups like the Hispanic Business Association try to help foster and support entrepreneurship within the community.
As chairperson, Burgo-Torres and the other new officers will serve two-year terms. In addition to her duties with the association, she is also the services manager for The Burgos Income Tax Business.
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