The Council of Hispanic Business Professionals -CHBP-, also known as The Hispanic Council, has named its 2016-2017 Board of Directors. It is made out of professionals and business owners, some relatively new members of the organization, as well as some veterans thereof, as follows:
Luis A. Bernal - President
Carlos Rodriguez - Vice President
Albalucia Foley - Treasurer
Claudia Villavicencio - Secretary
Andy Solis - Past President
Robert Alpizar - Director
Maggie Alvarez - Director
Anna D'Amico - Director
Hernán Fratto - Director
Eric J. Vasquez - Director
Claudia Velez - Director
More information on all and each one of the Hispanic Council Directors:
Luis Bernal - President
With an academic background in business, law, and public policy, Luis Bernal, has thirty years’ experience as an
international development consultant specialized in evaluation of programs and policies related to small business, economic, and workforce development. He works mostly in Latin America, the Caribbean, and the USA.
In Collier County he consults with non-profits in areas such as grant researching/writing, strategic visioning, capacity building, and organizational development.
Co-founder and first President of the Council of Hispanic Business Professionals, Luis has a long record of volunteer service to Collier County in education, economic development, and cultural affairs, helping organizations such as the Hispanic Institute at Hodges University, the Education Foundation-Champions for Learning, Veterans Memorial Elementary School, North Naples Middle School, the School District, the Supervisor of Elections Office, and the Greater Naples Chamber of Commerce. In 2014 Bernal ran for the School Board of Collier County-District 3.
Currently he serves in the Editorial Board of the Naples Daily News, as well as the Boards of the Hispanic Council, Greater Naples Better Government Committee, Classic Chamber Concerts, and the Sheriff-led Identity Theft Task Force.
Born in Colombia, Luis moved to the United States in 1999 and became a U.S. citizen in 2005.
Bernal is an alumnus of Leadership Collier Executive Management Program, class of 2008; as well of Leadership Collier 2015. He was recognized as a 2008 “Volunteer of the Year” by the Greater Naples Chamber of Commerce, and as one of the “25 over 50” by the Naples Daily News in 2015.
Carlos Rodriguez – Vice President
Born in New Jersey, Carlos Rodriguez has lived in the Southwest Florida community for the last thirty years. He attended both the University of Florida, and Florida Gulf Coast University where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Finance, and a Master of Business Administration.
Originally in the accounting industry, Carlos switched to banking in 2005 when he joined Bank of America. Since switching to banking, Carlos has worked in several positions within Bank of America, and is currently a Vice President and Financial Center Manager of the Pavilion Financial Center in Olde Naples.
Carlos has been involved with the Council for the last five years and has been on the board for the last four and is currently service as Vice President. Carlos has been involved in the Southwest Florida community through the bank for the last ten years. He has also served as a Governance Chair for the United Way of Collier County for the last three years.
Albalucia Foley - Treasurer
With a bachelor degree in Economics from a Colombian University, a Master degree in Economics and International Business, and a Mater degree in Accounting Science, she is an International Fraud Examiner with
her own office in Naples.
Albalucia holds years’ experience in fraud investigation, litigation and law enforcement investigation, reconstructing financial transactions, assessing internal controls, applying accounting principles to factual issues, conducting witness interviews, and evaluating potentially incriminating evidence uncovered through document reviews.
Her experience includes a wide variety of industries such as administrative and financial services and business development, insurance companies, financial institutions, construction companies, retail operations, litigation matters, private country clubs and online marketing.
Her office offers services of auditing for fraud, business valuation, litigation support, international accounting, business crime and ethics, fraud risk management, accounting and book keeping.
Claudia Villavicencio - Secretary
Claudia Villavicencio works at Community School of Naples and she has a passion for teaching Spanish language and Hispanic culture. Originally from Guatemala, she traveled to the United States for college twice and she
stayed the second time.
She has a degree in communication and journalism, a BA in commercial art and a Master’s degree in Education. Claudia worked in the corporate world for many years and discovered that she loves teaching 15 years ago. She has one son, Gabriel, who is in the US Navy.
Claudia and her sister Luisa Villavicencio have a textile company in Guatemala, Algodones Mayas. Their creations are 100% ecologically friendly, 100% natural undyed cotton that they grow in Guatemala, and with recycled denim that reveals the natural shades of the fiber. They provide jobs for over 300 Guatemalan artisans and farm workers. A lot of families depend on Algodones Mayas (Mayan Cottons). Claudia and her sister know that Algodones Mayas holds a great duty to the weavers, to their parents who started the company over 20 years ago, and to their country, whose textile tradition should not be lost.
Robert Alpizar - Director
Robert Alpizar started many things young... At 17 he was a father and realized he had to grow up quickly. At the age of 18 he was a business partner in a Graphic Design and Printing company. Soon after, he ventured on his
own and opened his first business in Miami Lakes, FL: Fingerprints Media Group, a design and print media company.
After a year in business and a lifetime in Miami, Robert Alpizar found himself once again a soon to be father. He desired a slower pace, and a better community for his family and moved to Naples, FL in 2004.
In a beautiful and thriving new city, Robert Alpizar started Crossfire Media and over the years, the name and image of the company has evolved into 360 Print Shop. Offering a wide range of services to fill every marketing need a business may have.
After 12 years of growth and success with 360 Print Shop, Robert has found the opportunity to expand into his other passion... Real Estate. He became licensed in 2015 and has branded himself as "Agent 239", an expert in marketing properties to sell.
With a strong passion for business and community, Robert Alpizar is always interested in opportunities to make our community better by helping organizations that benefit people in need.
Maggie Alvarez – Director
For the last 13 years, Maggie as worked for Arthrex in Naples, most recently as an HR Business Partner responsible for human capital management functions and initiatives in Latin America and the Asia Pacific region.
She holds a degree of Psychology from the University of Phoenix, as well as a sHRBP Certification from the Human Capital Institute.
Professional experience in the Human Resources field in Healthcare, Small Business, Sales, International. Experience in setting up new operations domestic and international, writing policies, change management, leadership coaching, strategy planning, performance management, employee relations, investigations, position control, compensation program set up, benefits administration and team charter facilitation.
Anna D'Amico - Director
Anna D'Amico is the President of Barna Capital Managment in Naples FL.
She was born in Barcelona, Spain and graduated from the Autonomous University of Barcelona with a Bachelor of
Psychology in 1989. There she also completed her Masters in Human Resources Development, and later her PhD in Organizational Development and Processes Consulting.
After concluding her studies, she worked as a Junior consultant for Dextra Consulting; the as a Human Resource Manager for Brokers Invest SL. In 1994 she married and moved to Chicago, IL, where she worked as a teacher at Army Trail Elementary School District 4, State of Illinois. In 2002 she moved to Naples and started working in her husband’s Dental Office.
In 2010, she started, Barna Capital Management, where she currently works.
Hernán Fratto - Director
Hernán Fratto is a recognized Argentine journalist who is anchoring D’Latinos, the most important Hispanic TV show in Southwest Florida. As a reporter he has traveled all around the world covering breaking news and stories
that have made a difference. He is a highly skilled news reporter and anchor with proven track record for handling live interviews.
With sixteen years’ experience in broadcasting television news, combined with a college degree, he has a solid understanding of the flow and tone of news and entertainment stories.
Recognized ability to showcase journalistic content, clear, consistent, contemporary and focused on needs of target audience. Hernán is an effective communicator who interacts well with people from a wide range of social and cultural backgrounds.
He moved to Southwest Florida in 2014 and since then, he has made strong bonds with the community serving as a volunteer in organizations and narrowing the gap between institutions, companies and audiences. He is also a board member at Our Mother’s Home as a voice of a diverse population that grows every year with migration.
He has been married for 17 years, and is the proud father of two children who attend the Collier County Public Schools System.
Eric J. Vasquez - Director
Eric is known for civil litigation in both state and federal courts. His practice areas include complex commercial/business litigation, complex construction litigation, catastrophic personal injury, wrongful death,
employment related matters, summary administrative proceedings and civil rights. (He was defense counsel for the County Manager of Collier County in several civil rights disputes).
His clients include investment firms, developers, construction companies, homeowner/condominium associations and individuals. His practice also involves defending professionals, including physicians, other health care providers, veterinarians, mortgage brokers and real estate agents, in disciplinary proceedings.
Mr. Vasquez’s primary focus is trial practice. He has conducted numerous jury and non-jury trials and appeared on behalf of clients before disciplinary and administrative tribunals. He has also prosecuted and defended appeals in the Florida appellate courts as well as the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit.
Eric has a long history of volunteering his time and providing service to the community as well as to the local bar association. He serves on the Advisory Board for Catholic Charities of Collier County. He volunteers for the Collier County High Schools’ Mock Trial Competition; he has spoken to high school classes during Law Week; he has participated as an educator for the Justice-in-Teaching initiative of the Florida Bar; and, he has been a speaker at Continuing Legal Education seminars in the areas of trial practice and employment law. Mr. Vasquez also coaches the Naples Bears High School Rugby team.
Mr. Vasquez is listed in Martindale-Hubbell®, AV Preeminent Rated. He is a graduate of New England School of Law and Upsala College.
Claudia Velez - Director
Claudia Velez is an Attorney graduated in Colombia in 1997 from the University of Medellin with a Master Degree
in Social Security and Labor Law. She worked for the government of Antioquia, Colombia, successfully resolving many high-profile cases.
Claudia came to USA in 2005. She is an entrepreneur as many members of the Hispanic Community. Owning several businesses in Lee and Collier County. She became a Little Caesars Franchisee in 2007. Her sacrifice, hard work and perseverance are chief among many other business skills. She is always looking for the excellence in everything that she engages into.
She opened her Little Caesars stores with her husband Luis Velez; together, they have two kids, Isabella and Sebastian.
As a family company, her business is proud of working together with the local community both in Naples and Immokalee, supporting sports, and making sure that her business make helps and makes a difference.
With solid communication, organization, leadership to meet client expectations, she is always looking to be a successfully business owner.
Andrew I. Solis - Director
CHBP President between 2012 and 2015, and current Hispanic Council Foundation President, Andy is an attorney
and Director of Cohen & Grigsby, a national law firm. Andy works with businesses to provide sound strategic advice. He concentrates his practice in land use, site planning, permitting, and related representation of clients before municipal and county boards and agencies.
He advises companies seeking to relocate to the Southwest Florida area, as well as start-up businesses. His practice also includes advising clients on how to avoid litigation, the litigation of complex business and commercial disputes involving corporate, construction, real property, and land use issues. He helps corporate and small business clients in a wide variety of permitting matters and the interplay between law, business, and government.
Andy is bi-lingual and regularly uses his fluency in Spanish to assist clients with their business interests and investments throughout Mexico, Central America, South America, and the Caribbean.