BEST OF DR: Dominicans Abroad (ingles)

DOMINICANS ABROAD

DOMINICANS ABROAD

DOMINICANS ABROAD

OCTOBER 2025

DOMINICANOS EN EL EXTERIOR

Best of DR: Dominicans Abroad®

Registered trademark under Law 20-00 on Industrial Property of the Dominican Republic. Property of Mercado Media Network, SRL, incorporated under Law 479-08 on Business Corporations and Limited Liability Companies. The company specializes in publishing magazines focused on business and communications. It has made every reasonable effort to ensure the accuracy of its publications up to the time of printing. However, no part of the content published under this brand may be reproduced, in whole or in part, without prior authorization from Mercado Media Network, SRL. The company assumes no responsibility for errors, omissions, inaccuracies, or any consequences arising from the information contained in its publications.

THE BOARD

Patricia De Moya PRESIDENT pdemoya@revistamercado.do

Manuel Fernández-Peix CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER mpeix@revistamercado.com.do

Alberto Labadía PUBLISHER alabadia@revistamercado.com.do

Sarah De Moya

COMMERCIAL DIRECTOR sdemoya@revistamercado.com.do

Josefina Vega Imbert LEGAL COUNSEL vegaimbert.asoc@claro.net.do

EDITORIAL DIRECTION

Laura Peralta lperalta@revistamercado.com.do

COPYEDITING AND TRANSLATION

Carmen Rita Malagón cr.malagon@gmail.com

DESIGN AND LAYOUT

Roberto Severino ART DIRECTOR rseverino@revistamercado.com.do Mauricio Franco mfranco@revistamercado.com.do

Roberto Carlos Rodríguez rrodriguez@revistamercado.com.do

Moisés Encarnación mencarnacion@revistamercado.com.do

COUNTRY MANAGER

Yamila Ortíz yortiz@revistamercado.com.do

PROJECT ASSISTANTS

Angie Reyes areyes@revistamercado.com.do

Patricia Rojas projas@revistamercado.com.do

CONSULTING

Cira Ángeles, L.A.

De los Santos, EV

Julissa Álvarez, Brimela Routes Corp. and Brimela

ECONOMICS

Amelia Santos-Paulino, PhD, UNCTAD

Hiram Miguel Arnaud, Volar Financial

De Peña, Bradesco

Amado

OUR MARK ON THE WORLD

To be Dominican abroad is to write a story on two pages: one that unfolds in an adopted country and another that continues in the memory of the homeland. With that vision, Mercado Media Network—an organization with more than three decades of experience publishing specialized editions—presents, through its Mercado Books imprint, Best of DR: Dominicans Abroad, a volume that pays tribute to those who have turned that duality into a legacy. These pages capture individual journeys that together tell a collective story of perseverance. From business leaders to doctors, architects, engineers, economists, artists and professionals in positions of great influence, each profile shows that to be Dominican in the world is also to contribute, to transform and to pave the way.

The project draws on rigorous sources, including the 2024 Sociodemographic Registry of Dominicans Abroad, produced by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs through the Institute for Dominicans Abroad (INDEX), and is enriched by interviews and narratives that give voice and face to a community we want to recognize not only in numbers, but in human stories.

The selection of figures in this book follows a criterion of impact and diversity. Here we find those who have left a mark in medicine, arts and culture, business, politics, fashion, law, diplomacy, philanthropy and technology. Each one reflects, in their own way, the Dominican capacity to adapt, to innovate, to build spaces of representation, and above all, to keep alive the ties with their homeland. This edition is strengthened by the contributions of institutional and leadership voices.

Among them, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, with a message from Minister Roberto Álvarez, and the perspectives of our ambassadors in the United States, Spain, Chile, Italy and Canada, who add

their diplomatic vision to this collection of experiences. It also includes the reflection of Congressman Adriano Espaillat, the first Dominican elected to the U.S. Congress, as well as the contribution of the American Chamber of Commerce of the Dominican Republic (AmChamDR), which brings a business-integration perspective.

Also part of this network are institutions of great importance to the Dominican community: the Global Foundation for Democracy and Development (GFDD), the National Supermarket Association (NSA), Dominicans on Wall Street (DOWS), and Dominicanos USA (DUSA).

This book also recognizes the value of return—not always physical, but certainly emotional, cultural and economic—that many Dominicans maintain with their country. Through investments, social projects, mentoring or simply passing on to their children the pride in our roots, they build a permanent bridge between here and there.

It has been an honor to shape this work alongside a committed team that understood from the beginning the importance of offering both the country and the world a portrait of our presence abroad, not as scattered anecdotes, but as a network of influence, development and opportunity.

May this book serve as an invitation to recognize ourselves in those who, beyond our shores, carry the Dominican Republic in their work, their voice and their heart.

Patricia De Moya CEO, Editor-in-Chief Mercado Media Network

DOMINICANS ABROAD

DOMINICANS ABROAD

THE LASTING LEGACY OF THE DOMINICAN MIGRANT COMMUNITY

Dominicans living abroad are more than a collection of communities scattered outside the island. They are an extended nation, a shared heartbeat that resonates across 116 countries and territories. More than 2.8 million compatriots have woven, generation after generation, a cross-border identity that links our Caribbean roots with the experiences, challenges and achievements of other horizons.

This global Dominican identity is not a replica of the one that pulses on the island; it is its continuation, an echo enriched by countless accents and landscapes. Its history runs deep. In 1613, Juan Rodríguez, a native of Santo Domingo, became the first non-Indigenous immigrant to arrive in Manhattan. Two centuries later, José Núñez de Cáceres, after the brief independence of 1821, found in Mexico a new stage for his political and legal pursuits. Pedro Henríquez Ureña, a master of masters, and his siblings Max and Camila carried letters and ideas throughout the Americas, living proof of the legacy of their mother, poet Salomé Ureña. Even

Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores República Dominicana

FOREWORD

Simón Bolívar, the Liberator, carried in his bloodline that of Simón de Bolívar y Castro, born in Higüey. Dominican identity has always crossed seas, leaving behind culture, flavor and heroism.

Over the last half-century, this spirit of mobility multiplied. From the mass migrations to the United States in the 1960s to more recent routes to Europe and Latin America, Dominicans have put down roots in New York, Madrid, Amsterdam, Santiago de Chile and Panama City. There they do more than live—they thrive, lead, create and keep alive the spark of music, food, traditions and language that define us. Every Dominican neighborhood abroad is both a window into our culture and a doorway back to the island.

In the United States, home to more than 2.3 million Dominicans, nearly six in 10 adults have completed high school and about a third have pursued technical or university studies. In Europe, where the community is predominantly female, thousands of women head companies, lead artistic projects and champion social causes—proof that global Dominican identity is built on diversity and

The impact of our emigrants is felt across the board. Economically, remittances exceed $10 billion annually, becoming new homes, paid tuition and ventures set in motion. Socially, the Institute for Dominicans Abroad (INDEX) has launched co-development initiatives and training programs that have benefited more than 2,600 people, strengthening the bond between the island and its extended nation. This legacy is also written with names that inspire: Ydanis Rodríguez, a pioneer in inclusive urban mobility; Quemuel Arroyo, a leader in accessibility; Casilda R. Luna, known as the “mother of immigrants” in Washington, D.C.; Dr. Rubén Peralta Rosario, a reference in trauma care and philanthropy; Dr. Carlos Dante Heredia García, a pioneer in ocular immunology;

DOMINICANS ABROAD

Dr. Rafael Antonio Lantigua, mentor to generations in medicine; and Oscar de la Renta, an icon of haute couture. Different paths, one common thread: professional excellence joined with social and cultural commitment.

To celebrate Dominicans abroad is to recognize that the nation does not end at its shores. It is to affirm that Dominican identity, wherever it lands, takes root, flourishes and reinvents itself—without severing the tie to the island.

This special publication by Mercado Media Network invites us to discover stories of effort and resilience, to honor the legacy we share, and to project the Dominican Republic together as a model of international excellence. Let us honor the past, inspire the present and build a future where every Dominican, anywhere in the world, serves as an ambassador of an eternal light.

ROBERTO ÁLVAREZ

MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS OF THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

Minister Roberto Álvarez brings extensive experience in diplomacy and human rights advocacy in the Dominican Republic. A law graduate from the Autonomous University of Santo Domingo, he furthered his education with master’s degrees in International Relations from Johns Hopkins University and comparative law from Georgetown University. His career has been marked by a steadfast commitment to democracy and human rights, evidenced by his service at the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights and as ambassador to the Organization of American States (OAS) from 2005 to 2008. In August 2020, he assumed the role of minister of foreign affairs, where he has advanced a foreign policy focused on strengthening democracy and integrating Dominican communities abroad into the country’s national development.

PRESENCE, CONNECTION, AND COMMITMENT TO NATIONAL PROGRESS

From the Vice Ministry for Dominican Communities Abroad, we have taken on the task of making visible the contributions of our people overseas and ensuring that every Dominican living in another country feels recognized, included and supported by their homeland. Today, the Dominican population abroad exceeds 2.8 million people, spread across 116 states and territories worldwide.

This figure reflects a community on the move—diverse, connected to its country of origin, and evolving beyond a single profile into multiple expressions of Dominican identity. These are embodied by women leaders, young entrepreneurs, highly skilled professionals and generations born abroad who are redefining what it means to be Dominican.

Understanding this complexity has been an institutional priority, through the Sociodemographic Registry of Dominicans Abroad, developed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Thanks to this tool, we know that in the United States, for example, nearly 60 percent of Dominicans over the age of 24 have completed at least high school, and 28 percent have pursued technical or university studies. In Europe, 59 percent of the community is made up of women, many with strong academic backgrounds and leadership roles. Meanwhile, Dominican presence in countries such as Chile and the Netherlands has grown rapidly, reflecting new destinations and motivations. Beyond remittances, which exceed $10 billion annually, the commitment of Dominicans abroad is channeled

DOMINICANS ABROAD

through education projects, health programs, cultural initiatives and support for vulnerable communities. In recent years, these efforts have generated more than $113,000 in direct contributions, including scholarships in technology fields, medical missions, entrepreneurship programs and the promotion of social investment.

Within this framework, the Vice Ministry for Dominican Communities Abroad works through the Institute for Dominicans Abroad (INDEX), created to support Dominican talent around the world. Since 2021, INDEX has trained more than 2,600 people, developed technical programs in partnership with INFOTEP, and facilitated scholarships, while also providing legal, migration and health assistance in different countries.

The Dominican community abroad is not outside—it is present in the economy, culture, education, politics and in the emotional bonds that sustain thousands of families. Recognizing, deepening and projecting that connection into the future is part of our responsibility, both as a state and as a nation.

CELINÉS TORIBIO

VICE MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS FOR DOMINICAN COMMUNITIES ABROAD

Celinés Toribio is a renowned communicator, actress, and producer with more than three decades of experience promoting Dominican culture and identity on the international stage. She earned a degree in Communications and Theater from Herbert H. Lehman College in New York. In film, she has appeared in more than 20 productions and founded Esencia Films, a company dedicated to supporting projects that highlight Dominican roots. In 2025, she was appointed Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs for Dominican Communities Abroad and Executive Director of the Institute for Dominicans Abroad (INDEX).

HONORING THE PAST, SHAPING THE FUTURE: A LEGACY OF IDENTITY

Dominicans living abroad, present in many parts of the world, represent with dignity and excellence the values that define us as a nation. For that reason, the Dominican state has taken on with determination the task of making visible and celebrating the stories of its sons and daughters overseas.

The Mr. Oscar de la Renta Dominican Emigrant Award was created with the conviction of honoring those who, through their life’s work, have elevated the name of the Dominican Republic beyond our borders while remaining true to their identity and sense of belonging. Established in 2018 by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MIREX), the award was conceived as a permanent tribute to the talent, dedication and impact of Dominicans abroad, and as recognition of a universal symbol of our community overseas: fashion icon Oscar de la Renta, who represented our country with loyalty to his roots and with the highest standards.

This award seeks to carry forward that same spirit, recognizing those who, in fields such as health, education, the arts, justice and community leadership, have created value where they live while keeping the door open to their homeland. Since its first edition, the award has been presented annually to one outstanding figure, selected through a rigorous evaluation process that takes into account both professional achievements and personal integrity, as well as community impact.

DOMINICANS ABROAD

Over seven editions, the Mr. Oscar de la Renta Dominican Emigrant Award has highlighted extraordinary stories across continents—stories that deserve to be known, told and celebrated. Today, the award has become a cornerstone of MIREX’s institutional calendar. It is not only part of our policy of recognition, but also an essential piece of a broader strategy to connect with our emigrant population—one that strengthens the emotional, cultural and social ties between Dominicans abroad and their country of origin.

Through the award, we establish a symbolic and tangible link that unites territories and generations under a shared identity. From the Department of Specialized Diplomacy at MIREX, we will continue to advance this recognition as a way of telling other versions of our national story—stories that, like that of Oscar de la Renta, are born on Dominican soil and transcend without losing their essence. For every Dominican abroad carries with them a living part of our nation, and their success is also a reflection of what we can achieve as a country.

MARÍA ALEJANDRA CASTILLO

DIRECTOR OF SPECIALIZED DIPLOMACY, MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS OF THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

As director of specialized diplomacy at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, María Alejandra Castillo has been responsible for conceptualizing and executing a modern, strategic vision of Dominican foreign policy, with a focus on public diplomacy. In this role, she has championed the use of soft power—the positive projection of the country through its culture, cooperation, identity and values—as a tool to position the Dominican Republic on the international stage. Under her leadership, more than 50 projects aligned with this vision have been carried out, strengthening the nation’s global image.

HONOR OF MERIT: MR. OSCAR DE LA RENTA DOMINICAN EMIGRANT AWARD

Within the framework of a modern, citizen-centered foreign policy, the Mr. Oscar de la Renta Dominican Emigrant Award stands as one of the Dominican state’s most important tools to recognize, highlight and connect with its international community. Since its creation in 2018 by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MIREX), this award has honored exemplary Dominicans whose achievements abroad uphold the values of our nation.

The award is conceived as a platform that brings together generations, disciplines and geographies. Its name pays tribute to a universal figure of our country—designer Oscar de la Renta— whose legacy embodies the award’s guiding principles: professional excellence, preserved identity and national pride.

Over seven editions, the selection process has been strengthened to ensure transparency, diversity of profiles and citizen participation. Each year, a public call for nominations is opened, allowing Dominicans living abroad—or first- and second-generation Dominicans—to be put forward if their work inspires and has a positive impact on their communities. Achievements in science, culture, innovation, community leadership, social justice, sports, education and humanitarian efforts are all considered.

The process concludes with the selection of 10 finalists, who are invited to spend a week of cultural exchange and reconnection in the Dominican Republic. This experience culminates in an official ceremony at the National Theater, presided over by the president of the Republic, where the winner is announced. In

addition to the distinction, the award includes a monetary prize of RD$1,000,000, made possible through the support of Banreservas. The 2025 edition will take place October 5–12, with the award ceremony scheduled for October 9 at the National Theater.

Nominations must include a dossier that demonstrates both personal merit and a connection to the Dominican Republic. Submissions can be made online, through diplomatic missions or at INDEX offices worldwide. Full details are available at www.premioemigrantedominicano.gob.do.

The impact of the award is amplified by a strong network of institutional and private partners, as well as by its Permanent Commission and Jury, made up of high-profile figures: José Luis (Pepín) Corripio, permanent advisor; Haydée Rainieri, jury president; María Amalia León, president of the Eduardo León Jimenes Foundation; María Alejandra Castillo, director of Specialized Diplomacy at MIREX; Celinés Toribio, ambassador, vice minister for Dominican Communities Abroad and executive director of INDEX; and Eliza Bolen, executive vice president of Oscar de la Renta LLC.

The Mr. Oscar de la Renta Dominican Emigrant Award is a reminder that the Dominican nation extends far beyond its shores, and that some of its best ambassadors often walk other streets, speak other languages and open new paths from abroad—while remaining, in essence, profoundly Dominican.

DOMINICANS ABROAD

DIPLOMATIC MISSION DOMINICANS ABROAD

THE VALUE AND REACH OF DIPLOMACY ON THE FRONT LINES

DOMINICAN AMBASSADORS AROUND THE WORLD CONNECT THE NATION WITH ITS COMMUNITIES AND STRATEGIC ALLIES ABROAD.

In a world where more than 2.87 million people of Dominican origin reside outside the country, diplomatic work carries a strategic weight that goes far beyond formal representation. The United States, Spain, Chile, Canada and the United Kingdom are home to large and active Dominican communities, and from these capitals, Dominican ambassadors pursue an agenda that spans economic, political, cultural, and social interests, while advancing the Dominican Republic’s international presence.

Diplomatic efforts in these nations extend beyond safeguarding bilateral relations: they drive market access, enable cooperation agreements, promote tourism, and channel investments. At the same time, ambassadors maintain an active connection with Dominican communities abroad—an essential economic force through remittances, trade, and investment, and an undeniable cultural and social asset of the highest order.

Including these ambassadors in these pages is a recognition that the country’s global projection is also built through its foreign service. Their actions generate measurable impact, from the signing of agreements to the creation of platforms for businesses and communities, from the defense of national interests in multilateral forums to the strengthening of Dominican identity in highly competitive international contexts. In every mission, diplomacy reaffirms its immense value as a tool that makes the Dominican presence in the world more visible, more influential, and more cohesive.

DIPLOMATIC MISSION

MARÍA I. CASTILLO BÁEZ

AMBASSADOR EXTRAORDINARY AND PLENIPOTENTIARY OF THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC TO THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

Since her arrival in Washington, Dominican Ambassador to the United States

María Isabel Castillo Báez has advanced an agenda focused on protecting Dominicans abroad, promoting trade and investment, and defending democratic values and human rights.

She recognizes that the Dominican community overseas is a vital partner in her diplomatic mission and that the contributions of Dominicans in the United States strengthen the country’s influence and

voice, foster mutual understanding and project Dominican identity. For that reason, her work aims to ensure the wellbeing of Dominicans living in the U.S., highlight their contributions, create opportunities and defend their rights.

The ambassador has established systematic engagement with the U.S. Congress, the State Department, multilateral organizations and leading think tanks, working to build a strategic foundation for high-level economic and political dialogue. Among her immediate priorities are supporting trade negotia -

HER AGENDA FOCUSES ON PROTECTING DOMINICANS, PROMOTING TRADE AND INVESTMENT, AND UPHOLDING DEMOCRATIC VALUES.

tions, encouraging U.S. business participation in the 2025 Summit of the Americas in Punta Cana, and promoting the Dominican Republic as a reliable partner in critical supply chains, from pharmaceuticals to electronics and defense.

In her first months in office, the Dominican Embassy actively intervened in response to a proposal for a 5 percent tax on remittances sent by immigrants with legal status in the U.S.—a measure that would have affected nearly 600,000 Dominicans. Ultimately, Congress reduced it to 1 percent, applicable only to transfers not made from U.S.-issued accounts or cards. The ambassador is also working to raise awareness about the importance of using digital channels for remittances.

Institutionally, Castillo Báez has driven the modern -

ization and professionalization of the diplomatic mission by eliminating cash payments at the consular section and implementing safer methods through cards or money orders. She has also launched a digital document management system, updated the organizational manual and reinforced internal protocols to improve efficiency and transparency in the mission’s operations.

Castillo Báez joined the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 2002, holding strategic positions within the Dominican Embassy in Mexico, where she served as ambassador from 2020 to 2025. Today, from Washington, she leads one of the country’s most strategic missions with an agenda centered on investment promotion, democratic values and, above all, support for the Dominican community living in the United States.

A CONSULATE IN SERVICE TO THE DOMINICAN COMMUNITY IN NY

From the Consulate General of the Dominican Republic in New York, I have taken on the commitment to lead a close, modern and efficient administration, aimed at strengthening the ties between Dominicans in this city and their homeland. We have carried out an institutional renewal that improves the quality of consular services and incorporates initiatives that respond directly to the needs of our community.

One of the most significant advances has been the modernization of consular services. We extended weekend service hours to facilitate essential procedures such as passports, notarizations, powers of attorney, apostilles, translations and dual citizenship requests. At the same time, we streamlined processes that were once slow and cumbersome. The process of obtaining dual nationality, which used to take up to eight months, is now completed in just two, thanks to special initiatives focused on children of Dominicans born abroad.

Through the initiative “Cafecito con el Cónsul,” we visit businesses and hold direct meetings with citizens in Manhattan, the Bronx, Brooklyn, Yonkers, Queens and Connecticut, gathering concerns and turning them into concrete policies. A milestone of this period has been the launch of the Juan Pablo Duarte Games 2025, a sporting event organized together with the Ministry of Sports and a group of athletes. Protecting our citizens also plays a central role in our work. With the forum “Protecting the Dominican Dream,” we responded to the outcry of dozens of compatriots

DOMINICANS ABROAD

who were victims of real estate fraud. Alongside the Ombudsman, the Ministry of Housing, the Attorney General’s Office, ProConsumidor and other institutions, we have provided guidance and legal support, reaffirming our commitment to justice and transparency.

In terms of connectivity, we secured Arajet’s entry into New York, the result of negotiations with airport authorities and airline executives. We have also promoted access to dual citizenship. This status allows Dominicans abroad to access education and health services in the country, apply for scholarships, exercise full political rights—including the right to vote and run for office— seize investment opportunities and benefit from exemptions in repatriation and relocation processes.

New York remains an essential stage for Dominican leadership abroad. Our community contributes not only through remittances but also with talent, creativity and civic engagement. My responsibility as consul is to accompany and support that reality with an administration worthy of its greatness.

JESÚS (CHU) VÁSQUEZ

CONSUL GENERAL OF THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC IN NEW YORK

Jesús Antonio Vásquez Martínez (Chu) was born on July 20, 1958, in Nagua. He began his political career at age 20 as a health inspector and, at 24, was appointed civil governor—the youngest in the country. Between 1985 and 1986, he served as consul in Caracas. From 1994 to 2010, he was senator for María Trinidad Sánchez province and presided over the Senate (2003–2004), where he promoted key laws such as the Freedom of Information Act. A founder of the Modern Revolutionary Party (PRM), he served as its first secretary general (2015–2019). In 2020, he was appointed Minister of Interior and Police, leading the “Mi País Seguro” initiative and police reform efforts. In 2024, he was designated consul general in New York. He is also a well-known producer of coconuts, cocoa and livestock.

TONY RAFUL

AMBASSADOR EXTRAORDINARY AND PLENIPOTENTIARY OF THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC TO THE KINGDOM OF SPAIN

The Dominican community abroad represents one of the most significant pillars of the Dominican Republic’s international presence in the 21st century. It is not merely a demographic reality beyond our borders, but a dynamic and vigorous body that has reaffirmed, in diverse settings, the talent, resilience and deep sense of identity of our people.

In recent decades, Dominicans overseas have established themselves as agents of transformation and as key players in the cultural, political,

economic and academic life of their host countries. Their contributions go far beyond the economic sphere—though remittances remain crucial to sustaining thousands of households—and extend to building vibrant communities that carry with them the values, creativity and drive characteristic of the Dominican nation.

According to the fourth update of the Sociodemographic Registry of Dominicans Abroad, presented by the Institute for Dominicans Abroad (INDEX) in 2024, there are currently 2,874,124 Domin-

ican citizens living outside the country. Of these, 201,162 reside in Spain, which, along with the United States, is home to the largest share of our overseas community. These figures are more than statistics; they are vital input for understanding the magnitude of the Dominican state’s commitment to its nationals abroad and for shaping diplomatic and consular policies that defend their rights, foster full integration and create opportunities.

In Spain specifically, the Dominican community has reached a remarkable level of visibility and integration. Present in major urban centers— Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia and other cities—Dominicans have entered strategic sectors such as hospitality, services and construction, as well as emerging areas tied to innova-

tion and the digital economy. Beyond their economic contributions, they have created a social and cultural fabric that strengthens bilateral ties and enriches Spanish society with greater diversity.

As ambassador of the Dominican Republic to the Kingdom of Spain, I have witnessed firsthand the richness of this community. They are not only citizens who work and contribute to economic development, but also community leaders, highly qualified professionals, artists, academics and young students who embody the future of relations between both countries. The Dominican community in Spain is, in itself, a human bridge that deepens cooperation, strengthens cultural diplomacy and projects Dominican values across Europe.

HIS VISION BRINGS TOGETHER DIPLOMACY AND CULTURE, WORKING TO SERVE MORE THAN 200,000 DOMINICANS IN SPAIN.

JUAN COHEN

AMBASSADOR EXTRAORDINARY AND PLENIPOTENTIARY OF THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC TO THE REPUBLIC OF CHILE

Taking on my first mission as ambassador of the Dominican Republic to Chile is an honor I carry with the utmost sense of responsibility. I do so with a deep commitment to a vision of diplomacy understood as a human, cultural, and strategic bridge between nations. My diplomatic approach follows the guidance of President Luis Abinader, who has made clear that the first pillar of our foreign policy is the protection and support of Dominicans abroad. Under that premise, from day one I

have conceived diplomacy as a profoundly human endeavor, with the Dominican community in Chile at its core. More than 22,000 of our compatriots live in this country, and each one is a living testament to our history and national identity.

With that reality in mind, I have embraced the idea that the role of the Embassy must be close, present and useful. Guided by this vision, we launched the initiative “Embajadores somos todos” (“We Are All Ambassadors”), which reflects a spirit of inclusion and shared responsibility.

I believe in the notion of a “perfect partnership” between Chile and the Dominican Republic as a way to shape the future. Both countries complement and enrich one another, opening a wide range of opportunities for bilateral cooperation. Along these lines, we have organized seminars and webinars as platforms for exchange and joint learning. Together with SHOA, we took an important first step in ocean protection and risk management.

We later moved into areas such as seismic awareness and resilient architecture, learning from Chile’s expertise in building codes and standards. In parallel, new paths of collaboration have opened in scientific cooperation, technology and artificial intelligence, where academic and technical exchange will be key to development.

Culture has also held a central place on this agenda, with efforts to showcase

Dominican cinema, literature and the arts as instruments of dialogue and connection between peoples.

At the same time, there is a promising horizon in trade and investment. Chile and the Dominican Republic share fertile ground to diversify exchanges in areas such as commerce, mining, innovation and services. To this we can add a well-established fact: tourism. Today, our country is one of the preferred destinations for Chileans, proof that trust between our peoples also translates into choice, closeness and mutual affection.

The diplomacy we practice, therefore, is shared culture, applied science, a vision for the future and a firm commitment to projecting Chile and the Dominican Republic as strategic partners in human, cultural, commercial and institutional terms: complementary countries, sister societies in a perfect partnership.

DR. RAFAEL LANTIGUA

AMBASSADOR EXTRAORDINARY AND PLENIPOTENTIARY OF THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC TO THE REPUBLIC OF ITALY

The work of Dr. Rafael Lantigua at the Embassy of the Dominican Republic in Italy is distinguished by his international trajectory and a results-oriented agenda. His mission is to strengthen bilateral ties in politics, economy, culture and science in a country that hosts the thirdlargest Dominican community abroad, with 29,791 citizens registered. His efforts focus on building strong institutional links and creating synergies that generate tangible benefits for both nations.

A key pillar of his administration is the promotion of trade agreements and cooperation in health, research and academic training. His vision is for Italy and the Dominican Republic to complement each other in these areas, fostering sustainable exchanges that strengthen the Dominican economy. He has prioritized attracting Italian investment in strategic sectors such as agriculture, biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, tourism, the environment and creative industries, while at the same time boosting bilateral trade.

The ambassador has also emphasized modernizing and bringing consular services closer to the Dominican community in Italy, as well as expanding the country’s cultural projection in prestigious venues, reinforcing national identity and historic ties with the Italian nation.

A physician by training, Dr. Lantigua has an internationally recognized career in medicine, scientific research and teaching. A graduate of the Universidad Autónoma de Santo Domingo (UASD), he specialized in internal medicine and endocrinology in the United States, where he has been affiliated for more than four decades with Columbia University. There, he has held key positions including professor of medicine at the Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons; associate dean for community service; co-director of the Community Engagement Core at the Irving Institute for Clinical and Translational Research; co-director of the Taub Insti-

tute for Alzheimer’s Research; professor emeritus of medicine at Columbia University Medical Center; special lecturer in the Department of Medicine; and attending physician at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital.

His academic production includes more than 150 peer-reviewed articles in areas such as geriatrics, minority health, public health policy and translational medicine. He has led pioneering programs to increase the participation of underrepresented communities in clinical studies, advancing health equity. In 2018, he received the Mr. Oscar de la Renta Dominican Emigrant Award for his impact on the Dominican community in the United States, particularly in New York City.

From his position in Italy, Dr. Lantigua seeks to translate his extensive experience and knowledge into actions that contribute to the development and global projection of the Dominican Republic.

IN ITALY, DR. LANTIGUA ADVANCES A DIPLOMACY THAT FOSTERS

COOPERATION IN TRADE, HEALTH, AND CULTURE.

JOSÉ A. BLANCO

AMBASSADOR EXTRAORDINARY AND PLENIPOTENTIARY OF THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC TO CANADA

The Embassy of the Dominican Republic in Canada, under the leadership of Ambassador José A. Blanco, is working to strengthen the historic ties between the two countries by promoting diplomacy that reinforces the Dominican presence on the international stage and fosters closer, more productive relations with key partners.

The Embassy’s work focuses on expanding trade, attracting investment, boosting tourism, improving air and logistics connectivity, and strengthening

political and cooperation ties. Protecting and assisting the more than 22,000 Dominicans living in Canada is also a central priority.

Canada is a strategic market for the Dominican Republic’s international outreach, serving as a major source of foreign investment, a driver of tourism and a partner in political, cultural, academic and social arenas. Bilateral relations are built on the promotion of human rights, the defense of democracy and cooperation on regional security. Trade exchanges and investment flows reflect both

THE AMBASSADOR PRACTICES A TECHNICAL AND STRATEGIC DIPLOMACY, FORGED IN MAJOR MULTILATERAL FORUMS.

the importance of this relationship and its potential for growth and diversification.

Within this context, one of Ambassador Blanco’s most important initiatives is Dominican Week in Canada 2025, to be held October 14–16 in Ottawa and Toronto. The event aims to relaunch bilateral relations through meetings between senior officials and private sector representatives to explore opportunities in trade, investment, tourism, connectivity, logistics and sectoral cooperation.

Dominican Week will showcase the country as a regional logistics hub and a reliable partner for Canada, while also promoting Canadian participation in the 10th Summit of the Americas, scheduled for December in the Dominican Republic, alongside a Business Forum that will create opportunities for trade and strategic partnerships across the hemisphere.

Ambassador José A. Blanco, a career diplomat in the Dominican foreign service, holds a degree in business administration from Universidad Iberoamericana (UNIBE) and pursued postgraduate studies at Strayer University and Georgetown University. He joined the foreign service in 2001 as first secretary at the Dominican Embassy in Washington. He later served at the Permanent Mission to the United Nations in New York, where he rose to the rank of ambassador and permanent representative (2020–2025). From 2017 to 2019, he also served as acting head of the Vice Ministry for Bilateral Foreign Policy at MIREX.

Since March 2025, as ambassador to Canada, he has led the mission with vision and dynamism, consolidating bilateral relations in politics, economics and culture, while supporting the Dominican community as a natural bridge between the two nations.

GUEST CONTRIBUTORS

TOWARD A FUTURE OF GREATER REPRESENTATION AND LEADERSHIP

The history of Dominicans abroad is a living story—one of effort and hope, of multiplied identity, of pride and belonging. Today, more than 2.8 million Dominicans live outside the Dominican Republic, and while our addresses may have changed, our love for our homeland remains intact.

It is an honor for me to present this special edition of Best of DR: Dominicans Abroad , published by the Mercado Media Network team as part of Dominican Week in the United States, organized by AmChamDR. This publication pays tribute to the legacy, impact and journey of our community around the world, particularly in the United States, where our presence grows stronger and more visible every day.

For years, I have witnessed the challenges we’ve faced— from the high cost of flights to the lack of political representation, from integration hurdles to the economic and social barriers that have slowed the aspirations of many. But I have also witnessed progress—the courage, talent and determination with which our community turns every obstacle into a new opportunity.

One of the most significant achievements of the past year has been the signing of the historic Open Skies agreement between the United States and the Dominican Republic. After more than two decades of negotiations, this agreement—which I long advocated for—finally opens new routes, lowers ticket prices and expands travel options for families, businesses and tourists. It is a transformative step for the Dominican American community, which for years endured limited and expensive flight options, especially during peak travel periods. Beyond the logistical benefits, the agreement carries a deeper meaning: it symbolizes that the voice of our community abroad is being heard.

That same spirit guides my legislative work in Congress. I have introduced resolutions and bills that recognize our community’s contributions to U.S. history and reaffirm the importance of the bilateral relationship with the Dominican Republic. Among these are initiatives such as the resolution to establish Dominican Heritage Month, the Americas Energy Security Act, and the Americas Opportunity Act to strengthen regional supply chains.

Although I am currently the only member of Congress of Dominican origin, I have no doubt I will not be the last. Ours is a growing community. From municipal posts to state-level offices, Dominicans are making inroads in public service. Our population growth proves it. According to the Pew Research Center, the Dominican population in the U.S. has tripled since 2000, now surpassing 2.4 million. And despite having a presence comparable in size to Cuban Americans, we still have limited federal representation. This must change. And it will. Because our community has the energy, talent and determination to claim, with dignity, the spaces that rightfully belong to us.

A vital part of this identity-building has been recognizing our historic spaces. In 2024, we achieved a milestone that fills

DOMINICANS ABROAD

me with pride: the designation of Washington Heights as the first Dominican Cultural Historic District in the United States, officially recognized by the New York State Historic Preservation Board. This designation not only honors the legacy of generations who made this neighborhood their home, but also ensures their cultural, political and economic contributions will be preserved for future generations.

And as if that weren’t enough, the Dominican community will soon have its first Dominican Center for Arts and Culture, made possible by local and state funds we secured. The center— administered by the CUNY Dominican Studies Institute—will include a museum, theater, children’s library and oral history archive. It will stand as a temple of collective memory, a beacon of our identity in the heart of Upper Manhattan.

Dominicans abroad are a pillar of our country’s economic development. In 2024, remittances reached a record $10.756 billion. But beyond the number, what matters is what it represents: a sign of our diaspora’s permanent commitment to its homeland. For this reason, and out of respect for the economic and human contributions we make to the Dominican Republic, the time has come to move toward fairer and fuller representation.

IT IS TIME WE MOVE TOWARD FAIRER AND FULLER REPRESENTATION.

In addition to overseas deputies, the National Congress must also open the door to a senator representing Dominicans abroad. Our voice deserves weight in both chambers of the legislature of the country we love.

Likewise, the Central Electoral Board must have the funding and mechanisms to ensure that Dominicans abroad can participate not only in general elections, but also in party primaries, where many of the most decisive candidacies are determined.

DOMINICANS ABROAD

Political participation cannot be partial. The right to decide begins at the root.

Today more than ever, we are a bridge—between cultures, between generations, between two homelands: one where we live and one we love with passion.

This special edition of Best of DR: Dominicans Abroad is an invitation to recognize what we have achieved, and to imagine what is still to come. Because the future—like the present—also belongs to us. We move forward, with our heads held high and our hearts anchored in the country that gave us life.

ESPAILLAT MEMBER OF THE UNITED STATES CONGRESS

Adriano Espaillat is the first Dominican American elected to the U.S. Congress and the first former undocumented immigrant to serve in the House of Representatives. Since 2017, he has represented New York’s 13th District—which includes Harlem, East Harlem, Washington Heights, Inwood, Marble Hill and part of the Bronx—and is now serving his fifth term. He is a member of the powerful Appropriations Committee and chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, where he has championed legislation on infrastructure, social justice, opportunities for small businesses and immigrant community representation.

ADRIANO

AMCHAMDR: A BRIDGE FOR INVESTMENT

A PARTNER FOR BUSINESS AND CULTURAL TIES WITH THE UNITED STATES

A PLATFORM FOR INVESTMENT, COMPETITIVENESS, AND THE

DOMINICAN

REPUBLIC’S CULTURAL PRESENCE IN THE UNITED STATES.

The American Chamber of Commerce of the Dominican Republic (AmChamDR) serves as a strategic bridge between two deeply interconnected economies. With 83 % of the Dominican community residing in the United States—and the U.S. as the country’s main trading partner—the Chamber’s role goes far beyond business representation. It has become a platform for strengthening the business climate, attracting investment, and consolidating long-term bilateral relations.

Affiliated with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and a founding member of the Association of American Chambers of Commerce in Latin America (AACCLA), AmChamDR has, for more than a century, been a trusted hub for the private sector and a credible interlocutor with public institutions, multilateral organizations, and key decision-makers. Its value proposition rests on active advocacy for free enterprise, the promotion of clear regulatory frameworks, and the creation of dialogue spaces with a shared vision of development and openness to the world.

Structurally, the Chamber drives reforms that improve the country’s competitiveness—from trade facilitation policies and transparency and compliance standards to cultural initiatives. On a practical level, it opens doors for Dominican companies seeking to export, attract partners, train talent, or navigate complex markets like the United States, while also celebrating the cultural contributions of Dominicans in the U.S., integrating them as a meaningful part of its agenda.

AmChamDR understands that an open economy requires reliable institutions, stable legal frameworks, and trusted relationships. Its role is vital in positioning the Dominican Republic as a modern, competitive partner aligned with international standards.

A HISTORIC BOND OF TRUST AND COOPERATION

For more than a century of commercial ties with the United States, the American Chamber of Commerce of the Dominican Republic (AmChamDR) has learned that the most decisive factor in deepening our bilateral relationship is not a treaty or a tariff rate, but the ingenuity of Dominicans abroad. The presence of our compatriots in the United States has paved a path that mobilizes capital, knowledge and reputation with the same ease as it carries family bonds.

Since the first edition of Dominican Week in 1992—launched by Dr. Luis Heredia Bonetti and a group of visionaries who saw economic openness as an opportunity to showcase the country’s potential—we understood that the best way to strengthen that human bridge was to institutionalize it. Over the years, that vision translated into commercial relations that enabled the Dominican Republic’s inclusion in DR-CAFTA, drove U.S. investment in manufacturing, tourism, and information technology, and boosted exports and imports.

That dynamism is also reflected in the continued leadership of the U.S. tourist market in our country and the steady flow

DOMINICANS ABROAD

of remittances. Yet this synergy goes far beyond macroeconomic indicators. Its true strength lies in the diversity of sectors where collaboration flows naturally and mutually benefits both sides. In trade, Dominican companies adopting international standards expand access to demanding markets and facilitate the import of strategic inputs. In services, accredited hospitals attract Dominicans and foreigners residing in the United States with world-class medical care. And in culture—from baseball and gastronomy to music and cinema— every artistic expression reinforces a shared identity that promotes the country while creating opportunities for creative exports.

Convinced that the 21st century demands partnerships built on trust and shared value, we reaffirm today that AmChamDR’s doors remain wide open to continue building the next chapter of binational development together.

FRANCESCA RAINIERI

PRESIDENT, AMERICAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE OF THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC (AMCHAMDR)

Francesca Rainieri is the first woman to lead the American Chamber of Commerce of the Dominican Republic in its more than 100-year history. A high-profile executive in the tourism sector, she serves as Chief Financial Officer of Grupo Puntacana. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree with a double concentration in Finance and Entrepreneurship, and a specialization in Economics, from Babson College in the United States. Since 2020, she has also served as a member of the Board of Regents of Instituto Tecnológico de Santo Domingo (INTEC), where she is Board Secretary. Through her leadership at AmChamDR, Rainieri continues to strengthen commercial ties between the Dominican Republic and its most important international partners.

THREE DECADES OF DOMINICAN WEEK IN THE UNITED STATES

Dominican Week was born in 1992, when a group of visionary business leaders, led by Dr. Luis Heredia Bonetti, recognized that the Dominican Republic’s economic opening required a high-level showcase in the United States. What began as a targeted trade mission has since evolved into the country’s most influential institutional forum for international projection.

Since then, the American Chamber of Commerce of the Dominican Republic (AmChamDR) has crafted, year after year, a strategic agenda that brings together lawmakers, investors, academics, leaders, and officials from both governments to discuss public policy, identify concrete opportunities, and— above all—deliver initiatives with real impact.

Over time, Dominican Week has become a permanent platform of economic diplomacy. Through this forum, the Dominican Republic has achieved critical milestones such as its inclusion in the DR-CAFTA agreement, the modernization of its regulatory framework, and the sustained growth of U.S. investment in strategic sectors including manufacturing, tourism, energy, and digital services.

DOMINICANS ABROAD

With the same determination, every edition has featured working groups where Dominican companies are certified under international standards, refine logistics models, and gain access to U.S. supply chains. Alternating between Washington, D.C. and New York, the event has also strengthened ties with think tanks, multilateral organizations, and universities, enabling the development of joint studies that guide both public policy decisions and private-sector strategies.

In parallel, the cultural program has reinforced belonging and cohesion among Dominican communities abroad. Culinary showcases, recognition galas, and collaborations with associations such as Dominicans on Wall Street (DOWS), Dominicans in Technology, the Dominican American Chamber of Commerce, and student organizations highlight a shared identity that transcends borders.

Looking ahead to its 2025 edition, Dominican Week marks a new chapter. For the first time, the agenda is coordinated with the newly appointed Dominican Ambassador in Washington, H.E. María Isabel Castillo Báez, and coincides with the start of a new U.S. administration under President Donald Trump. Within this framework, a study prepared by the DR-USA Working Economic Strategy Advisory Group, in collaboration with the Atlantic Council, will be presented, identifying economic opportunities in strategic sectors to strengthen and expand bilateral cooperation.

Equally important are the briefings scheduled at the U.S. Department of State and the Department of Commerce, where the Dominican public-private delegation will explore incentives for nearshoring and regulatory alignment in digital economies. Adding a hemispheric dimension, Dominican Week 2025 will serve as a prelude to the Summit of the Americas, to be held in Punta Cana in December—a prime opportunity to present concrete results and deepen regional alliances.

As tradition dictates, the program will also include spaces to engage with the Dominican community in the United States. Dominicans abroad play a vital role in national development—not only through remittances and investments, but also through their unique relationship with the homeland. Unlike many other migrant communities, the majority maintain a clear purpose of returning, and they celebrate that return.

Beyond tangible contributions, Dominicans abroad bring invaluable intangibles. On the one hand, they share specialized knowledge acquired abroad; on the other, they provide U.S. authorities with an understanding of Dominican realities, facilitating official relations and bilateral cooperation.

STEVEN PUIG

VICE CHAIR OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF AMCHAMDR AND PRESIDENT OF BANCO BHD

Steven Puig serves as vice chair of the board of directors of AmChamDR and president of Banco BHD, where he also chairs the board of directors and oversees the Banking and Payment Services division of the BHD Financial Center. With more than 40 years of experience in domestic and international banking, Puig has driven strategic transformations in gender equity, sustainability and digital innovation. The executive also serves on multiple international boards. Currently, he chairs the Bilateral Relations Committee, the working group that leads the Dominican Week in the United States.

ROBERTO HERRERA

PASADO PRESIDENTE DEL CONSEJO DE DIRECTORES DE AMCHAMDR Y GERENTE PAÍS DE INTERENERGY GROUP

Roberto Herrera is a past chair of the board of directors of AmChamDR and country manager of InterEnergy Group in the Dominican Republic, serving as the top executive of the consortium’s companies: Compañía de Electricidad de San Pedro de Macorís, Consorcio Energético Punta Cana–Macao, Compañía de Electricidad de Bayahíbe, Grupo Eólico Dominicano, InterEnergy Systems and telecom provider ACTIVA. For more than a decade, Herrera chaired the organizing committee of Dominican Week before transferring coordination to AmChamDR’s Bilateral Relations Committee, and he remains a strong ally of this business mission.

OUTSTANDING DOMINICANS

DOMINICAN WEEK 2025 AMCHAMDR

CRISTINA CONTRERAS

CEO

NYC HEALTH + HOSPITALS/LINCOLN

A career of service and leadership in public health. Cristina Contreras, MPA, LMSW, FABC, has dedicated three decades to NYC Health + Hospitals, where she currently serves as CEO of Lincoln Hospital in the Bronx, New York. Over the course of her career, she has received honors such as Manhattan Power Woman from Schneps Media, the Government Service Leadership Award from 100 Hispanic Women National, and recognition from the New York Hispanic Chamber of Commerce as both Hero of Hope and Champion of Inclusion. In the cultural arena, she serves as president of the Dominican Day Parade.

ALEC SUBERO

ESPERANZA CEBALLOS

News reporter UNIVISIÓN

One of the most prominent Dominican voices in International media.

Born in Baní, Peravia province, she has built more than two decades of experience in the media industry. She began as a correspondent for Univision in the Dominican Republic and, since 2014, has served as a lead journalist at Univision 41 in New York. Her work has been recognized with three Emmy Awards, Univision’s Único Award for coverage of Hurricane María, and a nomination for the Premios Soberano.

Director of Aerospace Engineering

VIRGIN GALACTIC

Leading the design and development of spacecraft at Virgin Galactic.

An aerospace engineer trained at Embry-Riddle with a master’s degree in Entrepreneurship and Finance from Wichita State University, he leads interdisciplinary teams at Virgin Galactic in the United States to create the next generation of spacecraft for space tourism. Through his work, he carries the Dominican flag as a symbol of his origins in an industry that is redefining access to space.

STRATEGIC PARTNERS

JOINING FORCES TO AMPLIFY DOMINICAN INFLUENCE

THROUGH INFLUENTIAL ASSOCIATIONS, DOMINICANS

ABROAD EXPAND THEIR ECONOMIC, CULTURAL, AND POLITICAL

TWEIGHT.

he influence of Dominican communities overseas is not measured only by their size, but by their ability to organize and transform identity into impact. For Dominicans, this understanding has grown steadily over time: recognizing that organization is the pathway to ensure that cultural presence is matched by economic achievement and political voice.

In the world’s major cities where Dominicans have put down roots, associations have emerged and matured—not merely as spaces to gather, but as institutions capable of shaping strategic decisions, mobilizing resources, and opening doors to opportunities once out of reach. Often working quietly, their impact is decisive: it is within alliances that projects are negotiated and policies defined, directly affecting the community.

In business, they connect companies with capital and markets, facilitate investment, and promote the internationalization of Dominican products and services.

Culturally, they preserve and showcase Dominican identity through festivals, forums, and educational programs for new generations. Politically, they give voice to Dominican interests and strengthen voting power—especially in the United States, where the community is a growing electoral bloc.

By joining forces, Dominicans abroad redefine their role on the global stage and project leadership and influence far beyond the island’s borders.

TOWARD A SHARED FUTURE THROUGH COOPERATION

As Dominicans, our history carries the mark of movement—of constant effort to open paths and build broader futures for our families and communities. The Dominican presence abroad represents a space of contribution on both sides of the Atlantic.

At the Global Foundation for Democracy and Development (GFDD), headquartered in Washington, D.C., with additional offices in New York and Miami, we have dedicated our work to strengthening collaboration between the United States and the Dominican Republic. Our mission spans research, capacity building, academic exchange programs, public policy development, and the organization of seminars, conferences and publications—all designed to generate impact on the social, economic and democratic development of our homeland.

In the areas of education and professional development, we have promoted training and academic mobility programs that foster intellectual exchange between both countries. These efforts help build informed communities, prepared to contribute real solutions from their host cities. We are also part of the global debate on sustainability and governance. GFDD, together with

DOMINICANS ABROAD

its sister institution FUNGLODE, has presented positions at the United Nations in forums such as the definition of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly on climate change, environmental protection and inclusive economic development.

Our educational work is complemented by cultural and dialogue initiatives, such as radio programs and media series that bring Dominican voices from the United States into international discussions. A historic example was the monthly series The Global Roundtable, created in collaboration with South-South News, which hosted conversations with international figures on the challenges of global development.

Today more than ever, we must celebrate these achievements and strengthen the ties that unite us. Because to be Dominican abroad is to carry both a responsibility and a source of pride: to represent who we are, to create new opportunities, and to give back—in one way or another—to the country that gave us life.

FUERTES

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, GLOBAL FOUNDATION FOR DEMOCRACY AND DEVELOPMENT (GFDD)

Rodolfo (“Ruddy”) Fuertes is a Dominican business leader in the United States. He currently serves as Executive Director of the Global Foundation for Democracy and Development (GFDD), the sister institution of the Fundación Global Democracia y Desarrollo (FUNGLODE). In this role, he advances international cooperation initiatives, academic programs, cultural projects, and dialogue platforms that strengthen ties between the Dominican Republic and the global community. In the private sector, he founded supermarket chains in New York and served as President of the National Supermarket Association (NSA) from 2015 to 2018, solidifying his leadership among Dominican communities and the U.S. business sector.

RODOLFO

BUILDING A NATION THROUGH OPEN AND REPRESENTATIVE TRADE

Every day, I witness what it means to build a nation beyond borders. I say this as a businessman and as a Dominican committed to the evolution and legacy of our community in the United States.

As president of the National Supermarket Association (NSA), I have seen up close how the work, vision and persistence of thousands of Dominicans have transformed not only commercial corners but also the economic and social structures of entire communities. The NSA was founded in 1989 by a distinguished group of Dominican entrepreneurs with the goal of dignifying and strengthening the role of independent supermarkets—most of them operated by Latino immigrants—in historically underserved neighborhoods. What began as a gesture of solidarity among colleagues has grown into one of the most influential trade associations in the food retail sector in the U.S. Northeast. Today, we support more than 400 members in New York alone and

ABROAD

more than 1,000 establishments across New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Florida and other regions. The NSA also has active regional chapters in Florida and New England, each with its own dynamics and significant impact.

But beyond the numbers, the real impact of our network is measured in lives. Every supermarket represents jobs, access to food, safety and economic mobility. Most importantly, each store represents a Dominican story. Sons and daughters of Santiago, La Vega, San Cristóbal, Azua or Santo Domingo who came to this country to work hard, learned from the warehouse floor up, and climbed their way to becoming owners, community leaders and role models for new generations.

Through the NSA, we are building a platform for generational leadership. We represent our members before government agencies, connect them with major suppliers, organize trade fairs, train entrepreneurs, provide legal assistance and create peer mentoring spaces. All of this is guided by one mission: to protect and expand the dignity of Dominican immigrant work and effort.

For us, the supermarket is more than a business. It is a gathering place where heritage, family, food, culture and community come together. On our shelves you’ll find childhood memories, the flavors of home, pieces of Quisqueya that ease the longing of being far away. That is why we actively promote access for Dominican products to the U.S. market.

We know there is enormous potential to better position our brands, our fruits, our sweets, our coffee. But we also know that successfully entering the U.S. market requires meeting FDA regulations, ensuring consistent quality and logistics, demonstrating the ability to scale without compromising the product, and presenting competitive packaging adapted to consumer

DOMINICANS

BOARD OF DIRECTORS – NATIONAL SUPERMARKET ASSOCIATION (NSA):

Jason Ferreira, Frank Pimentel, José Azcona, Pedro Goico (Treasurer), Frank F. Zapata (General Secretary), Samuel Collado (President), Anthony Peña (Vice President), Iván Bueno, Jorge Guillén, Dionicio Liz Jr., and Ángel Rafael Núñez.

expectations. Pricing must also respond to the dynamics of a demanding market without sacrificing profitability or sustainability. At the NSA, we work hand in hand with producers willing to take on that challenge. We provide access to trade shows, distributors and promotional spaces. But real progress comes when producers combine commitment with a long-term vision. You have to be ready to compete—and the NSA is ready to be the bridge.

I recognize, with humility and pride, that our impact goes beyond commerce. Our supermarkets generate more than 100,000 direct and indirect jobs across the industry. They support college scholarships, donate food, finance social initiatives and promote civic participation. We have seen how our stores revive neglected urban areas, attract investment and restore dignity to neighborhoods that had lost hope. When someone says Dominican supermarkets only sell products, I tell them we also sell opportunity.

That is why participating in this book, Best of DR: Dominicans Abroad, carries symbolic and strategic importance for us. Here you will find stories of Dominicans who have learned to shine beyond their homeland, who lead with integrity, who contribute knowledge and who continue strengthening ties between the Dominican Republic and the world. Our community needs to see itself reflected here, to recognize its value, to know it matters. And it needs to build role models that inspire new generations to go further.

At the NSA, we believe in that future. We bet on young leadership. We promote sustainable business development. We take our seats at decision-making tables with the same determination with which we once carried boxes in our first shifts. We know where we come from, and we are clear about where we are going.

DOMINICANS ABROAD

This book reflects the best of us. It is an honor to be part of this inaugural edition. And from this moment, we renew our commitment to every Dominican who, from their corner store, their lab, their classroom or their microphone, decides every day to raise the name of our homeland high. Because when a Dominican succeeds abroad, they do not grow distant. They become a bridge. They become living heritage. And together, as a community, we continue building our nation—wherever we are.

PRESIDENT, NATIONAL SUPERMARKET ASSOCIATION (NSA)

Samuel Collado is a Dominican entrepreneur and president of the National Supermarket Association (NSA), one of the most representative Latino retail organizations in the U.S. He completed his primary and secondary education at the renowned Obra Salesiana de Jarabacoa, an experience that shaped his early years, and earned a degree in business administration from Pontificia Universidad Católica Madre y Maestra (PUCMM). In New York, he began his career in the sector from entry-level operational roles until becoming the owner of his first supermarket in 1993. He currently manages multiple establishments affiliated with Key Food Stores.

SAMUEL COLLADO

DOMINICANS ON WALL STREET: OPPORTUNITIES FOR INVESTMENT

Dominicans on Wall Street, Inc. (DOWS) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to building bridges between the Dominican Republic, the United States and international financial markets. It serves as a forum for discussions on international investments, finance and legal issues of interest to both countries.

The group was created to help Dominican companies access U.S. capital markets while offering a platform for U.S. companies interested in investment opportunities in the Dominican Republic. Founded in 1997, DOWS was born from the initiative of attorney and professor Josefa Sicard-Mirabal in New York and Marcos Troncoso, then vice president of Tricom, during the closing ceremony of the company’s initial public offering.

A year later, the organization extended its mission abroad by participating in a seminar in the Dominican Republic, where it first introduced the possibility for local companies to access U.S. capital markets. Since then, DOWS has engaged with presidents, government officials, corporations, banks and universities to promote dialogue and action around the country’s financial development.

DOMINICANS ABROAD

The mission of DOWS has focused on advancing the professional development of its members, supporting the growth of capital markets and the Dominican Republic Stock Exchange, and promoting financial and academic education for Dominican youth.

With a network of more than 300 members, DOWS is a reference point on capital markets and financial education. It participates annually in Dominican Week and collaborates with institutions such as the Dominican American National Roundtable, the Dominican Bar Association, the Dominican Women’s Development Center, Baruch College, LatinoJustice, UNIBE and INTEC.

The DOWS Board of Directors includes Robert Abreu, Hiram Arnaud, Frank Gutiérrez, César Pérez, Eridania Pérez, Edwin Polanco, Giovanni Sánchez, Josefa Sicard-Mirabal (founder and president) and Kenny Terrero.

For more information, visit www.dominicansonwallstreet.org or email info@dominicansonwallstreet.org.

JOSEFA

SICARD-MIRABAL FOUNDER AND PRESIDENT, DOMINICANS ON WALL STREET (DOWS)

Josefa Sicard-Mirabal is a recognized attorney and arbitrator with extensive experience in arbitration and international business. Since 2011, she has been a professor at Fordham University School of Law and has taught as a visiting professor at prestigious institutions such as Harvard, Columbia, Boston, Northwestern, the Università degli Studi di Firenze, La Sapienza in Rome, the University of Montevideo and Koç University in Istanbul, among others. She served as executive director of Arbitration and ADR for North America at the International Court of Arbitration (ICC) and as an external member of the Sanctions Committee of the Inter-American Development Bank. She is the founder and president of Dominicans on Wall Street (DOWS).

LEADERSHIP AND CIVIC ENGAGEMENT THROUGH DOMINICANOS USA

Dominicanos USA (DUSA) is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization founded in 2013 to promote the civic, social and economic advancement of Dominican and Latino communities in the United States. Its main goal is to ensure immigrant communities are well-informed, empowered and fully represented in the U.S. public sphere.

To fulfill its mission, DUSA has developed a range of programs and initiatives. One of the most notable is its Citizenship and Voter Participation program, which provides free bilingual assistance to lawful permanent residents applying for U.S. citizenship. DUSA also plays an active role in voter registration and mobilization campaigns. Since its founding, it has registered more than 186,000 voters and, since 2016, has helped more than 3,000 permanent residents with citizenship applications, resulting in 3,220 naturalization filings and 1,200 fee waivers.

Another flagship initiative is the Youth Ambassador Program, an annual civic leadership project for high school students from the Bronx and Upper Manhattan. Over six weeks of training, students learn about voter organizing, leadership and community engagement while strengthening their confidence and civic commitment.

Recognizing the ways communities connect in the digital era, DUSA also runs the Connecting the Dominican Diaspora through Technology and eSports program. The initiative fosters cultural identity and community engagement through technology education and video game programs in New York and the Dominican Republic.

DUSA’s Education and Community Advocacy area hosts civic education workshops and forums with elected officials, giving Dominican and Latino communities access to resources and knowledge about their rights.

The DUSA board of directors includes Manuel Matos (president), Anyarlene Bergés (secretary), Christian Cabral (treasurer), and Eddie Cuesta (board member and executive director).

PRESIDENT, DOMINICANOS USA (DUSA)

Manuel Matos is an attorney specializing in cross-border loan restructuring, investments and international litigation. His career is also marked by a strong commitment to immigrant advocacy, including participating in nationally televised debates and appearing as a commentator on NBC, CNBC, CNN, BBC, ABC, Univision and Telemundo. He has also served on boards and committees of organizations such as the New York Immigration Coalition, the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund, the Puerto Rican Legal Defense and Education Fund, the National Hispanic Media Coalition, the National Hispanic Leadership Agenda and the Dominican American National Roundtable.

MANUEL MATOS

DOMINICANS ABROAD

DOMINICANS ABROAD

THE FIRST STEPS TOWARD A GLOBAL PRESENCE

A BRIEF HISTORY OF AN IDENTITY IN MOTION, AND THE NETWORK OF INFLUENCE, GROWTH, AND OPPORTUNITY IT INSPIRED.

Migration is often seen as an economic necessity, a movement driven by hardship and hope. Yet the story of Dominicans abroad is far more complex — one of adaptation that goes well beyond the well-known path to the United States and Spain.

While those destinations remain epicenters of Dominican life overseas, a new generation of migrants and their descendants are building communities in Canada, countries like Chile in Latin America, and European nations such as Italy. This book seeks to explore the full spectrum of Dominican migration, moving past traditional narratives to analyze how these communities have evolved into a transnational movement reshaping business, culture and politics across multiple continents.

Looking back, Dominican migration — particularly to the United States — reaches further than many realize. Juan Rodríguez, a trader of African and Portuguese descent born in Santo Domingo, is recognized as the first non-Indigenous immigrant recorded in what is now New York City, arriving in 1613. His story symbolizes the early Dominican presence in the Americas and represents the entrepreneurial spirit and cultural resilience that continue to define the Dominican communities abroad today.

Like Rodríguez, who independently settled in new lands, Dominicans have found ways to establish themselves across the globe, far beyond the United States. Historically, Dominican migration patterns have been tied to political and economic instability. After the assassination of Rafael Trujillo in 1961, the Dominican Republic entered a period of social and economic turmoil. Between 1961 and 1980, more than 250,000 Dominicans emigrated to the United States, settling mostly in New York, according to the Pew Research Center. This first wave consisted largely of lower middle-class workers seeking better opportunities as the country transitioned from dictatorship to democracy.

By the late 1990s and early 2000s, Dominican migration began to change. Although economic factors remained decisive, new groups of

migrants left by strategic choice — pursuing higher education, professional growth and stronger social services. Spain and Italy emerged as major destinations. Today, the Dominican population abroad numbers 2,835,593, according to the 2024 Registro Sociodemográfico de los Dominicanos Residentes en el Exterior published by the Institute of Dominicans Abroad (INDEX).

The vast majority — 2,393,718 Dominicans, or 84.4 percent — live in the United States. They are followed by communities in Spain (187,345), Puerto Rico (64,570), Italy (54,619) and Canada (22,125). Notable communities are also present in the Netherlands (20,997), Switzerland (17,393), Chile (14,588), Germany (11,754) and France (9,468).

The Dominican community in Spain is especially significant because of its generational diversity. An early wave connected to domestic and service-sector work has been joined by a second generation of professionals and entrepreneurs who have found opportunities for growth in Madrid and Barcelona. This locally born group already makes up 25 percent of the Dominican community in Spain, compared with just 13 percent in the 1990s, according to La población dominicana en España: un perfil demográfico y socioeconómico (2001–2024), a study by the CUNY Dominican Studies Institute. This shift is reshaping the demographic makeup of Dominicans in Spain and creating opportunities to capitalize on the double belonging of being culturally Dominican and naturally Spanish.

In Italy, Dominicans began arriving in the 1990s and now number more than 54,000. While many started in informal sectors, today they are present in education, law and local political organizations, with a visible role in advocating for immigrant rights. In Canada, the community is smaller but has surpassed 22,000 residents, concentrated in Toronto and Montreal. Its growth stems from both skilled worker programs and family reunification, integrating Dominicans into key academic and productive sectors.

Dominican migration is no longer understood as a one-way exodus. It has diversified through multiple pathways, including dual citizenship — particularly through ties to Spain — study programs, work contracts and, more recently, digital nomad visas. Circular migration is also gaining ground, with many Dominicans alternating between their home country and their country of residence, generating a constant flow of human, economic and cultural capital.

Santiago as a Cradle of Migration: A Shared History

Among Dominican cities of origin, Santiago de los Caballeros holds a special place—not only as a starting point for the first wave of migration to

the United States after the fall of Trujillo, but also as a city that has maintained robust ties with Dominican communities abroad, especially in New York.

Remittances are one of the clearest markers of this connection. In 2023, they surpassed $10 billion, with a significant share coming from Dominicans in New York. The National District accounted for 35.6 percent of those transfers, followed by Santiago with 13.7 percent, according to the Central Bank. These funds directly impact consumption, housing, education and local entrepreneurship.

The connection is also political. Adriano Espaillat, the first U.S. congressman of Dominican origin, was born in Santiago before emigrating to New York. His rise represents the institutionalization of Dominican presence in U.S. public life and symbolizes the dual sense of belonging of Dominicans tied to both homelands.

Culturally, Santiago reflects the influence of Dominicans living abroad. Urban music, new housing styles and even family celebrations bear the imprint of reimported cultural codes. Increasingly, return migrants are choosing to invest or resettle in the city, reshaping its economy and social identity.

TODAY, DOMINICANS

ABROAD STAND AS CITIZENS OF THE WORLD.

Beyond economics, the presence of Santiago natives overseas has fueled cultural transformation at home. Dominican urban music — deeply shaped by artists raised or influenced abroad — has found in Santiago one of its main centers of production and consumption. Family gatherings, the architecture of new homes and consumer habits also mirror the reimported American way of life.

At the same time, the phenomenon of return migration is growing. Some Dominicans, after decades in the United States, choose to return to Santiago, investing in local businesses or seeking a quieter life. This reverse mobility transforms the local economy, brings new cultural codes and redefines the city’s identity.

A New Narrative for Dominicans Abroad

Today, Dominicans overseas are seen as a transnational community of doctors, lawyers, entrepreneurs, business leaders, artists and professionals who not only maintain ties to their homeland but also shape realities in their countries of residence.

Their impact goes beyond economics: they represent Dominican culture, strengthen the country’s international image and serve as key players for the future. At the same time, they are opening channels of return — through business investments, knowledge transfer or permanent relocation to the Dominican Republic. These ties are constantly renewed and multiplied, ensuring that the Dominican presence abroad remains a steady source of development and opportunity for the land where it all began.

THE FIRST DOMINICAN TO ARRIVE

For generations, Dominicans have crossed borders to make their way in foreign lands. That journey began with Juan Rodríguez, who in 1613 settled on the island of Manhattan, becoming both the first Dominican and the first recorded nonIndigenous resident of what is now New York City. His story marks the beginning of a long and complex history of Dominican mobility and contribution to the world. In these pages, we bring together pioneers in public life, medicine, literature, academia, art and sports — individuals whose lives have built, and continue to build, a shared legacy that elevates Dominican identity abroad.

The First Dominican in New York

Our global presence began with him. 1590 – early 17th century

Long before the concept of a “Dominican community

Juan Rodríguez

abroad” existed, Juan Rodríguez was already Dominican in New York. Born in Santo Domingo at the end of the 16th century, this merchant of African and Indigenous descent became the first documented non-Native resident of Manhattan in 1613. He worked with Dutch traders and chose to remain in what is now the financial center of the world.

Fluent in Spanish, Portuguese, and English, Rodríguez was hired as a translator by Dutch captain Thijs Volckenz Mossel during a trading expedition to the New World. When he arrived in Manhattan—then inhabited by the Lenape—Rodríguez decided to stay. He established his own trading post, lived among the natives, built family ties, and learned their language.

The arrival of Europeans, initially for the fur trade, transformed the region. Rodríguez played a key role in facilitating exchanges between the Lenape and European traders, paving the way for the earliest interactions between

ON ‘JUAN RODRÍGUEZ WAY’ IN NEW YORK CITY, PAST AND PRESENT CONVERGE.

the two cultures. His story resurfaced centuries later, in 1959, when historian Simon Hart uncovered his name in Dutch notarial archives. These scattered references, preserved in Hart’s work Juan Rodriguez and the Beginnings of New York City and later confirmed by the CUNY Dominican Studies Institute, highlighted Rodríguez as New York’s first nonIndigenous immigrant. Since then, scholars and community leaders have worked to reclaim his place in the city’s history. The fact that only a handful of archival pages remain as the primary record of his life underscores how much work is still needed to integrate figures like Rodríguez into the broader narrative of New York. Official recognition came in 2012, when the City of New York designated a stretch of Broadway in Upper Manhattan as “Juan Rodríguez Way.” Appropriately, the avenue runs through one of the neighborhoods with the highest concentration of Dominicans in the city—where past and present converge at a single point.

DOMINICANS ABROAD

PIONEERS

PROFESSIONALS WHO BUILD LEADERSHIP

Dominican presence in U.S. public service is increasingly visible and diverse, represented by leaders who contribute vision across government, Congress, the military, and urban infrastructure. Their careers reveal a community actively shaping the public sphere.

Adriano Espaillat

Member of the United States House of Representatives

The first Dominican congressman in the U.S. Washington, D.C.

Adriano Espaillat knows what it means to cross borders—first as a child who left Santiago to embrace the promise of New York, and later as a trailblazing politician who reached Capitol Hill. From his early days in Albany as the first Dominican in the New York State Assembly to his rise as the first Dominican in the U.S. Congress, he is an indispensable figure in the Dominican community. In 2024, he made history again by becoming Chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, the first AfroLatino to lead this powerful bloc.

Rolando Acosta Attorney

First Dominican elected to the New York State Supreme Court. New York, USA

Born in Santiago de los Caballeros, Rolando Acosta was the first Dominican immigrant elected as a Justice of the New York State Supreme Court, serving from 2003 to 2008. He also served as Presiding Justice of the Appellate Division, First Judicial Department. Under his leadership, the court underwent modernization, implementing livestreamed hearings and electronic case management systems. He has received numerous accolades throughout his career. Columbia University inducted him into its Athletic Hall of Fame and awarded him its Medal for Excellence.

Ydanis Rodríguez

Commissioner of the New York City Department of Transportation

A statesman of the city. New York, USA

His 2022 appointment as Commissioner of the New York City Department of Transportation made him the first Latino to lead the agency. Born in Licey al Medio, Santiago, and immigrating to New York at age 18, he studied political science at City College of New York. He entered politics in 2009 when elected councilmember for Manhattan’s District 10. Two years later, he was featured in TIME’s special edition “Person of the Year.” He later chaired the City Council’s Transportation Committee starting in 2014. His career is one of the most eloquent within the Dominican community.

LEADERS IN PUBLIC SERVICE

Julissa

Reynoso Attorney

A strategist of foreign service.

New York, USA

Originally from Salcedo, Julissa Reynoso is one of the most influential faces in U.S. diplomacy. Educated at Harvard, Cambridge, and Columbia, she became the youngest U.S. Ambassador to Uruguay at age 37 under the Obama administration. Later, at the White House, she served as Jill Biden’s chief of staff and led the country’s gender policy agenda. In 2022, she was appointed Ambassador to Spain, becoming the first woman to represent the U.S. in that country. In 2023, the King of Spain awarded her the Grand Cross of the Order of Isabella the Catholic. She currently serves as a partner at Winston & Strawn LLP in New York.

Marisol Chalas

Deputy Chief of Staff, U.S. Army Reserve Aviation Command

The first Latina to pilot a Black Hawk helicopter. Kentucky, USA

Born in Baní, she emigrated to Massachusetts at age 9, where she became the first Latina to pilot a Black Hawk helicopter in the U.S. Army National Guard. She studied Maritime Engineering at the Massachusetts Maritime Academy and earned an MBA from the J. Mack Robinson College of Business at Georgia State University.

In 2017, she was recognized as an “Outstanding American by Choice” by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. In her home country, she was honored with the Medal of Merit.

Quemuel Arroyo

Chief Accessibility Officer, Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) Champion of urban inclusion.

New York, USA

Originally from Bonao and raised in Harlem, New York, Quemuel Arroyo holds a degree in urban design and architectural history from NYU and a master’s in public administration from the Wagner School. He was the first Accessibility Officer at the New York City Department of Transportation, where he integrated inclusive design into sidewalks, crossings, stations, and information systems. Since 2021, he has served as Chief Accessibility Officer of the MTA. He was named to Crain’s New York Business “40 Under 40” list.

IN SERVICE OF HEALTH

With careers forged in research, high-caliber Dominican physicians represent a group of professionals who have seamlessly integrated into their professional environments while raising standards, founding institutions, and training new generations of medical practitioners.

Dr. Juan M. Taveras

Pioneer of Neuroradiology

He made the brain’s invisible workings visible. Boston, USA

Dr. Juan Manuel Taveras revolutionized how the world views the brain. As a pioneer of modern neuroradiology, his work was instrumental in integrating imaging techniques into the clinical diagnosis of neurological diseases. He established academic programs at Harvard and founded the first neuroradiology department in the United States. Mentor, teacher, scientist, institutional leader— and above all—a Dominican committed to excellence, his influence spans universities and medical centers that continue to use the tools he helped create.

Dr. Rafael Lantigua

Internist and Academic

The most celebrated Dominican physician in NY.

New York, USA

At Columbia University, this distinguished physician walks with the quiet authority of someone who has paved paths where none existed before. He is professor emeritus of medicine at Columbia University Medical Center and a special lecturer in the Department of Medicine, following a career that included serving as associate dean for community service and professor of medicine at the Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons. In 2024, he received the U.S. Presidential Volunteer Service Medal. Today, he carries his vocation of service into his role as the Dominican Republic’s ambassador to Italy.

Dr. Carlos Dante Heredia

Ophthalmologist

The specialist who saw beyond the eyes.

Barcelona, Spain

He has one of the most multidimensional medical careers of any Dominican in Europe. A specialist in ophthalmology and aerospace medicine from the University of Barcelona, he earned his medical degree from the Autonomous University of Santo Domingo. He has performed more than 8,000 eye surgeries, positioning himself as a leading figure in ophthalmic microsurgery in Spain, with a special focus on corneal and retinal conditions. He also serves as an adviser on international health and medical-consular relations, acting as a bridge between the Dominican community in Spain and the local government.

Dr. Luis Abreu

Gastroenterólogo y hepatólogo Leader in digestive medicine. Madrid, Spain

Named “Master of Gastroenterology” by scientific associations, he is a key reference for students and young specialists. Based in Madrid since the late 1960s, this physician from La Vega is recognized as one of Spain’s top experts in gastroenterology and hepatology. He led the Digestive System Department at the prestigious Hospital La Luz—part of the Quirónsalud group— and also practiced at the Puerta de Hierro University Hospital in Majadahonda. A prolific academic, he has made significant contributions to medical literature in his field.

Dr. Ramón Tallaj

Internist

The physician who brought medicine closer to immigrants. New York, USA

Born into a family of physicians in Santiago de los Caballeros, he studied at the Autonomous University of Santo Domingo before making the international leap to the United States. After more than two decades of practice in New York, in 2015 he founded SOMOS Community Care, a network of over 3,000 independent physicians—mostly Latino and Asian— that serves more than one million Medicaid patients in the city’s most vulnerable neighborhoods. His efforts were documented in the Emmy-winning series Essential Heroes, and in 2024 he was honored as an Outstanding American by Choice.

Dr. Rubén Peralta

Trauma, Emergency and Critical Care Surgeon Leader in trauma medicine and surgery. Doha, Qatar

An acclaimed professor and trauma surgeon, Dr. Rubén Peralta is an expert in emergency and critical care. From Hamad Medical Corporation in Qatar, he leads one of the most advanced trauma systems in the world. He studied at Universidad Nacional Pedro Henríquez Ureña (UNPHU) in the Dominican Republic, later completing his residency in general surgery and specializing in trauma, emergency and critical care surgery at Massachusetts General Hospital under the prestigious umbrella of Harvard Medical School.

For his contributions, he has been recognized as a Master Surgeon in the United States.

LETTERS IN TRANSIT

With styles that cross linguistic borders and themes that explore identity, uprootedness, and memory, Dominican writers transform the migrant experience into literary art. Their critically acclaimed work reveals the richness and complexity of being Dominican beyond the island.

Rhina Espaillat

Bilingual Guardian of Poetic Language

Where English meets the soul of Spanish. Newburyport, Massachusetts, USA

She writes between languages—not as one who translates, but as one who reconciles two worlds in a single verse. Born in Santiago de los Caballeros, she immigrated to the United States at age seven with her family, fleeing Trujillo’s dictatorship. Since then, her life has been a continuous act of linguistic, cultural, and emotional translation, and her work a space where English and Spanish do not compete but embrace. Considered one of the most admired poets of contemporary formal verse in English, she masterfully practices sonnet, rhyme, and meter while weaving her Dominican identity into every text.

Julia Álvarez

Literary Voice of Memory and Exile

She gave accent to the silence of immigrant girls. Vermont, USA

Her work, spanning poetry, fiction and essays, bears witness to an identity divided between two worlds: the Dominican Republic, where she was born, and the United States, which welcomed her as a teenager. With titles such as How the García Girls Lost Their Accents and In the Time of the Butterflies, she turned the experience of daughters of exile into universal literature, capturing the complexity of growing up with one foot in the Caribbean and the other in the North. She is one of the most influential storytellers in U.S. Latino literature and an essential reference for understanding the Latina female voice.

Josefina Báez

Playwright, Writer, and Artistic Director

The artist who reinvented Dominican identity. New York, USA

Born in La Romana, she arrived in New York at age 12, settling in the “urban batey” of Washington Heights. In 1986, she founded the Ay Ombe Theatre, and her play Dominicanish, which premiered in 1999, placed her on a more global cultural stage. Beyond theater, she is the author of books such as Comrade, Bliss Ain’t Playing, and Levente no. Yolayorkdominicanyork. In 2023, Columbia University recognized the historical value of her career by acquiring her personal archive—an invaluable collection of manuscripts, journals, photographs, and audiovisual material— and integrating it into its prestigious collection on Latin Arts and Activism.

LITERARY VOICES

Junot Díaz

Cartographer of the Barrio, Trauma, and Desire

He wrote in Spanglish what couldn’t fit in English. Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA

He entered literature with a voice unlike any other. His narrative does not shy away from the barrio, the accent, or the pain. In The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao, which won the Pulitzer Prize in 2008, he reinvented the migration novel by combining geek references, historical trauma, and street language. His literature portrays the diaspora as wound, as inheritance, and as fertile ground for reinvention. Born in Santo Domingo and raised in New Jersey, he turned the experience of marginality into literary center and, in doing so, challenged the American canon from within.

Rita Indiana

Writer and Multidisciplinary Artist Cultural disruptor of the Caribbean. San Juan, Puerto Rico

In literature, she is seen as a leading figure of the new Caribbean narrative; her novels broke conventions and introduced queer and science fiction themes into Dominican storytelling, influencing younger writers exploring those subjects. Her early books, such as Papi and La estrategia de Chochueca, are now studied in literature courses across the United States and the Caribbean. In 2023, she was named Global Distinguished Professor of Creative Writing in Spanish at New York University (NYU), a prestigious position that allows her to mentor emerging writers from within academia.

Angie Cruz

Writer and Novelist

Contemporary voice of literature. Pittsburgh, USA

She is, unequivocally, a writer of the diaspora. Born in Washington Heights and raised between the Dominican Republic and New York, she has mapped what it means to be the daughter of two languages and two geographies since her debut novel, Soledad. However, Dominicana remains her most celebrated work. The novel was a finalist for the UK’s Women’s Prize for Fiction and selected by Barack Obama as one of his favorite books. Her most recent work, How Not to Drown in a Glass of Water, explores unemployment, latelife migration, and friendship. She teaches creative writing at the University of Pittsburgh.

DOMINICAN TRAILBLAZERS IN RESEARCH

The Dominican community abroad has taken root in influential and prestigious academic institutions around the world. Dominican professors, researchers, and thinkers now hold essential positions in major centers of learning, offering perspectives that enrich contemporary thought.

Daisy Cocco de Filippis

Writer and Educator

Promoter of literature and educational leadership.

NEW York, USA

A philologist, essayist, and translator, she specialized in literature written by Caribbean women, particularly Dominican authors, contributing to the canonization of voices such as Salomé Ureña, Camila Henríquez Ureña, and Aída Cartagena Portalatín. She translated their works into English and promoted their study in American academic circles. A respected academic administrator, she served as president of Hostos Community College—one of New York’s institutions with the highest Latino student population—and previously as chancellor of Naugatuck Valley Community College in Connecticut.

Ramona Hernández

Sociologist and Scholar

Gives academic voice to what was once only lived experience.

New York, USA

She is dedicated to understanding, explaining, and making visible the Dominican experience in the United States through intellectual rigor. As a sociologist, scholar, and director of the CUNY Dominican Studies Institute—the first research center in the U.S. exclusively devoted to the study of Dominicans—she has been a pioneer in building the theoretical and documentary framework that enables in-depth study of the impact and evolution of Dominican presence in the country. Her academic work includes the notable book The Mobility of Workers Under Advanced Capitalism.

Lorgia García Peña

Writer and Scholar

The intellectual who centers the marginalized in critical thought.

New Jersey, USA

Her influence stands out in academic activism and ethnic studies. She is considered a prominent voice in U.S. academia advocating for the inclusion of AfroLatinx and Dominican studies. She was a professor at Harvard University (until 2019) and currently chairs the Department of Race, Colonialism, and Diaspora Studies at Tufts University. Her book The Borders of Dominicanidad is widely cited in studies on Dominican identity, contributing the concept of “Dominicanidad” abroad. She received the 2022 Angela Y. Davis Prize, recognizing her as an exemplary scholar.

Dr. Julio De Castro

Academic and Professor Promoter of entrepreneurial thought. Madrid, Spain

One of the most prestigious business academics of his generation. An industrial engineer from the Pontificia Universidad Católica Madre y Maestra (PUCMM), he is Professor of Entrepreneurship at the José Mario Álvarez de Novales Chair and Director of the PhD program at IE Business School in Spain. Previously, he was a distinguished professor at Babson College, USA. His research explores the sociocultural and economic context of entrepreneurial behavior. In 2024, he received the Padre Billini Award for Excellence from the Dominican Embassy in Spain.

Silvio Torres-Saillant

Professor of English and Cultural Studies at Syracuse University Essayist on AfroCaribbean identities Syracuse, NY, USA

Born in Santiago de los Caballeros, he earned distinction as the founder and director of the CUNY Dominican Studies Institute, the first academic institution in the United States devoted exclusively to the study of the Dominican experience in that country. His work as a scholar marked a turning point in the study of immigration, Caribbean literature and ethnic studies in the United States. He is currently a professor of English literature at Syracuse University, where he also supports Latin American studies programs.

ACADEMIC LEADERS

Franklin Gutiérrez

Essayist, Poet, and Scholar

The writer who brought local history into dialogue with the Caribbean. New York, USA

He has devoted his life to documenting and studying Dominican literary production, especially that of the diaspora. His body of work is vast, with over 20 published books spanning genres from poetry to critical essays, including essential titles such as Dominican Literature in the United States, The Tombs of the Trujillos, and the Dictionary of Dominican Literature. He is an archival intellectual, a connector of writers and readers. From his professorship at York College of CUNY in New York, he has witnessed the rise of a Dominican literary voice beyond the island.

LEGACY AND PROJECTION OF DOMINICAN ART

Across the globe, Dominican painters, musicians, singers, photographers, and multidisciplinary artists have secured a place on prestigious international stages. Through conceptual rigor and a distinctive aesthetic, they bring fresh perspectives on identity and memory, expanding the horizons of Latin American art.

Michel

Camilo

Jazz Pianist

The musician who turned Caribbean jazz into a universal language. New York, USA

One of the most internationally acclaimed Dominican musicians. He has elevated Caribbean rhythms and melodies on the world stage through the technical precision of jazz and classical music. Initially trained at the National Conservatory of Music, he studied at Juilliard and refined his technique, crafting a fusion that is both elegant and powerful. His music proposes a dialogue between merengue, bachata, salsa, and contemporary jazz. A Grammy and Latin Grammy winner, he has performed at venues such as Carnegie Hall and the Royal Albert Hall, affirming that his Dominican identity enriches every note.

Zoe Saldaña

Actress

The first American of Dominican descent to win an Oscar. California, USA

Embodies a constellation of crossings: from Passaic, New Jersey, and Queens, New York, to her formative years in the Dominican Republic. Through her characters — Neytiri, Gamora and Uhura — fiction transcends into cultural passports, opening doors for new generations of Latinos on the big screen.

She holds a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and a unique box-office record as the only actor with four films grossing more than $2 billion worldwide. In 2025, she sealed her legacy with the industry’s double crown — a Golden Globe and an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress in Emilia Pérez — affirming her talent and artistic range.

José García Cordero

Visual Artist

A critical thinker with a brush in hand. Paris, France

Born in Santiago de los Caballeros in 1951, his work is shaped by his journey from the Caribbean to Europe and his political activism. Trained in the circle of master Hernández Ortega, José García Cordero went into exile in France in 1977, fleeing the Balaguer regime. In Paris, he completed studies in contemporary history at the University of Vincennes, where he developed his socially charged visual language. His work is part of public and private collections across Latin America, Europe, and the United States. He has received the Gold Medal at the Caribbean and Central America Biennial and the Artistic Merit Medal from the French Senate.

Winston Vargas

Art Photographer

Visual chronicler of the Dominican diaspora. New York, USA

Born in Santiago de los Caballeros, Winston Vargas has documented the soul of a community in transit, capturing the evolving face of Washington Heights— the quintessential Dominican neighborhood in New York—from the 1960s to today. With a keen eye for everyday gestures, he became the first visual chronicler of the Dominican diaspora. His black-and-white images narrate the arrival of Dominicans, their labor, the cold, the hope, the barbershops, and the Spanglish signs. In 2022, his work was compiled in the book Aquí y Allá, published by the INICIA Collection, where his photographs tell collective stories.

AMBASSADORS

THE ARTS

Ángela Carrasco

Singer and Actress

The Dominican voice that broke emotional boundaries. Madrid, Spain

An iconic figure of romantic ballads in the 1970s and 1980s, with major success in Spain and Latin America. Her role as Mary Magdalene in the landmark musical Jesus Christ Superstar, alongside Camilo Sesto, was a defining moment in Spain. Though her peak came decades ago, her cultural impact remains intact. Her career, marked by hits like Quererte a ti and Boca Rosa, established her as a key interpreter of Spanish-language romantic ballads. With multiple gold records and awards, such as the Latin Grammy for Musical Excellence, she turned nostalgia and passion into timeless ballads.

Aisha Syed

Violinist

The prodigious violinist. London, UK

The first Latin American to be admitted to the prestigious Yehudi Menuhin School in London, she has performed at renowned venues such as Carnegie Hall in New York, Wigmore Hall in London, and the Palace of Fine Arts in Mexico. Her music reflects impeccable technique and a soul deeply connected to her roots. As an artist, Aisha Syed is a cultural ambassador proving that the Caribbean can also resonate with Vivaldi, Beethoven, or Paganini. Born in Santiago de los Caballeros, she amazed audiences from a young age with her absolute command of the violin, debuting as a soloist at just 11 years old with the Dominican National Symphony Orchestra.

HIGH-PERFORMANCE CAREERS

Our country has been the cradle of generations of athletes who have taken their talent to the world’s most demanding stages. In sports such as baseball and basketball, these figures have earned medals, titles, and records—carrying Dominican pride to the highest levels of achievement.

Juan Marichal

Former Major League Baseball pitcher

The Dominican arm that carved glory from the mound. Miami, Florida, USA

The first Dominican to be inducted into the Cooperstown Hall of Fame, Marichal paved the way for generations of ballplayers. Born in Laguna Verde, Montecristi, he stood out for his unique pitching mechanics and absolute dominance on the mound. Over 16 seasons—mostly with the San Francisco Giants—he racked up 243 wins, a 2.89 ERA, and over 2,300 strikeouts. He played in 10 All-Star Games and was named Most Valuable Player of the 1965 classic.

Pedro Martínez

Former Major League Baseball pitcher Redefined the concept of the modern pitcher. Santo Domingo

Hailing from Manoguayabo, Santo Domingo Oeste, he rose to prominence as one of the most formidable pitchers. Over 18 MLB seasons, he earned 219 wins with teams like the Dodgers, Expos, Mets, and most notably, the Boston Red Sox. His tenure with Boston marked an era. In 2004, he played a key role in the historic championship that broke the “Curse of the Bambino” after 86 years, elevating him to eternal idol status in New England. In 2015, he was inducted into the Cooperstown Hall of Fame, becoming the first Dominican to do so wearing a Boston cap.

David Ortíz

Former designated hitter in Major League Baseball Boston icon Miami, Florida, USA

He joined the Boston Red Sox in 2003, becoming the soul of a franchise hungry for redemption. His presence at the plate was commanding: as a left-handed hitter, he smashed 541 home runs, drove in over 1,700 runs, and achieved a career batting average of .286 over 20 seasons. He was a three-time World Series champion with Boston and the 2013 World Series MVP, where his performance was simply epic. In 2022, he was inducted into the Cooperstown Hall of Fame, securing his place among baseball’s all-time greats.

Juan Soto

Outfielder for the New York Yankees in Major League Baseball

The new generation of Dominican baseball. New York, USA

He is proof that Dominican talent continues to redefine the game. Born in Santo Domingo, he made the leap to the U.S. through the Nationals’ minor league system, debuting in the MLB in 2018 at just 19 years old. His bat and poise quickly made him a 2019 World Series champion and one of the most feared hitters. A Silver Slugger winner, walks leader, and multiple-time All-Star, he now wears the iconic New York Yankees uniform, having signed with them in 2023, solidifying his presence in one of the most storied franchises in sports history.

Félix Sánchez

Former track and field athlete

Two-time world champion in the 400-meter hurdles. Santo Domingo

Born in New York to Dominican parents, he grew up between the city’s asphalt and the stories of the island, eventually finding his path on the track. His discipline led him to dominate the 400-meter hurdles, becoming a two-time Olympic champion (Athens 2004 and London 2012) and double world champion (2001 and 2003). Each victory was more than a sporting triumph—it was an act of representation, a moment when the Dominican flag rose before the world. He shattered records and redefined what a Dominican athlete could achieve on the global stage.

SPORTS LEGENDS

Al Horford

Professional basketball player in the NBA

The Dominican making his mark in the NBA. Boston, Massachussets, USA

Son of former NBA player Tito Horford, he was the first to bring Dominican basketball heritage to the highest level. Originally from Puerto Plata, he was selected third overall by the Atlanta Hawks in the 2007 Draft, debuting in a league dominated by fast-paced play. Al Horford has been a fivetime NBA All-Star and has worn the jerseys of iconic franchises like the Boston Celtics and the Philadelphia 76ers. In 2022, he became the first Dominican to play in an NBA Finals—a historic feat that marked a turning point for Caribbean basketball.

DOMINICANS ABROAD

DOMINICANS ABROAD

ARTS & CULTURE

PROJECTING OUR CULTURAL EXPRESSIONS TO THE WORLD

Dominican culture crosses borders through the work of creators, curators and artists who, from abroad, elevate our roots with pride and authenticity. Whether through visual or culinary arts, archaeology or cultural events, these ambassadors showcase the richness of our expressions, reinterpreting them from new geographies without losing their essence. With every piece or initiative, they forge a connection between their Caribbean identity and the cultures around them, positioning what is Dominican as a universal language of value, strength, history and beauty.

DAYANNY DE LA CRUZ

Vice President of Culinary, Levy Restaurants

AT THE PINNACLE OF THE CULINARY INDUSTRY

Redefining gastronomy in sports, entertainment, and sustainability.

From the kitchens of her childhood in Nagua, Dominican Republic, to the stoves of the world’s most iconic stadiums, Dayanny De La Cruz elevates the culinary experience within the sports and entertainment industry.

Born in 1973, her passion for cooking took root in her grandmother’s home, where she discovered that food is more than nourishment—it brings cultures and communities together. Inspired by this sense of purpose, she pursued formal training at Grand Rapids Community College in Michigan, United States, where she refined her culinary arts expertise and developed a holistic vision of gastronomy.

Her rise in the industry quickly materialized when she joined the American Airlines Arena as executive chef for the Miami Heat. Her greatest challenge and achievement came at Hard Rock Stadium, home of the Miami Dolphins, where she served as executive chef for Sodexo Live! and became the first woman to

THE CHEF REDEFINES GASTRONOMY AT THE MOST PRESTIGIOUS SPORTING AND CULTURAL EVENTS.

lead the culinary operation of the Super Bowl in 2019. She also led the culinary experience for the Formula 1 Miami Grand Prix.

Today, as Vice President of Culinary at Levy Restaurants, De La Cruz oversees a portfolio of more than 300 properties across the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom, including entertainment venues, sports arenas, and convention centers. As the first Latina to hold this position, her leadership proves that discipline and innovation can transform entire industries.

High-value Practices

In her work, the chef incorporates sustainability and inclusion into the culinary

industry: she has implemented zero food waste strategies, ensuring that surplus food is redistributed to vulnerable communities. This earned her the prestigious Food Rescue US Visionary Award in 2023, presented by the White House and Food Tank. Additionally, the Dominican chef has participated in mentorship and training programs for young talent, ensuring that the next generation of chefs has real opportunities for growth.

As a speaker, De La Cruz has shared her message on platforms such as TEDx and Food Tank, inspiring audiences with her vision of gastronomy as not only a source of pleasure but also a driver of social impact. She has been recognized by Forbes and named one of Wells Fargo USA’s Most Influential Business Women in 2023, cementing her place as one of the most influential professionals in her field.

ELSA MANTILLA

President and Founder, Dominican Parade and Festival of the State of New Jersey

50 YEARS OF SERVICE TO CULTURE

A driving force in cultural visibility and community organization for Dominicans in New Jersey.

Between Higüey and the avenue that now bears her name in Paterson, New Jersey, unfolds the story of Elsa Mantilla — a life devoted to service.

She was just 17 years old when she arrived in New Jersey in 1972, hoping to study and work. She joined a sewing factory and left with a trade. Likewise, she studied English at Passaic County Community College and business administration at Bergen Community College.

Together with her life partner of five decades, Francisco Mantilla, she sold perfumes door-todoor using a laundry cart, bought her first home, then a second, and eventually the building that houses her bridal shop, Rossy Elsie, named after her daughters.

The need for spaces of cultural representation and active participation led her, in 1989, to found the Dominican Parade and Festival of the State of New Jersey, Inc.—an event that now gathers thousands in celebration of Dominican heritage. More than

BESIDES THE DOMINICAN PARADE OF NEW JERSEY, HER LEADERSHIP EXTENDS INTO OTHER AREAS.

three decades later, she continues to lead it with the same energy as in its early years, solidifying the Grand Parade as a symbol of pride in the so-called Garden State.

In 2022, Elsa founded Mujeres Latinas en Acción de New Jersey, Inc., an organization that empowers young Latinas and awards scholarships that have already surpassed US$60,000. Her commitment to social service has also translated into food donation campaigns, immigration assistance, and other ongoing initiatives.

Throughout her career, this Dominican leader has received numerous honors, including Latina Woman

Leader of the Year 2006 by Catalina USA magazine, Businesswoman of the Year 2001 by the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Patersonian of the Year 2008, and Grand Marshal of Paterson’s Christmas Parade. In 2018, she was appointed Deputy Mayor for Cultural Affairs by the municipal government, becoming the official voice of Dominican heritage in the city.

In 2024, the Paterson City Council passed a resolution to name 21st Avenue “Francisco & Elsa Mantilla Way,” in honor of her and her husband, her inseparable partner in this shared journey.

Elsa Mantilla’s legacy represents a form of leadership rooted in sustained effort and collective well-being, evident in the daily transformation of the communities she has touched. Half a century after arriving in New Jersey, her mission remains unwavering.

HOCHI ASIÁTICO

Painter and Designer, Broadway Theatre

FROM CHAVÓN TO BROADWAY

The Dominican who turns fabric into storytelling for one of the world’s most demanding stages.

In an apartment just two blocks from Central Park in New York City, Hochi Asiático has built, stitch by stitch and brushstroke by brushstroke, a singular career. A painter, designer and storyteller through costumes, he is part of the invisible machinery that brings Broadway — the world’s most demanding stage — to life. His craft has the power to transform an ordinary T-shirt into a symbol of war, a tunic into a work of art, or a uniform into a historical testimony. It’s no surprise that The New York Times has described him as an artist who “creates a story for every garment,” capable of turning a brand-new piece into a lived-in relic.

That level of depth traces back to his formative years at Altos de Chavón, where Hochi discovered that painting could be just one of many forms of expression. Living among artists from diverse cultures and immersed in the campus’s experimental energy, he realized that art didn’t have to be confined to the clas-

HE HAS WORKED ON OVER 1,500 PRODUCTIONS, COMBINING TECHNIQUE

AND STORYTELLING.

sicism we were used to in fine arts schools—and that any form of experimentation was valid.

This open-minded environment led him to explore previously unfamiliar mediums and to envision professional paths at Parsons School of Design in New York, where he later solidified his visual language through strokes, fabrics, and pigments. Since then, Hochi has worked on more than 1,500 productions, leaving his mark on projects such as The Color Purple, The Little Mermaid, West Side Story, Beauty and the Beast, Cats, and Matilda, among many others. His mastery of distressing—the art of making a garment look

worn and lived-in—has been essential in creating authentic theatrical atmospheres, from the snow-covered uniforms in Doctor Zhivago to the variations of blood and sweat in The Crucible.

Although his work has dressed stars such as Lupita Nyong’o and Kate Hudson, and has been featured in universes as varied as Sex and the City and Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey, his career has also included designing for the Off-Broadway circuit with La Barbería, alongside credits in Cabaret, Peter Pan, Cinderella and Pargo y los pecados permitidos. Creative freedom continues to guide his craft. As a Caribbean artist and a Dominican, Hochi proves that there are no borders when the craft is cultivated with rigor, intuition, and respect for the story each garment can tell.

KATHLEEN MARTÍNEZ

Director, Dominican Archaeological Mission in Egypt

IN SEARCH OF CLEOPATRA

She has reshaped the course of Egyptian archaeology through a groundbreaking scientific mission under the Dominican flag.

When Kathleen Martínez decided to leave her career as a lawyer to follow the intuition that had guided her since childhood, she never imagined her project would transform Egypt’s archaeological history and open a new chapter for Dominican science. In 2004, using her own savings and a hypothesis that defied Egyptological orthodoxy, she traveled to Alexandria for the first time in search of evidence regarding the location of Cleopatra’s tomb.

The theory she presented to the Egyptian Supreme Council of Antiquities broke paradigms by proposing that Cleopatra was not buried in a royal mausoleum built specifically for her but rather in a temple dedicated to the goddess Isis, whom she considered herself a reincarnation of. The site, Taposiris Magna, was at the time a forgotten ruin outside traditional archaeological circuits. Against all precedent, Egypt granted her an excavation license— the first ever awarded to a Latin American mission—

HER WORK HAS PUT THE DOMINICAN

REPUBLIC ON THE GLOBAL ARCHAEOLOGY

MAP.

thus beginning a new era for Dominican archaeology. Without institutional backing, she developed a scientific project that soon bore fruit. She discovered a funerary chamber within the temple walls, challenging the known architecture of Egyptian sanctuaries. Since then, she has documented over 800 skeletons, 30 gold-covered mummies, tunnels carved into rock, a Greco-Roman cemetery, processional avenues, hidden palaces, and the first archaeological evidence of the Greek temple visited by Alexander the Great during his time in Egypt.

Throughout the excavation campaigns, she has

remained steadfast in her decision to preserve authorship and leadership under the Dominican flag. “It would have been easier,” she has said, “but it would have betrayed the purpose of this project.”

In addition to directing excavations in Egypt, Kathleen has been recognized as a National Geographic explorer and has taught archaeology at Egyptian universities. In 2023, she signed an agreement with the Instituto Nacional de Formación Técnica Profesional (INFOTEP) to promote Dominican scientific diplomacy. She aims to establish the first Dominican Institute of Archaeology in Egypt, with the capacity to train young Latin Americans in fieldwork and technique.

Kathleen Martínez demonstrates how an idea conceived with nothing more than personal conviction and scientific rigor can become part of history—aligned with her mission to contribute from Latin America to universal knowledge.

MINO LORA

Executive & Artistic Director, The People’s Theatre

ART, COMMUNITY, AND IDENTITY

As a cultural leader, Mino Lora transforms theater into a platform for immigrant empowerment.

María del Camino Lora Cabral, known as Mino Lora, immigrated to the United States in 2000 with the vision of using theater as a language of inclusion and transformation. In 2009, she brought that aspiration to life by founding The People’s Theatre (TPT) in New York, a space that amplifies the voices of immigrants and marginalized communities.

As executive and artistic director of TPT, Lora designs educational programs that reach more than 1,000 children each year. In this capacity, she has built partnerships with over 30 public schools in New York, forging a strong connection between art and education.

In the Dominican Republic, she has collaborated with the Ministry of Culture, the U.S. Embassy, and initiatives such as the Dream Project in Cabarete. As a director, she has staged numerous off-Broadway productions, creating opportunities for immigrant artists

IN NEW YORK, MINO LORA PROMOTES ART AS A SPACE OF BELONGING AND COLLECTIVE EXPERIENCE FOR IMMIGRANTS.

and broadening the Latino narrative in The Big Apple.

The People’s Theatre

Lora leads the development of the first theater in Upper Manhattan, a project funded with nearly US$40 million. “The People’s Theatre: Immigrant Cultural Center,” located in Washington Heights, will become the largest theater in New York led by a Dominican woman, establishing a cultural bridge between immigrant artists and those from the Dominican Republic.

“My personal vision is to use art as a language to build a more compassionate community, where we can learn from one

another’s perspectives and embrace the inescapable commitment that comes with serving the community,” she says.

For the impact of her work, she has received numerous awards and has been featured in outlets such as The New York Times, El Diario, Manhattan Times, Impacto Latino and NY1 Noticias. In 2012, she was recognized by NBC Latino as one of the “10 Latinas with Heart.” She has spoken at high-level forums ranging from TEDx and the American Chamber of Commerce of the Dominican Republic (AmChamDR) to universities such as Columbia, Yale, The New School and Fordham, as well as private companies.

“My dream has always been to share stories, to find what unites us, to learn from our differences, and to focus on building the common good, using art as a vehicle for learning and creativity,” Lora says. For her, being Dominican in New York entails a commitment to the dignified representation of Latinos and a measurable impact on social justice.

TANIA MARMOLEJO

Visual Artist

AN UNWAVERING GAZE

Through her large-scale portraits of female faces, she affirms the voice of women—within art and beyond.

In the art world, Tania Marmolejo has carved out her place by expanding the boundaries of the canvas. Born in Santo Domingo to a Swedish mother and Dominican father, her dual identity—Caribbean and Scandinavian, warm and restrained—has been both the starting point and the creative tension in her artistic pursuit. Her monumental portraits of women, gazing head-on without asking permission, have become her unmistakable visual signature—one that questions and endures.

From a young age, Tania knew she wanted to dedicate herself to art. She was the child inventing characters and parallel worlds with a crayon in hand. But her enthusiasm quickly ran up against the same warning, repeated often: “Women’s art doesn’t sell.” Instead of retreating, she clung even more firmly to her purpose. Those suggestions—“Maybe you should paint landscapes or airplanes”— ironically fueled a bolder vision: monumental female

THROUGH HER LARGE-SCALE CANVASES OF FEMALE FACES, SHE AMPLIFIES WOMEN’S VOICES IN ART AND BEYOND.

faces that claim space and command attention, now celebrated across the international art circuit.

Her education includes a scholarship to Altos de Chavón School of Design and a bachelor’s degree from Parsons School of Design in New York. She also studied in Norway, where the Scandinavian structure taught her discipline, while the Caribbean instilled boldness.

In her early professional years, she worked in design and illustration. Yet the pull toward the canvas—the physicality of painting—was constant. With persistence, she began exhibiting in independent spaces, introducing her now-iconic

series of women whose gaze is almost unbearably intense.

Her work has been shown at art fairs and galleries in New York, Chicago, Miami, Los Angeles, Brussels, and beyond. She has participated in SCOPE, PULSE, and satellite events of Art Basel, forging connections with a new generation of curators and collectors who recognize her value. Still, her ambition extends beyond the market. For her, the greatest priority is to remain authentic and to keep daring herself to stretch her imagination further.

Despite her international success, Tania Marmolejo maintains a strong connection to her native Dominican Republic. She exhibits regularly in the country and inspires a new generation of artists seeking to make their mark on the global art scene.

DOMINICANS ABROAD

COMMUNICATIONS & JOURNALISM

VOICES DRIVING CHANGE AND DEFINING THE NARRATIVE

Dominican journalists abroad practice their craft with a dual awareness: reporting with rigor while, implicitly or explicitly, representing the values of the Latino community. They use their voices to interpret complex realities, connect diverse audiences, and raise the profile of Dominican talent in the media. They master both language and formats, fully aware of the power of narrative to highlight the value of telling stories with true impact.

JESENIA DE MOYA CORREA

Multimedia journalist

TELLING STORIES WITH SOCIAL VALUE

A professional who has turned journalism into a tool of belonging for Latinos in the U.S.

Born in New York to Dominican parents, raised in La Vega, and shaped in Washington Heights, Jesenia De Moya Correa grew tired early on of seeing stories about Latinos in the United States told without actually speaking to them. That realization led her to community journalism—not to repeat what others were already saying, but to cover ignored communities, unseen barriers, and stories of contribution and resilience. She currently works as a multimedia journalist specializing in health and science for Latino communities in the United States, designing and executing content strategies for WHYY News, Philadelphia’s public radio station. In 2019, Jesenia founded El Inquirer , the Spanish-language version of the Philadelphia Inquirer, one of the country’s most traditional newsrooms, serving an audience that preferred local news in Spanish. But nothing about her career has been linear. When she entered the Bilin-

HER WORK AS A JOURNALIST EARNED HER RECOGNITION AS AN OUTSTANDING DOMINICAN ABROAD BY INDEX.

gual Journalism master’s program at CUNY, Jesenia was caring for her grandmother with cancer while completing scientific reports. Upon graduation, she earned one of six spots in the prestigious Lenfest Fellowship, in the midst of a national competition. “I aspired to practice journalism with excellence, passion, and dignity,” she says. “It was hard to accept that my talent might be limited by a lack of connections.” But she committed herself to opening doors. From reports that prevented deportations to articles that inspired new public policies, her work has had real impact. One of her most-read series, on unequal access to funding

for small businesses, ultimately pushed authorities to design grants for multicultural entrepreneurs.

She has also been invited to write about the future of journalism for Harvard’s Nieman Lab and to design the first course on Spanish-language media at City College of New York. Since 2023, she has led the Latino Media Initiative at the Center for Community Media at CUNY.

Jesenia often reflects on what she calls “the Dominican dream in the United States,” and she’s not referring to buying a house or climbing the professional ladder—though both matter to her. Her dream, she says, is to see more Dominicans beyond the margins. “We’re pushed into temporary jobs, risky work, easy prey for scammers who deceive us with paperwork and mortgages. My dream is for us to live with dignity, with access to capital, decent housing, good doctors.” In her profession, she finds a tool to contribute to that aspiration.

MERIJOEL DURÁN

Entrepreneur, speaker, and journalist

A LIFE AMONG STORIES

Her career has been shaped by television, community, and purpose-driven entrepreneurship.

At the age of four, Merijoel Durán emigrated from La Canela, Santiago de los Caballeros, and grew up between Puerto Rico and New York—an experience that shaped her cultural sensitivity.

Her entry into television came almost by chance when her uncle encouraged her to study production. What began behind the cameras at Telemundo soon led her in front of the teleprompter. For six months, she trained in silence, practicing weather reports before officially joining the on-air team.

Not long after, she became a correspondent for Santo Domingo Invita, where she interviewed figures such as Oscar de la Renta and political leaders including Jacobo Majluta Azar, Dr. José Francisco Peña Gómez, Hipólito Mejía, and Leonel Fernández. She also worked with Dominican music legends like Fernando Villalona, Rubby Pérez, Milly Quezada, Romeo Santos, and Prince Royce, among others. Her

A FIVE-TIME EMMY WINNER AND 17-TIME NOMINEE,

SHE

NOW REACHES DIVERSE AUDIENCES FROM NEW PLATFORMS.

segment, Ejemplo y Valor, became a platform for showcasing pioneers in diverse fields.

In 1998, Merijoel joined Univision, where she spent 20 years as a news anchor and journalist. She became the face of Noticias Univision 41 Al Despertar, the leading morning newscast in Hispanic television in New York. Over her career, she received five Emmy Awards and 17 nominations, with recognitions for her coverage of the Santo Domingo Metro and stories highlighting Dominicans abroad.

In 2018, she closed her chapter in television and chose to reinvent herself. She earned a master’s degree in international

relations and diplomacy, completing an internship at the United Nations, while also managing a family restaurant in New York—an unexpected venture that she turned into an extension of her personal brand.

An Influential Voice

Today, Merijoel produces digital interviews, delivers motivational conferences, and leads Hablemos de Dominicana , a project dedicated to preserving the legacy of Dominican migrant women. For her, the Dominican community abroad does not represent absence but rather economic, cultural, and emotional presence.

As a seasoned professional in the United States, Merijoel Durán continues to embrace initiatives that create opportunities and strengthen ties with her homeland—even from the heart of New York.

DOMINICANS ABROAD

CONSTRUCTION & REAL ESTATE

DOMINICAN ARCHITECTS AND ENGINEERS

SHAPING CITIES

Across the globe, Dominican talent leaves its mark on the built environment. From designing projects or leading major infrastructure projects, architects, engineers, and real estate experts bring professionalism and vision to every endeavor. Their ability to pair technical innovation with cultural insight allows them to stand out in highly competitive markets—where the Dominican hallmark is recognized for its quality execution.

JEAN SANTELISES

Founder and Principal Architect, J7 Design

ARCHITECTURE WITH IDENTITY

His work represents a constant balance between his Dominican roots and the influence of the global environment.

From Santo Domingo to New York, Jean Santelises has built a distinguished career as an architect with deep cultural sensitivity. Founder of J7 Design, his Manhattan- and Santo Domingo–based studio balances warm modernism with functionality and a strong connection to nature.

Santelises began his studies in architecture at the Universidad Nacional Pedro Henríquez Ureña (UNPHU) in the Dominican Republic, graduating in 1993. He later earned a master’s degree at the Architectural Association (AA) in London in 2001, where he realized his design vision needed to expand beyond his homeland.

When he arrived in New York, Santelises entered the world of large-scale architecture, spending more than a decade with William Nicholas Bodouva + Associates. He worked on major projects such as the West Midtown Ferry Terminal, the Jay St. MetroTech subway station

HIS EVOLUTION AS AN ARCHITECT HAS ENABLED HIM TO MERGE HIS CARIBBEAN HERITAGE WITH THE PRECISION OF MODERN DESIGN.

and Rochester Airport. Driven by his creative instinct, he co-founded Studio BLS Architecture + Interiors, where he explored new ways of integrating architecture and interior design. This journey culminated in the creation of J7 Design, the firm he now leads— one that represents the consolidation of his identity as an architect.

The opening of his Santo Domingo office marked a turning point in his career, merging his Dominican roots with his New York experience to shape a clearer and more personal vision for his practice. Since then, his work has expanded into large-scale proj -

ects, object and furniture design, and leadership in residential, commercial, and hospitality initiatives across the United States and the Caribbean.

The Value of Community

After 24 years in New York, what defines Santelises’s journey is his ability to integrate without losing his identity. “We often move to other countries in search of growth and opportunities. When I left Santo Domingo, I felt my country couldn’t offer me the space I needed to grow the way I wanted. I went through London and arrived in New York, where the first thing I found was an incredible Dominican community that welcomed me and understood the value of building my life and career my own way,” he recalls. That network of support allowed him to rediscover his roots from a new perspective—one that has enabled him to thrive in a highly competitive environment.

With more than 250 projects completed and federal contracts exceeding US$700 million, Patricia Bonilla does not measure success in numbers but in impact. “For me, arriving is not a final destination, but a path of constant evolution”.

Bonilla studied civil ngineering at the Universidad Nacional Pedro Henríquez Ureña (UNPHU) and earned a master’s in construction management from Florida International University (FIU). She moved to the United States driven by the dream of learning, growing, and offering a better future for her children. Her career advanced quickly, leading her to become Director of the Construction Management Division in the City of Fort Lauderdale.

But it was precisely there that her life took a turn. “I resigned in the middle of an economic recession, without a support network, because I felt I had reached a ceiling. I didn’t want to keep operating within the system—I wanted to redefine it.” In 2007, from

PATRICIA BONILLA CEO, Lunacon Construction Group

THE POWER OF BUILDING OPPORTUNITIES

Engineer, mentor, and author, she redefines construction as a platform for collective empowerment.

SHE RESHAPES HER INDUSTRY THROUGH FEMALE LEADERSHIP, FEDERAL CONTRACTS AND SOCIAL PURPOSE.

her home, she founded Lunacon Construction Group with her husband. Their leap of faith soon paid off with a US$3.5 million SABER contract with the U.S. Air Force. “Within a month, we hired 25 people. It confirmed that courage, clarity, and aligned action converge when you act with purpose.”

Since then, Lunacon has specialized in federal contracts, with more than US$700 million awarded. Yet Bonilla has also made it her mission to build people. In a male-dominated industry, she leads a cultural shift toward construction that is more human, ethical, and conscious. Through the Lunacon Foundation,

she has created training programs for underserved communities. She is also the author of Be What You Long to Be and is preparing to launch her second book, Beyond the Blueprints, a guide for turning a business vision into a profitable, structured, and purpose-driven construction company. On her website, www.patriciabonilla.com, readers can access her books, mentoring resources, and her podcast Thriving in Construction.

For Bonilla, the Dominican dream goes beyond social mobility. “It’s about transforming struggle into service and creating a multiplier effect that inspires and lifts others. It’s the courage to dream without borders, to live with purpose, and to bring others along on that journey.” After more than three decades abroad, she remains committed to giving back and opening doors. “I didn’t come just to build structures, but to build lives—and a more conscious, prosperous, and inclusive world.”

For Pedro Mendoza, real estate development is a commitment to creating homes within authentic and human-centered communities. Born in Cotuí, Sánchez Ramírez, Mendoza moved to Santo Domingo at age 17 to study architecture at the Pontificia Universidad Católica Madre y Maestra (PUCMM). After years of working on projects for other firms, he launched his own construction services company, gaining practical knowledge and a strong professional ethic. In 2017, he moved to the United States in search of new opportunities. “Starting from zero without a clear direction is difficult. But I was fortunate—I found work in my field even before arriving,” he recalls.

Together with his wife, Julissa Álvarez, he founded Brimela Routes Corp., a logistics company partnered with Amazon’s DSP program. Their dedication earned recognition as Amazon’s top regional partner.

PEDRO MENDOZA CEO, Luzenda Development

BUILDING WITH PRINCIPLES

A commitment to real estate development grounded in standards and designed to foster human value.

HIS PROJECTS ARE DESIGNED TO CONNECT WITH THOSE SEEKING TO INVEST WITH CONFIDENCE AND A SENSE OF BELONGING.

That same strategy of reinvestment and diversification brought him back to his roots: the real estate sector. It was then that he founded Luzenda Development, the company that marked the beginning of his new chapter as a developer. Later, he joined forces with Luxia Labs—one of the Caribbean’s most renowned architectural design firms—and Impulsa, a company specializing in real estate trusts, to bring his first major project to life: Travieso Playa Nueva Romana, a residential development located in front of the 18th hole of the golf course.

Travieso was not conceived as a subdivision, but as a lifestyle experi-

ence designed for those seeking a home rather than just a property. It is a residential and conceptual brand that promotes livable experiences with identity, aesthetics, and purpose. The project prioritizes rigorous planning, strict adherence to permitting regulations, transparency, and above all, empathy with future homeowners.

His vision is aimed at Dominican buyers, both within and outside the country, who seek to invest with confidence in a home—not merely in square footage.

Despite his achievements, the entrepreneur never loses sight of who he is or where he comes from.

“My identity as a Dominican is something I’ve never lost and never will,” he affirms.

Although he has generated over a thousand jobs through his operations in the United States, “the most valuable thing is being able to plant a seed in someone and see it flourish; that’s what truly endures,” he says.

RAFAEL ÁLVAREZ

Founder, Bureau of Rafael Alvarez Inc.

DESIGNS WITH GLOBAL IMPACT

He has made his mark as one of the most influential Dominican architects of his generation.

Architect, designer, and artist, Rafael Álvarez has built a career that transcends borders and disciplines. Born in Santo Domingo, he studied visual arts at APEC and architecture at the Universidad Nacional Pedro Henríquez Ureña (UNPHU), developing the ability to move fluidly between painting, graphic design, and architecture. His career took shape in New York as design director at the renowned firm Tihany Design, where he spent more than a decade leading projects in major world capitals. Among his signature works are Le Cirque 2000 at the Waldorf Astoria in New York, Spago in Chicago, Hotel Aleph in Rome, the Amber and Landmark Mandarin Oriental in Hong Kong, The Line in Singapore, and Jade & Summit at the Shangri-La in Shanghai.

In 2004, he founded his own studio, Rafael Álvarez Design, and later partnered with Brannen L. Brock to create Álvarez +

FROM SANTO DOMINGO TO PROJECTS IN ASIA, EUROPE, AND THE U.S., HE STANDS AS A MODERN DESIGN REFERENCE.

Brock Design, expanding projects across Europe, Asia, and the United States. In 2016, he consolidated his initiatives into the Bureau of Rafael Álvarez Inc., headquartered in New York, broadening his scope to interior design, furniture, lighting, tableware, and decorative pieces—extending his vision to the elements that complete and define spaces.

With more than three decades of professional practice, Álvarez has left his mark in England, China, Malaysia, Italy, the United States, and the Dominican Republic, among others. His portfolio includes world-class restaurants, hotels, and

private clubs, as well as collaborations featured in international media and in the HBO documentary Le Cirque: A Table in Heaven. His legacy has been recognized with numerous awards, including “Ciudadano del Mérito” by the Dominican Consulate in New York (2009), the Fray Antón de Montesinos Award in Architecture (2009), “Wave of the Future” by Hospitality Design (2010), “Reign in Spain” (2010), and the title of International Architect of the Year in 2015 by the Dominican Society of Architects and CODIA. Rafael Álvarez remains true to the creative drive that has led him to transform spaces. His work demonstrates how an artist’s sensitivity can engage with the world, grounded in the belief that design, when created with purpose, transcends time and place.

STEPHANIE CABRAL

Founder, The Cabral Group Team

BEYOND THE REAL ESTATE BUSINESS

This entrepreneur transforms property buying and selling into a platform for impact and community.

Stephanie Cabral is not your typical real estate agent. Her vision extends beyond transactions and redefines what it means to thrive in a foreign country. With over a decade of experience in the industry, she has served as a bridge between international markets, training more than 1,200 agents and organizing numerous real estate seminars and tours in the Dominican Republic and Florida, United States. Her decision to merge her company with eXp Realty— the fastest-growing real estate firm in the United States—marked a turning point in her career. From that moment, her team, The Cabral Group Team, expanded exponentially, integrating more than 300 agents across eight countries.

That impact was captured in Footprints of Influence: Stories of Transformed Lives, her first book, which compiles stories of individuals whose journeys have been shaped by her work.

In real estate, Cabral

BEYOND CONNECTING BUYERS AND AGENTS, SHE INSPIRES OTHERS TO BRING PURPOSE INTO BUSINESS.

finds a space that goes beyond property sales; she builds relationships grounded in transparency and a service that leaves a lasting impression on those who trust her. “Over the years, people have told me I’d be just another real estate agent; however, I’ve always known that my purpose goes far beyond real estate transactions,” says Cabral.

Her recognition by Bloomberg Línea as one of the 500 most influential people in Latin America and the Caribbean in 2024 was a milestone in her career, but what truly surprised her was learning that only seven Dominicans were included on the list. “It was proof that

effort, commitment, and above all, what God has placed in me, are making a real difference.”

Through her multimedia platform—which includes The Cabral Group Team Magazine, her YouTube channel, and the podcast Conversando con Stephanie Cabral: Fe, Familia & Real Estate—the entrepreneur continues to share content that educates and inspires the Hispanic community.

That authenticity has taken her to conferences, seminars, and forums, positioning her as a voice of impact in the sector. “My most important contribution has been transforming the perception of the real estate agent. For many, being a realtor was just about selling houses and projecting an image of luxury and superficiality. From the beginning, I broke that mold by placing my values, faith, and God at the center of my life and business,” says Cabral, convinced that authenticity makes all the difference.

Before the term “Dominican design with international reach” even existed, Wilna Rodríguez was already imagining different kinds of spaces. From a young age, her eye was trained to notice light, contrasts, and harmony. She didn’t know it yet, but every detail that caught her attention—a lamp in her grandmother’s house, a well-lit corner in a colonial church—was already pointing to the path she would take.

A graduate of Universidad APEC in Santo Domingo in 2005, Wilna took her first decisive step into design. Three years later, in 2008, she specialized in architectural lighting design in Madrid, where she shaped the aesthetic vision that would define her career. Now based in Miami, Florida, she works on residential and commercial projects that range from private homes to offices, specialized clinics, and restaurants. Her designs move across styles and borders, always marked by a blend

WILNA RODRÍGUEZ CEO, Cement & Wood

INTERIOR DESIGN AND LIGHTING AS LANGUAGE

The Dominican woman who transforms spaces through design and architectural lighting.

FOR

WILNA RODRÍGUEZ, EVERY PROJECT SEEKS TO HARMONIZE FUNCTION, AESTHETICS, AND LIGHT WITH PURPOSE.

of functionality, warmth, and beauty.

A turning point in her career came with her participation in the interior design of Gentera, a regenerative medicine and plastic surgery clinic. For that project, she received the City Beautiful Award – Outstanding Interior Design (2022), an honor that left a lasting mark on her trajectory. “This recognition made me feel that I had truly reached an important milestone in my professional career,” she recalls. That day, she understood her work had a tangible impact on people’s lives. “Every time a client expresses satisfaction, and I see how my designs improve their

daily lives, I feel my work is bearing fruit, and that I’ve been able to integrate and add value in this new environment.”

In Miami, Wilna has created jobs, built a diverse team, and mentored young designers who see in her an approachable, generous guide. Her contribution to the community is reflected not only in the spaces she transforms but also in the people she inspires. She also collaborates with local foundations, joining social projects and sharing her expertise in community causes.

For Wilna, light goes beyond technical function—it is a way of telling stories, honoring heritage, and shaping futures. “Light is the soul of spaces,” she says. Perhaps it is also the clearest reflection of her own journey: a Dominican woman who designs and illuminates paths. In every space she transforms, one can still feel the Caribbean warmth of someone who never forgets where she comes from.

DOMINICANS ABROAD

CONSULTING & BUSINESS

DOING BUSINESS WITH A DOMINICAN ACCENT

Dominicans are creating companies, leading consulting projects, and generating impact across their sectors. With a presence that spans industries from transportation and insurance to commerce and business advisory, they bring dynamism and value to the communities they serve. What sets them apart is a vision of progress, an ability to adapt to different markets and cultures, and a permanent connection to their roots.

CIRA ÁNGELES

Co-Founder and CEO, L.A. Riverside Brokerage, Inc.

THE BUSINESS OF SERVING

Her story exemplifies how she transformed the livery industry by dignifying its protagonists.

At an early age, Cira Ángeles understood that her path would not be a straight one. Born in Villa Trina, in Moca, she grew up under the example of her grandmother, María Aurora Vargas, who emigrated to the United States after being widowed during the Trujillo dictatorship. “She washed dishes, but ended up owning her own home in Brooklyn, which came to be known as the Embassy of Villa Trina,” Cira recalls. Despite her age and fatigue, her grandmother never lost the drive to move forward—even taking years off her age to secure work. “She was an inspiration to all of us. Going to the United States meant representing, being different, doing things that elevated the name of our family and our community.”

At 22, Cira moved to New York after studying and working in free zones in the Dominican Republic. She found a position at an American advertising agency, excelling in production and quality control. Her father,

CIRA ÁNGELES TRANSFORMED A FAMILY BUSINESS INTO A LEADER IN NEW YORK’S LIVERY INDUSTRY, WITH LASTING SOCIAL IMPACT.

Luis Ángeles, a visionary entrepreneur, had founded Riverside Radio, a travel agency, and a restaurant. But in 1993, his unexpected death shook the family. A year later, tragedy struck again when her brother— who had been prepared to take over the business— also passed away.

These losses left Cira at a crossroads. “I found myself on an avenue with two exits. One was to continue my career, the other was to help my mother and become an entrepreneur,” she recalls. What followed was an act of faith, discipline, and strategic vision. She transformed the travel agency into L.A. Riverside Brokerage, Inc., a brokerage firm specializing

in transportation insurance. She knew she was entering a male-dominated arena. The biggest brokerage houses in New York were run by Jewish and Russian families with decades of experience. Rather than intimidate her, that reality pushed her forward. She wanted to prove that a Dominican woman—without sponsors or capital—could also build something big in that world. And she did.

A Vision That Dignified Drivers

Self-taught, Cira studied the market, set ambitious goals, and built a vision that dignified drivers. “Many of them were not just chauffeurs. They were doctors, engineers, lawyers—professionals in their countries of origin— forced to reinvent themselves upon arriving in the United States because they didn’t know the language. I started calling them professionals behind the wheel. This company was created to help them move forward, to validate their work.”

After more than four decades of continuing the family business alongside her mother, Cira Ángeles was named president of the Riverside Radio group of companies, becoming the first woman to hold that position since the company’s founding in the 1980s. For her, this achievement honors her father’s memory and closes a chapter begun with sacrifice, vision, and hard work.

Starting from zero, she negotiated office space without capital, promising rent she would cover with effort and faith. Her first big break came when she convinced a business owner to insure 100 vehicles in his fleet. Over time, L.A. Riverside Brokerage surpassed 5,000 clients, built a team of 22 employees, and achieved a retention rate above 98 percent, becoming the number-one Latino brokerage firm in New York. Insurance companies began to notice her performance, rewarding her with production incentives, awards, and distinctions. Among the most significant was the Director’s Award from American Transit Insurance Company, a moment when she felt she had truly arrived. “I realized it wasn’t just my work being recognized—it was the value of my company within the entire industry.”

Beyond Business

From the beginning, Cira understood her role extended beyond business. She founded an associa-

tion of taxi base owners to represent immigrant entrepreneurs before regulators and became both a spokesperson and educator. For eight years, she hosted the radio program La Hora del Conductor, addressing regulatory and community issues. She went on to represent more than 11,000 drivers as spokesperson of the Livery Base Owners Association, and played a key role in the approval of the Green Cab project in 2012.

Education as Legacy

Beyond her business achievements, Cira’s greatest legacy is tied to education. “Education is, and will always be, the most important factor in the development of our community,” she affirms. She has directed resources toward scholarships for Dominican youth in the Bronx, including co-creating the Aspira Capital Management and Wright Foundation Endowed Scholarship, a US$1 million fund for STEM students at Hostos Community College.

Together with Dr. Rafael Lantigua, and in partnership with Columbia University and Hostos, she helped create the 2+2+2 Program, enabling students to complete two years at Hostos, two at Columbia, and two at the School of Public Health—at no cost. “That is my legacy: to strengthen Dominican families so their children can integrate through education and achieve a better quality of life.”

Today, after more than four decades leading Riverside, she was named president of the group of companies, becoming the first woman to hold that role since its founding in the 1980s. For her, it is a way to honor her father’s memory and close a circle begun with sacrifice, vision, and hard work. And she continues with the same humility and purpose that brought her here. “You don’t look Dominican,” people have told her more than once. To which she responds: “I do look like my people. And that makes me proud.”

EMELY DUVERGÉ

Executive Director, Rumbo Canada Immigration Consulting

A STEADFAST PATH TO CANADA

The Dominican woman guiding others through the transition to a stable and secure life in the North American country.

Based in Ottawa, Canada’s diplomatic capital, Emely Duvergé has made migration both her cause and her field of expertise. As an immigration consultant, she has guided hundreds of people—mostly Dominicans—through the process of settling in Canada with safety and confidence.

Duvergé graduated in economics from the Pontificia Universidad Católica Madre y Maestra (PUCMM) and earned a master’s in corporate finance from Universidad Torcuato Di Tella in Argentina. Her career began at companies like 3M and Kellogg’s, but eventually led her into immigration law. Through her firm, Rumbo Canada Immigration Consulting, she offers more than legal advice: “I try to give people peace of mind in uncertain times, reminding them they are not alone.”

Her commitment extends beyond her private practice. In 2020, she founded the Rumbo Canada Foundation, a nonprofit that provides

SHE VIEWS MIGRATION AS A PROCESS THAT ENCOMPASSES LEGAL, SOCIAL, AND EMOTIONAL DIMENSIONS.

free guidance to vulnerable individuals, often in collaboration with the Dominican and Canadian embassies.

More than Paperwork

Each year, more than 50 families are able to stabilize their immigration status thanks to Duvergé’s support. And it is never just about forms — there are emergencies, imminent deportations and humanitarian petitions. “Representing a fellow Dominican before Canada’s Ministry of Immigration at a critical moment is a responsibility I embrace with the full commitment it deserves,” she says.

In addition to her consulting work, Duvergé delivers conferences, creates specialized legal

content, and leads a digital community eager for clarity about Canadian regulations.

Her work has been recognized both at home and abroad. In 2022, she was honored by the Dominican Embassy in Canada, and the following year she was nominated for the Mr. Oscar de la Renta Dominican Emigrant Award, granted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

After nearly a decade in Canada, her definition of success has evolved. “Back in the Dominican Republic, success meant economic and professional growth. Today, I see it as the ability to build community. For me, the Dominican dream is also about walking in freedom, living without fear, creating genuine connections, and knowing I have found a home. A place where thriving doesn’t mean losing my roots but strengthening them in a new space of balance and well-being.”

EVIANNY DE LOS SANTOS

Founder, EV InterExpert

A TRUSTED CAREER STRATEGIST

Helping Latinos earn more, grow more, and work better in highly competitive markets.

Since arriving in Canada, Evianny De los Santos set out to overcome the barriers faced by Latino professionals in the labor market. What began as one-on-one consultations soon evolved into EV InterExpert, a platform that guides thousands of immigrants in their job search— helping them recognize their worth, position themselves strategically, and access better employment opportunities.

Trained in law, the Dominican native found her true calling in professional development and human talent during her early career at the French Embassy in the Dominican Republic. Her experience in human resources and career coaching, along with her role as a recruitment officer in a federal organization, enables her to understand the dynamics of the labor market.

Today, Evianny supports Latinos in Canada, Latin America, the United States, and Europe in accessing better job opportunities and building a professional future with security and clarity.

HER MISSION IS TO EMPOWER LATINOS TO REACH THEIR CAREER GOALS WITH STRATEGY

AND PREPARATION.

“Beyond teaching how to get a job, my mission is to help them recognize their value, regain confidence in their abilities, and apply effective strategies to grow,” she says.

However, Evianny emphasizes that success isn’t achieved merely by immigrating; it also means learning to position oneself strategically in the labor market, aligned with a purpose or life vision— and that principle guides her work.

A Mission of Impact

Evianny extends her impact through RSC Radio Internacional, where she hosts the program Tu Trabajo Ideal, sharing tools for the professional growth of Latinos abroad. She also

hosts the podcast Sharing Historias.

Evianny has also been invited as a speaker at the Mexican Consulate and recognized by the Pontificia Universidad Católica Madre y Maestra (PUCMM) in the program Egresados por el Mundo”. For the attorney, success goes beyond degrees and financial stability. Her mantra, #LifestyleÉxito, merges professional growth with personal well-being and purpose.

“To me, the Dominican dream in Canada means freedom, stability, and purpose. It’s not just about getting a job but about building a life where I can grow, make an impact, and enjoy the journey,” she affirms.

Every message from a client who has landed a job, earned a better salary, or overcome professional insecurities reinforces her mission—proving that Latino talent knows no borders.

JULISSA ÁLVAREZ

CEO, Brimela Routes Corp. & Brimela Lux Events Rental

BUSINESS, EXPANSION, AND PURPOSE

As a young woman who never forgets where she comes from, she connects her entrepreneurial success with her role in advancing education.

When Julissa Álvarez arrived in the United States from Salcedo at age 14, her story seemed destined to become a statistic rather than one of success. “I had everything to lose,” she recalls. Raised in an immigrant family and married at a young age, she faced a context full of obstacles. But her life took another path. Today, she is a recognized entrepreneur with operations in the United States, the Dominican Republic, and Dubai—and a social commitment that defines her leadership.

“The focus was always education,” she affirms. “When I was young, the consul told us, ‘Go study.’ That phrase stayed with me forever.” Julissa not only followed that advice—she turned it into her compass. She earned a bachelor’s degree in economics from Lehman College, followed by two master’s degrees: one in social work and another in finance.

A New Path

Her professional career began in the education

EDUCATION, BUSINESS, AND SERVICE: JULISSA’S PATH TO LEADERSHIP BEYOND PERSONAL SUCCESS.

sector, where she worked for 27 years in higher education, including as an associate university dean. From there, she made an unusual decision: leaving a prestigious post to dedicate herself fully to her business initiatives and philanthropic calling.

“Taking risks has been an opportunity to grow. I’ve realized that if you stay focused and know how to ask for help, risks can be transformed,” she reflects.

That new stage took shape after an invitation from the Dominican government at the time, which encouraged her to return to the country and share her story with young people. The experience rekindled her connec -

tion with the Dominican Republic and laid the foundation for her first venture, Brimela Lux Events Rental, a luxury furniture rental company for events that remains active in Santo Domingo. “I wanted to stay connected to my country. Brimela carries the names of my three children. It’s a way to honor them while building something that lasts.”

From there, Julissa launched Brimela Routes Corp., a U.S.-based logistics company that partners with Amazon. The company has employed more than 800 people and, in 2023, was recognized by Amazon as one of its top operators among 3,000 peers. Building on that platform, Álvarez and her husband, entrepreneur Pedro Mendoza, have diversified into real estate projects in Playa Nueva Romana and Santo Domingo, as well as in the United States and Dubai.

“This is only the beginning,” she says with conviction.

For Julissa success is measured less by finan -

As a leader, alongside her husband, of a logistics operation recognized by Amazon and of a foundation that created a permanent scholarship fund for first-generation Hispanic students, she sees in the Dominican community an opportunity to grow with impact, invest where it all began and use each achievement as leverage to open new possibilities for others.

cial milestones than by the impact she can generate in her community. In 2024, she officially launched the Brimela Foundation, designed to support young people whose stories resemble her own.

“I received many scholarships when I studied for my bachelor’s. Now I’m replicating that support for Hispanic students who, like me, are the first in their families to graduate.”

In its first year, the foundation benefited 70 families with food, clothing, and educational support. A key pillar is the establishment of a permanent endowment fund, allowing recurring scholarships of between $1,000 and $4,000. The selection process is intentionally personal: “We choose one or two people a year. People who look like me—young mothers, immigrants, determined to move forward.”

Leading with Purpose

As co-founder of Inspírame Latina, a foundation dedicated to empowering women in leadership,

Julissa encourages them to use their voices to transform their environments. Her achievements have not gone unnoticed. In 2024, she was honored by President Luis Abinader during the fourth edition of “Outstanding Dominicans Abroad,” an event organized by the Institute for Dominicans Abroad (INDEX). She was also nominated by Chase Bank for a special feature on PIX11 for her business achievements, and by her alma mater, Lehman College, to join the board of its foundation as an executive voice. Recently, she was proposed as its treasurer.

Despite her business responsibilities, Julissa maintains a strong connection to her roots. “The diaspora is not a closed circle,” she affirms. “It is people representing Dominican values everywhere—with education, preparation, and a willingness to help others rise. The diaspora should be that: throwing the rope to pull more people up.”

For Julissa, defining her Dominican identity means recognizing what is still left to build. “Being Dominican, for me, means knowing that we have so much to contribute,” she says. “But it also means understanding that we need to believe it ourselves. Only by trusting in our own potential can we rise as a community.” She adds: “We are sending a clear message: We are just as intellectual and capable as anyone else when it comes to leading multibillion-dollar companies.”

She extends the rope to others through her project, A Lo Quisqueya Fest, a family-funded project that celebrates Dominican identity with tobacco, chocolate, baseball, and other cultural expressions, with plans to launch soon. As a Dominican, she believes in the power of education, action and faith. “We have so much to contribute. All we need is the courage to be different, to do good and to see others as equals. In the end, actions speak louder than words.”

JUDITH MADURO

Author, Speaker, Life & Business Mentor

A PARTNER IN TRANSFORMATION

She helps women rebuild their personal and professional lives with autonomy and purpose.

As a life and business mentor, author, and speaker, Judith Maduro guides women who choose to heal, break free from limiting patterns, and pursue entrepreneurship with clarity. She embraces this calling through her own professional journey, grounded in coherence and a deep commitment to personal transformation, with the mission of supporting women determined to take control of their story.

Born in Santo Domingo and residing in Germany for over 25 years, Judith draws from her personal experience of overcoming adversity. Rather than hiding her emotional challenges, she transformed them into tools to help others.

She has trained in life coaching, relationship dynamics, female leadership, sales, and conscious entrepreneurship. Additionally, she complements her approach with technical expertise in digital marketing, project management, and innovation. This allows her to advise women entrepre -

AS A MENTOR AND AUTHOR, SHE RESHAPES WOMEN’S LEADERSHIP THROUGH EMOTIONAL HEALING

AND BUSINESS GROWTH.

neurs in developing their businesses, supporting them with sales strategies, digital infrastructure, personal branding, and tools to achieve financial freedom.

As an author, Judith has published two books that serve as guides for women facing relationships marked by emotional or financial dependency: Rompe tus cadenas emocionales y Amando tu infierno. In them, she offers concrete strategies to break cycles of pain.

“My work has never been about offering quick fixes or telling women whether they should leave their partner. My contribution begins when they decide to take control of their

emotional and financial well-being,” she affirms.

As a speaker, she has participated in numerous international events. From Barcelona to Santiago de Chile, she has shared the stage at women’s leadership conferences and events, addressing topics such as forgiveness, values-based leadership, overcoming toxic relationships, and monetizing with purpose.

Notable distinctions

Throughout her career, Judith has received several international recognitions. In 2024, she was awarded an honorary doctorate by the USA Campus Universidad Cooperativa and DD by Marcos Ontiveros LLC and named Peace Ambassador by Global Academy Education DY. She was also honored as Mentor of the Year (2023) and Entrepreneur of the Year (2024) at the Gladiators Abroad Awards held in Madrid.

Thanks to her influence, Judith Maduro is now a leading voice reminding every woman that her pain can be transformed into power.

KATHERINE PESANTES

Founder, Dominican Sisters

PAULETTE NOBOA

Co-founder, Dominican Sisters

UPLIFTING DOMINICAN WOMEN ABROAD

Through Dominican Sisters Club, they are transforming the impact of Dominican women across the world.

Dominican women are building unstoppable careers. Katherine Pesantes and Paulette Noboa share the purpose to connect, empower and give visibility to Dominican women abroad. Together they lead Dominican Sisters Club, a network rooted in sisterhood, representation and collective growth.

Pesantes, born in San Francisco de Macorís, is a digital marketing specialist and international speaker. Her work with institutions such as the Institute for Dominicans Abroad (INDEX) in Miami and her role as an international delegate of Prosperanza highlight her passion for representing Dominican women.

Noboa, a native of Santiago de los Caballeros, has built her career in the U.S. hospitality industry. A specialist in marketing, public relations and events, she is the founder of PN Marketing and currently leads reservations and concierge services at Amara at Paraiso, a restaurant in Miami.

THEY ELEVATE THE LEADERSHIP OF MORE THAN 1,200 DOMINICAN WOMEN IN THE U.S., SPAIN, MEXICO, AND SOON CANADA.

Dominican Sisters Club

In 2022, Pesantes and Noboa launched Dominican Sisters Club, an international community that elevates the profile of Dominican women abroad. With a presence in Spain, Mexico, Jamaica and the United States — and soon Canada — the network has reached more than 1,200 women through events, workshops, in-person gatherings and The Club Guide Magazine. Their work in coordination with Dominican consulates and embassies strengthens their reach and helps institutionalize their efforts. Their philosophy of collaboration, captured in

the motto win-win benefit: where we all win, reflects their vision of shared growth. For example, through the network, they promote the consumption of goods and services created by Dominican women, helping foster an ecosystem of economic support.

Through Dominican Sisters Club, Pesantes and Noboa believe in the value of creating impact, amplifying women’s voices and proving that Dominican women have much to contribute — not only to their host countries, but also to the Dominican Republic.

MANUEL MEDRANO

Founder and Executive Director, The Bridge Career Consulting

A POLITICAL AND CAREER STRATEGIST

From labor consulting to political strategy, he creates opportunities within and beyond the Latino community.

With two decades in New York, Manuel Medrano has made the city much more than his place of residence: he has turned it into a space to connect efforts, ideas and communities. As founder and CEO of The Bridge Career Consulting, a firm specializing in job placement and professional development, he has helped more than 3,500 Latinos integrate into the U.S. labor market.

“Seeing people who had faced enormous barriers — language, immigration status, lack of local experience — secure their first jobs at renowned companies was meaningful,” he recalled. “That was when I felt that all the sacrifice, vision and hard work were bearing fruit. But beyond the personal achievement, it was the collective impact that confirmed to me that something useful and transformative could be built from the diaspora.”

Politics and community leadership

Alongside his consulting work, Medrano has built a

AS A CONSULTANT, HE COMBINES LABOR CONSULTING, POLITICAL STRATEGY, AND COMMUNITY ACTION.

career as a political analyst and community strategist. He worked on Latino leadership campaigns such as those of Rep. Adriano Espaillat; Ydanis Rodríguez, now New York City’s transportation commissioner; and the current New York City mayor, Eric Adams.

At the same time, he was a founding member of Dominicanos USA, an organization that amplified the electoral power of the Dominican community in the United States. Institutionally, he serves as community liaison and political analyst at the Global Foundation for Democracy and Development (GFDD), chaired by former Dominican

president Dr. Leonel Fernández. In Colombia, he co-founded Fundación Planeta Rural in 2015, which has supported more than 1,200 projects focused on food security and rural sustainability.

For Medrano, success cannot be conceived in purely individual terms.

“My version of the Dominican dream in the United States is about building a dignified and self-sufficient life without forgetting one’s roots; about progressing without having to abandon who we are; about serving as a bridge between cultures and helping others do the same.”

Aware of the challenges of social mobility, Medrano sees himself as a facilitator in civic and community spaces “so that the voice of Dominicans abroad carries weight, our contributions are recognized and we have real representation in decision-making spaces.”

MARÍA JACOBO, PHD

Leader in Inclusion, Neurodiversity, and Community Development

THE VISION OF A MULTIPRENEUR

She connects businesses, causes, and platforms through a shared logic: empowering through authenticity.

Born in La Vega, María Jacobo has become an influential voice among Hispanic communities in the United States through an approach that combines inclusion, purpose, and business. Her academic background includes a doctorate in Chaplaincy, Inclusion, and Integral Health, with a concentration in Neurodiversity and Applied Ethics. One of the most visible spaces for her work is HAAPE (Helping Adults with Autism Perform and Excel), which she co-founded and where she serves as Vice President. From there, she advances employment and professional development programs for autistic individuals at both the national and international levels. She also leads the Autistic Board, a strategic council composed of autistic adults who participate directly in the organization’s decision-making. Her link to neurodiversity is personal. After her son’s autism diagnosis, she realized the lack of information available to Spanish-speaking parents.

IN THE US, SHE MERGES IMAGE STRATEGY, AUTHORSHIP, AND PHILANTHROPY INTO AN ECOSYSTEM OF IMPACT.

That gap led her to found TODO Autismo, an organization that provides practical resources to families in the United States and Latin America. Her book, TODO Autismo: Guía para padres de la niñez a la adultez, has been adopted as a reference tool in educational and therapeutic settings.

Expanding her impact, Jacobo also founded the Florida Neurodiversity Chamber of Commerce, dedicated to integrating neurodivergent professionals into the business ecosystem. Her commitment was recognized with the Gold Medal of the Presidential Volunteer Service Award (2024) and the Orgullo Hispano Award (2025) granted by the White House.

Communication, Image, and Business

Through her firm MJ House of Style, she has advised global brands such as Automobili Lamborghini, Bodacious Kitchen, and La Dolce Vita, as well as more than 60 companies in the areas of strategic communications, personal image, and corporate branding, including serving as Head of Global Communications for two international brands. In academia, she collaborates as an academic mentor at Nova Southeastern University, directs an entrepreneurship bootcamp in Spanish, and created an inclusive version for neurodivergent students at Florida Atlantic University, where she supports entrepreneurs, families, and professionals in developing inclusive and sustainable business models.

Her holistic approach — combining image, communication, inclusion and brand strategy — has positioned her as one of the most influential voices in the Hispanic community.

Maritza Abreu has turned family traditions into products now found in some of the biggest retailers in the United States. With Pisqueya—a line of sauces and seasonings inspired by Dominican heritage—she connects Caribbean flavor with the fast-paced world of consumer packaged goods. Born in New York to immigrant parents from Jarabacoa, La Vega, Maritza studied Finance and International Business at St. John’s University and the University of Alcalá in Spain. After more than a decade building a corporate career, she decided to strike out on her own.

One of her most memorable milestones came in 2024, when a UPS partnership landed Pisqueya on a Times Square billboard for an entire week—a powerful signal that her brand belonged in New York’s cultural and commercial spotlight. “It was validation that major, established companies believe in our story, our

MARITZA ABREU

Founder and CEO, Pisqueya

FLAVORS OF DOMINICAN HERITAGE

Through her food brand, Pisqueya, she’s bringing Dominican taste to Target, Walmart, and beyond.

MARITZA HAS TURNED PISQUEYA INTO A PLATFORM THAT PROUDLY CARRIES A LATINO STAMP IN THE U.S. MARKET.

products, and the impact we can create.”

The brand’s growth is undeniable. Pisqueya has made its way into national chains like Target, is preparing to launch at Whole Foods, and even appeared on Season 22 of Hot Ones, where its Passion Fruit Hot Sauce won praise from Bobby Flay and Cardi B— reaching over 40 million YouTube impressions.

Scaling with Purpose

For Maritza, success is not only about sales. She sees her journey as a responsibility to her community. As one of the few Latina founders in the food industry, she is committed to paving

the way for others. Her involvement in programs like PepsiCo Juntos Crecemos, Whole Foods’ LEAP Program, and Santander’s Cultivate Small Business reflects that mission: to share lessons learned, expand Latino representation, and prove that Dominican flavors can thrive globally.

Looking back, her definition of success goes beyond financial growth. For her, the true achievement is building a business that honors her roots and inspires others to embrace authenticity as a driver of progress. That’s her Dominican Dream: to live with purpose, create opportunities, and ensure that Dominican culture has a seat at the table.

SENY TAVERAS

Executive Director, SOMOS Inc.

AN INSTITUTIONAL STRATEGIST

Through SOMOS Inc., she drives spaces for dialogue and action for new Hispanic generations.

With a career spanning public service, higher education and organizational management, Seny Taveras is a visible figure in the institutional and community life of the Hispanic population in the United States.

She currently serves as executive director of SOMOS Inc., a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization dedicated to addressing the needs of New York’s Hispanic community. From this position, she leads biannual conferences that bring together legislators, academics, business and labor leaders to discuss the community’s most pressing challenges. In November 2025, SOMOS Inc. will hold one of its most significant gatherings: the SOMOS Puerto Rico Conference, a space to convene diverse voices around justice, culture and community well-being.

Public Service

Taveras’ experience is as broad as it is strong. Before joining SOMOS Inc., she was executive director of

BRINGING LEGISLATIVE, INSTITUTIONAL, AND ACADEMIC EXPERIENCE TO CREATE ALLIANCES THAT BENEFIT BUSINESSES.

the National Supermarket Association (NSA), where she advanced growth strategies, legislative advocacy and business development for hundreds of independent supermarkets in New York and beyond.

In the public sector, she held leadership roles including senior adviser to Lt. Gov. David A. Paterson and chief of staff to New York City Council Member Ydanis Rodríguez, where she influenced policies on justice, public safety and community welfare. In academia, she directed CUNY in the Heights and served as chair of the Department of Legal Studies at ASA College.

Trained as an attorney at Hofstra University School

of Law, where she was president of the Latino Law Students Association, Taveras also pursued international studies in human rights and critical theory in Australia. Her leadership has been recognized by El Diario La Prensa, the New York Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and other institutions.

Beyond her executive roles, Taveras has remained connected to the community through her digital platform Tu Comunidad con Seny Taveras, a space for dialogue on education, entrepreneurship and civil rights. From SOMOS Inc., and with her accumulated experience across the public and private sectors, she continues to fulfill her commitment to amplifying Hispanic voices and advancing the collective potential of the Dominican and Latino community in the United States.

DOMINICAN WEEK IN THE UNITED STATES

YEAR ESTABLISHED: 1992

ORGANIZED BY: American Chamber of Commerce of the Dominican Republic (AmChamDR)

Dominican Week in the United States began in 1992 as the vision of Dr. Luis Heredia Bonetti. What started as an effort to deepen the historic, cultural, and commercial ties between the two nations has grown into a flagship initiative led by AmChamDR. Today, the event brings together business leaders, policymakers, academics, and members of the Dominican diaspora in major U.S. cities. Its agenda strengthens bilateral relations, promotes Dominican talent abroad, and seeks to influence decisions that benefit both countries. Dominican Week has become a platform that connects generations, unites interests, and highlights the strength of Dominican human capital overseas.

DOMINICANS ABROAD

ECONOMICS & FINANCE

DRIVING GROWTH, CREATING OPPORTUNITY

Whether leading financial institutions or advising businesses, Dominicans abroad have proven their ability to generate economic impact and open pathways for growth. With analytical vision, technical rigor, and a results-driven mindset, they develop markets, support entrepreneurship, and promote financial mobility. Their experience in global financial hubs accelerates wealth creation, stability, and new opportunities for communities.

AMELIA SANTOS-PAULINO,

PHD Chief, Investment Research Section, UNCTAD, Switzerland

A LEADER IN DEVELOPMENT ECONOMICS

In the Investment Research Section at UNCTAD, she contributes to the growth of emerging economies.

From Santo Domingo to Geneva, Switzerland, Dr. Amelia Santos-Paulino has built an international career in economics, dedicated to investment analysis, trade, and sustainable development. Her path led her from the Pontificia Universidad Católica Madre y Maestra (PUCMM) to a PhD in Economics at the University of Kent in the UK.

She began her career at the Central Bank of the Dominican Republic, later advancing to the Institute of Development Studies at the University of Sussex and, soon after, to the United Nations system. There, she worked at the World Institute for Development Economics Research (UNU-WIDER) before joining the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), where she now serves as Chair of the Investment Research Section.

In this role, Dr. Santos-Paulino has helped emerging countries design strategies to attract investment, strengthen trade, and reduce poverty.

DR. SANTOSPAULINO’S WORK PROMOTES SUSTAINABLE ECONOMIC GROWTH AND POVERTY REDUCTION.

She advised during the DR-CAFTA negotiations and has led projects across Africa and Asia. Her expertise has also contributed to global processes such as the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the UN Climate Change Conferences (COPs).

An accomplished academic, Dr. Santos-Paulino has published more than 100 scholarly articles in leading journals such as The Economic Journal, Cambridge Journal of Economics, and World Development. She is also editor and coauthor of books published by Oxford University Press and Palgrave Macmillan, including Fragile States:

Causes, Costs, and Consequences and The Rise of China and India: Impacts, Prospects, and Implications . Her joint research with Professor Anthony P. Thirlwall, a leading figure in development economics, published in The Economic Journal, is among the most cited studies on trade liberalization and its impact on the balance of payments in emerging economies.

Her work not only enriches academic debate but also informs practical policymaking in sustainable investment, international trade, and gender equity. A notable contribution is her pioneering study on how multinational corporations can implement gender equality practices—a framework widely adopted in shaping global policy.

In 2023, the Dominican government awarded her the Presidential Medal of Merit for Women, recognizing her support for economic development and her impact on the Dominican community abroad.

HIRAM MIGUEL ARNAUD

President and Founder, Volar Financial Services

CREATING FINANCIAL VALUE

His mission is to make financial management a bridge for building stability, opportunity, and legacy.

As president and founder of Volar Financial Services, a company based in New York, United States, Hiram Miguel Arnaud has spent over two decades transforming the way individuals and families think about their money.

Arnaud guides his clients in creating a broader vision, where cash flow, disciplined saving, and longterm planning converge into a system designed to maximize growth and stability. His approach is focused on generating tangible results. Every portfolio he manages responds to one essential question: How should money function to serve its owner’s goals? With radical transparency, Arnaud aligns investments with specific purposes, dismantling the notion that asset accumulation is an end in itself and reinforcing the idea that in finance, cash flow is king. Under his guidance, money ceases to be a mere resource and becomes a driver of security, growth, and opportunity.

THROUGH VOLAR FINANCIAL SERVICES, HE TRANSFORMS FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT INTO GROWTH AND SECURITY.

This dedication has earned him recognition on Forbes’ list of America’s Best Financial Security Professionals for two consecutive years. His track record includes honors such as the Lives Leader Award, the Client Builder Award, and multiple rankings in the President’s Council and Chairman’s Club. His impact has also been acknowledged by Who’s Who in Latin America and Continental Who’s Who.

But Arnaud does not measure success solely in terms of financial statements. For this expert, value creation is not confined to financial markets, as he understands that prosperity,

to be meaningful, must extend beyond the corporate world. His leadership reaches into social and community initiatives, from Dominicans on Wall Street (DOWS)—where he led the Public Relations and Fundraising Committee—to his role as a board member of People’s Theatre Project, an organization that, under his direction, secured a grant from the City of New York to build the first Dominican-led theater in Washington Heights. His journey began with studies in finance and economics at Manhattanville College, where he received the Board of Trustees Scholarship. But his true education came from understanding that financial independence is about choices, freedom, and legacy. That is the value he seeks to convey through Volar Financial Services, elevating the path toward financial freedom.

MANUEL DE PEÑA

VP of Client Relations – Private Banking and Wealth Management, Bradesco Bank

FINANCE WITH REGIONAL REACH

Leads the expansion of Bradesco Bank Private Banking in the Southern Cone through long-term relationships.

In the realm of Latin American wealth management, Manuel De Peña has earned a place as one of the most distinguished Dominicans in the financial sector of Coral Gables, Miami, Florida.

As Vice President of the Private Banking team for the Southern Cone at Bradesco Bank (the secondlargest private financial institution in Latin America), he leads an operation that has more than doubled its client portfolio in recent years. He has expanded the bank’s footprint across South America, Central America, and the Caribbean, aligning the firm’s value proposition with the realities of each market.

With over a decade of experience in finance, his career began at Citibank in the Dominican Republic and matured in Miami, where he held various roles at PepsiCo Latin America and Bradesco Investments.

Principles of Leadership

Holding degrees in finance and administration from

HE DRIVES BRADESCO BANK’S LEADERSHIP IN WEALTH MANAGEMENT ACROSS LATIN AMERICA.

Boston College, Florida International University, and the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern, De Peña has consistently pursued academic excellence and personal ethics.

“To succeed in the world of finance, there are three key traits: perseverance to stay focused and keep growing, courage to make decisions that accelerate your career even if they involve risk, and, above all, integrity,” he says.

For De Peña, in his professional sphere, the trust of clients and colleagues matters more than a stellar annual performance. “It takes 20 years to build a reputation and five minutes to destroy it,”

he adds, quoting American investor Warren Buffett.

The team he leads today designs wealth and succession structures for high-profile families and businesses, with operations that transcend borders and economic cycles. His expertise in portfolio structuring, credit risk analysis, and strategic decision-making has made him a key figure for institutional and private clients seeking direction.

Beyond his personal achievements, De Peña hopes his journey will open doors for others.

“The Dominican dream in the United States would be to see more of my fellow countrymen and women in leadership roles, both in business and in the public sector. Our country produces excellent professionals, with great integrity and ability, who can compete for positions alongside any other nationality. We only need the drive and the time to break barriers.”

MARIANO SANZ Co-Founder and CEO, Kiwi Financial, Inc.

ALEXANDER

SCHACHTER Co-Founder and COO, Kiwi Financial, Inc.

TRANSFORMING ACCESS TO CREDIT

Two entrepreneurs building a platform from Puerto Rico that breaks financial barriers.

Mariano Sanz and Alexander Schachter, founders of Kiwi Financial, were born in Santo Domingo and met in New York while working at JP Morgan. They were among the few Dominicans at the firm and shared a common frustration: both had struggled to access basic financial products upon arriving in the U.S. due to a lack of credit history.

“We realized it was a structural issue affecting millions of Latinos in the United States,” they recall.

That’s how Kiwi was born in 2020—a fintech created to disrupt the traditional banking model and offer a fairer, more agile alternative for those neglected by the system.

Kiwi is an automated credit platform that uses artificial intelligence and alternative data to assess risk and grant credit lines to individuals without a credit history. Users can access lines ranging from US$150 to US$3,000 and participate in programs like Kiwi Construye, which combines zero-in -

THEY

CREATED KIWI SO LATINOS DON’T HAVE TO START FROM ZERO EVERY TIME THEY CROSS A BORDER.

terest credit with financial education.

The model has served over 80,000 clients, originated more than US$70 million in volume, and boasts a repurchase rate of 84%. In 2025, they closed a Series A round of US$8 million and to date have raised over US$15 million in equity capital, along with credit lines of up to US$75 million.

“That validation marked a turning point. It confirmed we were building something relevant, serious, and scalable,” they affirm.

Although Kiwi is designed for the entire diaspora, Mariano and Alexander chose to establish the company in Puerto Rico, a market

with a high concentration of Latinos and few dominant players. This serves as an ideal launchpad for scaling across the country. In addition to their experience at JP Morgan, their academic credentials support them: Mariano studied finance at Marquette University, and Alexander studied finance at Penn State. Together, these Dominicans envision Kiwi as a bridge between the U.S. financial system and a growing population that has been historically overlooked.

DOMINICANS ABROAD

FASHION

DOMINICAN DESIGN ON THE GLOBAL

FASHION STAGE

Dominican fashion has earned international recognition for its creativity and for the ability of its designers to adapt, compete, and thrive in a demanding industry. This section features designers who have built careers abroad—positioning their brands, collaborating with major fashion houses, or opening their own spaces in global markets. Their stories reflect strategy, craftsmanship, and long-term vision.

ALBANIA ROSARIO

Founder and President, Fashion Designers of Latin America (FDLA)

A FASHION ENTREPRENEUR

She leads a business network that connects Latin designers with capital, markets, and international exposure.

From New York to Milan, Albania Rosario has positioned Latin American talent in the front rows of international fashion. As founder and president of the Fashion Designers of Latin America (FDLA), she has built a platform and community that creates visibility, business opportunities, and global reach for Latin American designers.

Born in the Dominican Republic, she moved to the United States at 18 without speaking English, but with a determination to open doors for herself and others. Out of that drive came FDLA, through which she has created mechanisms that allow emerging talent to gain traction in competitive markets, secure international business, and sustain careers beyond the temporary spotlight of a runway show. “I remember with emotion the first time I saw Dominican designers— some with very limited resources—present their collections on one of New York’s most important

AS FOUNDER OF FDLA, ALBANIA ROSARIO OPENS NEW SPACES FOR DESIGNERS IN THE WORLD’S MAIN FASHION CIRCUITS.

fashion platforms, thanks to the work we do at FDLA. I felt I was leaving a mark on the industry, especially on the lives of each designer we helped grow, be seen, and believe in their potential.”

Today, FDLA operates in cities including New York, Milan, London, Dubai, and Geneva, bringing together hundreds of designers, models, stylists, and brands who find both exposure and strategic support in the platform. Thanks to her leadership, many have accessed international buyers, forged commercial alliances, and reached new audiences for the first time. In doing so, Albania has built an entrepreneurial community that

generates jobs, opens cultural export routes, and elevates Latin American design as an industry.

Recognized by Forbes, the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA), and leading trade publications, Albania continues to expand her mission: to elevate Latin fashion through purposeful production, to design sustainable spaces for creativity, and to reshape the region’s presence in global fashion circles.

Her definition of success has evolved. “My version of the Dominican dream in the United States is to open doors not only for myself, but for an entire community of talent that deserves recognition.”

With strategic vision, Albania Rosario amplifies Latin America’s creative talent, weaving a network of opportunities that connects creative production, professional mobility, and access to competitive markets.

FERNANDO GARCÍA

Co–Creative Director, Oscar de la Renta | Co–Founder, Monse

BETWEEN LEGACY AND INNOVATION

He honors the legacy of master designer Oscar de la Renta while propelling a disruptive brand like Monse.

Between his childhood in Santo Domingo sketching impossible silhouettes and the experience of dressing astronauts for a space mission, Fernando García has built one of the most distinctive careers in contemporary fashion. His aesthetic combines structural rigor, cultural sensitivity and a sharp understanding of the business rhythm the fashion industry demands.

That way of thinking has concrete roots. As a boy in Santo Domingo, he entertained himself by drawing cinematic costumes—never imagining that decades later he would be dressing First Ladies, iconic actresses, and most recently, the first all-female crew of a space mission.

Fernando joined Oscar de la Renta at a young age and spent years learning quietly under the master, absorbing the art of building luxury from the smallest, often invisible, details. Curiously, his academic training did not come from fashion

HE DESIGNS WITH STRUCTURE AND STRATEGY, BRIDGING

NEW YORK CITY AND HIS NATIVE SANTO DOMINGO.

but from architecture. He graduated from the University of Notre Dame, and that technical eye became his competitive edge. Instead of relying on fleeting inspiration, he designs around principles such as proportion, balance and the way textiles move on the body.

That same method defines his professional identity. In 2015, alongside Laura Kim, he co-founded Monse—a label that could be described as the modern antithesis of Oscar de la Renta: experimental, urban, and unafraid to subvert classic codes.

Just a year later, in 2016, the house of Oscar de la Renta called him back, this time to take

on the role of co–creative Director with Laura.

Balancing a heritage house like Oscar de la Renta and a disruptive brand like Monse requires more than creativity. García has mastered it without diluting the identity of either, dressing celebrities such as Taylor Swift, Sarah Jessica Parker, Michelle Obama, Jill Biden, Amal Clooney, and many others.

In 2025, he received one of the most remarkable commissions of his career: designing the suits for Blue Origin’s first all-female space mission. The result was a collection inspired by alpine skiing, conceived to move at the speed of space while carrying its own design language.

Between tradition and vanguard, classic tailoring and space-age experimentation, Fernando García elevates the name of the Dominican Republic while honoring both legacy and innovation.

In Spain, Maritza Acevedo brings Dominican essence to international platforms through her brand, Gifinas. Her designs weave together identity and modernity, allowing her to project her roots to the world.

Having lived in Spain for over two decades, Acevedo built a career in marketing, but her passion for design was always present—waiting for the right moment to flourish. That moment arrived in her forties, when she discovered her creative talent. At a stage in life when many believe there’s no room to start anew, she chose to reinvent herself through a purpose-driven project. In 2018, she found inspiration in the iconic faceless dolls, turning this cultural symbol into a declaration of pride and heritage.

A Legacy of Identity

Every creator experiences a moment when their vision begins to resonate. For the Dominican designer, that moment came with the creation of the world’s first

MARITZA ACEVEDO Founder and CEO, Gifinas

FASHION AS A CULTURAL MOVEMENT

The designer has transformed the Gifinas brand into an expression of Dominican heritage on the global stage.

THROUGH HER DESIGNS, MARITZA ACEVEDO PROJECTS CULTURAL RICHNESS AND DOMINICAN PRIDE.

scarf inspired by faceless dolls. “Seeing the acceptance and how people identified with this cultural symbol confirmed I was on the right path,” she says.

Since then, Gifinas has achieved significant milestones. At FITUR 2022, she presented the first scarf inspired by the Dominican diaspora: faceless dolls and a suitcase as symbols of travel, memory, and identity. At FITUR 2023, she unveiled an exclusive design in honor of Ecuador.

With collections such as Ojo de Agua, inspired by the legacy of the Mirabal Sisters, and Quisqueya la Bella , which pays tribute to Dominican identity, Acevedo uses her designs to celebrate

culture. She also turns to fashion to raise social awareness with pieces like the 25 de noviembre scarf, commemorating the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, and the 8M scarf, highlighting the value of women.

Her designs have been received by figures such as Her Majesty Queen Letizia of Spain and the First Lady of the Dominican Republic, Raquel Arbaje. Additionally, Acevedo has forged partnerships with institutions such as Banco de Reservas, reinforcing her mission to project Dominican identity.

“When a Dominican woman abroad tells me, ‘This reminds me of my homeland,’ or someone unfamiliar with our culture discovers the story of the faceless dolls through my designs, I know our identity transcends borders. That is success: leaving a mark that inspires and endures,” Acevedo affirms.

SULLY BONNELLY

Creative Director, Sully Bonnelly

THE VISION OF A CREATOR

S With over four decades in the industry, his work embodies sophistication, memory, and authenticity.

Sully Osvaldo de Jesús Bonnelly Canaán, better known as Sully Bonnelly, is one of the most influential Dominican designers in the history of contemporary fashion, with a career spanning from Oscar de la Renta to his own international brand.

Born in Santo Domingo, he studied architecture at the Universidad Autónoma de Santo Domingo (UASD). There, he began to refine his skills as a designer through technical classes, visual exercises, and early creations for friends and family. His talent for drawing and his instinct for aesthetic harmony did not go unnoticed. His university years provided a solid foundation in composition and structure that would become a hallmark of his work.

His life took a turn after Hurricane David. In 1979, he moved to New York and continued his studies at Parsons School of Design. He arrived with a letter of recommendation written by the late Doña Virginia Dalmau and a portfolio

SULLY BONNELLY’S WORK FUSES THE DISCIPLINE OF DESIGN WITH THE FREEDOM OF STYLE.

backed by talent and determination. Just days after settling in, he secured a position as an assistant at Oscar de la Renta’s fashion house, thus beginning his formal journey in international fashion.

His time at Oscar de la Renta was a parallel education. From assembling collections to fittings with models and mastering time and aesthetics, he absorbed the lessons of haute couture directly from the maestro. Later, he worked with figures such as Bill Blass and Elie Tahari, gaining experience in fashion houses that defined an era.

In 1998, he launched his own brand, Sully Bonnelly, successfully positioning

it in prestigious stores such as Saks Fifth Avenue, Neiman Marcus, and Bergdorf Goodman. That entrepreneurial spirit led him to create other lines, such as Sully Bonnelly Accents for the Home Shopping Network, becoming the first Latin American designer featured on a direct-to-consumer sales channel. Later, he led the creative direction of other contemporary collections, including Citrine, Muse, and Isaac Mizrahi New York.

Beyond his body of work, since 2001 he has been a member of the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA) and has received multiple accolades both in the United States and the Dominican Republic, including the Order of Civic Merit.

With a long and diverse career as a designer, Sully Bonnelly, as a Dominican abroad, has kept the Caribbean at the heart of his art, no matter the city he’s in or the language he speaks.

DOMINICAN WEEK IN SPAIN

YEAR ESTABLISHED: 2024

ORGANIZED BY: Official Chamber of Commerce of Spain in the Dominican Republic

Dominican Week in Spain was created in 2024 with the goal of strengthening economic, cultural, and institutional ties between the two countries.

Since its first edition, the event has been supported by the National District City Hall and the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, and MSMEs, strategic partners that have driven its agenda of business promotion, academic exchange, and cultural visibility.

Designed as a meeting platform, Dominican Week in Spain seeks to position the Dominican Republic as an attractive destination for investment, innovation, and talent.

DOMINICANS ABROAD

THE COLLECTIVE POWER OF DOMINICANS WORLDWIDE

Wherever Dominicans settle, they build spaces of solidarity, organization, and leadership. Foundations and associations abroad channel identity and belonging while advancing development, education, gender equity, culture, and civic action. Here we highlight those who had the vision—and the courage—to create lasting platforms that meet community needs and strengthen ties between the Dominican Republic and their host countries.

CASILDA LUNA

Community Organizer and Activist

PIONEER OF DOMINICAN ACTIVISM

Six decades of social leadership, women’s empowerment, and network-building abroad.

When Casilda Luna immigrated to Washington, D.C., in 1962, she carried with her a crucifix, a suitcase, and an unwavering vocation for community service. She was 38 years old, with a history of resistance under the Trujillo dictatorship and a mission to rebuild her life without abandoning her commitment to others. Born in the municipality of Sánchez, in Samaná, she grew up in a small town of just a few streets, where life was austere, communal, and rooted in solidarity. Her mother, trained in medicine in Puerto Rico, assisted with childbirth and medical emergencies throughout the region. Her father, with roots in Saint Thomas, was a boat builder and a respected authority figure. In that household of ten children, she was taught that serving others was a way of being in the world.

In her youth, doña Casilda studied social work in the Dominican Republic and actively participated in church and community activities, which placed her

FOR HER CONTRIBUTIONS, SHE IS REGARDED AS A FOUNDING FIGURE OF LATINO COMMUNITY ACTIVISM IN WASHINGTON.

under the scrutiny of the Trujillo regime. Her ability to organize groups and her constant drive to channel collective energy toward the common good were, in that context, seen as subversive. With help from her father and U.S. Army General George Olmsted, she obtained a visa and immigrated with her daughter to Washington, D.C. There, she began working as a domestic worker and soon started gathering young Dominican embassy employees in her home, teaching them to read and write.

Her formal career began at CHANGE Inc., a community service agency affiliated with the United Planning Organi -

zation, where she took on the role of social worker. From there, doña Casilda facilitated access to public assistance, supported immigration regularization processes, and helped dozens of families obtain housing, food, medical care, and educational opportunities.

In 1968, she helped establish the Office of Latino Affairs in the District of Columbia. She later founded Educación para Latinoamericanos Unidos (EOFULA), an organization dedicated to empowering older women through education and literacy, and Mujeres Unidas Latinas en Acción (MULA), a comprehensive support program for immigrant women, among other initiatives.

In 2021, at the age of 97, doña Casilda received the Mr. Oscar de la Renta Dominican Emigrant Award, presented by President Luis Abinader. Over six decades, she has redefined through her example what it means to be Dominican abroad.

GRICELL GARRIDO COLÓN

President, Spanish Association of Women Entrepreneurs (ASEME)

A VOICE FOR WOMEN IN BUSINESS

An example of leadership from the Spanish Association of Women Entrepreneurs (ASEME).

Gricell Garrido Colón arrived in Madrid in the late 1970s with two small children, no university education, and more uncertainties than certainties. She had no work experience in Spain and no work permit. Her first job was at a French electronic security company. Initially rejected for being a woman and an immigrant, she offered to work on commission without a fixed salary for three months. That bold move allowed her to regularize her status and launch a meteoric career in a male-dominated sector. Years later, she was appointed Operations Director of Tyco International for Spain, Portugal, and Italy, overseeing commercial operations across Southern Europe.

At age 40, after a conversation with a senior executive who questioned her right to start a family at the height of her career, she decided to found her own company. Thus, Prevent Security Systems was born, specializing in comprehensive electronic security

AT THE SPANISH ASSOCIATION OF WOMEN ENTREPRENEURS (ASEME), SHE CREATES SPACES FOR PURPOSE AND SHARED FUTURE.

solutions. She started with a €400,000 debt inherited from a previous project, a newborn baby, and a blank slate. Twenty-four years later, Prevent employs over 40 people, is an approved supplier for major companies like Renault, and is recognized for its technical, operational, and human excellence.

With her experience, Gricell has held leadership positions in Spain’s most influential business organizations. Since 2023, she has served as president of ASEME, the Spanish Association of Women Entrepreneurs, with over 50 years of history. From this position, she promotes collective leadership, financial education for women,

and the strengthening of support networks among businesswomen. Under her leadership, ASEME has renewed partnerships with universities, reinforced its organizational structure, and opened spaces for new generations of entrepreneurs.

In addition to her role as an entrepreneur, she serves as vice president of the Spanish Security Federation (FES), vice president of the Madrid Business Confederation (CEIM), chair of its Security Commission and board member of the Madrid Chamber of Commerce. She has also served as an adviser to the Madrid City Security Council. Her career has been recognized with the Civil Merit Medal awarded by the National Police.

A proud Dominican by birth, she carries her identity as a banner, blending it with the business discipline that defines her and her unwavering commitment to leadership and sisterhood.

IRIS VIOLETA RIJO MATOS

President and Co-Founder, Fundación Dr. Sonrisa

COHERENCE AS LEADERSHIP

The guiding principle of a Dominican in Puerto Rico who has turned social action into a structure of impact.

More than two decades after arriving in Puerto Rico, Iris Violeta Rijo Matos has turned her experience into a platform for social impact. Born in La Romana, she turned personal challenges into opportunities for service, building with an ethical clarity that defines every one of her causes. As a migrant woman, she found in service a source of dignity. Her activism began in schools, where Dominican mothers were often invisible or misunderstood. She knew firsthand what it meant to face a system that labeled the children of immigrants without considering their context.

“Confronting an education system where the children of Dominican parents were tracked into special education without evaluating their environment or their family circumstances,” she recalls, was one of the experiences that shaped her and pushed her to act. That commitment led her to co-found Fundación Doctor Sonrisa, a project now synonymous with presence where it is needed

most. Through it, she has spearheaded actions with a scope few NGOs manage to sustain rebuilding homes after hurricanes, providing hospital support, running adult literacy programs, supporting schools and communities, and launching dozens of initiatives too many to list. Still, when she speaks of the work, she always begins with “we.”

A Life

of Recognition

Iris treasures numerous recognitions: the Mr. Oscar de la Renta Dominican Emigrant Award, granted by the Institute for Dominicans Abroad (INDEX); the Sor Isolina Ferré Award, presented by the Puerto Rico House of Represen-

tatives; as well as honors from the U.S. Congress and the Bar Association of La Romana. She keeps them as proof that a migrant woman without inherited networks can still change many lives. “I have felt humiliation and racism for being an immigrant, Dominican and a woman in leadership positions where I had to create my own space, make myself heard and put my ideas into action without harming anyone,” she said. “I had to carve out a path on my own and earn the respect of a community that is not necessarily mine.”

Even so, she considers her greatest achievement to be her children. “When I think about how far I’ve come, I see the image of my children and how the values I instilled in them remain strong.” That legacy extends beyond family. It speaks of living with coherence, of giving back and of refusing to let hope be stolen by systems that label or prejudices that limit.

MILEYKA BURGOS-FLORES

Founder and CEO, The Allapattah Collaborative CDC

BUILDING A FUTURE WITH PURPOSE

A leader committed to civic engagement, cultural preservation, and wealth creation.

Born into a Dominican family and raised in Miami, Mileyka Burgos-Flores has distinguished herself through active community leadership. As the founding executive director of The Allapattah Collaborative, CDC (ACDC), she leads a revitalization model centered on cultural preservation, social equity, and wealth-building strategies for the community.

Burgos-Flores graduated from the University of Miami with degrees in communications and international studies, and earned a master’s in performing arts management from Florida International University. She further expanded her expertise through the Community Real Estate Development Fellowship at the University of South Florida.

At ACDC, Burgos-Flores advances three strategic pillars: strengthening Allapattah’s identity through placemaking projects; promoting wealth-building strategies for communities of color; and advocating for

THROUGH HER FOUNDATION, SHE DRIVES PROJECTS AND INITIATIVES THAT OPEN PATHWAYS OF SOCIAL MOBILITY.

public policies that ensure inclusive and sustainable development.

Her leadership has been recognized across multiple platforms. In 2024, she received the Mary Means Leadership Award from Main Street America, an honor reserved for those who demonstrate vision and determination in preserving cultural and commercial districts. Earlier, she was recognized as a “Neighborhood Hero” by the City of Miami (2017) and has served in national leadership roles with organizations such as the National Association of Latino Community Asset Builders (NALCAB) and Grameen America.

She is also an alumna

of prestigious leadership programs, including the Fulcrum Fellowship at the Center for Community Investment (2022), where she explored shared ownership models as a way to prevent displacement and expand economic mobility. Her background includes fellowships and programs in affordable housing, civic innovation, and economic development, consolidating a portfolio of experience that positions her as one of the most consistent voices advocating for immigrant urban communities.

Beyond accolades, her work reflects a personal conviction: that cultural identity is a strategic asset for economic development, and that true inclusion requires both political vision and grassroots action.

Through academia, public policy, and civic mobilization, Mileyka Burgos-Flores continues to shape a legacy of social equity that impacts thousands of lives across the United States.

DOMINICANS ABROAD

INNOVATING TO HEAL:

DOMINICANS IN SCIENCE AND MEDICINE

For Dominicans abroad, medicine and science are paths of progress and hope. From emergency rooms in renowned hospitals to research at prestigious universities, they combine expertise, empathy, and ethics to save lives and strengthen health systems. Whether leading institutions or driving breakthrough discoveries, these professionals embrace the mission of innovating to heal—carrying Dominican talent to the forefront of global medicine and science.

AMADO ALEJANDRO BÁEZ, MD, MPH, PHD

Vice Chair of Emergency Medicine, Medical College of Georgia

LEADERSHIP IN TIMES OF EMERGENCY

A career devoted to medicine, disaster management, and the redesign of public health policy.

For more than three decades, Dr. Amado Alejandro Báez has practiced medicine on the frontlines—responding to natural disasters, public health emergencies, and the strain of overwhelmed hospital systems.

He earned his medical degree from the Universidad Nacional Pedro Henríquez Ureña (UNPHU) and, at just 24, coordinated the Dominican Red Cross’s national response to Hurricane Georges. That pivotal experience set him on a path toward emergency and critical care medicine, where he has become one of the most respected voices in the field.

In the United States, Dr. Báez broke new ground as the first international physician accepted into the Mayo Clinic’s Emergency Medicine program. He later completed a fellowship in Critical Care and Trauma at Harvard’s Brigham and Women’s Hospital, where he joined the faculty and served as associate director of emergency medical services. He

AN EMERGENCY

PHYSICIAN AND PUBLIC HEALTH STRATEGIST, HE HAS DEVOTED HIS CAREER TO STRENGTHENING HEALTH SYSTEMS.

also earned dual master’s degrees in health management and public health from New York Medical College, along with postgraduate training in clinical research at the Albert Einstein Medical Center.

In 2010, while serving as chief of emergency services at a hospital in Santo Domingo, he was deployed to the Dominican-Haitian border after the devastating earthquake in Haiti. There, he mobilized surgical teams, established field hospitals, and coordinated with international relief agencies.

In 2020, he was appointed by the Dominican government as executive advisor on public health and disaster management

under Decree 140-20. He currently serves as an adviser to the Dominican state on health and wellbeing.

Dr. Báez has published more than 100 scientific papers and authored or edited multiple medical textbooks. His work has been recognized by the American Medical Association, the Society of Critical Care Medicine, the American College of Chest Physicians, Junior Chamber International, and Harvard Medical School. He is a fellow of leading international medical organizations, the first Dominican to receive the FCCM distinction in critical care, and a member of Sigma Xi, the scientific research honor society. He also serves on the Mayo Clinic Alumni Council. Dr. Báez’s influence extends far beyond one country or one discipline. His work sits at the crossroads of government, security, and public health—where strategic decisions can strengthen health systems and protect entire populations.

DR. EDGAR REYNOSO VANDERHORST

Neonatologist and perinatologist pediatrician

PEDIATRICS AS VOCATION AND MISSION

As a neonatologist-perinatologist, he contributes to both research and the humanization of neonatal care.

Building a medical career in a foreign country is a challenge that demands discipline, resilience, and profound vocation. For Dr. Edgar Reynoso Vanderhorst, his path in neonatology affirms his purpose: saving lives at their most fragile moments. “It’s not just about treating a patient—it’s about accompanying a family during its most vulnerable time,” he says.

Graduating with honors from Universidad Iberoamericana (UNIBE) in Santo Domingo, Reynoso’s career truly took shape in the United States. After completing his pediatric residency at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York, he earned a spot in the prestigious neonatology and perinatology program at the University of Illinois at Chicago Children’s Hospital—a milestone that marked a turning point in his professional life. “It was the confirmation that all the effort, sleepless nights, and sacrifices were worth it,” he recalls.

THROUGH

HIS PRACTICE, DR. REYNOSO IS DRIVEN BY THE MISSION TO SAVE LIVES IN THEIR MOST FRAGILE MOMENTS.

His vocation led him to view neonatology as a bridge between science and humanity. “Being a neonatologist isn’t just about understanding the biological processes of a premature baby—it’s also about holding the hands of terrified parents and giving them hope,” he notes.

This principle inspired him to develop innovative initiatives in the hospitals where he has worked. At Elmhurst Hospital Center in New York, he designed the Health Services Guidance Word Sheet , a resource that helps newly arrived immigrants navigate the healthcare system. “We can’t assume everyone understands the system; often, lack of knowledge

is the biggest barrier to receiving care,” he explains. Beyond his clinical practice, Reynoso has participated in studies on the prevention of infectious diseases in vulnerable communities and has published in peer-reviewed medical journals such as NeoReviews and the Journal of the International AIDS Society . His work on stress regulation and emotional resilience among neonatal unit professionals has drawn attention from the scientific community, particularly for his proposal of the Vanhorst Technique, a breathing method based on mindfulness.

His book Wellness: Optimizing Yourself is an extension of this philosophy. In it, he combines medical knowledge with a holistic approach to health, aiming to empower individuals to take control of their wellbeing. “We cannot separate physical health from mental and emotional health. The medicine of the future must understand the human being as a whole.”

ELSIE M. TAVERAS, MD, MPH

Chief Community Health & Health Equity Officer, Mass General Brigham

PUBLIC HEALTH DRIVEN BY EVIDENCE

She is the first Latina to hold an academic chair in Pediatrics at Harvard Medical School.

Growing up in Washington Heights, just steps from a major hospital, Elsie M. Taveras saw how immigrant families like her own were often excluded from the care they needed. That contradiction shaped the question at the heart of her career: How could such an advanced health system overlook the most basic needs of the very community living at its doorstep?

That question has guided her life’s work. Today, Dr. Taveras is Chief Community Health & Health Equity Officer at Mass General Brigham, the largest hospital system in Massachusetts. She also directs the Kraft Center for Community Health, holds the Conrad Taff Professorship, and is Professor of Pediatrics at Harvard Medical School— becoming the first Latina in the institution’s history to hold an academic chair in Pediatrics.

Her path to leadership began with medicine but quickly expanded toward public health. After earning

SHE LEADS AN AGENDA THAT CONNECTS RESEARCH, COMMUNITY INTERVENTION, AND ACADEMIA TO ADVANCE PUBLIC HEALTH.

her MD from New York University in 1997, she completed her pediatric residency in Boston. It was there that a tragic, preventable event marked a turning point: the death of a young patient in a house fire tied to severe economic hardship. That loss underscored how poverty and environment could dictate health outcomes as much as medicine. Motivated by that experience, she pursued a master’s in public health at Harvard, reshaping her career to focus on the social and structural determinants of health.

Her research has produced pioneering evidence on how infant

sleep, maternal stress, and structural racism shape health from the earliest stages of life. At the Kraft Center, she has led initiatives that translate research into scalable interventions, addressing childhood obesity, substance use, and inequities in cancer screening and treatment.

Since 2021, she has led Mass General Brigham’s strategy to improve community health, driving structural change in care delivery, institutional leadership, and organizational culture. In 2023 she joined Boston’s Public Health Board, and in 2024 became its Chair, advancing a citywide agenda focused on mental health, addiction, equity, and urban poverty.

With more than 300 scientific publications, Dr. Taveras defines success not by titles but by collective impact—designing solutions through active listening and transforming institutions to embody equity, justice, and care.

FRANCISCO J. DÍAZ, MD

Director, Department of Forensic Sciences (DFS), Washington, D.C.

ANATOMY OF A FORENSIC LEADER

He transforms postmortem findings into data that shape public health policy.

In a glass-paneled building south of the National Mall in Washington, D.C., works Dr. Francisco J. Díaz. As Director of the Department of Forensic Sciences in the U.S. capital, his responsibility doesn’t end with the cause of death. It begins there.

Dr. Díaz arrived in the United States in 1995 with a clear conviction: autopsies don’t just explain deaths—they save lives. His early fascination with anatomy evolved into a calling: forensic pathology.

That calling has been tested thousands of times—literally. Díaz has performed more than 10,000 autopsies, testified in hundreds of state and federal trials, and co-authored the fifth edition of the field’s reference manual: Spitz and Fisher’s Medicolegal Investigation of Death. He has also contributed to over 35 scientific publications and has spoken at conferences with global reach.

Since then, he has played a vital role in

HIS PROFILE POSITIONS HIM AS A LEADING FIGURE IN THE INTEGRATION OF FORENSIC SCIENCE, PUBLIC HEALTH, AND JUSTICE.

the forensic systems of complex cities like Philadelphia and Detroit. It was there, after a decade of work, that he received his first major recognition: “I felt I had arrived when I testified as an expert in forensic pathology and the judge deemed my credentials exceptional,” he recalls.

That validation gave him a broader view of professional success. “Today, success means helping families understand the cause of death and influencing public policy through the epidemiological data we provide— from preventing childhood and accidental deaths to fighting overdoses,” he states.

As a public administrator, he prioritizes institutional integrity—even in times of crisis, such as the Covid-19 pandemic. And still, recognition rarely comes. “Forensic pathologists don’t get thanked. No one calls to say, ‘Thanks for my uncle’s autopsy,’” he comments wryly. “If you’re not clear on your mission, that lack of gratitude can wear you down.”

Alongside his leadership of Washington, D.C.’s forensic system, Dr. Díaz serves as an assistant professor at George Washington University and chairs the Government Affairs Committee of the National Association of Medical Examiners.

His role, though rooted in science, is marked by humanity. “In the end, we work with people. People who were loved ones, and people who now face the pain of their loss. That changes your view of the world,” he says. “Not everyone can live surrounded by death and still love life.”

IRVING A. JORGE, MD, MBA, FACS

Chair of Acute Care Surgery Division, Mayo Clinic Arizona

LEADERSHIP IN ADVANCED SURGERY

A Dominican at the forefront of Acute Care Surgery at Mayo Clinic Arizona.

Dr. Irving A. Jorge has built a career that took him from Santo Domingo to the role of Chair of the Division of Acute Care Surgery at Mayo Clinic Arizona. This appointment represents the culmination of more than two decades dedicated to advancing general and minimally invasive surgery.

He earned his medical degree in 2002 from Universidad Iberoamericana (UNIBE) in Santo Domingo. Soon after, he pursued specialized training that included residencies at leading institutions in New York and a fellowship in minimally invasive surgery at Jackson Health System, University of Miami, where he refined his expertise in laparoscopic and robotic techniques.

Beginning in 2010, Dr. Jorge embarked on a new professional stage at Mount Sinai Medical Center in Miami Beach. Over more than a decade, he advanced from general and laparoscopic surgeon to Chief of the Division

HIS EXPERTISE, INNOVATION,

AND LEADERSHIP

ARE FOCUSED ON ADVANCING SURGICAL OUTCOMES AT MAYO CLINIC.

of General Surgery and Director of Business Development. In 2015, he broadened his perspective with an MBA in Healthcare Management from Florida International University, integrating clinical practice with hospital administration.

In 2021, he joined Mayo Clinic Arizona, quickly assuming academic and leadership responsibilities as assistant professor of surgery and Head of the Acute Care Surgery Division. By 2024, he was appointed Chair of the division, strengthening his role as a leader in high-complexity surgery.

From Arizona, his clinical focus includes complex abdominal wall hernias,

gallbladder and bile duct stones, robotic surgery, and enhanced recovery protocols. His research aims to reduce surgical risks, shorten hospital stays, and improve patients’ quality of life.

Dr. Jorge also contributes to strategic committees of the American College of Surgeons, the Association for Academic Surgery, and the Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons, where he works on initiatives related to safe cholecystectomy, acute care surgery, and hospital standards.

His career reflects the international reach of Dominican medical talent. With a professional path marked by technical excellence, healthcare management, and applied research, Dr. Jorge’s leadership continues to influence patient care and inspire the next generation of surgeons.

DR. MIGUEL ÁNGEL ARIZA PROTA

Pulmonologist

PRECISION IN PULMONOLOGY

From the Central University Hospital of Asturias (HUCA), this specialist refines minimally invasive procedures, contributing to the international advancement of interventional pulmonology.

In Oviedo, Spain, Dr. Miguel Ángel Ariza stands out as one of the most promising professionals in the field of interventional pulmonology. Born in Santo Domingo in 1983, his career has positioned him at the forefront of a discipline where precision redefines both diagnosis and treatment.

After completing his medical training at Universidad Iberoamericana (UNIBE) and passing Spain’s MIR exam, Dr. Ariza chose Oviedo as the foundation for his professional journey. At the Central University Hospital of Asturias (HUCA), he cultivated a vision that goes beyond conventional medical practice. Later, at the University Hospital of Bellvitge in Barcelona, he deepened his specialization, exploring innovative techniques for addressing pulmonary conditions.

Expanding the Frontiers of Pulmonology

Among Dr. Ariza’s most significant achievements is the Ariza-Pallarés meth-

IS

CO-CREATOR OF THE ARIZAPALLARÉS METHOD, A TECHNIQUE THAT IMPROVES THE DIAGNOSIS OF LUNG CANCER.

od—a mediastinal cryobiopsy technique that enhances the diagnosis of lung cancer and other thoracic lesions. Co-developed with Dr. Javier Pallarés, this method improves the quality of tissue samples, enabling more accurate diagnoses and personalized treatments. Its effectiveness has been validated by clinical outcomes and recognized by the scientific community.

Beyond research, Dr. Ariza’s impact is reflected in his commitment to knowledge transfer. From HUCA’s Interventional Pulmonology Unit, he has trained over 100 specialists from around the world, ensuring that his innovations reach across borders

and serve a wider patient population. His dedication to teaching and knowledge dissemination is evident in more than 30 specialized publications and his role as a speaker at leading medical conferences.

This effort was recognized with the 2024 National Award for Best Publication of the Year, granted by Olympus for his study titled Ultrasound-guided Transbronchial Mediastinal Cryobiopsy in the Diagnosis of Mediastinal Lesions: Safety, Feasibility and Diagnostic Yield—Experience in 50 Cases, a contribution to the development of safer and more precise diagnostic techniques.

For Dr. Ariza, medicine goes beyond technique— it is defined by the human care of the patient. In his view, technology should enhance the bond between physicians and patients, not create distance—a principle that guides his daily practice. “Over time, I’ve come to understand that true success lies in the impact you leave on others,” he reflects.

MÓNICA DORVIL-BELLO, MD

CEO, WelBeauty | VP, MIB Surgery

HOLISTIC MANAGEMENT FOR OBESITY

As a specialist in internal medicine, she brings a comprehensive approach to treating this condition.

A board-certified internist with expertise in obesity and aesthetic medicine, Dr. Mónica Dorvil-Bello leads an ecosystem of services dedicated to transforming health and physical well-being.

From Florida, she operates three interconnected initiatives: MIB Surgery, where she brings clinical expertise to the comprehensive management of bariatric patients; WelBeauty, her clinic focused on aesthetic medicine; and NutriOn, a supplement line formulated to support weight loss and long-term metabolic health. She earned her medical degree from the Instituto Tecnológico de Santo Domingo (INTEC) and completed her residency in internal medicine at Cleveland Clinic Akron General. She is certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine, the American Board of Obesity Medicine, and the American Board of Aesthetic Medicine.

At MIB Surgery, Dr. DorvilBello works alongside other specialists to ensure that

HER APPROACH INTEGRATES NUTRITION, MEDICINE, AND AESTHETICS TO TRANSFORM METABOLIC HEALTH.

each patient receives a preand post-operative plan tailored to their metabolic profile, medical history, and lifestyle. For her, surgery is only the beginning of a critical process in which longterm success depends on close medical follow-up, proper nutrition, and pharmaceutical design to stabilize weight loss without compromising health.

Through WelBeauty, she offers a range of medical-grade aesthetic treatments, from EmSculpt Neo and Hydrafacial to injectables such as Botox and fillers. Her approach emphasizes natural results and the restoration of patients’ confidence.

With NutriOn, Dr. DorvilBello has extended her

medical knowledge to product development. Its formula—aligned with the recommendations of the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery—combines high-quality protein with magnesium, prebiotics, and digestive extracts to optimize gut health and preserve muscle mass under high metabolic demands.

Beyond her medical practice, Dr. Dorvil-Bello serves as president of the Dominican Health Care Association of Florida and is an active member of the Obesity Medicine Association, the American College of Physicians, and the American Medical Association. Within these organizations, she contributes to broader conversations on health, nutrition, and obesity in the United States.

Committed to evidencebased medicine, Dr. Mónica Dorvil-Bello believes in the power of care that transforms not only the body but also each person’s relationship with themselves.

PEDRO MCDOUGAL, MD, FACP

Chief Clinical Officer, Kaizen

Clinical Partners

CLINICAL PRACTICE, TEACHING, AND PHILANTHROPY

The geriatric physician practices in South Texas while maintaining strong ties to his native country.

Dr. Pedro McDougal’s childhood unfolded inside the radio station founded by his parents, Radio Amistad 101.9 FM in Santiago de los Caballeros. By the age of six, he already had his own children’s program. Yet medicine soon claimed his vocation. He studied medicine at the Pontificia Universidad Católica Madre y Maestra (PUCMM) and later immigrated to the USA with a residency visa that allowed him to specialize in internal medicine at St. Barnabas Hospital, a Cornell affiliate in New York.

He eventually settled in South Texas, where the culture, the presence of a strong Hispanic community, and the climate reminded him of home. In Weslaco, he established his first private practice in 1995. His commitment to serving an aging population led him, in 2005, to complete a fellowship in Geriatric Medicine at the University of Texas Health Science Center in San Antonio. Since then, he has become a regional authority in palliative care, working with institutions

AS A PUCMM GRADUATE, HE REMAINS ACTIVELY INVOLVED IN ADVANCING HIGHER EDUCATION IN THE DR.

such as Aurora House, a hospice care facility in Weslaco.

Currently, Dr. McDougal serves as Chief Clinical Officer at Kaizen Clinical Partners, where he leads clinical transformation initiatives inspired by the Japanese philosophy of continuous improvement. “We seek to reach patients before illness develops, keeping them healthy, functional, and living with quality of life,” he affirms. He also holds academic appointments at UT Health San Antonio and UTRGV, and was the founding medical director of the Weslaco Regional Rehabilitation Hospital. Through his private practice, RGV Adult & Internal Medicine

Specialists, he has built a broad network of professionals providing comprehensive care throughout South Texas.

His dedication to building beyond individual practice extends to his alma mater. As a PUCMM alumnus, he serves on the board of Friends of Fundación Madre y Maestra and, together with his family, supports the Guardianes de la Academia Trust, a fund designed to promote scholarships and research initiatives in the Dominican Republic.

Beyond his practice, Dr. McDougal is also engaged in cultural projects from McAllen and is a member of the Dominican Heritage & Cultural Society in New York. “Identity is not lost when one migrates—it simply changes territory,” he reflects. “I remain Dominican, yet I have also been embraced by this society, where I have lived for more than 35 years. For me, the dream has been to integrate without losing my roots and to benefit from the best of both worlds.”

DRA. RAQUEL FERNÁNDEZ DE CASTRO

Founder

and CEO, Fercasy Clinic

LEADERSHIP IN AESTHETIC MEDICINE

The international career of a Dominican woman recognized for innovation, education, and clinical practice.

Few medical professionals can navigate with equal ease between a scientific congress in Bangkok, their first clinic in Madrid, and their current practice in Dubai. Dr. Raquel Fernández De Castro has done just that in the field of aesthetic medicine, maintaining a consistently upto-date perspective on her profession.

Graduating cum laude in medicine from Universidad Iberoamericana (UNIBE) in Santo Domingo, the Dominican physician specialized in surgery and psychiatry at two of the most prestigious hospitals in Marseille, France: La Timone and La Conception. Later, in Spain, she completed her residency in family medicine at the Hospital Lluís Alcanyís in Xàtiva, while simultaneously earning a master’s degree in aesthetic medicine.

After years of clinical training and practice, in 2018, Dr. Fernández De Castro opened her own clinic specializing in aesthetic medicine, derma-

AT FERCASY CLINIC IN MADRID, SHE LEADS A MEDICAL PRACTICE DEFINED BY RIGOR AND DEDICATION.

tology, and plastic surgery in Madrid. She named it Fercasy, an acronym formed from her parents’ surnames: Fernández de Castro and Ysalguez. The clinic integrates cuttingedge technologies, such as the Fotona SP Dynamis laser, considered one of the most advanced in the field of aesthetic medicine.

As an expert, Dr. Fernández De Castro has led workshops and delivered lectures at more than 24 conferences across Spain, Thailand, Egypt, and Poland, as well as in cities like Paris, Monaco, and Miami. Her consistent work has earned her numerous accolades. In 2019, she was named Best Specialist in

Aesthetic Medicine in Spain by the Doctoralia Awards. In 2020, she received the Certificate of Excellence from Top Doctors, and in 2021, she was honored by the newspaper La Razón as Best Specialist in Botulinum Toxin.

Dr. Fernández De Castro also serves as a brand ambassador for prestigious laboratory companies such as Filorga, Neauvia, and Croma, contributing her expertise to the development of safe and effective treatments. She has written for journals specializing in dermatology, plastic surgery, and aesthetic medicine and completed an Executive MBA at EAE Business School, firmly believing that a holistic vision can transform the sector.

In recognition of her impact, she has been nominated for the 2025 Oscar de la Renta Award for Outstanding Dominican Emigrant, an honor bestowed upon those who elevate the prestige of the Dominican Republic abroad.

TERESA BELLO-BURGOS, DMD, AAACD

Founder and CEO, Bello-Burgos Smiles

A BENCHMARK IN DENTISTRY

She is the only Dominican accredited by the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry (AACD).

With clinical training in two healthcare systems and a consolidated practice in Miami, Florida, Dr. Teresa Bello-Burgos stands out for combining advanced specialization in cosmetic dentistry with a comprehensive approach to oral health care—serving both urban environments and communities with limited access to dental services.

Born in Sabaneta, La Vega, Dominican Republic, Bello-Burgos began her career at the Universidad Autónoma de Santo Domingo (UASD), where she earned her Doctor of Dental Surgery degree in 1988. After several years of professional practice in her home country, she relocated to the United States, where she obtained a second degree from Nova Southeastern University (Florida), this time as a Doctor of Dental Medicine (D.M.D.), revalidating her credentials under U.S. healthcare standards. She later expanded her training in cosmetic dentistry at the

SHE LEADS A MIAMI DENTAL PRACTICE THAT INTEGRATES MULTIPLE SERVICES WITH ADVANCED STANDARDS.

University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA).

Currently, the specialist oversees two clinics in Miami under the BelloBurgos Smiles brand, operating under a care model that integrates various specialties within the same structure: orthodontics, periodontics, endodontics, and oral surgery. This eliminates the need for external referrals and ensures continuity of care.

In addition to her private practice, she maintains a strong commitment to expanding access to oral health in underserved populations. For over a decade, she has led the Monseñor Felipe Bello Foundation, through which she organizes the annual

“Donating Smiles” initiative—providing free dental services in rural areas of the Dominican Republic and Hispanic communities in South Florida.

A Career Dedicated to Service

Institutionally, BelloBurgos is an accredited member of the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry (AACD) and to date remains the only Dominican to hold this distinction. In 2024, she was admitted to the International College of Dentists (ICD), an organization that includes only 13% of dentists worldwide.

The professional defines success “as the ability to enjoy what I do, to find happiness in practicing my vocation.” Her vision also embraces an expanded notion of legacy: the impact on her closest circle. “My greatest legacy is my family. Raising responsible, committed children who understand they must contribute to collective well-being is my most important responsibility.”

In New York, Dr. Richard Peralta has established himself as a leader in the field of cardiology. As the founder of Cardiology for Life, PC, his commitment to cardiovascular health and community well-being has also positioned him as a civic leader and a voice of empowerment for the Dominican diaspora.

Born in San Francisco de Macorís, Dr. Peralta’s vocation was evident from an early age. Family and friends called him “the doctor” long before he earned the title. “I always said I wanted to be a doctor because my mother suffered from migraines, and I wanted to cure her,” he recalls. That desire to relieve pain would inspire a lifelong commitment to medicine.

Graduating Magna Cum Laude from the Universidad Católica Nordestana (UCNE), he chose to specialize in a discipline that would allow him both to save lives and to improve quality of life. In New York, he completed his residency in internal

RICHARD PERALTA, MD

Cardiologist | President, Cardiology for Life, PC

A CALLING IN CARDIOLOGY

From clinical cardiology, he has turned his vocation into a bridge of access for immigrant patients in New York.

HE HAS BEEN RECOGNIZED FOR HIS IMPACT WITH HONORS SUCH AS THE OUTSTANDING DOMINICAN ABROAD AWARD.

medicine at Bronx Lebanon Hospital Center, affiliated with Cornell, where he rose to the position of chief resident in 2014–2015. He was later admitted into the highly selective cardiology program at Montefiore Medical Center/ Albert Einstein College of Medicine, one of the most rigorous in the country. There he refined his expertise in cardiovascular disease, cardiovascular imaging, and echocardiography, ultimately earning five board certifications in the United States.

As founder and CEO of Cardiology for Life, PC, based in Haverstraw, New York, Dr. Peralta provides personalized, accessible cardiovascular care for a

diverse community. “In this practice, medicine meets humanity—delivering excellence with a personal touch,” he explains.

Science in Service of Community

Alongside his clinical work, Dr. Peralta is an active medical researcher. His studies cover critical topics in cardiology, including ventricular remodeling and the impact of hypertension across different ethnic groups. His participation in prestigious forums such as the American Heart Association and the American College of Cardiology has resulted in a strong body of scientific contributions. Among his most notable research is a pioneering study on the effectiveness of cardiac CT angiography in patients with cocaine-induced chest pain ( Circulation , 2014), which explored alternative diagnostic approaches in high-risk contexts. His work on hypertension and left ventricular remodeling in African American and Hispanic Caribbean popu-

“Some

patients have truly left a mark on me. Many are immigrants who don’t even speak the language, and I’ve served as a bridge so they can access cardiology and other specialties. Cases that once went unattended due to distance or communication barriers now receive comprehensive and dignified care.”

lations revealed significant clinical differences, paving the way for more inclusive, personalized cardiovascular care. Additional publications include studies on the role of lipoprotein(a) in peripheral arterial disease ( Annals of Translational Medicine, 2019) and on the validation of ECG criteria for detecting left ventricular hypertrophy in young patients (World Journal of Cardiology, 2017), reinforcing his profile as a physician-researcher dedicated to diagnostic precision in modern cardiology.

The Impact of a Physician on His Community

Dr. Peralta’s work has earned him wide recognition from the Latino community in New York. “Medicine is more than a profession; it is an opportunity to impact lives inside and outside the clinic,” he emphasizes. His work has earned numerous awards reflecting both professional excellence and social impact. Among

them is the Outstanding Dominican Abroad Award, presented by the Dominican government and the Institute for Dominicans Abroad (INDEX), and awarded by the president Luis Abinader.

He has also been awarded the Distinguished Service Award by the city of Haverstraw, as well as citations of merit and special recognition from the United States Congress. Additional honors have been conferred by the Rockland County Executive, the Town of Haverstraw Supervisor, and the governments of Haverstraw and West Haverstraw.

Beyond medicine, Dr. Peralta supports youth and sports programs, sponsoring baseball and basketball leagues in both New York and the Dominican Republic. This commitment has earned him recognition from organizations such as the Quisqueya Sports Club and the Tamboril Baseball Union.

For Dr. Richard Peralta,

medicine transcends diagnoses and treatments—it is a profound act of human service. “Many of my patients have left a lasting impression on me. A number of them are immigrants who don’t even speak the language. I have been a bridge for them to access cardiology and other specialties,” he says. Cases once left unattended due to distance or language barriers now receive comprehensive, dignified care. “I see patients with heart disease who stopped going to a distant cardiologist because it was too far. I evaluate them, run the tests, and I think: ‘My God, you have protected this person.’”

DOMINICANS ON THE HILL

YEAR ESTABLISHED: 2016

FUNDED BY: Congressman Adriano Espaillat

Dominicans on the Hill is an annual gathering at the U.S. Capitol that brings together Dominican political leaders, professionals, students, and activists. Created by Congressman Adriano Espaillat, the event highlights the political, economic, and cultural contributions of the Dominican community in the United States. It provides a space for dialogue on issues that directly affect the community while strengthening ties with federal institutions. Beyond the symbolism of taking up space at the heart of American political power, Dominicans on the Hill underscores the growing role of Dominicans in shaping public life across the country.

DOMINICANS ABROAD

LAW & DIPLOMACY

LEGAL MINDS SERVING JUSTICE ACROSS BORDERS

From international courts to law firms in New York and Madrid, Dominicans in law and diplomacy bring top-tier training and a global perspective. They navigate complex systems with integrity, representing both diverse communities and leading institutions. Their work extends beyond defending rights—it showcases the strength of Dominican talent in arenas where argument, ethics, and expertise come together to deliver justice.

ALEXIS COLÓN

Managing Partner, Colón & Partners

BINATIONAL VISION, GLOBAL IMPACT

Beyond offering legal solutions, he builds enduring bridges between two legal worlds.

From Santo Domingo to New York, Alexis Colón has forged a legal career that transcends borders, connects institutions, and inspires an entire generation of Dominican professionals abroad.

Educated in Business Administration at the Pontificia Universidad Católica Madre y Maestra (PUCMM) and in Law at Universidad del Caribe (UNICARIBE), he became the first graduate of the latter to be admitted to the prestigious Georgetown University Law Center and to be licensed to practice in both New York and Massachusetts—achieving a dual qualification that opened the door to a legal practice with international scope.

From Colón & Partners—a firm with offices in New York and Santo Domingo—he advises and represents companies in corporate matters, crossborder and real estate transactions, international trade, investments, trademark registrations, and civil and commercial litigation in both jurisdictions.

AS AN ATTORNEY

PRACTICING IN BOTH IN THE DR AND THE USA, HE BUILDS A LEGAL PRACTICE WITH INSTITUTIONAL AND CORPORATE IMPACT.

He has advised U.S. oncology hospitals, government trade promotion agencies, and foreign investors. He has also represented European cosmetics manufacturers, recovering their rights over trademarks valued in the millions of euros, and leading Dominican companies in registering and protecting their trademarks in the United States. In each case, he combines legal rigor with strategic vision.

In his role as Vice President of Foreign Relations for the Dominican Bar Association (DBA), Colón led the signing of six cooperation agreements with the country’s leading law schools, coordinated

four high-level institutional visits, and oversaw the donation of more than 4,000 legal books to national libraries. He is also the first Dominican to co-chair the Inter-American Affairs Committee of the New York City Bar Association, organizing its first official visit to the Dominican Republic in over a decade.

Raised by a single mother who moved to Santo Domingo to work as a domestic employee, Colón defines success as the ability to project talent beyond the limitations of one’s country of origin. “I’ve seen that success reflected in my family: from my aunt, a trusted employee of Julio Iglesias, to my cousin, an Emmy winner for her work with the Estefans,” he says.

Today, his career continues to evolve with every step. He lives a version of success rooted in excellence, transnational mobility, and a commitment to the business sector—both within and beyond the Dominican Republic.

ÁMBAR PAGAN

Founder and Executive Director, Youth, Let’s Talk

PURPOSEFUL DIPLOMACY

A young leader in public service, committed to forging ties between her two countries: the U.S. and the Dominican Republic.

As founder and executive director of Juventud, Hablemos—Youth, let’s talk, Ámbar Pagan promotes the creation of connections between Dominican university students abroad and key figures in the academic, political, and business sectors of the Dominican Republic.

Her vision is to shape young people who are committed to the country’s development—regardless of where in the world they may be—so they can contribute to its economic, social, political, and cultural progress.

The daughter of small business owners in Brooklyn, NY, Pagan began her career in Washington, D.C., as part of the legislative staff in the U.S. House of Representatives, in the office of Congresswoman Nydia Velázquez. She was only 20 years old, yet she was already drafting legislative reports on national security, foreign policy, and immigration policy, representing the congressional office in hearings, and working with U.S. govern-

“YOUTH, LET’S TALK” IS A PLATFORM COMMITTED TO DEVELOPING LEADERS WHO CAN CREATE GLOBAL IMPACT.

ment legislators, including advisors from the Biden administration, to advance reforms in border policies. She even led a meeting on the Afghan refugee crisis, representing the congresswoman’s position before civil society organizations.

A graduate in political science and law from Quinnipiac University, Pagan holds a master’s degree in international affairs from Columbia University—School of International and Public Affairs (SIPA), with a concentration in human rights and a dual specialization in United Nations studies and communication.

She served as a policy advisor at the Permanent Mission of the Dominican

Republic to the United Nations, under the direction of Ambassador José Blanco, where she worked on the Third Committee of the General Assembly, focused on social, humanitarian, and cultural issues.

One of the most memorable moments in her career was when, alongside the Dominican Students Association at Columbia University, Grupo Quisqueyano, she organized a meeting with President Luis Abinader as part of the World Leaders Forum. This space allowed highly qualified Dominican youth to participate and issue a call to action: to have a seat at the decision-making table and contribute to the country’s development.

Each of her experiences has reinforced a focus on collective impact, community connection, and the pursuit of multilateral solutions to shared challenges.

NEYVI TOLENTINO

Founder and CEO, Tolentino Abogados

THE LAWYER WHO OPENS PATHWAYS

She transforms immigration law through empathy and technology, democratizing access to justice.

With a suitcase full of questions, degrees, and a determination that could never fit on a résumé, Neyvi Tolentino arrived in Madrid, Spain. Like many migrants, she landed without guarantees—but not to simply adapt. She came to build.

When she founded Tolentino Abogados in 2012, she already knew that practicing law required more than knowing the statutes. It meant understanding the human reality behind the paperwork, the emotions behind a migration status. From that perspective, she reimagined the practice of law.

She bet on innovation when most people didn’t yet see the technological wave coming. In 2017, the Dominican attorney introduced ROBerta, the first legal robot specialized in migration. Years later, she launched ValerIA, a platform that blends artificial intelligence with real legal counsel. Both carry women’s names, almost as an extension of herself, and today they assist thou-

“MY DOMINICAN DREAM IN SPAIN IS TO BE A CHANNEL— REPRESENTING MY COUNTRY THROUGH ACTION, WITH IMPACT”.

sands of people facing complex legal situations.

But beyond offering smart tools to her clients, Tolentino’s true aspiration is to democratize access to justice. Her firm has made legal information available in more than 70 languages, breaking through longstanding language and bureaucratic barriers.

“What matters isn’t just regularizing papers, but accompanying human processes,” she insists. That principle guides her practice every day.

Before arriving in Spain, Tolentino earned her law degree at Universidad Católica de Santo Domingo. She later pursued further studies at top Spanish institutions, including IE

Business School, Universidad Complutense, and ICAM. Yet her true classroom was the journey itself: navigating public administration, working in private firms, and confronting systems that too often overlooked human dignity— until she decided to build something different.

Recognition soon followed: named one of Forbes’ “100 Most Powerful Women,” winner of the Moneytrans Immigrant Entrepreneur Award, semifinalist at the eAwards for her AI project, and recipient of the Dominican Medal of Merit for Women in 2025. Still, she doesn’t linger on accolades. Each one, she says, only raises the bar.

Today, when Tolentino looks back, she doesn’t see a summit—she sees a chain of challenges. And when she looks ahead, her focus isn’t how to grow bigger, but on how to serve better. “My Dominican dream in Spain is to be a channel. To represent my country through action. With impact.”

PATRICIA GARCÍA PANTALEÓN

Immigration, Criminal Defense, and Family Law Attorney

IN THE SERVICE OF JUSTICE

The attorney defends migrant communities with legal rigor and human commitment from New York.

Licensed to practice law in both the Dominican Republic and the state of New York, United States, Patricia García Pantaleón brings over a decade of litigation experience in areas where mistakes are rarely tolerated: immigration, criminal defense, and family law. Her firm, García Pantaleón & Associates, PC, operates from three locations—Queens, Jersey City, and Long Island—and serves a client profile for whom legal representation can mean more than just a defense: it can be an opportunity for education and empowerment.

Before founding her firm, her career included highlevel positions in Dominican public administration: she advised the Senate during the 2010 constitutional reform, coordinated litigation in cases of state electric fraud through the public company EDEESTE, and led victim assistance programs at the Office of the Prosecutor for the National District. That experience gave her a broad perspective on the

HER FIRM FOCUSES ON IMMIGRATION, CRIMINAL, AND FAMILY LAW FOR THE IMMIGRANT COMMUNITY.

rule of law—but also on its cracks. “Being able to practice my vocation with integrity, helping fellow Dominicans and Latino immigrants find justice and stability in a system that is often adversarial,” she says, “is the most honest version of my Dominican dream.”

Graduating summa cum laude from Universidad Iberoamericana (Unibe) in Santo Domingo, García Pantaleón later moved to the United States. Although the American legal system is not designed to facilitate the integration of foreigntrained lawyers, she nonetheless succeeded in validating her credentials, graduating with honors from a master’s program in

criminal law at the University of Buffalo.

“One of the most important moments in my career was when I opened my own law firm in New York,” she recalls. “That step was the culmination of years of effort, adaptation, and resilience within a legal system completely different from the one in which I was originally trained.” Since then, she has handled cases involving deportations, domestic violence, drug trafficking, and custody disputes.

Beyond the courtroom, the attorney serves as Vice President of International Affairs for the Dominican Bar Association, where she fosters connections with legal and academic institutions on both sides of the Caribbean.

However, her greatest satisfaction comes when, thanks to her intervention, clients have been able to avoid unjust deportation, obtain protective orders in domestic violence situations, or regain custody of their children.

DOMINICANS ABROAD

DIGITAL PIONEERS REDEFINING THE FUTURE

With technology as their toolkit, Dominicans around the world are creating, solving, and transforming. Some develop software used by thousands every day; others lead innovation teams in global companies or launch startups that expand across continents. As engineers, designers, and entrepreneurs, they are reshaping how the world communicates, works, and connects. They do it with talent, but also with curiosity and vision.

ELAINE MONTILLA

Chief Technology Officer, Pearson K–12 US School Assessment

TRANSFORMATION WITH PURPOSE

Her mastery of digital innovation and business strategy is redefining leadership in the tech sector.

When Elaine Montilla speaks about technology, she doesn’t do so from the cold detachment of digital infrastructure. For her, technology is a tool that connects opportunities and transforms realities.

As Chief Technology Officer (CTO) at Pearson K–12 US School Assessment, Montilla leads the digital strategy of one of the most influential educational companies in the United States. She manages teams, drives change, and translates technology into concrete solutions that impact thousands of students. With a budget of $60 million and a team of 380 professionals, her mission is to ensure that technology serves people—not the other way around.

Her story isn’t told through her current success, but through the journey she’s traveled. Born and raised in the Dominican Republic, Montilla arrived in the United States with high aspirations. She studied Computer Information

WITH

MORE THAN 20 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE, MONTILLA HAS BUILT A CAREER IN TECHNOLOGY, EDUCATION, AND STRATEGIC LEADERSHIP.

Systems at the Zicklin School of Business at Baruch College (CUNY), where she also earned a master’s degree in business administration and leadership. In addition, she has specialized in artificial intelligence and digital transformation at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and in executive leadership at Cornell and Wharton.

That spirit of determination led her to serve for more than 15 years as Chief Information Officer (CIO) and Associate Vice President at the City University of New York (CUNY) Graduate Center. There, she modernized technological infrastructure, negotiated strategic contracts, and

designed systems that improved the experience of thousands of students and faculty. In short, she transformed how public education leverages technology to make it more accessible and efficient.

Montilla wasn’t content with forging her own path— she wanted to ensure that other women and minorities had the same opportunities. That’s why she founded 5xMinority, an organization dedicated to mentorship, leadership, and equity in the tech industry. Her work has made her a recognized voice at conferences like TEDx, in corporate consulting, and on numerous lists that highlight her impact in technology and leadership. Beyond titles, awards, and accolades, Elaine Montilla is a leader who understands the power of technology to change lives. Fully aware of its potential, she envisions what could be—and works every day to make it a reality in every space she inhabits.

A lawyer by training and a Fulbright scholar, Paola Santana built her path to Silicon Valley from a desk at the Dominican Republic’s Central Electoral Board. Her journey from public service to global innovation is rooted in the frustration of growing up in an emerging country where basic services often delivered the minimum when they should have offered the best. That critical lens drove her to focus on transforming systems that impact the many.

Her first big leap was Matternet, a startup that pioneered the use of autonomous drones to deliver medical supplies in remote areas. From there, Santana went on to help shape the first commercial drone regulations in the United States.

Today, her boldest venture is Glass, a San Francisco–based GovTech company she founded in 2017. Glass builds digital infrastructure to modernize the way governments make public purchases, with a focus on micro-pur-

PAOLA SANTANA Founder and CEO, Glass

THE PUBLIC VISION OF TECHNOLOGY

Her mission is to transform and streamline government procurement in the United States.

HER SOLUTIONS ALLOW GOVERNMENTS TO BUY, DELIVER, AND STAY ACCOUNTABLE WITH STARTUPLEVEL AGILITY.

chases under $10,000 — a market worth more than $600 billion annually in the U.S. and up to $4 trillion globally.

Through products like G-Commerce — a marketplace of verified vendors — and Glass Pay — a payments system designed for the public sector — the company has enabled more than 121 federal, state and local agencies to adopt its platforms. Together, they have processed more than 5.9 million products, delivered up to 33% budget efficiencies and achieved 16,000% growth in government users in just 12 months. With $3.3 million in accumulated investment and sixfold revenue growth in

the past two years, Glass is now among the companies authorized by the U.S. General Services Administration for its government credit card purchasing program. Most recently, Santana launched Mercadito, the first government e-commerce platform in Spanish, in partnership with the government of Puerto Rico.

The Dominican lawyer describes her work as a balance between the speed of Silicon Valley and the capacity of governments to adopt changes in real time. That tension, she says, is one of the greatest challenges in building technology for public administration.

Santana has never lost sight of what it means to be Dominican. Growing up in an environment of scarcity gives her the perspective to challenge Silicon Valley’s logic and insist that innovation should not be a privilege for the few but a driver of social transformation.

RAYDE LUIS BÁEZ

Founder, The Connect and SPORTHINK

SPORTS INDUSTRY CONNECTOR

A Dominican who bridges sports and entertainment to connect brands, audiences, and cultures.

With a career spanning nearly two decades at the intersection of sports, entertainment, technology, and investment, Rayde Luis Báez has become a leading figure in forging high-impact strategic partnerships for top-tier brands, media outlets, and sports organizations.

Based in Spain with a global reach, Báez founded The Connect, a firm that designs commercial partnerships to amplify brand relevance in sports and entertainment. He also leads SPORTHINK, a consultancy specializing in strategic advisory and business model structuring within the industry.

The expert serves on high-level advisory boards such as the World Football Summit and the Alumni Advisory Board of the UPF Barcelona School of Management, where he contributes to the evolution of sports and entertainment in the global economy.

Markets and Cultures

For Báez—whose family legacy includes his uncle,

THROUGH HIS WORK, RAYDE LUIS BÁEZ AMPLIFIES THE IMPACT OF SPORTS BRANDS ON A GLOBAL STAGE.

Dominican basketball legend Héctor Báez— sports and entertainment are platforms for connecting brands, audiences, and cultures. This approach has shaped projects with ESPN, Turkish Airlines, adidas, Rakuten, the New York Yankees, and Palladium Hotel Group.

At Euroleague Basketball, first as an executive and later as a strategic advisor, he played a key role in its commercial and digital transformation. Among various milestones, he co-led the global sales and sponsorship strategy, consolidated strategic alliances, and co-produced “ESPN Basketball Capitals presented by Turkish Airlines,” a documentary

that reached over 100 million households across EMEA and earned a Bronze Clio Award.

He also spearheaded the league’s digital modernization with a commercial vision, expanding its reach to 800 million people. More recently, he helped deploy the strategy that preserved over 60% of revenues following the pandemic.

“My greatest contribution has been challenging the traditional view of sports and entertainment and opening access to new opportunities in emerging markets across the globe,” Báez emphasizes.

Today, after solidifying his impact in Europe, his new mission is to bring the opportunities and access he has built globally back to his native Dominican Republic. “My mission is to turn our country into a business hub within the global sports and entertainment industry, always grounded in the unwavering principles instilled in me by my parents, Rafael and Daysi, and at Colegio Dominicano De La Salle.”

STEPHANIE NUESI Finance, Data & Strategy Analyst, Google

FROM LOS MAMEYES TO GOOGLE

She proves that talent can come from anywhere and paves the way for new generations of professionals.

F rom a young age, Stephanie Nuesi knew her voice had a purpose. She grew up in Los Mameyes, Santo Domingo Este, in a hardworking family where civic values, perseverance, and ambition coexisted with everyday routines. At age 16, she immigrated to New York with her mother, facing the language barrier head-on.

Today, at just 24 years old, she works at Google as a Finance, Data & Strategy Analyst within the Core Engineering team and leads her own social enterprise, Max Up—a career guidance platform that impacts thousands of Latinos around the world.

Stephanie studied at Baruch College, graduating Magna Cum Laude in Business Administration with a focus on Accounting, Information Technology, and Social Responsibility. She was later accepted into selective programs such as Harvard’s SVMP (Summer Venture in Management Program) and earned certifications in Digital Transformation

FROM GOOGLE AND MAX UP, SHE BUILDS BRIDGES BETWEEN YOUNG TALENT AND LEADERSHIP SPACES.

and AI & Machine Learning from MIT.

Her career in the tech sector was shaped by high-level internships at firms like PwC, Deloitte, JPMorgan Chase, and ultimately Google, where she was selected as a BOLD Finance Intern on the Devices & Services team in 2021. There, she contributed to complex projects such as financial system migrations, data flow automation using SQL, and the implementation of SOX controls to enhance accounting accuracy and reduce regulatory risks. Her performance earned her a full-time job offer, starting in YouTube Finance and later advancing to the Core

Engineering Finance team.

In her current role, Stephanie takes part in strategic decisions for the engineering teams that build the technical infrastructure behind the company’s flagship products. She also serves as vice president of the financial chapter of HOLA, Google’s Hispanic employee network.

In parallel, the Dominican professional has built an ecosystem of content, tools, and services through Max Up, the company she founded in 2019, which provides accessible resources and career guidance to students and young professionals—especially Latinos and first-generation immigrants.

For Stephanie, her experience as a Latina woman in tech is both a responsibility and a commitment to support other young people who, like her, aspire to lead and thrive in leadership spaces.

DOMINICAN WEEK IN THE UNITED KINGDOM

YEAR ESTABLISHED: 2012

ORGANIZED BY: BRITISH CHAMBER OF COMMERCE OF THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC (BRITCHAM)

Dominican Week in the United Kingdom, organized by the British Chamber of Commerce of the Dominican Republic (Britcham), serves as a strategic platform to strengthen bilateral ties and showcase the country’s potential on a key international stage. The event promotes trade, investment, and cultural exchange between both nations through business forums, institutional meetings, and activities that highlight Dominican identity. With Britcham’s support, the initiative reinforces the Dominican Republic’s positioning as a reliable partner for the United Kingdom while opening new opportunities for business, tourism, and the visibility of the Dominican community in Europe.

DOMINICANS ABROAD

CULTURAL CENTERS AND ASSOCIATIONS

Alianza Dominicana

Cultural Center

Founded: 1989

Located in Washington Heights, New York, this multidisciplinary cultural center promotes Dominican and Latin American arts. It was created by the community organization Alianza Dominicana to provide services and cultural development to Dominican and Latino residents. Its mission is to produce and promote literary, performing, and visual arts programs; support and strengthen cultural institutions in Washington Heights and Inwood; and serve as a home for local artists committed to enriching community life through art.

Services

Free classes in computer literacy, visual arts, folkloric and popular dance, Afro-Latin percussion, as well as literary talks, concerts, and theater performances.

Contact

Address 530 West 166th Street, New York, NY, 10032

Phone number (917) 242-0811

Website cccsny.org

Social media

FB / IG @ADCC530

United Bodegas of America (UBA)

Founded: 2018

UBA was launched in New York by Dominican bodega owners to advocate for their safety and interests in the United States. It represents its members in the fight for fair retail conditions and investment opportunities, while developing initiatives to support the growth of bodegas and small businesses. Its motto, “United We Are More,” reflects the collective voice of bodegueros before authorities and the industry.

Services

Business development programs, training and certifications for store management, and partnerships with banks and institutions to facilitate financing.

Contact

Address 3840 9th Avenue, Suite 2, New York, NY, 10034

Phone number (929) 300-3180

Website unitedbodegasofamerica.net

Social media

FB / IG @unitedbodegasofficial

United States Bodega Association (Asobeu)

Founded: 2007

This group brings together mostly Dominican bodega (corner store) owners in New York and other U.S. cities to defend their rights and commercial interests. It was created to unify store owners and represent them before authorities, especially on regulatory matters such as licensing, fines, and safety. The association promotes profitability and sustainability for bodegas, while offering legal guidance and collective advocacy against adverse measures.

Services

Training for store owners on municipal regulations to help them avoid penalties.

Contact

Address 707 West 180th Street, Suite 2D, New York, NY, 10033

Phone number (917) 828-0595

Bodega and Small Business Group (BSBG)

Founded: 2021

Led by Dominican entrepreneur Frank Marte, BSBG unites thousands of Dominican bodega and retail business owners in New York City, giving them representation and a voice in the city’s economic and social landscape. The association advocates for policies that benefit small businesses and promotes the economic inclusion of immigrant entrepreneurs.

Services

Press conferences, forums, and demonstrations in support of public policies that favor Latino small business owners (including positions on safety and immigration).

Contact

Address 382 E. 205th St., Bronx, NY, 10467

Phone number (347) 734-5559

Website bodegasmallbusiness.com

Social media IG @bsbgbodega

Association of Dominican Architects in New York (ADANY)

Founded: 2007

ADANY is a nonprofit (501c3) association for Dominican and Latin American architects in New York. It supports the professional integration of its members by providing tools, guidance, and resources to help them obtain licenses and practice successfully in the U.S. Its purpose is to organize and promote the professional development of architects of all nationalities based in the U.S. through courses, conferences, and activities that prepare them for licensing.

Services

Technical English courses for architects, workshops on building codes and construction regulations, and preparation for licensing exams.

Contact

Address 519 W. 189th St., NY, NY, 10040

Phone number (212) 994-6060

Email info@adanyassociation.com

Website adanyassociation.org

Social media IG @adcc530

Association of Dominican-American Supervisors and Administrators, Inc. (ADASA)

Founded: 2001

ADASA unites Dominican educators serving as school supervisors and administrators in New York City. Its mission is to build and sustain a professional community of Dominican-American leaders who advocate for equitable educational opportunities for all students, with a special focus on immigrant populations.

Services

Professional development sessions, forums, panels, and conferences to strengthen leadership among members and aspiring supervisors.

Contact Website adasa.org

Social media IG @adasanyofficial

Dominican Chamber of Commerce Abroad (CCDEX)

Founded: 2022

The Dominican Chamber of Commerce Abroad (CCDEX) is the first Dominican chamber of commerce established outside the country, with headquarters in California and international reach. Incorporated in the state of California, its mission is to drive the growth and success of Dominican-American and Latino businesses abroad, creating positive impact in local communities.

At its core, CCDEX is a platform that connects Dominican entrepreneurs in the diaspora, promotes bilateral trade and investment between the United States and the Dominican Republic, and highlights the business contributions of the Dominican community.

Services

Tiered memberships with exclusive benefits, including access to a global network of contacts, participation in training events, and personalized consulting to expand business operations.

Contact Address 98834 Reseda Blvd, Suite 118, Northridge, CA, 91324

hone number (818) 370-1288

Email info@ccdomex.org.

Website ccdomex.org

Social media IG @ccdomex

New York Women’s Chamber of Commerce (NYWCC)

Founded: 2002

The New York Women’s Chamber of Commerce is a nonprofit organization founded by Dominican entrepreneur Quenia Abreu. It has grown into the most influential women’s chamber of commerce in New York City, actively advocating for women entrepreneurs at the municipal, state, and corporate levels.

Its mission is to advance the economic empowerment of women, especially Latinas and immigrants, by creating equitable business opportunities and fostering an environment where women-owned companies can thrive.

Services

Business counseling and training for entrepreneurs, from business planning and marketing to financing access. The chamber also operates a Women’s Business Center.

Contact Address 1524 Amsterdam Avenue, New York, NY, 10031

Phone number (212) 491-9640

Email info@nywcc.org

Website nywcc.org

Social media

FB / IG @NYWomensChamber

Dominican Artists Collective (DAC)

Founded: 2019

The Dominican Artists Collective is a multidisciplinary art group based primarily in New York’s Bronx and Harlem neighborhoods. Its mission is to dismantle systemic oppression through art while uplifting Dominican identity. The collective provides a platform for Afro-Latino voices through exhibitions, workshops, residencies, and safe spaces for artistic expression.

Services

Community and collaborative exhibitions, plus free virtual workshops led by industry professionals.

Contact

Website dominicanartistscollective.org

Social media IG @dominicanartistscollective

Dominican American Chamber of Commerce (DAChamber)

Founded: 2022

Headquartered in New York, the Dominican American Chamber of Commerce builds bridges between Dominican and U.S. businesses by offering networking platforms, advisory services, and investment opportunities.

Services

Business networking and connection events (such as the DADA Awards), international trade advisory, investment promotion, and workshops for small and mid-sized businesses.

Contact

Address 3835 9th Avenue, New York, NY, 10034

Phone number (212) 942-8258

Website dachamber.org

Email info@dachamber.org

Dominican Health Care Association of Florida (DOHCAF)

Founded: 1999

The Dominican Health Care Association of Florida brings together Dominican health professionals across Florida with the mission of improving the quality of life of Latino communities through medical, educational, and social support programs.

Services

Community medical brigades, training seminars, professional networking, and prevention programs.

Contact

Phone number (347) 575-5677

Website dohcaf.org

Social media IG @dohcaf

Dominican Bar Association (DBA)

Founded: 1990

The Dominican Bar Association is an organization of legal professionals and students working to increase Dominican and Latino representation in leadership roles within the U.S. legal field. Originally founded in New York as the American Society of Dominican Attorneys, the DBA has grown into a key platform for professional advancement.

Services

Mentorship programs, community legal workshops, youth education initiatives, and a platform to project and support the Latino legal community.

Contact

Address 73 Market St., Yonkers, NY, 10710

Website dominicanbarassociation.org

Email dominicanbarassoc@gmail.com

Social media IG @dominicanbarassoc FB @DominicanBarAssociacion

Dominican Women’s Development Center (DWDC)

Founded: 1988

Based in New York, the Dominican Women’s Development Center is one of the strongest community organizations serving Dominican and Latina women. It offers comprehensive services that span education, health, and gender-violence prevention.

Services

Mental health programs, domestic violence support, child development programs, and economic empowerment services.

Contact Address 519 W. 189th St, New York, NY, 10040

Phone number (212) 994-6060

Website dwdc.org

Dominicanos USA (DUSA)

Founded: 2013

Dominicanos USA is a nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering Dominican and Latino communities across the United States through civic engagement, education, and access to resources. It has played a key role in voter registration drives and community campaigns.

Services

Voter registration, civic education, community workshops, and leadership programs.

Contact

Phone number (718) 665-0400

Email contact@dominicanosusa.org

Website dominicanosusa.org

Dominicans on Wall Street (DOWS)

Founded: 1997

Dominicans on Wall Street works to build bridges between the Dominican Republic, the United States, and international financial markets. It also serves as a forum for discussion on cross-border investments, finance, and legal issues relevant to both countries.

Services

Professional mentoring, investment forums, and financial education programs.

Contact

Email info@dominicansonwallstreet.org

Website dominicansonwallstreet. org

Dominican Association of Washington State

Founded: 1997

The Dominican Association of Washington State was created to improve the quality of life of Dominican and Latino communities in the region. Its mission is to connect and strengthen ties between Washington state and the Dominican Republic.

Services

Job training, entrepreneurship and business development, immigration and legal services, citizenship classes, and youth programs.

Contact

Phone number (206) 409-5167

Website dominicanwashingtonstate.org

Email info@dominicanwashingtonstate.org

Global Foundation for Democracy and Development (GFDD)

Founded: 2002

The Global Foundation for Democracy and Development is the U.S. affiliate of Funglode, with offices in Washington, D.C., New York, and Florida. Its mission is to promote research, policy dialogue, social and economic development, and stronger ties between the Dominican Republic and the United States.

Services

Conferences, publications, film festivals, scholarships, and academic exchange programs.

Contact

Website globalfoundationdd.org Social media IG @gfddorg

National Supermarket Association (NSA)

Founded: 1989

The National Supermarket Association represents independent supermarket owners—mostly Dominican and Latino—operating in New York and other U.S. cities. It was created to amplify the voice of small business owners in the food retail sector.

Services

Industry representation, food trade fairs, supermarket management training, and community support programs.

Contact

Address 30-50 Whitestone Expressway, Suite 301, Flushing, NY, 11354

Phone number (718) 747-2860

Email denise.diaz@nsaglobal.org

Website nsaglobal.org

DOMINICANS ABROAD

Directory

BEST OF DR: DOMINICANS ABROAD WEBSITE

Albania Rosario fdla.com

Alexis Colón colonandpartners.com

Ámbar Pagan

Amelia Santos-Paulino

Cira Ángeles lariverside.com

Dayanny de la Cruz quimerafood.com

Elsie M. Taveras, MPH

Dr. Edgar Reynoso Vanderhorst

Elaine Montilla 5xminority.com

Emely Rosaura Duvergé rumbocanada.com

Evianny de los Santos evinterexpert.com

Francisco J. Díaz, MD

Hiram Miguel Arnaud volarfinancial.com

Iris Violeta Rijo Matos

Jean Santelises j7.design

Jesenia De Moya Correa jeseniademoyacorrea.com

Judith Maduro

Julissa Álvarez julissaalvarez.com

Katherine Pesantes and Paulette Noboa dominicansistersclub.com

Manuel De Peña

Manuel Medrano thebridgecareerconsulting.com

María Jacobo, PhD mariajacobo.org

Mariano Sanz and Alexander Schachter kiwicredito.com

Maritza Abreu pisqueya.com

EMAIL

info@fdla.co

@albaniarosarioofficial

@fashiondesignersoflatinamerica acolon@caplegal.do

@colonpartners

LI: Colón & Partners 18pagana@gmail.com

Ambar Pagan

IG: @juventudhablemos amelia.santos-paulino@unctad.org

ciraangeles@lariverside.com

dayannydelacruz@quimerafood.com

etaveras@mgb.org

edgar.rhorst@gmail.com

5xminority@gmail.com

info@rumbocanada.com

evianny.valenzuela@gmail.com

francisco.diaz@dc.gov

info@volarfinancial.com / hiram.arnaud@volarfinancial.com

irisrijo@outlook.com

jean@j7.design

jeseniademoyacorrea@gmail.com

info@judithmaduro.com

julissa.alvarezdiaz@gmail.com

kpesantes@dominicansistersclub.com

paulettenoboa@icloud.com

Amelia U. Santos-Paulino

Cira Angeles

@judithmadurotumentora

@brimelaUSA

/ LI: @katherinepesantess

/ LI: @paulettenoboa mdepena@bradescobank.com

manuel@thebridgecs.com

mariajacobo@me.com

mariano@kiwicredito.com / alexander@kiwicredito.com

maritza@pisqueya.com

Manuel De Peña

@thebridgecareerconsulting

/ FB / LI: @mariajacobo

/ FB: @KiwiCredito

/ TT: @pisqueya

DOMINICANS ABROAD

Directory

BEST OF DR: DOMINICANS ABROAD WEBSITE

Maritza Acevedo gifinas.com

Merijoel Durán

Dr. Miguel Ángel Ariza Prota

Mino Lora thepeoplestheatre.org

Mónica Dorvil-Bello, MD mibsurgery.com / welbeauty.com

Neyvi Tolentino tolentinoabogados.com

Patricia Bonilla patriciabonilla.com lunaconcorp.com

Patricia García Pantaleón garciapantaleon.com

Pedro McDougal, MD, FACP kaizenclinicalpartners.com

Pedro Mendoza luzendadevelopment.com travieso.do

Dra. Raquel Fernández De Castro fercasy.com

Rayde Luis Báez theconnect.co

Richard Peralta, MD

Seny Taveras somosnewyork.org

Stephanie Cabral cabralgroupteam.com stephanie-cabral.com

Teresa Bello-Burgos, DMD, AAACD belloburgos.com

Wilna Rodríguez cementandwood.com

EMAIL

lasgifinas@gmail.com IG: @gifinasofficial 140 merijoeld@gmail.com IG / LI: @merijoelduran 89 arizamiguel@hotmail.com

IG: @drmiguelariza 149 mino@peoplestheatreproject.org

IG: @minolora 84

IG: @thepeoplestheatrenyc drmonicabello@mibsurgery.com

IG: @drmonicabello 150

IG: @mibsurgery @welbeautyusa neyvi@tolentinoabogados.com

IG / LI / FB / YT: Tolentino Abogados 132 pbonilla@lunaconcorp.com IG / FB: Patricia Bonilla Mentor 93 pgarciapantalenton@gmail.com

IG: @garciapantaleonlaw

FB: García Pantaleón & Assoc. pmcdougal@kaizenclinicalpartners.com

info@luzendadevelopment.com

IG: @luzenda-development 94 pmendozabautista@gmail.com raquel.fercasy@gmail.com IG: @dr.fercasy

IG: @clinicafercasy rlbaez@theconnect.co IG / X: @RaydeLuisBT

dr.richardperalta@hotmail.com IG: @dr.richardperalta 154 staveras@gmail.com

LI: Seny T. 111 info@cabralgrouprealty.com

IG: @cabralgroupteam 96

FB: The Cabral Group Team

IG: @stephaniecabralnoboa belloburgos@bellsouth.net

IG: @drbelloburgos 153 w@cementandwood.com

IG: @cementandwood 97

DOMINICANS ABROAD

BOOKS

OCTOBER 2025

Best of DR: Dominicans Abroad® is an editorial product by Mercado Media Network, through its division Mercado Books.

October 2025

Image credits: Personal and corporate archives of the participants, plus the graphic archives of Mercado Media Network.

Best of DR: Dominicans Abroad® serves as a reference guide to explore the profiles and initiatives of Dominican professionals abroad.

Best of DR: Dominicans Abroad® is a registered trademark under Dominican Republic Industrial Property Law 20-00. Mercado Media Network, SRL — a company incorporated under Law 479-08 on Corporations and Limited Liability Companies — is dedicated to publishing specialized communication media. All reasonable efforts were made to ensure accuracy up to the date of printing. No part of this publication may be reproduced, in whole or in part, without prior authorization from Mercado Media Network, SRL. The company is not responsible for any errors, omissions, or consequences arising from the information provided.

DOMINICANS ABROAD

DOMINICANS ABROAD