Celia Star Event - Digital Program - by Statewide Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of NJ

The Barrymore Film Center

OurMission:TheBarrymoreFilm Centerisanot-for-profit educationalandcultural institutiondedicatedto presentingclassicrepertoryfilms, documentaries,independent moviesandworld-widecinema promoting21stCentury filmmakingthroughtheprismof FortLee'sroleastheBirthplaceof theAmericanMotionPicture Industry.

Por más de medio siglo, la irrepetible Celia Cruz nos deleitó con su talento,sualegríaysuinconfundiblevoz.Sulegadomusical,aligualque suinconfundiblevoz,recorrendíaadíaloscincocontinentesatravésde un centenar de grabaciones que ella popularizó durante su extensa carrera.

La Reina de la Salsa logró llevar su título con clase y distinción y recibió más de 100 reconocimientos mundiales, múltiples Discos de Oro y Platino, tres premios GRAMMY®, cuatro premios Latin GRAMMY®, una estrella en el Paseo de la Fama de Hollywood, un reconocimiento de El Fondo Nacional de las Artes, así como un Doctorado en Música por la Universidad de Yale, la Universidad de Miami y la Universidad Internacional de la Florida. Su ilimitado entusiasmo, genuino carisma, y profunda sensibilidad humana hicieron de Celia Cruz una de las más veneradas estrella de la industria musical, y definitivamente la embajadoramásimportantedelaculturahispanaenelmundo. Celia Cruz no sólo trascendió los límites geográficos y las barreras idiomáticas, sino que le regaló al mundo cientos de canciones que son partedelabandasonoradenuestrasvidas.

Event Sponsor

Bank of America is supporting “The Celia Project,” produced by the Statewide Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of NJ, throughout 2025 to celebrateCeliaCruz’scentennial.Theinitiativeincludesdynamiccultural events like gallery pop-ups with local artists paying homage to Celia Cruz’sspiritandartisticdisplaystorecognizethebelovedsinger'simpact onNewJersey.

Representing the bank is Alberto Garofalo, president, Bank of America New Jersey. In this capacity, he serves as the enterprise leader, leading integration of Bank of America’s business lines to ensure delivery of the full breadth and depth of the bank’s global financial services to more individuals and businesses locally. He also oversees the bank’s local corporate and social responsibility activities, including philanthropic giving, community development lending and investing, environmental initiatives,artsandcultureprojects,andemployeevolunteerismformore than10,000associatesacrossNJ.

Mistress of Ceremonies

Olga Merediz is an award-winning actor and humanitarian with a four-decadecareer.RenownedforherroleasAbuelaClaudiainthe Jon M. Chu screen adaptation of the musical “In the Heights,” she originatedtheroleonBroadway,earningaTonynominationin2008, a 2007 Drama Desk Award, and a Hola Award for her Off-Broadway performance.

Recently Olga co-starred as Joanne in the Amazon Prime feature “SomebodyIUsedtoKnow.”Asanindemandvoiceoverartist,Olga recently voiced the role of The General in the Netflix animated feature“Spellbound,”andlenthersingingvoicetotheroleofAbuela Alma in Disney’s “Encanto.” Olga will next co-star in the A24 film “Eternity.”

Speaker Omer Pardillo-Cid

Omer Pardillo Cid is a renowned talent manager and producer known for his contributions to preserving the legacy of Latin music icon Celia Cruz. In 2002, he founded the Celia Cruz Foundation, a non-profit organization that provides scholarships for music studentsandensurestheQueenofSalsa’slegacyendures.

In 2006, Pardillo became the Vice President of Entertainment for Loud & Live, further expanding his influence in the industry. He also hosts a weekly radio show, "Azúcar", on SiriusXM, celebrating the legacyofCeliaCruzthroughNationalLatinoBroadcastingLLC.

Pardillo has earned numerous accolades for his work, including a Latin Grammy in 2011 for producing Cachao: The Last Mambo, a Grammy Award in 2012, and most recently in 2024 for 100 Anos de Azucar. He was also awarded an Emmy for a special dedicated to CeliaCruz.

As Celia Cruz’s manager during the final ten years of her career, Pardillo now serves as the executor of her estate, dedicated to preserving her legacy and promoting her enduring impact on Latin music.

Executor,CeliaCruzEstate

Speaker Luis De La Hoz

SHCCNJChairman

Luis De La Hoz is First Vice President, Regional Director Community Lending NJ at Valley Bank and is responsible for helping local small and mid-sized businesses with their financial needs. He also works with business to develop strategies for growth, with particular emphasis in supportingorganizationswithLatinoandminorityleadership.

Throughout his career De La Hoz has worked with major community involvement organization and other groups in various leadership roles. He is the Chairman of the Board of Directors of New Jersey Statewide Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (NJ-SHCC), the largest Chamber of Commerce by membership in the state. New Jersey BNI Hawks Chapter, Chairman of the Hispanic Small Business Council, Business Track Coordinator-LatinosinSocialMediaConference,andBoardMemberof MiddlesexCountyWorkforceDevelopment.

Prior to joining Valley, De La Hoz was VP Community Business DevelopmentBCBBank,SeniorVPofLendingwithTheIntersectFundand a manager at MarMar, LLC, providing personal income tax firm servicing low- and moderate-income families in the community. He is an active media commentator and a top social-media influencer in the Hispanic community, resulting in recurring guest spots on Univision, NJTV, and severalradioprograms.

Speaker Carlos Medina

Carlos Medina is a Graduate of Rutgers Newark and Rutgers Law School Newark. He is the President of a firm, with a long and rich history in New Jersey, Robinson Aerial, Inc., specializing in mapping andengineering.

An advocate for volunteerism, Mr. Medina also serves on various non-profitboards

In January 2019, Mr. Medina became President and CEO of the Statewide Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of New Jersey (SHCCNJ),havingservedasChairmansince2012.

The SHCCNJ is the voice of the 119,000 Hispanic-owned businesses inNewJerseythatcontributeover$20billionannuallytotheState’s economy. To raise awareness, and promote diversity in entrepreneurship, Mr. Medina regularly discusses issues important to the members of SHCCNJ and the business community, during appearancesonvariousTVNetworksincludingABC7,WWOR9and NJTV.

Speaker Senate Majority Leader Teresa Ruiz

In 2007, SenatorRuiz made history as the first Puerto Rican elected to the Senate and has since been re-elected five times. Currently servingasSenateMajorityLeader,sheisthehighest-rankingLatina legislator in state history and previously chaired the Senate EducationCommittee.Throughouthertenure,shehaschampioned equity in education, leading efforts to expand access to early childhood education statewide, eliminate the reduced category in the federal free and reduced meal program, and ensure all eligible studentsreceivebreakfastandlunchatnocost.

She has also spearheaded laws to increase diversity within school curriculums, strengthen the Amistad Commission, and supported theestablishmentoftheCommissiononAsianAmericanHeritagein the Department of Education to incorporate Asian American contributions into education. As the prime sponsor of the Latino & Hispanic Heritage Commission, Senator Ruiz has further amplified her dedication to celebrating and preserving the rich heritage of Latino and Hispanic communities, fostering representation and culturalpridethroughoutthestate.

Speaker

Assemblyman Clinton Calabrese, District 36

Assemblyman Clinton Calabrese proudly represents New Jersey’s 36th Legislative District in the General Assembly, serving the municipalitiesofCarlstadt,CliffsidePark,EastRutherford,Edgewater, Fairview, Lyndhurst, North Arlington, Passaic, Ridgefield, Rutherford, Wallington,andWood-Ridge.

First appointed to the Assembly in February 2018, he won a special electionlaterthatyearandhasbeenreelectedineverysubsequent election.

Assemblyman Calabrese currently serves as Chair of the Assembly Transportation and Independent Authorities Committee and Vice ChairoftheAssemblyTourism,Gaming,andtheArtsCommittee.He isalsotheSpeaker’sappointeetotheEducationCommissionofthe StatesandtheIntergovernmentalRelationsCommission,aswellas a member of both the bipartisan New Jersey Legislative Manufacturing Caucus and the New Jersey Legislative Disability Caucus.