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GHCC Leadership Team 2023-05-04T18:11:25-04:00

The GHCC Leadership Team

Verónica Maldonado-Torres
Verónica Maldonado-TorresPresident and CEO
Gabriela Gonzalez-Lamberson
Gabriela Gonzalez-LambersonChief Operating Officer
Norma Zúñiga-Cardoza, MPA, CNP
Norma Zúñiga-Cardoza, MPA, CNPGHCC Hispanic Business Center Executive Director
Juanita Rivera
Juanita RiveraMembership Services & Success Manager
Fabiola Rios
Fabiola RiosSales and Business Development
Suzette Bryan
Suzette BryanExecutive Membership and Experience Director
Tito I Ortiz
Tito I OrtizProgram Manager
Aliah Collado
Aliah ColladoAdmin Coordinator

GHCC Division Leadership

Alex VillanuevaPresident
HYPE
Ana Camila UrregoVice President
HYPE
Janet SevillaPresident
EME Advisory Committee
Anthony RodriguezInterim Chairman
CREAR
Socorro RodriguezLeadership
CHLI
Rich ValladaresGeneral Counsel
GHCC
Trusted by Wimgo

Verónica Maldonado-Torres is the newly appointed President and CEO of the Georgia Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. As a highly versatile and visionary Latina business owner and community leader, Verónica brings her entrepreneurial spirt and tenacity, born from over 60 years of generational entrepreneurship on both sides of her family, to the Georgia Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (GHCC). With over a decade of experience as a small business champion and supplier diversity advocate, Verónica is a catalyst of growth for both small businesses and large corporations, bringing thought-leadership and innovation to the supplier development space. She has also been an avid champion for diversity, equity, and inclusion throughout her career.

Known as the people and business accelerator, Verónica excels at building strategic alliances and fostering win-win relationships between small businesses and corporate America. Prior to joining the GHCC, Verónica successfully guided the development and growth of more than 150 firms across multiple industries ranging from $1M-$100M in annual revenue in her role as Program Director for the Georgia Mentor Protégé Connection (MPC). There, she fostered over 131 Fortune 500 corporate relationships, supported the supplier development efforts of more than 41 corporations, as well as created and produced over 85 small- to large-scale business conferences and events including the Georgia Innovation Summit. Before MPC, Verónica served as the Director of Strategic Alliances and Partnerships for the Georgia Minority Supplier Development Council (GMSDC) where she fostered partnerships among GMSDC, Minority Business Associations, chambers, and organizations focused on minority small business development in Georgia.

Verónica is also CEO and founder of VMT Consulting and creator of the DRIVEN TO THRIVE™ mindset, model, and way of living where she empowers professionals and businesses to grow, transform and thrive. Through VMT Consulting, Verónica enables small businesses to increase sales, secure long-term contracts, and maximize their growth potential by unleashing the value proposition they bring to corporate America. VMT Consulting also supports large corporations with the creation and implementation of supplier development programs, diversity and inclusion initiatives, cultural mastery trainings, and leadership development programs, with a special emphasis on women and multicultural professionals.

A passionate community leader with a desire to serve, Verónica serves as a board member for the American Heart Association, board director for “The Assembly” Community Improvement District (CID) appointed by DeKalb County, Board member of the Technology Association of Atlanta’s Business Process Management Group, board member of the Hispanic Corporate Council of Atlanta (HCCA). She is a 2016 Graduate of Leadership DeKalb’s Class of 2016.

Verónica has earned several accolades for her leadership in championing small business growth and creating community impact. She’s received the Corporate Diversity Champion Award 2021- Atlanta Business Chronicle DEI, distinction of “Top 50 Most Influential Latinos in Georgia” by the GHCC in 2018, “Diversity Star of Atlanta’ by the Diversity Professional Magazine among Fortune 500 diversity leaders, “40Under40 Atl Mover and Shaker” by the Atlanta Business Chronicle in 2017, “Keep it Moving Forward-Raising Generations” awardee by the Mary Parker Foundation in 2016, “Top 15 Georgia Latina of Excellence-Rising Star Award” recipient by LISTA in 2016, and, Community Builder Awardee – Business Sector” by GHCA in 2015, among other recognitions.

Verónica is also a highly sought-after public speaker, moderator, and frequent radio/TV guest on the subjects of small business, diversity and inclusion, servant leadership, purpose-DRIVEN living, career advancement, work/life/balance, and women empowerment. She has appeared in media such as the Atlanta Business Chronicle, Atlanta Tech Edge, Business Radio X, CIO Magazine, The Dana Barrett Show, and Diversity Inc, among others. Verónica has presented, spoken and worked with Fortune 500s and organizations such as The Coca-Cola Company, Cox Enterprises, SunTrust, Kellogg, Unilever, SC Johnson, Verizon, Fifth Third Bank, VDART’s Global Women Leadership Initiative in India, Cornell University, Kennesaw State University, Association of Latino Professionals for America (ALPFA), DeKalb Chamber, USPAACC, U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Mujeres de HACE (Hispanic Alliance for Career Advancement), GMSDC, Georgia Chamber of Commerce, University of Georgia’s Small Business Development Center’s (SBDC) Women Expo, ENRICHER Conference, 100 Female Entrepreneurs, She Leads Conference, the Avanzar Program, the Women’s Multicultural Conference, and countless others

Norma is a native of Monterrey, Mexico. However, she was brought to the U.S. at a young age and raised in the state of Georgia. She discovered her passion for serving her community after being an instrumental member in the creation and management of CETPA, a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing behavioral health services to the Latino community in Georgia. Her last role at CETPA was as Chief Operating Officer (COO), in which she was responsible in managing and directing operational and administrative functions, including information technology, finance, office management, facility and human resources.

After working there for sixteen years, Norma went back to Kennesaw State University to complete a bachelor’s degree in Human Services with a focus on Nonprofit Management and Social Innovation. Upon graduation, she began her pursuit of a Masters of Public Administration with a concentration on Nonprofit Administration and obtained it in the spring of 2020.

Norma is a Nonprofit Certified Professional (CNP) with over 19 years of experience in the nonprofit field. Her areas of expertise are in nonprofit management and administration; program development; compliance monitoring; policy development; and performance improvement.

Norma also serves as Worship Leader for a Spanish-speaking congregation in Lilburn that her husband David pastors. She is a stepmom to Nico and Bianca; and a fur-mom to a pit bull named Matty Jones.

Promoted to operations director in March 2017, Juanita handles the GHCC’s financial accounts and manages chamber events. She also oversees accounts for the GHCC affiliate Hispanic-American Center for Economic Development (HACED).

Juanita joined the GHCC in August 2002 as an administrative assistant and receptionist. Six years later, she was promoted to handle bookkeeping duties for the GHCC and HACED.

Juanita holds an associate’s degree in Business Administration from Caguas City College, in Puerto Rico. Originally from Guayama, Puerto Rico, Juanita grew up up in Caguas and her family have lived in Atlanta since 1988. Married 36 years to Isidro Rivera, she has 3 children and five grandchildren with another. She enjoys summer and watching her grandchildren play softball and baseball.

Suzette Bryan is Cuban American. She is a native of Georgia and is a graduate of Samford University. Suzette has been in sales over 25 years and enjoys connecting and building relationships through business. She loves spending time with her two girls, Savannah and Sophia. Some of her hobbies include cooking, traveling and being with family and friends. In addition, one of the things she is passionate about is empowering women through several charitable and religious organizations. Suzette is a breast cancer survivor and enjoys mentoring and providing hope to other women that are going through the journey. She is excited to join the Georgia Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.

Tito is originally from Quito-Ecuador. He is graduated in PEER Institute of Banking (Quito-Ecuador), which obtained a bachelor’s degree in Banking Administration and Management. He came to United States of America thru Fulbright Scholarship Program in order to continuing his studies in Political Economy in Spanish-American University-New York which also obtained a bachelor’s degree. He also studied in Henry George School-New York International Relationship and political science, obtained Diplomat in these areas and was a professor teaching Third World Countries issues and basics of Political Economy. Tito also graduated in Atlantic International University as a master’s degree in Political Economy and Globalization with the effects for Third World Counties. He wrote many articles in Spanish about Geopolitical situations in Latin America.

In the work environment, Tito has more than 20 years’ experience in banking, has a passion for small business banking helping and developing small business in our community growing sustainable with their finances and strategic planning growth. Also, He worked in United Nations UNDP Department learning and seeing different economic and social models implemented in third world countries. Tito is 100% bilingual in Spanish and English languages. He is a former cadet of the Navy Academy Officer’s in Ecuador (Essuna-Escuela Superior Naval), also former team member of his country, Ecuador, in Karate-Do Shotokan representing his country in some international tournaments.

His quote is: “Everyone needs a second opportunity, and I am always ready to help, guide and advise them in the right time and momentum, doing the right thing first”.