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The Hispanic Vote > Blog

David Adorno

Marketer. Consultant. Mentor.

As a young graffiti artist, I saw and interpreted life in a different light than others. I turned my art into graphic design, which lead to web design, web development, ad management, copywriting, blogging, SEO, etc. Although I was quick to embrace advancements in technologies and ideologies, these new skills were a result of employers hesitation to fund marketing. If I wanted it, I had to do it myself.  Looking back, it was a blessing in disguise.

Fast forward – I’ve worked with some incredible organizations like Harley-Davidson, American Express, Macys, and iHeartRadio. Through the years, I’ve managed hundreds of millions in ad-spend internationally. Along the way, relationships sparked with talented individuals and companies in every stage of life across the globe. They’re more than just resources. They’re a testament to my core values. I am a relationship marketer, through and through.

I pride myself in being a hands-on consultant. There’s tremendous value in demonstrating and teaching the why and how of getting results – not just the what. Transparency has the power to create long-lasting impact on people and organizations. For everyone to succeed, I must enable and empower organizations and teams to win, and I will be there to celebrate with you when you do.

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Yisbel Bera Damiron

“I believe that everyone deserves to be a homeowner, everyone must be treated the same, my favorite part of my business is making homeownership possible thru my skills and knowledge” Real Estate licensed in the State of Florida. Bachelor Degree in Business Management and Marketing, an associate degree in Computer Programming. Founder of Kingdom Group (a group of Real Estate Professionals), Founder of a Marketing company. 

One of my business core value is God first, family second; my goal is to leave a legacy for my children and family by continuing to build my business with principles and values.

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Vanessa M. Chaviano

As the founder and CEO of LIV Digital Marketing, a full-service boutique marketing and advertising agency, Vanessa M. Chaviano brings more than 18 years of experience in marketing and business operations to her agency. She also delivers that same commitment when it comes to serving her local community. Vanessa earned a double bachelor’s degree before then pursuing her master’s degree in Criminal Justice & Forensics at Florida Gulf Coast University. Later on in her career, she added a master’s in Business Administration with a focus on Organizational Leadership from Ashford University. 

 

Vanessa has been named one of Gulfshore Business Magazine’s 40 under 40 for 2020 while also earning such distinctions as Women of Distinction Non-Profit Leader Finalist for 2021, Rotary of Cape Coral Rookie of the Year for 2020-2021, and Florida Gulf Coast University SBDC Distinguished Entrepreneur Finalist for 2022. She is the founder of the local Leading Latina non-profit organization. Its focus is to advance and promote both the personal and professional growth and leadership of its members and women within the Hispanic community. Vanessa currently serves as the Public Image Chair for the Rotary Club of Cape Coral, a Lee County MPO Citizens Advisory Committee member, President of Leading Latina, and Media & Communications Board Member for her daughter’s school PTO.

 

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Blanca B Contreras

Born in Habana Cuba, Blanca immigrated to the USA at the age of seven along with her mom as her dad, a chef for the Cuban Nat’l Baseball Team was not allowed to leave the country at that time. A graduate of The University of Miami in Business Management her career path has taken her from an Admin for several VP’s to a Human Resources manager and finally back to her sales roots with a Real Estate Broker’s License and 20+ years with Century 21 in SW Florida.

She made the move to Lee County in 1998 where she continues her community involvement. Among many of the organizations she has volunteered with Blanca has served as a Clerk for Lee County Elections, board member for Freedom & Virtue Institute and Kiwanis of Cape Coral. She is Chair for the City of Cape Coral Attainable Housing Advisory Committee.

Blanca is a founding member of the Hispanic Vote.

 

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Guido Minaya, MBA, Ed.D.

 CEO & Chief Learning Officer, Minaya Learning Global Solutions LLC. Minaya Learning Global Solutions has core competencies in select areas of corporate education and training including: learning strategy development, global/international/national training operations, blended learning delivery, outsourcing, blended learning content design, performance-based learning, call center performance improvement, job skills development, management, leadership development and 21st Century Project-based/Social Learning platform solutions.

With proven practices and tools developed over the past 20 years, the firm leverages the national and multi-national experiences, knowledge and education of Dr. Guido Minaya and Susan Minaya, M.Ed.

Minaya Learning Global Solutions has worked directly with clients such as American Express, USAA, Lee Healthy, Restaurant Brands International, The Training Associates, InfoPro Learning and Arise Virtual Solutions.

The firm has also worked with 75+ multi-national firms supporting various strategic L&D initiatives.

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Carmen Salomé

Carmen has a Masters Degree in Management and 17 years of local government experience that includes community affairs, budgeting and working for two Lee County Commissioners.

Carmen moved to Cape Coral 13 years ago and has volunteered on citizen boards and committees to include:  News-Press Editorial Board, Cape Coral Charter Review, Community Development Block Grant, Minority Affairs and many others.

A “servant leader” Carmen started a successful General Education Diploma (GED) ministry at her church and under her seven year leadership more than 24 adults received their GED some going on to college.  In 2016 Carmen ran for Lee County Supervisor of Elections and was the only candidate in that race to qualify for the ballot by collecting the required 4500 signatures countywide.

She is a founding member (2018) of the Hispanic Vote of SWFL and served as 2019-2020 Chairwoman.

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Rafael Lopez

Rafael Lopez was born in Havana, Cuba and came to the United States as a young child, in 1962.  Rafael grew up in Dade County and moved to Broward County in 1990.  He has been married for 34 years.

He is a veteran of the United States Armed Forces and was honorably discharged from the United States Marine Corps.  

Rafael holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice from Florida International University. He is also a graduate of the Southern Police Institute’s, 22nd Command Officer’s Development Program and Nova Southeastern University’s, Institute for Criminal Justice Studies, 14thExecutive Leadership Program.

He started his law enforcement career in 1979 with the North Miami Beach Police Department and worked there until 1990.  He was recruited by MasterCard International, as an International Security Officer.  His region included the Southeast United States, South and Central America, and the Caribbean.  He was hired by the Cooper City Police Department in 1994 and the department merged with the Broward County Sheriff’s Office, in 2004.  He retired, as a Lieutenant, in 2015, after 33 years of Law Enforcement service.

Rafael has been involved with many professional and community organizations throughout his career:  ASPIRA of Florida, Broward County Diversity Advisory Council, Broward Schools ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) Leadership Council, Collier-Lee Honor Flight, Cuban-Americans for a Better Florida, Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies Coalition of Broward County, and is a Founding Member of The Hispanic Vote.

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Silvia Hasak

Silvia Hasak moved to Lee County in 1989.  She was employed with Lee County Government from1990 until her retirement in 2022.

Silvia has been very involved with the community, having previously served on the Board of Directors for the Southwest Florida Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, The Hispanic Affairs Advisory Board, Dunbar Festival Committee and the Golisano Children’s Hospital advisory board.

Silvia is the founder of the Lee County Hispanic Achievement Awards banquet and the Lee County Hispanic Hall of Fame.  She had the honor of being inducted into the Hall of Fame on October 23, 2002.

A founding member (2018) of the Hispanic Vote of SWFL, Silvia served as Treasurer until 2021.

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Michael Garcia

Michael Garcia was born in Salinas, Puerto Rico, and came to the mainland as a young child. He grew up in Brooklyn, New York, and moved to Broward County in 2003.

Michael has a successful Construction, Commercial litigation and Government Affairs Practice located in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Prior to establishing his own firm, Michael honed his litigation and advocacy skills at two prominent law firms here in South Florida, Arnstein & Lehr, LLP., and Vernis & Bowling, PA. While at Arnstein & Lehr, LLP, Michael served as the Assistant City Attorney for the Town of Southwest Ranches and City of Lauderdale Lakes. Michael has also work as Staff Counsel for Geico and has also been a Professor at Broward College Teaching Construction Law.

In addition to the work as the Chairperson of The Hispanic Vote, Michael volunteers his time with the American Lung Association (Turquoise Takeover) as an Ambassador regarding the Lung Force awareness campaign, and with the Cooper City Optimist, as a Coach. Michael has served on several Boards and Committees such as Broward County School Board Supplier Diversity Committee and the City of Plantation Education Board. 

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