Negocios Now

www.negociosnow.com 10 Abril 2022 Age: 38 Title: CFO Name of Organization: Enriquez Produce Yadira Enriquez is the CFO of Enriquez Produce Inc., a wholesale produ - ce distribution company founded by Pablo and Agustina Enriquez, her pa- rents, in 1989. She is proud to have grown up in Pilsen becau- se her upbringing offered a unique perspective of the resilience and grit of the Mexican community in Chicago. This gave her foundational values she carries today, commit - ted to development and growth not only for herself but for those around her, for the organization and, most importantly, for her team. As a first-generation Latina, Enriquez unders - tands that it takes bound- less dedication, sound work ethics, persistence and resourcefulness to grow a company into a successful organization. Seeing her parents start with an outdoor food stand in the Maxwell Street Market and now lead a company with over 79,000 square feet of spa - ce was the best education in entrepreneurship she could have received. After living abroad for nine years and taking time to raise her three chil - dren, she rejoined the fa- mily business full-time in 2019. She brings a wealth of knowledge in human resources, team building, communication, problem solving and business ma - nagement. She especially enjoys finding opportuni- ties to build strategic part- nerships in order to obtain efficiency and improved workflow. Enriquez holds a bachelor's degree in inter- national commerce spe- cializing in agricultural business from ITESM (Tec de Monterrey) in Mexico, and a certification from the Stanford Latino En- trepreneurship Initiative Program. She is currently earning her MBA at EGA- DE Business School of Tec de Monterrey and is hal- fway through a yearlong leadership development program. Age: 39 Title: Owner Name of Organization: Media Noche Café Michelle Fernandez is the owner of Media Noche Café, which she opened in Berwyn in 2020 and where she serves food inspired by her husband's Cuban heri - tage. Fernandez is a Mexi- can-American who was born and raised in Chi- cago. Both of her parents were born in Mexico and immigrated to the Uni- ted States in the late 1970s. She opened Me- dia Noche Berwyn Cafe in November 2020, brin- ging her husband's Cu- ban family recipes into the city. Her husband was also born and raised in Chi- cago. His father Javier Sr. was born in Cuba and brought to the sta- tes at a very young age. Javier Sr. was the chef in the family and showed his love and passion for cooking, using only the freshest ingredients. He opened his own restau - rant in Elmwood Park where Fernandez started in the family business. She began as a waitress and learned by watching the magic happen in his kitchen. The biggest cha - llenge she had as a new business owner was the fear of being accepted in a new community. Overcoming this fear was pretty easy. Berwyn has accepted Media Noche graciously. Age: 37 Title: Director of Operations and Interiors Name of Organization: JGMA Laura Lizette Flores is an architect and director of operations and interiors at JGMA. She manages all of the firm's employees, helps establish goals, and has a leadership role in all of the firm's major projects. Flores is originally from Guadalajara, Mexico and immigrated to the United States while in her teens. She received her degree from the University of Illinois at Chi - cago and studied design in Florence, Italy. Flores has dedicated her career to ins- piring Latino youths and La- tina women to achieve their fullest potential. She is cu- rrently the director of ope- rations and interiors at the firm JGMA. Her responsibili- ties include management of all employees, establishing short- and long-term goals and holding a leadership role on all the firm's major projects. Additionally, Flores has led several projects in disin- vested communities where her work as an architect is helping to transform lives. She is one of the founding mentors of Arquitinas, a nonprofit whose mission is to reach above and beyond the 1% mark of licensed La - tina architects in the United States while creating equi- table and inclusive oppor- tunities in the architectural profession. Most recently, Flores was appointed by Chicago Mayor Lori Light- foot to chair the Chicago Plan Commission, which she has been a member for the past six years. It is the first time a Latina architect has ever held that position in the history of the com - mission. Yadira Enriquez Michelle Fernandez Laura Lizette Flores Produce expert Sharing family City designer Subscribe or renew your subscription today! Negocios Now print & digital edition for just $9.99 a year FOLLOW US Go to NegociosNow.com/subscribe

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