Negocios Now

www.negociosnow.com 18 Abril 2022 Age: 29 Title: Project Manager Name of Organization: ASI Inc. Cyndy Olivares found a purpose in working to relieve the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. She gathered goods and found other people to help her community. Olivares is a daughter of Mexican immigrants who came to the United States in the late 1970s. She has been dedicated to helping people from the time she was just a toddler, and she grew up in a household where it was second nature to help others in need. She attended her local CPS elementary school, went on to Lane Tech College Prep, and while a sopho - more in high school re- ceived a scholarship to DeVry University. At age 18 she had graduated from both high school and from college with an associate's degree. She began nonprofit work in 2019 at Chicago Cares, helping others in her own community. In March 2020, when the world was abruptly shut - ting down because of the pandemic, Olivares wan- ted to aid those around her. She began collecting spare diapers and delive- ring them to community people in greatest need. Soon she started getting both requests and do- nations for other goods such as food and masks. She quickly built a rota- ting pantry of items that she delivered in her spare time. With the help of fa- mily, she formed a team of drivers who delivered boxes of food and hun- dreds of masks and dia- pers weekly to residents infected with COVID. She helped serve over 1,200 residents, getting them resources and edu- cating them on where to get tested and how to stay safe. In December, when vaccines became availa- ble, Olivares scheduled and managed a vacci- nation site where over 11,000 people received their first and second va- ccine doses in the span of eight weekends. By September 2021 she had helped to create vacci- nation sites that served over 18,000 people in Belmont Cragin alone. Age: 26 Title: Chief of Staff Name of Organization: Cabrera Capital Alex Páramo serves as chief of staff at Cabrera Ca- pital Markets, the largest Latino-owned investment bank in the country, and one of only a few Latino- owned investment banks. Páramo was born and raised on the east side of Joliet but his roots are in Cuamio, Michoacan, Mexico, which his pa - rents left when they were teenagers. Although he struggled while earning a bachelor's degree in ma- nagement of science and engineering at Stanford University, he eventually found power in his identi- ty by leaning into his roots. When he started with Cabrera in the public fi- nance investment ban- king division, he suppor- ted the execution of over $42 billion in debt for public infrastructure pro- jects across the country. As chief of staff he works alongside Martin Cabrera, CEO and founder, impac- ting every aspect of the business, including exten- sive advocacy for initiati- ves affecting the Latino community as well as na- tional policy initiatives re- lated to access to financial services for minorities. His previous professio- nal experience includes working with the immigra- tion defense unit in the San Francisco Public Defender's Office where he was as an assistant to the managing attorney in representing undocumented residents facing deportation. He was also a data analyst with Mis - sion Asset Fund, a financial services technology non- profit that leverages tandas to create a fairer financial marketplace for undocu- mented Latinos. He is founder and pre- sident of the Joliet Latino Economic Development Association, whose vision is to build a financially and culturally prosperous La- tino community. In addi- tion, he serves on the board of directors for the Stanford Latino Alumni Association, United Way of Will County, and Greater Joliet YMCA. He is a proud graduate of the Chicago Latino Cau - cus Leadership Academy, Multicultural Leadership Academy of Will County, and was recognized as a Wintrust Latinx Communi- ty Leader for 2021. Age: 39 Title: President & Owner Name of Organization: JP Architects Ltd. After practicing archi - tecture for several years at other firms, Jose R. Pareja started his own firm on La- bor Day 2015. JP Architects is a full-service firm spe- cializing in public plan- ning projects, restaurant design and commercial architecture. Pareja came to the United States from Ecua- dor at age 4, attended Chicago Public Schools and studied architecture at the University of Illi- nois at Chicago. His firm is a growing, certified mi- nority business enterpri- se currently working with the state of Illinois Capi- tal Development Board, Chicago Public Schools, Elgin Community Colle- ge, Red Robin Gourmet Burgers, and Paisans Piz- zeria and Bar, to name a few clients. He is the immediate past president and cu- rrent chapter delegate of the American Institute of Architects Eastern Illinois Chapter and a member of the Hispanic American Construction Industry Association Scholarship Committee. He is an ad - vocate for diversity, equi- ty and inclusion and is passionate about women in architecture. This in- volvement culminated in his receiving the HACIA Member of the Year award in February 2020. Pareja understands the importance of work/ life balance, so JP Archi - tects systems are cloud- based to allow emplo- yees to be present for life events yet access work from where they are. The intention is to provide a better experience and way of life for clients, employees, and their families. The firm's mis - sion is to realize the pos- sibilities, design your re- ality, and influence your life and community. Cynthia Olivares Alex Páramo José R. Pareja Pandemic fighter Investing in futures Architect and Leader

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