Negocios Now

www.negociosnow.com Abril 2022 23 Isabel C. Velez Diez Helping business focus Age: 35 Title: Director of Strategy & Operations Name of Organization: Allies for Community Business Isabel Vélez Diez is the director of opera - tions and strategy at Allies for Community Business, where she previously served as the director of strategic initiatives. In her current role, she develops, implements, and monitors day-to-day operational sys- tems and processes that provide visibility into organizational goals, progress, and challenges. In 2020, in response to the pandemic, Allies for Community Business partnered with various government entities to disbur - se over $600 million in emergency funds to small business owners across Illinois. Velez Diez, while still performing her regular job, quickly pivoted to collaborate with gover- nment agencies to design grant programs that quickly disbursed the emergency funds. Working with and hearing from small businesses owners suffering during a cri- tical time energized her during the long workdays. Prior to Allies for Community Business, she was an assistant planner at the city of Chicago Department of Planning and Development Vélez Diez was born and raised in Puer - to Rico and moved to Chicago in 2013. She received a bachelor's degree architecture from the Polytechnic University of Puerto Rico and received a master's degree in pu- blic policy from Loyola University. Age: 30 Title: Owner & Executive Director Name of Organization: MCM Protein Bar Marlen Villordo is an executive chef and co-owner of MCM Protein Bar in Pil - sen. MCM (My Community Matters) is a Latina-owned nutritional coffee shop that hopes to inspire others to make healthier life choices. She is also a chef nutritionist, a chef worlds cuisine, has a specialty in mo- lecular cuisine, and is a sommelier. At the age of 5 Villordo knew she wanted to be a chef after seeing her mother selling baked goods in the streets of Mexico in or- der to provide food for her family. In 2011, Villordo and her family arrived in Chicago in search of a better life. In 2018 she recei- ved a degree in culinary arts from Chicago's Kendall College. During her studies she interned in Spain under the direction of the renowned chef Jose Andres and molecular chef Andoni Luis Aduriz at his restaurant Mugaritz. Today, Villordo has more than 10 years of experience in the industry and is the first member of her family to open a business. She has worked with Rick Bayless, renow - ned molecular chef Grant Achatz, the Chi- cago Bears, and the Field Museum. In 2021 she opened MCM Protein Bar in Pilsen with two other Latina entre- preneurs. Their mission is to help others achieve a healthier lifestyle by providing access to protein-based healthy foods. Cu- rrently she is expanding the business by partnering with local businesses and gyms to offer healthier meal options at their fa- cilities. Marlen Villordo Cooking up health Welcome back! We are celebrating the return of United Airlines as one of the annual sponsors of Negocios Now. United has helped us to fly high in our purpose of growing and now it lands to celebrate our 15th Anniversary!

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