Negocios Now is the Hispanic Business Publication in Chicago with National Distribution
Issue link: https://www.ifoldsflip.com/i/1507544
www.negociosnow.com 20 Agosto 2023 " Although well known for our incredible tourism, central Florida is among the top two regions in the nation for small business growth." Gaby Ortigoni president and CEO of the Hispanic Chamber of Metro Orlando. especially in Spanish, about loans, federal grants, and other avenues for pandemic relief. Their first webinar was in March 2020. Before the pandemic, the Orlando Hispanic chamber would hold workshops, con- ferences, and other events lasting five or six hours, she said. "After COVID, we had to think outside the box and think how can we get people more engaged? We know that most people are now connected all the time to their smart phones and devi- ces, so we needed to find alternatives to capture their attention." "Now we offer events with unique engagement oppor- tunities," Ortigoni said. For example, she said, one of the newest and most successful events is "Business Wellness." It teaches business principles through physical activities and teaches strategies used by professional sports teams. Another workshop taught meditation, emphasizing how a quiet mind can aid focus on business intentions. The- se types of activities allow people to be more present and create long-lasting rela- tionships with other partici- pants, she said. Welcome to Orlando If there's one thing she is most proud of about the Orlando region, Ortigoni said, it is the area's culture of colla- boration and support. It is a culture of working toward equitable prosperity, she added. There's a friendly busi- ness atmosphere, she said, and perhaps that grew from the tourism and hospitality industries that gave the area its modern economic base. "The moment you come in, with a new idea, with a new business, or you're expanding your business to this area," she said, "you're going to find that most people are very welcoming, that people are willing to help you without any thought of what's in it for them." Support Negocios Now's effort to promote the Latino business community nationwide by sponsoring a success story. Enriqueta Lechuga Owner La Baguette Bakery Chicago Sponsored by Francisco Cornejo and Daniela Vega Founders StoryBook Miami Sponsored by USHCC President & CEO Ramiro Cavazos, Gaby Ortigoni and Orlando's Mayor Buddy Dyer, during the USHCC National Conference kick off, in Orlando.