Florida’s Latina Leaders
Latin Times Interview
with Ana Rivera, President
PR & Hispanic Chamber of
Commerce of Polk County.
Jolie Gonzalez-Padilla: Tell us how you
got started as a business woman.
Ana Rivera: I originally went to school
for Fashion Design up in NYC, attending
Traphagen School of Fashion through a
full scholarship. After I completed my
program I started working in my field. I
did this for over 20 years, during those
years I also learned about Fashion Merchandising, Private Labeling and Product
Development. In 1985, I moved to Puerto
Rico and there is where I was able to use
all of my background to become a buyer
for a chain of stores then called NY Department Stores of Puerto Rico.
Jolie Gonzalez-Padilla: Tell us about your
position with the Mayor's office and with
the PR/Hispanic Chamber of Commerce,
what are some of the initiatives or goals
that you have set for your time as president.
Ana Rivera: In November of 2014, I
approached, then Mayor Wiggs and
explained to him the importance of such
a group and the importance of leaving a
legacy. We reviewed the bylaws and how
we were going to roll out such a group.
My objective and mission was to get those
Hispanics informed of city officials’ decisions on major issues involving each and
every citizen. Teach them of how business
is conducted within the walls of the city
and the officials they knew nothing about.
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Latin Times Magazine
That was one of the missions, the other
was to build an outreach program on
getting more Latinos to vote in the local
elections. Finally cultivating a candidate
to fill those shoes of an elected official into
the city commission and ultimately in the
future perhaps a Latino Mayor. After the
initial meeting we found ourselves with the
Mayor being Chair, myself as vice chair, a
secretary, treasurer and 4 groups with representations of ambassadors of the various
areas our Latino brothers and sisters come
from. For example: The Caribbean South
America, North America, Central America
and Europe.
As for the chamber, it is in its 8th year
now, and we have accomplished