| OFFICERS, BOARD OF DIRECTORS & COMMITeES |
COMMITTEES and CHAIRPERSONS
FINANCE COMMITTEE: OPEN POSITION
MEMBERSHIP COMMITTEE: RITA DE LA ROSA, Co-Chairperson(N.Lake)
WANDA GORDILS, Co-Chairperson(N.Lake)
IVETTEWESTERMAN,Co-Chairperson(S.Lake)
FUNDRAISING COMMITTEE: DEBRA BOLANOS, Co-Chair
RITA DE LA ROSA, Co-Chair
SPECIAL EVENTS: DEBRA BOLANOS, Co-Chair
RITA DE LA ROSA, Co-Chair
LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE: IT COULD BE YOU!!!!!
This Committee Operates At The Direction Of The President
SCHOLARSHIP COMMITTEE: IT COULD BE YOU!!! Chairperson
ORGANIZATION LIASON: IT COULD BE YOU!!! Chairperson
(This person could not only be a contact person for other Latino
Organizations and Chambers of Commerce, but also could help
provide oversight for better collaboration to other regional program
providers)
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY COMMITTEE& WEBMASTER: IT COULD BE YOU!!!!
(This committee would provide updated material to the website,
monitor the blog and/or forum, help produce our podcasts)
The President/Chairperson of the Board of Directors is also a member of all Committees
FINANCE COMMITTEE: OPEN POSITION
MEMBERSHIP COMMITTEE: RITA DE LA ROSA, Co-Chairperson(N.Lake)
WANDA GORDILS, Co-Chairperson(N.Lake)
IVETTEWESTERMAN,Co-Chairperson(S.Lake)
FUNDRAISING COMMITTEE: DEBRA BOLANOS, Co-Chair
RITA DE LA ROSA, Co-Chair
SPECIAL EVENTS: DEBRA BOLANOS, Co-Chair
RITA DE LA ROSA, Co-Chair
LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE: IT COULD BE YOU!!!!!
This Committee Operates At The Direction Of The President
SCHOLARSHIP COMMITTEE: IT COULD BE YOU!!! Chairperson
ORGANIZATION LIASON: IT COULD BE YOU!!! Chairperson
(This person could not only be a contact person for other Latino
Organizations and Chambers of Commerce, but also could help
provide oversight for better collaboration to other regional program
providers)
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY COMMITTEE& WEBMASTER: IT COULD BE YOU!!!!
(This committee would provide updated material to the website,
monitor the blog and/or forum, help produce our podcasts)
The President/Chairperson of the Board of Directors is also a member of all Committees
The Executive Board (2011) President..............Gilbert Velez Vice-President.....Rita De La Rosa Treasurer.............Debra Bolanos Secretary..............Wanda Gordils |
Gilbert Velez
President,
NWI Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
President,
NWI Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
7426 IDAHO AVE. Hammond, IN 46323
Office: 219.845.5476
Mobile: 219.718.4923
e-mail: gilbertvelez@comcast.net
Office: 219.845.5476
Mobile: 219.718.4923
e-mail: gilbertvelez@comcast.net
Mr. Velez is the President and co-owner of G&M Training & Services, LLC, a safety consulting and
training company located in Northwest Indiana. He formed G&M Training Services in 1996 to serve
the increasing need for OSHA required training programs for the private sector. The company
assists its customer base in becoming compliant with OSHA safety regulations and required training.
He has specialized in developing and presenting safety programs for the Spanish-speaking
workforce. He has developed and presented training programs not only in the United States, but
also in Monterrey, Mexico, and in Venezuela. He has also translated and presented training
programs for other safety professionals throughout Illinois and Indiana.
He is a qualified OSHA Outreach Program Trainer for both the Construction and General Industry
Outreach Training Programs. He earned a certificate from OSHA (10 and 30 hour General Industry
Outreach Program Trainer) at Northern Illinois University, Naperville, IL and Certificate from OSHA
(10 and 30 hour Construction Outreach Program Trainer) at the National Safety Education Center,
DeKalb, IL
Mr. Velez earned a bachelor’s degree in Organization Management from Calumet College of St.
Joseph. He also earned his Masters of Business Administration Degree, and a Graduate Certificate
in Human Resource Management, from Keller Graduate School of Management.
Gilbert has served in and continues to serve in various non-profit organizations throughout the
Northwest Indiana area as well as the State level. He has been a very active member of his church
Iglesia Del Pueblo Hope Center, as well as the Northwest Indiana community he resides in for many
years. He is one of the founders of the Northwest Indiana Hispanic Chamber of Commerce that was
formed in June of 2006 to serve the needs of the Hispanic business community.
Mr. Velez is currently serving in the following organizations:
The NWIHCC (Northwest Indiana Hispanic Chamber of Commerce) - Board of Directors and
President
Indiana Minority and Women’s Business Enterprises Commission - Commissioner
The Interfaith Federation - Board of Directors and Vice President
The Indiana State Hispanic Chamber of Commerce - Board of Directors
The Indiana Minority Enterprise Center Committee - Board of Directors
The ALSE Clemente Center - Board of Directors
The ICHLA (Indiana Commission on Hispanic/Latino Affairs) - Business/Economic Development
Committee
Purdue University Calumet’s DEEL Center - Advisory Committee
Iglesia Del Pueblo Christian Church - Stewardship Committee
training company located in Northwest Indiana. He formed G&M Training Services in 1996 to serve
the increasing need for OSHA required training programs for the private sector. The company
assists its customer base in becoming compliant with OSHA safety regulations and required training.
He has specialized in developing and presenting safety programs for the Spanish-speaking
workforce. He has developed and presented training programs not only in the United States, but
also in Monterrey, Mexico, and in Venezuela. He has also translated and presented training
programs for other safety professionals throughout Illinois and Indiana.
He is a qualified OSHA Outreach Program Trainer for both the Construction and General Industry
Outreach Training Programs. He earned a certificate from OSHA (10 and 30 hour General Industry
Outreach Program Trainer) at Northern Illinois University, Naperville, IL and Certificate from OSHA
(10 and 30 hour Construction Outreach Program Trainer) at the National Safety Education Center,
DeKalb, IL
Mr. Velez earned a bachelor’s degree in Organization Management from Calumet College of St.
Joseph. He also earned his Masters of Business Administration Degree, and a Graduate Certificate
in Human Resource Management, from Keller Graduate School of Management.
Gilbert has served in and continues to serve in various non-profit organizations throughout the
Northwest Indiana area as well as the State level. He has been a very active member of his church
Iglesia Del Pueblo Hope Center, as well as the Northwest Indiana community he resides in for many
years. He is one of the founders of the Northwest Indiana Hispanic Chamber of Commerce that was
formed in June of 2006 to serve the needs of the Hispanic business community.
Mr. Velez is currently serving in the following organizations:
The NWIHCC (Northwest Indiana Hispanic Chamber of Commerce) - Board of Directors and
President
Indiana Minority and Women’s Business Enterprises Commission - Commissioner
The Interfaith Federation - Board of Directors and Vice President
The Indiana State Hispanic Chamber of Commerce - Board of Directors
The Indiana Minority Enterprise Center Committee - Board of Directors
The ALSE Clemente Center - Board of Directors
The ICHLA (Indiana Commission on Hispanic/Latino Affairs) - Business/Economic Development
Committee
Purdue University Calumet’s DEEL Center - Advisory Committee
Iglesia Del Pueblo Christian Church - Stewardship Committee
Gilbert is the President of:
G & M TRAINING & SERVICES, LLC
G & M TRAINING & SERVICES, LLC
RITA DE LA ROSA, VICE-PRESIDENT NWIHCC
Rita is Administrative Asst./Office Manager at East Chicago Dept. of
Redevelopment & Housing Authority. She is President of Robertson Child
Dev. Center, a Board Member of ALSE Clemente Center, Historian of
Hispanic Women’s Forum. She is also a Notary Public.
Her previous employment included Project Manager at East Chicago
Urban Enterprise Assoc. She completed the Small Business
Entrepreneur Program in Hammond. She has served on the Healthy East
Chicago Board of Directors. She has a Double Bachelor Degree in
Organizational Management & Computer Information Systems. She is
working on a Masters Degree in Computer Information
Systems/Management. Rita has three children.
Rita is Administrative Asst./Office Manager at East Chicago Dept. of
Redevelopment & Housing Authority. She is President of Robertson Child
Dev. Center, a Board Member of ALSE Clemente Center, Historian of
Hispanic Women’s Forum. She is also a Notary Public.
Her previous employment included Project Manager at East Chicago
Urban Enterprise Assoc. She completed the Small Business
Entrepreneur Program in Hammond. She has served on the Healthy East
Chicago Board of Directors. She has a Double Bachelor Degree in
Organizational Management & Computer Information Systems. She is
working on a Masters Degree in Computer Information
Systems/Management. Rita has three children.
WANDA GORDILS,
SECRETARY, NWI HISPANIC CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
Wanda is employed by St. Catherine Hospital ( Dr. Blum's Office) in
East Chicago, IN. Attended Medical Careers Institute Chicago,Il. &
Graduated 1981-1983, Hematology Technician/Cardiology
Technologist. Volunteer Mentor Parks and Recreation Dept.; Jr.
Recreation Leadership Team; Boy Scouts of America Leader,
1998-2001. She is pursuing an Associate Degree in Business
Management.
She is serving as President, Tri-City LULAC Council; additionally, she
is serving as Artistic Director of Grupo Folklorico Amapola. She has
been married for 37 years and has two children Gezia and Isaac
Gordils and two grandchildren Francisco and Domingo Noriega.
SECRETARY, NWI HISPANIC CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
Wanda is employed by St. Catherine Hospital ( Dr. Blum's Office) in
East Chicago, IN. Attended Medical Careers Institute Chicago,Il. &
Graduated 1981-1983, Hematology Technician/Cardiology
Technologist. Volunteer Mentor Parks and Recreation Dept.; Jr.
Recreation Leadership Team; Boy Scouts of America Leader,
1998-2001. She is pursuing an Associate Degree in Business
Management.
She is serving as President, Tri-City LULAC Council; additionally, she
is serving as Artistic Director of Grupo Folklorico Amapola. She has
been married for 37 years and has two children Gezia and Isaac
Gordils and two grandchildren Francisco and Domingo Noriega.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS:
RECENTLY JOINING THE BOARD IS (but not pictured):
Veronica Avila.
Veronica Avila has been in Banking for 8 years. She was born and raised in
Chicago, IL.
She has been married for 10 years and has one son.
She joined Citizens Financial Bank in 2008 as the Banking Center Manager.
Currently she Manages both Banking Centers in East Chicago.
She is very proud of being Hispanic and looks forward to continue to partner with
organizations that conserve and promote our heritage.
Citizens Financial Bank
Banking Center Manager - East Chicago
4740 Indianapolis Blvd. East Chicago, IN 46312
219.228.2208 phone
219.397.3298 fax
vavila@citz.com
DEBRA BOLANOS,
TREASURER, NWI HISPANIC CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
Debra started in the travel industry in 1979, and currently owns and operates Galaxy Travel
Agency in East Chicago, IN.
Debra is also owner and Director of the Xel-Ha Escuela de Danza, as well as the Ballet
Folklorico Las Villistas go to local groups page
DEBRA'S PICTURE APPEARS BELOW, IN THE BOARD OF DIRCTORS PIC.
TREASURER, NWI HISPANIC CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
Debra started in the travel industry in 1979, and currently owns and operates Galaxy Travel
Agency in East Chicago, IN.
Debra is also owner and Director of the Xel-Ha Escuela de Danza, as well as the Ballet
Folklorico Las Villistas go to local groups page
DEBRA'S PICTURE APPEARS BELOW, IN THE BOARD OF DIRCTORS PIC.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS:
(l to r)
Sal Bolanos, Debra Bolanos, Wanda
Gordils, Rita de la rosa & Gilbert Velez
(l to r)
Sal Bolanos, Debra Bolanos, Wanda
Gordils, Rita de la rosa & Gilbert Velez