Shortly after being recognized for being No. 1 among an all-star list of Hispanic Business Leaders in the state, Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield SVP Uli Diaz spoke words that symbolized the night: We’re better together.
Diaz, one of 72 honorees at the first BINJE’s Best: Hispanic Business Leaders event, held Thursday night at Seton Hall University, said those in the room are the true catalysts of the incredible successes Hispanics are driving throughout New Jersey.
“To be No. 1 is a great honor for anyone, but we’re so much stronger together than as individuals,” he said. “So, being No. 1 isn’t what matters — being part of this collective is what matters. It’s how we celebrate our people, our culture, our work ethic that separates us from others.”
The event, co-sponsored by the Statewide Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of New Jersey and the Joseph A. Unanue Latino Institute at Seton Hall, was a non-stop salute to the importance — and the impact — of diversity.
All of which is supported by facts and key figures.
Start with the undeniable economic numbers:
- Hispanics own 16.8% of all businesses in New Jersey
- The GDP of Hispanics in New Jersey exceeds $100 billion annually;
- The national GDP for Hispanics exceeds $4 trillion — a figure that would rank U.S. Latinos as the fifth-largest economy in the world if measured independently.
- Latinas start more businesses than any other segment of society.
Then add the incredible personal examples, including the night’s keynote speaker: Colonel Marisol Chalas (Army National Guard), the first Latina Blackhawk helicopter pilot.
“It fills my heart with joy to address a topic that generally resonates across every generation in every industry: The inspiring journey of individuals from every heritage and every nation,” she said.
“These are the remarkable people who are Breaking Through Barriers, sharing their vision and wisdom and passionately pursuing a rightful place at the decision-making table.”
Chalas and Diaz both noted the importance of recognizing everyone on the journey.
“Let’s start by celebrating the extraordinary contributions of immigrants and those from diverse cultural backgrounds worldwide,” she said. “These great individuals come to our communities filled with dreams, working tirelessly for a brighter future. They provide hope, determination, and the human spirit, qualities that unite us all, regardless of the path we walked to get here.”
Diaz talked about the importance of paying it forward — while remembering the past.
“I could never have imagined this, growing up living in West New York, where we were all the same — all poor, all part of families scratching to make a living,” he said.
“So, we always have to thank the people that helped along the way. No one gets here alone. Thank those that gave you a hand and thank those that sacrificed for you.”
BINJE offers its sincere thanks to the headline sponsors of the event:
- Horizon BC/BS of New Jersey
- LISC New Jersey
- United Airlines
- Bergen New Bridge Medical Center
- N.J. Economic Development Authority
Here is a greater look at why Diaz is No.1.
Here is an in-depth look at the incredible impact the Unanue Institute is having on the campus of Seton Hall and in society.
And here is a look at the honorees – all of whom were featured in this print and digital edition of BINJE
Andrés Acebo
President
New Jersey City University
Rosalie Acevedo
Chief operating officer & chief financial officer
Genova Burns
Rolando ‘Roly’ Acosta
CEO
JAG Cos.
Luis Alamo
Founder & president
Alamo Insurance Group
Guillermo Artiles
Partner
McCarter & English
Dr. Hubert Benitez
President
Saint Peter’s University
Alexis Cabezas
Account manager, Hispanic markets
Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of N.J.
Joe Cardona
Vice chancellor, university communication
Rowan University
Jennifer Carrillo-Perez
Partner
Connell Foley
Evelyn Castillo
Preferred Business Solutions executive
Bank of America
Leo Cervantes
Owner & operator
Chilangos restaurant
Elisa Charters
Entrepreneur
Various organizations
Melinda Colin Cox
General Counsel
NJ Community Capital
Francisco Cortes
Co-founder & CEO
Setroc Group
Rafael Cuellar
Owner
Cuellar LLC & ShopRite of Passaic/Clifton
Jorge Cruz
Executive director
LISC New Jersey
Jose Cruz
Senior managing director capital markets
JLL
Luis De La Hoz
Chairman
Statewide Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of N.J.
Sonia Delgado
Strategic adviser, government and public affairs
Princeton Public Affairs Group
Francisco Del Toro
President
American Mexican Regional Chamber of Commerce
Mariana Diaz
Head consul
Consulate of Mexico, New Brunswick office
Uli Diaz
Senior vice president of government and community affairs
Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of N.J.
Diana Donnelly
Senior director, customer experience
South Jersey Industries
Alex & Marilyn Duran
Leaders
Duran Entities
Leo Espinoza
CEO
Eco Supply
Christopher Flores
Director of communications
N.J. Economic Development Authority
Roy Garcia
Assistant vice president, alumni engagement and philanthropy
William Paterson University
Rudy Garcia
President
MBI GluckShaw
Luis Garcia Vazquez
Chief financial officer
NY Red Bulls
Bettina Garibaldi
Chief marketing & communications officer
N.Y./N.J. FIFA World Cup 2026 Host Committee
Alberto Garofalo
President, N.J. market
Bank of America
Marco Gonzalez
Attorney
OGC Solutions
Cristal Lambert
President Assistant general counsel
Hispanic Bar Association of N.J.; ETS
Rey Lambert
Partner
Lowenstein Sandler
Raymond Lamboy
CEO
Latin American Economic Development Association
Carlos Lejnieks
CEO Big Brothers Big Sisters Hudson
Essex and Union Counties
Jose Linares
Partner
McCarter & English
Megan Linares
Assistant U.S. attorney
U.S. Department of Justice
Aixa Lopez
Chief of staff
Statewide Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of N.J.
Jose Lozano
Chief growth officer
Hackensack Meridian Health
Jeffrey Martinez
Executive vice president and head of branch banking
PNC Bank
Rick Martinez & Maria Camelo
Co-founders
Señor Sangria
Monica Martinez Milan
Chair; Entrepreneur Somerset County Business Partnership
Various organizations
Laura Matos
Partner
MAD Global Strategy
Carlos Medina
CEO
Statewide Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of N.J.
Citi Medina
Founder
=SPACE
Juan Melli
Managing director
Mercury Public Affairs
Hilda Mera
Co-owner & CEO
S&A Auto Center
Michael Miqueli
Founder & CEO
San Antonio Broker Services
Orlando Miranda
Co-founder & president
Latino Veterans of New Jersey
Samantha Moctezuma
Vice president of financial planning and analysis
Verizon
Arturo Ortega
Founder & owner
La Fortaleza Restaurants
Karim Ospino
Founder
Ospino Consulting
Sara Peña
Director of external affairs
Public Service Enterprise Group
Gus Penaranda
CEO
Evolvere Consulting
Blenda Pinto
Director, corporate & government affairs
United Airlines
Celestina Quintana
Owner & operator
McDonald’s franchises
Lilia Rios
Co-founder
La Providencia; Nuuku
Carlos Rodriguez
Senior vice president of administration
Kean University
Idida Rodriguez
Managing partner
1868 Public Affairs
Maria Rodriguez-Gregg
Director of government relations and community affairs
Montclair State University
Alvin Romero
CEO
Excel Facility Services Group
Wanda Saez
Senior vice president, corporate responsibility and community relations
Wells Fargo
Esther Salas
U.S. District Judge
District of New Jersey
Adam San Miguel & Andres Carrillo
Co-owners
Cortaditos
Cristina Schwarz
President & general manager
Telemundo 47
Ricardo Solano
Partner
Gibbons P.C.
Lori Tarke
Executive director
Joseph A. Unanue Latino Institute
Rafael Toro
National director of public relations
Goya Foods
Jen Velez
Executive vice president, health and network solutions
Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of N.J.
Deborah Visconi
CEO
Bergen New Bridge Medical Center
Gladys Vonglahn
Founder & CEO
Gladys’ Cleaning Service
