PRESS RELEASE
April 17, 2014

Dominican-American Director is the First Latina and Second Woman to Lead MBDA in its 45 Year History

Washington, D.C. -- The National Hispanic Leadership Agenda (NHLA), a coalition of 37 of the nation’s preeminent Latino organizations, is pleased to congratulate Alejandra Castillo, the newly named Director of Department of Commerce’s Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA). U.S. Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker today announced the appointment of Castillo to head MBDA, the only Federal agency dedicated to the growth and global competitiveness of U.S. minority-owned businesses.

NHLA has been advocating for increased Latino representation in political positions through its Latino Appointment Program. The coalition welcomes today’s development announcing the appointment of a talented and qualified leader with close roots to NHLA.

The New York City native born to Dominican immigrants most recently served as MBDA’s National Deputy Director managing the Agency’s day-to-day operations and its national network of more than 44 business centers across the U.S. and Puerto Rico. According to the Department of Commerce's statement issued today, during fiscal year 2013, MBDA assisted minority-owned businesses in obtaining more than $4.8 billion in capital and contract awards, which led to the creation and/or retention of 25,704 jobs, the highest performance level in the Agency’s 45-year history.

With 20 years of private, government and non-profit sector experience, some of Castillo's additional notable career experiences include having served as Executive Director of the Hispanic National Bar Association (one of our NHLA coalition members), as a Special Advisor to the Under Secretary for the U.S. Department of Commerce’s International Trade Administration, and as a Senior Policy Analyst to the Deputy Director at the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy under President Bill Clinton’s presidential Administration. In 2010, Hispanic Business Magazine recognized Ms. Castillo among the Top 100 Influential Latinos in the U.S.

In response to today’s announcement from Secretary Pritzker, NHLA leaders issued the following statements of support:

“We look forward to Alejandra Castillo bringing her wealth of experience to her new role as National Director of the Minority Business Development Agency. We appreciate Secretary Pritzker's confidence and trust in Ms. Castillo's extensive background in business and public service,” said Hector E. Sanchez, NHLA Chair and Executive Director of the Labor Council for Latin American Advancement. "Ms. Castillo is also a great role model for Latinas and Latinos looking to make a meaningful impact in the nation by serving in the highest ranks of public service. I'm encouraged by today's announcement and welcome the opportunity to work with Ms. Castillo to ensure that the Latino community is fully engaged in the initiatives of the MBDA and the Commerce Department."

Javier Palomarez, President & CEO of the United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and Co-Chair of Latinos United for a Fair Economy, said of Ms. Castillo’s nomination, “On behalf of the Hispanic business community, I applaud Secretary Pritzker’s visionary selection of Alejandra Castillo to lead the Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA). Ms. Castillo’s extensive experience in the private, public, and nonprofit sectors makes her the ideal National Director for the MBDA. Ms. Castillo’s leadership will strengthen American job creation and support the global expansion of U.S. minority-owned businesses currently contributing over $1 trillion annually to the U.S. economy. The Hispanic business community looks forward to collaborating with Ms. Castillo in her new capacity.”

“NCLR applauds the appointment of Alejandra Castillo to serve as the next Director of the Minority Business Development Agency. She is a superb candidate who has proven to be a tremendous asset to the Department of Commerce over the past six years and has a wealth of experience in both the private and nonprofit sectors,” said Janet Murguia, President and CEO, NCLR and Co-Chair of Latinos United for a Fair Economy. “With Castillo at the helm, we expect the agency to continue its important work supporting minority entrepreneurs and business owners who are among the nation’s most valuable employers and contributors to our nation’s economy.”

"NPRC commends the Secretary of Commerce for designating Alejandra Castillo as the new National Director of the Minority Business Development Agency. Ms. Castillo has been an exemplary representative of the Hispanic community and an effective business development facilitator for the Department of Commerce," said Rafael A. Fantauzzi, President & CEO National Puerto Rican Coalition.

"We are thrilled to learn of the appointment of Alejandra Y. Castillo to serve as Director of the Commerce Department's Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA). An attorney, born in NYC of Dominican-American parents, she has served as the agency's Deputy Director and has extensive experience in government, having been recognized as among the Top 100 most influential Latino/as in the U.S. by Hispanic Business Magazine in 2010. She would be making history as the first Hispanic woman to lead this agency," said Angelo Falcón, President, National Institute for Latino Policy (NiLP). "Although Latinos make up 17 percent of the U.S. population, Latino-owned companies have only won about 8 percent of federal government contracts. With the Latino population projected to make up 30 percent of the country's population, it is important to have leadership in the federal government that understands the importance of small business growth to Latinos and other emerging communities."

“The HNBA is elated with the appointment of a leader as exceptional as Alejandra Castillo to the position of MBDA Director. Our own organization has benefitted greatly through the years from Alejandra’s talent and commitment, first as a volunteer and as one of our past Executive Directors,” said Miguel Alexander Pozo, Hispanic National Bar Association National President. “Secretary Pritzker could not have selected a person more passionate about serving minority communities, more knowledgeable about best business practices, and more innovative in getting through to those rapidly growing communities that stand to benefit the most from these very necessary programs,“ said Mr. Pozo. "We also applaud Alejandra -- the first Latina and only the second woman appointed MBDA Director in the agency’s history -- for making a few new cracks in the proverbial glass ceiling."

"I congratulate Alejandra Castillo on this tremendous accomplishment," said Jessica González-Rojas, Executive Director for the National Latina Institute for Reproductive Health. "As the first Latina to hold this position, Castillo is a trailblazer for our community, demonstrating the valuable expertise and contributions that Latinas make to the economic fabric of our country."

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Established in 1991, the National Hispanic Leadership Agenda (NHLA) brings together Hispanic leaders to establish policy priorities that address, and raise public awareness of, the major issues affecting the Latino community and the nation as a whole.

In January of 2013, the coalition launched its new Latino Appointments Program to identify and support junior to Cabinet-level Latino candidates pursuing presidential and state-level appointments. For more information, please visit www.latinoappointments.org and follow @NHLAgenda.

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