As Associate Administrator of the Office of Entrepreneurial Development, Allen Gutierrez is dedicated to enhancing the nationwide network of offices, business executives, and mentors that support current and aspiring business owners as they start, grow, and compete in today’s global market. This nationwide network includes the following Resource Partners: Women’s Business Centers (WBCs), Small Business Development Centers (SBDCs), and SCORE.
Most recently, Gutierrez served as the national executive director of The Latino Coalition (TLC). Under his leadership, the coalition grew to include 1.2 million Hispanic business owners and over 90 coalition partners, transforming TLC into one of the nation’s largest and most effective Latino advocacy groups.
Gutierrez previously served in the U.S. Small Business Administration from 2001 to 2006; during his tenure, he served as Senior Advisor to the Chief Operating Officer, as well as Senior Advisor to the Office of International Trade. As a member of the senior management team, Gutierrez served on the Executive Resource Board and executed the President’s Management Agenda to create a more transparent and results-orientated agency. During his tenure in the Office of International Trade, Gutierrez served as the key representative for SBA during the CAFTA-DR negotiations, which was signed into law as the first free trade agreement between the United States and a group of smaller developing countries.
He is also the founder of The MCA Group based out of Southern California with emphasis on Federal & private sector procurement, special events management and multicultural marketing. Prior to joining the entrepreneur spirit and starting his own company he was the Chief Operating Officer of the United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (2005 to 2007) a national organization that represents the interest of over 2 million Hispanic Owned Businesses. During his tenure at USHCC he was part of the senior management team that accomplished record-breaking partnership with Corporate America, as well as high-level participation from its membership at their annual and legislative convention.
Born in San Jose, Costa Rica, Gutierrez immigrated to California in 1974, where he achieved his dream of becoming the first member of his family to graduate from an accredited four-year college. He earned his Bachelor of Arts in political science with a minor in business administration from the University of Southern California.
Each year, Americans observe National Hispanic Heritage Month from September 15 to October 15, by commemorating the histories, cultures, and contributions of American citizens whose ancestors came from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean and Central and South America.
The Gala, which benefits the Pittsburgh Metropolitan Area Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (PMAHCC ) Foundation Educational Fund, will be held on Saturday, September 28, 2019, at the Westin Convention Center Hotel in Downtown Pittsburgh. Following a cocktail hour, Latin inspired dinner and program with a special guest keynote speaker. Guests will dance the night away to live Latin music and enjoy casino games. Prizes may be won with casino tickets and at our extensive silent auction.
We will announce our 2019 college and graduate school scholarship recipients at the Gala, as well as the 2019 recipient of the "Rob Vega Memorial Scholarship,". Since 2011 PMAHCC has awarded $190,000 to 119 qualifying area students of Hispanic/Latino decent. These students have attended technical schools, colleges, and universities, including Ivy League schools. Year after year, we see an increase in applicants.
Did you know that Hispanics across the nation are opening businesses at a rate of 8 to 1 when compared to other groups? Even with this sign of prosperity, higher education remains a hurdle for this group. Latino Americans, the largest and the fastest growing ethnic minority in the United States, yet are half as likely to hold a college degree as non-Hispanic white adults and fewer than a quarter (22.6%) hold a two-year college degree or higher, the lowest of any ethnic group. With the Hispanic population of Pittsburgh seeing 170% growth from 2010 to 2018 (a time when our city lost population overall population), it is more apparent than ever that investing in the future of the local Latinx population is investing in the future of Pittsburgh!
As an organization, we seek to increase educational opportunities by providing scholarships to outstanding Latinx students in the greater Pittsburgh area (based on both merit and financial need). It with your help, that our semi-annual Hispanic Heritage Month Gala has funded our PMAHCC Foundation scholarship program.
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Pittsburgh Metropolitan Area Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
One Oxford Centre, 301 Grant Street, Suite 4300 ● Pittsburgh PA 15219 U.S.A.
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