Hispanic entrepreneurs are proving every day that freedom and self-reliance—not government handouts—drive real progress. Groups like the RHBA don’t beg for permission; they build communities, create jobs, and push back against policies that suffocate growth.
Hispanic entrepreneurs aren’t asking for permission—they’re building.
On The Next Steps Show, RHBA Chair Orlando Rivera and Diana Kleps-Perez ( founder of Weprogy and Kindred Dynamics) torch the myths: faster growth, real jobs, local revenue, and opening doors through MWBE—without the handout mindset.
Under-representation is real; the answer is mission, discipline, and access. Join, sponsor, build: RochesterHBA.org.
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Peter Vazquez: Welcome to The Next Steps Show.
Today: Hispanic entrepreneurship—not as “identity politics,” but as proof that freedom, faith, and work beat handouts. Groups like the Rochester Hispanic Business Association (RHBA) aren’t begging; they’re building—creating jobs and pushing back against policies that suffocate growth.
Our guests: Orlando Rivera, licensed realtor (Puerto Rican heritage) and Chair of RHBA, recognized in 2018 among NAHREP’s Top 250 Latino Real Estate Agents; and Diana Kleps-Perez, Dominican-born entrepreneur, founder of Kindred Dynamics (2024), bilingual, mother of two.
Peter: RHBA’s been around since 1989—why celebrate Latino excellence?
Orlando: We unite the business community—monthly luncheons, our annual awards, community outreach (Little League sponsorships, Golisano Children’s Hospital donations). Celebrating culture isn’t skin-deep; it’s about contributions, networking, and growth.
Peter: Facts: 2017–2022, Hispanic-owned employer businesses grew far faster than the national average. That matters.
Diana: I started from a humble background—no family blueprint. Becoming MWBE certified (Monroe County) was a rigorous, document-heavy process, but it opens doors to projects that require minority participation—partnerships, hiring, and scale.
Peter: Critics say MWBE is unfair. Your response?
Diana: Certification verifies legitimacy—entity filings, IDs, invoices—then expands access to compete, collaborate, and hire. The state process is even tougher; it should be simpler and more user-friendly.
Peter: Bureaucracy aside—is it worth it?
Diana: Early days, but yes. Also, agencies should gather applicant feedback and streamline the process so non-tech-savvy owners can succeed.
Peter: Another fact: Latino-owned firms have been growing while many non-Hispanic firms decline—yet under-representation is real.
Orlando: RHBA is non-partisan by bylaws. Our mission is to empower Hispanic professionals and entrepreneurs—and to welcome everyone who wants to build with us.
Diana (on business values): No mission = drift. Know your values and your market; choose wisely where to engage. That isn’t politics—it’s durability.
Diana (on services): Kindred Dynamics provides consulting: project and revenue optimization, change management, leadership, media support. We also launched WeProgy, a tech platform connecting facility/property managers to local service providers (plumbing, electrical, landscaping, janitorial) via digital bids—keeping revenue local.
Contact:
KindredDynamics.com • WeProgy.com • LinkedIn: Diana Klebs • Phone: 646-468-0797.
RHBA: RochesterHBA.org (membership, events, sponsorships).
Caller (Keith): We need more Black and Hispanic participation in hard sciences—STEM, patents, AI. Asian Americans are dominating those fields.
Orlando: STEM charter programs are growing; give it 5–10 years. Momentum’s real.
Diana: I’m a Harvard Extension grad student (I/O Psychology) and a youth sports coach. Patents and IP are complex and costly; we need pipelines, scholarships, and guidance so our communities can own innovation—not just participate.
Peter: Under-representation is fact; prosperity requires access, discipline, and institutions that help builders build.
On RHBA Gala: This year’s Hispanic Business Person of the Year: Julio Vázquez—educator, founder of one of Rochester’s longest-running charter schools, now consolidating middle and high school.
Gala: Tuesday, Sept. 16, Rochester Convention Center, 11 a.m. Sponsorships available. Details: RochesterHBA.org.
Peter (closing): New York ranks near the bottom in business tax climate. There’s no special money tree—just opportunity, mission, and relentless work. RHBA’s monthly luncheons bring experts from all sectors because business isn’t skin color; it’s execution. Money’s not black, white, or brown—it’s green. Join, sponsor, build. Be a leader. God bless the United States.
