PEOPLE, DRIVING
PROGRESS.
As Central Florida’s Hispanic business landscape continues to grow and evolve, Pedro Turushina, President & CEO of the Hispanic Chamber of Metro Orlando, shares his perspective on the opportunities and challenges shaping the region and how the Chamber is building connections, expanding opportunities and helping businesses thrive.
INTERVIEW WITH PEDRO
TURUSHINA, PRESIDENT & CEO
OF THE HISPANIC CHAMBER OF
METRO ORLANDO
Central Florida’s Hispanic business community continues to grow in size and influence. What opportunities
do you see ahead for the region?
Central Florida is experiencing tremendous growth, and the business community is playing an increasingly important role in that momentum. Across Orange, Osceola and Seminole counties, entrepreneurs represent an important and growing part of our regional economy as 1 in every 4 small business identifies as Hispanic owned company.
But growth alone is not the goal. The opportunity ahead is converting demographic and entrepreneurial growth into economic growth with more businesses scaling, more contracts awarded, more jobs created, greater access to capital and more leaders participating in the decisions shaping our region.
At the Hispanic Chamber, we see our role as helping build those connections and ensuring businesses have access to the relationships, resources and opportunities they need to compete and grow.
And that impact extends far beyond the Hispanic community. When businesses succeed, they create jobs, strengthen industries and contribute to a more competitive and prosperous Central Florida.
What are some of the most pressing challenges Hispanic entrepreneurs and business leaders are navigating today, and how is the Chamber helping address them?
One of the biggest challenges we continue to hear from our members is economic uncertainty. When business owners are unsure about what lies ahead, they may hesitate to make important decisions whether that means hiring, expanding, accessing capital or investing in something new. Access to funding, finding skilled talent and navigating available business resources remain ongoing concerns as well.
Our role is to help businesses move from uncertainty to informed action.
We connect entrepreneurs with trusted resources, educational opportunities, potential partners and organizations that can help them make better-informed decisions. We also create opportunities for business owners to learn from one another and build relationships that can support their growth.
Sometimes the challenge isn’t that resources don’t exist; it’s knowing where to find them, how to access them and who can open the right door. Helping close that information gap and connecting businesses to meaningful opportunities is an important part of what we do.
How is the Chamber creating stronger connections between businesses and Central Florida’s broader economic ecosystem?
We see the Chamber as a bridge between businesses and Central Florida’s broader economic ecosystem. We work closely with corporations, government agencies, economic development organizations, educational institutions and community partners to better understand where opportunities exist and help connect our members to them.
But creating connections is only part of the equation. Businesses also need to be prepared when those opportunities arise.
Through supplier development initiatives, business education, executive programming, strategic partnerships, networking opportunities and regional and international engagement, we help entrepreneurs strengthen their capabilities, build relationships and position themselves to compete for contracts and pursue new markets.
Today, our network includes more than 2,600 active members and 60 corporate Trustees, giving us significant reach to help facilitate those connections.
Ultimately, our goal is not simply to bring people together. It is to help turn relationships into meaningful opportunities for growth.
Why is representation at the decision-making table important to the future of Central Florida’s business community?
Representation matters because the people at the table help shape the decisions that influence our economy, businesses and communities. As Central Florida continues to grow and evolve, the voices contributing to those decisions should reflect the people, businesses and experiences that make up our region.
We want to see talented business leaders and professionals from across our community represented in executive leadership, corporate boards, civic organizations and the institutions helping shape Central Florida’s future.
Part of our responsibility is ensuring professionals and entrepreneurs have pathways into those rooms and are prepared to contribute once they get there.
For us, representation is not simply about having a seat at the table. It is about having a meaningful voice once you are there.
Creating pathways for leaders to contribute, influence and lead strengthens organizations, expands opportunity and ultimately helps build a more competitive Central Florida.
What upcoming Chamber event should Orlando magazine have on its radar?
The 29th Annual Don Quijote Awards is one of Central Florida’s premier celebrations of Hispanic business and professional excellence.
Presented by the Hispanic Chamber of Metro Orlando and Prospera, the event recognizes outstanding entrepreneurs, professionals and community leaders whose vision, determination and contributions are helping strengthen our region.
This year’s celebration will take place on Saturday, December 12, 2026, at EPCOT’s World ShowPlace Pavilion. Beyond recognizing exceptional leaders, the Don Quijote Awards brings together Central Florida’s business community for an evening of meaningful connections, inspiration and celebration.
We invite businesses and community leaders to be part of this signature event. Visit DonQuijoteAwards.com to register, explore sponsorship opportunities and learn more.
As you look ahead, what are the Hispanic Chamber of Metro Orlando’s top priorities for the remainder of 2026 and into 2027?
We are very optimistic about where the Chamber is headed.
Our priorities include strengthening membership and Trustee engagement, moving to our new location at Creative Village with the National Entrepreneur Center, creating greater opportunities for businesses to connect with the region’s economic ecosystem across all three counties, Orange, Osceola and Seminole, and continuing to build an organization capable of serving a growing Central Florida.
At the center of those priorities is one of our core values: empowerment.
For us, empowerment means giving our members and constituents the tools, connections, resources and visibility they need to succeed regardless of economic conditions. It also means strengthening partnerships and ensuring businesses and professionals are active participants in Central Florida’s continued growth.
I started my entrepreneurial journey at 22. Fifteen years later, I have the privilege of leading an organization whose purpose is to help thousands of other entrepreneurs and professionals build their own journeys. I don’t take that responsibility lightly.
What excites me most about the future is not simply making the Chamber bigger. It is making the Chamber more valuable.
More connections that become contracts. More introductions that become partnerships. More entrepreneurs who gain access to resources and capital. More professionals who step into leadership. And more companies that recognize the business community as an essential part of their growth strategy.
None of this happens because of one person. Our progress is possible because of an extraordinary Board of Directors, corporate Trustees, members, partners, volunteers and staff who continue investing their time, resources and leadership in this organization.
Our responsibility now is to honor that investment by continuing to build the Chamber that Central Florida will need for the next 30 years.
YOUR NEXT OPPORTUNITY STARTS HERE
Join a growing network of entrepreneurs, professionals, businesses and community partners committed to turning connections into opportunities and opportunities into economic impact. Whether you are launching a business, growing an organization or leading an established company, there is a place for you in the Hispanic Chamber community.
JOIN. CONNECT. GROW. LEAD. HISPANICCHAMBER.COM