USHCC Foundation Congratulates Chairman Nina Vaca on Aspen Institute Fellowship

WASHINGTON, DC--(Marketwired - March 28, 2016) - This week the Aspen Institute announced its 2016 Class of Henry Crown Fellows, which included United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (USHCC) Foundation Chairman Nina Vaca. The Henry Crown Fellowship mobilizes a new form of trailblazers, all of whom are under the age of 45. The fellowship seeks to harness the professional success, talent, and motivation of these entrepreneurs to help build a better society.

The Henry Crown Fellowship brings together a group of twenty successful, thought-provoking leaders from both the private and public sectors. Over the course of two years, Henry Crown Fellows will spend four weeks in structured retreats. They will explore their leadership, core values, vision for a "Good Society", and their desired legacies. Although the Fellowship does focus on reflection it also emphasizes action. Each Fellow will launch a new venture which will create a positive impact on their communities, their country, or the world.

The selection of four Hispanic leaders for this year's Fellowship class is a testament not only to the growing influence of the community, but to the valuable contributions made by Hispanics as American innovators and job creators. Hispanic entrepreneurs lead the fastest-growing segment of American small business, starting new ventures at three times the rate of the general market. With 4.1 million Hispanic-owned businesses in the U.S. contributing more than $661 billion each year to our economy, these entrepreneurs and business leaders reflect the face of America today -- and more importantly, tomorrow. They are a national treasure, and we celebrate the increased focus on their achievements.

"The USHCC Foundation is proud to celebrate the selection of four talented Hispanic entrepreneurs and executives for the highly-regarded fellowship, which includes Foundation Chairman Nina Vaca, and Marcelo Claure, the CEO of Sprint Corporation -- a USHCC corporate partner. We also congratulate Mateo Jaramillo of Tesla Energy and Carla Piñeyro Sublett of Rackspace," said President & CEO Javier Palomarez. "Among them, these Fellows have created jobs for thousands of Americans and propelled their organizations to unprecedented success. They serve as a testament to the important contributions that the Hispanic business community makes to our American economy every day."

Palomarez added: "Nina Vaca is illustrative of this group. She is not only the consummate entrepreneur, but also, as exemplified by her work at the helm of the USHCC Foundation, a civic leader who understands that true success means giving back and lifting up others in her community and her country. She also inspired countless others across the globe with her message of empowerment and social responsibility. Nina is living proof that when women have equal access to opportunity, they are outstanding leaders and born entrepreneurs."

The USHCC Foundation pioneers programs that actively bolster the growth of both established and aspiring entrepreneurs and professionals, including America's women, youth, and local business leaders. At the Table is a national movement ensuring female entrepreneurs and corporate professionals are receiving the strategic resources, access, and influence they need to expand their enterprises and bolster their careers. The Foundation also supports America's next generation of business leaders. The BizFest program fosters the innovative spirit of high school and college students from coast to coast through Youth Entrepreneurship competitions and scholarships. Finally, the Foundation's Chamber Training Institute, delivered by faculty from the University of Notre Dame, provides professional training to local chamber leaders, fostering economic development by helping them better serve their millions of small business members nationwide.

About The Henry Crown Fellowship Program
The HCF Program was established in 1997 to honor the life and career of Chicago industrialist Henry Crown (1896-1990) and was initially funded by the Henry and Gladys Crown Charitable Trust Fund. The Fellowship is the flagship program within the Aspen Global Leadership Network (AGLN). The class of 2016 marks the 20th anniversary of the Henry Crown Fellowship.

About The Aspen Global Leadership Network (AGLN)
The AGLN is a growing, worldwide community of entrepreneurial leaders from business, government and the nonprofit sector -- currently, more than 2,100 Fellows from 49 countries -- who share a commitment to enlightened leadership and to using their extraordinary creativity, energy and resources to tackle the foremost societal challenges of our times. All share the common experience of participating in the Henry Crown Fellowship or one of the 17 Aspen Institute leadership initiatives it has inspired in the United States, Africa, Central America, India, the Middle East and China.

About The Aspen Institute
The Aspen Institute is an educational and policy studies organization based in Washington, DC. Its mission is to foster leadership based on enduring values and to provide a nonpartisan venue for dealing with critical issues. The Institute is based in Washington, DC; Aspen, Colorado; and on the Wye River on Maryland's Eastern Shore. It also has offices in New York City.

About the USHCC
The USHCC actively promotes the economic growth, development and interests of more than 4.1 million Hispanic-owned businesses, that combined, contribute over $661 billion to the American economy every year. It also advocates on behalf of 260 major American corporations and serves as the umbrella organization for more than 200 local chambers and business associations nationwide. For more information, visit www.ushcc.com.

About the USHCC Foundation
The mission of the USHCC Foundation is to enrich the experiences of future leaders in the world of business through life-long learning and support. The Foundation's initiatives awaken and nurture the entrepreneurial spirit, support business growth, strengthen local chambers and foster leaders. Please visit www.ushccfoundation.org for more information.