Northeast Ohio Hispanic Center for Economic Development

Jenice Contreras, Executive Director

Jenice Contreras is an established leader in small business and community development, healthcare and nonprofit management. Currently, she...

Jenice Contreras is an established leader in small business and community development, healthcare and nonprofit management. Currently, she serves as the Executive Director of the Northeast Ohio Hispanic Center for Economic Development (the Center). Under the Center, Jenice is responsible for the NEO Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, the Small Business Development Center (SBDC) and community development. Jenice is a driving force around the neighborhood redevelopment efforts in Cleveland’s Clark-Fulton neighborhood known as La Villa Hispana. La Villa Hispana is a cultural and economic placemaking initiative in the most densely populated Hispanic enclave in the state of Ohio. Jenice earned her Bachelor of Arts degree from Capital University and an Executive Master of Business Administration from The Ohio State University Fisher College of Business. Jenice serves on the Board for the Center for Community Solutions and is a member of the City of Cleveland’s Near West Design Review Committee. In 2017, Jenice completed a fellowship through the Business Alliance for Living Local Economies (BALLE) and also served as the Faculty Chair for the National League of Cities Equitable Economic Development Fellowship. Most recently, Jenice is part of the steering committee of the Cleveland Innovation Project, she was recognized on Crain’s Cleveland Magazine’s 2019 Woman of Note in Non-Profit. In 2018, Crain’s Cleveland Business Magazine also recognized Jenice as a Notable Woman in Real Estate, was awarded the 2018 YWCA Woman of Achievement and was the 2017 Ohio Latino Affairs Commission’s Distinguished Hispanic Ohioan. She is an advocate in addressing racial diversity and representation of people of color. Jenice was born in Puerto Rico, is bilingual, bicultural and is proud of her heritage. She is a mother of two young adults (Karl & Kyle) and continues to ensure growth in economic and community development for Latinx in the City of Cleveland.

Randy Cedeño, Director, Small Business Development Center

Randy Cedeño joined the Hispanic Business Center in 2015 providing Spanish and English consulting to businesses ranging from pre-venture...

Randy Cedeño joined the Hispanic Business Center in 2015 providing Spanish and English consulting to businesses ranging from pre-venture through maturity in a wide variety of industries including hospitality, technology, service and construction companies. He tailor designs and helps implement technical solutions customized to meet client’s needs, legal compliance, industry regulations, organizational policies, professional codes and reviews established business policies, procedures and recommends new ways to approach goal fulfillment. During his time at HBC, Randy has developed and presented numerous training programs to entrepreneurs on business plans, marketing, financing, capability statements and strategic planning. In 2016 he completed the Certified Business Advisor program through the State of Ohio and the University of Toledo. Graduate level work that fine-tuned his ability to provide Human Resources, Accounting/Finance and Marketing counseling to entrepreneurs. A palpable need for bilingual construction business advising prompted HBC to take action and create the construction initiative. Randy’s bilingual and bicultural fluency, experience in the construction trades in tandem with his completion of the Turner School of Construction Management program have helped him lead the Initiative efforts. Son of community leaders, born and raised in Cleveland’s La Villa Hispana district, his commitment to his community is unwavering.

Luis Cartagena, Business Advisor Financial Management

Luis Cartagena is passionate about helping others find success through education and entrepreneurship. As President/CEO of Cartagena CPA &...

Luis Cartagena is passionate about helping others find success through education and entrepreneurship. As President/CEO of Cartagena CPA & Consultants, LLC he provides accounting, tax, financial management and consulting services to individuals, and small to medium size companies. In his previous role as Inclusion Officer for Cuyahoga County, he focused on providing diversity outreach to vendors, potential vendors, stakeholders, and the community. Cartagena also provided support internally and externally regarding the County’s inclusion initiatives. Cartagena worked as the Strategic Planning Business Advisor with the Minority Business Development Agency Business Center

George Pimentel, Business Advisor Accounting Services

George Pimentel is the president of Small Business Accounting Services LLC, an accounting office that provides support to small business...

George Pimentel is the president of Small Business Accounting Services LLC, an accounting office that provides support to small business owners in the Greater Cleveland Area. He is a graduate of Indiana Wesleyan University, where he received a B.A. in Accounting. George launched his career working for multiple Fortune 500 companies and not-for-profit organizations. In 2010, he became director of one of the State of Ohio / SBA-funded programs (SBDC) to work with small businesses in Cuyahoga County. Here, he assisted business owners with their growth plans, financial analysis and business planning. In 2012, he opened his accounting office to the public. His services specialize in full accounting support to small businesses, including CFO consulting. He is a Certified Quickbooks Pro-Advisor since 2012, a proud graduate of the Goldman Sach’s program “10K Small Businesses,” and an active member of the Community Outreach “FBI Citizens’ Academy.” Pimentel, with his accounting background, business advisor’s expertise, and his knowledge in the Accounting System Quickbooks (Intuit) has been able to help hundreds of business owners to organize and grow their business operations.

Cole Worley, Business Advisor Marketing