Albany Area Chamber’s Holmes among Georgia’s ’50 Most Influential Latinos’

ALBANY, Ga. – For the second consecutive year, the Georgia Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (GHCC) has named Albany Area Chamber of Commerce President & CEO Bárbara Rivera Holmes one of the 50 “Most Influential Latinos” in Georgia. The prestigious recognition celebrates Holmes’ service and unwavering dedication to the Hispanic community in Georgia.

Established in 2018, the “50 Most Influential Latinos” in Georgia seeks to honor individuals who have made exceptional contributions to the state of Georgia. According to the Latino Policy & Politics Institute, Latinos are Georgia’s third-largest ethnic group.

“Latinos play a role in every sector of life, education and commerce in Georgia, contributing significantly to the state’s historic success and, in many areas, leading the state,” said Holmes, a native of San Juan, Puerto Rico, an American territory. “My family sought refuge in America, and to serve her and our state of Georgia is a great privilege and responsibility. I am humbled and agradecida to be included among the ‘50 Most Influential Latinos’ honorees.”

Holmes, a first-generation American, learned to speak English at age seven, when her immediate family moved to from the commonwealth island to Central Florida. Her mother’s family is Cuban, and sought political asylum in America as a result of the Cuban Revolution.

The U.S. Hispanic population reached 63.6 million in 2022, up from 50.5 million in 2010, according to the Pew Research Center. The 26 percent increase in the Hispanic population was faster than the nation’s 8 percent growth rate. Today, Hispanics make up nearly one-in-five people in the United States (19 percent), up from 16 percent in 2010 and just 5 percent in 1970.

As consumers, Latinos represent a $1 trillion market, and their spending power is rising, with a 6 percent compounded annual growth in the last decade, compared to 3 percent for the non-Latino White population, shows a McKinsey & Co. report citing data from the U.S. Census Bureau and U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

The recognition was made at the Georgia Hispanic Chamber’s “50 Most Influential Latinos” ceremony on September 15 at Truist Park in Atlanta. The event was presented by Truist, hosted by the Atlanta Braves and supported by Park Place Operations. Remarks were shared by U.S. Senator Jon Ossoff; Georgia House Speaker Jon Burns; Georgia Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner John King; Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens; Braves President and CEO Derek Schiller; and Katherine Saez, EVP, CTP Georgia Region president of Truist. In attendance were more than 450 civic, business and community leaders from Georgia who propel statewide economic impact and community advancement.

“Our awards recognition is a celebration of our community’s impact and contribution to our great state,” said Veronica Maldonado-Torres, GHCC president and CEO. “It serves as a reminder on how each of us has the potential to change the narrative and leave a legacy for those that follow.”

The event was emceed by 11 Alive News journalist Paola Turo and attended by most of Georgia’s English- and Spanish-speaking major media outlets, as well as a visit from The New York Times.

The honoree list includes professionals from business, sports, entertainment, technology, healthcare, politics and more. At the event, the GHCC also announced the latest inductees to its Hall of Fame, including Cox Senior Vice President of Corporate Affairs Bob Jimenez and Brenda Lopez Romero, senior district attorney for the Gwinnett Judicial Circuit.

“Honoring and highlighting the powerful contributions of our ‘50 Most Influential Latinos’ in Georgia is our duty and we proudly elevate them in character, impact, connectivity and honor their role in our communities,” said Maldonado-Torres.

Hundreds of nominations were received at the GHCC this year and went through a rigorous process to evaluate contributions each nominee has made. The final selection was based on the degree of influence each person exhibited in their role as a representative of the Latino community.

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