List of Puerto Ricans - Business People and Industrialists

Business People and Industrialists

• Deborah Aguiar-Vélez
  Aguiar-Vélez is the founder, president, and chief executive officer of Sistemas Corporation, She is nationally recognized for her innovative leadership in the areas of entrepreneurship, technical development of support systems, and for her public service. In 1990 she was named the Outstanding Woman of the Year in Economic Development
• Carlota Alfaro
  Fashion designer
• Aída Álvarez
  First Puerto Rican and first Hispanic woman to hold a sub-cabinet level position in the White House (Small Business Administrator 1997–2000).
• José Berrocal
  Youngest president of PR Government Development Bank, annual scholarships are awarded in his memory.
• Rafael Carrión, Sr.
  Carrión was the patriarch of one Puerto Rico's financial dynasties and a founding father of Banco Popular de Puerto Rico, the largest bank in Puerto Rico and the largest Hispanic bank in the United States.
• Richard Carrión
  Chairman of the Board Banco Popular, chairman International Olympic Committee's finance committee.
• Kimberly Casiano
  Member Board of Directors of Ford Motor Company.
• Ramiro L. Colon
  First administrator of Cooperativa de Cafeteros de Puerto Rico, Café Rico (official coffee of the Vatican).
• Francisco J. Collazo
  Founder of "COLSA Corporation", a first-rate provider of engineering and support services in Huntsville, Alabama.
• Atilano Cordero Badillo
  Founder of Supermercados Grande.
• Carmen Ana Culpeper
  Former SBA Regional Director, first female PR Treasury Secretary and PR Telephone Company President.
• Oscar de la Renta
  Fashion designer (Puerto Rican father)
• Fernando Fernández
  Founder of "Ron del Barrilito" and "Alcoholado Santa Ana".
• José Ramon Fernández "Marqués de La Esperanza"
  The wealthiest sugar baron in Puerto Rico in the 19th century. He was also considered one of the most powerful men of the entire Spanish Caribbean.
• Antonio Luis Ferré
  Owner of Ferré-Rangel media emporium.
• Luis A. Ferré
  Founder of the Puerto Rico Cement and Ponce Cement companies (see also Governors).
• Jaime Fonalledas
  Fonalledas is the President and CEO of Empresas Fonalledas, which owns Plaza Las Américas, the largest shopping mall in the Caribbean and one of the top retail and entertainment venues in the world. Empresas Fonalledas companies include Plaza Del Caribe, Tres Monjitas, Vaqueria Tres Monjitas, Ganaderia Tres Monjitas, and franchise Soft & Creamy.
• José Juan García a.k.a. "CheJuan"
  Founder of "Hogares Crea".
• Eduardo Georgetti
  Was an agriculturist, businessman, philanthropist, politician and the wealthiest sugar baron in Puerto Rico.
• María Elena Holly
  Widow of rock legend Buddy Holly who owns the rights to Buddy's name, image, trademarks, and other intellectual property.
• Ramón López Irizarry
  Inventor of Coco López.
• Miguel A. García Méndez
  Founder of Western Federal Savings Bank, which later became the now defunct Westernbank Puerto Rico.
• Gildo Massó
  Founder of Massó Enterprises and Casa's Massó.
• Ralph Mercado
  Founder of RMM Records and music producer.
• Luis Miranda Casañas
  CEO of the multi-state Universal insurance emporium.
• Lisette Nieves
  Founder of "ATREVETE".
• Wilbert Parkhurst
  In 1921, founded "Empresas La Famosa, Inc." a Fruit processing company that by 1971 consisted of "Frozen Fruits Concentrates, Inc.", "Toa Canning Co.", "La Concentradora de Puerto Rico" and "Bayamón Can Company".
• Rafael Pérez Perry
  In 1960 founded television channel 11 also known as "Telecadena Pérez Perry". The same became known as "Tele Once" in 1986.
• Samuel A. Ramirez, Sr.
  President and founder of Ramirez and Co., the largest Hispanic investment banking firm on Wall Street.
• Ángel Ramos
  Founder of Telemundo television network.
• Gaspar Roca
  Founder of newspaper "El Vocero"
• Chino Rodríguez
  Latin music industry empresario, musical artist manager, owner of Latin Music Booking and the recording label/distribution company Oriente Music Group (OMG).
• Miguel Ruíz
  Founder of Café Yaucono company
• Herb Scannell
  Former Chairman of MTV Networks and president of Nickelodeon.
• Juan Serralles
  Founder of "Don Q" rum.
• Nina Tassler
  President of CBS Entertainment. She is the highest profile Latina in network television and one of the few executives who has the power to greenlight series.
• Joseph A. Unanue
  Former president and CEO of Goya Foods, son of company founder.
• Alfonso Valdés Cobián
  Co-founder of Cervecería India, Inc., the Puerto Rican winter baseball league and owner of the Indios de Mayagüez (Mayagüez Indians).
• Camalia Valdés
  Valdés is the President and CEO of Cerveceria India, Inc., Puerto Rico's largest brewery.
• Salvador Vassallo
  Founder of Vassallo Industries Inc. and subsidiaries.
• Richard Velazquez
  businessman and community leader, former President of NSHMBA Puerto Rico, co-founder and CEO of NSHMBA SeattleFirst Puerto Rican automotive designer for Porsche, First Puerto Rican Product Planner for Xbox 360
• Maria Vizcarrondo-De Soto
  Vizcarrondo-De Soto is the first woman and Latina to become the President and CEO of the United Way of Essex and West Hudson.