Latin American Business Council (LABC)

Gustavo Rodea has lived in Wilmington since 2008. He is married to Lupe Duran. Together
they have two boys, Anthony, age 13 and Leonardo, age 3. 
Gustavo Rodea is an entrepreneur who has 18 years of experience in the retail business world. Having
moved to the United States from the largest city in the world, Mexico City, Rodea began his career at
the tender age of 22 and became a successful entrepreneur. He attributes his success to the seminars,
books and continuing education that he pursued along the way, as well as his self-taught abilities
through trial and error. During the national economic recession of 2008, Rodea’s dream of becoming a
business owner were put on hold as he was forced to sell his company as part of a wise business
strategy to stay ahead.

Hey there, my name is Kristina Marie. I am co-owner of Cassian Films Inc, a video production company based here in Wilmington, NC. Our team loves to site see so you will often see videos of us traveling. As we continue to grow our mission to strengthen relationships remains unchangeable. I look forward to meeting you and your team! If you have a story to tell, we would love to share it through visual storytelling. Something fun about me: I enjoy singing and playing ukulele, spending time with my husband Cody Scott reading The Bible, hiking and playing with our dog Loki, and traveling to new places. If you have any questions I'm usually available to chat Monday through Friday anytime after 11am. Talk with you then!

I’m a Wilmington native and this is where I hope to stay for the rest of my life. I am committed to our community and to my goal of building a better life for future generations in my hometown, and I do my best to reflect that in my actions and in my business. 

I pride myself on making each transaction as smooth as possible, but my job doesn’t end at closing. I serve my clients as a real estate advisor, assisting them with everything from homeownership advice and investment opportunities, to helping navigate our community, local government, and school system. Being a Wilmington native with a lifetime of connections in the area means that my clients have access to the best professionals in the region.

I serve as the Community Liaison for Wilmington Health. I spend my time building relationships throughout the community with employers, healthcare providers, and the general public. I communicate with the community to bring awareness to healthcare issues and the services that we provide at Wilmington Health. 

Cassian Films is addressing the needs of small businesses by helping them forge stronger relationships with customers through visual storytelling. We start by defining success, clarify the message, and deliver on consumable content. We then support them when it’s needed with personal insights. This saves the company hundreds of thousands of dollars over a two-year period.

Travis Corpening is a Raleigh, NC native, a graduate of the University of North Carolina Wilmington and an author, speaker and consultant. Corpening considers it a blessing to have spent over 20 years improving personal development, equity, and student outcomes. In 2010 he created a company to train agencies to work with diverse groups of young people. Eventually he saw the need to expand the program and created a non-profit called the Young Mogul Development Group, teaching young men entrepreneurship and self-branding. In 2014 Travis was selected by StarNews of Wilmington as one of the 12 to Watch in the Cape Fear Region. Through his continued work, he has been recognized with numerous awards like the NAACP Youth Award and UNCW’s 2016 Young Alumn of the Year. In 2016, he achieved Best Paper at the Clute International Conference for writing and presenting on barriers for ex-offenders in higher education.

Chakema Clinton-Quintana is vice president of Inclusive Small Business at Live Oak Bank, where she leads the inclusive small business center. She focuses on strengthening and supporting inclusive small business growth in our communities and verticals through research, job creation programs, capital allocation, mentorship, and programming. Chakema has 19 years of banking experience and has a degree in business management from Strayer University in Herndon, Virginia. Her background includes foreclosure, real estate short sales, loss mitigation, relationship management, and compliance. Chakema currently serves on the board of directors for three non-profit organizations, including treasurer of Voyage Wilmington, treasurer of Red, Black, & Love, Inc., and board chair for The OOPS Foundation.

Hello Wilmington! I am a financial planner with Northwestern Mutual. My goal is to help individuals and business owners with creating and staying on a financial plan. I specialize in insurance, investments, and retirement planning. I am offering a free complementary financial plan to all my community members. Lets connect and see how we can grow together! 

We are Freshco Marketing Agency, a Latina-Owned Business established in Wilmington, NC by Jennifer Galeano. 

Our team of 10+ professionals, including Graphic Designers, Videographers, Writers, and social media experts, with 25+ years of combined experience, helps organizations and companies create and realize their goals through effective marketing and brand recognition. 

We were inspired to start in 2014, by business owners’ need for professional marketing solutions. 

Our founder, Jennifer Galeano, has a background in radio announcing, journalism, and social communication, and saw an opportunity to provide bilingual marketing services in the United States after moving from Bogota, Colombia. 

We thrive on developing fresh brands, producing effective marketing strategies, and serving our community with our creative expertise.

Paula Vargas is a realtor and broker serving the greater Wilmington, NC area. She is a top-rated real estate broker who has been featured in WILMA Magazine, named 40 Under 40 in 2023, and awarded the Icon Agent status at eXp Realty for being a high producer. She is dedicated to helping her clients with all kinds of real estate transactions such as home buying, selling, and has a special interest in luxury real estate. Contact her today or visit her website to learn more!

Hi, I am Alexander Reyes. I work in the sales department at Cape Fear Solar Systems. I focus on ensuring customers can take advantage of the power of the sun and turn sunlight into savings!!!!  I have lived in North Carolina for 20 years and I am a Wilmington native. My parents are both from San Luis Potosi, Mexico and I can truly say, I am proud to be a latino in the Wilmington area. 


Connect with Alex: http://www.linkedin.com/in/alexander-reyes-519675186

• Bilingual, licensed NC Home Loan Originator and Team Administrator with Joey Milam Mortgage Team at Alpha Mortgage Corporation. Assists the public with homebuying information and conducts 1st time Homebuyers Seminars. Marketing and administrative specialist.
• Bilingual, licensed NC Real Estate Agent for referrals only. At Home with Diversity (AHWD) Certified
• Registered agent and Executive Assistant to the owner of Custom Affordable Upholstery, LLC (a Wilmington, NC Latino-owned business)
• Volunteers personal time to promote local businesses and organizations on social media.
• Member of UNCW Latino Alliance, NAHREP, Cape Fear Housing Coalition, Latin American Business Council with Wilmington Chamber of Commerce.  
• BA in Spanish Language and Literature with Teacher Education Option, North Carolina State University, 1994
• Licenses: NMLS 2545371, Alpha 93265, NCREC 342988

Alesha Edison Westbrook is a nonprofit development and marketing pro who believes in the power of perseverance. For over 15 years, she has honed her skills to amplify the voices of those making a difference—turning captivating stories into community change. She is the current Communications Director at the Cape Fear Literacy Council (CFLC). A business owner, Edison Westbrook is a member of the Association of Fundraising Professionals and the African American Business Council. She is an executive board member of Queen Camp, Inc. and a member-at-large for the Superstar Academy Board of Directors.

I am the Chief Academic Officer for New Hanover County Schools. My primary responsibilities include overseeing academic programs and policies. Before this role, I served as an Executive Leadership Coach for Wake County Schools. I am currently in my twenty-seventh year in education. Throughout my career, I have found pleasure in serving my community by enhancing students’ lives. 

USUV Clean, LLC is a locally owned and operated business in Wilmington,
NC. USUV Clean specializes in distributing and installing FAR UVC 222
nanometer (nm) lighting units throughout North Carolina and South Carolina
while expanding to Texas and Florida. The 222 nm lighting is a long-term
multifaceted unit that will work beyond this COVID pandemic and position
our clients to be prepared with future protections. While there are endless
possibilities with this technology, our initial focus has been our school
systems to protect our future which is our children.

Ben Morman's career and experiences have spanned many industries and economic cycles.  After being made redundant through another corporate synergy exercise, Ben found founded The Works Insurance here in Wilmington, NC.  Ben now owns and operates a portfolio of small businesses and brands invested in the Insurance, Pet Food, Financial Services, Hemp, and Real Estate Industries.  These businesses are in varying stages of the business cycle and are all anchored around Ben’s passion for providing the best quality product and services supported by the best possible customer service.

Sady Escalante, a 2003 NC State Civil Engineering graduate and the founder of Excel Roofing Company since 2009. Beyond the business, I find joy in adventurous pursuits like kayaking, off-roading, skydiving, and motorcycle rides. Family is my cornerstone, and with my lovely wife Yani and three children, we embrace values of trust, integrity, and community responsibility. My academic background shapes my commitment to excellence, guiding both my personal and professional endeavors. Thank you for considering Excel Roofing – a reflection of my dedication to transforming roofing needs with durability, reliability, and satisfaction.

Jay Oglesby is Senior Director of Development for Liberty Senior Living, a division of Wilmington-based Liberty Health ("Liberty") that oversees acquisitions, development, and operation of Liberty's senior living community portfolio. Jay oversees Liberty’s Active Adult (55+) development projects, two properties under construction, and three in lease-up. Before commercial real estate and between undergrad at Ole Miss and business school at Thunderbird School of Global Management, Jay worked as a junior high teacher and chef. He and his wife, Jackie, of 30+ years have lived in Phoenix, Dallas, San Francisco, Tampa, Ft. Lauderdale, Charlotte, and Birmingham. They relocated to Wilmington last winter as empty nesters and have since immersed themselves in the local food and music scenes.