STAFF

The HEDC staff are responsible for the ongoing operations of the organization and consists of the Executive Director, Manager of Business and Economic Development, Manager of Resource Development and Administration, and Business Development Specialist. The current staff members are:

Bernardo Ramirez has been the Executive Director of the Hispanic Economic Development Corporation (HEDC) since April, 2007. Bernardo is responsible for the daily operations of the agency including program planning that follows a strategic vision measured through accountability.

He has over 20 years experience working with community-based organizations and advocating on behalf of Americans of Hispanic descent. Mr. Ramirez was the Deputy Vice President of the Office of Technical Assistance and Constituency Support in the National Council of La Raza’s (NCLR) Washington, DC headquarters. Mr. Ramirez managed and coordinated the programs of NCLR’s five regional offices in Chicago, Los Angeles, Phoenix, San Antonio, and Washington, DC. Prior to that he served as the Director of NCLR’s Midwest Regional Office in Chicago providing training and technical assistance to 50 NCLR Midwest affiliates and other Latino organizations. Most recently Ramirez was the Associate Director at the Guadalupe Center, Inc. in Kansas City.

In 1993, Mr. Ramirez left NCLR to obtain a master’s degree in business administration. He graduated from Rockhurst College in Kansas City, Missouri in 1996.

Mr. Ramirez currently serves on the board of directors of the Council on Philanthropy and on May, 2007 was appointed by Mayor Funkhouser to Kansas City’s Economic Development/Incentive Policy – Task Force. Mr. Ramirez currently sits on the boards of directors of the Economic Development Corporation of Kansas City and the National Association of Latino Community Asset Builders, headquartered in San Antonio, Texas.
 

Richard Zarate is a native of Kansas City, where for the past 11 years he has been involved with the Hispanic community in both Kansas and Missouri. He has experience working with educational institutions, large corporations, small businesses and non-profit organizations for business and economic development.

Richard is responsible for the agency’s business development program and provides technical assistance and consultation to aspiring and existing entrepreneurs. In addition, Richard is a certified national facilitator for the Fast Trak’s Primer Paso, a Spanish-language business planning certified course. Richard also hosts Momento Empresarial, a Spanish-only live radio program on La Super X, 1250 am that involves listeners and other aspiring entrepreneurs.

Richard received his Bachelor’s Degree from Park University, Master’s Degree from Baker University and a Master’s degree from Avila University.