Introducing SMSDC's MBEIC Chair - Nicole Navarro Velesiotis

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Introducing SMSDC's MBEIC Chair, Nicole Navarro Velesiotis

Austin, TX, April 12, 2023 - On February 23, 2023, during the Annual Stakeholders' Meeting in San Antonio, TX, Nicole Navarro Velesiotis was elected as the SMSDC's new MBEIC Chair. Nicole has been a certified MBE for over 15 years! Most recently serving as President of Oveana & Vice President of Santana Group. With five certified MBE companies, Nicole demonstrates leadership and commitment towards SMSDC and its certified MBEs.

"For over 15 years, our companies have directly benefited, not only from certification but also from direct involvement and participation with regional and national council events. As a result, we have experienced substantial growth. Minority-certified businesses are eager to grow and deserve proper representation from experienced business leaders who can continue leading the way to certification, connections, and business growth. I believe this is the right time for me to represent Minority Business Enterprises in our region," stated Nicole.

Nicole's short-term goals include engaging in person (via town halls) with MBEs throughout the council region and partnering with council staff to ensure MBEs and members feel represented and engaged. Her long-term goals include driving the concept of a business ecosystem to include MBEs, corporations, and other stakeholders through continuous communication, intentional participation, connection, and business opportunity generation.

"SMSDC believes Nicole is the ideal MBEIC Chair to lead our certified MBEs in their growth and success," said Karen Box, President of SMSDC. "We are all impressed with her company's strong track record of innovation, operational excellence, development, and continuous growth."

Nicole is ready to get SMSDC's certified MBEs engaged in the MBEIC community. "I have already had many MBEs reach out about serving on committees and potentially serving as a representative in their geographic region. If you are interested in such opportunities, please get in touch with me," said Nicole.

Nicole Navarro Velesiotis

email: nicole.navarro@santanagroup.com

phone: 210-978-0875.

Nicole Navarro Velesiotis

President, Oveana

Nicole Navarro Velesiotis serves as President of Oveana & Vice President of Santana Group and currently has day today oversight of two Santana Group companies, Integrated Human Capital (IHC) and Oveana.

IHC, a Texas-based staffing company with offices in San Antonio, Plano, and El Paso, delivers workforce solutions to companies across all industries throughout Texas and the United States.

Oveana is a Business Process Outsourcing solutions company that provides services such as

contact center support, document management services, document processing and scanning

and imaging services.

Navarro Velesiotis launched her career at IHC in 2005, joining her trailblazing mother, Santana

Group President and CEO Rosa Santana, and sister, Lisa Navarro-Gonzales, in the family

business. She graduated from the University of Texas at San Antonio where she received a BA in

Communication with an emphasis in Public Relations. Upon joining IHC as a Staffing Supervisor,

Navarro Velesiotis discovered a passion for working with people, identifying client needs,

winning accounts and delivering strategic solutions.

During her first 10 years at IHC, Navarro Velesiotis worked in several positions within the

company, gaining invaluable experience and knowledge. Her expertise at uncovering clients’

needs and creating solutions to meet them quickly established Navarro Velesiotis as a sales

leader. Her commitment to innovative, client-focused solutions has been the driving force for

IHC's growth in the San Antonio market. Navarro Velesiotis now oversees branch operations for

IHC in the United States as well as Oveana. Additionally, she works closely with Forma, ensuring

their success through leadership and people operations.

Navarro Velesiotis honed her leadership skills by participating in Leadership San Antonio, the

Alexander Briseno Leadership Development Program, and the San Antonio Small Business

Development Center's Building Business Excellence Program. She was selected for and

completed the competitive Building a High-Performing Minority Business program at the Tuck

School of Business at Dartmouth.

Following her mother's example of community service, Navarro Velesiotis is also active in San

Antonio where she has served on the board of Restore Education and David’s Legacy

Foundation. She currently sits on the board for the American Red Cross and the San Antonio

Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.

About SMSDC

About the Southwest Minority Supplier Development Council (SMSDC) The SMSDC is a non-profit organization dedicated to certifying, connecting, developing and advocating MBEs. Through active leadership & professional education, the SMSDC works with major corporations throughout the United States and MBEs within the Central & Southwest Texas regions, Oklahoma and New Mexico to increase participation in diversity programs.

Media Contact:

Name: Mayra Pena

Title: Director of Corporate Services & Communications

Phone: 915-433-0612

Email address: mayra@smsdc.org