SHCCNJ Celebrates 50 Graduates of its Entrepreneurship Training Program at Hudson County Community College  

Chamber‘s flagship bilingual certificate program marks another milestone in its 12-year commitment to building small business success across New Jersey  

LYNDHURST, N.J. — The Statewide Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of New Jersey (SHCCNJ) will celebrate the graduation of 50 entrepreneurs from its Entrepreneurship Training Program (ETP) on May 15, 2026, at Hudson County Community College in Jersey City. The ceremony marks the program’s 12th year — and its continued standing as one of the Chamber’s most in-demand offerings for new and early-stage business owners. Participation is entirely free. 

The ETP is a bilingual certificate program for entrepreneurs with businesses five years old or fewer. Through a hybrid format of virtual and in-person sessions, participants build skills across the full range of business fundamentals — market research, marketing strategy, social media, capital access, legal structures, financial management and risk. This year’s cohort represents communities from counties across New Jersey, reflecting the program’s statewide reach. 

The curriculum is led by a team of entrepreneur-practitioners and experienced instructors: Dr. Jairo Borja, SHCCNJ Vice President of Corporate & Entrepreneurship Programs; Reina Valenzuela, small business owner and founder of Starfish Global; and Tatiana Orozco, owner of Orozco Digital. Throughout the program, Dr. Borja offers participants an additional resource through ETP Corner, a weekly recap that reinforces key session takeaways and keeps entrepreneurs engaged between classes. 

“This wasn’t just a class — this was a full blueprint for building a real business,” said Dr. Jairo Borja. “You didn’t just touch strategy, marketing, AI, operations, and capital — you went into customer discovery, legal, sales, financials, risk — the stuff that actually determines if you win or not. Graduation isn’t the finish line — it’s the starting point. Take what you built here, apply it, scale it, and go create real impact — for yourself, your family, and your community.” 

The program’s impact is already showing up in participants’ businesses before graduation day arrives. 

“Graduating alongside other driven entrepreneurs is something I have been looking forward to, and the tools this program gave me have already started showing up in real, tangible ways inside JCsArtDesigns®,” said Jessenia Cosme, ETP Class of 2026. 

Since its launch, SHCCNJ’s ETP has produced more than 1,400 alumni, drawing participants from communities across New Jersey. The program’s hybrid model has been key to expanding access statewide, allowing entrepreneurs to engage fully without stepping away from the businesses they are building. 

SHCCNJ leadership — including Interim President John Lucas and Chairman Luis O. De la Hoz — board members, and New Jersey business and community leaders will join the graduating class. The ceremony will also welcome back alumni from previous ETP cohorts, a tradition that reflects the enduring community the program has built over more than a decade. 

Registration for future SHCCNJ programming is open. Contact Daniela C. Velez at [email protected] or visit www.shccnj.org. 

About  

SHCCNJ is the leading voice for 150,000+ Latino-owned businesses, representing a community that drives $127 billion of New Jersey’s GDP and is part of the $4 trillion U.S. Latino economy. Since 1989, we’ve championed small businesses through education, advocacy and networking, earning the Candid Platinum Seal of Transparency and recognition as one of the nation’s top Latino chambers. 

For more information or to register, visit www.shccnj.org.