ETP Class of 2026 Graduates: Building the Future of Hispanic Business in NJ
May 22, 2026
The Statewide Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of New Jersey (SHCCNJ) is delighted to celebrate 50 new graduates of its Entrepreneurship Training Program (ETP) — Class of 2026. On May 15, 2026, entrepreneurs from communities across New Jersey gathered at Hudson County Community College in Jersey City to mark the program’s 12th year, which is another milestone in SHCCNJ’s long commitment to building small business success statewide.
Participation in ETP is entirely free.
From brand development and business planning to funding strategies and AI tools, this cohort came ready to learn and leaves ready to lead. Graduates like Jessenia Cosme, Nico Caraballo, Sandy Huerta and Sandra Garcia are proof that when you invest in entrepreneurs, communities thrive.
The People Behind the Number
At the ceremony, SHCCNJ Interim President John Lucas offered a reminder of what New Jersey’s Hispanic economic story is really about.
“A lot of people talk about the Hispanic economy. The number for New Jersey is $127 billion. But what matters to me isn’t the big number — it’s the people behind the number. It’s the businesses that make that number possible. And by having gone through ETP, having your own business, and actually growing it — using the skills, using the network — you’re going to make that $127 billion even bigger.”
That is exactly what this graduating class is doing.
A Blueprint for Building a Real Business
The ETP 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.
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. Dr. Borja also offers participants a weekly resource through ETP Corner, a 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. 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.”
What Graduates Are Saying
The program’s impact was already evident in participants’ businesses before graduation day.
“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®.” — Jessenia Cosme, ETP Class of 2026
“The experience of ETP has been great — building your brand voice, doing your canvas for your business plan, down to how to seek funding and working capital, using AI. It’s just all been really enlightening.” — ETP Graduate, Class of 2026
A Community Built Over 12 Years
Since its launch, SHCCNJ’s ETP, formerly HETP, has produced more than 1,400 alumni, entrepreneurs building businesses in every county 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.
The Class of 2026 ceremony welcomed SHCCNJ leadership, including Interim President John Lucas and Chairman Luis O. De la Hoz, board members, New Jersey business and community leaders, and alumni from previous ETP cohorts, a tradition that reflects the enduring community the program has built over more than a decade.
The Hispanic community contributes over $127 billion to New Jersey’s GDP. Programs like ETP help ensure that number keeps growing — one business at a time.
For more information or to register, visit www.shccnj.org or contact Daniela C. Velez at [email protected].
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