Book celebration
NAMC-Oregon, Portland
José M. Gómez and Mary V. Navarrete presented the book alongside several of the people whose stories it tells.
The new book by José M. Gómez and Mary V. Navarrete
How Latino businesses get built in the Northwest.
Real stories of Latino businesses in the Northwest: what the owners thought through, how they got organized, what they did, and what they built. Plus a method you can use on your own business.
¿Lo prefieres en español? El poder de los negocios latinos en el PNW
“We haven’t simply written a book; we have started a far-reaching conversation about the future of Latino small business entrepreneurs.”
Written in hard times. No complaining. No giving up.
New immigration policies. Families living with uncertainty. Owners moving carefully. Against that backdrop, this book asks for something less comfortable and more useful: think, organize, act, build.
It picks up where José M. Gómez’s earlier book, A Look at Successful Latino Small Businesses, left off, and goes further: a full model for growing a Latino small business.
- Editions
- English and Spanish
- Pages
- 422 in English, 403 in Spanish
- Foreword
- Nicole Davison L.
- Published
- August 30, 2026
- Publisher
- Special Novels Inc.
- Recognition
- Selected by the Instituto de Cultura Oregoniana for its program promoting Oregon literature.
The stories
Every business, a different road. One shared strength.
Roots in El Salvador, in Cuba and many other places. One Northwest.
Success stories from real clients: discipline, adaptability, business sense and resilience. Owners who turned hard work into companies that support their families and create opportunity close to home.
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Gaby Delgado
Business and city to be confirmed
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Eva and Armando
Business and city to be confirmed
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Alejandra PompaArgentine restaurant, opened in 2026
Restaurant name and city to be confirmed
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Kenia Madrigal and her husbandA project they share as a couple
Business and city to be confirmed
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Jesús Martínez
Business and city to be confirmed
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Astrid GálvezFrom San Salvador, El Salvador
Business and city to be confirmed
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Construction, plus a tire shop in Salem, Oregon
Name to be confirmed
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From Cuba. In business since 2022
Name and business to be confirmed
Preview. Photos from the October 10 celebration. Each story still needs its business, city and a line from the owner, and goes public only with each person’s permission.
The model, in four verbs.
- ThinkSee the business clearly before you move.
- OrganizeNumbers, processes and priorities in their place.
- ActDecide. Then do it.
- BuildGrow on solid ground.
More than thirty years working alongside Latino businesses. Two decades opening financial doors.
José M. Gómez
Born in Peru, José has spent more than three decades on the strategic growth of Latino small businesses, with a special focus on Oregon and Washington over the last decade. He leads GBX Resources, where he advises micro and small businesses on planning, processes and profitability. He is the author of A Look at Successful Latino Small Businesses.
Mary V. Navarrete
Mary has spent more than twenty years expanding financial inclusion and economic opportunity for historically underserved communities. She started at Point West Credit Union as a teller and is now its Vice President of Strategic Partnerships and Impact. She is vice president of the Pacific Northwest chapter of Juntos Avanzamos and has called Vancouver, Washington, home since 1997.
Past events
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Invite us to speakFor your team or your library.
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Speaking invitations, bulk orders, donations or press. A real person writes back.
Hear about the next event.
One email when there’s news. That’s it.