Zulma Velez-Estrada was born and raised in San Juan Puerto Rico, where she studied at the University High School and the University of Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras Campus. She received a BBA in Management and studies at the Americas University toward her MBA in Finance and Management.
She initiated her professional career working with Health Care manufacturing industries in Puerto Rico, assuming leadership roles as Administration Director for ITT Qume Caribe, Baxter Travenol Corp., among others.
She was also a Management Consultant for the Energy and Environmental Research Studies Department for the University of Puerto Rico, for three years until 1991, when she decided to migrate to Florida.
She has dedicated her last 31 years working
with and for the community in Leadership roles, as Governmental Operations Consultant and Community Outreach for the Department of Children and Families, where she was responsible for 71 Community Partners in Osceola County.
Developed and coordinated a “Community Awareness Program” with the vision to Empower Frontline Staff, Effect Program Improvements, Enable Family Accountability, and Engage Communities in Osceola and Orange counties.
Developed the First Hispanic Leaders Meeting
with the Department of Children and Families
CFL Senior Staff, and developed the Hispanic Media Database for Central Region. Coordinated the participation of Circuit 9 (Osceola County) employees at their first 150k Meals Packing Event for underprivileged Osceola County kids and the Celebration Foundation. Developed and coordinated the first Pastor’s Seminar on Domestic Violence in Osceola and Orange counties, in cooperation with DCF and other organizations, preventing Domestic
Violence.
Zulma was the Puerto Rico Federal Affairs Administration ( PRFAA) Interim Manager, and Director for the Non-Partisan Education and Registration Program “Que Nada Nos Detenga”
for the PRFAA, from 2003-2004 where under her leadership 63,000 new voters were registered.
She was also responsible for the local media production, radio spots, and host program, propaganda dissemination campaign, and managed field operations for over 70 field employees
and 9 Areas Supervisors. While in PRFAA, she also developed the First International Voting & Education Festival at the Orlando Lake Eola Park, with over 29 international organizations represented.
Ms. Velez-Estrada worked for four (4) years as
the International Business and Trade Specialist
for the Metro Orlando International Affairs Economic Development Commission, where she had the responsibility of working with the Latin and Hispanic European markets, leading business missions, and receiving International governmental and private industries representatives, to Central Florida businesses and institutions, opening new businesses opportunities and marketing trends.
Developed and implemented the International Export Roadshow and counseled over 125 companies on how to export products abroad and developed Trade Missions to Venezuela, Chile, Argentina, and Puerto Rico.
Zulma has worked to enhance Hispanic electoral participation responsible as the feminine voice, for the first non-partisan political education-driven radio program in Osceola County, addressed to the Latino Community in 1993. Ms. Velez-Estrada was until recently Executive Director (Interim)
for Alianza Center organization and holds the position of Senior Advisor, for Alianza for Progress organization.
