DANIEL HUMBERTO JARA

Dr. Daniel H. Jara, founding president of the Statewide Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of New Jersey, a network of local Hispanic Chambers and businesses that seeks to represent the economic interest of over Seventy-two thousand small businesses in the garden state and the Philadelphia area.  Owner of Rimac Agency, Inc.  An insurance, Hispanic market and international trade consulting firm located in Hackensack, NJ. Daniel was born in Lima, Peru; where he obtained his primary and early secondary education, came to New Jersey at age 14 and graduated from Eastside H.S. in Paterson. He attended Rutgers University obtaining a Bachelor's Degree in Economics and Accounting and M.A. in Finance and Business Administration; while in Rutgers he served as President of the Rutgers Newark Program Board and led several Hispanic student and community organizations. Daniel is an Honorary Member of the Rutgers Leadership Recognition Society. Daniel is President of The Peruvian-American National Roundtable (PANR) is a private, non-partisan, non-profit corporation seeking to bring together the different voices of all people of Peruvian origin in the United States.

In 1989 at the 10th National Convention of Hispanic Chambers of Commerce in New Orleans, Daniel was elected to serve as director of the United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce representing 14 states on the national board; In 1992 Daniel was appointed to Chair the national Hispanic legislative Forum in Washington DC, Daniel was also the  Chair of  the 1993 National Convention of the United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce in New York. In 1993, Dr. Jara was elected by his peers to serve as Vice Chairman of the Board of the United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, a National organization that represents the economic interest of 1,250,000 Hispanic firms in the U.S. and Puerto Rico. From 1998 to 2005, NJBiz, New Jersey’s most famous business publication, released a list of the top 50 chambers in NJ in which first place was given to The Statewide Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of NJ, which is under Dr. Jara’s leadership. In September of 2003, SHCC was bestowed the Distinguished Statewide Latino Organization Honorary Award by the Latino Leadership Alliance of New Jersey, an umbrella of the Hispanic organizations in the Garden State.

Daniel's national leadership has reflected in fostering economic growth and visibility to New Jersey.  Daniel has been listed in the 100 most influential Hispanics in the nation by Hispanic Business Magazine. Dr. Jara is a past president, for two consecutive terms, of the Greater Paterson Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and served on the Governor's Advisory Council on Minority Business Development, Director Permanent Secretariat Hemispheric Congress of Latin Chambers of Commerce and Industry base in Miami representing New Jersey, Daniel was appointed by New Jersey Governor Christine Whitman to serve in Prosperity New Jersey Inc., a Public and Private Partnership. In September of 1998 Daniel Jara was listed in the elite group of the New Jersey's 100 most influential business individuals by Business News New Jersey. Daniel is also a trustee of the New Jersey Network Foundation Board. In January of 2000, Bikur Cholim Hospital of Jerusalem and State of Israel presented Daniel with the prestigious "International Brotherhood Award". In February 2000, during XVI Convention of the Association of Peruvian Institutions of USA & Canada (AIPEUC) celebrated in Lima-Peru, Daniel was awarded as Most Distinguished Peruvian-American. In April 2000, Dr. Jara was appointed by Governor Whitman to serve on the Governors Study Commission on Discrimination in State Employment and Contracting. In October of 2000, Daniel was appointed by U.S. Secretary of Commerce to serve on the New Jersey Export Council. In 2003, for the third consecutive year, Dr. Jara has been listed in Who’s Who in NJ Business Leaders by Business News New Jersey. In August of 2001, Dr. Jara was presented with National Achievement Award by Hispanic Magazine in San Francisco. In March 2002, Daniel was awarded ‘ The Lifetime Achievement Award” by the prestigious New Jersey Policy Research Organization. In April 2002 Mr. Jara was re-appointed by Governor James E. McGreevey to serve on the Governors Study Commission on Discrimination in State Employment and Contracting. In November 2002, Dr. Jara was appointed to serve at Jersey City Economic Development Corporation Board of Trustees. In May 2003 during the XIX AIPEUC Convention in Washington DC, Daniel was elected to preside over The Association of Peruvian Institutions of United States and Canada. In November of 2003, Dr. Jara was nominated by his peers to Chair the Association of State Hispanic Chambers of Commerce Presidents, a network of chambers of commerce representing NJ/NY, Florida, Chicago, California, New Mexico and Illinois. In December 2003, Daniel was appointed to the City of Hackensack Economic Development Commission. In December 2005, Dr. Jara was appointed to Governor-Elect Jon Corzine Transition Team on the Economic Development Committee. In January 2006, The Parliament of the Republic del Peru, bestowed Daniel Jara with the Medal of Honor, in the official degree. In May 2006, Dr. Jara was awarded for his Business Leadership by the National Conference for Community and Justice. In September 2006, Dr. Jara was appointed by Governor Jon Corzine to the prestigious New Jersey Economic Growth Council. In January 2007, Daniel was selected by a panel of New Jersey business experts to appear in “Entrepreneur 101” a new, glossy magazine supplement to NJBIZ from more than 200 entrepreneurs across New Jersey to be among the 26 business leaders who were profiled as examples to the readers of the publication of successful and innovative entrepreneurship. In April of 2007, Daniel was selected as the 2007 Robert Ross Muscular Dystrophy Association Personal Achievement Award recipient for the state of New Jersey. On November 24, 2008, Dr. Jara was nominated by the Governor of New Jersey, Jon Corzine, to be part of the Board of Directors of Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey. This company is considered to be the largest health insurance provider in New Jersey, covering more than 3 million affiliates. This historic nomination is subject to confirmation by the Senate of New Jersey. In December of 2008, Dr. Jara was honored by the Universidad Inca Garcilaso de la Vega with the degree of Doctor Honoris Causa, in an official ceremony conducted in the audience of the Faculty of Political Sciences of the University Inca Garcilaso de la Vega. " Doctor Jara generally represents for the University, and for the current Faculty of Foreign Trade and International Relations, a model of strategic alliance in which he combines the tasks of the day to day in international trade, with the handling of the teaching tools in the professional formation of the licensed futures in management of international businesses and foreign trade. Both institutions will contribute in the development of our country", Director of the University, Cervantes-Liñán, declared.

International Trade has been one of Daniel’s stronghold priorities. He has spearheaded many trade missions to Latin America, including Mexico, Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic, Peru and Central America. In 1999 Governor Christine Todd Whitman with the support of Mr. Jara led New Jersey’s and U.S.A. largest trade mission to South America that visited Brazil, Argentina and Chile. Dr. Jara has been an advocate of Free Trade for many years; He worked with former President George Bush in the implementation of NAFTA. During his numerous travels to Latin America, Dr. Jara has promoted bilateral trade and signed cooperative agreements with several chambers of commerce and trade associations in that region. Daniel has tirelessly promote New Jersey as a gateway of trade and tourist attraction. He has also hosted numerous trade missions that came to the NJ area. In July of 2006, Dr. Jara gave exclusive testimony before the prestigious Committee of Ways and Means of the House of Representatives in favor of the implementation of the Free Trade Agreement between Peru and the United States.

Community service is an important aspect of Daniel's commitment to New Jersey and United States.  As a result, he serves on many committees and boards of charitable and civic organizations. Daniel, being physically challenged, has taken it upon himself to advocate on behalf of the Disabled Community and act as a role model. Daniel is listed in the Who is Who in the Hispanic Community at the National level. In July of 2004, Dr. Jara was designated Grand Marshall of the Peruvian Parade of New Jersey. In September 2004, he was designated “Man of the Year” by The Dominican State Parade of New Jersey. He has also been awarded as "Man of the Year" by Paterson Interfaith Community Organization, Hispanic Alliance of Bergen County, Simon Bolivar Lions Club, Jersey City Hispanic Heritage Award and Hispanic State Parade of New Jersey. He has received commendations from the Puerto Rican Statewide Parade of New Jersey for leading relief efforts to the victims of hurricane Hugo in Puerto Rico, and has also been recognized by the Association of Hispanic Handicapped of New Jersey for his exemplary contributions.