Veronica Cool

After 20 years in corporate banking, and serving as the unofficial Hispanic Liaison, Veronica saw a huge gap in connecting two worlds- She launched Cool & Associates, a management consulting firm to bridge the mainstream world to the Hispanic Market in the United States. Specializing in an integrated model providing solutions including marketing, communications and training. She has blended her operational experience with her nonprofit activities to drive engagement and growth. With expertise in commercial banking, lending, financial analysis and sales management, working with Wells Fargo and Bank of America, along with leading and operating the state-wide Maryland Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. Veronica has presented internationally in various conferences addressing topics such as Diverse Segment Marketing, Minority/WBE, Entrepreneurship, Women in Business and Leadership. She is a columnist for Huffington Post, The Daily Record and Mundo Latino. She’s received various awards including the Baltimore Sun’s 25 Women to Watch in 2016, Top 100 MBE, Daily Record’s MD Top 100 Women-Circle of Excellence and the US Hispanic Chamber Ultimate Latina Award. First Lady Michelle Obama recognized Veronica for her commitment to youth mentoring. Governor Larry Hogan appointed Cool to serve on the state-wide Governor’s Workforce Investment Board. She is the founder of the Latino Innovators Pitch, an innovative program to showcase and empower Latino entrepreneurs to scale and grow their businesses profitably and sustainably. In 2016, she also co-founded the Alliance for Hispanic Commercial Contractors to bridge the gap and foster economic development through education, access and procurements. Veronica founded the Facebook Groups Yo Quiero Trabajo and Emprendedores Exitosos, where she curates content, resources and opportunities for Latino jobseekers and entrepreneurs. She holds a BS from Kutztown University in Business Administration, and a Master’s of Science in Finance from Loyola University of MD. A native of Dominican Republic, she is the Past Board Chairman of the MD Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and co-chair of Martin O’Malley’s gubernatorial transition steering committee focusing on MBE and Small Business. Cool currently serves on the boards of Open Society Institute, Life Lens and is a proud member of the Hispanic Leaders Association, Latino Providers Network, Latinas Think Big and SHIFT. Living northwest of Baltimore, Maryland, she is married to Mr. Cool and is happily overwhelmed by her 15-year-old fashionista black-belt diva and 13-year-old athletic jokester.