(energetic music) - [Narrator] Funding for this episode of "Que Pasa NJ," with Carlos Medina has been provided by Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey, the New Jersey Economic Development Authority, Hackensack Meridian Health, the Engineers Labor-Employer Cooperative, 825, PSE&G, ROI-NJ Business Magazine.

- Hola, familia, welcome back to "Que Pasa."

It's officially summer and we've got an exciting lineup today with three amazing Latinos making waves in New Jersey's communities and businesses.

Joining us first is Navy veteran and New Jersey assemblyman Julio Marenco from the 33rd Legislative District.

Trailblazing New Jersey assembly member, Alixon Collazos-Gill, and unstoppable businesswoman, Gladys Vonglahn of Gladys' Cleaning Service.

of Gladys Cleaning service.

on "Que Pasa."

(upbeat music) We start our episode with Assemblyman Julio Marenco of the 33rd Legislative District, a dedicated public servant and Navy veteran.

Welcome to "Que Pasa," Julio Marenco.

(Julio speaking in foreign language) - Thank you for joining us.

Tell me a little bit about your family's immigration story.

I understand your parents met in New York.

- My family story is only one made-in-the-USA-type because of their opposite Latino corners of the world.

- Okay.

- My mom's Dominican.

Smaller town, Barahona, and my dad's in an even smaller town in San Vice San, our Salvadorians know how to say (speaking in foreign language) El Salvador.

They met here, they met here in the '70s.

You know, they were here, Dad already decided this is where I'm coming from, my next stage of my life.

They were in their 20s, and you know, and then they had a problem child and that was me.

(both laughing) But- - Excellent.

And then many years later, you were in the Navy and you were recognized in the Navy, receiving a special achievement, a medal.

Tell me about that time in the Navy and how it shaped some of the early career choices that you made.

- It was a big, and I know you're a huge advocate of Latino kids staying in school, and all that.

My parents, as our, many of our parents didn't know the system and they don't know, and a lot of parents don't know that now they, "Hey, you (indistinct) you ain't gotta be the genius."

Our parents always say, you got, "You only go to college if you're smart."

And I didn't know any better either.

So, joined the Navy 'cause it was like, "Hey, I'm not gonna be Einstein here.

and Princeton didn't come knocking on my door."

So I went off to the Navy and got stationed.

Unbeknownst to me, I did not know I was gonna get stationed, but got stationed on Submarines, had a very ambitious captain who put us in a lot of situations.

And because of that, and because of fortitude hard work, Latino hard work, I was commended at the end of my service with a Navy Achievement Medal, which is in peacetime.

Very hard to get.

- You then ended up going to Law School?

- Yes, yes, after Navy got out, went to college, Montclair State University, then went to Law School, Seton Hall Law, did that.

And then after that, went off into Law and Government.

- So tell me, in that role, running a department like Revenue and Finance, give me some of the scenarios in which you had challenges and overcame some hurdles.

Again, being, you said 70,000?

- 70,000 people easily.

- It's a large municipality.

- It's a large, and on any given day, once you include all the visitors in all the businesses, it's an 80 to 90,000-person city.

'cause we do have, as you've been through North Bergen, it's a large corridor.

We have the West Side Highway, all these huge industries are there and we're always inviting more.

So, come on in, the water's fine.

But as we're in finance, it's your job and your duty to make sure the town is financially stable without killing the residents, but stable enough that businesses want to come in.

- And another important role you've had, is that on the Parole Board for the State of New Jersey.

- Yes.

- Tell me a little bit about that.

'cause I'm intrigued also, these, you're really making decisions that are impacting individuals' lives.

So tell me about that process and how you would handle some of these parole reviews.

- Governor Corzine nominated me, and Senate confirmed me years ago to be on the Parole Board.

And then followed, Christie renominated me, and then eventually, Murphy before I came to this position.

So I was on the Parole Board.

The Parole Board, of course, the name says they decide in plain English, "Are you getting outta jail or you're not getting outta jail?"

And if you're in jail, it's not because you were behaving.

So they got a balance.

It's a balancing act there.

There is another balance.

You gotta protect society 'cause you don't wanna just let out some guy that's, "Hey, yeah, I'm doing good."

And next thing you know, he goes out and could be as heinous as killing someone or even White-Collar Crime, draining some old ladies' bank accounts.

But then on the other side, you have the Civil liberty aspect and the reform aspect.

You gotta be able to say, "Hey, we're not just locking them up and throwing away the key and keeping people in jail."

That's not the United States former of being.

That's not New Jersey's way of being.

We believe in second chances.

It's the American way.

- So you've worked at a program I'm very familiar with.

That's Fairleigh Dickinson called (Carlos speaking in foreign language) - Yes.

- I believe- - Gateway to the Future, yeah.

- What was the gentleman's name?

That was Fernando Alonso.

- Fernando Alonso.

Yes.

- Yes.

- Fernando Alonso was starting a program way back when I was an adjunct professor in another program.

And he's all about opportunity to say, "Hey, building up this program, you wanna help me start this program?"

Sometimes we say yes, too many times, just like you, sometimes we, (laughs) keep forgetting.

Don't say yes.

I said Yes.

Help them, and it became my favorite work of art.

Like it was my favorite thing 'cause you're helping people that are like your mom and dad.

My mom and dad, they got to this country and because of technology, 'cause of age, they had the chance to go to school.

And Latinos were very big on education.

These people would be working nine to five or nine to nine, seven days a week, six days a week, and still going to college 'cause they knew if I go to college, I'm gonna have a better life in this country.

So it was just, and the ages were ranging from someone that got off the proverbial boat at 22 to someone that just got here at 50.

We put it together and those people are using their talents.

- That's great.

- To make their story better and our society better.

- Before you go, one important priority in this Legislative Session that you're going to pursue.

- I got two of them.

- Okay, we'll let you sneak in two.

- But one of 'em goes right from what we were just talking about.

I have a Bill in, and some of the legislators that you've met along the way is adding Latino history to the Education Curriculum, the High School Education Curriculum for the State of New Jersey.

- Love it.

- We're 20% of the count of the State.

So everybody in the state knows a Latino.

- Yep.

- Just like we know African American History, we know Irish History, all those histories.

It's time that we are big enough a population that should be in our textbooks.

And then the second one that I'm working on is I am trying to push, and this is harder, get a veteran's license plate for State of New Jersey.

- Okay.

- We don't have that, we have disabled veterans, we have different ones.

- All right.

- We have a Battleship in New Jersey, which I love.

But if we can have a license plate that just designates veterans, give them the opportunity to self-identify as, "Hey, I'm a veteran," you know, veterans are very proud and they've done a lot for this country and with their service.

- I'm gonna shout out to organizations that I wanted to and I think you should coordinate with Orlando Miranda- - Orlando Miranda- - From Latino veterans.

- I know.

- And then Jeff Cantor, who runs the Veteran Chamber of Commerce, so.

- Yes, yes, all great- - Both good friends, and I will make sure and connect you.

And the Chamber also would be interested in that.

- That the Chamber, by the way, kinda, I know you're being humbled today or modest.

I don't know where this call is from, (laughs) does great things, and I know you guys do great things with the Veteran Chamber.

And then, of course, Orlando is just doing God's work as they say- - Yeah, they're good people.

They're both good people.

- Yes.

- Well, thank you for joining "Que Pasa,", Julio.

- "Que Pasa," Carlos, gracias.

(upbeat music) - Our next guest, Alixon Collazos-Gill, made history as the first Colombian immigrant in New Jersey State Assembly representing the 27th Legislative District.

Welcome, Alixon.

- Thank you.

Thank you, Carlos.

- Can you tell us a little bit about your family's immigration story to the United States?

- Of course, I am Colombian and I, my family came to the United States back in the 1980s when a lot of people were migrating.

So I was separated from my mom for many years.

But then I came to the United States when I was 14 years old and I met, and I got reunited with my mom.

Went to Long Branch High School, graduated from there.

Then my brother, years later, came maybe five years after I came, and then five years after that.

So even 10 years after I first arrived, my sister came, but luckily we're all here.

Graduated from school, went to Rutgers University, move on to other stuff.

- I love it.

- I love it, and now you're the first Columbiana to be in the New Jersey Assembly, congratulations.

- I am, thank you.

Thank you, I am.

- How's the weight of that feel carrying that torch as the first.

- It's a little intimidating because when people say that, oh, then you just do remember that there is a responsibility that comes along with being the first one, and how people are going to perceive you or what the responsibility is.

So I try not to think about that much because I feel the second one is probably gonna be equally important or probably as important as the first one because that means that I did my job and that other people and other Colombians are going to follow suit.

- Tell me about your Legislative priorities now going into, now that you're an Assemblywoman.

- So there are a couple of things.

So I, the reason...

The way I'm approaching my job is in two different ways.

So I am in the Family, Children, and Food Insecurity Committee, as well as the Environment Committee, and as well as the Regulated Profession.

So one of my priorities in terms of my committees and in terms of what I care about is how can we speak about food insecurity, but how do we also talk about food waste because they do are tied together.

And again, we speak about the environment as something that is completely not necessarily part of us, but it is part of us.

So I'm trying to, that's kind of one of the big projects that I'm speaking about it or working on is how to talk about those two things that make sense.

And yeah, food insecurity is a big, big issue.

Much bigger than we sometimes realize it.

- So when Governor Murphy first ran for governor, you were part of his team in charge of the Latino Outreach.

Tell me about that experience, and in some way, how it's prepared you for now your new role as an Assembly person.

- I was a Director of the Latino Outreach Program.

At that point, Governor Murphy was not well-known at all.

I mean, he was just starting.

He was not known in New Jersey, in the New Jersey political arena.

But we met him back in 2016, and he talked about his progressive ideas.

He talked about middle class, he talked about immigrants, he talked about inclusion, and he spoke about big ideas.

And several things happened in that program, and I'm really proud of it.

One, we talked about issues, we talked about policy issues, we talked about, so we created a policy forums, college affordability.

We talked about transportation, healthcare, we talked about obviously, immigration and how it affects New Jerseyans.

The second thing that we did is that out of those conversations, we also talked to different communities in the Latino community.

And out of those things, couple of policies came out.

We talked about, the Governor talked about Sanctuary State in 2016, 2017.

There was a big fear in the United States with immigration.

We may not remember that right now, but it was.

so he like, so we talked about Sanctuary States, which he implemented as soon as he became a governor.

We created the Puerto Rican Commissioner that came out of the conversations in the 2017 Campaign.

We talked about advancing a driver's license to undocumented, which again, that was a priority in the Legislature but had not been signed on by the Governor.

He signed on as soon as he became.

And instate tuition for immigrants.

So, I'm really proud of the work that we did in 2017 because we talked about policies and we also promised that he was going to deliver.

And again, personally, I'm extremely proud that he did deliver in those promises that I was part of.

- So we recently had a Primary, tell me about the upcoming general election.

How can... What does the Latino vote mean and how do you anticipate the Latino vote coming out, getting that vote out to actually hit the button?

- We did have an interest in Primary, we had three people of color on this campaign, and that's extremely important.

We have Andy Kim, Patricia Campos-Medina, and Larry Hamm.

Again, this is not your normal place, but what we learned from that campaign is that, and from that election says the Latinos do have a vote.

I mean, we had a pretty unknown person come on the big stage.

And she, I think got 14, 15% of the vote.

And that means that Latinos are paying attention.

So that means that we in New Jersey and the US, we need to get ready and we need to speak about Latino issues and we need to make sure that they are part of those conversations at all times.

- So as a pioneer in the Colombian community, what do you foresee as some long-term strategies that you hope to implement in the Legislature to help not only the Colombian community, but the Hispanic community and the general community as large as you represent many different constituents?

- I am really excited about a couple of work things that we're working on, on New Jersey and with the Latinos.

So one of the things that we're speaking that I'm personally involved is in the Hispanic Research and Information Center, a institution that is located at the Newark Public Library that talks about Latino Culture and History.

And I think that's really important because we are put in the footprint as to where Latinos are in New Jersey, what they've done, what we are doing, and what we hope to continue to do.

So that's one of my long-term goals is like, let's make sure that this institution is as widely known as it should be.

- So as a Latino role model in Columbiana, tell me what you would tell our viewers, or they're dying to see folks that look like them on the screen.

So here's your chance to impact them and give them some words of wisdom.

- We need to be involved, and we need to be able to be part of the community that we're in.

So in whatever profession you're in, there's so many organizations, so many work volunteer that happens at the professional level, at the political's level, at your community.

You have to be part of that community.

You have to be seen, and you have to see what is happening in our communities.

We have to come out, we have to participate in the communities that we have and expand even beyond the immediate one.

- Great, well, thank you for joining "Que Pasa," and continue to inspire.

- Thank you, Carlos, I appreciate the invitation.

(upbeat music) - This next special small business segment is brought to you by Wells Fargo Bank.

Thank you to Wells Fargo for sponsoring this segment.

We get to meet Gladys Vonglahn, the powerhouse behind Gladys' Cleaning Service.

She built her business from the ground up and has earned countless awards, including the SBA Legacy Business Award.

(Carlos speaking in foreign language) - Thank you so much for the invitation.

- Can you tell our viewers a little bit about your immigration story here to the Tri-State area?

- Yeah, definitely.

My story is very unusual.

I decide to come to USA in 2001.

- [Carlos] Okay.

- And I came pretty much looking for my American Dream.

I want to became an entrepreneur.

So I decide, yeah, this one is gonna be the best country that I can pursue my dream.

- I love it.

- And so I decided to come.

In the beginning, it was so difficult, so many obstacles, but I knew I have to work really hard.

- Excellent.

Excellent.

Now, you came here, really not a lot of money, not a grasp of the language, and not necessarily any business experience.

So what motivated you to take on that huge risk of becoming an entrepreneur in the cleaning field?

- I saw an opportunity, so I realized that I can do my business in the cleaning industry.

But it was a really, it was a challenge, you know, with no English at all.

I didn't have any experience, so I was learning through the process, but it was a challenge because I have to adapt, you know, to a new culture, a new way how to do business.

And, of course, you know, I have to learn my English in a very hard way with my clients.

And also, I didn't have access to capital.

I was just arriving to a new country, so nobody knows me.

I'm first generation, so I didn't have family to support me, no friends to support me.

But I knew I can do it.

- What would you tell viewers were some of the crucial points that enabled you to get to the next step of having a company and having it succeed?

- Definitely, I use all my values that I came from my parents, from my family.

They always told me, "If you do the right things, good things is gonna come to your life."

So I knew, you know, working really hard and the end of the day, my clients, they gonna give me the opportunity to grow, you know, because they were more than a client, they became a family.

So they were so happy with our business and they recommend me, they refer me another businesses, they give me even the opportunity, you know, when we do the service, they pay me right away.

- I love it.

- So that's helped me a lot to have my cash flow and moving and investing in my own business.

- Tell me a little bit about the Statewide Hispanic Chamber.

I know they have a program called L-E-T-S, LETS, Latina Entrepreneurship Training Series, which Wells Fargo is one of the major funders.

Tell me the experience of having that program and the comradery and business-to-business.

- Yes, that was such a great experience for me because before then, I have this program available for me.

I was working in the business, that's mean I was cleaning, I was buying the cleaning supplies, I was checking with my clients, sending invoice, you know, I was driving, I was doing absolutely everything.

- Okay.

- And after this program, I understand that I have to delegate If I really want to grow, if want to go to the next step, I need to delegate.

I need to stop, you know, thinking just about me and start thinking as a company, you know, it's the only way that you can grow.

And, of course, you have to have, you need to have the right people on the right seat.

- So you recently won a big project, cleaning the Newark Airport.

So tell me about that.

Was that construction cleanup or was that general cleaning?

- Yes, we started two years ago in the new terminal, the Terminal A, the Newark Airport.

But I would like to mention that before we have the opportunity to work on the field, we have to need... We need some preparation.

I was working for four years doing networking, let them, the primes know that I'm existing, you know, that I'm a woman, I'm minority.

And I was prepared, I was able and willing to perform, you know, in this project because it was a big project.

So I'm still remember when they call me and they say, "We have only a small project, it's $3,000."

And I say, "I want it," because I knew that is gonna be the open door for us.

So after that, we start doing a lot of post-contraction cleaning for the new terminal.

And, for me, it's a privilege again, because every time when I fly or when my family or when my friends fly, they say, "Oh, I know this place is beautiful, you know, and I know you clean it, you were here.

- Sure.

- So that is... And it's an amazing experience.

And, of course, we are working in another project as well in the Newark Airports.

- I saw some pictures you had shared with us and there was a picture with you with a hard hat and jeans.

But you were the only female in the pre-bid walkthrough.

- Yes.

- Tell me about that experience, it has to be a little intimidating to have a room with 30 gentlemen, and you're the only- - Yes - Woman with a hard hat walking the site to make an estimate.

- Yes, that is very interesting because I know where I want to be and I'm fighting for my spots.

Times are changing.

- Yeah.

- And we have to change that.

But we have to also prove that we are professionals and we are taking this one very seriously because we have a lot of people behind us.

They need to be employed, you know, and we have to show that we can do the same thing, once again, when they open the door for you.

And then you can tell, you know, little by little because they trust you.

- So recently, the Disparity Study came out, I was able to testify some folks from the Statewide Hispanic Chamber were able to testify.

But when you tell the Legislators about that journey and how you're able to add value, it's not that you're trying to take away, you just wanna see it at the table to be able to bid on projects.

At the end of the day, more bidders should mean New Jersey will get better pricing.

So we're not trying to increase taxpayer priority, we're trying to lower taxpayers by having a larger pool of contractors available to bid on state work.

- Yes.

- So tell our viewers a little bit about your experience and how you'll apply that.

- Yeah, definitely.

Things are changing a lot.

I started this process from 2018 when I decide, because this is a decision.

You have to decide who is gonna be your client.

So I decide I gonna follow the money.

And the money is in the government.

- Yeah.

- And they buy everything.

You know, even things that you can not even think they need it.

And then, definitely, they're changing a lot of things because I remember in 2020, 2019, I was attending so many events, so many networking, so many seminars and workshop.

But nothing happens.

You request a meeting, you know, with that person in charge.

They never respond even in email.

But now, I think because they saw me, I'm very disciplined and perseverance, and they trying to do the best effort.

And things definitely are changing.

But once again, we have to be there.

We have to be present because when I go to any outreach event, I see only few Latinos, only few people from color.

And then when they set up that work through, it's only me.

(laughs) - Yeah.

- So, as you mentioned, sometimes can be intimidated.

But for me, that makes me unique because I'm the only one, (chuckles) That I'm woman and small and I'm different.

And you can even, they never gonna forget my heavy accents.

So that for me is something special.

- I love that.

I love that.

Last question, what advice would you give young entrepreneurs that are contemplating taking this huge risk?

I know through perseverance and hard work, you've been very successful.

What would you tell young entrepreneurs?

- Definitely, you need to set up specific goals.

All your employees, you are a leader.

So, as a leader in your company and your organization, you need to be very clear where you're gonna go because your employees and your people and your team, they gonna just follow you.

Whatever you decide to go, they gonna follow you.

And also, you have to communicate to your employees and your teamwork what is the next goal.

And be aware that that is gonna take time.

And definitely, in the State of New Jersey and all the State and USA, there are a lot of resources for a no-cost for the entrepreneur.

Somebody have to pay, but we pay taxes, we have access.

So take advantage of that.

- Thank you, and continue to be a role model.

- Thank you so much.

Thank you.

- [Carlos] Thank you to Wells Fargo for sponsoring this segment.

Ladies and gentlemen, that's a wrap for today's episode of "Que Pasa."

A big thank you to our guests.

Keep connected with us on Instagram, Facebook at Que Pasa NJ.

Don't forget you could catch up on all five seasons of "Que Pasa," streaming now on pbs.org.

(Carlos speaking in foreign language) - [Narrator] Funding for episode of "Que Pasa NJ," with Carlos Medina has been provided by Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey, the New Jersey Economic Development Authority, Hackensack Meridian Health, the Engineers Labor Employer-Cooperative, 825, PSE&G, ROI-NJ Business Magazine.

Thanks to the Statewide Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of New Jersey.

Find out more about our familia at shccnj.org.

This has been a production of the Modesto Educational Foundation.

(upbeat music) (energetic music)