L. Felice Gorordo
{{Short description|American entrepreneur, investor and advisor (born 1982)}}
{{Infobox person
| name = L. Felice Gorordo
| image = Felice-Gorordo-Headshot.png
| caption = Gorordo in 2021
| birth_name = Leonardo Felice Gorordo
| birth_date = {{birth year and age|1982|12}}
| birth_place = Miami, Florida, U.S.
| education = Georgetown University
Complutense University of Madrid
| spouse = Bianca Ferrer Gorordo[https://www.floridaresidentsdirectory.com/person/109875242/gorordo-leonardo Florida Residents Directory]
| children = 3
| parents = Francisco J. Gorordo
Martha Gorordo Mohr (née Serra)[http://mumufund.org/our-story/ Mumu Fund]{{cite news |last=Gomez |first=Ivonne |title=Martha Serra Mohr, who inspired empowerment in Cuba, dies at 56 |url=https://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/obituaries/article47575100.html |newspaper=Miami Herald |date=2015-12-02 |access-date=2019-12-19}}
| module = {{Infobox officeholder
| embed = yes
| office = U.S. Executive Director of the World Bank
| president = Joe Biden
| term_start = May 10, 2023
| term_end = January 24, 2025
| predecessor = Adriana Kugler
| successor =
}}
}}
Leonardo Felice Gorordo is an American entrepreneur, investor and diplomat, currently serving as CEO of Embark, a management and finance consulting company.{{cite web |url=https://www.embarkwithus.com/team/felice-gorordo |title=I was born and raised in Miami. Everything I am is a product of faith and family. |access-date=2025-04-16 |website=embarkwithus.com}} Gorordo served as the United States Executive Director of the World Bank from 2023 to 2025.{{cite web |title=L. Felice Gorordo — International Bank for Reconstruction and Development | date=10 May 2023 |url=https://www.congress.gov/nomination/118th-congress/148?q=%7B%22search%22%3A%5B%22felice+gorordo%22%5D%7D&s=1&r=1}}{{Cite web |last=Lavers |first=Michael K. |date=2024-04-30 |title=New World Bank US executive director: LGBTQ rights are human rights |url=https://www.washingtonblade.com/2024/04/30/new-world-bank-us-executive-director-lgbtq-rights-are-human-rights/ |access-date=17 September 2024 |website=Washington blade |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |title=L. Felice Gorordo Alternate Executive Director United States |url=https://www.worldbank.org/en/about/people/l/l-felice-gorordo |access-date=17 September 2024 |website=World Bank |language=en}} He is best known for his work on Cuba–United States relations through both advocacy and public service. Gorordo's career includes service in the White House under Presidents Barack Obama and George W. Bush, as well as an advisor to President Joe Biden's Cancer Initiative.{{cite news|last=Rogers|first=Bruce|title=Felice Gorordo Working To Make Miami A Global Hub For Venture-Backed Business StartUps|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/brucerogers/2019/05/23/felice-gorordo-working-to-make-miami-a-global-hub-for-venture-backed-business-start-ups/#15199ba73082 |access-date=19 December 2019|newspaper=Forbes|date=May 23, 2019}}{{cite book |author= John P. Dugan |title=Leadership Theory: Cultivating Critical Perspectives |publisher=John Wiley & Sons| url= https://books.google.com/books?id=ttPlDQAAQBAJ&pg=PA186 |year=2017 |pages=186 |isbn=978-1-11886-430-2 }}[https://www.washingtontimes.com/topics/felice-gorordo/ “The Washington Times:"Topic - Felice Gorordo”]
Additionally, Gorordo has held various leadership roles in the private sector, most notably as the CEO of eMerge Americas.
Early life and education
Gorordo was born and raised in Miami, FL, to a Cuban-American family and attended Belen Jesuit Preparatory School.[http://wolverines.belenjesuit.org/alumni/magazine/summer2014.pdf “Wolverines: Belen Jesuit Alumni Magazine (Felice Gorordo - p.27)”][https://www.thefreelibrary.com/A+new+voice+in+Miami%3A+Felice+Gorordo%27s+Roots+of+Hope.-a0247447543 “A new voice in Miami: Felice Gorordo's Roots of Hope”] From 2000 to 2001, he served as International Vice-president of Key Club International, an international service program for high school students in 38 countries.[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bRdJFAppQYg “Key Club International:"Former Key Clubber starts his own nonprofit”] Gorordo attended Georgetown University and graduated with a bachelor's degree in government in 2005. He also studied at the Complutense University of Madrid in Spain.{{cite web |title= Universidad Complutense de Madrid Madrid Area, Spain: "Alumni US"|url=https://alumnius.net/universidad_complute-2203-7# |publisher=Complutense University of Madrid |access-date=December 19, 2019}} While in college, he was an intern in the White House Office of Political Affairs during the Administration of President George W. Bush.{{cite news|last=Vogel|first=Mike|title=Snapshots of Florida's Hispanic Community|url=https://www.floridatrend.com/article/15521/snapshots-of-floridas-hispanic-community |access-date=19 December 2019|newspaper=Florida Trend|date=April 30, 2013}} As a sophomore at Georgetown University, Gorordo co-founded (with a group of college students) Roots of Hope (Raíces de Esperanza), a non-profit focused on youth empowerment in Cuba through technology and entrepreneurship.[https://thehoya.com/gorordo-rethinking-social-impact/ “The Hoya: Rethinking social impact”][https://www.slideshare.net/slideshow/embed_code/key/61y1Ufc4G2a7nt “Kiwanis International Magazine:"Key Club Alum Felice Gorordo turns enthusiasm into action”]
Public service
Upon graduating from college, Gorordo served in the Administration of President George W. Bush as an aide to the U.S. Secretary of Commerce Carlos Gutierrez, and later as Special Assistant to the Director of the U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services Col. Emilio T. Gonzalez.{{cite news|last=Joeveer|first=Mamie |title=CEO Of Startup Hopes To Empower Legal Immigrants Through Online Document Filing System|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/mamiejoeveer/2015/03/14/ceo-of-start-up-hopes-to-empower-legal-immigrants-through-online-document-filing-system/#49a8f6cd409d |access-date=19 December 2019|newspaper=Forbes|date=March 14, 2015}} From 2006 to 2007, Gorordo was detailed to the U.S. Department of State and served in the Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs.[http://cubastudygroup.org/about-us/members/#member_felice_gorordo “Cuba Study Group: "Felice Gorordo Profile”]{{cite news|last=Schoon|first=Robert|title=TurboTax for Immigration Paperwork: Clearpath's Latino CEO Seeks to Make the Process Easier|url=https://www.latinpost.com/articles/6585/20140129/turbotax-for-immigration-paperwork-clearpaths-latino-ceo-seeks-to-make-the-process-easier.htm |access-date=19 December 2019|newspaper=Latin Post|date=January 29, 2014}} He also served as an advisor to the President & CEO of Jackson Health System.[https://archive.bidencancer.org/staff/ “Biden Care Initiative/Staff:"Felice Gorordo, Advisor”] In 2011, Gorordo was appointed by President Barack Obama as one of fifteen White House Fellows.[https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/sites/default/files/white-house-appoints-2011-2012-class-of-white-house-fellows.pdf “The White House - Office of Communications:"WHITE HOUSE APPOINTS 2011-2012 CLASS OF WHITE HOUSE FELLOWS (September 7, 2011) ”] From 2011 to 2012, he served as the White House Fellow to the President's Domestic Policy Advisor Cecilia Muñoz, and worked in the White House Office of Public Engagement and Intergovernmental Affairs.{{cite news|last=Rabin|first=Charles|title=Airport director says MIA's new immigration, customs facility faces federal staffing shortfall|url=https://www.miamiherald.com/latest-news/article1940336.html |access-date=19 December 2019|newspaper=Miami Herald|date=June 2, 2012}} In this capacity, he worked on Latino and immigration outreach and led the organizing of the first “White House Conference on Connecting the Americas. ” The conference included the participation of then-U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, several cabinet secretaries and high-level business and government leaders from throughout the Americas in lead up to the 2012 Summit of the Americas.[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pj7DkQDLCmM “The Obama White House:"White House Conference on Connecting the Americas: Part 1”]
In 2021, Gorordo advocated for the passage of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) and attended the White House bill signing ceremony with President Joe Biden.{{cite web|url=https://www.bizjournals.com/southflorida/inno/stories/inno-insights/2022/03/31/miami-tech-challenges-opportunities-benefit-all.html|title=Why this tech leader believes everyone can benefit from Miami tech |publisher=Miami Business Journal }}{{cite web|url=https://www.miamiherald.com/opinion/op-ed/article255906401.html |title= Infrastructure bill a bipartisan triumph. DeSantis should accept funds Florida badly needs |publisher=Miami Herald }} America Magazine reported that Gorordo was under consideration to be appointed U.S. Ambassador to the Holy See by President Biden.{{cite web|url=https://www.americamagazine.org/politics-society/2021/04/12/us-ambassador-holy-see-joe-biden-pope-francis-240430|title=Who will Joe Biden send to Rome? 8 top contenders for U.S. ambassador to the Vatican |date=12 April 2021 |publisher=America Magazine}}
As CEO of eMerge Americas, Gorordo has been instrumental in connecting Florida's major tech hubs of Miami, Tampa and Orlando in 2021 to work on a more open business environment for startup ecosystem building.{{cite web|url=https://www.bizjournals.com/tampabay/news/2021/11/18/synapse-florida-partners-with-emerge-americas.html |title=Synapse Florida teams up with Miami-based eMerge Americas to further boost Florida's startup scene |date=2021-11-18|last=Coffey|first=Lauren |publisher=Tampa Bay Business Journal }} In April 2022, in collaboration with the U.S. Conference of Mayors, Gorordo helped to organize a conference for mayors and private sector leaders to discuss the ways cities can benefit from digital assets and blockchain technologies.{{cite web|url=https://www.bizjournals.com/southflorida/inno/stories/news/2022/03/16/emerge-to-host-u-s-mayors-at-crypto-summit.html |title=eMerge to host crypto summit with U.S. Conference of Mayors |date=2022-03-16|last=Portero|first=Ashley|publisher=Miami Inno }}
= World Bank =
On July 18, 2022, President Joe Biden nominated Gorordo to be the U.S. Alternate Executive Director of the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development.{{cite web|url=https://bidenwhitehouse.archives.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2022/07/18/nominations-sent-to-the-senate-75/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220721131058/https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2022/07/18/nominations-sent-to-the-senate-75/ |archive-date=2022-07-21 |title=Nominations Sent to the Senate |date=2022-07-18 |publisher=The White House}}{{cbignore}}
President Biden renominated him on January 23, 2023, to be considered under the new session of Congress.{{cite web|url=https://www.congress.gov/nomination/118th-congress/148?q=%7B%22search%22%3A%5B%22gorordo%22%5D%7D&s=1&r=1.html |title= L. Felice Gorordo — International Bank for Reconstruction and Development|date=2023-05-10|publisher=Congress.gov }} Gorordo was favorably reported by the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on December 7, 2022, and again on March 8, 2023.{{cite web|url=https://www.congress.gov/nomination/118th-congress/148?q=%7B%22search%22%3A%5B%22gorordo%22%5D%7D&s=1&r=1.html |title=PN148 — L. Felice Gorordo — International Bank for Reconstruction and Development |date=2023-05-10|publisher=Congress.gov }}{{cite web|url=https://www.congress.gov/nomination/117th-congress/2387?q=%7B%22search%22%3A%5B%22gorordo%22%5D%7D&s=1&r=2.html |title=PN2387 — L. Felice Gorordo — International Bank for Reconstruction and Development|date=2023-01-03|publisher=Congress.gov }} The entire Senate confirmed his nomination on May 10, 2023 {{cite web|url=https://www.congress.gov/nomination/118th-congress/148?q=%7B%22search%22%3A%5B%22gorordo%22%5D%7D&s=1&r=1.html |title=PN148 — L. Felice Gorordo — International Bank for Reconstruction and Development
|date=2023-05-10|publisher=Congress.gov }}
Gorordo served as the U.S. representative on the Board of the World Bank Group, overseeing the International Bank for Reconstruction & Development (IBRD), International Development Association (IDA), International Finance Corporation (IFC), Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA), and International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID). In this role, his responsibilities included participating in the World Bank Board Audit Committee and Committee on Development Effectiveness, as well as overseeing operations and policy-setting for the organization's global workforce. Gorordo was also involved in reviewing and approving projects with annual financial commitments of approximately $130 billion in loans, grants, equity investments, and guarantees.
Gorordo has worked on initiatives to mobilize private capital and engage venture capital and private equity investors in supporting Sustainable Development Goals.{{Cite web |date=2023-09-05 |title=500 Global Brings Policy, Tech and Venture Capital Together for the Next Decade of Innovation |url=https://financialpost.com/pmn/business-wire-news-releases-pmn/500-global-brings-policy-tech-and-venture-capital-together-for-the-next-decade-of-innovation |website=Financial Post}}{{Cite web |title=Preview of major themes from IMF-World Bank week in Marrakesh - IMF-World Bank Week 2023 |url=https://www.atlanticcouncil.tv/imf-world-bank-week-2023/videos/imf-world-bank-week-in-marrakesh-big-themes-preview |access-date=17 September 2024 |website=Atlantic Council TV |language=en}}{{Cite book |last1=Donovan |first1=Kimberly |last2=Nikoladze |first2=Maia |last3=Goldin |first3=Nicole |title=Transatlantic Economic Statecraft Different Approaches, Shared Risk |date=22 September 2023 |publisher=Atlantic Council |url=https://www.atlanticcouncil.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Transatlantic-Economic-Statecraft.pdf |isbn=9781619772885}} He has advocated for human rights, including LGBTQ rights, stating that "LGBTQ rights are human rights, and human rights are LGBTQ rights." Gorordo supported Ukraine following Russia's invasion, working to engage the private sector in the country's rebuilding efforts.{{Cite web |title=U.S. and Japan Contribute to Ukraine Trust Fund {{!}} World Bank Group Guarantees {{!}} MIGA |url=https://www.miga.org/press-release/us-and-japan-contribute-ukraine-trust-fund |access-date=17 September 2024 |website=www.miga.org |language=en}} He has also engaged minority-owned businesses to participate in World Bank projects and programs, and has organized events at the World Bank focused on celebrating diversity and addressing issues such as racism and antisemitism.{{Cite web |title=National Minority Supplier Development Council CEO Ying McGuire at the World Bank – January 31, 2024 |url=https://thedocs.worldbank.org/en/doc/b0a57703e27d682c05bf82a381fdedcb-0330082024/original/National-Minority-Supplier-Development-Council-CEO-Ying-McGuire-at-the-World-Bank-January-31-2024.pdf |access-date=17 September 2024 |website=www.worldbank.org}}
In addition, Gorordo has supported initiatives to leverage new technologies and financing models to encourage investments in research and development, including efforts aimed at cancer research.{{Cite web |last=Mageli |first=Sara |date=2024-08-23 |title=The Future of Cancer Care |url=https://foreignpolicy.com/events/the-future-of-cancer-care/ |access-date=17 September 2024 |website=Foreign Policy |language=en-US}} As part of his role on the World Bank Board, Gorordo has conducted field visits in Africa, Asia, Eastern Europe and Latin America to assess Bank projects and meet with various stakeholders, including government officials, business leaders, and civil society representatives.{{Cite web |title=World Bank Group Executive Directors note progress and re-affirm support to South Africa and Namibia |url=https://www.worldbank.org/en/news/press-release/2024/07/19/world-bank-group-executive-directors-note-progress-and-re-affirm-support-to-afe-south-africa-and-namibia |access-date=17 September 2024 |website=World Bank |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=World Bank Group Executive Directors Conclude Landmark Visit to Central Asia |url=https://www.worldbank.org/en/news/press-release/2024/03/08/world-bank-group-executive-directors-conclude-landmark-visit-to-central-asia |access-date=17 September 2024 |website=World Bank |language=en}}{{cite web |url=https://thedocs.worldbank.org/en/doc/2d863a2abeaebfe306fe8d2dcd6df069-0330082024/original/US-Alt-ED-Gorordo-and-Brazil-Minister-of-Environment-Da-Silva-Vaz-Sept-3-2024.pdf |title=U.S. Alternate Executive Director Felice Gorordo meets with Brazil Minister of Environment and Climate Change Marina da Silva Vaz - September 3, 2024 |access-date=2025-04-16 |website=worldbank.org}}{{cite web |url=https://thedocs.worldbank.org/en/doc/dbc65f25b816d5a1df901fdd5a85c114-0330082024/original/US-Alt-ED-Gorordo-Estomia-Minister-Tsakhna.pdf |title=U.S. Alternate Executive Director Felice Gorordo meets with Estonia Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna – May 24, 2024 |access-date=2025-04-16 |website=worldbank.org}}
He stepped down from serving as the acting U.S. Executive Director of the World Bank in January 2025.{{cite web |url=https://thedocs.worldbank.org/en/doc/8d0316a6f96e7e5d0295fb0d80a95fd0-0330082025/original/Forever-Grateful-Felice-Gorordo-01-24-2025.pdf |title=Forever Grateful – January 24, 2025 |access-date=2025-04-16}}
Entrepreneurship
Following the White House Fellowship,[https://fusion.tv/video/1640/talented-young-people-are-choosing-the-private-sector-over-government/ “Talented Young People Are Choosing the Private Sector Over Government”] Gorordo joined Clearpath, (acquired by L1BRE), a venture-backed tech company focused on revolutionizing the paper-based immigration filing process – just as TurboTax transformed tax filing.{{cite news|last= Alcón|first=Maria Eugenia|title=Clearpath CEO Felice Gorordo Aims to Simplify Immigration Applications|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/latino/startup-aims-simplify-immigration-applications-n359266 |access-date=20 December 2019|newspaper=NBC News|date=May 15, 2015}} In 2014, he became CEO & President of Clearpath, which leveraged patented-technology to enable individuals to file their own immigration applications.[https://www.staugustine.com/news/2014-01-29/online-firm-seeks-become-immigration-turbotax “St. Augustine:"Online firm seeks to become immigration “TurboTax"”] He established partnerships with LegalZoom, H&R Block, and Univision,[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xdPt_OTPtfA&feature=youtu.be “Arriba Valle Central”] and successfully sold the company in 2016 to L1BRE. After the acquisition of Clearpath, Gorordo served as CEO of L1BRE, a tech company with operations in the U.S. and Mexico.{{cite news|last=Reiser|first=Emon|title=eMerge Americas announces new CEO|url=https://www.bizjournals.com/southflorida/news/2018/06/05/emerge-americas-announces-new-ceo.html |access-date=20 December 2019|newspaper=BizJournals|date=June 5, 2018}} In 2018, Gorordo was named CEO of eMerge Americas, a venture-backed platform which seeks to foster innovation and entrepreneurship across the Americas, and transform Miami into becoming the tech hub of the Americas.[https://www.miamiherald.com/news/business/technology/article212519519.html “Miami Herald:"eMerge Americas conference is getting a new leader. The old one isn't going far”] In 2019, he led the organizing of the sixth annual eMerge Americas conference, which attracted more than 16,000 attendees and 400 participating companies from over 40 countries.[https://www.miamiherald.com/news/business/article229547644.html “Miami Herald:"Our success is Miami’s success.’ eMerge Americas to open with new leader, same vision ”] Gorordo also served as co-host for AOL co-founder and Revolution LLC's CEO & Chairman Steve Case’s “Rise of the Rest” Tour through South Florida in 2019.[https://www.miamiherald.com/news/business/article229734719.html “Miami Herald:"Former AOL head praises Miami startup scene: ‘There’s a hunger here, a scrappiness.”]
The South Florida Business Journal recognized Gorordo with the Ultimate CEO Award in 2023.{{Cite web |last=Zbar |first=Jeff |date=2023-08-02 |title=Ultimate CEO Insights: eMerge Americas' Felice Gorordo on making the world a better place |url=https://www.bizjournals.com/southflorida/news/2023/08/02/ultimate-ceo-insights-felice-gorordo.html |access-date=17 September 2024 |website=www.bizjournals.com}}
Gorordo also served as a venture partner at private equity fund I Squared Capital.{{cite web|url=https://www.twinglobal.org/twin-global/speakers/felice-gorordo|title=Felice Gorordo |publisher=TwinGlobal }}
Advocacy
=U.S.- Cuba relations=
In 2003, Gorordo co-founded Roots of Hope after traveling to Cuba for the first time with the purpose of building bridges between young people on and off the island.[https://nonprofitquarterly.org/roots-of-hope-charts-a-new-course-for-cuban-americans-and-cuba/ “Non-profit Quarterly:"Roots of Hope Charts a New Course for Cuban-Americans and Cuba”] He built and led a network[https://www.miaminewtimes.com/best-of/2010/people-and-places/best-grassroots-organization-6402465 “BEST GRASSROOTS ORGANIZATION Raices de Esperanza (Roots of Hope) ”] with over 5,000 students and young professional members across 50 universities in the U.S.[https://www.cnn.com/2014/12/27/world/americas/cuban-american-generation-gap/index.html “Generation gap: Renewed ties expose painful Cuban-American rift ”] He also organized 10 youth leadership conferences at leading universities, including Harvard, Georgetown, Princeton, and Cornell. In 2009, Gorordo served as an advisor to Grammy winner Juanes and helped organize the historic "Peace without Borders" (Paz Sin Fronteras) concert in Havana, Cuba, with 1.2 million young people in attendance.[https://www.economist.com/united-states/2009/09/03/if-music-be-the-food-of-love “The Economist:" If music be the food of love...”] Gorordo contributed to the re-establishment of U.S.-Cuba diplomatic ties,[https://gulfnews.com/world/americas/obamas-miami-connections-helped-smooth-path-to-meeting-with-castro-1.1518718 “Gulf News:"Obama’s Miami connections helped smooth path to meeting with Castro ”] and accompanied then-U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry[https://www.miamiherald.com/news/nation-world/world/americas/cuba/article71879162.html “Miami Herald”] to the re-opening of the Embassy of the United States, Havana in 2015,[https://millennialmonitor.com/marines-kerry-raise-flag-cuba-embassy-reopening-video/ “Millennial Monitor:" ”] and President Barack Obama{{cite news|last=Adams|first=David|title=Young Cuban-American groups emerge as Obama allies|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-cuba-usa-miami-analysis/young-cuban-american-groups-emerge-as-obama-allies-idUSKBN0JZ0OY20141221 |access-date=20 December 2019|newspaper=Reuters|date=December 21, 2014}} on his historic trip to Cuba in 2016[https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/the-press-office/2016/03/16/readout-presidents-meeting-cuban-american-leaders “The White House - Office of the Press Secretary:"Readout of the President’s Meeting with Cuban-American Leaders”] (the first sitting U.S. president to travel to the island since President Calvin Coolidge in 1928).[https://www.univision.com/univision-news/latin-america/spring-break-in-havana-obama-headed-to-cuba “Spring Break in Havana, Obama headed to Cuba”]
On July 11, 2021, peaceful protests occurred in Cuba, inspired by the song Patria y Vida. In the aftermath of these events, President Joe Biden invited a group of Cuban-American community activists, including Gorordo, to a meeting at the White House.{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2021-07-30 |title=Background Press Call by a Senior Administration Official on Cuba |url=https://bidenwhitehouse.archives.gov/briefing-room/press-briefings/2021/07/30/background-press-call-by-a-senior-administration-official-on-cuba/ |access-date=17 September 2024 |website=The White House |language=en-US}} The purpose of the meeting was to discuss the political situation in Cuba and explore ways to support the Cuban people in circumventing censorship and accessing free media and internet services.{{cite web|url=https://www.miamiherald.com/opinion/op-ed/article253164963.html|title=Biden assures Cuban Americans, face to face, he is committed to empowering the Cuban people |publisher=Miami Herald }}
=Cancer Moonshot=
In 2015, Gorordo and his mother participated in the pilgrimage trip to Cuba with Pope Francis, which led to her being blessed by the Pope{{cite news|last=Gomez|first=Ivonne|title=Martha Serra Mohr, who inspired empowerment in Cuba, dies at 56|url=https://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/obituaries/article47575100.html |access-date=19 December 2019|newspaper=Miami Herald|date=December 2, 2015}} and reuniting with her family on the island after 46 years.[https://www.nbcnews.com/nightly-news/video/bridging-the-gap-with-young-cuban-generation-through-roots-of-hope-818616899680 “NBC News:"Bridging the Gap With Young Cuban Generation through 'Roots of Hope'”][https://www.cnn.com/videos/world/2015/09/20/cancer-victim-returns-cuba-pope-lavandera-pkg.cnn “CNN:"Cancer victim returns to Cuba to see Pope Francis”] After losing his mother to pancreatic cancer, Gorordo became involved with then-Vice President Joe Biden’s “moonshot to cure cancer.”[https://www.miamiherald.com/opinion/op-ed/article47622540.html “Miami Herald: Op-ed”] In 2016, he helped in the organizing of the White House Cancer Moonshot Summits.[https://www.elnuevoherald.com/opinion-es/article86753067.html “El Nuevo Herald:"A decisive battle against cancer”] In 2018, Gorordo joined the Biden Cancer Initiative and led the organizing of more than 450 Biden Cancer Community Summits across the U.S. to focus national attention on creating actionable solutions in the fight against cancer. In 2018, Gorordo also served as an Entrepreneur-In-Residence at StartUp Health, a venture fund and accelerator investing in “Health Moonshots” – like curing cancer – and building a portfolio of digital health companies in over 20 countries.[https://healthtransformer.co/from-pain-to-peace-purpose-af10b5bd10ed “Health Transformer:"From Pain to Peace & Purpose”]
Affiliations
Gorordo has appeared as a guest commentator on CNN,[https://www.cnn.com/videos/tech/2015/04/13/wbt-intv-gorordo-cuba-internet-access.cnn “Improving Cuba's Internet Access”] BBC,[https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-38605338 “US visa-free residency for Cubans ends”] NPR,[https://www.wlrn.org/post/trump-cuts-back-travel-remittances-cuba-lot-cuban-americans-wont-be-happy “Trump Cuts Back Travel, Remittances To Cuba. A Lot Of Cuban-Americans Won't Be Happy. ”] MSNBC,[http://www.msnbc.com/msnbc/watch/generations-split-on-us-cuba-policy-shift-376486979583 “Generational divide among Cuban-Americans on US-Cuba policy shift”] NBC Nightly News, Univision,[https://www.univision.com/univision-news/opinion/bidens-case-for-investing-in-education “Univision: Biden’s Case for Investing in Education”] and Telemundo.[https://www.telemundo51.com/noticias/local/Cimienza-evento-tecnol_gico-Emerge-Americas-2019_TLMD---Miami-509234192.html “Telemundo:"Comienza evento tecnológico "Emerge Americas 2019"”] His views and articles have also been published in Forbes, Newsweek, The Economist, The Hill,{{cite web|url=https://thehill.com/opinion/healthcare/593999-this-is-our-moment-to-end-cancer-as-we-know-it/|title=This is our moment to end cancer as we know it |work=The Hill |date=16 February 2022 }} The New Yorker, The Wall Street Journal and The Washington Post.[https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/young-cubans-follow-in-footsteps-of-paya-and-cepero/2013/07/26/766719d0-f310-11e2-8464-57e57af86290_story.html?noredirect=on “Young Cubans follow in footsteps of Payá and Cepero”] He previously served as Senior Fellow at the Georgetown University Beeck Center on Social Impact and Innovation. Gorordo was selected to serve as a delegate for the 2024 Democratic National Convention.{{Cite web |last=Bridges |first=C. A. |title=Do Florida Democratic delegates have to vote for Biden now that he dropped out? Your questions answered |url=https://www.tallahassee.com/story/news/politics/elections/2024/07/21/biden-drops-out-florida-delegates-vote/74491287007/ |access-date=17 September 2024 |website=Tallahassee Democrat |language=en-US}} He also was a member of the Biden for President National Finance Committee.{{cite news|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/trump-campaign-battles-democrats-for-latin-votes-in-florida-11602959116 |title=Trump Campaign Battles Democrats for Latin Votes in Florida |newspaper=The Wall Street Journal |date=17 October 2020 |last1=Córdoba |first1=José de }}{{cite web|url=https://www.newsweek.com/exclusive-biden-campaign-spent-125-million-latino-voters-who-helped-him-win-arizona-1543362 |title=Exclusive: Biden Campaign Spent $125 Million on Latino Voters, Who Helped Him Win Arizona |date=7 November 2020 |publisher=Newsweek}}[https://www.univision.com/univision-news/politics/biden-campaign-switches-focus-to-november-asking-who-is-the-right-man-for-a-crisis Univision: Biden campaign switches focus to November, asking who is the right man for a crisis?]
Felice serves as a Lifetime Member of the Council on Foreign Relations{{cite web|url=https://www.cfr.org/membership/roster |title= Members of the CFR|publisher=Council on Foreign Relations }} and serves on the Democratic National Committee's National Finance Committee, Latino Victory Fund National Committee, and the boards of the American Business Immigration Coalition, the Immigration Partnership and Coalition Fund[https://www.miamiherald.com/news/politics-government/article196942234.html Miami Herald: Out front or out of sight, Rubio takes Miami heat for immigration work]{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20170704194222/https://impacfund.org/board-of-directors/ Impact: BOARD OF DIRECTORS ]}} and Baptist Health Foundation.{{cite web|url=https://baptisthealth.net/baptist-health-foundation/about-us/leadership|title=Foundation Leadership |publisher=Baptist Health Foundation}}
Personal life
External links
- [https://emergeamericas.com/discover/leadership/felice-gorordo eMerge Americas]
- [http://raicesdeesperanza.org/index.php Raices de Esperanza]
- [https://archive.bidencancer.org/ Biden Cancer Initiative]
References
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Category:American technology chief executives