Guillermo (Bill) Salas Jr.
President & Founder Hispanic Association of Contractors and Enterprises.
Guillermo (Bill) Salas, Jr. has devoted his career to helping others through his activities in community economic development, advocacy and as a speaker over 30 years.
In 1985, Mr. Salas became the driving force behind the Hispanic Association of Contractors and Enterprises (Co-founder), a local non-profit community economic development corporation. Under his leadership, starting without a staff or operating budget, HACE has grown into a vital organization that provides a number of community and economic development services with completed and planned projects valued at over $60 million. Its activities include commercial revitalization (5th Street Main Street Program), commercial real estate development, and development of affordable housing, Housing Counseling Services, Social Services and Property Management. HACE’s activities focus on economic development strategies that promote the revitalization and stabilization of the community’s economic base and the empowerment of the Latino Community and its residents.
Nationally, Mr. Salas has provided consultation to Latino businesses and community groups on community economic development. Over the years, he has received a variety of awards in recognition of his work. Mr. Salas was selected by the British Government for his work in community development and traveled to Great Britain to exchange ideas with colleagues on community development.
Locally, Mr. Salas has served on numerous community and civic boards, including: Governor’s Commission of Latino Affairs; Mayor’s Commission on Latino Affairs; Greater Philadelphia Economic Development Coalition; Boys and Girls Club of West Kensington; Boy Scouts of America–Troop #58; 5th Street Business Association (Founder); Philadelphia Association of Community Development Corporations (Founder and President); Local Initiatives Support Corporation; American Street Business Association; Episcopal Hospital; Latino Contractors Association (Founder); The Reinvestment Fund; Philadelphia Industrial Development Corporation; Philadelphia Multicultural Affairs Congress and others.
Born in San Sebastian, Puerto Rico and raised in Philadelphia, he is a product of the parochial and public school systems. He received a B.A. Degree from Lincoln University in 1971. Mr. Salas holds a Real Estate License and has completed a variety of courses in Management, Financial Analysis and Real Estate Development.
Mr. Salas was previously associated with First Pennsylvania Bank, Spanish Merchants Association and Philadelphia Commercial Development Corporation.