Alba Martínez is an experienced Puerto Rican official who became the first Latina to hold the position of Director of Commerce for the city under Mayor Cherelle Parker’s administration.
In her role as Director of Commerce, her focus is on creating a city that facilitates anyone, regardless of their background, to start, grow, or connect with business and job opportunities in the city.
Her plans include spending time with small business owners, entrepreneurs, and job seekers from diverse backgrounds and communities across the city. The goal is to listen to them, understand their needs, interests, and the barriers they face.
Martínez has built an impeccable and successful career in public service and private investment in Philadelphia. She is a dedicated public servant, a passion she attributes to one of her grandmothers.
“My grandmother went out of her way to meet the needs of everyone around her, even when she barely had enough money. She was proud of the life she lived. She was poor but shared and served very generously, and she was never paid a penny for it,” she expressed in an interview with Drexel University.
As the daughter of middle-class parents who witnessed their daily struggles for success until they rose to become university professors, Martínez has also made her mark, both personally and professionally.
A Path Forged From a Young Age
Martínez moved to Washington D.C. at the age of 19 to study at Georgetown University Law Center. It was during this time that she began overcoming obstacles due to her “insufficient” level of English.
While attending Georgetown University Law Center, she worked at a law firm in Washington, D.C., and at a public utilities firm in rural Florida.
After completing her studies, she moved to Philadelphia, a city she holds in great charm and gratitude, to begin forging her path. She has served as President and CEO of United Way of Southeastern Pennsylvania, Head of Retail Customer Service and Global Talent Acquisition Leader at Vanguard, co-founder of Magnolia Impact Solutions, founder of Street Knowledge, and an attorney at Community Legal Services.
Regarding her past experience in city government, she was Commissioner of Human Services for Philadelphia during Mayor John Street’s administration, and she has also held leadership positions in non-profit organizations such as Executive Director at Congreso de Latinos Unidos.
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During her time at the non-profit organization, she launched innovative programs, including the first domestic violence program for Latinas in Pennsylvania and a training program for the carpenters’ union in the neighborhood.
For Martínez, being appointed as Director of Commerce for Philadelphia is an honor and a way to give back to the city that provided her with so many lessons and opportunities. Her decades of executive leadership experience ensure economic opportunities for everyone.
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