The Government of Puerto Rico’s New York regional office has a new director. “I am delighted to appoint Luis Balzac as director of our New York regional office,” announced Puerto Rico Federal Affairs Administration (PRFAA) Executive Director Richard Figueroa.
“Luis brings to this position an exceptional combination of talent and skills in intergovernmental relations, business development, marketing and public relations,” Figueroa said upon announcing the appointment. At the helm of PRFAA’s New York office, Balzac will support the implementation of the Government of Puerto Rico’s U.S. mainland agenda, as set forth by the island’s newly elected Governor, Luis Fortuño (R-PR).
“Our office will be working hard to promote a wide array of mutually beneficial initiatives between the island and stateside communities in this region,” said Balzac, who left the marketing and public relations firm he founded 10 years ago in order to return to public service. “Our mandate includes civic, cultural and economic development efforts that reverberate in tangible benefits for the people of Puerto Rico,” he noted.
Among his initial efforts, Balzac said he has already reached out to the Regional Conference of Puerto Rican Day Parades, and is meeting today with members of the New York Senate Hispanic Caucus. Balzac’s Manhattan office is shared with three other Puerto Rico public corporations with important U.S. mainland components: the Puerto Rico Government Development Bank, the Puerto Rico Industrial Development Company and the Puerto Rico Tourism Company.
This is not Balzac’s first experience in public service. In the late 1990s, he served as Deputy Director of PRFAA’s New York office. PRFAA’s New York regional office covers the northeastern corridor of the United States, including New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania and Massachusetts, an area of the country with over 2 million citizens of Puerto Rican origin.
The Governor of Puerto Rico, Honorable Luis G. Fortuño, inspects the Puerto Rico National Guard (PRNG) during his first official function as Commander in Chief. The inspection was part of the Change of Command ceremony held at Camp Santiago Training Center, Salinas, on February 28. During the ceremony the governor addressed more than 8,000 Citizen-Soldiers and Airmen and thanked them for their service to the nation. The Governor is accompanied by incoming commander Brigadier General Antonio J. Vicens (left) and outgoing commander Major General David Carrion Baralt (right). The PRNG is comprised of approximately 10,000 men and women serving in the Army, Air and State Guard. More than 8,000 have served in the Global War on Terrorism, and approximately 400 are currently deployed. Photo by Staff Sgt. Luis E. Orengo, 113th MPAD.
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