Nina G. Vaca

Nina Vaca
Born Ximena G. Vaca
Quito, Ecuador
Residence Dallas, TX
Alma mater Texas State University
Occupation Chairman & CEO Pinnacle Group
Years active 1996 - Present
Board member of Comerica Inc Kohl's Corporation Cinemark Holdigns
Spouse(s) Jim Humrichouse
Children 4

Nina Vaca is an American entrepreneur, philanthropist, and civic leader. She is best known as the Chairman and CEO of Pinnacle Group, which was named the Fastest-Growing Women-Owned Business in the country in 2015 [1] and is also believed to be country's largest Latina-owned business. Vaca is the Chairman Emeritus of the United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (following her service as Chair from 2010-2012), as well as Chairman of the USHCC Foundation.[2] She currently serves as a Presidential Ambassador for Global Entrepreneurship (PAGE) through the United States Department of Commerce [3] and sits on the boards of three publicly-traded companies. Vaca is part of the 2016 Class of Henry Crown Fellows, from the Aspen Institute, a new generation of leaders to positively impact society.[4] The story of Nina Vaca and Pinnacle Group opens the Entrepreneur chapter of the McGraw-Hill textbook, “Understanding Business”.[5]

Early life and education

Vaca was born in Quito, Ecuador and is the third of parents Amanda and Hernan Vaca's five children. The family spent the majority of Vaca's childhood living in Los Angeles, California where her parents owned several small business and fostered the entrepreneurial spirit in Vaca and her siblings.[6] The family moved to Texas in 1990 following Hernan Vaca’s death. Vaca credits her mother’s example as being a major influence on Vaca’s business success and a key reason for her strong civic involvement.[7]

Vaca began college at Texas State University shortly after relocating to Texas and graduated in 1994 with a Bachelor of Arts in Speech Communications and a minor in Business Administration. A lifelong learner, she later completed executive education programs at Harvard Business School – Corporate Governance Executive Program, Tuck School of Business, and Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern. Vaca was named a Distinguished Alumna of Texas State University in 2012, and was the youngest alumna in university history to be honored with this award. Vaca also holds honorary doctorates from Northwood University, Mount Mary University,[8] and Berkeley College [7]

Career

Early Work

Like all her siblings, Vaca began working at a young age in her family’s businesses. Following their father’s death, she and her sister, Jessica, ran his travel agency to prepare it for sale. After college graduation, Vaca moved to New York City to begin work in the IT Industry and then relocated to Dallas, Texas to work at Computer Development Services, Inc.

Pinnacle Group

In 1996, Vaca founded Pinnacle Group with just $300.[9] What started out as a one-woman IT staffing business has skyrocketed to become the fastest-growing women-owned business in the country in 2015 with a gross revenue of around $1 billion.[1] Over the years, Vaca made strategic decisions during times of adversity and economic downturn to diversify Pinnacle’s service offerings and geographic reach to make it stronger and more resilient, which allowed the company to continue growing even during times of recession. A new brand platform for Pinnacle Technical Resources, Inc. was launched in 2015 when it became Pinnacle Group.[10] This change better reflects the company’s status as a workforce solutions powerhouse with several distinct brands and service lines, including: Pinnacle Talent Solutions (IT staffing and professional services), Pinnacle MSP (managed services), Pinnacle Canada (staffing and outsourced services), Pinnacle Payrolling (payrolling and IC compliance), and Provade VMS (vendor management software). Pinnacle Group and its subsidiaries currently serve clients in 48 states and Canada, and Provade VMS software to clients in over 60 countries.[11]

Corporate Boards

Vaca is a director of Comerica Inc. (2008–present), Kohl’s Corporation (2010–present),[12] and Cinemark Holdings (2014–present).[13]

Civic Leadership and Philanthropy

President Obama appointed Vaca as a Presidential Ambassador for Global Entrepreneurship (PAGE) in 2014. The PAGE Program is a first-of-its-kind collaboration and the goal of the program is to develop the next generation of entrepreneurs both at home and abroad. In this capacity, Vaca traveled with Secretary of State Penny Pritzker to Ghana in May 2014 to promote entrepreneurship globally.[14]

In 2014, the USHCC Foundation created a board of directors, and announced Vaca as its inaugural Chairman of the Board. In this role she serves to further develop the USHCC’s charitable activities and educational programs. As part of her work for the USHCC foundation, Vaca helped found At the Table: Women in Business in Leadership, an initiative to ensure that women entrepreneurs and professionals are receiving resources and influence to propel them to higher levels of success.[2]

Vaca served as Chairman of the United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce from 2010-2012. She is credited with helping bring about the USHCC’s renaissance by initiating and executing historic structural changes, creating a scholarship program for entrepreneurs, and overseeing three of the organizations most successful conventions.

In 2011, Vaca was named a Founding Board Member for the Startup America Partnership.[15] Vaca has been a German Marshall Memorial Fellow, and a member of the British American Project. Vaca has also served as a Mentor for the Peace Through Business program.

Vaca is a member of the Young Presidents’ Organization, the Women Presidents’ Organization, and the Dallas Citizens Council. She is also active in the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC) – Southwest, as well as the DFW National Minority Supplier Development Council.

Honors & Awards

2016 – Second Fastest-Growing Women Owned/Led Company by the Women Presidents’ Organization [16]

2016 – Annual Enterprising Women of the Year Award [17]

2016 – Lifetime Achievement Award from Dallas Business Journal’s [18]

2016 – The Staffing 100 by Staffing Industry Analysts [19]

2015 – Fastest-Growing Women Owned/Led Company Worldwide by the Women Presidents’ Organization [1]

2015 – The Global Power 100 – Women in Staffing by Staffing Industry Analysts [20]

2015 – Women of ALPFA Latina Excellence Award [21]

2008 – Present – 101 Most Influential Latinos by Latino Leaders Magazine [22]

2013 – 2014 – The Staffing 100, one of the 100 Most Influential People in Staffing by Staffing Industry Analysts [19]

2013 – Most Intriguing Entrepreneur by Goldman Sachs

2013 – NBC Innovator [23]

2005 – Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year/Hall of Fame Inductee [24]

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Women Presidents' Organization Unveils the 50 Fastest-Growing Women-Owned/Led Companies Worldwide". Women Presidents' Organization. Retrieved 1 May 2015.
  2. 1 2 Jean, Sheryl. "Dallas' Nina Vaca named chairwoman for U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce". The Dallas Morning News. Retrieved 22 May 2012.
  3. ↑ "Nina Vaca". DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE. Retrieved 3 March 2016.
  4. ↑ "Aspen Institute Mobilizes New Generation of Leaders". Aspen Institute. Retrieved 15 March 2016.
  5. ↑ Markelz, Michelle. "Nina Vaca: Reaching for a Pinnacle". Hispanic Exeutive. Retrieved 16 June 2013.
  6. ↑ Inc. "'I Grew Up Watching My Parents Fail Over & Over Again'". Inc. Retrieved 7 December 2012.
  7. 1 2 Blanco, Octavio. "Nina Vaca: Daughter of immigrants now runs a $650 million firm". CNN Money. Retrieved 29 September 2015.
  8. ↑ Pabst, Georgia. "New U.S. Hispanic Chamber chair to give commencement". Latino Connection. Journal Sentinel. Retrieved 22 May 2012.
  9. ↑ Abril, Danielle. "Cover Story: The DBJ Interview with Pinnacle Group’s Nina Vaca". Dallas Business Journal. Retrieved 10 July 2015.
  10. ↑ "Pinnacle Group Names Freddy Vaca President of Pinnacle Talent Solutions". Pinnacle Group. Retrieved 8 February 2016.
  11. ↑ "Staffing Firm Buys VMS". Staffing Industry Analysts. Retrieved 24 May 2012.
  12. ↑ Kohl's. "Nina G. Vaca Elected to Kohl's Corporation Board of Directors". BusinessWire. Retrieved 22 March 2010.
  13. ↑ Cinemark. "Cinemark Holdings, Inc. Announces New Board Members". Cinemark. Retrieved 14 November 2014.
  14. ↑ Castellanos, Melissa. "Nina Vaca, CEO of Pinnacle Technical Resources, Champions Entrepreneurship Worldwide". Latin Post. Retrieved 25 June 2014.
  15. ↑ "Nina G. Vaca-Humrichouse". Startup America Partnership. Retrieved 23 May 2012.
  16. ↑ "Fifty Leading Women Entrepreneurs Honored for Their Companies’ Rapid and Thriving Growth". Retrieved 8 April 2016.
  17. ↑ "Class of 2016 Award Winners". Enterprising Women. Retrieved 7 December 2015.
  18. ↑ Butler, Ana. "Nina Vaca selected as Lifetime Achievement Award winner". Dallas Business Journal. Retrieved 8 January 2016.
  19. 1 2 "The Staffing 100". Staffing Industry Analysts. Retrieved 2016.
  20. ↑ "2015 Global Power 100 Women in Staffing". Women in Staffing.
  21. ↑ "Women of ALPFA Latina Excellence Award Winner Nina Vaca". Youtube. Retrieved 15 August 2015.
  22. ↑ "Nina Vaca Top 25 Latino Leaders". Latino Leaders. Retrieved 26 August 2015.
  23. ↑ Carrero, Jacquellena. "INNOVATOR: Nina Vaca, CEO of Pinnacle Technical Resources". NBC Latino. Retrieved 24 September 2013.
  24. ↑ "Technology and Communications Entrepreneur of the Year Award Recipient". Ernst & Young. June 19, 2005.

External links

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