WASHINGTON, DC February 21, 2019
- The National Organization of Portuguese American’s (NOPA) is proud to announce the installment of its new leadership, who will drive and evolve the organization to its highest potential. Mr. Gabriel S. Marques will serve as NOPA’s new president, and Mr. Richard W. Pombo will serve as chairman of the advisory board.
Marques will be responsible for NOPA’s operations and leadership of the new executive board. He is an alumnus of the Frank G. Zarb School of Business at Hofstra University, where he obtained a B.B.A. and an M.B.A., both in finance. In 2014, Marques received his Juris Doctor from Touro College Jacob D. Fuchsberg Law Center and is currently admitted to practice law in New York State. Marques is the founder and President Emeritus of the New York Portuguese American Leadership Conference (NYPALC), where he is credited with starting the NY Portugal Day Gala, NY Portugal Day Parade and NY Portuguese Youth Conference. On September 6, 2015, Marques was elected to represent the communities of Connecticut, Delaware, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania and the Caribbean on the Portuguese Government's Diaspora Advisory Council (Conselho das Comunidades Portuguesas - CCP). As a member of the CCP, Gabriel has been Secretary of the CCP sub-committee on Economics, Social Issues and Immigration since 2016 and served as President of the Regional Advisory Council on Portuguese Communities in North America from 2016 to 2017.
Pombo’s role on the board will be to oversee and strengthen advocacy efforts on behalf of the Portuguese American community and serve as leader of NOPA’s new advisory board. Pombo, a rancher from the Central Valley of California, was first elected to the US House of Representatives in 1992 and represented California’s 11th District until January of 2007. At the time of his election, he was the only Portuguese-American member of Congress. Shortly after his election, he founded the Portuguese-American Caucus of the US House of Representatives for which he was awarded the Order of Prince Henry the Navigator by the President of Portugal. During his service in Congress, he was able to work for better relations and cooperation between the United States and Portugal. He helped to conclude a reciprocal tax treaty, vigorously supported Portugal’s inclusion in the visa waiver program and sponsored the House resolution supporting US participation in the World Expo hosted in Lisbon in 1998. He also represented the US House of Representatives at the inauguration of President Sampaio is Lisbon in 1996 and brought numerous Congressional delegations to Portugal including one with then-Speaker of the House Dennis Hastert. While a Member of the US House of Representatives, he served on the Transportation Committee, the Merchant Marine and Fisheries Committee, the Agriculture Committee and the Resources Committee. Pombo was an especially active member with his career culminating with service as the Vice-Chairman of the Agriculture Committee and Chairman of the Resources Committee.
Effective immediately, current President Francisco Semião
will step down after serving as NOPA’s founding board director since 2009. "I would like to thank everyone who has partnered with and supported NOPA’s efforts over the past years and wish Mr. Marques and Mr. Pombo much success in their new leadership roles" said Semião.
