NOPA Founding Director Steps Down and Announces New Leadership

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Gabriel S. Marques is elected president of NOPA's executive board and

former US Congressman Richard W. Pombo is elected advisory board chairman

Mr. Gabriel S. Marques

President, NOPA Executive Board

Mr. Richard W. Pombo

Chairman, NOPA Advisory Board

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.

Letter from Francisco Semião to the Portuguese American Community

Dear Fellow Portuguese Americans:

Unfortunately, my health has declined over the past years due to some chronic issues and injuries from a recent car accident. This has caused me to slow down the implementation of planned NOPA activities and services to community partners. And increasing responsibilities at my full-time job have also placed a significant demand on my time, but I will continue to be involved with NOPA by playing a supportive role while prioritizing getting healthy again.

As someone who has worked in the nonprofit sector, I have learned that it is important for any person leading an effort to know when it is time step down and make way for someone who can take the helm and do a better job. That is why I have spent the past year looking for someone who has a burning desire to serve our Portuguese community and can push NOPA’s planned re-branding initiatives forward and think of innovative ways to raise awareness about NOPA's mission and work.

Although my tenure was filled with many trial and errors, I am very proud of a handful of accomplishments, from taking the lead in 2011 to reinstate the Congressional Portuguese American Caucus after finding out that was defunct for eight years and developing NOPA’s policy analysis/legislative alert, to recently arranging a meeting between the Trump Administration’s senior foreign policy advisor and the Portuguese Ambassador to the US, and culminating with facilitating a meeting with community leaders to work on NOPA’s new strategic vision and re-branding that will be implemented by its new leadership and board.

I am very pleased to have recruited Gabriel Marques and am very grateful to him for accepting his new role as president. I am also very honored to have former US Congressman Richard Pombo assume his new role as board chairman after serving as a board member for the past four years. He will replace Dr. George Perry, who has served as NOPA’s board chairman for the past six years, and to who I express my sincerest gratitude for his support and work over the years.

It has been an honor to serve the Portuguese American community over the past eleven years, and I am very pleased to see the efforts that have been emerging at the community level and the innovative leaders who are bringing our communities together on the East Coast, in the Mid-West, and West Coast. Thank you to everyone who has partnered with and supported NOPA’s efforts over the past years, and I look forward to re-connecting in the near future.

Sincerely,

Francisco Semião