The Statewide Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of New Jersey (SHCCNJ) announced the appointment of John Lucas as interim president, effective immediately.
Lucas is a member of the SHCCNJ board and assumes the role following the departure of Carlos Medina, who stepped down after more than two decades of leadership.
The board unanimously selected Lucas, pointing to his background in enterprise strategy, organizational transformation and stakeholder alignment.
Lucas first connected with the SHCCNJ while actively seeking ways to engage with and support local communities.
At the time, the financial institution where he held a senior leadership role was a sponsor of the Chamber’s Latina Entrepreneurship Training Series (LETS), now known as the Level-Up Entrepreneurship Training Series, an experience that left a lasting impression.
“John Lucas understands this organization, our partners and the responsibility we carry,” said Luis O. De La Hoz, chairman of SHCCNJ. “He has the experience to lead with clarity and the judgment to move us forward. Carlos Medina leaves a strong foundation, and we are building on it with purpose.”
With a career centered on creating strategies, building high-performing teams and leading large-scale transformations, Lucas recognized strong alignment with the Chamber’s mission.
His early involvement as a LETS sponsor quickly evolved into a deeper commitment, leading him to join the SHCCNJ board more than five years ago.
His connection is also personal, shaped by his father’s earlier work in Hispanic communities in Chicago and his family’s heritage, with ties to Puerto Rico and Spain.
“Carlos Medina built an organization that delivers real results, and I look forward to building upon that strong foundation with focus and momentum. Strengthening Latino and other small businesses across New Jersey remains our priority,” said Lucas. “The work continues, and it will accelerate.”
During his tenure, Medina reshaped SHCCNJ into one of the nation’s leading chambers. He guided the organization through financial hardship and built it into a multimillion-dollar institution with more than 7,000 members, expanding its reach, strengthening its voice and advancing opportunities for Latino-owned businesses throughout New Jersey.
