PuroClean of Wilton | Ridgefield 
In October 2021, PuroClean of Wilton Ridgefield became a member of the Greater Norwalk Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. We couldn’t have picked a better time to join this organization. Thanks to a recent expansion, the Chamber has elected a new executive committee and widened its board of directors. Because of our commitment to community leadership, we were invited to work closely with the members of the board. In the different meetings we’ve attended, we’ve provided guidance on the issues that matter most to the association, and therefore our community.
Thanks to our work and involvement in helping the organization grow, we were honored that one of our very own, PuroClean franchise owner Alejandro Restrepo, was invited to join the Chamber’s board as a trustee. This is a meaningful achievement for Restrepo. “This is an honor and we are all humbled and appreciative of the opportunity presented to us,” he stated.
Since then, we have been serving tirelessly alongside the executive committee to accomplish the goals and missions of the Greater Norwalk Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. The Chamber looks forward to a packed and exciting 2022. There are plans for educational sessions focused on business startups, tax tips, member business spotlights, and countless networking opportunities.
About the Chamber
The Greater Norwalk Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (GNHCC) is a 501c6 membership organization. This means that while the organization is created to promote business, no profits are generated and does not pay shares or dividends. The leadership are all volunteers, lending their time, talents, and great ideas to help the community and the organization expand its impact. The chamber works to achieve inclusion and growth for Hispanic-owned businesses and entrepreneurs. As the fastest growing population in our region, and the United States as a whole, we are what make the GNHCC the perfect place to do business, and are proud to be an integral part of the social fabric, culture, struggles, and achievements of our nation.
Having a diverse workforce, with people from different racial, educational, and social backgrounds, as well as having diversity in age, helps encourage creativity and foster innovation. There’s also a clear competitive advantage to be gained from employing a varied workforce. An organization with a diverse range of employees is well placed to understand the needs of a wide range of customers.
About the Board
The board is made up of a diverse and talented group of professionals who are willing to help the community. Read on to learn more about the esteemed members of the board.
President
Zayed Rodriguez–MsC, ChFC, RICP–is a small-business consultant and a wealth management advisor focused on helping individuals and business owners achieve their financial goals. Before working as a financial advisor on Wall Street, Rodriguez ran his own company for more than seven years and helped small businesses close multi-million-dollar contracts.
Originally from Mexico, Rodriguez graduated from the University of Connecticut and has a Master’s degree from KEDGE Business School in France. He is involved with organizations that help the growth and success of the Hispanic community.
Vice President
Cesar Pineda, owner of the Farmers Insurance – Cesar Pineda Agency in South Norwalk, CT, provides top-quality experience with an emphasis on excellent customer service, knowledge, and great rates. He has been in the insurance industry since 2012 and started his own agency in 2018. Today, Farmers Insurance – Cesar Pineda Agency is one of the leading Farmers Insurance agencies in Connecticut.
Born and raised in Colombia, Pineda has always strived to give back to his community whenever he can. As GNHCC’s new Vice President, Pineda is committed to serving and supporting local businesses and community initiatives for the entire region.
Secretary
Ivonne Zucco, founder and CEO of A Better Story Coaching, has a mission of supporting individuals and companies in their development efforts and unlocking the potential everyone has within. Her innate skill in analytical thinking and foresight generates creative solutions to organizational challenges and long-term projects.
Ivonne holds a Bachelor’s in Psychology from Sacred Heart University and a Master’s in Business Administration from the University of New Haven, and a Professional Coaching Certification from the Institute for Professional Coaching Excellency (iPEC).
Treasurer
Edgar R. Abreu, Jr., CPA, is a Certified Public Accountant, as well as an auditing and accounting professional. He began his career at Ernst & Young over 25 years ago. Abreu, Jr. has provided his expertise in financial, operational and compliance audits to companies such as Warnaco, Texaco, Pitney Bowes, Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield, US Tobacco, GE Capital and Synchrony Financial.
Most recently, Abreu, Jr. started a new full-service tax and accounting company called Abreu CPA. He has continued working with Primerica to offer tax preparation, accounting and financial services.
Trustee
Fermin Vidal is a proud member of Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices New England and Westchester Properties teams. With over 10 years in the real estate industry, Vidal is a licensed real estate broker in Connecticut and New York.
As a Latino of Mexican descent, Vidal uses his bilingual background, extensive market knowledge, and practical negotiating skills to assist members of the community realize their home-owning goals. He has been a key panelist for several homeownership forums for aspiring first-time home buyers.
Trustee
Robert Vargas is a coach, entrepreneur and author. He helps individuals who are struggling personally succeed in today’s professional and business environments. A certified high-performance coach, Vargas offers his expertise to people seeking to improve their mindset and habits, and entrepreneurs and business owners looking to achieve financial success.
After overcoming his own personal setbacks, Vargas’ passion now is to guide people to fulfill their personal and professional potential.
Trustee
Hector Pachas is a Norwalk-based photographer serving the Fairfield County and the New York City metropolitan areas. As a professional headshot photographer, Pachas focuses on providing superior image quality to professionals and businesses.
Pachas has been a member of the Headshot Crew, Peter Hurley’s premier headshot network, since 2018. With his photographic work, Pachas is able to help people achieve their marketing and business goals one click at a time.
Trustee
Alejandro Restrepo is the president and co-owner of PuroClean of Wilton Ridgefield, a Hispanic-American, family-owned and operated disaster restoration business based out of South Wilton. Born in Colombia, a young Restrepo and his family moved to the United States seeking better opportunities. Overcoming a language barrier, his parents established a successful house-cleaning company.
Restrepo is a 14-year insurance industry veteran. He began his career as a property claims adjuster, handling claims in Westchester and Manhattan Counties, and was most recently a member of the Travelers National Catastrophe Response Team. A newly-elected Trustee, Restrepo looks to provide guidance to the Hispanic community.
Founder – Emeritus President
Mariella Castagnet was born and raised in Montevideo, Uruguay and holds a degree in Liberal Arts and Psychology. Currently, Castagnet is a realtor at Berkshire Hathaway, where she’s highly regarded for her ability to foster meaningful client relationships and establish a successful customer base.
Founder – Emeritus Vice President
Warren A. Peña is the Senior Vice President Wealth Management Advisor at MassMutual and an Investment Advisor Representative at MML Investors Services. He holds a Financial Planning Certificate from Fairfield University. Peña is a Norwalk Community College alum, where he received an A.S. in Business Administration. He graduated from Northeastern University in Boston, MA, with a Bachelor’s in Criminal Justice and a concentration in Legal Studies.
At PuroClean Wilton Ridgefield, we are proud of the excellent work carried out by the Greater Norwalk Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, the leadership team and the achievements of Alejandro Restrepo, our franchise owner, Congratulations!
PuroClean of Wilton | Ridgefield 