22/05/2026
🐝 Una colmena que nació desde Nogales.
Qué orgullo ver a Colmena - Negocios Eficientes y nuestra historia formar parte de algo tan grande junto a Young Leaders of the Americas Initiative - YLAI y el U.S. Department of State
Something big is happening across the Americas this year. 🌎
The United States is marking Freedom 250, the 250th anniversary of our nation, and YLAI is celebrating 10 years of connecting entrepreneurs, innovators, and community builders across the Western Hemisphere.
To mark both milestones, we are launching the Leaders of the Americas Spotlight Series, recognizing Exchange Programs - U.S. Department of State fellows, alumni, partners, mentors, and community leaders whose work reflects shared values and creates real impact through entrepreneurship, service, and collaboration.
We are honored to begin by spotlighting Raquel Ruiz of Nogales, Mexico!
As Executive Director of CANACINTRA Nogales, Raquel is helping transform the industrial and small business landscape of northwest Mexico. Drawing on her YLAI network, she has revitalized the chamber through AI for business workshops, innovation programming, and partnerships with the U.S. Consulate.
As founder of Colmena - Negocios Eficientes and Nogales’ Coordinator for Economy and Tourism, Raquel has coached women and youth entrepreneurs, strengthened public-private collaboration, and expanded opportunities for cross-border engagement. An AWE alumna and mentor, she has also supported more than 60 women entrepreneurs through mentorship and binational networking initiatives.
Raquel’s leadership reflects the future of the border economy: innovative, collaborative, and community-driven.
Throughout this anniversary year, we will continue featuring inspiring stories from leaders across the Americas.
Know someone who deserves to be recognized? Fellows, alumni, partners, mentors, and community leaders across the Americas are all eligible: https://forms.gle/Ye6MJsUju1pRAdZa8
U.S. Consulate Nogales Embajada Estados Unidos en México
