NEFTALI FELICIANO; 2023 Top Lideres Awards; SW Florida

What is your Hispanic Heritage?
Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico (50/50)

What area of Florida do you live in?
SWFL- Fort Myers

What is your profession?
CEO of Cancer Alliance Network

Latin Times Magazine: Tell us about what you do for a living and how you got into it.                   
Neftali: CEO for the Cancer Alliance Network, a non-profit organization that helps children and adults affected by cancer by providing financial assistance, resources, and support.

Latin Times Magazine: In your industry, what would you say separates you from your?
Neftali: My unique professional background. I studied to be a professional musician, worked in Financial Services as a Financial Advisor for nearly 10 years, and through my dedication to the community was asked to lead a non-profit organization as CEO.

Latin Times Magazine: Why do you feel you were nominated? 
Neftali:  dedication to volunteering for various non-profit organizations aimed at improving the lives of the people that live in our community.

Latin Times Magazine:  During Covid-19, tell us about your Biggest Challenge/obstacle and how you overcame it/or are overcoming it?
Neftali: The pandemic challenged our organization to leverage technology to adjust and adapt our services to reach those affected by cancer in our community. We had to move many of our services to be accessible virtually. As a non-profit, conducting fundraising events is an important method of continuing programs offered to the community. We had to create new ways to reach our supporters and patrons. 
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Latin Times Magazine: Tell us about your biggest achievement, and how you achieved it.
Neftali: Creating a top-tier Team of results-focused employees that are passionate about helping the children and families affected by cancer. Also, growing the services offered for the benefit of the community.
   
Latin Times Magazine:  What is next for you? What can people expect to see from you?
Neftali: Continued growth as a professional to deliver results that address real-world issues, so that we can collectively thrive as a community.

Latin Times Magazine: What does being a U.S. Citizen mean to you?  It is very important. Being a U.S. Neftali:  is one of the most valuable privileges we have. It should be treasured. There are people from across the world that would love to have it and some that have risked their lives with only the hope of acquiring it. It is also a responsibility to be citizens in good-standing that add value and skills to the communities we live in.

Latin Times Magazine:  What is your opinion of the state of affairs in our nation? And what role do you see Hispanics/Latinos playing in the future of our nation.
Neftali: The current state of affairs in our nation is dismal and causing the erosion of the fundamental traditional values that this country was founded upon. Hispanics/Latinos can play a crucial role in the future of this nation if we want to. I state it this way because it will require “our people” to educate themselves, get involved in business/community affairs and learn that if we aren’t proactive in preserving the values that made our country prosperous, our great nation will become the same as the many countries our people have emigrated from.
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Latin Times Magazine: What is the best lesson that you have learned in leadership and how has it helped your career?
Neftali: Surround yourself with other leaders that are more successful than you and place yourself in challenging, uncomfortable situations that force and encourage you to learn. Finding the right team members on your staff is key to the success of an organization.

Latin Times Magazine:  What is YOUR comida Latina favorita?
Neftali:  Carne Asada