[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 161 (2015), Part 12]
[Senate]
[Pages 16428-16429]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                         ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS

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                         TRIBUTE TO OTTO MERIDA

 Mr. HELLER. Mr. President, today, I wish to congratulate Otto 
Merida on his retirement after nearly 40 years of service to the Las 
Vegas Latin Chamber of Commerce. It gives me great pleasure to 
recognize his years of hard work and dedication to Las Vegas' Hispanic 
business community. I am proud to call Otto a friend.
  Otto was born in Havana, Cuba, and came to the United States in the 
early 1960s through a historic U.S. mission in Cuba known as Operation 
Peter Pan. He attended high school in Wilmington, DE, and received an 
associate degree from North Florida Junior College and a bachelor's 
degree in political science from the University of Florida. After 
graduating, he worked with Volunteers In Service to America, VISTA, in 
Massachusetts as a community organizer and social worker. He then left 
VISTA and worked for the Fitchburg Chamber of Commerce.
  He later came to Las Vegas in 1974 and began working for Nevada's 
Department of Education and the Comprehensive Employment and Training

[[Page 16429]]

Program. As someone who has traveled to Cuba and spent time with the 
people, I recognize the importance of normalizing some relations with 
this country. This is why I support lifting travel restrictions to and 
from Cuba. I am proud to see Otto represent his country in such a 
positive manner within our Nevada community. Beginning in 1976, Otto 
helped organize Las Vegas' Latin Chamber of Commerce, LCC, and in 1978 
became the executive director. In 2005, he was named president and 
chief executive officer of the LCC and the LCC Community Foundation. 
This successful body now has over 13,000 members and is the premier 
Latin chamber serving the great State of Nevada. I am grateful that our 
State has had someone like Otto leading this incredible organization 
for so many years. He is one of a kind and will be missed.
  Without a doubt, Otto's work has had a great impact on Las Vegas' 
Hispanic businesses both large and small. Through his unwavering 
commitment, the Hispanic business community continues to grow and 
prosper. Otto has not only worked to build Las Vegas' Hispanic 
businesses in times of economic stability, but also helped to keep 
hard-working southern Nevada businessowners on their feet in times of 
great downturn. Along with his work to support local businesses, he has 
also focused on philanthropic work, helping foster young Hispanic 
leaders through the Latino Youth Leadership Conference since 1993. In 
addition, he has contributed greatly in helping to grow scholarship 
funds to go towards higher education for Las Vegas' Hispanic youth. 
This community is fortunate that Otto has served as an ally and leader 
for decades. To say he has had a positive impact on Las Vegas' Hispanic 
business community would be an understatement. The strong foundation he 
has built will be felt for years to come.
  I ask my colleagues and all Nevadans to join me in thanking Otto for 
his dedication to both Las Vegas' Hispanic business community and the 
LCC and in congratulating him on his retirement. He exemplifies the 
highest standards of leadership and service and should be proud of his 
long and meaningful career. I wish him well in all of his future 
endeavors.

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