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Hector J. Velez

Chief Operating Officer

 

I am a recognized thought leader in the field of human capital. I was co-founder of HireStrategy, a top-ranked staffing firm in the mid-Atlantic region, that was successfully acquired by The Addison Group in 2014. At HireStrategy, I led and participated in the successful design and build of leadership teams for some of the most visionary organizations in the DC region.

I was recently appointed to the Board of Directors for ServiceSource, Inc., a $200 million nonprofit organization with a mission to deliver exceptional services to individuals with disabilities through innovative and valued employment, training, habilitation, housing, and support services. I serve on the Boards of The Skillsource Group, Inc. (former Chairman) and Virginia Career Works – Northern, private and public sector partners who share a common goal of promoting the economic prosperity and long-term growth of Northern Virginia. I also serve as President, on the Board of HR Leadership Forum, the mid-Atlantic’s largest association of HR executives.

I have been recognized as a leader in corporate responsibility initiatives and policies resulting in being honored at the HR Leadership Awards for two consecutive years. I am also a long-standing member of the Society for Human Resource Management.

I am a sought-after speaker in the areas of leadership, diversity, equity, career management, talent acquisition, and retention. I dedicate a significant amount of time and energy to associations and trade groups that want to help their members in the areas of career management.

Favorites

Restaurant: Qui Qui DC

Sport: Baseball, The Washington Nationals

Musicians/Band: Maná

TV Show: Breaking Bad

Place: The DMV

Fun Facts

  • •  I was born and raised in Puerto Rico, but consider myself a proud Washingtonian!
  • •  I am a baseball fan and a lifelong Washington Nationals season ticket holder; you can find me behind first base on any given game day.
  • •  I am happily married to Giannina, one of the DC area’s top corporate event planners. My daughter, Desiree, was the 2019 Virginia Tech Homecoming Queen. She has a degree in Biochemistry with a minor in Spanish and is currently in medical school. My son, Ignacio, is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania and works for a public interest law firm in Boston.