A Mexican native, Dr. Jose Gonzalez first started coming to Nashville as a teenager when he visited Camp Marymount. He attended as a camper for a few summers, and then worked as a counselor throughout his college years.

After forming bonds in the city and deciding what he wanted to do with his life as a new college graduate, a chance opportunity to speak to a Spanish class at Father Ryan High School changed his life.

For one, it allowed him to realize his love of teaching. And more importantly, it is here that he met his wife Claire, who at the time had just begun teaching at Father Ryan.

After marrying Claire and settling down in Nashville, Dr. Gonzalez worked for years as an accountant, with other firms and ultimately with his own, before he began pursuing his Doctorate in Business Administration and teaching at Belmont.

While he was loving his work and was busy was a father and husband, Dr. Gonzalez felt unfulfilled. He wanted to use some of his energy to lead a life of service, and given his background and life experiences, he knew that the immigrant population would be an important one to serve.

This is why he co-founded Conexion Americas, a non-profit that helps Latino immigrants assimilate and improve their lives in Nashville. “Our world has becoming increasingly difficult and toxic for immigrants,” Dr. Gonzalez says. “It’s really tough out there, and we try to help in whatever ways we can.”

Conexion Americas now has 50 full-time employees, a headquarters on Nolensville Pike, and a budget of around $5 million annually.

We’re thankful to have Dr. Gonzalez in our community. To learn more about Conexion Americas and see how you can get involved, click here.