Maritza Vega, is very proud of her Puerto Rican heritage, where her parents were born. Over the years, Maritza has been involved in community advocacy in several organizations that focus in Immigration Reform, Minority and Women Business Enterprise, Small Business, Education, Health, Arts, Community-Neighborhood, and Family. She started a diverse bicycle group “Urban Bike Riders” and has a home improvement business “VP Home Improvement Contracting LLC”.One word to describe this remarkable organizer is "energy" – she is always looking for ways to help those in need. She has a clear view of problem solving, “understand the problem- then get the solution and execute” her favorite words. She works at Kaleida Health systems for the past 18 years in where she has held several positions; presently she is a Certified Application Counselor, where she works to obtain health insurance for those with no insurance or are under-insured, using the New York State MarketPlace.Through her involvement with the Hispanic Heritage Council of Western New York Inc., Maritza is the Vice President of this organization, the first woman to receive such a title in this organization. She hopes to encourage understanding and knowledge of Spanish-speaking countries and to promote unity within the Hispanic community and with the larger communities of Western New York. She believes in the pay it forward method and the importance of working together in a cohesive team. She is also an active volunteer committee member in serval organization such as; Erie County Commission Status of Women (ECCSW secretary), Kaleida Health Diversity, Inclusion, Race and Equity(DIRE) employee resource group Co-Lead, iv straight Talk –SCORE, MWBE Advisory Board Erie County, to mention a few.