Los Angeles County Supervisor Hilda L. Solis appointed Barney Santos to the Los Angeles County Small Business Commission on Wednesday.

“I am deeply humbled and honored to have been appointed as Supervisor Solis’s Small Business Commissioner for District 1. For over 20 years, I’ve dedicated my career to advocating for small businesses and their owners—the backbone of our region,” said Santos. “As a commissioner, I look forward to continuing my passion for serving our entrepreneurial community and ensuring their voices are heard and opportunities are shared, especially among those who are underrepresented.”

Santos is a resident of Montebello and is an entrepreneur who has spent the past 16 years building and managing new business ventures in the for-profit, non-profit, academic, and corporate sectors. As the CEO and founder of Gentefy, Santos is currently building a business that invest in new products and services which address the needs within Latino communities.

His most current investment is BLVD MRKT, a unique project in the City of Montebello which aimed to revitalize downtown Montebello through community engagement, food, art, and culture.

"It is an honor to appoint Barney Santos to the Small Business Commission," said Supervisor Solis. "With their experience and demonstrated commitment, I have no doubt Barney and Eliana will both have tremendous impact on our youth and small business in the County, including our First District communities.”