2020 Top Florida Latino Lideres Award Recipient
Osceola Commissioner Peggy Sandoval-Choudhry is a Latino Mover N’ Shaker from Kissimmee, Florida.
Latin Times Magazine: Where are you and your family from? What is your Hispanic heritage? Peggy Sandoval-Choudhry: I come from a mixed background. My mom is Colombian and my Dad is Bolivian. They meet here in the US. I was born and raised in US but had an opportunity to live in South America and travel to different countries. So my background is very interesting. I love being Latina and I love learning about other heritages. I am proud of my parents and grand-parents for all their accomplishments and sacrifices to ensure I receive much opportunities in US.
Latin Times Magazine: Tell us about what you do for a living and how you got into it Peggy Sandoval-Choudhry: One of the first careers I had was A Federal Law Enforcement Officer for the Department of Homeland Security. I really enjoyed the job and the service to my country. After leaving the service, I decided to follow in my dad’s footsteps and opened up my own business with a focus on consulting and investments. I learned firsthand how small businesses and employees can be affected by local policies and ordinances which is what interested me in getting involved and lead me to get involved in politics.
Commissioner Peggy Sandoval-Choudhry in Kissimmee, Florida is a recipient of Latin Times 2020 TOP Florida Latino Lideres Award!
Latin Times Magazine: In your industry, what would you say separates you from your competition Peggy Sandoval-Choudhry: I think the most important aspects when speaking of competition and/or differences in my field is the following: - I lived and understand the hardships small business goes through in the county. So when I am assisting them and helping them I truly get what they are talking about and I have been through it myself so understand the importance of making it better right away. – Understand the way changes needed for improvements especially when speaking of the small business in which they have family members working together daily. This adds to special challenges and not many people understand that I do because I lived it.
Latin Times Magazine: During Covid-19, tell us about your Biggest Challenge/obstacle and how you overcame it/or are overcoming it Peggy Sandoval-Choudhry: I think we all had challenges. As a family, we had to rethink our daily lives like everyone else. As a Commissioner, my priority was to make sure our residents are safe and have testing available as much as possible. I also worked hard to get many different programs for those that lost their careers, hourly jobs, and healthcare. Providing financial housing assistance, rental assistance, food assistance, eviction prevention program, and Utility assistance. I also made sure we helped our small businesses with grants. As a county, we had to fight to be sure we got our fair share of cares act funding to help provide all these programs and was very successful in getting these services and funding for our county. As we continue this pandemic I will continue to fight for the people of our county.
Latin Times Magazine: Tell us about your biggest achievement, and how you achieved it (Covid or non-related) Peggy Sandoval-Choudhry: Making improvements in the community I live in with my family and helping to better the lives of others is some of the greatest achievements. I intend to continue to improve the community I live in for a better future for all of us.
Latin Times Magazine: What is next for you? What can people expect to see from you? Peggy Sandoval-Choudhry: I will continue to do what my heart loves most which is getting involved, making a difference, work with others, and better our community.
Latin Times Magazine: What words of encouragement can you offer? Peggy Sandoval-Choudhry: I would repeat a motto that was taught to me by a friend and a Philanthropist “To help better the lives of others, is the greatest of all achievements” This is really a motto that we should all follow.
Latin Times Magazine: What is YOUR comida Latina favorita? Peggy Sandoval-Choudhry: I love my mom’s cooking so my favoritos are usually the ones she cooks especially her arroz con pollo esmechado. I also love Saltenias which is like an empanada but has much more in it like a meal. Made mostly in Bolivian restaurants.
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