The CEO and co-founder of the National Association of Hispanic Real Estate Professionals (NAHREP), co-founder of L’ATTITUDE Ventures, and founder of AVANCE Global Events is looking forward to seeing you at this year’s AVANCE Global.
Gary Acosta expects this year’s event to be between 30 and 40 percent larger than last year’s conference. He says the anticipated growth stems in part from a broader mix of industries and a program designed to bring leaders together across sectors.
“I’m excited about the crowd that we’re expecting in 2026,” Acosta says. “A lot of that is coming from new industries that will be represented at the event.”
This year’s AVANCE Global agenda builds on that broader mix with a new women’s entrepreneurship and leadership track, Thrive and Lead, led by business leaders Patty Arvielo and Vanessa Santos. Acosta calls the pair “phenomenally charismatic leaders” who have assembled a formidable roster of women leaders from around the country.
“I honestly feel like that is going to be the track that evolves this conference where we want it to go,” Acosta says. “There is a lot of excitement about it.”
The conference will also make a deeper push into sports, a sector Acosta sees as both an economic engine and a powerful cultural force. With three team owners, four team presidents, and other industry executives slated to participate, AVANCE Global is creating a dialogue around an arena where Hispanic influence continues to grow—in boardrooms, ownership groups, fandom, and community investment.
Entrepreneurship remains at the heart of the program. The Entrepreneurship and Capital track will convene leaders from early-stage ventures to established companies approaching $1 billion in annual revenue. Acosta hopes it ultimately becomes a centerpiece of AVANCE Global and a reliable destination for entrepreneurs seeking ideas, access to capital, and relationships that can accelerate the next stage of their businesses.
And while AVANCE continues to broaden its reach, NAHREP remains its strongest base. Acosta describes the organization’s constituency as the event’s secret sauce, a group that brings energy, optimism, and a deep commitment to building wealth and opportunity in Hispanic communities.
This is also a defining year for Acosta and the NAHREP ecosystem. The acquisition of Hispanic Executive marks a new chapter, extending the organization’s reach beyond live convenings and into a larger media platform. The move, Acosta admits, is directly counter to the prevailing trend: while many media companies are building events, Acosta’s organization has spent years developing an event platform and is now adding media to amplify its work.
“We built this really robust event platform that has a really large constituency and a great track record,” Acosta says. “Now moving into the media space gives us something to amplify the work that we’re doing and the opportunities that we’re providing.”
For first-time attendees, Acosta stresses intentionality. AVANCE Global can be expansive, with competing sessions and networking opportunities, but success does not require attending everything. One idea that changes a business’s trajectory—or a few relationships that become enduring connections—can make the trip worthwhile.
Speaking to attendees about maximizing their experience at the event, Acosta says, “Don’t try to do everything. Make sure that you do the things that are going to provide you with the best ROI.”
