Juan Pablo Salas
Director of Development and Communications
Juan Pablo Salas was born in Colombia into a family dedicated to service and education through mass media. He grew up with the conviction that his life's mission is to help improve his community. From an early age, he developed a keen interest in local, national, and international news.
He emigrated to Argentina where he lived for six years. There, he studied Computer Science, graduating as a Systems Analyst. Upon arriving in the United States in 1992, Juan Pablo quickly integrated into American life and worked for nearly a decade at Sony in Miami. He became a US citizen in 2000.
He later devoted himself to writing and published "Crónicas del último colombiano"—an anthology of stories evaluating the causes of violence affecting his country of origin—among other works. He wrote for various local media outlets in Miami and in 2004 joined PRISA Radio stations in America, where he developed his skills as a journalist, producer, presenter, and political analyst.
For a decade, he oversaw the flagship news product "Minuto 60," while producing and hosting other programs for diverse markets. He helped establish PRISA Radio's Information Services, including a methodology for sharing news among the group's different stations across Latin America, the United States, and Spain.
In 2018, he established his independent podcast "El Opinón," which for two years united the Hispanic community in the United States with information and political analysis. He has served as a television executive producer at MEGA TV and as a freelance interpreter and translator.
In 2019, he arrived in the Sarasota region to work at Solmart Media as a media specialist, salesperson, and news director. During this time, he has produced and hosted the program "Su Negocio" (Your Business), conducting more than 500 interviews with local and national figures, from entrepreneurs to artists and politicians.
Throughout his career, Juan Pablo has maintained his interest in the common good and has volunteered with various civic organizations. In joining UnidosNow, Juan Pablo sees an opportunity to serve his local community by creating lasting impact—supporting the development of new leaders who will make a difference locally and nationally while remaining conscious of the value of their contributions to the community. He joined UnidosNow to contribute with his communication and development skills, helping with the growth of the organization.
Juan Pablo currently volunteers with CreArte Latino Cultural Center where he helped create “VOCES de inmigración,” a piece of testimonial theatre telling the stories of immigrants. He also volunteers with the Coalition for Immigration Justice SRQ.
When he is not working, Juan Pablo enjoys drawing, painting, journaling, photography, music, and practicing other creative skills.
juan Pablo Salas
Nacido en Colombia en una familia dedicada a los medios de comunicación y la educación, Juan Pablo Salas creció comprometido con la mejora de su comunidad. Después de estudiar Ciencias de la Computación en Argentina y graduarse como Analista de Sistemas, se mudó a Estados Unidos en 1992, trabajando en Sony Miami antes de convertirse en ciudadano estadounidense en 2000.
Como autor, publicó "Crónicas del último colombiano" y escribió para medios de comunicación de Miami. En 2004, se unió a PRISA Radio, desarrollando su experiencia como periodista, productor, presentador y analista político. Dirigió el programa informativo "Minuto 60" y estableció metodologías para compartir noticias entre las emisoras internacionales de PRISA.
En 2018, Juan Pablo lanzó su podcast independiente "El Opinón". Posteriormente se trasladó a la región de Sarasota para trabajar en Solmart Media, donde produjo "Su Negocio", realizando más de 500 entrevistas con figuras locales y nacionales.
A lo largo de su carrera, Juan Pablo ha sido voluntario en organizaciones cívicas. Se unió a UnidosNow para apoyar el desarrollo de nuevos líderes a través de sus habilidades de comunicación y desarrollo. Actualmente es voluntario en el Centro Cultural CreArte Latino, donde ayudó a crear "VOCES de inmigración", y en la Coalición para la Justicia Migratoria SRQ.
En su tiempo libre, Juan Pablo disfruta del dibujo, la pintura, escribir en su diario, la fotografía y la música.