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Maria Welch 
As founder and CEO of Respira Medical, a respiratory and durable medical equipment home care company, Yolanda Maria Welch has grown her company from a home-based operation to a thriving business employing 55 healthcare professional and occupying a 9,000 square foot facility. In recognition of her Hispanic heritage, the company was named Respira, which means to breathe in Spanish. As of January 2008, Respira had cared for over 16,000 patients. By the end of 2008, Respira is projected to reach $9.5 million in revenue. The company serves patients and their families in Maryland, Washington DC, northern Virginia, southern Pennsylvania and northern Delaware. Maria is very passionate about giving back to the community, the same community that helped her and her son in the most challenging times as including homelessness. She is very proud and honored to serve on numerous boards and affiliations including Chair of the Governor’s Commission on Hispanic Affairs, Past President of the Baltimore Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, President of Centro de La Comunidad, Past President of Women Entrepreneurs of Baltimore, The United Way of Central, Baltimore Area Convention and Visitor’s Association, Baltimore County Minority and Women Business Commission, Baltimore Hispanic Roundtable, Baltimore Immigration Memorial Foundation, Baltimore Medical Systems, Baltimore Workforce Investment Board, CASA of Maryland, Kennedy Krieger, Living Classrooms Foundation, Maryland Hispanic Business Conference, Maryland Automobile Insurance Fund, Morgan State University Entrepreneurial Development and Assistance Center, Network 2000, Regulatory Oversight Commission Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, The President’s Roundtable, Women Impacting Public Policy, United States Youth Entrepreneur Education and recently serves on the State Councils and Commissions Steering Committee as one of five State representatives of the Unites States Hispanic Leadership Institute.
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