Liliam M. López is the President, CEO, and founder of the South Florida Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (SFLHCC), established on July 21, 1994. Under her visionary leadership, the SFLHCC has grown into one of the most prominent and influential Hispanic chambers in the United States, representing over 1,650 members across the region. Driven by a mission to foster business growth and create a strong support network for professionals, López also founded the South Florida Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Foundation in 1996.

A respected community advocate and dynamic speaker, López formerly served as Executive Director of the Spanish American League Against Discrimination (SALAD). Her ability to connect with diverse audiences has led her to speak at distinguished events including commencements at Miami Dade College and St. Thomas University, where she was also awarded a Doctor of Humane Letters in recognition of her extensive philanthropic work.

López’s impact extends across multiple civic, cultural, and economic development organizations. She serves on the Boards of Directors for the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts, the Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau, and the Beacon Council. Her public service also includes appointments to the Miami-Dade County Economic Recovery Task Force, the Building Blocks Advisory Board, and the President’s Council of Florida International University (FIU), among many others.

A champion of education, López has spearheaded initiatives that have granted over $1.2 million in scholarships to minority high school students through the SFLHCC Foundation. She also founded the Education Enrichment Fellowship Program, which gives students immersive leadership experiences with visits to influential organizations like Microsoft, Facebook, Southwest Airlines, and U.S. government institutions.

Her passion for community impact is evident through long-standing programs such as Helping Our Minority Children, which supports underserved families with holiday toy drives and nutritional wellness initiatives. Through this and many other efforts, López continues to uplift the Hispanic community with a deep commitment to equity, opportunity, and empowerment.
As a media personality, López hosted the acclaimed TV show “Panorama con Liliam Lopez” for over a decade. In response to the pandemic, she launched “A Business Minute with Lily Lopez,” a digital series spotlighting leaders and businesses, now followed by over 30,000 viewers online.

Internationally, López has facilitated meaningful dialogue and partnerships with global dignitaries from Latin America, Spain, and the United Arab Emirates. Her leadership has positioned the SFLHCC as a bridge for international collaboration and sustainable development.

She is a firm believer that “perseverance is the key to success,” and credits her achievements to unwavering determination and her belief that “if there is a will, there is a way.”

Liliam M. López holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from St. Thomas University, a Doctor Honoris Causa, and a Paralegal Certificate from the University of Miami. She is married to Architect and Urban Planner Alfredo Sanchez and is the proud mother of Lillian Karina Sanchez, an Industrial Engineer at Florida Power & Light.

Awards & Recognitions

Liliam M. López has been recognized with dozens of awards throughout her career, including:

• 2025 - Citation of Honor presented by the Honorable Dariel Fernandez, Miami Dade County Tax Collector
• 2025 - Community and Leadership Award presented to Liliam M. Lopez by the Constitutional Offices of Miami Dade County
• City of North Miami Beach Proclamation declaring October 15, 2024, Liliam M. Lopez Day
• 2024 - Personalidad Iberoamericana del 2024 presentado por Organización de Periodistas Iberoamericanos, October 4, 2024
• 2024 - Stronger Together Award presented by Be Strong International on March 14, 2024
• 2023 - Hispanic Unity of Florida's American Dreamer Award
• 2023 - St. Thomas University bestowed an Honoris Causa Doctor Degree in Humane Letters to Liliam M. Lopez on May 10, 2023
• 2022 - Citizen of the Year Award presented by the Miami-Dade Chamber of Commerce December 2022
• 2022 - Powerful Latina Award Presented by Hispanic Media December 2022
• Congressional Record Presented by Congressman Carlos Gimenez
• 2022 - President’s Award presented by the Latino Coalition November 2022
• 2022 - Community Builder Award presented by the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, June 2022
• 2022 - Commissioned a Kentucky Colonel by Governor Andy Beshear on June 1, 2022
• 2021 - Outfront Media Spirit of Orgullo Billboards & Bus Shelters Featuring Liliam M. Lopez, October 2021 in several states of the US for Hispanic Heritage as one of the top Hispanic women in the US
• 2021 - The Achiever, Miami Today, July 2021
• 2020 - The 2020 United Homecare's Claude Pepper Award, September 22, 2020
• 2018 - Golden Age Award presented by the Latino Center on Aging
• 2016 - NFL/ Hispanic Heritage Foundation Leadership Award
• 2016 - Women of Wealth Award presented by the Women of Wealth
• 2014 - Women’s Fund “Woman Giving Back Treasure” Award
• 2014 - Thomas Gibson Award
• 2014 - Take a Walk in Her Shoes Award: Chapman’s Community Partnership for the Homeless
• 2014 - Community Business Leadership Award: presented by UNIDAD’s New Generation Leadership & Workforce Institute
• 2014 - Women of Impact Award: presented by Miami Dade County Women’s History Coalition
• 2013 - Big Brothers, Big Sisters Miracle Maker Award
• 2012 - Broward Women of Distinction Award
• 2011 - Miami Dade Shining Stars Award presented by the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation
• 2010 - Women Extraordinaire presented by the South Florida Business Leader
• 2010 - St. Thomas University Global Entrepreneur Award
• 2008 - Induction to Miami Dade College’s Hall of Fame
• 2007 - Miguel Cervantes Award presented by Nova Southeastern University
• 2006 - March of Dimes Award in the Education and Training Category
• 2003 - Business Woman of the Year Award: CEO Non-Profit category presented by the South Florida Business Journal
• 2003 - In the Company of Women Award presented by the Miami-Dade Parks and Recreation Department on March 2003
• 2002 - Keys to the City of Miami Beach presented by the former Honorable Mayor David Dermer on June 20, 2002