On August 27, IHCC President & CEO Jaime di Paulo Zozaya took the stage at Navy Pier to deliver the opening remarks at our Annual Business Conference & Expo. In front of more than 700 attendees, he shared a deeply personal story that set the tone for the entire day. Below is the message he shared with our community.
Good morning, everyone, and welcome to IHCC’s Annual Business Conference and EXPO—our biggest event of the year, where we bring together thousands of business owners, entrepreneurs, leaders, and professionals.
Thank you to every one of you for being here and joining us for this incredible event. We have people coming from all over the country to join us today.
I’d like to acknowledge the Federal, State, and Local elected officials present here today. We thank you for your service.
I also want to recognize the IHCC Board of Directors for their leadership and continued support; our sponsors and partners, whose commitment makes today possible; and, of course, my amazing IHCC team. I want to give a special thank you to the Illinois Credit Union League for their continued support of IHCC and for graciously allowing us to use a space for our satellite office in the Western Suburbs.
So much work goes into making an event like this happen, and I am incredibly grateful to all of you.
This morning, however, I want to begin a little differently. I want to share something very personal with you.
As many of you already know, just a few weeks ago, on Sunday, July 26, my life took an unexpected turn—one that changed everything for me.
It was a hot and humid summer day. I was having brunch with a U.S. Congressman from New York. And after brunch, I went grocery shopping, picked up some cleaning supplies, and headed home. It was just another Sunday—and so I thought.
A little while later, both of my arms started hurting. I didn’t think much of it. I figured I had carried the grocery bags the wrong way. Then I felt a sharp pain right in the middle of my chest. I convinced myself it was probably something I had eaten earlier.
I laid down, but I couldn’t get comfortable. So I got up and started walking around the house. The pain kept getting worse. And then, I began sweating—a lot.
As someone who believes in technology, I opened ChatGPT and described my symptoms. The response was simple and direct: “You are more than likely having a heart attack. Go to the hospital immediately.”
I immediately called one of my dearest friends, Johanna Vargas, who is here with us today. Her brother is a physician in Springfield, so I asked her to call him and describe my symptoms. Two minutes later she called me back and said, “Jaime, get your ass to the hospital right now.”
By then it felt like an elephant was sitting on my chest. I dialed 911 but quickly realized I couldn’t wait. So I got into my car and drove myself to Advocate Christ Medical Center. During the drive, I started feeling lightheaded. I remember praying the entire way: “Dios mío… por favor, déjame llegar.” “God… please just let me make it.”
When I arrived, I rushed toward the emergency entrance. A security guard stopped me at the metal detector. I said, “I’m having a heart attack.” He replied, “Sir, my job is to make sure no weapons enter the hospital.” So I emptied my pockets, took off my belt, went through security, and finally made it inside.
I walked to the registration desk and said again, “I’m having a heart attack.”
After what felt like forever—but was probably only a few minutes—they took me into a room, connected me to the monitors, and within seconds someone said the words that changed everything: “Yes. You’re having a heart attack.”
They immediately rushed me into another room. The doctors and nurses went to work—and they did what they had to do to save my life.
As they were rolling my bed down the hallway, I remember my entire life flashing before my eyes. I thought about my daughter. I thought about my mother. I thought about my family and my friends. And that’s when the tears began rolling down my face.
I prayed. I asked my grandmother, may she rest in peace, to please take care of me… just like she always did when I was little. Somehow, in that moment, I found peace.
The doctor explained they were going to perform an emergency procedure to open a blocked artery. Before they started, I asked one favor. “Can I text someone?” The doctor handed me my phone.
I texted Johanna and asked her to call my 86-year-old mother in Mexico, my daughter, and my coworkers. Then I sent one more message: “Please call Sam. If something happens to me, tell him to take care of my daughter… and don’t forget the dogs.”
At that moment, those were the only things that mattered. Not my job. Not my calendar. Not the meetings I had planned. Just the people I love.
And Johanna—after I hung up—she got in her vehicle and drove four hours just to make sure I was okay. That is an act of love I will never forget.
Thankfully, that “what if” never became reality. The doctors inserted a catheter through my wrist, found the blocked artery, inflated a balloon, and placed a stent. I’ll never forget watching the monitor as blood began flowing normally again. It was like watching life return.
When everything was over, the cardiologist looked at me and said, “You were lucky. You listened to your body. You got here in time.”
Standing here today, I know I am alive because of God’s grace, the incredible team at Advocate Christ Medical Center, modern medicine, technology, and the prayers and support of so many family members and friends.
Over the past month, I have been overwhelmed by the incredible outpouring of love. I have received hundreds of phone calls, text messages, emails, visits, and prayers from literally all over the world. Some came from lifelong friends, colleagues, elected officials, and business leaders. Others came from people I have never even met—people who simply know me through the work we do at the Illinois Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.
To every one of you, thank you. You reminded me that relationships are life’s greatest investment. When you dedicate your life to serving others, those same people are there to lift you up when you need them most. I will never forget that.
That experience gave me absolute clarity on why we do what we do.
When you come that close to losing everything, you realize how precious our time is, and how deeply interconnected we all are. It made me reflect on this community—on the sacrifice, the resilience, and the relentless work every single person in this room puts in every single day.
I know how hard you work. I know the late nights, the responsibility you carry for your families and your employees, and the courage it takes just to keep pushing forward. None of that goes unnoticed.
If surviving that Sunday taught me anything, it’s that none of us were meant to carry that weight alone.
That is the true heart and essence of today. We are not just here for an event; we are here as a family of builders, dreamers, and leaders. When we come together in one room, sharing our vision and lifting each other up, there is no limit to what our community can achieve.
So today is not just about what we can accomplish individually—it is about what we can accomplish together.
I want to encourage you to connect deeply today. Share your story. Reach out a hand to someone you haven’t met. Let’s lean on one another, open doors for each other, and embrace every opportunity with unity and shared purpose.
I was given a second chance, and I intend to use it to serve, to love, and to stand alongside you as we build stronger businesses, stronger families, and a stronger community.
Today is a gift. Let’s make the most of it, let’s lift each other to new heights, and let’s grow together.
Thank you, God bless you, and welcome to our 2026 IHCC Business Conference and EXPO!
Jaime di Paulo
President & CEO, Illinois Hispanic Chamber of Commerce