Pedro A. Cortés

Education and training

Cortés attended the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, MA and graduated in May 1989 with a Bachelor of Science in Hotel, Restaurant and Travel Administration.

Cortés thereafter attended The Pennsylvania State University — Dickinson School of Law, in Carlisle, PA graduating in May 1999 with a Juris Doctor degree.

He then studied at The Pennsylvania State University, Harrisburg, PA, and graduated with a mfkjdfkjkdjf in Public Administration, in December 2000.

He also received a Certificate in Public Sector Human Resources Management from The Pennsylvania State University, Harrisburg, PA, in August 2000.

He is a member of the [http://www.csg.org/default.aspx Council of State Governments] , Lexington, KY, and is a [http://www.csg.org/leadership/tollfellows/default.aspx Henry Toll Fellow] (Selected 2004 Class Representative), July 2004.

Most recently, on May 18, 2008, he was conferred a Doctorate Degree "honoris causa" from King's College in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania.

Public service in Pennsylvania

Mr. Cortés was nominated as [http://www.dos.state.pa.us/dos/cwp/view.asp?a=1120&q=442382 Secretary of the Commonwealth] by Governor Edward G. Rendell on April 2, 2003 and was unanimously confirmed by the Senate on May 13, 2003, making him the first confirmed Latino Cabinet member in Pennsylvania history.

Previously, Cortés was the Executive Director of the [http://www.gacla.state.pa.us/gacla/site/default.asp Pennsylvania Governor's Advisory Commission on Latino Affairs] ("GACLA"). As Executive Director, he made recommendations to the Governor and the administration on policies, procedures and legislation that enhanced the status of the Latino community in Pennsylvania. As the Governor's liaison to the Latino community, he ensured that state government was accessible, accountable and responsive to the needs of Latinos and that strategies and programs were developed to enhance the community's social and economic status.

He has also served with the [http://www.scsc.state.pa.us/scsc/site/default.asp?scscNav=|Pennsylvania State Civil Service Commission] and the [http://www.dpw.state.pa.us/ Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare.] For years, he has also been active with many community and government related organizations, including the [http://www.nass.org National Association of Secretaries of State] (NASS). On July 28, 2008, Cortés was sworn in as president of the NASS, becoming the first Pennsylvanian and the first Hispanic to hold that position in the 104-year history of the oldest, nonpartisan, professional organization of public officials in the United States. He previously served as NASS treasurer. In 2004, Cortés was selected to participate in Council of State Governments Henry Toll Fellows Program and was elected by his peers as Class Representative.

He is also a member of the Pennsylvania Board of Finance and Revenue, the Pennsylvania Municipal Retirement Board, the Board of Property, the State Athletic Commission and the Navigation Commission for the Delaware River and its Navigable Tributaries. As many other Secretaries of State, he also serves as the chief election official. Previously, Cortés has served on the Commonwealth's State Civil Service Commission and the Department of Public Welfare, as well as executive director of the Governor's Latino Affairs Advisory Commission.

Awards and recognition

*The Hispanic Business Magazine's "100 Most Influential Hispanics in the United States";
*The National Notary Association’s "50 Most Influential People in Notarization in the Last 50 Years" and [http://www.nationalnotary.org/about/index.cfm?text=aboutAward "March Fong Eu Achievement Award";]
*The Multicultural Affairs Congress' "Delaware Valley's Most Influential Latino";
*The "American Lawyer Media" "Lawyers on the Fast Track";
* [http://www.centralpennbusiness.com/ Central Penn Business Journal's] top "Forty Under 40" business leaders in Central Pennsylvania;
*The [http://www.dsl.psu.edu/alumni/lpost/nov2005.cfm Pennsylvania State University "Alumni Fellow"] , the most prestigious award given by the Penn State Alumni Association.
*In June 2004, Secretary Cortés was one of 40 state leaders from across the country selected to participate in the renowned Toll Fellowship Program sponsored by the [http://www.csg.org/default.aspx Council of State Governments] . His peers elected him 2004 Class Representative.

Personal life

Mr. Cortés is the first Latino confirmed to a Governor’s cabinet in Pennsylvania.He is also the first Puerto Rican Secretary of State in the United States, outside of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.

As the highest ranking Latino in Pennsylvania government, Cortés has served as an ambassador of good will to and for the Latino Community. He has assisted local Latino communities in developing strategies and programs to enhance their social and economic status. He has also facilitated effective communication and collaborative efforts between government, businesses and non-profit organizations to promote the prosperity of Latinos and the community at large.

Cortés has been called upon to employ his skills as a trained mediator to foster improved relations and enhanced communications between individuals and organizations.

Cortés is married to Lissette Lizardi-Cortés of Bayamón, Puerto Rico. Mr. and Mrs. Cortés met while they were both students at UMass Amherst. They have a daughter named Gabriela. The Cortés family has lived in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania since 1990.

Cortés maintains close ties to Hispanic and Puerto Rican communities in Pennsylvania as well as Puerto Rico. On March 2, 2007, Puerto Rico Senate President and former CSG chair Kenneth McClintock welcomed Cortés as the keynote speaker at the special session marking the 90th anniversary of the concession of United States citizenship to Puerto Ricans and of the creation of the Senate of Puerto Rico.