Aquiles Montas has been a Portland resident since 1978. An immigrant from the Dominican Republic, a 17 year teenager with no English. Graduated from Grant High School and Portland State University in Business Administration, Marketing Degree and also Small Business Management (PCC). Married since 1983, father of 3 college grads, bilingual, and grandfather of 7 so far.
His current work position is a Director of a Youth Enrichment Program for Multnomah County in the NE Cully Neighborhood. Past work experience in both Government and Private sector are: Case Manager, After School Program Director, Program Academic Director, Business Owner, Financial Administration (HR-Purchasing-Buying-Negotiating-Payable-Supervision)
Aquiles has been a leader in promoting the Latin Caribbean Culture in Oregon and Washington since his beginning in Portland. Promoting, Educating about the music, dancing, food, culture, geography, history to Portlanders as most assumed our food was spicy tacos, burritos, tortillas and mariachi music. Currently a member of the North/NE City of Portland Oversight Committee, approved by Mayor Ted Wheeler, Member of Multnomah County Diversity Equity Social Justice Committee (DESJC), member of Portland CIty Club, Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Music Portland and many other organizations. His passion for the community, he has been an active advocate, volunteer, translator and many more.
His love for music and dancing, he started playing music in 1984 as a hobby that continues today with his Latin Band Conjunto Alegre Orchestra performing around Oregon and Washington at Park Summer Concerts, Universities, Nightclubs. He has shared the stage with many local and international artists, such as Tito Puente, selected to play for Cirque Du Soleil in 1999 in Portland and 2000 in Seattle. Many local events and universities.
His passion has always been helping people of all ages, new immigrants to find housing, jobs, health care, learn English, the Portland culture and help them meet new friends that has become a large Latin Music-Dancing community from all over the world. He also has always enjoyed teaching. Spanish, English, dancing, percussion, cooking, history, geography, politics, meeting new people of different cultures.
