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Know This Now, January 9, 2026: ABIC Unveils First-Ever Top 15 Impact Leader Awards

By January 9, 2026January 12th, 2026No Comments

ABIC Unveils First-Ever Top 15 Impact Leader Awards

We’re proud to introduce the inaugural class of the Top 15 ABIC Impact Leaders of the Year, a new honor recognizing business leaders who have championed immigration and workforce solutions.

These 15 business leaders, alongside many other passionate ABIC members, fostered bi-partisan collaboration in 2025 to address critical labor shortages impacting industries nationwide.

The 2025 ABIC Impact Leaders are:

Massey Villarreal, President & CEO, Precision Task Group (PTG), Inc., Co-Chair, Comité de 100

Justin Yancy, President, Texas Business Leadership Council

J.R. Gonzales, Vice Chair, Texas Association of Mexican American Chambers of Commerce (TAMACC)

Matt Teagarden, CEO, Kansas Livestock Association, Chair, ABIC Agricultural Council 

Jenni Tilton-Flood, Dairy Farmer and Owner, Flood Brothers, LLC

Sam Toia, President & CEO, Illinois Restaurant Association

Kristen Rauch, Executive Director, EatDenver

Byron Gomez, Partner and Executive Chef, BRUTØ 

Rob Liebreich, President and CEO, Goodwin Living

Mónica Villalobos, President & CEO, Arizona Hispanic Chamber

Yuri Cunza, President & CEO, Nashville Area Hispanic Chamber of Commerce

Ramiro A. Cavazos, President & CEO, United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce

Beverly Idsinga, Executive Director, Dairy Producers of New Mexico

Manolo Betancur, Owner, Manolo’s Bakery 

Janille Baker, Controller, Baker Ranches

Through their advocacy and leadership, the Impact Leaders spotlighted the indispensable role of immigrant workers and demonstrated how business voices can shape constructive, bipartisan dialogue.

“These leaders have a clear-eyed understanding of what it takes to keep American businesses secure and our economy strong,” said Rebecca Shi, CEO of ABIC. “They have worked relentlessly to highlight the real-world impact of workforce shortages and advocate for practical immigration solutions that support economic growth, lower costs, and protect American jobs.” 

Hear from a few of our awardees:

“Work permit solutions aren’t just a policy change, they’re a lifeline.” -Kristen Rauch, Executive Director, EatDenver

“When people lend and lift their voice to important causes such as finding a path to a secure workforce, change can happen.” – Rob Liebreich, President and CEO of Goodwin Living.

“[Being named an Impact Leader] is an honor, but it’s also a reminder that there is still so much work ahead to build a fair, humane path for all who call this country home,” -Byron Gomez, Partner and Executive Chef, BRUTØ (Denver)

More from the ABIC Network:

WSJ Opinion: Why Trump Is Quickly Losing Hispanic Support

On New Year’s Day, Comité de 100 Co-Chairs Sam Sanchez, President of Third Coast Hospitality, and Massey Villarreal, CEO of Precision Task Group, published a Wall Street Journal op-ed, “Why Trump Is Quickly Losing Hispanic Support.”

They write that while Trump won record Hispanic backing in 2024 by promising solutions on immigration and the economy, the administration’s enforcement-focused approach is destabilizing industries like agriculture, construction, elder care, and hospitality, and fueling economic frustration. 

Polls show worsening economic perceptions among Hispanics and falling approval for Trump. Recent elections reflect this shift, and Villarreal and Sanchez call for common-sense solutions like work permits for long-term immigrants and bipartisan proposals such as the Dream Act. They warn that ignoring these needs could cost Republicans at the ballot box in 2026.

EL PAÍS: Trump’s Deportation Drive is Straining the U.S Public Coffers and Labor Market

Trump’s deportation push is causing labor shortages and economic strain, hitting sectors like agriculture, construction, hospitality, and elder care. 

The article references ABIC’s D.C. fly-ins, saying “More than 100 business leaders went to the Capitol in October to urge members of Congress to take action…The American Business Immigration Coalition (ABIC), a bipartisan coalition of more than 1,700 CEOs, business owners, and trade associations in 17 states, led the group. This was not their first such visit; they have been warning for months about the catastrophic consequences of the administration’s immigration policies.”

Economists warn mass deportations could cut up to 6.8% of GDP, and the new 1% remittance tax may worsen the impact.

News Briefing

NYTimes: Trump Criticizes ICE for an Anti-Business Immigration Raid

President Trump told New York Times reporters he was “not happy” about an ICE workplace raid that detained 475 mostly South Korean workers building a Hyundai plant in Georgia last year, calling the action bad for business and counterproductive to attracting foreign investment. He said foreign companies in specialized industries need to bring skilled experts to the U.S., and that aggressive enforcement discourages them from expanding in the U.S.

“They brought people that make batteries,” he said. “And those people would have trained our people how to make batteries, and at some point they would have gone back because they want to go back to their country.”

Wisconsin Public Radio: Deportations Are Set To Explode — A Huge Worry for Farmers Already Facing a Labor Shortage

Trump’s immigration crackdown, including a planned surge in deportations to over 1 million per year, threatens U.S. agriculture, which relies heavily on immigrant labor. Over 70% of farm workers are foreign-born, with 40% undocumented.

“Over the last 10 to 15 years, I’ve probably had 150 people apply for a job here. Two of them have been Americans, and those two were just fulfilling a need for their unemployment to apply for a job,” said John Rosenow, a Wisconsin dairy farmer. “So, we really, really appreciate the immigrants that are working for us. They do a wonderful job.”

White House Border Czar Tom Homan said in December that immigration arrests will “explode greatly next year,” and that enforcement would “absolutely” hit workplaces.

Newsweek: Texas Republican Wants Legal Status For Some Undocumented Migrants 

Rep. Monica De La Cruz (R‑TX-15) is urging the Trump administration to create legal work options for undocumented construction workers, similar to H‑2A agricultural visas. ICE raids have caused labor shortages, project delays, and higher costs for the industry in her area.

“At the end of the day, I want to represent South Texas, and I want to represent our community and make sure that we continue to be prosperous.”

South Texas Homebuilders Say ICE Arrests Have Upended Industry

ICE workplace raids in South Texas have caused widespread fear among construction workers, leading many to stay home and creating severe labor shortages. The South Texas Builders Association reports that more than 9,100 workers have been arrested in the region, slowing construction, delaying projects, and raising costs. Historical data suggests these labor shortages could drive up housing prices.

“It’s time that we have our leaders show up…Our people are hurting, our businesses are hurting. There’s no labor.” -Mario Guerrero, Executive Director of the South Texas Builders Association


“If job sites are getting raided, at any level, the construction can’t continue,” said Isaac Smith, a co-owner of Matt’s Building Materials. His stores are struggling to sell lumber. 

Trump Immigration Policies and a Lower Fertility Rate Slow U.S. Growth Projection, Budget Office Says
Trump’s strict immigration policies, including mass deportations, visa bans, and ICE enforcement, are slowing U.S. population growth. The Congressional Budget Office projects the population will grow by only 15 million over the next 30 years, smaller than previously predicted, and could stop growing by 2056. Immigration is a key driver of population growth, which impacts labor and economic growth, especially as U.S. fertility rates remain below replacement levels. Since Trump returned to office in 2025, the number of adult immigrants fell by an estimated 1.8 million, reducing the labor force and future population growth.

Enforcement News:
Reuters: Tensions In Minneapolis Rise Over ICE Fatal Shooting of Citizen
Tensions in Minneapolis escalated after an ICE agent fatally shot 37-year-old U.S. citizen Renee Nicole Good, a mother of three, during a federal immigration operation. State and federal officials offered conflicting accounts: DHS described the shooting as self-defense against a “domestic terrorism” attempt, while local leaders, including Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey and Governor Tim Walz, called the federal narrative false and warned state authorities were excluded from the investigation.

The shooting sparked widespread protests in Minneapolis and other U.S. cities, led to National Guard deployment, and school closures. The incident occurs amid a broader Trump administration crackdown on migrants in Minnesota, including raids targeting Minnesota’s Somali community.

Get Involved

  1. Join one of ABIC’s Councils of 100 and let your voice be heard with your peers – sign up here. The Council of 100 is a coalition of top business leaders working to advance common-sense workforce solutions.
  2. Share your story: If your business is interested in engaging with the press as part of ABIC or amplifying your story on social media, take this quick survey to let us know your preferences. 
  3. We’re hiring! ABIC is currently seeking a Deputy Director of Communications and a Social Media, Content & Community Strategist to help drive our national communications, media engagement, and digital storytelling across key industries. Learn more and apply here.

Always available: ABIC Employer Resources Folder

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