New execs named in insurance, hospitality, law, hospital association
This edition of Climbing the Corporate Ladder features leadership appointments at Triple-S, Condado Ocean Club, MZLS Attorneys at Law and the Puerto Rico Hospital Association.
Condado Ocean Club names director of F&B
Condado Ocean Club, an adults-only oceanfront hotel in San Juan, has promoted Leyra Ortiz to director of Food and Beverage.
Ortiz, a hospitality professional with more than 20 years of experience, will now lead the hotel’s food and beverage operations, including its restaurant Social, beachfront lounge Sandbox, poolside spot The Deck, in-room dining and banquet services.
A native of Puerto Rico, Ortiz began her career in guest service roles, working as a waitress, bartender and hostess before moving into leadership positions at Caribe Hilton, Serafina Beach Hotel and Condado Ocean Club.
“Leyra has been a cornerstone of the Condado Ocean Club team since day one,” said General Manager Betsy Mujica. “Her leadership, creativity and ability to consistently deliver high-quality experiences reflect her deep expertise and dedication. We are confident that in this new role, she will continue to innovate and elevate the dining and service experience for our guests.”
Ortiz joined the opening team of the former Serafina Beach Hotel in 2018 as assistant food and beverage manager. She played a key role in the hotel’s transition to Condado Ocean Club and was later promoted to food and beverage manager.
Over the past four years, she has overseen a team of more than 40 employees, managed operations across all outlets, led event programming, implemented cost controls and supported staff development and training.
Ortiz holds bachelor’s degrees in hotel management and event and convention planning from Universidad del Este. She is fluent in English and Spanish and is known for her hands-on leadership and guest-focused approach.
“I’m incredibly honored to continue growing with this extraordinary team and hotel,” said Ortiz. “Hospitality has always been more than a job to me — it’s a passion. I’m excited to lead with integrity and purpose and ensure that every guest experience is thoughtful, memorable and elevated.”
Under her leadership, the hotel will continue to expand its food and beverage offerings with new events, curated menus and service enhancements.
MZLS Attorneys at Law names junior member
MZLS Attorneys at Law announced the appointment of Mabel Sotomayor-Hernández, who joins as a junior member. Sotomayor brings seven years of a legal career, marked by key roles in the Office of the Solicitor General and the Puerto Rico Supreme Court.
Her arrival will further enrich the firm’s capabilities in appellate litigation, administrative law, and general law. Notably, in her seven-year legal career, Sotomayor has already secured eight favorable reported decisions from the Puerto Rico Supreme Court.
“The arrival of my friend Mabel at MZLS is a source of great satisfaction for our entire team,” said Anthony Maceira, managing member of the firm. “Her impressive career, including her experience as deputy solicitor general and at the Supreme Court, positions her as exceptional talent. Her track record of successfully representing the government of Puerto Rico in appellate proceedings is, without a doubt, a strategic enhancement to the critical areas we serve our clients.”
“I am very excited to join the MZLS team and to have the opportunity to apply my knowledge now from the private sector,” Sotomayor said. “My goal is to contribute to our clients’ success and to the ongoing development of law in Puerto Rico.”
At MZLS, Sotomayor will focus on guiding clients through complex administrative processes and representing them before appellate forums and government entities, applying the deep understanding of public and governmental affairs cultivated throughout her career.
Sotomayor’s professional caliber was evident from the outset of her career: she was admitted to the Puerto Rico Bar in 2017 after achieving the highest score on the bar examination, ranking first among 401 candidates. This accomplishment followed her Summa Cum Laude graduation from the Inter-American University of Puerto Rico School of Law, where she also earned the highest GPA in her 2017 graduating class (4.00). She completed her Bachelor of Arts in Social Sciences at the University of Puerto Rico, Mayagüez Campus, and is admitted to practice before the U.S. District Court for the District of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit.
Puerto Rico Hospital Association names new chair
Daniel Del Castillo-Pratts, regional executive director for Encompass Health’s operations in Puerto Rico, has been appointed chairman of the Puerto Rico Hospital Association’s board of directors. He will serve through October 2026.
Puerto Rico Health Secretary Víctor Ramos administered the oath of office during a regular board meeting.
“Assuming the position of chairman of the Hospital Association’s board of directors is one of the most significant challenges of my professional career — a project to which I have dedicated more than 20 years of my life,” said Del Castillo-Pratts.
“The health care industry is immersed in changes and new challenges. Hospitals face major changes, and from my position … we want to help the different organizations that comprise the Hospital Association,” he said. “There’s no doubt that we have learned a lot after Hurricane Maria and the earthquakes, which I believe were my greatest challenge, having to work with the energy difficulties and shortages of supplies necessary to maintain operations in our hospitals.”
Jaime Plá-Cortés, CEO of the Puerto Rico Hospital Association, welcomed the appointment.
“We are pleased to welcome Daniel Del Castillo-Pratts, a first-class professional with a master’s degree in health services administration from the University of Puerto Rico School of Public Health, former chairman of the board of directors of the College of Health Administrators of Puerto Rico, and executive in charge of several hospital facilities in Puerto Rico that provide rehabilitation services,” said Plá-Cortés.
