Upcoming Stories

By the end of the year I profile:

· Linda Caballero-Sotello, Mexican American, President, San Diego Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, one of the most powerful Latinas in the State of California. Previously she has served as the director of marketing and corporate communications at the San Diego Workforce Partnership, 2000-2004; and director of projects for INSITE97, a binational public arts education initiative, 1996-2000. Her professional affiliations include being a board member of the San Diego-Tijuana Sister Cities Society and a graduate of the LEAD San Diego leadership program. She has a Bachelor's degree in International Relations from U.S. International University in San Diego and a Master's in International Business from Webster/Regents College in London. She is one of five 2006 Union Bank of California Hispanic Heritage Month Local Hero Award recipients.

· Ramiro Licona, Entrepreneur, He is a dedicated family man and focused on growing his business. His daughter is attending UCLA and is also on the U.S. Olympic Gymnastic Team. The pride of Honduras and somebody that I admire and look for guidance.

· Ricardo Tejada, Investment Banker, USC, V|Nesto, Focused. Driven. Only 28 years old! Salvadoran American

· Jose Rivas, Serial Entrepreneur, You will learn how in order to become the first person in El Salvador to start a Helicopter Tour business, he flew his Helicopter from California to El Salvador stopping 20-30 times to refill the small tank on his helicopter. The passion of Entrepreneurship. A true Salvadoran American Success Story.

· Julio Melara was born in New Orleans, Louisiana in 1964, the second of three children born to Honduran immigrant parents. At the age of four his father left and he was raised by his mother Yvonne Guillen. Her love, work ethic and constant encouragement helped him overcome several hardships including a stuttering problem and no money for college after graduating from high school.

· Myrna Castillo-Almodovar, (CSUN, MBA LMU), Executive Director, Sony Pictures Entertainment, Mexican American. We started school together…got married around the same time…became Directors around the same time…and she had a Child(Kate) around the same time… Like she said…Kate and Daniel (my son) will be a great match She is 32 years old and I consider her a great friend.

· Dick Cook, Managing Director, Marsh, One of the most powerful Global Insurance Companies in the world. I have known him for a very short period of time but he has become already a very good friend. The Honorary Latino of the Month.

· Salvador Duran (UCLA/Author, Seen nationwide on Univision with Primer Impacto),
- Salvadoran American

· Glenda Martinez (Harvard Law, VP Univision and Sr Legal Counsel)…- Salvadoran American

· Masa Oki (VP Japan/Nippon Life) Oversees every Japanese Company in the U.S. on behalf of Japan Life...He has been to my house and has eaten Chorizo & Tamales– Honorary Latino of the Month

· Marc Mendez (UCLA/USC) – Private Equity Asset Management, CEO USAA Asset Management, Mexican American

· Adrian Triminio (UCLA/Berkeley Law) – Honduran/Salvadoran , A great friend to have. We have become very close friends and I look up to him. I am proud to have him on my close circle of friends and personal advisors.

· Manuel Romero, (UCLA), CEO Simplesend, Mexican American, one the few latinos in Web 2.0, just in case you get any email newsletters, read the end...

· Aaron Alcides, Senior Vice President, Malaga Bank, Salvadoran American

· Ruth/Rene Reynoso, El Alteno Foods, Mexican American, a great story...recently bought Dulceria Guadalajara...they own Factories and will become one of the most powerful distributors of Mexican Food across the U.S. A great family and people to know.

· Nikki Orellana, CEO Nikky Sports, Salvadoran American – An incredible story of survival. You will learn how his brothers ...with only three small guns ...where able to defend their home from Death Squads that were armed with Sub Machine Guns. It is a story of courage. It is story of the will to live another day.

· Jorge Miramontes, Anchor, Channel 62, Mexican American, One of the youngest News Anchors in television...and incredible story of never giving up on your dreams. A very close of mines and my family.

· Hector Michel, Business Analyst at Sony Pictures Entertainment - Mexican American, has worked at Warner Brothers in multiple positions ... we worked together from 2000-2004 and
he briefly worked for me from 2003-2004 while I was still at Warner. I consider him a great friend and has built Financial Systems on a global scale.

· Miguel Anaya, CEO, Cha Cha Cha Enterprises - UCLA, Mexican American, a true success story
and you will find out where those dishes where conceived.

· Carlos Sanchez, Executive Director, Latin America Digital Distribution (Warner Bros Digital), Colombian...(UCLA) (tri-literate) ...he is a great friend and has been at Warner for over 7 years and is now part of the new medium of distribution for filmed product.

· Roy Perez, CEO RMP Strategies, Inc. The man who Arnold listens to on a weekly basis and Vice Chairman of the California Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. I enjoy his personality...a great family man. They are a Husband/Wife team..they were recently honored at the White House. (Mexican American)

· Maria Contreras-Sweet - Chairwoman & Founder of Promerica Bank. A true success story and somebody that I am very proud to know. She is the first Latina to start a Bank.

· Adan Reinosa, USC, multiple Master degrees, 10-30 world patents, Inventor, gifted... I enjoy having drinks with Adan at Cheers (i.e. Taix).

· Francisco Leal (Yale & Harvard Law), A true Mexican American Success story. He is married to Dr. Sonia Molina ...which I profiled earlier this month. This is a Latino power couple.

· Jose Romero (UCI) I heard his amazing story from Carlos and is somebody that I have to profile on this blog. He came to the U.S. 7 years ago from El Salvador. He is currently a 4th year Ph.D. student at UCI in Computer Science. He is 24 years old. An amazing story!

· Carlos Vaquerano (Executive Director SALEF), his story will inspire you. His organization is the only Scholarship Foundation focused on helping students that are here illegally or in the State of California they are known as AB540 students. It is the only Non-Profit that I am involved in. I believe in his mission. Education is the foundation for change.

More to come as the association grows...

Hugo A. Hernandez, Founder, U.S.-LPA

h.hernandez03ATgmail.com