Hispanic Magazine Awards

June 7, 2005

The St. Regis Hotel, NY, NY

The purpose of the Hispanic Magazine Awards are to honor those within the Hispanic community who have demonstrated outstanding entrepreneurial achievements in their professions. It was a wonderful event at the plush St. Regis Hotel in New York City (where the second wealthiest painter in the world once stayed). The event started with a delightful reception in the Louis XVI room, after which everyone attended the gala. There, we were welcomed by Sam Verdeja, publisher and CEO of Hispanic Publishing Associates.

The master of ceremonies, WNBC-TV reporter Monica Morales, who warmly welcomed everyone to the awards ceremony. The keynote speaker was Consuelo Castillo Kickbush, Lieutenant Colonal (Ret), of Educational Achievement Services, Inc.

After Consuelo spoke, the honorees, after having received their awards, got up and delivered their acceptance speeches.

Patricia Madrid was the first honoree. Patricia is New Mexico’s first female attorney general, and the United States’ first Latina attorney general, who made her way to the top by tackling tough issues and reaching out to those citizens who need her help the most. She is credited with everything from establishing a “violence against women” unit, to establishing New Mexico’s first state-level crime victim’s services unit, which provides support to crime victims both in trial court and through the appeals process. Ms. Madrid received the Hispanic Publications Government Award.

Soledad O’Brien was the next honoree, an authoritative, credible, engaging, and intelligent journalist, who is the co-anchor of CNN’s American Morning Show, which airs at 7:00am every weekday morning. Ms. O’Brien speaks for three hours on a diversity of current, hot issues. Amazingly, Ms. O’Brien manages to juggle her hectic position as one of TV’s most prominent Latina journalists amidst a very busy personal life schedule that includes early morning exercise, grocery shopping, preparing dinner, caring for 8-month-old twins, and preparing her kids’ clothes and lunches for the next day. Ms. O’Brien received the Hispanic Publications Diversity in Journalism award.

After Ms. O’Brien, the next honoree was Marjorie L. Torres. Ms. Torres has demonstrated extraordinary accomplishments throughout her life. Born of Ecuadorian origin, Ms. Torres, came to the U.S. from Guayaquil, Ecuador as a high school graduate, to attend college, graduate, and work as an investment banker. Ms. Torres quickly learned that there was a niche for businesses needing quality, in-depth middle market information, prompting her founding of Concrete Stories, a commercial real estate company that provides middle-market businesses with strategic, brokerage and development services. Ms. Torres received the Hispanic Publications Business Award.

Ms. Julie Stav was the next honoree. Ms. Stav is author and Show Host of Julie Stav, Inc. She is a former stockbroker who turned author and radio personality, for nearly two decades, had been providing her audience with investment strategies. Ms. Stav first became a stockbroker by chance, testing out the principles of a financial planning book she had purchased back when she was employed as a first grade teacher. Having made the books theories a reality, Ms. Stav then diverted her teaching skill to the brokerage industry, first in free seminars at local public libraries, then on the air. Ms. Stav won the Hispanic Publications Communications Award.

Following Ms. Stav, was Ms. Lita Haeger, who received the Civic Leadership Award. Ms. Haeger is the head of the Association of BiNational Chambers of Commerce (AbiCC) in Florida. She is credited with creating more trade with foreign countries and helping more ethnic groups in the state establish themselves as real players in the business arena. Her organization, thus far, has a membership of over forty countries. One of her more prominent goals is establishing Miami as a world business capital—she plans to bring over more foreign companies in order to create new jobs and a new vitality in a city that is not yet regarded by everyone as a business capital.

The recipient of the Hispanic Publications Education award was Dr. Tessa Martinez Pollack, President of Our Lady of the Lake University, and the university’s first Hispanic president. Ms. Pollack acknowledged her success as being from the strong support foundation she received from the time she was a child. She has earned a masters degree in education and business and a bachelor’s degree in journalism a the University of Texas in San Antonio.

The Hispanic Publications Cultural Enrichment award was presented to actress Lynda Carter. Ms. Carter, the well-known actress, is of Mexican American descent, and born in Pheonix, Arizona. Ms Carter starred as the main character of the classic superhero television series “Wonder Woman,” and has since left the spotlight for many years to raise her family. Today, at 54, she is making a big comeback as Principal Powers, the head mistress at a high school for the children of superheroes in the Disney movie “Sky High.” Ms. Carter’s award was received by one of her representatives on her behalf in her absence because Ms. Carter’s filming schedule did not allow for her to attend the event.

Frances Sevilla-Sacasa was the next honoree, and receive the Hispanic Publications Financial Services award, and won the CEO for Latin America for The Citigroup Private Bank. Ms. Sevilla-Sacasa is credited with having had a long and fulfilling financial services career and having becoming the highest ranking Hispanic woman at Citigroup. Previous positions she’s held include being Managing Director of Deutsche Bank’s Latin American private banking unit and president of Bankers Trust International Private Banking Corporation.

The Hispanic Publications Leadership award was presented to Col. Norma Tovar of the U.S. Army. Ms. Tovar received recognition for her leadership of a 50-person operation that supports the Army’s training base, an operation which Col. Tovar calls “initial military training.” Col. Tovar has previously served as the professor of military at the California Polytechnic State University at San Luis Obispo. Ms. Tovar’s initial motive for joining the service was due to a slumping job market. Three years later, Col. Tovar found that she enjoyed her work so much that she decided to stay with the Army.

This was a great event, with great company around in one of the most beautiful ambiences in New York. There were close to three hundred (300) business people from all professions within the Hispanic community, in attendance at this mega event. Mr. Sam Verdeja, Publisher for the Hispanic Publications Group, along with his staff, did a marvelous job in putting on such a great event.

Anyone who would like more information regarding advertising or subscribing to this great magazines—one of the leading Hispanic Magazines in the Nation—may feel free to log onto their website, at http://www.hispaniconline.com/magazine/.

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