The ANNUAL Inland Empire Hispanic Image Awards

2007 - 10th Annual Inland Empire Hispanic Image Awards Honorees

Fri, 5 Oct 2007 11:29:52 -0700

Mr. Richard P. Montañez, Executive, Multicultural Sales & Community Activation, PepsiCo North America - Influential Latino of the Year
Richard started his PepsiCo career at Frito-Lay in 1976 as a janitor in its Rancho Cucamonga plant. He soon learned the business and went on to create four ethnic products that are still selling today. He is recognized as the creator of the Flaming hot line of products which influenced future ethnic products and the first Frito-Lay Hispanic marketing team. Richard is known for his visionary leadership and ability to develop new systems and products. Richard is a former Vice President of the Hispanic Advisory Council at the University of Pepperdine. He leads PepsiCo’s High Risk School Project called Escalera and the Los Angeles National Council of La Raza Escalera Program. Richard was recently appointed to serve on the California State Workforce Investment Board.

Barbara M. Flores, Ph.D. Influential Latina of the Year
Dr. Flores is currently a professor in the College of Education at California State University, San Bernardino. She has been a teacher educator for the last 26 years and is a scholar activist who believes passionately in public education and in a just and democratic society. Her areas of expertise and research are children’s language and biliteracy development, teaching/learning from a Vygotskian perspective, collaborative action teaching and research in classrooms with children and teachers, and creating pedagogy. She is also a children’s writer and is the creator and co-author of the first original Latino Spanish beginning reading collection in the United States, Piñata and Más Piñata by Pearson Learning. Her newest children’s book is called Mud Tortillas, distributed by Lee & Low Publishers.

Mr. John Sotelo, First Latino Council Member, City of Riverside,
Lifetime Achievement
John Sotelo was born in Riverside on January 19, 1925 to Feliciana and Meliton Sotelo immigrants from Villa Morelos, Michoacán and Penjamo Guanajuato. He is proud to say that his family has four Riverside born generations. In 1948 he married Ramona Estrada from San Bernardino and had four children. In 1949 he went into business for himself and opened Victoria Auto Towing. In 1963 he was elected City Councilman of Ward 2 becoming the First Latino elected official in Riverside. Johnny was re-elected twice serving 10 years. During his term, he served with 3 mayors, 16 different Council Members, 5 City Managers, and recommended 28 minorities for appointments to city Board and Commissions. John was involved with the construction and developments such as the City of Riverside Convention Center, City Hall, the Downtown Public Library, La Sierra Library, Municipal Airport, Adams Street Auto Center, Islander Swim Club, Riverside’s first Dog Park, Casa Blanca & Bordwell Park, and Joe Reinch Community Centers. Even with his recent illness and the loss of his wife Ramona, he still continues to be active in his business and gives advice to anyone that comes by or calls. To this day, Johnny still welcomes anyone to his home because “Mi Casa es Su Casa.”

Ms. Rachel Mendoza-Clark, City Clerk, City of San Bernardino
Elected Official of the Year
Rachel Clark is City Clerk for the City of San Bernardino, a position she has held for 17 years. She has 32 years of service with the City of San Bernardino, having begun her career with the Mayor’s Office in 1966. She manages an office of 16 employees, bringing in revenues of over $8 million to the City. Throughout her professional career, Rachel has been active in her community. She has served as President of the Mexicali-Villahermosa Sister Cities Committee, Boards of Directors for San Bernardino Lighthouse for the Blind, the League of Women Voters, Southern California City Clerks Association and the first woman President of the San Bernardino Sunset Rotary Club. Rachel is a native daughter of San Bernardino and is happily married to her husband, Ken Clark.

Mr. Jose Medina, Educator of the Year
Jose Medina was first elected to the Riverside Community College District Board of Trustees in 1997 and is in his third term on the Board. A teacher of Spanish, Ethnic and Chicano Studies at Poly High School in Riverside, CA. Mr. Medina is a former Peace Corps volunteer who also has taught history classes at College of the Desert and RCC, and adult education classes at the California Institute for Women in Chino. In 1985 and 1996, Mr. Medina received National Endowment of the Humanities fellowships and in 1986 was awarded a research fellowship from the Organization of American States. He is a former member of the Jurupa Unified School District Board and serves as an RCC Puente mentor. Mr. Medina received his Bachelor of Arts degree in Latin American Studies and his Master of Arts degree in History from the University of California, Riverside.

Amando Navarro Ph.D., Community Advocate of the Year
Armando Navarro is a Professor of Ethnic Studies at the University of California, Riverside. Professor Navarro has authored several books and numerous articles, monographs, and reports on Chicano/Latino politics, redistricting, community organizing and immigration. Professor Navarro is the founder and former Director of the Ernesto Galarza Applied Research Center at the University of California, Riverside. He brings some “thirty-seven” years of activism and professional experience in community organizing, politics, and advocacy. Dealing with a myriad of local, state, national and international human rights, and social justice issues that particularly affect Mexicanos and Latinos in the United States. Internationally, he has led and facilitated numerous delegations to Latin America, specifically México, Cuba, and Central America.

CHP Officer Rosa Ray - Public Safety Person of the Year
California Highway Patrol Officer, Rosa Ray is a 17 year veteran of the force. Officer Ray has worked on the “El Protector” community outreach program that educates children and their parents about child safety seats and traffic safety. Officer Ray is a daughter of immigrant parents and believes that being bi-lingual expands the CHP’s reach into the regions Spanish speaking community. Officer Ray, is one of only a few Latinas to serve in the CHP. Rosa’s son Michael is in the Army, currently stationed in Kentucky, and has just served 14 months in Iraq.

Mr. Jose Arballo Jr, Journalist of the Year
Jose Arballo Jr. is an assistant metro editor with The Press-Enterprise, where he has been employed since May of 1984. Jose spent most of his career as a reporter, covering various beats, including immigration, education and criminal justice. In 1988, Jose was a founding member of the Inland chapter of the California Chicano News Media Association, and has been active in the organization for nearly two decades. Jose has been the on-site director for the CCNMA High School Summer Journalism Workshop in San Diego for 16 years. The program brings together students from throughout Southern California, including the Inland area, for a two-week boot camp in which students learn about journalism from professional journalists. More than 300 students have made it through the program since 1991 and gone on to professional careers in journalism.

High Desert Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
Non-Profit Organization of the Year
The mission of the High Desert Hispanic Chamber of Commerce is to promote the economic development of a culturally diverse business community, through education, networking, and business / community partnerships. In addition, to help foster growth and retention the Chamber gives hundreds of referrals for member businesses each month. The High Desert Hispanic Chamber of Commerce offers a variety of business-building educational programs to assist it’s members learn new skills and stay on the competitive edge of current business trends. The Chamber is truly the leader in organizing and participating in activities that highlight Latino achievements in the High Desert.

2006 - 9th Annual Inland Empire Hispanic Image Awards Honorees

Fri, 6 Oct 2006 11:00:15 -0700

Ms. Norma Torres, Mayor, City of Pomona
Influential Latina of the Year
Ms. Norma Torres the city of Pomona’s First Latina mayor was born in Guatemala, and immigrated to the United States at the age of five. After experiencing a tragic 9-1-1 call as a dispatcher, Norma worked with the Los Angeles City Council to receive funds to improve the dispatch center by including bilingual staff improving the quality of service provided to non-English speakers. In November 2000, she was elected to the Pomona City Council and has since then has spearheaded various initiatives and projects to combat crime while improving the quality of life in Pomona. Specifically, Mayor Torres was instrumental in advocating an initiative to reduce the number of sex offenders living in the community, receiving statewide recognition for her efforts.

J. Michael Ortiz Ph.D. , President, Cal Poly Pomona
Influential Latino of the Year
Dr. Ortiz was selected to serve as President of Cal Poly Pomona in 2003. One of 23 California State University Campuses Cal Poly Pomona has a student population of over twenty thousand and ranks fifth in ethnic diversity among all private and public schools in the West Region. Dr. Ortiz chaired the Cal State Universities Presidents' Council on Undeserved Constituencies and is also a member of Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities. Outside the University, President Ortiz, serves his community by participating on the Board of Directors for the Los Angeles County Fair Association and the Executive Advocacy Group Member for City of Pomona’s Youth and Family Master Plan.

Ms. Marilyn Martinez-Flores Ph.D., Riverside Community College
Educator of the Year
Dr. Martinez-Flores is a first generation college student earning her Ph.D. at the University of California, Riverside in Institutional Leadership and Policy Studies. Currently Dr. Martinez-Flores serves as Associate Dean of College Program Support at Riverside Community College. For the past ten years her focus both as an educator and community member has been to work with underserved and underrepresented student populations. With previous experience as bilingual teacher, Dr. Martinez-Flores mission has been to help others navigate through the education system in order to pursue their personal academic endeavors.

Cumbre Insurance Services Inc./Coachella Valley Insurance Service
Business of the Year
In 1984, Ray Medina, started Cumbre Insurance Services. This small company began as an independent agency specializing in Workers Compensation. By 1998, Cumbre acquired the Coachella Valley Insurance Service, becoming one of the largest Hispanic owned insurance agencies in California. Consistently ranking as one of the Top 5 Latino Owned Businesses in the Inland region, Cumbre Insurance in 2006 generated 65 million in revenue with a bilingual staff of fifty-two employees. But, the numbers are just part of the equation. Cumbre to this day is still family operated with Ray’s son Ruben taking the reigns of the business.

Ms. Ana Rascon & Mr. Al Vasquez of La Prensa Hispana - Journalists of the Year
Al Vasquez and Ana Rascon’s partnership over fifteen years ago produced La Prensa Hispana Newspaper, a regional Spanish language publication serving the Coachella Valley and Imperial Valley. Since its inception in 1993, La Prensa Hispana’s circulation has increased 60% to its current circulation of 46,500 with a mail circulation of 2,300 households. La Prensa Hispana’s bicultural product serves a segment of Riverside County that is 44% percent Latino. In addition to their publication, the duo produces a television program, they are founders of the International Hispanic Film Festival, and the International Hispanic Awards.

Mr. Frank Reyes, San Bernardino Valley Community College District - Community Advocate
Mr. Reyes is the Executive Director of Governmental Affairs for the San Bernardino Community College District, which educates thousands of students in the Inland region. It is Mr. Reyes relationship with the Hispanic Associations of Colleges and Universities (HACU) program that has enabled thousands of students to establish relationships and acquire internships. Mr. Reyes community advocacy extends beyond HACU, he is an active member of California Teachers Association, California Community College Counselors Association, Faculty Association of California’s Community College, Association of Mexican American Educators, and the Inland Empire Latino Lawyers Association.

Community Center for Action and Environmental Justice
Non-Profit Organization of the Year
The Community Center for Action and Environmental Justice, (CCAEJ) is comprised of nineteen dedicated individuals with a mission of building a strong movement for change. The Centers staff and Board of Directors reflect the diversity in the region, comprising of teachers, farmers, college professors and school administrators. CCAEJ is passionately committed to a healthier, toxic-free environment and ultimately believes the key to effectively solving community problems lies in bringing the diverse segments of the community together in democratically based, participatory organizations and networks in ways that empower.

Eugene Montanez, Council Member City of Corona
Elected Official of the Year
A life long resident of the City of Corona, Eugene Montanez successfully ran for a seat on the City Council in 2002 where he currently serves as Mayor Pro Tem. With a population over 145,000 Councilman Montanez serves his community beyond the council chambers, by serving on the Board Corona Chamber of Commerce, the United Way and he was one of the founding members of the City’s Parks and Recreations Commission. An Entrepreneur, Councilman Montanez and his wife Paula operate a successful business venture Zap Printing with the support of their children.

Captain Pedro (Pete) Ortiz, City of Rancho Cucamonga Police Department
Public Safety Person of the Year
Pedro (Pete) Ortiz began his career with the San Bernardino County’s Sheriff department as a Deputy in July of 1977. In 2001 he was promoted to level of Captain, and now holds the position of Chief of Police for the City of Rancho Cucamonga. Capt. Ortiz is responsible for administering the largest contract city for the Sheriff’s Department with a population of over 160,000 residents. Captain Ortiz also serves his community through his participation as a volunteer for the YMCA, the Boy Scouts of America, coaching a youth baseball team, and various beautification projects for the city of Rancho Cucamonga. On and off duty, Captain Ortiz is a loving husband and father of six.

Radio Aztlan, University of California Riverside - Entertainers
The mission of Radio Aztlan is to further develop a cultural bridge and to promote the beauty and social value of Chicano music. Sponsored by the Chicano Student Programs at University of California Riverside for the past 21 years, Over the years Radio Aztlan has built a loyal audience of thousands of appreciative listeners have come to rely on the program as their weekly alternative Chicano/Latino station in the Inland region and beyond. In April 2006 Radio Aztlan registered a milestone, producing the 10th Annual Music Festival which celebrates Chicano Music sounds de Aztlan, and the Chicano push for higher education.

Mr. Florentino Garza, Attorney at Law, Visionary
Mr. Florentino Garza is consider by many to be one of the most respected and revered trial attorneys in the Inland region and internationally. A practicing attorney for over fifty years, Mr. Garza chose the Inland region early in his career as his home and most importantly to make a difference in the growing Latino community. Mr. Garza has received many awards and numerous honors from organizations for his professional and community achievements. Institutions such as the California Bar Association, the San Bernardino County Bar Association, and from his alma mater, UCLA for Professional Excellence in the Administration of Justice.

2005 - 8th Annual Inland Empire Hispanic Image Awards Honorees

Fri, 7 Oct 2005 11:41:51 -0700

Ms. Mary Figueroa, Riverside Community College
Influential Latina of the Year
Ms. Mary Figueroa is the first Hispanic woman elected to the Riverside Community College Board of Trustees and to serve as President. Ms. Figueroa has served on the “City of Riverside Human Relations Commission,” chaired the “Law Enforcement Policy Advisory Committee” and the “Cinco de Mayo Citywide Planning Committee”. Prior community activities include the Riverside Area Rape Crisis Center, and the Riverside Youth Development Council. In the past, State Attorney General Bill Lockyear appointed her to the position of “Statewide Chairperson” in the Department of Corrections and Departmental Women’s Liaison Council. In 2004, she was selected as a recipient of the “YWCA Women of Achievement award.”

Mr. Michael Ramos, District Attorney,
County of San Bernardino - Influential Latino of the Year
In the 1980’s, Michael Ramos served his community as group counselor and probation officer, for the county of San Bernardino. Mr. Ramos found his true calling, and entered Citrus Belt Law School in Riverside to earn his “Doctor of Jurisprudence” In 1989, he became a Deputy DA in the major crimes unit. In 2002, then Deputy DA Ramos was elected District Attorney. As DA he has been appointed to the California Victim Compensation and Government Claims Board and was elected to California DA’s' Association Board of Directors.

Grace Vargas, Mayor, City of Rialto - Elected Official of the Year
At the age of 59, Grace Vargas left her successful experiences in private enterprise to run for City Council. In 1998, she became the first Latina to be elected councilmember in the City of Rialto. She set out goals to clean up the city, attract new business, and steer the city budget out of the red. In November 2000, Grace became the Mayor for the City of Rialto, stating "I want to make a difference" and "I want the best for people and their families." Ms. Vargas is a wonderful mother, a savvy business owner, and an honest human being with a passion to make a real difference in the city where she’s lived nearly three decades. Considering all these reasons is it any wonder why her friends refer to her as “Amazing Grace”.

Mr. Carlos Cortes Ph.D, Educator of the Year
Dr. Cortes began his higher education in 1956 when he earned a Bachelors Degree from the University of California, Berkeley. He also earned a Master of Arts and a Ph.D. in History from the University of New Mexico. Dr. Cortes has extensively lectured throughout the United States, Latin America, Europe and Asia, on such topics as, ethnicity, multiculturalism and the implications of diversity on education, and private business. Since 1990 Dr. Carlos Cortes has served on the summer faculty of the “Harvard Institutes for Higher Education,” and since 1995, he served as faculty for the “Summer Institute for Intercultural Communication.”

Mr. James Ramos, Community Advocate of the Year
During the past 10 years, Mr. James Ramos has served his community through various non-profit and civic organizations, such as the Arrowhead United Way, San Bernardino Valley College Foundation, and the Inland Empire Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. Recently, Mr. Ramos was awarded the “Keeper of the Light Award” for Distinguished Contributions to the Inland Empire Community of Education. Mr. Ramos has been married for over 15 years to his high school sweetheart Terri, together they have four children, Vanessa, Desire, Katrina, and James Jr.

Captain John de la Rosa, City of Riverside Police Department
Public Safety Person of the Year
As a young man, John De La Rosa stocked groceries at a small market in the city of Upland. Over the years he earned his Bachelors Degree at Cal State San Bernardino, nevertheless he answered his calling to law enforcement. John began his law enforcement career working for the Rialto Police Department in 1978. In 1980, he moved to the City of Riverside and worked his way up the ranks to Detective, Sergeant, and Lieutenant. In addition to being a family man, he serves as a mentor in Riverside Community College's Puente Program. In August of this year, Mr. De La Rosa was promoted to the position of Captain with the Riverside Police Department.

Ms. Anita Franco, Journalist of the Year
Under the leadership of Ms. Anita Franco, the Fontana Herald News, an 80 year old publication, has evolved to reflect the growing Latino population. Addressing today’s key issues, Anita combines her responsibility to Print Journalism, with her passion for community involvement. As a founding member of the Moreno Valley Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, she also served as President for four years, and currently is a member of the Kiwanis Club and the Rotary Clubs.

Mission Foods, Business of the Year
Mission Foods prides themselves on being both, rich in heritage, and for the contributions they have made to the Mexican Foods Industry. Mission Foods West Division, located in Rancho Cucamonga was ranked Number One, in Hispanic Lifestyle’s Annual “Top Latino Owned Business.” As one of the premier tortillas and tortilla chip manufacturers in the United States, they generated over 720 Million Dollars in revenue, while employing over 4,000 people, for fiscal year 2004. In 2005, the food manufacturing company is expected to generate $755 million in revenue.

TODEC Legal Center, Non-Profit Organization of the Year
TODEC’s mission is to empower immigrant communities to become economically, and educationally self-sufficient, while enhancing self-esteem. TODEC seeks to ensure equitable access to information and services for limited, and non-English speaking people by enhancing the employability, and economic viability, of individuals and families in the community Luz Maria Ayala is the director of the TODEC Legal Center located in Perris and she is accepting the award of behalf of the organization.

Visionary - Entertainment
Lalo Guerrero The Father of Chicano Music wrote hundreds of songs during his seven-decade career including the classic bolero “Nunca Jamas” and “Cancion Mexicana”, considered the “unofficial anthem” of Mexico. At the height of his recording years in the 1940s and 1950s, he dominated the Latin American charts in the U.S., Mexico and South America as a vocalist and songwriter with as many as three hits in the top ten at the same time. Celebrating his bicultural roots, the Tucson, Arizona-born artist was an early pioneer in writing and recording bilingual songs and brought American swing to Spanish-language music in the ‘40s with a string of hit records. Luis Valdez re-discovered them in the late ‘70s and “Los Chucos Suaves” and “Vamos A Bailar” were performed in his acclaimed musical play and film, “Zoot Suit”.