HispanicBusiness

'Entrepreneurs Have Accepted the Challenge' --> Business leaders honor their own at the 11th annual EOY Award ceremony.

More than 500 people cheered as Juan "Jack" Mencia accepted the eleventh annual HISPANIC BUSINESS Magazine EOY Award at a black-tie ceremony in Los Angeles. The CEO of Cube Corp., which manages office buildings and facilities for the federal government, was honored for boosting his company's sales 70 percent last year.

Cube stood out among 200 nominees by exceeding rigorous criteria. Companies first were ranked in terms of financial performance. A panel of judges then evaluated them for management strategy, work-force policies, technology, and entrepreneur development. The top 10 finalists were honored at the EOY event gala on Oct. 3 at the Westin Bonaventure Hotel. Judges cited Cube for being able to "grow quickly and yet manageably."

Keynote speaker Federico Peña commented on how the EOY awards "celebrate our own people of accomplishment." And at this time of national uncertainty, he added, Hispanic entrepreneurs play a vital role in strengthening the economy. "For two decades … through the courage and dedication of Jesús Chavarría and his team of writers, HISPANIC BUSINESS has served as a beacon of inspiration, helping to guide and inform the American business community," Mr. Peña said. "So I salute those being recognized tonight, and the thousands across our land who are living the American dream by becoming entrepreneurs."

Mr. Peña, the former mayor of Denver and U.S. secretary of energy, observed that September 11 had given the country "a transformed American spirit" of patriotism, with Hispanics as full participants. He encouraged business leaders to educate society about the demographics and contributions of Hispanics, to place more Hispanics on corporate boards, and to become involved with school boards and committees. "Each of us has an opportunity – I would say a responsibility – to ensure that our growing Latino population continues to excel in this new American spirit," he declared. "The entrepreneurs we recognize tonight have accepted that challenge."

Jesús Chavarría, publisher of HISPANIC BUSINESS, addressed the relationship of advancing technology and small Hispanic companies. He introduced two HISPANIC BUSINESS initiatives coming next year – an online e-commerce subscription service called RedWire and a technology training seminar for small companies called "Digitize Your Business."

Sponsors of the EOY recognized the event as a national focal point for the Hispanic community. Octavio Navarro, assistant western regional communications manager at Ford Motor Co., noted in his speech that "through Ford's commitment, and the commitment of the other companies represented here tonight, minority-owned businesses are flourishing." Tamara Moore, corporate communications specialist from Philip Morris Cos., added: "When we attend an event such as this, and hear testimony about the drive of Hispanic business owners and the contributions they are making to the nation's economy, we smile to ourselves and say 'We knew it.' From all of us at the Philip Morris family, we say to this year's Entrepreneur of the Year recipient, congratulations."

Emcee Luis Avalos, a Hollywood actor and comedian, introduced the finalists in the EOY competition. He then turned over the microphone to Jose Fourquet, an EOY judge and vice-president for the main sponsor, Goldman Sachs, for the final announcement. Mr. Fourquet, a former FBI and CIA agent and President George W. Bush's nominee for U.S. ambassador to the Inter-American Development Bank, presented the winner's trophy to Mr. Mencia. In his grateful acceptance speech, Mr. Mencia credited his country and his employees for the success of Cube Corp.

Major sponsors for this year's EOY Award Gala were Goldman Sachs, Ford Motor Co., and US Airways. Other sponsors included Fox Sports World Español, Philip Morris, and Hispanic Media. The EOY evening began on a patriotic theme – posting of the flag by a color guard from the ROTC program at the University of California at Los Angeles, followed by singer Karina Nuvo's rendition of God Bless America.

In conjunction with the EOY gala, the HireDiversity.com Career Fair drew a crowd of job seekers throughout the day. More than 1,100 candidates visited recruiters from 28 exhibiting companies and government agencies. Lead sponsors were Applied Materials and Ernst & Young, and other sponsors included Verizon, XO Communications, BP, and the Walt Disney Co. HireDiversity.com, a division of Hispanic Business Inc., will hold another Career Fair on November 13 at the Hyatt Regency Crystal City in Arlington, Virginia.

PHOTO BY GEORGE RODRIGUEZ