HispanicBusiness

Washington, D.C. Mr. Ocasio has helped increase the representation of minorities in management and officer-level positions; helped increase opportunities for minorities to enroll in career management programs; and sponsored more than $1 million in (DONATIONS TO? - JM) community-based Hispanic and other minority organizations. He also encourages minority- and women-owned businesses to sell their services to the government. And he tries to meet the needs of various communities in terms of products, services, employment, and stamp honorees.



Ellen Ochoa Astronaut NASA Houston, TX Ms. Ochoa has most recently received the Women in Aerospace Outstanding Achievement Award, The Hispanic Engineer Albert Baez Award for Outstanding Technical Contribution to Humanity, and the Hispanic Heritage Leadership Award. She served as a flight engineer on STS-96 Discovery during a 10-day mission in June 1999 to the International Space Station. She coordinated the transfer of supplies and executed an eight-hour space walk. She accomplished her mission in 153 Earth orbits and is the first Hispanic woman to travel 4 million miles in 235 hours and 13 minutes.



Lupe Ontiveros Actress Pico Rivera, CA Ms. Ontiveros most recently appeared in the critically acclaimed movie Chuck and Buck (July) and she made a cameo appearance in the film Luminarias (May). During her 20-year Hollywood career, she also has appeared in Gabriela, As Good as it Gets, Picking up the Pieces, and El Norte. She probably is best remembered for her portrayal of Yolanda Saldivar in Selena. Before becoming an actress, Ms. Ontiveros worked nearly 20 years as a social worker.



Ingrid Otero-Smart President/COO Mendoza-Dillon & Associates Newport Beach, CA Mrs. Otero-Smart was selected this past year as one of the most influential Hispanics by the Orange County Business Journal. She also is a founding member of the Orange County Chapter of NACOPRW (National Conference of Puerto Rican Women), and this year was named Managing Partner of a joint venture with CommonHealth. She also was chair of the Association of Hispanic Advertising Agencies conference in Newport Beach and nominated for Hispanic Advertising Executive of the Year.



Julio Pabón Chairman, CEO Latino Sports Ventures Inc. Bronx, NY Mr. Pabón heads a sports marketing firm that promotes professional Latino athletes. The company has established the annual Latino Most Valuable Player Award, given to an outstanding Major League Baseball player. Mr. Pabón also has his own line of sports clothes, and he writes a column that runs in the Spanish-language newspaper Hoy. And he is a co-founder of the National Puerto Rican Business Council.



Manuel T. Pacheco President University of Missouri System Columbia, MO Mr. Pacheco has been reappointed by President Bill Clinton to the board of the National Security Education Program. In the last year, he initiated a mutual fund shares program to reward faculty who fulfill high priority objectives. He also serves on several national philanthropic, educational and corporate boards. He is the only Hispanic president of a research university in the U.S.



Orlando T. Padilla Director, Public Policy Center General Motors Corp. Detroit, Michigan Mr. Padilla, through the GM China Public Policy Project, has been involved in trying to help China gain membership to the World Trade Organization and in winning congressional support for Permanent Normal Trade Relations. He also has worked on GM’s child passenger safety campaign in the Hispanic community, which provides free child seats to needy families.