HispanicBusiness

Ingrid Otero-Smart Executive Vice-President Mendoza-Dillon & Asociados, Newport Beach, CA

As head of client services at Hispanic ad agency Mendoza-Dillon, she exerts clout in the expanding Hispanic market. This year the Association of Hispanic Advertising Agencies (AHAA) elected her to its board, where she will serve as co-chair of the Public Relations Committee and the Leadership Development Committee. In addition, she will act as chair for the 2000 AHAA convention. An active member of the Advertising Education Foundation, she works to encourage minorities to enter the advertising industry.



Lisa Quiroz Publisher People en Español, New York, NY

Advertising Age has recognized this publisher of People en Español as one the 25 "Women to Watch." In addition, she received her second Time Inc. President's Award for an innovative product launch into an untapped market. Managing the development of the magazine since its inception, Ms. Quiroz oversees the best-selling Spanish-language publication in the country.



Silvia Ramirez President Zerimar Corporation, San Jose, CA

After she inherited her father's construction company with only two employees and a $10,000 project, she changed its name to Zerimar Corporation. Four years later, it boasts $7 million in annual revenues and employs more than 30 people, making it the number 1 company on the 1999 Hispanic Business Fastest-Growing 100 directory. For her entrepreneurial success, Ms. Ramirez has been honored by the YWCA and the Small Business Administration.



Gabriel Reyes President Reyes Entertainment, Los Angeles, CA

His Hollywood-based communications firm handles Hispanic-focused public relations, marketing, and event production for major entertainment companies. Current and past clients include Latina Magazine, Telemundo Networks, Sí TV, Arista Latin Records, Virgin Records, Paramount Video, and the movie Selena for Warner Bros. With actor Edward James Olmos, Mr. Reyes is a founding member of the Los Angeles International Latino Film Festival.



Miguel Rios Jr. CEO Orion International Technologies, Albuquerque, NM

Winner of the U.S. Small Business Administration's 1999 Prime Contractor of the Year and the Commerce Department's National Minority Male Entrepreneur of the Year awards. Orion also won Hispanic Entrepreneur of the Year honors from the Hispanic Engineer National Achievement Awards Conference. A provider of engineering and research services to federal departments, Orion ranks number 398 on the Hispanic Business 500, with revenues of $8.1 million.



Gregory Rodriguez Research Fellow/Associate Editor Pepperdine University/ Pacific News Service/ New America Foundation, Los Angeles, CA

Author of "The Emerging Latino Middle Class," a groundbreaking report on the upward mobility of U.S. Hispanics. According to The Economist, Mr. Rodriguez's work has "decisively changed the understanding of Latino experience in the United States." Besides his position as research fellow at Pepperdine University, he is an associate editor of Pacific News Service. His writing has appeared in the Los Angeles Times, the Washington Post, and The New Republic. In addition, he is a fellow at the New America Foundation, where he will investigate how the demographic shift away from an Anglo majority will affect U.S. society.



Phil Roman