• Page 11. The future for Avocados From Mexico
• Page 18. Rising Latin Talent: Manuel Abud
• Page 20. Chicago’s latest gem: Carlos Gaytan:
Top Latino Lawyers
• Page 23. Congratulations: The 2022 top Latin Lawyers
• Page 36. Don’t miss out on the interviews
• Page 41. 2022 rising stars
Education
• Page 47. Franchising for all Kathleen Grosser
• Page 51. Chancellor Javier Reyes
THERE ARE MANY ways to celebrate and enjoy the enormously rich and varied heritage of the different subcultures representing the Hispanic/Latino Community. This heritage is not only expressed in Culture, music, food, and popular traditions but also in leadership, accomplishments, pivotal moments, representation, economic success, and advancement in general. All of those mean a vast contribution to the story of the U.S.
In this edition, we have the privilege to present our annual Top Latino Lawyers list. This list comes from a survey made from nominations and auto-nominations filtered by a criterion established by a select group of lawyers and law professionals. This list represents a pool of talent that law practitioners all over the Country have developed to serve the Latino Community and non-Latino and non-minority communities. These lawyers are role models to all those aspiring to become wholesome law professionals because of their success, integrity, community service, and commitment. We are also presenting a great list of rising stars of the law practice, young lawyers with emerging careers and firms behind them. This latter one could be a view of the future Top lawyers of our communities around the Country. Congratulations!
We also have a great feature on Education. This feature presents a collection of successful cases for colleges and universities that have embraced and thrived with programs, initiatives, and resources for Latino students to take advantage of them. This is an excellent resource for those influencing or mentoring young Latinos in their quest for higher education options.
We hope you enjoy this edition.
Administrative Director Lawrence Teodoro Editor Andrea Pina Andrea@latinoleaders.com
Writters Bill Sarno Daniel Sanchez Torres Elsa Cavazos
Joanne Rodrigues Luana Ferreira
Business Development Manager Cristina Villaseñor cristina@latinoleaders.com
Art Director Fernando Izquierdo
Editorial Art & Design
Carlos Cuevas Luis Enrique González Moisés Cervantes
Human Resources Manager Susana Sanchez
Administration and Bookkeeping
Claudia García Bejarano
Executive Assistant to the Publishers Liliana Morales
Digital Media & Design Manager Wendy Zacarias
Events Coordinator Isabela Herrera
For advertising inquiries, please call 214-206-9587
Latino Leaders: The National Magazine of the Successful American Latino (ISSN 1529-3998) is published seven times annually by Ferraez Publications of America Corp., 11300 N. Central Expressway, Suite 300, Dallas, TX, 75243, September/ October 2022. Subscription rates: In U.S. and possessions, one year $15.00. Checks payable to Ferraez Publications of America, 15443 Knoll Trail, Suite 210, 75248 Dallas, TX, USA. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Latino Leaders, 15443 Knoll Trail, Suite 210, 75248 Dallas, TX, USA.© 2001 by Ferraez Publications of America Corporation. All rights reserved. No part of this periodical may be reproduced without the consent of Latino Leaders: The National Magazine of the Successful American Latino. The periodical’s name and logo, and the various titles and headings therein, are trademarks of Ferraez Publications of America Corp.
Hispanic Heritage comes filled with turmoil of feelings. First comes pride from all that has been accomplished, then comes uneasiness as there is still much to be done – we are not even halfway there! And then comes the determination to keep striding forward. We must work every day to celebrate our Heritage and continue pushing forward for coming generations to shine brighter.
This edition also encompasses the list of top lawyers and rising stars. I find it particularly humbling to see so many names not only working daily to the highest standards but also working to build a stronger community – with more opportunities for all.
As the year is closing, the urge to build a more robust environment for Latinos to thrive is intensifying. 2022 must be remembered as a good year, but we must continue to lay the land for a better 2023.
Editor
Courtesy of Rosa Rios F. Izquierdo
What family values have shaped you into the leader you are today.
RR: My father moved our family from Mexico to Texas with the goal of a better future. This move shaped my care values of: 1) be willing to take risk; 2) look into the future and stay ahead of the curve; 3) nothing comes free, you have to work exceptionally hard, excel in your chosen field and be willing to ask for help and give help for those in need.
How is your current role serving to the advantage of underseen communities?
RR: Remote and persistent poverty communities in Texas are underserved. Neighborhoods of color and low wealth neighborhoods are also underseen. As CEO of Business Community Lenders (BCL) of Texas we take a comprehensive approach to community and business development. At BCL we provide families with consumer loans, financial capability counseling, and sources of capital for home ownership. For underserved businesses BCL provides NO Cost coaching and guidance on business financial readiness, management strategies and flexible capital for business growth.
What are the main challenges you have faced as a female leader?
RR: Small women of color are invisible in a room full of white tall men. My Latina superpower is to feel 6’ tall; and be just as smart if not smarter than the men in the room. My leadership strength is my economic development expertise and local, state, and national network of capital sources for community economic development. Money is common language for men, women, and underserved communities alike.
Where do you want to lead BCL in the future?
RR: BCL is a mid-size CDFI (Community Development Financial Institution). BCL has a wholly owned non-profit affiliate, Texas Community Builders. By 2030, I would like
BCL to raise $40 million of new capital to be recognized as a large CDFI serving new regions across Texas. And by 2030, Texas Community Builders to acquire, rehab and develop 500 homes for low/moderate income families.
If you were to fast forward in time, what would you want your legacy to be?
RR: Raised in a low-income family, Rosa Rios Valdez a Latina leader, embraced her Mexican roots, took risks, and was a trail blazing founder of the largest statewide non-profit economic development firm in Texas that has helped over 10,000 families to become homeowners, facilitated $1.2 billion in capital for small businesses growth, and led BCL to become a Platinum Green Business leader. A passionate advocate of women’s health, Hispanic leadership, asset building for low wealth families and a champion for capital for small businesses of color Rosa is recognized, CEO Emeritus, BCL of Texas.
HAVE the highest rate of entrepreneurship, according to the latest report from the Kauffman Foundation1. The report also highlights those immigrants have almost double the rate of new entrepreneurs compared to nativeborn Americans. Based on my experience as an immigrant and as an executive working with entrepreneurial start-up companies, immigrants and entrepreneurs have many common traits. These common traits allow them to succeed against all odds.
First, it takes having a passion for a better future. Success requires immigrants and entrepreneurs to have a passionate belief in a vision of a better future for their families and organizations. This drives them to sacrifice to succeed. Their attitude and aptitude allow them to see the opportunities rather than the obstacles or difficulties in the situations they face. However, passion and vision are not sufficient to achieve success.
It also takes courage. One must have tremendous courage to leave your home and start your life in a new country. It also takes courage to start a new business when almost 50% of new businesses fail within their first five years2. The capability to adapt and pivot when necessary are vital traits of successful immigrants and entrepreneurs.
Finally, a robust set of values, including a strong work ethic, are vital to success. Immigrants and entrepreneurs exhibit a strong work ethic and the perseverance to overcome the many obstacles they will face in business and life. A strong moral compass is crucial to succeeding in adverse situations. Success without strong moral values is meaningless.
Latinos, Immigrants, & Entrepreneurs are the lifeblood of our country’s economy. They fuel economic growth, prosperity, and competitiveness in our great nation. This issue of Latino Leaders Magazine focuses on the heritage that makes these contributions possible.
1 Kauffman Foundation Report February, 2021
2 JPMorgan Business Longevity Study & Bureau of Labor statistics
Ralph de laVega is the former vice-chairman ofAT&T Inc. He is the author of the best-selling book“ObstaclesWelcome: TurnAdversity toAdvantage in Business and Life.”He is also a LinkedIn Influencer,posting regularly on leadership and innovation.
HOW MANY times have you heard success stories of immigrants that came to this country with nothing in their pockets and full of uncertainties? Some of them didn't even speak English. You might wonder what personality traits or mindset they had that most peo ple don’t.
Mindset is a set of beliefs that shape how you make sense of the world and yourself. Carol Dweck, Stanford University psychologist, in her book "Mindset”, has found that everyone has one of two basic mindsets. If you have a fixed mindset, you believe that your talents and abilities are set in stone; either you have them or you don't. You must prove yourself repeatedly, trying to look smart and talented at all costs. This is the path of stagnation, often leading to frustration and a lack of achievement. However, if you have a growth mindset, you know that talents can be developed and that ex traordinary abilities are built over time. This is the path of opportunity and success. Dweck reveals how cre ative geniuses in all fields apply the growth mindset to achieve results and fulfill their own potential.
We all know that limiting beliefs are difficult to change. It doesn’t matter if you have a fixed or a growth mindset. However, people with a fixed mindset are more resistant to change than people with a growth mindset. For instance, people with a fixed mindset might say, "if you have to work hard, you don’t have the ability," instead of saying, "the more you challenge yourself, the smarter you become,” as stated by people with a growth mindset.
According to Dr. Ivan Raymond Maps, Clinical Psy chologist, the world around us overloads us with mes sages telling us what we should see as important. In modern society, fame, wealth, image, popularity, and success are highly valued. These derive from the exter
nal world and are called extrinsic val ues. They affect people’s mindsets by creating mental models that are part of daily decision-making.
Pursuing goals related to extrinsic val ues can sometimes mean that our health, community connections, well-being, and relationships are overlooked. Research has shown that well-being suffers when we place an overwhelming emphasis on extrinsic, as opposed to intrinsic values. On the other hand, intrinsic values are the ones that matter most to people. En gaging in pursuits and activities regularly connecting us to intrinsic values is es sential. Character strengths, mindfulness meditation, connection to nature, com munity involvement, and meaningful re lationships are activities that can help us to connect with our intrinsic values and develop a growth mindset.
Here’s a list of questions to chal lenge yourself and help you adopt an orientation towards a growth mindset as described by Carol Dweck in her book “Mindset”:
• What can I learn from this?
• What steps can I take to help me succeed?
• Do I know the outcome of the goal I am pursuing?
• What information can I gather? And from where?
• Where can I get constructive feedback?
• When will I follow through on my plan?
• How will I follow through on my plan?
• What habits must I develop to continue the gains I’ve achieved?
If you are a leader who wants to become a “Growth-Mindset” change agent, contact AlliancesHub to learn more about our “Character Strengths at Work”” and “The Emotionally Effec tive Leader” workshops.
ABOUT JOE
Joe Bacigalupo, MBA, MPEC, ACPEC is a Managing Partner and an Executive Advisor at AlliancesHub International, LLC. AlliancesHub offers Change Management and Strategy Consulting, Talent Optimization and Analytics, Leadership Development, and Executive/ Leadership Coaching services. www.allianceshub.com info@allianceshub.com 469-287-2086
Oneof the most innovative cre ators of truly abstract pho tography, George O. Jackson de Llano is not only a prominent figure in modern Mexican photography, having photo graphed the important festi vals of Mexico’s 63 indigenous cultures as they existed in the final decade of the millennium, a project that earned him a seven-month ven ue at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History and another six at the fabled Museo Nacional de Antropología. His pho tograph of a group of “Fariseos”, standing on a rock at the 1991 Semana Santa celebration in Pinotepa de don Luis, Oaxaca, is on the cover of the recently published 5 kilo tome, Las Culturas Indigenas de Mexico, Atlas Na cional de Etnografía, placing him among the greatest Latino master photographers in the genre. His latest work is his most daring and rarest, representing the pinnacle of his matu rity as an artist.
Simply put, since then he has been engaged in a continuing decade and a half involve ment photographing refracted color and light manifest in anthropomorphic compo
sitions that he finds in a milieu created in an east window for the occasions, consisting of wrinkled up, soft plastic water bottles - some colored by Ukrainian Easter egg dyes, all in proximity to a myriad of crystals of all shapes and sizes along with a few fancy tequila bot tles and other sparkly things that vary with whim and whimsy. He then parabolically re flects full light of the sun back into the crystal mass, creating a powerful light machine that causes the bottles to glow borrowing color from one another amongst which he recog nizes the personages that he finds and por trays, hiding in the light.
“Iamexploringimagination throughrefractedcolorandlight. Withthesunasmysource,Itrans formlightandtranslucentforms intoarangeofabstractexpressions andemotions.”G.O.J.deLL
This project started more than a decade ago with the sunrise striking a pure de-wired crystal chandelier in an east window, that showered his mornings with dazzling color and light, resulting from the refraction that occurred through the sun’s prismatic inter action with the crystals as it made its way across the morning sky. He started photo graphing the chandelier with a telephoto lens, attempting to capture and distill the pure colors and forms that broke out of the morning sun.
He has convinced himself that the forms are 20th C art spirits that taught him how to SEE, come to participate in his explora tion of them in appreciation of his know ing they exist and given their uniqueness to photography, actually herald a new genre in the creation of abstract expression.
Each image is photographed 12 times bracketed by thirds to yield the near perfect “one”, which after being identified rejoins its brethren to be rotated clockwise causing
Photo credit: Courtesy of George O. Jackson de Llano
them to lie on their sides then mirroring them by flipping them alternately - sponta neously revealing what he calls Thaumatur gy because of the magical apparitions that emerge from his recognized spirits, making them an exciting new form of abstract ex pression, where the recognized 20th centu ry color and light spirits actually determine what you see by expressing themselves.
It is an extraordinary, unique collection of compositions of refracted color and light by a lucid imagination unique to pho tography suggesting a metaphysical portal through which the spirit world could look back at us.
An imagination taking the time to peruse them will find many things hiding in the light, while discovering a new way of creat ing abstract expression
Jackson was influenced by certain im portant 20th century artists. Mexican surrealist Alejandro Colunga and the late Houston artist Bob Bilyeu Camblin, along with Tamayo, Siqueiros, Rivera, Matisse, Pi casso, Miró, Chagall, de Kooning, Jenkins, Klein, Kline, Rothko, Turrell, Kapoor, Bell, Price, Basquiat, Staley, to name a few, that he has known and studied for five decades that have robustly imbued him.
“My fascination with color and light beganatanearlyagebecauseofacreative grandfather,whowouldhideassortedlife savercandiesformetodiscoverinthemost unlikelyplaces.Iseetheminmymindatthe baseofaslideinthejungleofbackyardap purtenancesthathehadlaidoutforhisfirst grandchild....
...I see their colors in the sun, magical reds,yellows,greens,purples,thesameas oneseesinmanyimagesofmycurrentproj ect, photographing abstract compositions ofrefractedcolorandlightwithtranslucent forms.”G.O.J.deLL
Hispanic Heritage should be celebrated all year long. The richness and complexity of all these subcultures have made a tremendous contribution to America. However, September and October are special in recognizing all these contributions. That precisely is why the following collection of stories in this section depicts the value of Hispanics in today’s society, covering an array of areas and industries.
It is only the tip of the iceberg; every day, new stories arise demonstrating the passion of Latinos –triumphing every day.
Suzi Neel Moisés Cervantes
A conversation with Alvaro Luque, President and CEO, Avocados From Mexico (AFM)
AL: Avocados From Mexico was created with a dual responsibility: to promote a brand for Mexican avocados and grow the demand for the fruit in the U.S. Since our inception, we’ve been success ful at both and in the process, we’ve become the most innovative produce brand – we have fundamentally changed the way produce marketing is done in our industry and for our category.
In only eight years, we have doubled the volume of Mexican avocado imports – from 1.2 billion pounds in 2014 to 2.4 billion pounds in 2021. Today more than 8 out of 10 avocados come from Mexico. We’ve also increased brand preference from 20% in 2013 to more than 55% in 2020, making AFM the number one brand of avocados in the U.S.
AL: According to a recent economic impact report conducted by Texas A&M University, Mexican avocado imports achieved record-breaking impact in 2021/22 and have driven significant growth. The factors behind this boom in Mexican avocado imports include a dramatic rise in U.S. demand for avocados and an equally dramatic increase in the avocado import economy and supply from Mexico.
The demand in the U.S. is driven largely by growing diverse populations, especially Hispanics for whom guacamole and av ocados are a staple. Now, guacamole and avocados are becoming a staple in Non-Hispanic households as well. Also, an increase in awareness of the health benefits of avocados combined with consumer trends towards healthy and ethnic foods is driving consumers to purchase the fruit.
Hass avocados now comprise about 95% of all U.S. avocado consumption and are the most widely available. Because avoca do trees bloom year-round in Michoacán, it is the only region sending Hass avocados to the U.S. 365 days a year. Now, with the recent addition of avocados from the Mexican state of Jalisco, the industry’s ability to meet year-round demand of avocados in the U.S. is further enhancing.
AL: The story of Avocados From Mexico is one of collaboration, with a win-win outcome for the U.S. and Mexico. Avocado im ports from Mexico to the U.S. have served as an economic engine for both sides of the border, generating economic output in the U.S. and jobs and trade benefits for both countries.
The economic analysis performed by Texas A&M identified nu merous contributions to the U.S. economy as Mexican avocados move through the food supply chain and stimulate various market activities. The contributions include: $11.2 billion in economic
output; $6.1 billion to the U.S. GDP (value-added); 58,299 U.S. jobs; $3.9 billion in labor income; and $1.3 billion in taxes.
In addition to fueling the U.S. economy, the industry opens opportunities in Mexico, where avocado farming continues to be a feasible and reliable business venture. The Mexican avocado in dustry creates approximately 78,000 direct and permanent jobs and more than 300,000 indirect and seasonal jobs, with more than 30,000 growers and 74 packers.
AL: The success of the Mexican avocado industry in the U.S. is a win for consumers. It not only shows that trade between the U.S. and Mexico can be successful, but it also delivers the best avocados to American shoppers.
Through AFM, consumers receive healthful avocados that are the freshest, arriving from Mexico in three to five days, and are the highest quality product, with every avocado exported to the U.S. meeting strict dry matter testing requirements. The dry matter test ensures avocados in the U.S. have an adequate oil percentage, which provides the fruit with optimal consistency and delicious taste.
AL: Our vision at AFM is to become the most innovative pro duce company in the world, and we’re doing just that. We’re bringing consumers a quality product that has three important things that they love: avocados taste good, they’re good for you, and they bring good times. The industry provides economic ben efits to both the U.S. and Mexico – that’s a win-win-win.
have been the
“WE’RE BRINGING CONSUMERS A QUALITY PRODUCT THAT HAS THREE IMPORTANT THINGS THAT THEY LOVE: AVOCADOS TASTE GOOD, THEY’RE GOOD FOR YOU, AND THEY BRING GOOD TIMES.”
Rodríguez Courtesy of Adsmovil Luis E. González
Alberto Pardo, often known as 'Banano', leads a minority-owned company with over 25 years of expertise in the Hispanic mobile advertising and digital industry. He is a Colombian-born and raised businessman, one of several Latinos working in AdTech in the United States.
Alberto Pardo, often known as 'Banano', leads a minority-owned company with over 25 years of expertise in the Hispanic mobile advertising and digital industry. He is a Colom bian-born and raised busi nessman, one of several Latinos work ing in AdTech in the United States.
Pardo has a bachelor's degree in industrial engineering from his home country, an MBA from the University of Saint Thomas, with a marketing specialization. Regarding his pro fessional history, he has an exciting mix of senior tech expertise in startups, marketing agencies, and eCom merce. "After my MBA, I returned to Colombia and founded a company called deremate.com, which was pretty large in Latin America at the time, and sold it in 2007," he recalls. Following his passion for innovation, he launched another digital business focusing on search marketing: "I be lieve it was the first search marketing firm in Colombia at the time."
Understanding the cultural fac tor is critical for him in any sector. That's why he likes to recall the huge Blackberry moment in Latin America, which coincided with the iPhone ex plosion in the United States during the last decade: "Blackberry was the first pre-smartphone we had in Latin America before Android came in with Samsung, Motorola, or Nokia."
market. We all reside in the United States, speak English, pay in dollars, and visit the same sites as the general public. However, the way to engage with Latinos is different," Alberto says.
According to Pardo, the primary goal is to empower and serve the His panic market, the largest minority mar ket in the U.S. The secret is to develop emotional connections based on the language, behaviors, and content peo ple consume from Latin America's 30+ countries. "Market connection should happen despite cultural differences and different locations."
The entertainment component is vital for bilingual and bicultural Hispanics and their families. This is how Admovil's new project, Nuestra. TV, came to light. Alberto explains that as an advertising-based, free, vid eo-on-demand service featuring pro ductions from the United States, Latin America, and Spain and educational content, "We are pleased to serve the largest minority market in the United States and the globe, which is the Hispanic market." Even after its ini tial launch, the site includes over 40 FAST channels and 15,000 hours of premium on-demand content. “We will have lots of different types of con tent, from wellness and education to gaming and music,” he says.
Pardo feels that when you are a minority, obstacles will always arise. As a Latino, one of these challenges is ob taining financial investment, if you are not a large corporation. "The second thing to understand is that the Hispan ic market is distinct from the overall
After all, Pardo still wants to achieve new objectives for the com pany. Dreams are the fuel that drives every entrepreneur to reach their goals, from striving to establish a bil lion-dollar company to becoming one of the most relevant Latino TV plat forms in the United States. Colombi an Alberto Pardo gets to work every day in something he has studied for decades.
CEO AND FOUNDER OF ADSMOVIL AND NUESTRA.TVLuisana
THE FOUNDER OF LERMA/ AGENCY, Pedro Lerma, was born in Dumas, Texas. He had hard working Mexican parents who both worked at a meatpacking plant. After graduating high school, Pedro attended Midwestern State University (MSU) in Wichita Falls, Texas. He explains that it was more a social experience for him than an educational experience. As a result, Lerma ended up not finishing. However, Pedro is proud to share that he is completing his bachelor's degree this December at 53. While at MSU, Lerma worked selling airtime for a radio station. Through that experience, he met Craig Draper, who owned an advertising agency. One day, Draper asked Pedro, “Why don’t you come to work for me?” Pedro thought that seemed like a pretty good idea. He had enjoyed visiting the agency and meeting the team, so he accepted the job and began his journey as an ad man.
In 1998, Lerma moved to Dallas and started working for The Richards Group, one of the most prominent advertising agencies in the country. He began as an account supervisor within their digital division, where he showed initiative in how to run the operation, make it competitive, and monetize the work. He was eventually made Principal of the group. Under the mentorship of Dick Mitchell – the division's Managing Principal- Lerma built the company to 120 people, the most prominent affiliate within The Richards Group's family of companies. Eventually, Lerma was asked to launch a Hispanic division there. Pedro thought to himself, “I can do this. I’ve been trained in one of the best agencies in the world to connect brands and people through creativity, and now I'll do that for the Hispanic market." As a result, Richards/Lerma launched in 2009. The agency was conceived as a full-service agency, but with his digital background, it had a clear advantage in what it could offer clients. Not only could the agency deliver television, radio, print and outdoor creativity, but Richards/Lerma could guide clients into digital and social media with more capability than any Hispanic agency in the country. “I am a big fan of innovation. I feel lucky that I grew up in a digital world where I had to adapt constantly or become irrelevant. It made me embrace change,” says Lerma. That makes him a visionary leader who is always at the forefront of market changes, whether digital or creative.
Although based in the United States, Richards/Lerma eventually expanded into Mexico. It allowed for international business experience and expansion. He admits there was a significant learning curve in doing business in another country. But his attitude to most challenges is to learn, adapt and improve. And it’s because of that attitude that he’s been able to reinvent himself and the agency, time and time again, to stay ahead of the pack. And speaking of reinvention, in April of 2021, the agency separated from The Richards Group and became an independent, minority-owned agency and changed its name from Richards/Lerma to simply, LERMA/.
The Hispanic market has changed dramatically due to demographic shifts in the United States. Today, Hispanics are the fastest-growing market segment, and most of that growth comes from U.S.-born Hispanics. And with marketers expecting more and more from smaller advertising budgets, they can easily reach for easy solutions in an increasingly complex market. The result, at times, has been to assume that they can get the Hispanic market with their general market (English language) efforts. The flaw in that thinking is that Hispanic influence in the U.S. is at an all-time high. That influence represents a significant opportunity for marketers and their brands. But they have to change the way they think.
For additional information about the agency and its capabilities, visit:
https://lermaagency.com/
“2020 was a year of multicultural awakening," says Lerma. The George Floyd murder caused a moment of reflection in society, corporate America, and advertising. Brands came out with public pledges to do better with how they engage with their multicultural customers, employees, and communities. It was, of course, focused on the Black community, but the multicultural society took notice of those promises. Promises to hire and promote more people of color, to contribute to causes that benefit underrepresented communities, to hire more diverse suppliers, and to spend more on minorityowned media. And to the extent that they live up to those promises, they will be doing the right thing, but they will also see a significant return on investment.
“Our time is now,” says Pedro. For years we saw Black Influence on American culture – in music, film, business, and government. “I applaud how that community has united to make those things happen. And I’m starting to see our Latino community do the same.” That influence is seen in music, where Bad Bunny is the biggest artist in the world – singing in Spanish. It is also seen in blockbusters like The Heights, Coco, and Encanto. And we’ve begun to see it in politics and business as well. That influence means brands can lead with insights and creativity rooted in Hispanic culture, even in their general market work. The result can connect with our community and appeal to the masses simultaneously.
“We are at a time when our ethnic and racial identities should not be hidden; rather, they should be embraced and celebrated by society as a whole,” emphasizes Lerma. “People have come to value more diversity of race, ethnicity, thought and life experiences, and so, the idea of being your whole self is a real possibility for everyone.”
LERMA/ Agency recently completed the construction of their new offices in downtown Dallas. As a part, the agency continues to focus on the future and innovation. Part of their new office includes an emerging technologies lab focusing on Web3.0 and e-Sports. Young people spend more time in gaming environments than watching television. This enormous shift will dominate the future of American culture and brand building, and LERMA/ will lead the way.
“WE ARE AT A TIME WHERE OUR ETHNIC AND RACIAL IDENTITIES SHOULD NOT BE HIDDEN; RATHER, THEY SHOULD BE EMBRACED AND CELEBRATED BY SOCIETY AS A WHOLE,” EMPHASIZES LERMAJohanna Hoyos Stewart Cohen Pictures
F. Izquierdo
zubi’s was founded in 2017, and the name is inspired by the family who raised Sarah. The brand brought products that are part of Sarah's affective memory; she knows that food has the power to bring people together. "My mission is connecting people through food. I've launched the company because I love food, and it's culturally relevant," Sarah says.
Sarah noticed that many plant-based products have nuts, so she developed salsas and dips that people with nut aller gies could eat. zubi’s then launched delicious options that are 100% plant-based, gluten-free and Top-8-Allergen-Free.
The Dallas-based company started selling the products at farmers' markets in Dallas. They can now be found at prominent retailers such as Whole Foods, Central Market, Sprouts, Amazon and online. In the future, Sarah plans to expand and sell to hotels and restaurants and add new prod ucts to their portfolio, such as snack packs.
SARAH ZUBIATESarah Zubiate doesn't hide her passion for when it comes to food, health, and family. She brought it all together when she created zubi’s, a plant-based company that offers a healthier version of Latin salsa and dips. Sarah found the inspiration for the brand in her upbringingperhaps that's the secret behind its success.
She was adopted at birth by Gloria and George Zubiate, a couple in their 40s. When Sarah realized her parents had many health problems and would not change their eating hab its, she knew it was useless trying to change their minds. Instead, the entrepreneur created a healthy version of salsa and dips they used to have at home. When her parents finally approved them, she realized she could share them with more people.
zubi’s has grown without institutional investors, has only used her own funds and a handful of family and friend investors, as Sarah was concerned it could jeopardize her Minority and Latina-Owned business certifications. The entrepreneur spent the last years developing zubi’s base and understanding where she wanted to grow. "I now feel that that could be a potential shift in the next few years where I would accept external funds from someone in the consumer product goods industry."
Sarah is familiar with the feeling of being underestimated for being a Latin woman, but she turns it in her favor. "After getting to know me, the respect grows pretty quickly. And so that's probably one of the larger aspects of my corporate and entrepreneurial career," Sarah adds.
Before being an entrepreneur, Sarah worked in the fi nance. Motherhood shifted her perspective, feeling the need to change. During her corporate career, she became familiar with analysis, industry projections, and market research. Still, she wishes she had had the chance to have "hands-on exposure" before.
Sarah is also no stranger to wearing multiple hats. She is the co-founder and director of Dallas Express, a non-biased newspaper based in Dallas. She is also a board member of the Metropolitan Civic and Business Association, aiming to create systems of dfw employees who are engaged in their communi ties, help Dallas to grow responsibly, and to partner with chari ties who improve systemic problems like homelessness.
For the new generation of Hispanic and female en trepreneurs, Zubiate believes they need courage and hope. "We might all be from different backgrounds. But I hope that people can embrace their upbringing and background and use it as a form of inspiration, power, diversity, and courage."
Founder and ceo of zubi's, Sarah Zubiate, has created a company thathonors her heritage and transformedsalsa and dips into healthier allergen-free alternatives.
FOUNDER AND CEO OF ZUBI’SLuana Ferreira Joel Allegretto Moisés Cervantes
RUDY D. GARZA, President & CEO at CPS Energy, oversees the nation’s largest municipal electric and natural gas utility serving the city of San Antonio, and several surrounding counties, at a time when the industry is rapidly changing. Garza is optimistic about the future; tackling the issues of carbon emissions and staying on the cutting edge of the industry are some of the main challenges ahead.
"We're in a different world related to the utility business and it's super exciting. We've laid out a five-year strategic plan to help us get through this kind of transition phase we're going through right now," says Garza.
The utility is focused on assessing how to replace its aging power plants and planning to meet the energy needs of a growing population. The changes also demand skilled professionals for the energy industry, which must compete with other business sectors to hire the best talent. According to Garza, CPS Energy is currently hiring "as many employees as possible," especially IT roles, engineers, and call center energy advisors. "Fifty percent of our employees can retire over the next five years. We have to plan for that," he explains.
Garza leads a team of approximately 3,000 employees. He strives to build a real connection with them, on a personal level and believes it’s the best way to engage team members. Garza knows that being the first Hispanic CEO in the company is a milestone for the community, and he is confident that other Hispanics will have the same opportunity when his tenure is complete.
Seeing minorities in leadership positions was a big factor in Garza’s decision to join CPS Energy ten years ago. Initially, he wasn't sure that it was possible when he observed the leaders at other companies. "If you look up an organization's leadership chart and you don't see people that look like you, you have to question whether or not you're going to get an opportunity to get there."
Nearly 65% of San Antonio's population is Hispanic and the city is the largest majority-Hispanic city in the U.S. Garza highlights the importance of people working for organizations that reflects the community. "There aren't a lot of Hispanic CEOs in the country, in any industry, much less the utility industry. I'm proud CPS Energy is one of those organizations that selected their CEO to reflect the diversity of our community," he expressed.
“If you're going to come up through a corporate environment, you have to be educated and work hard every day. And once you get there, you have to work hard every day to earn it. You've got to prove that you're worthy of these opportunities daily,” Garza shared.
Garza believes that Hispanics who are starting their career should not fear change when they don’t believe they fit in an organization, and they should also be vocal about their expectations. "I have never settled. You have to tell people what you want with your career goals and ask for that raise because you deserve it. You must be vocal about what it is that you want. I can guarantee you nothing will happen if you don't speak up."
The first Hispanic President & CEO at CPS Energy is leading the company at a crucial moment for the energy industry
Nearly 65% of San Antonio's population is Hispanic, and Garza highlights the importance of people working for an organization that reflects the community.Luana Ferreira Vincent McDonald F. Izquierdo CPS Energy President & CEO photographed with leadership team members. From left to right: Rick Maldonado, Melissa C. Sorola, Jonathan R. Tijerina, Rick Medina, Rudy D. Garza, Maria Garcia, Richard Lujan, Julie Johnson, Rick Urrutia, LeeRoy Perez, and Loretta Kerner.
Share about your personal background growing up.
MA: I was born and raised in Mexico City. My family was very united, and we were a “traditional” Mexican family, in the sense that my dad was the provider, going to work and my mother stayed at home with us children.
Music was always in the foreground; my dad was a music lover and at some point, even owned a record store. This opened my world to global sounds; he loved music from the Beatles to Brazilian music, he was a super fan. I grew up with a global soundtrack which upon reflection shaped my appreciation for music.
What family values are most relevant to you nowadays?
MA: First and foremost, amongst my values is prioritizing family. Angie, my wife for 33 years has been an amazing partner and we are very close to our 3 kids who are now adults. We are very proud of them. I began cultivating a strong relationship with them in their youth. I made it a point to be present in their lives, attend their games and travel together as a family. For me, it was important to raise global, socially conscious citizens and build memories through shared experiences that we would carry throughout our lives. To this day, my children recall these special moments which consisted of luxe trips to more rough and tough grassroots travel, the idea was to support them in staying grounded.
How do you feel your Hispanic heritage has impacted you?
MA: As a Mexican American man, growing up in Mexico City with Lebanese roots, I consider my heritage a beautiful tapestry that has opened doors of opportunities. I truly feel like a global citizen. Both of my parent’s heritage contributed to their character which was my inheritance. They were true rolemodels in their own way, my dad worked hard and led by example, showcasing discipline, integrity and dedication and my mom, she was the heartbeat of our home, always forging ahead with resilience and perseverance. In addition, in coming to the U.S. I had the privilege throughout various roles in my career in the entertainment industry, to understand through our audience, their journeys, and the Hispanic American experience. It is one marked by great sacrifice and hard work, I have tremendous respect and admiration for all of those whose journey was much more difficult.
How has Latin music changed over time? Where do you see it going into the future?
MA: This is an amazing moment in Latin music. The growth of Latin music continues to explode, in popularity, sales, streams, artist creativity, and cultural influence. There’s no better proof of this than the over 18,000 submissions we received for consideration for our 23rd Annual Latin GRAMMY Awards.
The nominees for the 23rd Annual Latin GRAMMY Awards represent the incredible diversity within Latin music – with diversity represented in gender, ethnicity, genre, country of origin, age and more.
When I first started my career, we spoke about Latin cross-over constantly and now Latin music is mainstream. Regardless of language, Latin artists are topping charts and heard on today’s top music stations.
At The Latin Recording Academy, our mission continues as we strive to nurture, celebrate, honor, and elevate Latin music and its makers around the world. We are an inclusive cultural institution that enables artists and audiences to share their heritage through music. The Academy continues to evolve as a modern cultural institution to stay relevant, while protecting Latin heritage, through the celebration of Latin music around the world.
What gives you the most satisfaction about your current position?
MA: I remain incredibly honored to serve the Latin music community and lead this organization into a new era of evolution. It is incredibly satisfying to have the potential to positively impact the life of an artist, to open an opportunity or recognize their hard work and artistry. When I look back over the year, there is two important accomplishments I’m very proud of -- We have strengthened our team to best position the organization for growth. Secondly, we have made a very conscious effort to further diversify our membership body to best reflect the communities we serve. Our main objective is that every segment of the Latin music industry is well represented in our membership body.
What legacy do you want to leave behind for the music industry?
MA: In line with our mission at The Latin Recording Academy, I want to continue to nurture, celebrate, honor, and elevate Latin music and its makers around the world, this means providing more opportunities for young artists through our Latin GRAMMY Cultural Foundation and creating bigger and better platforms to celebrate excellence in Latin music.
That begins with a strong foundation at The Latin Academy through our team. We are bringing new talent onboard and deepening our bond and driving a culture of high performance to continue serving creators at the highest levels.
IT IS INCREDIBLY SATISFYING TO HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO POSITIVELY IMPACT THE LIFE OF AN ARTIST, TO OPEN AN OPPORTUNITY OR RECOGNIZE THEIR HARD WORK AND ARTISTRY.Omar Cruz F. Izquierdo
Meet one of Northwestern Mutual's rising stars, Chris Cruz
CHRIS CRUZ is a Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Advisor and Cuban heritage professional. As a young adult, Cruz embraces his Hispanic heritage, recalling the sacrifices that the previous generations made when they came to this country looking for better opportunities. "I lost two of my four grandparents in the last 10 months, so it's been an exploration for me to think about my heritage. To process descent in situations like this is hard; I think you want to feel closer to them," he says. As a result, Cruz's current employment feels natural: assisting other Latinos in making financial plans.
It takes great responsibility to excel in his job, considering the impact of his position. "I have my wealth management firm called RoundTable Associates, where I work with clients on personal and business finance, as well as wealth management."
On top of that, he also manages one of Northwestern Mutual's largest offices in Texas.
When questioned about the obstacles he has experienced because of his Hispanic heritage, he says the lack of financial preparation in his family is one of them. Chris states, "financial education is not common in our countries. It is a big disadvantage to navigate without that knowledge."
Cruz firmly believes financial planning is a tool that will ultimately be an advantage to people in the future. As a result, the approach to new generations is significant. He believes we live in a world where most young adults are concerned about their financial future.
His status as a managing director in Texas allows him to assist Latinos with a familiar face, creating a stronger relationship. "It creates more rapport when someone who looks like you serves you in the wealth management process," says Cruz. He continues, "the American Dream is still available to people today. I am proud to help them achieve it." Latinos are growing, and their purchasing power is also increasing. This force is crucial to the progress of new generations.
He adds that multigenerational wealth is a foreign concept for many Latinos because they immigrated from another country. Cruz relies on referrals because word of mouth is powerful in the Hispanic and Latino markets.
Chris Cruz started as a 20-year-old intern at Northwestern and never left. Today, he's still drawn to what this company stands for and how the platform helps other Latinos to learn and build a brighter future through financial education. "I want to pay my respects to my heritage, helping others build what took my family a long time."
HIS STATUS AS A MANAGING DIRECTOR IN TEXAS ALLOWS HIM TO ASSIST LATINOS WITH A FAMILIAR FACE, CREATING A STRONGER RELATIONSHIP.Luisana Rodríguez Courtesy of Chris Cruz F. Izquierdo
CG: I was born in Huitzuco, Guerrero, Mexico in 1970. From a young age, I fell in love with cooking, exploring a full spec trum of flavor while perfecting recipes alongside my mother, Doña Teté. At 20 years of age, I craved a new adventure and set my sights on Chicago, Illinois. Little did I know that the journey would solidify my dedication to a career in gastronomy.
My culinary path began at the Sheraton North Shore Hotel, where I worked as a dishwasher and cook. I worked hard to rise through the industry ranks, continuing as the chef-garde manger and banquet chef at the Union League Club of Chicago. Ultimately, I landed under the mentorship of esteemed Chef Dominique Tougne at Chicago’s beloved Bistro Margot. There, I served as chef de cuisine and my passion for French technique blossomed.
Far from home, the road wasn’t always easy. But I navigated the sometimes-thorny path to eventually realize my dream of own ing my own restaurant, Mexique. The verdict soon came: With a unification of my Mexican heritage and my love of French cu linary style, I became the first Mexican-born chef to earn a Michelin star in 2013.
In 2018, I closed Mexique with the de sire to reconnect with my roots. With a vow always to return to Chicago, I went back home to Mexico, where I cooked, studied, traveled, and worked on new projects that allowed me to rediscover my origins and deepen the understanding of my heritage.
I found what I was seeking – identifying with the stories of my homeland and ap preciating their connection to my identity. In 2019, I made good on my promise to return to Chicago, opening Tzuco – from Huitzuco (derived from the Nahuatle huixochin, meaning “plants with abun dant thorns”).
CG: Tzuco presents the colorful flavors of Mexico while connecting to the tech niques of French cuisine that I have honed over the years.
While I often view the restaurant as an expression of my life experiences, Tzuco is intended to share Mexican cuisine and culture through a range of authentic culinary
creations. These include dishes showcasing bright ceviche preparations; the delicate flavors of shrimp, clams, octopus, and salmon; the richness of chicken tinga, pork, house-made tortilla and lentils; the zest of chile and aromatic spices and much more.
Tzuco exudes the austere beauty of my homeland through architecture and conceptual design. The dé cor, the tables, the leather, even the bathroom sinks and fixtures – most of these items were custom made in Mexico to truly create an environment that reflects a sense of homecoming.
CG: Tzuco is a place that simultaneously weaves in genuine hospitality, atmosphere and unforgettable flavor. It is very rewarding to see our guests’ reactions when they review our menu and realize that some thing special and different is happening here. Our restaurant has given us an opportunity to present Mexican cuisine in a new and exciting way, and the American market is ready for it. The sense of discovery we see in our guests keeps our whole team so inspired to keep pushing.
And as important as the food, we want our guests to feel comfortable and at home in this space. Tzuco isn’t a stuffy restaurant – it is jovial, full of life and fun, and I really believe this is what people everywhere (not just the American audience) want. There’s noth ing better than gathering around the table with loved ones to share a great meal over storytelling, laughter and milestones.
CG: Mexican food continues to evolve so much. It is not just about taco trucks and quesadillas – although I love those just as much as anyone! Several Mexican chefs today – both in the U.S. and Mexico – have crossed new frontiers in presenting our cuisine with newfound innovation. I would like to consider myself as part of that group of chefs. In incorporating French flavors and techniques to our menu, we’re able to demonstrate the richness and history of our heritage, not just on its own but in concert with other ethnic cuisines. In a way, we’re crossing borders together, and in a way that is exciting and approachable.
The boom in culinary enthusiasm worldwide has helped grow audience appetites. The attention that Mexican chefs and restaurants continue to receive from national publications and programs, the Miche lin Guide, the James Beard Foundation and others re ally helps spread awareness and gives both chefs and food lovers the courage to try something new.
We’re all here for it.
CG: I will continue to open restaurants nationwide –spanning fine dining to very casual – that express the rich heritage of Mexican culture. There is so much to bring to life from region to region. The whole country is a fountain of inspiration and there’s nothing I love more than serving as its ambassador in my own way.
It’s also critical to me to continue working with our community. Our team is passionate about feed ing those less fortunate and I am personally invested in mentoring our youth, especially kids from the Lat inx community living in underprivileged areas. Many of these kids need a role model, and they need to see that with determination and hard work, they, too, can create a beautiful life for themselves…even if it feels like they are starting from nowhere. I want to make a difference in those kids’ lives. They are the future of not just our industry, but our world.
CG: This is like asking me to name my favorite child! While I love cooking everything, my cochinita pibil is among my favorites. It is exactly the recipe my mom taught me growing up. It’s rustic, rich and hearty, and there’s nothing that I can or want to do to elevate that dish. We make our own pineapple vinegar that sets it apart, but this one’s really for my mom. She visited Tzu co from Mexico, where she still lives, before I agreed to put it on the menu. I needed her to try it first. Having her approve of my preparation told me that everything is exactly as it should be with that dish.
“WHILE I OFTEN VIEW THE RESTAURANT AS AN
EXPRESSION OF MY LIFE EXPERIENCES, TZUCO IS
INTENDED TO SHARE MEXICAN CUISINE AND CULTURE
THROUGH A RANGE OF AUTHENTIC CULINARY CREATIONS.”
THIS is our recognition and celebration of the success of all Latino Lawyers in this Country. The names today depict the talent built over the years, demonstrating that professionalism and talent are the common denominators of the lawyers of 2022. We are proud to see the list grow yearly, particularly the number of awards our nominees have received. Congratulations to all!
Stephen Abreu focuses on structuring and negotiating complex intellectual property and commercial transactions for life sciences companies, including strategic collaborations, cross-border transactions, and co-development, license and manufacturing agree ments. Stephen leverages both his graduate training as a molecular biologist and his experience leading monoclonal antibody research and development programs in advising his clients on their transactional and business matters.
ABRAHAM, WATKINS, NICHOLS, AGOSTO, AZIZ & STOGNER
PERSONAL INJURY Associate
Ben Agosto III is a trial lawyer at Abraham Watkins. A Houston native, Ben was born to be an advocate. He is a graduate of the University of South Florida and South Texas College of Law Houston. Following graduation, Ben was a Law Clerk with the Honorable Larry Weiman of the 80th District Court in Harris County, Texas, which at the time, was among the top three in trials in the state. Ben now brings this experience to Abraham Watkins, where he continues to work zealously to maximize the value of his clients’ cases.
ABRAHAM, WATKINS, NICHOLS, AGOSTO, AZIZ & STOGNER
PERSONAL INJURY Managing Partner
Benny Agosto, Jr., a partner with Abraham, Watkins, Nichols, Agosto, Aziz & Stogner of Houston, Texas was born in New York City and raised in Puerto Rico. He went on to the University of Houston to work on his graduate degree in microbiology and taught high school and college students for six years. Agosto realized that although he loved teaching and coaching soccer, he needed more. He was accepted to South Texas College of Law Houston, where he excelled in mock trial and academics and is now a board-certified trial lawyer.
BAKER BOTTS L.L.P. INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY Partner
Natalie Alfaro Gonzales practices in all areas of intellectual property law, including patent and trade secret litigation, patent pros ecution, and IP and technology transactions. Natalie is a member of the firm's Diversity & Inclusion Committee, and is also deeply involved in her community, including serving as President of the Hispanic Bar Association of Houston, on the Steering Committee for the Texas Minority Counsel Program, as a Trustee for the Foundation of Advancement of Diversity in IP Law, and has served as an Adjunct Professor at the University of Houston Law Center.
Beatriz is the head of Sidley’s Real Estate group in Miami. She has over 25 years of experience representing private equity and other institutional clients in complex commercial real estate matters, including the financing, sale, acquisition, development, management, equity investment in and leasing of all types of commercial properties throughout the U.S. Beatriz has extensive real estate workout and restructuring experience.
BAKER BOTTS L.L.P.
PROJECT FINANCE, AND LATIN AMERICA ENERGY AND INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS AND TRANSACTIONS
Partner, Co-Practice Group Chair - Project Finance (Firmwide)
At Baker Botts, Dino serves as the global chair of the Project Finance practice. Dino’s practice focuses on domestic and international project development and finance, with particular emphasis on US, Latin American and Caribbean infrastructure projects, debt fi nancings and mergers and acquisitions. Dino regularly represents lenders, investors and developers in a wide range of domestic and international project financings in the energy, power, infrastructure and commercial sectors.
LAW OFFICE OF ALMA R. BENAVIDES, PLLC FAMILY LAW Attorney
Alma R. Benavides has been licensed to practice law since May 2001, shortly after graduating from Texas Tech School of Law. She is Board Certified by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization in Family Law and in Child Welfare Law. She has been recognized by Martindale-Hubbell and Texas Super Lawyers. Serving as a council member for the State Bar of Texas Child Protection Law Section. Alma often presents as a speaker on predicate orders for children seeking Special Immigrant Juvenile Status and is an experienced mediator.
STEPTOE & JOHNSON LLP COMMERCIAL LITIGATION Partner and General Counsel
Brigida Benitez is a partner and General Counsel of Steptoe & Johnson LLP. Her practice focuses on complex civil litigation, internal investigations, and global anti-corruption issues. She draws on almost 30 years of experience representing clients in high-stakes, complex disputes and helping them solve challenging problems. She is a past president of the DC Bar, the largest unified bar in the country, and a past vice-president of the Hispanic National Bar Association.
AKERMAN LLP
IMMIGRATION
Partner, Chair, Immigration Planning and Compliance
Maria Isabel “Marisa” Casablanca assists corporate clients and individuals with immigration benefits for over 30 years. She is Board Certified and serves on national liaison committees with USCIS, ICE, CBP, and Department of State. She handles all areas of immigration including high net worth clients for EB5 and employers before government agencies. She litigates in federal courts including the U.S. Supreme Court. She can think outside the box and apply innovative strategies.
OGLETREE,
Marlén Cortez Morris is a seasoned advocate and litigator for businesses on a wide range of labor and employment, franchise, and commercial litigation matters. Marlén’s deep litigation experience includes the enforcement of contract and intellectual property rights, franchise disputes, and employment-related claims. She also routinely provides strategic guidance on workplace matters and franchise relationship issues to facilitate compliance and mitigate legal risk.
DEAKINS, NASH, SMOAK & STEWART, P.C. LABOR AND EMPLOYMENT; FRANCHISE; COMMERCIAL LITIGATION ShareholderManuel L. Crespo is a partner in the Real Estate practice group at Greenspoon Marder. Crespo has concentrated his practice in real estate and commercial transactions and has litigated real property disputes, contract and title disputes, construction, land lord-tenant, foreclosures, among others. Crespo has also contributed to the Latino community, including past presidency of the Cuban-American Bar Association (CABA), one of the largest minority voluntary bar associations in Florida.
JORGE R. DE ARMAS SCARINCI HOLLENBECK, LLC PUBLIC LAW Counsel
Jorge R. de Armas, Counsel, is a member of Scarinci Hollenbeck’s Public Law group. He has over seventeen years of experience and demonstrated ability in the representation of individual, corporate, and public sector clients, with a focus on the representation of municipalities, counties, authorities and school boards. De Armas’ practice has also focused on issues involving regulatory compli ance, insurance coverage, municipal governance as well as contract formation and negotiation.
Daniel Diaz Leyva is an attorney and trusted advisor with a broad range of transactional experience, focused on the areas of real es tate and business. He co-founded the boutique law practice Diaz Leyva Group representing owner-operators, family offices, investors, home builders and developers as well as bank and non-bank lenders. He supports clients in structuring, joint venturing, acquiring, financing, leasing, developing and selling real estate, and loan transactions for bank and non-bank lenders.
Specializing in personal injury & civil rights cases, Miguel has carved out a reputation for turning traditionally under-valued cases into 7-figure verdicts. In his role as trial coordinator for the firm, he provides trial consultation, supervises, and conducts, most of the personal injury jury trials that are noticed for trial in Georgia. His most recent verdicts include $500,000, $1,200,000, and $1,500,000 against the City of Atlanta and $6,400,000 against the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority.
Sara Garcia Duran, a partner at the global law firm of Sidley Austin LLP, guides leading private equity firms and public companies through a variety of complex corporate transactions. This includes industry-changing public and private acquisitions, divestitures, and investments. She also advises clients on general corporate governance matters and compliance issues. Sara’s range, experience, and results have earned her significant recognition, including most recently by this very publication, and she is noted for her deep community involvement.
Isaac Faz is Of Counsel for Buckingham Barrera Vega in Dallas, Texas and practices throughout Texas. Isaac’s career has been focused on being involved in the community and an advocate for citizens, the elderly, and students. Isaac attended Dallas College, received his Bachelor of Science from the University of Texas at Austin, studied law in Madrid, Spain, and received his Juris Doctorate from Texas Southern Thurgood Marshall School of Law in Houston, TX. He lives in Dallas, Texas and has two daughters.
FORNOS LAW FIRM, APC CIVIL / MEDIATION Attorney/Mediator
Mayra Fornos, Esq. is an accomplished litigator and trial attorney with three decades of experience handling a wide range of civil matters, with expertise in the fields of catastrophic personal injury. She has served as a Settlement Officer and Mediator for the Los Angeles Superior Court in addition to receiving extensive training in mediation and conflict resolution from the Straus Institute for Dispute Resolution at Pepperdine University School of Law, earning certificates in Mediating the Litigated Case and in Elder/ Dependent Adult Care Mediation.
GREENSPOON MARDER LLP IMMIGRATION
Partner, Co-Chair of the Immigration & Naturalization Group, and Deputy Managing Partner of the New York Office
Patricia L. Gannon is a partner, chair of Greenspoon Marder’s Immigration and Naturalization practice group, a member of the Management Committee, and the Deputy Managing Partner of the New York office at the firm. Gannon focuses her practice on busi ness immigration, advises multi-nationals on employment verification matters, and develops compliance strategies and programs. Gannon, as a member of the Foreign American Counsel, concentrates her international practice on global immigration.
GARCIA-WINDSOR, PC FAMILY LAW
Founding Attorney and CEO
Isabela Amie Garcia, a first-generation Latina lawyer and relentless advocate for her clients, credits her competitive drive from playing professional tennis for Mexico, the mentorship of family law icons, and overcoming numerous personal obstacles as reasons for her success. The road to becoming a lawyer as challenging for Garcia after having significant education gaps in Mexico and the U.S. and eventually graduating high school with a GED diploma. “Being mentally tough works well in this field, as does tenacity,” she says. “I never gave up and am proud of our work.”
THE LAW OFFICES OF VERONICA GARZA PLLC IMMIGRATION
Owner/Managing Attorney
Veronica Garza earned her Doctor of Jurisprudence from Texas Wesleyan School of Law. She did her undergraduate studies at Texas State University where she earned a Bachelor of Arts with a major in Political Science and a minor in Psychology. Garza, a US citizen born in Mexico, to a Mexican mother and an American father, has experienced first-hand the complexities of the US immigration system and is always able to relate to her clients’ plight.
Raed Gonzalez is recognized as an outstanding immigration litigator and advocate in the U.S., and his opinions are respected and trusted in the legal community. He was born in Puerto Rico. He earned his B.A. Cum Laude in 1992, and his J.D. Cum Laude, in 1996 from the Inter American University of Puerto Rico in San Juan. In addition, attorney Gonzalez has served as expert on immigration cases on many matters including disciplinary proceedings on behalf of the State Bar of Texas.
Javier C. Grajeda is a Certified Workers’ Compensation Specialist under the Arizona Board of Legal Specialization. Growing up in Los Angeles, CA, he worked in his family’s landscaping business, where he appreciated the value of hard work and first became interested in workers’ rights. Javier is a devoted advocate for injured workers who need a voice. He is the first person in his family to earn a college and law degree. He is also a graduate of the State Bar of Arizona Leadership Institute.
GUTIERREZ LAW GROUP CORPORATE & INTERNATIONAL Founder & Managing Partner
Patricio is the Founder and Managing Partner of Gutierrez Law Group PLLC and focuses his practice on corporate and international law. His practice advises foreign companies on a variety of transactions concerning business operations in the United States. The firm is based in Dallas with additional offices in South Texas and Mexico. Patricio is a frequent contributor to Forbes Mexico and currently sits on the Board of Methodist Dallas Medical Center. Patricio is admitted to practice law in Texas.
Steffi Gascón Hafen has a thriving legal practice as the managing partner of the San Diego office of Snell & Wilmer, a full-service business law firm with 16 locations throughout the United States and in Mexico, including three offices in California. She is a Cer tified Specialist in Estate Planning, Trust and Probate Law, California Board of Legal Specialization. She is a co-leader of the firm’s Private Client Services practice group, a partner in the General Federal Tax practice group and her practice is concentrated in tax, trust, and estate matters.
Arnulfo is the founder and managing partner of Hernández & Associates, P.C., the largest immigration law firm in Denver, Colorado and surrounding states. Arnulfo concentrates his practice on immigration law and criminal defense litigation, particularly cases in which both practice areas intersect an area of law known as crimmigration. Native fluent in Spanish, Arnulfo represents immigrants and their families in the Denver metropolitan area before federal and state courts as well as federal agencies and numerous con sulates around the world.
Christine M. Hernández is a shareholder at Hernandez & Associates, PC in Denver, CO. She specializes in removal defense, fami ly-based immigration and federal appellate litigation before the Board of Immigration Appeals, Ninth Circuit, Tenth Circuit, and the U.S. Supreme Court. Christine was included in 5280 Magazine’s Colorado Top Attorneys in 2022. She is currently the Region XIII President for the Hispanic National Bar Association (HNBA), has been Co-Chair of the HNBA’s Immigration Section since 2015.
For over a decade, attorney Cassandra Garcia Hernandez has served the Latinx community all over Texas. She practices in personal injury litigation and leads the immigration department as a partner at Hernandez Law Group. Outside of her practice, she is involved in several legal organizations -such as Texas Trial Lawyers Association (TTLA). She is a former commissioner on the City of Dallas Ethics Advisory Commission and enjoys contributing her time pro-bono to organizations. She was recognized as 2022 Texas Monthly Top Woman Attorney.
HERNANDEZ LAW GROUP PC PERSONAL INJURY/TRIAL LAW Managing Partner
Juan Hernandez is one of the mere 2% of attorneys with certification from the Texas Board of Legal Specialization to practice per sonal injury law. Hernandez takes pride in ensuring the clients get the best representation they deserve, and he aggressively fights for their legal rights. At Hernandez Law Group, P.C. you’re not just a client, you’re part of our family. Hernandez is fluent in Spanish and English. He has a J.D. from Baylor University.
A proud dual citizen of the U.S. and Bolivia, Rafael M. Langer-Osuna (they/elle) is a partner at Squire Patton Boggs (US) LLP where they (1) try cases in state and federal courts for and against foreign sovereigns and (2) litigate disputes involving technology com panies or the internet, including cases arising from online defamation, online copyrights and contracting, data privacy, hacking, and software licensing conflicts. They maintain an active pro bono practice and multiple leadership positions.
A boardroom insider for public and private companies, Jorge Leon enjoys the confidence of directors, compensation committees and C-suite executives, solving critical compensation and benefit issues. Jorge also counsels on plan design and compliance and ERISA litigation. Publishers, journalists, and organizations frequently seek Jorge’s views on ERISA and diversity. Jorge also advises policymakers on benefits. He is a member of the Economic Club of Chicago and a Trustee of the Field Museum.
Martinez is an accomplished trial lawyer and leading national health care fraud practitioner. He represents individuals and corpo rations in a wide range of matters involving allegations of health care fraud, securities fraud, money laundering, cybercrime, public corruption and tax offenses, among other matters. He conducts internal investigations and defends people in connection with internal investigations. He was a federal prosecutor for more than a decade before embarking on private practice.
EMPLOYEE BENEFITS (ERISA) Partner
A noted ERISA lawyer, author, and speaker, Virginia represents employers in benefits matters involving retirement and welfare plans and executive compensation. She plays a key role in M&A transactions and represents clients before various governmental agen cies. She is Vice-Chair of her firm’s Diversity Committee and is Past President of the Connecticut Hispanic Bar Association. She has received multiple awards in recognition of her outstanding contributions to diversity in the legal profession.
COVINGTON & BURLING LLP CORPORATE TRANSACTIONS Partner
Gabriel Mesa is a partner in the firm’s New York office and a member of the Corporate Practice Group. He advises companies on corporate transactions, including joint ventures, private mergers and acquisitions, financings and restructurings in Latin America and other emerging markets as well as in the United States. His work spans venture capital and private equity investments, strategic acquisitions, privatizations and oil and gas ventures.
Jorge A. Mestre engages exclusively in a commercial-litigation practice and is Board Certified in International Litigation and Arbi tration by the Florida Bar. In Chambers USA, he has been praised for “his strategic sense and creative thinking in critical litigation matters” and has been characterized as “a brilliant litigator with the creative edge; he sees a tactical advantage in what seems like an intractable problem.”
SQUIRE PATTON BOGGS PUBLIC AND INFRASTRUCTURE FINANCE Partner
Pedro Miranda focuses his practice on public finance. He has served as bond counsel and underwriters’ counsel on financings by governmental bodies in Arizona, Florida, Texas and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. He has broad experience representing issuers and underwriters on both new money public financings and refunding. His experience includes financings secured by project revenues, special sales taxes, general obligation bonds and special assessment bonds.
Richard Montes de Oca is the founder and Managing Partner of MDO Partners. He is a Chambers USA, Best Lawyers in American, and AV Preeminent-Rated attorney in Corporate, Contracts and International Law with 20 years of experience. He is an expert in the areas of corporate governance, corporate finance, mergers and acquisition transactions, and securities. He has extensive experience representing clients in various corporate law matters, including transactions valued at over $5 Billion.
SIDLEY
AUSTINLLP COMMERCIAL LITIGATION AND DISPUTES /CRISIS MANAGEMENT AND STRATEGIC RESPONSE/ENERGY/SECURITIES AND SHAREHOLDER LITIGATION/WHITE COLLAR: GOVERNMENT LITIGATION AND INVESTIGATIONS Management Committee Chair
She is the only woman and first Latinx to lead a top seven AmLaw revenue firm. She maintains a Band 1 Chambers-ranked litigation practice and transformed Sidley’s office in Dallas into one of the city’s most prestigious and diverse firms. Yvette’s historic appoint ment to chair Sidley’s Management Committee in 2022 follows a decades-long career of trailblazing accomplishments. Before Yvette’s arrival, Sidley had 15 lawyers in Dallas. Her vision was to establish a large, elite, full-service office in Dallas, and as office managing partner she quickly accomplished her goal.
PADILLA & RODRIGUEZ, LLP PERSONAL INJURY Partner
John M. Padilla is licensed in Texas and California. He is managing partner of Padilla & Rodriguez, LLP, a boutique law firm of personal injury trial lawyers, headquartered in Houston, Texas. Padilla is a member of the American Board of Trial Advocates and has represented catastrophically injured plaintiffs for over 25 year. Padilla earned his Bachelor of Business Administration degree with Highest Honors from the University of Texas at Austin, and successfully completed the prestigious Honors Business Program.
MARLONMarlon Paz counsels broker-dealers and other financial services firms in relation to securities regulation, regulatory enforcement, internal investigations and examinations, and compliance. He also helps clients navigate acquisitions of brokers, dealers, and invest ment advisers. Paz brings clients seasoned advice drawing on his experience as a senior official at the SEC, and is an adjunct faculty member of Georgetown University Law Center and the University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School.
PEREZ LAW LABOR AND EMPLOYMENT Managing Attorney
Javier Perez is a Board-Certified employment attorney with a diverse and bilingual employment law practice. Javier is a two-time President of the Dallas Hispanic Bar Association and served on the Merit Selection Panel for the U.S. District Court, the City of Dallas Civil Service Board, and the HNBA Judicial Endorsement Committee. Mr. Perez was named a fellow of the Texas Bar Foundation, the Dallas Association of Young Lawyers Foundation, and an ally of the Dallas Women Lawyers Foundation.
Judge Pamela Peynado has touched the lives of many through her leadership and mentorship. She serves as a reminder that immigrants deserve an opportunity at the “American Dream.” Born in the Dominican Republic, she fights tirelessly to defend her community as an immigration attorney. Pamela is the youngest and only female partner at a thriving immigration law firm, Lee and Peynado Immigration Law Group. In January of 2022, Pamela was appointed Judge Pro Hac Vice of the City of Atlanta Municipal Court making her the only Latina Judge in the court.
For over 15 years, Irene has been both a full-time Family Law, Immigration and Adoption attorney as well as a full-time professor at UCF. Her classes include Family Law, Civil Litigation, Law & the Legal System, Legal Writing, Legal Research, among others. She sits on various committees at the university and is running a Pro Bono clinic with the UCF Immigrant Justice Center assisting im migrants with their asylum petitions. A project that was the amazing result of a Collaborative endeavor to find the truth about the Humanitarian Crisis at the US Border.
Verónica Quiñónez is the owner of Veronica Quinonez Law, PLLC. Her practice focuses on providing legal representation and medi ation services in the area of family law, including civil protection orders and cases involving domestic violence and sexual abuse. She taught negotiations as an affiliate professor at the University of Washington School of Law in 2018. Veronica was also the President of the Latina/o Bar Association of Washington and the Region XVI Deputy President of the HNBA.
Angel Reyes is the Founder and Managing Partner of the law firm Angel Reyes - Reyes Browne Reilley. He began his legal career on Wall Street, subsequently relocated to Dallas, Texas, and opened his law firm. Since 1993, Angel has helped over 45,000 injury victims receive over $1 Billion in compensation for their injuries. Angel was named to the 2008-2022 Texas Monthly Super Lawyers list, the top honor issued to the best lawyers in Texas. Angel is often quoted by newspapers and periodicals and is a frequent guest on television and radio shows.
Ramon E. Rivera is a Partner at Scarinci Hollenbeck and chairs the firm’s Labor and Employment practice group. Ramon focuses much of his practice on Labor and Employment matters in both the public and private sector on behalf of management. Specifically, Ramon focuses on resolution of employment disputes, collective bargaining, employee grievances, EEOC complaints, and other workplace issues. Ramon represents several municipalities as Labor Counsel, wherein he provides legal advice and representation on employment matters and others.
Esteban Rodriguez is a rising star whose practice focuses on defending companies in high-stakes commercial, mass-tort, and consumer class action matters. His varied experience includes defending J&J in nationwide opioid litigation and Top Rank in the Manny Pacquiao “Fight of the Century” MDL. He has been a key member of multiple trial teams, including for the multibillion-dollar opioids trial in Oklahoma. He also regularly speaks on product liability and mass-tort litigation. A recipient of the Hispanic National Bar Association’s 2022 Top Lawyers Under 40 Award, Esteban champions pro bono work and serves in prominent board leadership roles, including as Chair for Neighborhood Legal Services of Los Angeles County.
ROMAN LAW SMALL BUSINESS | ESTATE | REAL ESTATE President
A nationally recognized leader, Eneida is a trained attorney and organizational psychologist, and for two decades, she has used her expertise in law, conflict resolution and cultural competence to advise her clients. Eneida is Founder of Roman Law, a Boston-based boutique law firm focused on small business, real estate, and estate law. She is known as a catalytic pacesetter and a purpose-driven champion of advancing women and Latinos.
AKIN GUMP STRAUSS HAUER & FELD LLP HEALTHCARE Partner
Health care partner Robert Salcido represents clients in False Claims Act (FCA) and qui tam litigation and provides counseling on application of health care fraud and abuse laws. As lead counsel, he has successfully defended a number of FCA actions, obtaining dismissal of the lawsuit on appeal, at trial, at summary judgment and at the pleading stage. He is also a thought leader who has authored books and articles on the FCA and health care fraud and abuse laws and lectured extensively.
CADWALDER, WICKERSHAM & TAFT LLP
CAPITAL MARKETS Associate
Candelario is an associate in Cadwalader’s Capital Markets Group in Charlotte. He represents investment banks and other finan cial institutions in secured commercial lending transactions, commercial mortgage-backed securitizations and other asset-backed securitizations. He is also one of Cadwalader’s Black & Latino Association Immigration Clinic leaders. Candelario is a member of the National LGBTQ Task Force and the Pauli Murray LGBTQ+ Bar Association Board of Directors. He was appointed to the Sexual Orientation & Gender Identity Committee for the North Carolina Bar Association.
MAZE RESOLUTIONS PA
MEDIATION Mediator
Maria Sampedro-Iglesia (former Circuit Court Judge) is a neutral with MAZE Resolutions PA. She facilitates all areas of alternative dispute resolution which are civil and family mediations, arbitrations, neutral umpire work, and special magistrate services. Mari is a natural, creative problem solver with over 30 years of legal experience, resolving numerous complex civil and family matters.
Former Chief Legal Officer and City Solicitor of the City of Pittsburgh, is a partner at Pietragallo Gordon Alfano Bosick & Raspanti, LLP. She practices in the areas of government enforcement, corporate compliance and internal investigations, government related civil litigation, and the False Claims Act. She has substantial trial experience in both state and federal court where she has tried numerous bench and jury trials in a multitude of jurisdictions. Sánchez is also deeply involved in the community. She serves as a Governor for the Allegheny County Bar Association.
AUSTIN LLP GLOBAL LIFE SCIENCES - TECHNOLOGY AND LIFE SCIENCES TRANSACTIONS; EMERGING COMPANIES AND VENTURE CAPITAL; M&A Partner
Clients consult Adriana for her experience with technologies that have been of significant interest in the life sciences industry, including cell and gene therapies and digital health. She advises inventors and entrepreneurs on forming, financing, licensing and development activities for emerging companies with novel technologies. She helps clinical-stage companies expand their global footprint and engage commercialization partners. She regularly handles cross-border matters, including in China.
GUMP STRAUSS HAUER & FELD LLP PUBLIC LAW AND POLICY Partner
A former U.S. Representative, public law and policy partner Filemon Vela was first elected to serve the 34th Congressional District of Texas in 2012, then re-elected four times. Rep. Vela maintains close ties across the Democratic Caucus, particularly with pro-business Democrats and the Hispanic Caucus. Prior to serving in Congress, Rep. Vela spent more than 20 years as a litigator in private practice. He advises on commerce, energy, economic, agriculture, national security and defense issues.
Veronica Yepez leads Covington’s anti-corruption and investigations practice in Latin America. She is an experienced white-collar lawyer who regularly conducts cross-border investigations and represents corporate and individual clients before U.S. criminal and civil enforcement authorities. She has been recognized by Latinvex as among Latin America’s top 100 female lawyers. Complement ing her investigations practice, Veronica advises multinational companies on compliance with anti-corruption laws, including the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA).
Rafael X. Zahralddin is a partner in Lewis Brisbois' Wilmington office and a member of the Corporate, Bankruptcy, Complex Business & Commercial Litigation, Digital Asset, and Ukraine Conflict Response Practices. He is a skilled business attorney with significant experience advising clients in commercial litigation, insolvency, distressed M&A, compliance, corporate law and entity formation, corporate governance, commercial transactions, cyber law, regulatory actions, and cross-border issues.
PIETRAGALLO GORDON ALFANO BOSICK & RASPANTI, LLP GOVERNMENT ENFORCEMENT, CORPORATE COMPLIANCE AND INTERNAL INVESTIGATIONS, GOVERNMENT RELATED CIVIL LITIGATION, AND THE FALSE CLAIMS ACT Partner AKIN SIDLEY
HERNANDEZ & ASSOCIATES P.C. is recognized as Colorado's best law firm for immigration and criminal defense. The award-winning firm was founded 15 years ago by Arnulfo and Christine Hernandez, a couple of attorneys who met on the first day of Law School in Denver and often heard they were "crazy" when they talked about their desire to focus on immigration law.
Both attorneys come from bicultural families. Christine was born in Virginia and used to spend holidays in Panama, her mother's home county. She grew up seeing her mother helping other immigrants and was familiar with a diverse household. "I saw the power of working hard from a very young age. I have always been proud to be in an immigrant family. It just made sense that I ended up getting into immigration law, even though nobody in the family is an attorney," she says.
Arnulfo grew up in Mexico and the U.S. and comes from a family of business owners. He is a criminal defense attorney who regularly practices in the field of crimmigration. Since law school the managing partner knew his passion was to open a law firm to serve our Hispanic community. Staying true to its mission, Hernandez & Associates P.C. currently employs 13 multi-cultural attorneys and a fully bilingual staff of 35.
Community involvement is in the firm’s DNA. The importance of community can be perceived by looking at the team, which embraces diversity and culture, including celebrating the Hispanic holidays together, as a law firm. Arnulfo believes in leading by example and makes sure that he encourages his team to be mindful to the cultural nuances of clients. "It is part of honoring who we are and where we come from. We listen to every story like our own," he says.
The partners have always perceived their immigrant background as a strength of their businessHernandez & Associates P.C. Luana
Christine often heard that she was making a wrong decision by choosing immigration law and would not make a living with it, but she proved those critics wrong. "A year after we opened the law firm, we had one drawer with immigration cases, now there's an entire file room," she says.
Arnulfo is aware of the importance of his work for the community and families. "For our clients, it's about not being judged by your mistakes, your errors, or small lapses in judgment. It's about getting justice for our clients and their families, and we do so through the court. I'm proud to say that many of our cases began with small legal blemishes, and now those very clients are fabulous, contributing members of this community."
The secret to success was embracing their heritage. Christine explains that they have never seen being Hispanic as a disadvantage but a strength. "There were many obstacles, but we were pushing the limits in every sense. We are doing what people told us was not possible and doing it our way."
In establishing the law firm, the partners were confident they would be successful because they were doing something different from other law firms and could relate to their clients. As a result, Hernandez & Associates P.C. has filled a market gap: Colorado clients could finally access highly skilled Spanish-speaking attorneys. "We have focused on providing the best representation, not giving up or being afraid to fight. We don't take cases that are just winners. We take cases because everyone deserves quality, zealous representation," Christine adds.
Arnulfo highlights that clients are often looking for a connection, and the sense of community at the firm makes the difference. "It's a challenge to find strong attorneys that will give their all for that client and their family and not just view the client as a file," he says.
The work is not going unnoticed. This year the Colorado Lawyers Committee awarded Hernandez & Associates, P.C. the law firm of the year award for their pro bono and community work for the last 15 years. In 2019, the firm received the Inclusiveness@Work Award from the Center of Legal Inclusiveness. Each time, the firm was nominated along with national firms, motivating them to continue focusing on the sense of community and family.
Even with all these achievements after just 15 years, Hernandez & Associates P.C. still has plans. Christine and Arnulfo agree that they can use their expertise to contribute in other ways for the benefit of the community. "I believe the community deserves it, and there's a lack of representation in many areas. And we have a duty as lawyers to give it our all to protect the rights of our community," Arnulfo says.
Christine believes their role will intensify as advocates for their heritage. "We're pivoting to becoming community leaders and being more outspoken because we've earned that space. We should be champions for our community regarding things like federal vacancies on the bench and political or community issues that affect the Hispanic community. We should be speaking up."
BOLSTERED BY A mutual admiration of their work as plaintiff attorneys, the Agosto’s are helping a thriving Hous ton law firm - Abraham, Watkins, Nichols, Agosto, Aziz & Stogner - build a legacy of diversity and dedication to its cli ents.
The elder Agosto, the managing partner, said he is "blessed to have his son and firstborn," advancing to "rising star" as a trial attorney after five years in the profession.
For Benny Jr., the road to success encompasses overseeing the growth and relevancy of Abraham Watkins, the lon gest-standing personal injury law firm in Texas. This challeng ing role includes getting the firm through the pandemic.
As it turned out, Abraham Watkins was able to enhance what their managing partner considers the essential recipe for success – "planning, working hard, being committed and praying" – but adding an important ingredient, an emphasis on diversity.
"We have to look at our community, which is the country's most diverse in the case of Houston. Back at the start of my career, I was the firm's first lawyer who was not white and spoke Spanish. Now we have 50 percent female or people of color," says Benny Agosto Jr. Diversity empowers the firm to connect with different cultures, including some of Hispanic and Asian descent.
As a trial lawyer, Ben Agosto III brings strong confidence in his argumentative skills and dedication to hard work. The ap ple doesn't fall far from the tree; endeavor runs in the family. Ben Agosto III said, "I am relentless as I try to fashion myself as the best lawyer I can be. Our clients expect us to be the best; they expect us to work hard."
Ben Agosto III said he tries to imagine the rage of clients who have lost a family member. "I want to be their instrument of passion; I want to bring them the justice that makes people answer the questions they don't want to answer."
The relationship between attorneys Benny Agosto Jr. andhis son Ben Agosto III can be summarized by the elder'sobservation that they are "traveling different roads ofsuccess."
AND BEN AGOSTO IIIBill Sarno Courtesy of Abraham, Watkins, Nichols, Agosto, Aziz & Stogner Carlos Cuevas
Ben said he and his father enjoy working with each oth er. But not everything is sugar-coated, "because work is very stressful and when you combine family, you might get into arguments more easily than with an unrelated boss," Agosto III shares. "But that is just part of it," he said. "This is some thing we are both learning to work with and is making our relationship stronger."
Benny Agosto Jr. says, "when you are working together, sometimes there is a little mixture between family and law, or family and employer. It can be difficult, but we love each other unconditionally."
Another connection father and son share is that they grad uated from South Texas College of Law and excelled in advo cacy and motto court competitions, where Ben III was part of the 120th South Texas College of Law National Champion Team.
It became clear as a child that he had the talent to succeed as an attorney. He displayed a combative spirit and had no re luctance to voice his opinion. "I like to make my voice heard," he said.
What the young attorney said he brings to Abraham Wat kins is reflected in two common elements. "One is passion; number two is resilience," he said. Benny Agosto Jr. praises the passion his son brings to his career. "You can't teach that," the managing partner said. "I have brought you up with God's help, but everything you have done, you have done it by yourself," he adds.
In turn, what Ben Agosto III admires about his father is what he has seen for himself and what others have told him early in his career. "When I was younger, I did not realize how hard he was working because I only had the perspective from somebody at home," he said, "but I now saw what it took to get where he got, what he is. Moreover, he said, "I was fortu nate to hear admiration for my dad's work from other people."
Hard work is only a part of their commitment to their pro fession. The duo is highly committed to their community. It is the strong connection to his community that Ben Agosto manifests through his support of scholarships and endow ments that help Latinas and Latinos. “We, as Latino lawyers and leaders, want to bring others along with us," he said. "If you don't bring someone along, you are doing a disservice to the Latino community and the community overall."
HARD WORK IS ONLY A PART OF THEIR COMMITMENT TO THEIR PROFESSION. THE DUO IS HIGHLY COMMITTED TO THEIR COMMUNITY.
A NATIONALLY recognized leader, Eneida is a trained attorney and organizational psychologist, and for two decades, she has used her expertise in law, conflict resolution, cultural competence, and public affairs to advise her clients. Eneida is Founder of Roman Law, a Boston-based boutique law firm focused on small business, real estate, and estate law. She is known as a catalytic pacesetter and a purpose-driven cham pion of advancing women and Latinos. Eneida is admitted to practice law in the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court, Massachusetts Federal District Court, First Circuit Court of Appeals, and the Supreme Court of the United States.
Eneida has served in prominent board leadership roles in the American Bar Association, the Hispanic National Bar Association, the Massachusetts Bar Association, and ALPFA National. Eneida is a Governor Appointee to the Massachusetts Workforce Training Fund Advisory Board. She also currently serves on several boards both at the lo cal and national level.
In 2012 Eneida co-founded The Latina Circle, a Boston-based social venture that advances leaders across industries into positions of power and influence.
In 2017, she co-launched Amplify Latinx, a movement that is building Latino economic and political power by significantly in creasing representation in leadership positions across sectors and by championing policy solutions that advance Latino upward mobility.
In 2018, Amplify Latinx launched its PowerUp Latinx Biz initiative focused on activating the Latino untapped eco nomic potential by increasing growth and economic opportunity for Latino-owned and led businesses.
PowerUp continues to create visibility for Latino-owned businesses, meaningfully connect them to existing resources, and recognize them as an influential consumer market that must be engaged by our entire business community. Eneida continues to build the bench for Latinos both through her work as legal counsel to small business owners and through her work as co-founder of Amplify Latinx.
HE IS MANAGING PARTNER of Padilla & Rodriguez, LLP, a boutique law firm of personal injury trial lawyers, with its principal office in Houston, Texas.
He was named a Texas Super Lawyer (Rising Star) (2006) by Thompson Reuters as seen in Texas Monthly Magazine and one of Houston’s Top Lawyers in H Texas Magazine (2006). Mr. Padilla was recognized in the 2009 and 2010 Verdict Search’s Top Texas Verdicts as published in Texas Lawyer for three separate verdicts.
In 1994, Mr. Padilla graduated from the University of Texas School of Law with High Honors. While in law school, Mr. Padilla was inducted into Chancellors, the highest honor society of the UT Law School “In Rec ognition of Distinguished Scholastic Achievement” for being ranked sixth out of a class of approximately 500 students at the end of his second year of law school. Mr. Padilla was also inducted in to the Texas Chapter of the Order of the Coif for high attainments in the study of law.
Before beginning his legal studies and career, John Padilla earned his Bachelor of Business Administration
degree with Highest Honors from the University of Texas at Austin. While in the UT Business School, Mr. Padilla participated in the prestigious Honors Business Program. After graduating second in his undergraduate business school class of 417, Mr. Padilla went on to earn an M.B.A.
THESE are the names that undoubtedly will shine in the coming years. Keep an eye out for their future accomplishments. We are sure they will continue the standards of law practice and ethics. They will also continue to pave the way for future generations, allowing new names to continue rising!
Having been a part of a blended family herself, Julie knows firsthand the complexities of family law and does not take lightly the trust clients place to be their voice and advocate as they navigate through the legal process. Julie graduated magna cum laude from the University of North Texas with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology. Then, she graduated cum laude from at Southern Methodist University Dedman School of Law in May 2015. Prior to joining the firm, Julie worked as a civil litigation attorney for a Dallas firm, getting a great deal of courtroom experience.
COVINGTON & BURLING LLP| Corporate (Mergers & Acquisitions) Special Counsel
Gustavo Akkerman advises clients in a broad range of domestic and cross-border merger and acquisition transactions, including public and private, ranging from strategic product acquisitions, division divestitures and joint ventures to large company sales and acquisitions and deSPAC transactions. Gustavo represents both U.S. and international clients, including in the life sciences, energy, and financial services industries.
COVINGTON & BURLING LLP| International Arbitration and Litigation Of Counsel
José E. Arvelo helps clients navigate and tackle their most complex disputes as counsel in high-value international arbitrations as well as transnational and multi-district litigation. He has helped secure sizeable awards in arbitral proceedings conducted in English and Spanish, and defended clients against multi-million-dollar claims brought before international tribunals and U.S. courts. A native Spanish speaker, José also helps clients investigate and address allegations of bribery or other misconduct in Latin America.
LAURA BAEZ TORRES LAW| Immigration Owner and Founder
Laura Baez Torres was born in Rioverde, San Luis Potosi and immigrated to the United States with her parents at a young age. Her passion for immigration stemmed from her first-hand experience and knowledge of what it was like to be an immigrant. Today, she helps families stay together through family petitions and immigration services in her solo practice. Above all her accomplishments, she is most proud of raising two kind and intelligent children, Angelique and Esteban, with her husband Jake.
Tax Counsel
Ryan Dahan advises a broad base of clients on domestic and international tax matters. In particular, Ryan provides tax advice re garding the structuring of investment funds primarily investing in the credit space, including loan origination, litigation finance, trade claims, distressed debt, nonperforming loans, debtor-in-possession financing and structured credit. Ryan also advises on mergers and acquisitions, partnership matters, capital markets transactions, as well as restructuring matters.
ABRAHAM, WATKINS, NICHOLS, AGOSTO, AZIZ & STOGNER|
Associate
Nancy was born in Mexico City and grew up in Laredo, Texas. She received her bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Texas A&M Uni versity in College Station. After college, Nancy attended South Texas College of Law Houston. During her time at South Texas, Nancy served as a student attorney for the Actual Innocence Clinic and as a varsity member in the schools nationally-ranked advocacy pro gram. In addition to her studies, Nancy honed her litigation skills working at a tax firm, criminal defense firm and personal injury firm.
María Pía García Henríquez is an associate attorney in the Santo Domingo office of Squire Patton Boggs, where she advises a wide range of clients in general transactional matters, including mergers and acquisitions, real estate matters, consumer protection, intel lectual property, and civil aviation matters. She provides ongoing advice on corporate, commercial, intellectual property, regulatory and tax-related matters, and assists corporate clients with their day-to-day legal needs.
WICKER SMITH| Professional Liability & Transporation Associate Attorney
Alina Gonzalez is an associate in Wicker Smith’s Miami office where she focuses her practice in the areas of professional liability and transportation law. In 2013, Gonzalez graduated from Florida International University with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science. She then continued her education at the University of Miami School of Law and earned a Juris Doctor in 2017. Prior to joining Wicker Smith, Gonzalez was a managing attorney and compliance officer for four years at a large personal injury law firm.
Lena Laurenzo practice is 100% personal injury and maritime law. Lena represents people who have been injured or killed by the negligence of other individuals and/or companies. Her experience includes 18-wheeler/commercial vehicle crashes, Jones Act and general maritime cases, wrongful deaths, workplace injuries, and all other types of automobile and pedestrian crashes. At her first trial, she co-lead a complex wrongful death case that resulted in a jury verdict of $17,720,000.
Eduardo’s practice includes a wide range of cross-border M&A and joint ventures, with an emphasis in energy, mining, and trans portation. Eduardo is licensed to practice law in Mexico and Texas and has experience advising strategic and financial investors in complex transactions in Latin America. Eduardo earned his Master of Laws from Georgetown, where he graduated with distinction, and was on the Dean’s List. Eduardo has also worked at the World Bank and the Organization of American States.
Law Senior Managing Associate for Sidley Austin’s Houston officeABRAHAM, WATKINS, NICHOLS, AGOSTO, AZIZ & STOGNER|
Personal Injury
Associate
Venezuelan by birth, Wady had to move at an early age to El Salvador, before finally settling in Houston. As a law student in South Texas College of Law Houston, Wady focused his efforts in helping lower income individuals with their legal needs by taking part on many pro bono events. As an Abraham Watkins attorney, Wady’s cases currently focus on motor vehicle accidents, workplace injuries, petrochemical explosions, and wrongful death.
SIDLEY AUSTIN LLP|
Energy Law
Managing Associate in the energy group in Sidley’s Houston office
Mario R. Samos is part of Sidley’s energy group and advises clients on buying, selling, financing and operating energy and infra structure projects. Mario has represented clients in connection with power generation facilities, battery storage projects and electric vehicle charging infrastructure as well as with power and gas utility cost recovery financings. Mario earned his J.D. and M.B.A. in Finance from Northwestern University and his B.A. in Mathematical Economic Analysis from Rice University.
AKIN GUMP STRAUSS HAUER & FELD LLP|
Funds Associate
Alanna Sandoval is a trusted advisor assisting prominent private investment funds, sponsors, and institutional investors on a range of investment management matters. She focuses her practice on the formation and operation of domestic and offshore private funds, including private equity funds, hedge funds and hybrid vehicles. While studying at Northwestern Pritzker School of Law, Alanna was a member and staff editor of the Northwestern University Law Review.
George Spence is a senior associate based in our Santo Domingo office. He has also worked at the office in Washington DC, and continues to work closely with the teams in the United States. George’s practice focuses on corporate transactional matters, including acquisitions, mergers, divestitures, joint ventures, and group reorganizations in a diverse range of industries and sectors, involving inbound and outbound international business transactions.
COVINGTON & BURLING LLP|
International Arbitration and Litigation
Special Counsel
Born in Caracas, Venezuela, Clovis emigrated to the United States in 2001 against the backdrop of Venezuela’s economic and humanitarian crisis. She joined Covington & Burling in 2015 and is Special Counsel with the firm’s international arbitration and litigation practice. Her recent work includes ground-breaking public international law matters before the International Court of Justice, UNCLOS, and the European Court of Justice, business and human rights arbitration, investment arbitration, and commercial arbitration.
Education has been recognized as one of the most relevant resources for Latinos to keep rising in our current environment. Education will open new opportunities, better choices, and stronger positions in favor of the professional level of our communities.
We applaud the universities that have created programs for the advancement of Latino students; they are the ones paving the way for the future of America.
What is the mission of the Yum! Center for Global Franchise Excellence?
KG: The Vision for the Yum! Center for Global Franchise Excellence is to empower communities to build and sustain generational wealth through franchising. Our specific Mis sion is to become a world class center focused on franchise education and research, specifically supporting women and people of color.
What is the current situation of Hispanic businesses in the franchise market?
KG: Data on Hispanic-owned franchises is difficult to ob tain. The last full report was in 2012 by the US Census and the report is for minority ownership as a whole. Interesting ly, 30.8% of franchise businesses were reported as minori ty-owned compared to 18.8% of non-franchise business own ership (IFA).
Another element considered in this very old 2012 report was the percent of minority-owned businesses, comparing franchise to non-franchise. For the Hispanic population (only responding firms), more franchise businesses were re ported than other businesses that were not franchised. This is just a directional indicator that owning a franchise, which is a business with a proven model, is more prevalent in the His panic population.
There are opportunities now for Hispanics to join the franchise world. The IFA Foundation has a special focus on minorities and Hispanics are a key demographic. By the way, the IFA is lobbying for more recent data on mi norities to be gathered!
What are the biggest challenges when creating a franchise?
KG: The best part about becoming a franchisee is that you are investing in an established brand with a proven business model. There are typically many other franchisees who provide support as well as the franchisor.
The biggest challenges when starting awareness, edu cation, and capital. Many aspiring entrepreneurs are not aware of the incredible opportunities there are in fran chising, in all industries. It is not just food! If you can think of it, there is a franchise. Home services and per sonal services are on the rise – think of painting, salons, gyms. Children’s franchises that create development are also increasing – pre-schools and tutoring services.
Having the education to understand this model is also lacking. That is why our Certificate offers. This model is different and there are nuances that are critical to becoming a franchisee. This educational content is not taught at a franchisor.
The last barrier is capital – where to get the money to invest. You can use debt or equity. It is preferable to use all of your own equity first, then approach lenders. The Small Busi ness Administration provides much funding for franchising and is available at local banks. There are also private equity firms very inter ested in franchising.
Another personal challenge is that to become a franchisee, you have to be will ing to follow a roadmap and abide by the “rules.” Franchising is all about consisten cy, as customers expect the same product and experience in each location; some folks just can’t do this!
When someone undergoes the Franchise Man agement Certificate program, what are the main changes your see in their business mindset?
KG: Our certificate program offers deep education on the following:
• The basics of the franchise model in cluding pros and cons. We provide the knowledge of how franchising works and the opportunities.
• Legalities of the model – there are several documents that are critical to the model. These include the Franchise Disclosure Document and the Franchise Agreement. We discuss these in depth as well as current government regulations.
• How to buy and grow a franchise, in cluding all funding opportunities and a deep understanding of the costs involved. The individual also takes an assessment to see how suited they are to become a franchisee.
• HR infrastructure – what that would look like in your business and how to lead the teams.
• Relationship management – fran chising is all about relationships and we discuss that openly, starting with the relationship between the franchisee and franchisor.
Having this knowledge can help them truly dive into franchising with both eyes open!
What would you advice future generations inter ested in the program?
KG: Our Certificate program provides the basics needed to fully understand the franchise business model and if it is right for you. We unpack the pros and cons and discuss the opportunities. We also provide resources for further development.
Franchising can build and sustain gen erational wealth. It has often been quoted that “Franchising is being in business FOR yourself, without being BY yourself.” The amount of support available makes fran chising a wonderful career opportunity.
One other note – the price of entry to some franchises is not overwhelming. There are so many that do not require a building, so that cost is eliminated. Do not be overwhelmed with considering a huge investment – and you could always start by working for a franchisee or franchisor in a business that you have passion about – be sure that whatever you do, it is something that makes you want to spring out of bed each morning!
THE BIGGEST CHALLENGES WHEN STARTING AWARENESS, EDUCATION, AND CAPITAL. MANY ASPIRING ENTREPRENEURS ARE NOT AWARE OF THE INCREDIBLE OPPORTUNITIES THERE ARE IN FRANCHISING, IN ALL INDUSTRIES.
RADHAMES NOVA is a Dominican businessman influ enced by experiences in places like South Africa, Argentina, France, and Italy as a young man. Today, he's the President and CEO of Junior Achievement of Greater Boston, an organiza tion with a mission to “inspire and prepare young people to succeed." But before he had the opportunity to dive into his current position, he was born and raised in Santo Domingo until eighth grade. Then his mother decided they would pur sue the American dream.
He didn't speak English when he enrolled as a soon-to-be high schooler at Lawrence High School in Massachusetts. He worked hard to improve his language skills to demonstrate his academic abilities: "I was very active at the Lawrence Boys & Girls Club. I was selected as the youth of the year for the club and went to the National Competition where I was able to spend about 30 minutes with Bill Clinton in the White House," he reminisces.
Radhames affirms, "being a Latino from Lawrence allowed me to educate others and expose them to the contributions our communities make." Through time he built an interna tional perspective as he studied abroad three times. Then after college, he joined the US Peace Corps, stationed in South Af rica to assist communities that needed support.
He has been the President and CEO of Junior Achieve ment of Greater Boston for over six years; this regional non-profit teaches young people about career readiness, personal finances and entrepreneurship. According to Rad hames, they serve half of Massachusetts and the whole state of New Hampshire, but focus on nine communities with the highest poverty rates, 82% being young people of color and mainly Hispanic.
Their focal point is on young people who are about to grad uate from high school to increase their work opportunities. "We assist them in choosing a career that interests them, link ing them with paid internships or entry-level employment," Nova explains. Corporate volunteers teach the majority of the non-profit's programs. Hence, young people are exposed to positive role models who can steer them to other possibilities. "I'm an immigrant, and I didn't have the best grades, nor was I the best athlete, but there were adults who invested in me and helped me to gain confidence," he comments.
Skills keep changing, and the plan is to keep up with the work environment demands that might arise. Radhames said this is why they opened the Junior Achievement Innova tion Center @ RSM as a new place focused on innovation and technology to create more opportunities for the future.
As for the future, they need more inspira tional figures to influence new generations. They hope to gain participation from other Latino leaders around the country to deliver vital lessons to the future generation of Lati nos. Bringing them closer to achieving Nova's ultimate objective with his organization: to amplify the influence and opportunities of these young people, who already represent the country's future.
"I'M AN IMMIGRANT, AND I DIDN'T HAVE THE BEST GRADES, NOR WAS I THE BEST ATHLETE, BUT THERE WERE ADULTS WHO INVESTED IN ME AND HELPED ME TO GAIN CONFIDENCE," HE COMMENTS.
Luisana Rodríguez Ina Beinborn F. Izquierdo
Albizu University, an accredited educational institu tion that recently graduated one of the largest psy chology classes in the state of Florida, announced today the appointment of Dr. Alex Parnia to the role of Interim Chancellor. He will lead the Univer sity's rapidly expanding South Florida campus and joins Albizu with an illustrious career spanning ac ademia, marketing, strategic consulting, and more.
"We're thrilled to welcome Dr. Parnia to our growing Albizu family," said Dr. Soto, President of Albizu University. "His de cades of expertise in higher education, and varied skillset across several disciplines, will make him an excellent addition to spear head even greater success in the important Miami community."
Dr. Parnia earned a Ph.D. in Government, as well as M.A. in Government and Business Administration, from the Clare
mont Graduate University in California and an M.P.A. from the Barney School of Business and Public Administration at the University of Hartford. Most recently, he was Vice President of Marketing and Enrollment at Notre Dame de Namur University and was also a Board of Trustee Member. Dr. Parnia also held senior leadership roles at Pacific Oaks College and Children’s School, Nicholls College, Cambridge College, and the Univer sity of Hartford.
"It's an honor and great pleasure that I join Albizu during such dynamic growth," said Dr. Parnia. "I look forward to collaborat ing closely with Dr. Soto and the Board to benefit our students, faculty, and staff.” Dr. Parnia added, “I am impressed by Albizu University, which provides an excellent opportunity to the di verse working adult population to earn professional degrees and advance their careers in the Greater Miami Metro area.”
JAVIER REYES is one of three boys raised by a stay-at-home mother and a lawyer father, both Mexican. Reyes went to Tecnológico de Monterrey, a private university in Mexico City, for his bachelor’s degree in economics. In 1995, he started his career journey as a research economist for Value Casa de Bolsa, an investment banking firm in Mexico, and later became a full-time employee. Reyes gained economic analysis experience, attending meetings with the Central Bank and understanding what experiential learning truly meant. He then pursued a Doctor of Philosophy in economics from Texas A&M University, where he got a scholarship.
His original career goal was to go back to Mexico. A year after his doctorate program, his mentor suggested that Reyes pursue academia, “you ask many questions, and you want to work on answering them.” The advisor exposed Reyes to teaching, research, and helped him secure an internship at the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development. With these experiences, Javier realized that the consultants presenting data were from outside agencies, mainly from universities, sharing knowledge, getting insights, and then going back to their academic research. He was sure of his calling. Reyes decided to join the University of Arkansas to become an assistant professor. After contemplating his future, Reyes discovered his passion was working with students and faculty and started interacting with the Hispanic community in Northwest Arkansas; this changed his career trajectory.
Public Carnegie Research 1 Universities - like the University of Illinois Chicago (UIC)- cannot be a Research 1 University without supporting the balance between research and academic excellence to provide to the students, which is where Reyes thrives. “It’s not just giving out degrees to students; it’s about being an agent for economic mobility in the community. That's what universities are."
Reyes shares that UIC's success is that “they found the secret sauce." The Latino recruitment and education services (LARES) program at UIC works by collaborating directly with the communities. They raise awareness by building relationships with parents and high school counselors. Also, working with the students early on when applying, recruiting, and answering any questions they may have each semester. The purpose is to create an environment where everyone feels a sense of belonging. Students will always have a set of advisors, people that look
like them, who will support them. Reyes recommends that more colleges and universities work together with their fellow academic institutions because it is the only way to change the vision of the future for the Hispanic student population and other ethnicities and races.
Reyes thanks his mentors, parents, and devoted wife for their endless support and motivational energy. It was paramount for his career successes, allowing for balance and adaptability. “There are little moments in your life that open windows of opportunity. I want to do that for all the students -find those opportunities. The sacrifices from our parents and our loved ones to give us these opportunities that did not come easy, we need to applaud and always remember that.”
FEW EMBODY UT Arlington’s dedication to inclusive excellence and student success more than mathematics Professor Minerva Cordero. Throughout her career, Dr. Cordero has helped students discover their passion for STEM and encouraged them to break barriers wherever they encounter them. Her accolades include the Ford Mujeres Legendarias award, being named an IF/THEN Ambassador by the American Association for the Advancement of Science, and most recently, the Presidential Award for Excellence in Science, Mathematics, and Engineering Mentoring.
The Mexican tobacco industry has been dormantfor some decades now, and it is no secret that due to government missteps a few decades ago, the industrycollapsed with only a handful of manufacturers thatmanaged to survive with the help of the Virgin Mary.
THE AREA OF SAN ANDRES Tuxtla is world famous for its magnificent volcanic soil, and most of its production has been ex ported to other countries. But that is about to change as we see a rebirth of Mexican companies that are doing an excellent job creating new masterpieces like Casa 1910.
In this occasion I had the opportunity of tasting two delicacies: “Tierra Blanca” which is a puro since all of its tobaccos are from Mexico, and “As de Oro” which is a cigar, remember that cigars are blends with tobac cos from different countries, and this blend comes with the best this continent has to of fer! In this review I will discuss “As de Oro”.
As I was curious about its name, I asked Manolo and Serge, owners of Casa 1910 about it, and their answer was fantastic! “As de Oro” was the name of one of Emiliano Zapata's finest and strongest horses. It was a sorrel with a spectacular bearing and grace ful gait. Zapata fought his last battles on this horse until he was found dead in an ambush.
What a great piece of Mexican histo ry to start with! followed by a great selec tion of tobaccos, so let me say that when I hear the word “San Andres” my reaction is the same as if I hear someone say “Mole Poblano” My mouth instantly starts wa
tering because I know that I am up for a ride. But wait, there is more! This blend also comes with Ecuador Habano, which is another delicacy, on top of that, Master blender Manolo Santiago decided to add Nicaraguan tobaccos from Jalapa, Estelí, and from the Island of Ometepe, ( you can read more about the Ometepe island in my last cigar review). But the truth is that each of those tobaccos will cause us
the same mouthwatering reaction, so hav ing them all together in a very well-con structed cigar becomes an experience that you should not miss!
The Casa 1910 “As de Oro” is a medi um to full body parejo cigar that should be in every humidor in North America.
Wrapper: Ecuador Habano Binder: Negro San Andrés
Filler: Nicaragua: Seco Jalapa, Viso Om etepe, Ligero Estelí.
Price: $17.86
Pre light cold draw: In other words, the flavors, and aromas that we perceived right out of the box were: Dried fruit, woody, nutty, roasted.
First Third: Aromas and flavors in the realm of dried fruit, woody and roasted. The retro hale was nice and smooth, the draw was plenty and pleasant, and the ash was white and firm.
Second Third: Aromas and flavors in the realm of nutty, earth and fruits. The retro hale and the draw continued to be pleas ant, and the ash behaved perfectly
Final Third: The retrohale and the draw were great from start to finish as well as the ash which stood firm like a kid honoring the flag. The burn was even from start to finish, and a full guillotine was the choice to cut this 54” ring size cigar. Since we are tasting tobaccos well known for their strength, in other words A V-cut or a punch would have made the smoking experience stronger after the second third by concentrating the flavors in a small area. Regarding the combustion, this cigar lasted for 60 minutes, the blend is medium to full, qualifying as a 7.5 in a 1-10 scale.
The drink of choice for this tasting was Tequila General Gorostieta Joven, a blend of Blanco and reposado Tequila. This Tequila comes with straw-colored with silver and gold hues, full-bodied and sumptuous, the olfactory phase presents notes of caramel, vanilla, and coconut due to its barrel aging, with soft hints of citrus, lemon, and orange blossom. Delicate shades of preserved fruits, cherry, peach, fresh grass, and intense cooked agave. Tasting phase: Sweet, with magnificent complexity of flavors and mouthfeel. A for ward presence of intense cooked agave and a soft aftertaste of ripe grapefruit.
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Dopff & Irion “Crustacés” 2019, Alsace (Sylvaner & Pinot Blanc) I would never buy this wine by the label, but when I read that it was a mix of Sylvaner 80% and Pinot Blanc 20%, it convinced me. I love those two varietals. We had a shrimp cocktail that Sunday, and it seemed the perfect pair. It really was. It was not a complex and sophisticated wine, but it had enough acidity, floral and mineral notes that came perfect for the food. After two days of trying it, I still find little lemony grassy notes with still acid character and a light body, which made it a delicious treat to start a meal. Nice wine.
Tupiner-Bautista Mercurey 1er Cru “Les Velles” 2019. This wine is a real treat from Burgundy. It drinks impeccably with rich notes and floral char acter at a very accessible price (approx $50). It shows balanced fruit and succulent hints of violet, plum, and autumn spice. Displays a mellow structure, medium body, complexity, and velvety texture. It is one of those Burgundy hidden treasures you can drink as often as you want without breaking your wallet. It will make an excellent drink for a lazy afternoon in the fall.
Dog Point Vineyard, Sauvignon Blanc 2021. This is a clean, crisp, bright wine with lemony accents and flowery notes. The advantage of this New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc is to enjoy the freshness they exhibit from the very opening of the wine. They are harmonious and fresh with citrus, floral and tropical fruit notes. Their Light body and acidic load can easily go with white fish, sushi or even white sauce pasta with salmon. I would also pair it with a shrimp cocktail or fish tacos!
Melville Sandy’s Pinot Noir 2014. Wow! This bottle was a sleeper in my cellar, forgotten in a far corner. It rested there for five or six years until I discovered and pulled the cork! Pure refinement here with an elegant and sophisticated approach; cherry, violet, and coffee bean. Pale ruby color with a complex aromatic palate; hints of cloves, English tea, and vanilla. Medium to full-bodied, this one drinks fabulous with a roasted chicken breast, a pork chop, or Asian food. Fantastic!
Blaufrankisch Burgenland MORIC 2018. I love to explore wines from many regions, and I love the white ones from Austria. On my last trip to Vienna, I had a blast with a few red wines that I found delicious and surprising. So, when I saw this one in my local favorite shop, I got it, and it was up to my expectations! It opens very fragrantly with yeast and flowery notes. Medium-bodied and soft tannins showed ample notes of red flowers, plums, cherries, and licorice. A very different wine with lots of red candy and fruity red notes. Suitable for a big steak or beef ragu.
