Category: LATIN TIMES MAGAZINE - LATINTIMESMEDIA.COM

NEFTALI FELICIANO; 2023 Top Lideres Awards; SW Florida

10/1/2023

What is your Hispanic Heritage?
Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico (50/50)

What area of Florida do you live in?
SWFL- Fort Myers

What is your profession?
CEO of Cancer Alliance Network

Latin Times Magazine: Tell us about what you do for a living and how you got into it.
Neftali: CEO for the Cancer Alliance Network, a non-profit organization that helps children and adults affected by cancer by providing financial assistance, resources, and support.

LIEUTENANT RICHARD CASTELLON: 2023 Top Lideres Awards; SW Florida

10/1/2023

Heritage : Cuban, I was born in Weehawken, New Jersey. We moved and I was raised Miami Florida.

Profession: Lieutenant / Law Enforcement

Tell us about what you do for a living and how you got in to it.

I started my law enforcement career back in 2003. I have twenty years on the job, I’ve worked as a patrol officer / deputy, a K-9 officer / trainer, and as a hostage negotiator.

YVETTE BENARROCH: 2023 Top Lideres Awards; SW Florida

10/1/2023

Hispanic Heritage
Puerto Rican

City: Marco Island, Florida

Profession
Small Business Owner

Tell us what you do for a living and how you got into it.
Yvette: My husband and I own a full-service landscaping company that serves the Naples-Marco Island Area. I have a bachelor’s degree in marketing, so the plan was to use those skills to help the business grow. Little did I know that God had other plans for us. In 2009 My husband was diagnosed with Stage Four Colon Cancer, and I had to run the business on my own while he was going through surgeries and chemotherapy treatments.

GLORIA PADILLA: 2023 Top Lideres Awards; SW Florida

10/1/2023

What is your Hispanic Heritage: Mexican America

What area of Florida do you live in: Immokalee
What is your profession: Community Relations Manager

Latin Times Magazine:Tell us about what you do for a living and how you got into it
Gloria: I have worked with RCMA for 42 years, I started as a part timer, to help pay for my college. I was looking to work in the fashion marketing world! But God had other plans for me, I grew up as a migrant farmworker my whole life, so when I started to work with RCMA, I saw the need for to advocate for the families, changed my fashion dream to social work.

MICHAEL RAMIREZ; 2023 Top Lideres Awards: SW Florida

10/1/2023

What is your Hispanic Heritage?
Michael: Puerto Rican

What area of Florida do you live in?
Michael: Fort Myers, FL

What is your profession?
Michael: Education

OSCAR RUGIERO; 2023 Top Lideres Awards: SW Florida

10/1/2023

What is your Hispanic Heritage? Oscar: Argentino

What area of Florida do you live in? Cape Coral

What is your profession? TV Producer

Tell us about what you do for a living and how you got into it
Oscar: I am a television producer. I specialized in this area in my native Argentina. When I arrived in the United States, I noticed that the Latin community had to make its achievements visible, form solid networks, share experiences, and acquire tools. That is why I worked intensely to give them their broadcast space and that is how the TV show Power Latino emerged.

LUZCELINA "LUCY" GARCIA; 2023 Top Lideres Awards: SW Florida

10/1/2023

What is your Hispanic Heritage:
Lucy: Arandas, Jalisco. Mexico

What area of Florida do you live in:
Lucy: Cape Coral, Florida

What is your profession?
Lucy: Social Worker/Counselor

LIZ BELLO-MATTHEWS; 2023 Top Lideres Awards; SW Florida

10/1/2023

Liz Bello-Matthews
Director Office Of Communications Public Affairs at City of Fort Myers

Liz Bello-Matthews, MS has a diverse and extensive work experience in communications and marketing. Liz is currently serving as the Director of Office of Communications & Public Affairs at the City of Fort Myers.

RICHARD SANCHEZ; 2023 Top Lideres Awards: SW Florida

10/1/2023

What is your Hispanic Heritage? CUBAN /PR

What area of Florida do you live in? FORT MYERS

What is your profession?
BUSINESS OWNER/OPERATOR

Latin Times Magazine: Tell us about what you do for a living and how you got into it
I OWN AND OPERATE A FAMILY RUN, INDEPENDENT COMMUNITY SUPERMARKET. I’VE BEEN IN THE INDUSTRY MY WHOLE WORKING LIFE AND I LED THE GROWTH OF THE BRAVO GROUP I FLORIDA BEFORE GOING INTO MY OWN VENTURES.

DAYRA "DEE" DOMINGUEZ: 2023 Top Lideres Awards; SW Florida

10/1/2023

What is your Hispanic Heritage:
Dee: Dominican

What area of Florida do you live in?
Dee: SWFL

What is your profession?
Dee: Registered Nurse, Entrepreneur, Founder of “Against All Odds International” 501c3 nonprofit organization

October 01st, 2023

10/1/2023

What is your Hispanic Heritage: Arandas, Jalisco. Mexico

What area of Florida do you live in:
Lucy: Cape Coral, Florida

What is your profession?
Lucy: Social Worker/Counselor

RAFAEL LOPEZ; 2023 Top Lideres Awards: SW Florida

10/1/2023

What is your Hispanic Heritage? Cuban

What area of Florida do you live in? Village of Estero

What is your profession?
Village Councilman

Tell us about what you do for a living and how you got into it?
I am currently an elected Councilman, in the Village of Estero. After my retirement, I wanted to continue serving my local community. I volunteered for several organizations and eventually ran for the Village of Estero Council.

PEDRO GONZALEZ; 2023 Top Lideres Awards: SW Florida

10/1/2023

Co-Chairman, The King's Ministries International Fellowship
Pedro and Raquel Gonzalez have been planting churches in the Caribbean Islands, Central America, South America, and Haiti for years.

Apostles/Prophets Pedro and Raquel has planted various churches in Cuba, Haiti, Chile,Bolivia and also in Colombia.

Currently engaged in The Kingdom Training Center with a major emphasis on the Kingdom and also The school of the Prophets teaching those who have been called to the prophetic.

VICKY GUIDI; 2023 Top Lideres Awards: SW Florida

10/1/2023

Jacksonville Celebrated Hispanic Heritage: Taste of Latino Festival

9/29/2023

2023 Top Lideres Awards: Jacksonville

MARIA KELLERMAN: 2023 Top Lideres Awards; Jacksonville

9/16/2023

What is your Hispanic Heritage: Venezuelan

What area of Florida do you live in?
Maria: Ponte Vedra Beach

What is your profession?
Maria: Process Design Engineer @ Allstate CO

Latin Times Magazine: Tell us about what you do for a living and how you got into it.
Maria Kellerman: I currently work with Allstate CO as a Process Design Engineer

ITZA CABRERA: 2023 Top Lideres Award; Jacksonville

9/16/2023

What is your Hispanic Heritage: Puerto Rico

What area of Florida do you live in:
Itza: Jacksonville, Florida

What is your profession:
Itza: Secretary and Zumba Instructor

Latin Times Magazine: Tell us about what you do for a living and how you got into it.
Itza: I am a secretary at Global Outreach Charter Academy that specializes in Languages like English, Spanish and Russian. I have been in the education system for about 12 years. Love it. I have friends that work in Education and they told me about it.

FRANCISCA BRUNO: 2023 Top Lideres Awards; Jacksonville

9/16/2023

What is your Hispanic Heritage: Puerto Rico

What area of Florida do you live in:
Francis: Jacksonville

What is your profession:
Francis: Realtor

Latin Times Magazine: In your industry, what would you say sets you apart?
Francis: I am different because I love my job and I am very proud of my seller and buyer, if anyone needs help I can get it.

DR. LINKA CORSBY: 2023 Top Lideres Award; Jacksonville

9/16/2023

What is your Hispanic Heritage: Mexican

What area of Florida do you live in: Jacksonville
What is your profession: Associate Dean

Latin Times Magazine: Tell us about what you do for a living and how you got into it
Dr. Linka Crosby: Associate Dean of Workforce Operations and an English as a Second Language instructor at Florida State College at Jacksonville. I got into education because I wanted to help and give back to the community.

OFFICER PETE PADILLA: 2023 Top Lideres Awards; Jacksonville

9/16/2023

Officer Pete Padilla
Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office / District 2

Peter Padilla nació en la única ciudad de Miami, FL. Es el único hijo de sus padres cubanos, Tania y Pedro Padilla. Ha estado casado con su esposa, Yanelis Padilla durante 22 años. Juntos tienen tres hijos increíbles; Elías, Josías y Jeylise Padilla. Ha vivido en Jacksonville, FL desde 1999.

KEN AMARO: 2023 Top Lideres Awards; Jacksonville

9/16/2023

Mr. Ken Amaro was born in the U.S. Virgin Islands. His father and grandparents were born on the island of Puerto Rico, more specifically Culebra.

Mr. Amaro attended Jones College in Jacksonville, Florida, where he earned a BBA in 1980. He worked as an Anchor/Reporter at First Coast News from 1979 until his retirement in 2021.

Well known for his “On Your Side” consumer reports, Ken worked tirelessly for the consumer by uncovering scams, rip-offs, and swindles.

ITZA CABRERA; 2023 Top Lideres Awards: Jacksonville

9/16/2023

What is your Hispanic Heritage:
ITZA: Puerto Rico

What area of Florida do you live in?
Jacksonville, Florida

What is your profession:
Secretary and Zumba Instructor

Latin Times Magazine: Tell us about what you do for a living and how you got into it.
Itza: I am a secretary at Global Outreach Charter Academy that specializes in Languages like English, Spanish and Russian. I have been in the education system for about 12 years. Love it. I have friends that work in Education and they told me about it.

MARIA EUGENIA QUINTERO; 2023 Top Lideres Awards; Jacksonville

9/16/2023

ACCEPTED AWARD ALONG WITH: MAMIS AZULE JAX

What is your Hispanic Heritage: Venezuela, Puerto Rico, Peru, Colombia, Ecuador, México, Cuba, y otros paises hispanos.

What area of Florida do you live in:
MAMIS: Jacksonville Fl.

What is your profession: Acompañar, Apoyar y Educar a las Familias en el proceso neurodiverso y a la Comunidad en general acerca del Autismo.

DAVID ACEVEDO: 2022 Top Lideres Awards; SWFL

3/19/2023

What is your Hispanic Heritage: Puerto Rican

Latin Times Magazine: What area of Florida do you live in?
David Acevedo: Cape Coral, FL

Latin Times Magazine: What is your profession? David Acevedo: Visual Artist, Art Gallery owner, Entrepreneur and Office Manager (Government)

VANESSA M. CHAVIANO: 2022 Top Lideres Awards; SWFL

3/19/2023

What is your Hispanic Heritage: Cuban American

What area of Florida do you live in:
Vanessa: Cape Coral, FL

What is your profession:
Vanessa: Marketing & Business Operations, Nonprofit Business Leader

Tell us about what you do for a living and how you got into it