In the News

• The Bravo Group’s Isabella Sánchez was recently promoted to vice president, director of media services. As such, Sánchez is responsible for Bravo’s media planning and buying teams in the Miami, New York, San Francisco, Chicago, and Irvine, Calif., offices. In addition, on July 11, Nilda Velez assumed the role of general manager of Mosaica, a multicultural-communications agency under the Bravo Group umbrella. She comes to Mosaica from her previous position as vice president, managing director, at Bravo.

• California Hispanic Chambers of Commerce (CHCC) Chairwoman Melinda Guzman was recently appointed to the California State University Board of Trustees with unanimous approval by the California State Senate. The only Latina appointee on the CSU board, she will serve an eight-year term. “I am honored to have been selected to help guide one of the most successful and diverse university systems in the world,” says Guzman. “I firmly believe that education, combined with hard work and dedication, is the cornerstone to career success and is vital to shaping our future leaders.”

Marianne Sensale-Guerin

In April, President George W. Bush recognized Marianne Sensale-Guerin as the National Small Business Person of the Year at the Small Business Administration Expo. Sensale-Guerin, of Gorham, Maine, is the sole owner and president of Guerin Associates LLC, an environmental-services firm specializing in the removal, replacement, cleaning, and retrofitting of fuel-storage tanks. Since its formation in December 2000 as a four-employee operation, Guerin Associates has grown in size times five.

“Each year the SBA chooses one business owner who best exemplifies the qualities that make our 25-million strong small business owners the economic force they are,” says SBA Administrator Hector V. Barreto. “Marianne, and her company Guerin Associates, embody the best of entrepreneurship, citizenship, and the American dream.”

Sylvia Fernandez-Gercke

Sylvia Fernandez-Gercke, the Small Business Administration’s Region X regional communications director, was recognized in May by the Seattle Federal Executive Board at the 2005 Celebration of Public Service ceremony. Fernandez-Gercke, who has been with the SBA regional office since January 2003 and before that served as the public-information officer for the SBA Portland District Office, received recognition for her creative thinking and innovation, including her creation of a monthly electronic newsletter with more than 250,000 subscribers, as well as her creation of a monthly radio program called Bizline, which is broadcast to the Seattle metro area and online.

“Sylvia is an outstanding public servant, says Regional Administrator Norm Proctor. “She is innovative, dedicated and hardworking on behalf of the Small Business Administration. I am extremely proud, and we are very lucky, to have such a competent and creative person in our organization.”

DOE Small Business Awards

In June, at its 6th Annual Small Business Conference in Nashville, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced the winners of its Small Business Success Stories Awards for 2004. Recipients included Elinor Ochoa, Chiquita Young, and Sylvia Medina.

Ochoa, as the program manager for DC-Strategic & Learning Services Inc., directs project activities for DC-SLS’ contracts. She has 21 years of industry experience under her belt, including experience running her own small businesses.

Medina is the president and CEO of North Wind Inc. She has over 15 years’ experience serving the environmental industry, both at the corporate level and as an environmental engineer. North Wind’s customers include the Departments of Energy, Defense, and the Interior.

Young is president and CEO of LeGracy Resource Corporation. She is also a member of the National Contract Management Association, Women Impacting Public Policy, and the American Society of Industrial Security.