On the evening of the National LATINA Symposium held Thursday, September 6, 2007, members of Congress, White House executives, Latina entrepreneurs, business and civic leaders from across the country inundated the Presidential Ballroom at the Capital Hilton Hotel in Washington D.C. to celebrate the 1st Annual Anna Maria Arias Memorial Business Fund 2007 Gala Awards.

This year marked the sixth year in which the awards are presented to successful Latinas throughout the country. With great enthusiasm and energy, 250 attendees gathered at the magnificent event to recognize 10 outstanding Latinas who have been selected from a pool of qualified applicants for their innovation, achievement and community service. The awards, dedicated to the memory of Anna Maria Arias, late founder of LATINA Style Magazine recognizes her accomplishments, drive, and mission to empower Hispanic women.

During the gala, attendees were welcomed by Gala Chair, Elizabeth Lisboa-Farrow, chairman and CEO of the Oliver Group, Inc. and special remarks by Robert E. Bard, president of LATINA Style Magazine. As attendees enjoyed dinner, a variety of Spanish dances, great music, laughter in a stress free environment they were presented to the accomplished Latinas on stage. With pride each one of them walked on stage to express their gratitude. With the support of corporate partners and sponsors, the fund granted cash awards of $5,000 to each selected Latina business owner from across the United States. This year’s distinguished awardees are the following:

Maria Inés Castro
3-Sixty Marketing Communications
Miami, FL

In 2002, Castro founded 3-Sixty Marketing Communications, a full-service marketing offering communication services to local, national and international clients. Among its clientele are Hispanic-owned companies in the U.S., a national and a global non-profit organization, a European University, State of Florida governmental agencies and a Swiss Financial Institution. Today, Castro is an active member of the Public Relations Society of America, the International Advertising Association and the American Marketing Association. She is also involved within board memberships with WLRN (Public Radio and Public Television), the Miami-Dade County Enterprise Zone, the Miami Dade County Affordable Housing Advisory Board, the Carlos Albizu University Business School Advisory Board, and is a founding member of Hands in Action, a child advocacy group. “My community is a Hispanic majority, so I consider my participation in boards over the years as a contribution to the Latino community,” she says. “My biggest hope is that as we climb the proverbial ladder, we remain grounded in our heritage and we take on the responsibility of helping other Latinas.” As an honored award recipient, Castro felt deeply engaged with her fellow honorees at the gala.

“It is refreshing to see that Corporate America, whose members were visibly supportive at the Gala that understand what Hispanics mean as a group and as a market,” she affirmed. “I knew of Anna Maria Arias and being recognized in her name is very special.”

Elizabeth Chavez
Ponce Contractors Inc.
Dallas, TX

A dynamic entrepreneur, Elizabeth Chavez is the president and chief financial officer of Ponce Contractors in Dallas. Chavez began Ponce Contractors in 2004 and became the first business owner in her family. Today, with the skills derived from her extensive industry training she continues to develop Ponce Contractors, Inc. as a client focused company. She is the first female construction business owner to serve as a board member for the Hispanic Contractors Association and was part of the Inaugural Class of the Hispanic Institute. In 2006 she was named one of the top three women-owned business enterprises by the North Central Texas Regional Certification Agency and the company was given the Groundbreaker Award with the Greater Dallas Hispanic Chamber of Commerce in Dallas that same year. In business, Chavez wishes to go after federal projects and be able to open an office in Washington D.C. “In the next 10 years I would like to have offices all over the nation and expand our services from an Environmental Contractor to a General Contractor specializing in renovations,” she says. “After meeting people that knew Anna Maria Arias now I know that all dreams come true and she is a true inspiration. I am glad to carry on her dream.”

Cecilia Domeyko
Accent Media Productions, Inc.
McLean, VA

A multicultural television and radio production company was founded in 1988 by Cecilia Domeyko for a purpose of building a bridge between advertising and public relations firms, corporations, government agencies and non-profit organizations within the Latino community. Millions of viewers and listeners have been educated through the pubic service campaigns made by Accent Media Productions. Issues such as the importance of preventive medicine (for Medicare), the dangers of AIDS (Medicaid), community services available for seniors Administration on Aging, and “You Don’t Have to Be on Welfare to Get Medicaid,” have been publicized. More than 100 hours of exhibit video for the National Museum of the American Indian have been produced, and independent documentary productions have celebrated the talent, resourcefulness, and courage of Latina women. As Domeyko received the award, she proudly encouraged everyone, not just Latinas to keep working for success. “There are still a lot of stories untold about us in the media,” she says. “Thank you LATINA Style, and Viva Las Empresarias Latinas!”

Christianne Meneses Jacobs
NicaGal, LLC. / Iguana Magazine
Scottsdale, AZ

Christianne Meneses Jacobs is the president of NicaGal, LLC and is also founder, and editor of Iguana Magazine, a national Spanish-Language children’s magazine targeted to children ages seven to 12-years old. Iguana, now in its third year was created specifically for Hispanic American children. “My company NicaGal, LLC through Iguana, provides Latino parents with reading material originally written in Spanish to help their children maintain the Spanish language at home,” she says. “Our audience can read about historical Latin American figures, successful Latinos and Latinas in the United States…and craft projects that children can do at home with their parents.” Born in Managua, Nicaragua, she migrated to Los Angeles with her family in 1988. Today, she resides in Scottsdale, Arizona with her husband Marc Jacobs and two daughters, and teaches elementary grades. She is currently working on launching !Yo Si¡, a sister publication of Iguana, also in Spanish, delivered free via Spanish language newspapers, debuting in January 2008. She hopes to see more Latinas on the Board of Directors of major companies and at the helm of Fortune 500 companies. “As an educator and a businesswoman, this award is recognition from our community that my work educating the Latino children through Iguana, my Spanish language magazine, is highly valued,” she says. “I am extremely honored to receive the wonderful news.”

Valerie E. Martinez
VMA Communications, Inc.
Claremont, CA

Valerie E. Martinez is president of VMA Communications, Inc. a full-service communications firm, that focuses on community outreach, publications, governmental affairs and media relations. Martinez began the company in 1996 as a sole proprietorship and incorporated in 2003. VMA provides the communities it serves advocacy, empowerment and access to information. As a bilingual/bicultural firm, they understand the needs and behaviors of key constituents, while also acknowledging the intricate policy issues they work on. “At VMA we believe we have a social responsibility to do our work in a manner that improves the quality of life in the communities we serve,” she says. “Most of our clients represent Latino-dominant communities, so as we develop newsletters, hold press events and market our clients, we are also providing positive imaging for Latinos.” Among her many works, Martinez is the chair of the Human Services Commission, which she oversees recreation, youth and family activities senior services, and community wellness programs. Currently she is working on projects including health care reform, the creation of a high-speed rail system and the implementation of education reforms in California. Her advice to Latinas is “to be focus, work hard and remain true to themselves.” As a recipient, she was happy to meet women from many different backgrounds, while creating an opportunity to network.

“It was a real honor to receive this award and to stand next to so many strong, smart women who have worked so hard to be successful,” she says. “It was wonderful to be able to take my children with me to see us all at the Gala and be reminded once again that if they work hard, there are rewards.”

Jennifer Roder
Package Express, Inc.
Deerpark, NY

With more than 10 years of business experience, Jennifer Roder is the founder and president of Package Express, a Hispanic-woman owned business specializing in corporate relocations, professional packaging, customized crating and shipping solutions worldwide. A graduate of the State University of Old Westbury, with a bachelor’s degree in business administration and a minor in marketing, Roder was recognized by DiversityBusiness.com as an outstanding business woman in 2005 and 2006 which named her one of the top diversity owned businesses in New York and one of the top small businesses in New York. Today Roder is active in the small business community of Long Island and participates in several Hispanic and women-owned business organizations and minority diversity programs.