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Verizon, MillerCoors Honored for Hispanic Leadership and Business Excellence

The United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (USHCC) recently honored the winners of the 2009 National and Regional Hispanic Leadership & Business Excellence Awards during its 30th Annual National Convention, Business Expo & Latina Summit. Wells Fargo & Company served as this year’s Convention Alianza Partner for the second consecutive year.

Some of the National and Regional Hispanic Leadership and Business Award recipients for 2009 are:

• USHCC Chairman’s Award: Tanya Penny, Verizon Communications


• USHCC President’s Award/Corporation of the Year: MillerCoors


• USHCC Ultimate Latina Award: Elizabeth Chalas Berman, Continental Food & Beverage, and USHCC Board Member


• Honorary Convention Chair Award: Sonya Dukes, Wells Fargo & Company


• National Small Hispanic Chamber of the Year: Greater San Jose Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. The other regional winner was the Latino Entrepreneurial Network of SE Wisconsin.


• National Medium Hispanic Chamber of the Year: Utah Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, also winning at the regional level. Among the regional winners are: High Desert Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (CA); McAllen Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (TX); and, Morris County Hispanic-American Chamber of Commerce (NJ).


• National Large Hispanic Chamber of the Year: Houston Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, which also won regionally. Other regional winners include: Latin Chamber of Commerce, Nevada; Denver Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (CO); and Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Wisconsin.


• National Corporate Business Advocate of the Year: Anthony R. Jimenez, President & CEO, and founder of MicroTech, who also won at the regional level. Other regional winners include: Roy G. Nunez, Institute for Organizational Training and Development’s Hispanic Research Center; Dave Abeyta, US Bank; and Maria Saenz Mendez, Aetna, Inc.

“On behalf of the U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, our Board of Directors and our network of more than 200 local and regional Hispanic chambers of commerce across our nation, I congratulate and applaud this year’s award recipients,” said David C. Lizarraga, USHCC chairman of the board. “These individuals were selected because they exemplify the entrepreneurial spirit – the creativity, tenacity and hard work – of our nation’s more than 3 million Hispanic businessmen and businesswomen who are critical to the economic recovery of our nation. We were also honored to recognize individuals from corporate America whose partnership and support have been vital to the continued empowerment of Hispanic business.”