Ten local Latinos will be honored on Monday, Sept. 17, for their ongoing contributions and impact. The seventh annual Latino Leadership Awards Luncheon hosted by La Paz Chattanooga will be held at the Downtown Chattanooga Convention Center.
The following Latino leaders will be recognized:
-- Carlos Betancourt, Brainerd Baptist Church
-- Carolina Calderon-Cerdas, Aflac
-- Zuriel Casillas, Gordos Bakery
-- Emmanuel Escobar, EPB
-- Monica Griffin, St. Peter’s Episcopal School
-- Gus Hernández, Silverdale Baptist Church
-- Felipe Lara, Tucker Build
-- Sgt. Alexis Mercado, Chattanooga Police Department
-- Jessica Oliva, Calderin & Oliva P.A.
-- Julian Ramirez, CFC Foundation
The honorees were nominated by peers and colleagues through a public nomination process. A committee of past honorees as well as this year’s event chairs, Gladys Pineda-Loher of Chattanooga State Community College and Daniela Peterson of Chattanooga Neighborhood Enterprise, convened to select the ten honorees of the group of individuals nominated.
In addition to the recognition of these ten individuals, seven special awards will also be given in the following categories:
-- Latino of the Year Award
-- Chattanooga’s Choice Award
-- Community Champion Award
-- Emerging Latino Leader
-- Volunteer of the Year Award
-- Business of the Year (new this year)
-- Entrepreneur of the Year (new this year)