WASHINGTON, June 24, 2013 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Greater Washington Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (GWHCC) celebrated its 37th Annual Gala on Friday at the Omni Shoreham Hotel where more than 450 leaders from local and federal government, nonprofits, corporations and small businesses attended the event to celebrate the importance of local Hispanic women in business.
The honorees for this year's Gala were:
Entrepreneur of the Year – Carmen Ortiz-Larsen, President and CEO of AQUAS, Inc
Rising Star – Paola Moya, Executive Principal and Co-founder of Marshall Moya Design & inNuevo
Unsung Hero – Rosibel Arbaiza, Owner of Golden Scissors
Unsung Hero – Carmen Medina, Specialist Leader for Deloitte Consulting
"We are delighted to have had the opportunity to recognize these four Hispanic businesswomen who have made a great impact in our community," said Angela Franco, GWHCC President and CEO. "We appreciate the support of this year's Gala Co-Chairs Julissa Marenco, President, ZGS Communications, and Nina Albert, Director of Community Affairs, Wal-Mart; and our judges, sponsors, partners and members." The four honorees were chosen by a prominent group of judges including, Julissa Marenco, President ZGS Communications, Maria Martinez, President & CEO Respira Medical, Alberto Avendaño, Director of Business Development, El Tiempo Latino, and Nina Albert, Director of Community Relations Wal-Mart. Speakers during the Gala program included Beatriz Otero, Deputy Mayor for Health and Human Services.
Some of the attendees included Doug Gansler, Attorney General of Maryland; Councilmember At-Large Vincent Orange; Councilmember Muriel Bowser; Councilmember Jack Evans; Walter Tejada, Chair, Arlington County Board and Ike Leggett, Montgomery County Executive, amongst others.
The Gala celebrated the Greater Washington Hispanic Chamber of Commerce's accomplishments as a leading business organization committed to helping move Hispanic-owned businesses forward and improving our community and overall region," said Mario Acosta-Velez, Chair of GWHCC Board of Directors. "At the Gala, we honored outstanding Hispanic women business owners whose success serves as an inspiration to business leaders and entrepreneurs from all communities in the Washington, DC area."
GWHCC's 37th Gala is made possible by the support of the following sponsors: Platinum Sponsors – Verizon, Deloitte, Wal-Mart; Gold Sponsor – PwC; Silver Sponsors – Goya and Events DC; Bronze Sponsors – American Airlines, John Marshall Bank, DiReggio, Leadership Greater Washington, PNC Bank, The Calpro Group, Arlington Economic Development, CSA Group, Eagle Bank, Studio Santalla, United Airlines, Keystone Plus Construction, Toyota, M&T Bank, ZGS Communications, Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission, PNC Bank, Capital Wire PR, Giant, Building Hope; Sign Sponsor - Gelberg Signs; Table Sponsors – Carefirst, Winmar Construction, El Zol 107.9 FM, Washington Gas, The Latino Coalition, AARP, Erie Insurance, Roubin and Janeiro, Aquas, Moya Marshall; Media Partners – Telemundo and Latina Style; Coffee Sponsor – Mayorga Coffee; Photo Booth Sponsor – Aeromexico.
About the Greater Washington Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
The Greater Washington Hispanic Chamber of Commerce is a membership driven organization that supports the economic development of the Greater Washington metropolitan area by facilitating the success of Latino and other minority-owned businesses and the communities they serve through networking, advocacy, and educational access to capital. The Chamber was founded in 1976 and is a 501(C) 6 organization. For additional information visit our website www.gwhcc.org