San Diego Magazine and Univision KBNT San Diego are thrilled to have hosted the Latino Impact Awards. The fourth annual event, held at The Westgate Hotel on October 19, honored San Diego’s most distinguished Latino leaders and celebrated their incredible accomplishments. Corporate, entrepreneurial, and civic Latino leaders of all ages and industries gathered to connect with their peers during this evening of inspiration.
This year, 69 people were selected as ï¬nalists by our panel of judges—an increase from 48 finalists in 2015. Five distinguished people were honored in the following categories: Cross-Border Leader, Entrepreneur of the Year, Inspirational Leader, and Volunteer of the Year. Sally Carrillo, assistant port director for the San Ysidro Port of Entry, was presented with this year’s Lifetime Achievement Award, and the renowned binational chefs of the Plascencia family were presented with this year’s Legacy Award.
“San Diego is fortunate to be such a thriving multicultural city with dynamic leaders and visionaries,” says Jim Fitzpatrick, CEO and publisher of San Diego Magazine. “We salute the 2016 honorees and nominees for the Latino Impact Awards, who have greatly enriched San Diego and the cross-border region, along with helping the local business, cultural, and artistic communities ï¬ourish in so many positive ways.”
Sally Carrillo
2016 Lifetime Achievement Award
Ms. Carrillo is currently serving as the assistant port director, GS-15, at the San Ysidro Port of Entry. She has over twenty-eight years of public service experience with U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and the legacy Immigration and Naturalization Service. She began her federal career as an immigration inspector in 1988 in San Diego.
Since then, Ms. Carrillo has held several supervisory and management positions, including INS deputy port director at the San Ysidro Port of Entry (prior to CBP merger), border security coordinator at the San Diego Field Office, port director at the Tecate Port of Entry, assistant port director at the Port of San Diego (Air/Sea), assistant port director at the Otay Mesa Port of Entry, and assistant port director (tactical) at the San Ysidro Port of Entry. Additionally, APD Carrillo participated in a nine-month tour of duty with the Joint Security Program, Mexico City, where she significantly increased the performance of the team. She also served as the assistant director of CBP Officer Basic Training at the Field Operations Academy in Glynco, Georgia.
During her career with CBP, Ms. Carrillo has gained extensive leadership and analytical experience. She served on the National SENTRI (Secure Electronic Network for Travelers Rapid Inspection) team and was instrumental in developing the National Enrollment Center standards; she has worked extensively on building the established relationships that exist with the government of Mexico and local port of entry stakeholders. Ms. Carrillo is recognized annually by CBP and various nonprofit community organizations for the volunteer hours she dedicates to mentoring young Latinas.
Ms. Carrillo’s work experience, leadership ability, community service work, and binational efforts clearly indicate her commitment to the CBP mission.
The Plascencia Family
2016 Legacy Award
Born and raised in Tijuana, chef Javier Plascencia grew up in the kitchen of his family’s restaurant, alongside his brothers Juan José, Julian, and their younger sister Margú. Giuseppis, Tijuana’s first pizzeria, was opened in October 1969 by “Don Tana” Plascencia and his loving wife, Martha Plascencia. Grupo Plascencia has been in the restaurant industry ever since, continuously growing on both sides of the border. Their first project in the United States was Romesco Mexiterranean Bistro, which opened its doors back in 2006.
People were refusing to cross the Mexican border during those difficult times, and the Plascencia family saw the opportunity to bring their food to friends and family living in San Diego. From that moment on their passion, hard work, and dedication has been turning heads all over America. Chef Javier and Grupo Plascencia’s restaurants have been mentioned in and received awards from prestigious local, national, and international newspapers and magazines, earning a special place in the public taste.
Finalists
Cross-Border Leader
Eduardo Acosta
Vice President
R.L. Jones Customhouse Brokers
Dr. Miguel Angel Cardenas
President and CEO
San Diego Global Knowledge University
Roberto Castro
President
Farmacias Roma
Serge Dedina
President
Wildcoast
Celia Diaz
CEO and Executive Director
Binational Emergency Medical Care Committee
Adriana Eguia Alaniz
Executive Director
CaliBaja BiNational MegaRegion Inc.
Melissa Floca
Interim Director
University of California, San Diego
Denice Garcia
Director of Binational Affairs
City of San Diego
Fernando Gaxiola
Founder
Baja Wine + Food
Edith Guerrero
Latin America Program Manager
Qualcomm Wireless Reach
Leticia Oseguera
World Languages Department Chair, Link Crew Moderator, and Summer School Director
Academy of Our Lady of Peace
Alma Tucker
Director
Red Binancional de Corazones
Marisa Ugarte
Executive Director
Bilateral Safety Corridor Coalition
Entrepreneur of the Year
Maxine Chapman
CEO and Founder
BuddhiBox Yoga Lifestyle
Vidal Espinosa
Chief Financial Officer
Invictus Advisors
Alfredo Jaime
Chief Operating Officer
Jaime Partners
Lucia Matthews
Chief Executive Officer
Diálogo Public Relations
Blair Manuel McNeill
Vice President, Market Development
Renovate America
Roberto R. Pozos
Artist, Art Director, and Graphic Designer
Pozos Creative Communications
Elsa Sevilla
Owner, Executive Producer, and TV Host
Sevilla Productions
Francisco J. Valle
President
Valle Consulting
Inspirational Leader
Mario Aguilar
Executive Director (Volunteer)
The Mexi’cayotl Indio Cultural Center
Olga Álvarez
Estate Planning Attorney
Heisner Álvarez
Sergio Alvarez
Chief Executive Officer
Chuao Chocolatier
Michael Antonorsi
Founder and Master Chocolatier
Chuao Chocolatier
Mary Casillas Salas
Mayor
City of Chula Vista
Rafael Castellanos
Secretary
United Port of San Diego
Naomi Chavez
Program Administrator
First Five San Diego
Robert Chávez
Chief Executive Officer
Urban Corps of San Diego County
Rocky Chávez
Assembly Member, District 76
California State Assembly
Albert Clark
Chairman of the Board
San Diego County Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
Guadalupe Corona
Director of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion
Southwestern College
Irma Cota
President and CEO
North County Health Services
Jose Cruz
Executive Director
Barrio Logan College Institute
Jose Cruz
Chief Executive Officer
San Diego Council on Literacy
Olga Diaz
Council Member, District 3
Escondido City Council
Ofelia Escobedo
Member
Barrio Carlsbad Association
Paul Ganster
Director of the Institute for Regional Studies of the California’s Research
San Diego State University
Adela C. Garcia
Senior Business Design Consultant
EC Sourcing LLC
Gloria Goldstein Limas
Hostess, Owner, and CEO
The Gloria Gold Show and Media Magic Marketing
Jaime Alonso Gómez
Dean, School of Business Administration
University of San Diego
Lorena Gonzalez
Assemblywoman, District 80
California State Assembly
Melissa Hernandez
Creator and Founder
PHAT Camp— Push Hard Athletic Training
Barbara Jiménez
Deputy Director
County of San Diego Health and Human Services Agency
Carlos and Linda LeGerrette
Co-Founders
Cesar Chavez Service Clubs
Hernàn Luis y Prado
Founder and CEO
Workshops for Warriors
Kathlyn Mead
President and CEO
The San Diego Foundation
Steven Mejia
CFO and COO
Northwestern Mutual
Albert Mendivil
Council Member
National City City Council
Leonor Xochitl Perez
Director
Mariachi Women’s Foundation
Carlos Ramirez
Vice President of Safety & Health
SolarCity
Mona Rios
Council Member
National City City Council
Esther Sanchez
Attorney and Council Member
Oceanside City Council
Claudia Sandoval
Chef
Claudia’s Cocina
Pedro Santana
Co-Founder and Web Dev Lead
SolidProfessor
Fernando Sañudo
Chief Executive Officer
Vista Community Clinic
Andrea Skorepa
CEO and President
Casa Familiar Inc.
Volunteer of the Year
Ben Aguilar
Attorney
Law Offices of Ben Aguilar
Ron Baza
Owner
Ron Baza & Associates, Inc.
Rachel Cano
Vice President
San Diego Professionals Against Cancer
Sandra den Uijl
Board Member and Gala Cochair
Rancho Santa Fe Unit, Rady Children’s Hospital Auxiliary
Esteban Duarte
Executive Director and Founder
Vida
Macario Gutierrez
Board Chair and Volunteer
San Ysidro Health Center
Juan Llera
Managing Partner
Pounce Consulting Inc
Danny Melgoza
Deputy Chief of Staff
Office of County Supervisor Greg Cox
Enrique Morones
Founder and Director
Border Angels
Esther L. Rodriguez
Chief Executive Officer
Rodriguez Consulting Group
Isaac Zamora
Respiratory Therapist
UC San Diego Health