El Tiempo Latino Announces Judges For Powermeter 100; More Than 400 Nominations Received For The Distinguished Honor

Will Celebrate Top 100 Influencers on Latinos in DC Area at June 26 Gala

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Jun 06, 2017, 09:00 ET

WASHINGTON, June 6, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- El Tiempo Latino, the leading Spanish language newspaper in the District and surrounding areas, today named the judges for its inaugural Powermeter 100, a list of individuals who have greatly enhanced the quality of life in Latino communities.

Javier Marin, publisher El Tiempo Latino, recently acquired by El Planeta Media from the Washington Post, said that more than 400 people have been nominated for the Powermeter 100, who will be honored at a gala that will be held June 26, 2017, at the Washington Post Live Center in Washington, D.C.

"We are honored that the Washington community has nominated more than 100 people who have made outstanding contributions to Latino communities in the DC area," said Mr. Marin. "I'm also pleased to announce our judges, the prominent people who will weigh the accomplishments of the nominees and select those who are most deserving for this honor."

In addition, Mr. Marin said several special awards will be announced at the gala:

Coca Cola will present an Achievement Award to a local business
BB&T will present a Hero Award to a community member
Macy's will present a Women Entrepreneur Award

Mr. Marin thanked the event sponsors, which currently include Coca-Cola, Macy's, BB&T, Copa Airlines and the Hispanic Heritage Foundation. Please contact [email protected] if you would like to join them as a sponsor. El Planeta newspaper in Boston, has hosted the Powermeter 100 in Boston for the last 11 years, where government, civic, sports and community leaders have been honored. The Powermeter 100s honor people of any race or ethnicity who improve the quality of life in the Latino community.

Here are the judges named today:

Angela Franco, DC Health Benefit Exchange Authority, Senior Adviser
In November 2009, Angela became President and CEO of the Greater Washington Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. Under her leadership, she helped the Chamber to solidify and strengthen its role with Hispanic businesses and entrepreneurs and grow its membership by hundreds of small businesses, resulting in the GWHCC receiving the Mid-Size Hispanic Chamber of the Year award from the United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. Recently she became Senior Adviser for the DC Health Benefit Exchange Authority. She has been honored as one of the 50 Most Powerful U.S. and International Business Executives by Minority Enterprise Advocate and was recognized as a leading Minority Business Leader by the Washington Business Journal.
Luz Lazo, The Washington Post, Reporter
Luz Lazo writes about transportation and development for The Washington Post. She has recently written about the challenges of bus commuting, the electronic ban on U.S.-bound flights and the nation's crumbling transportation infrastructure. She also contributes to the coverage of the region's Hispanic population and immigrant communities. A native of El Salvador, Luz grew up in Washington, D.C., and got her undergraduate and graduate degrees at American University.
Dr. Carlos E. Ponce, Freedom House, Director, Latin America programs
Dr. Carlos E. Ponce is the director for Latin America programs at Freedom House. Ponce previously worked as the General Coordinator for the Latin American and Caribbean Network for Democracy, and he has been a consultant for a variety of organizations focused on strengthening civil society, developing mechanisms to protect human rights defenders, and solidifying democratic institutions in the region. Ponce is also a member of the Steering Committee of the World Movement for Democracy, the ISC of the Community of Democracies, and is the General Coordinator of the Latin American and Caribbean Network for Democracy.
John Rodriguez, New Columbia Partners, Principal
New Columbia Partners is a full-service consulting and media firm that has managed campaigns for candidates across the country. Most recently, John Rodriguez was campaign manager for the Edward "Smitty" Smith Campaign for D.C. Attorney General. Last year, he consulted with 32 campaigns across the country Mr. Rodriguez holds undergraduate and graduate degrees from the University of California school system. He is vice president of the District of Columbia Latino Caucus and senior political analyst for El Tiempo Latino.
Alfredo Vasquez-Ajmac, LAVA
Alfredo Vasquez-Ajmac is a marketing, b2b and diversity consultant as chief growth officer at LAVA, a marketing communications firm that has helped some of the nation's top organizations meet their new business, public relations and diversity goals. LAVA has also produced award-winning broadcast productions, including an NPR documentary on Hispanic high school dropouts and a documentary on the Latino community in D.C. LAVA also produced the first-ever climate change app. Among LAVA's clients include CoolCalifornia.org, the CDC, the Potomac Electric Power Company (Pepco), Latino Civil Rights Task Force, the U.S. Navy, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, EnergyStar, Kaiser and the U.S. Housing and Urban Development Agency, among many others.
Javier Marin, El Tiempo Latino Publisher/CEO
Javier is the founder and CEO of El Planeta Media and Campeon Soccer. In 2016, El Planeta Media purchased El Tiempo Latino, the largest Spanish news organization in Washington D.C. The weekly paper El Planeta is the largest-circulating Spanish-language newspaper in Massachusetts. Marin has more than 20 years of Spanish publishing and editorial experience. His other passion is the soccer business: His retail company, Campeon Soccer, has recently partnered with Univision Networks to expand nationally. He resides in Brookline, MA with his wife and two sons since 2000. He graduated from Webster University in The Netherlands, holds an MSM from Arthur D 'Little School of Management in Chestnut Hill and a Broadcasting Certificate from Universidad Central de Venezuela.
Rafael Ulloa, El Tiempo Latino Executive Editor
Rafael is a founding team member of El Planeta Media, publisher of El Tiempo Latino in DC and El Planeta Newspaper in Massachusetts. He also produces/hosts El Planeta Hoy TV specials for WCEA TV in Boston. A native of Ecuador, he has been involved in the media, marketing and advertising world there. Rafael has been copywriter in Tactica/Lintas/Worldwide Partners and Norlop/J Walter Thompson Ecuador. He also hosted and produced radio shows and wrote for several magazines. He graduated with a Master in Integrated Marketing Communications at Emerson College, Boston and a BA in Communication with a double major in Marketing/Audiovisual Production at the Casa Grande University in Guayaquil.