I am honored and blessed to have this tool which allows us to be able to reach out and communicate with you – with this anniversary edition, i celebrate the small business person, the go-getter- and the entrepreneurs-the time we live in right now is the time of the entrepreneur in my opinion- i believe that the Covid lockdowns gave many people the opportunity to become their own boss and start their own business.
I was an entrepreneur long before it became popular. I think I was born with a love for business. I remember the first time I heard the term, it was at an event where someone asked me how long I had been an entrepreneur. Lol, Thank God for quick wit as I responded“ I’ ve had my own business since I was about 17 years old.” I was thrity-one years old when I started Latin Times Magazine, and I had just recently relocated to Tampa, Florida from Chicago, Illinois. I was a single mom to my 5-year-old son; Nikko and we often traveled from Tampa to the Orlando / Kissimmee area to visit family, and lived in each area for a few years at a time. It was so hard in the beginning – the struggle to build a business in a new state and I often wanted to just give up. Of course the only thing that I could never do is give-up on something I loved and believed in. Can you imagine if I had? I am so grateful to God for giving me the strength to fight the good fight – and that HE was always with me, through the good, and through the bad, and that even the bad he somehow turned into good ….
I was recently speaking about this very subject to my daughter Victoria, telling her about hanging in there especially when the going gets tough, and not giving up because, in the end, you get out, what you put in. There is no ifs, ands or BUTS! If you start something and give up – then you have to start over ……. too many of those is a big waste of time, instead you have to hang in there and get past the tough times, making yourself stronger, wiser – more resilient and reaching bigger and better goals. That is why I am very proud to present to you this issue, which is the biggest edition i have ever published AND the first edition that awe are offering on AMAZON PUBLISHING! This edition also features our Annual Top Latino Lideres Awards recipients. Many of these leaders are my friends for many years now while others are new friends. Why did we choose them? We chose them because they were nominated by someone in the community that recognized their leadership skills! They are the“ MOVERS N’ Shakers” I have watched them and have seen their love and passion for what they do, they are admirable, and inspiring.
On the Cover, I am so excited to feature my good friend, State Representative Daniel Alvarez. Daniel, or Danny as we call him- has been an instrumental person in Tampa Bay’ s Hispanic communities, and I am so happy to be able to feature his story, amoung the other stories of all the other talented and hardworking Lideres compiled here! These awards serve as a testament to the recipients, they have touched lives, they have changed lives, and they have made a difference.
Que Mas …. We are gearing up to host our annual HISPANIC HERITAGE Festival! The 7th Annual Seminole Hard Rocl: Taste of Latino Festival is scheduled for Sunday, Oct 26th, 2025 at Centennial Park in Historic Ybor City, Tampa, Florida. This Food, Wine, Art & Music Festival features the Top Latino Lideres Awards, The Top Latino Food Chef and the Empanada Smackdown. Guests enjoys LIVE Music, dancing and cultuiral dance performances. Our events include: The ALL NEW Taste of Tampa Festival which will be help in collaboration with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the 4th Annual 3 Kings Day Festoval, scheduled for Sunday, Jan 4th, 2026 in Hernando County and the 15th Annual Cuban Sandwich Festival, scheduled for Sunda, March 29th. The Cuban Sandwich Festival draws contestants from all over the world competing to see who makes the BEST Cuban Sandwich in the world. Check out our Calendar of Events at www. LatinTimesMedia. com
Gracias y God Bless u,-Jolie
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- Jolie Gonzalez-Padilla
Letter from la editora
Saludos my friends!
Welcome to our 24th Anniversary edition!
It’ s hard to believe that 24 years have gone by since I started this magazine. So much has changed throughout the years, but some things haven’ t changed., like my love and commitment to sharing great inspirational stories with you all, that has not changed –