Name / Nombre : Santiago C . Corrada Title / Titulo : Convention Center , Tourism , Recreation , and Cultural Arts Administrator Company / Compañia ? Convention Center What is your Pais ? Cuban descent
Jolie Gonzalez / Latin Times : What are your immediate and / or long term professional goals ? Santiago C . Corrada : I aspire to continue learning and growing both professionally and personally . I am motivated by challenging situations and by new , different and exciting opportunities . I love working in the public sector and serving the public , so I would like to remain in this arena .
Jolie Gonzalez / Latin Times : What advice would you give to young Latinos about pursuing their goals ? Santiago C . Corrada : Never pass up an opportunity to learn , education is paramount ; but
treating others like you would like to be treated is even more important . Do not be afraid of change , embrace it and make a difference .
Jolie Gonzalez / Latin Times : Are you involved in any community organizations ? If yes – which ones ? Santiago C . Corrada : I serve as the Mayor ’ s representative on the following boards : the Tampa Museum of Art , H . B . Plant Museum , the Tampa Theatre , the David A . Straz Jr . Center for the Performing Arts , Tampa ’ s Lowry Park Zoo , the Florida Aquarium , MOSI , the Tampa Bay History Center , the Glazer Children ’ s Museum , the Florida Orchestra and Tampa Bay & Co . ( the Convention and Visitor ’ s Bureau ).
Jolie Gonzalez / Latin Times : What is your favorite type of Latin food ; music and sports sport ’ s team ?
Santiago C . Corrada : I love Congri , Boliche , Platanos maduro y Yuca . I listen to all kinds of music , but I am stuck on the 70s . I support all of the bay area teams : Bucs , the Bulls , the Rays , and the Lightning and of course my Alma Mater of the University of Miami Hurricanes .
Jolie Gonzalez / Latin Times : What was the biggest challenge that you have encountered in life and how did you overcome it ? Santiago C . Corrada : There have been many . But generally speaking , I would say proving people wrong when they think you cannot be successful . Some of my most challenging days occurred while I was the principal at Miami Edison Senior High School . I have always overcome challenges by working hard , treating others fairly , being honest , being ethical and being myself .
Name / Nombre : Ray Cruz Title / Titulo : Business Owner Company / Compañia ? Community Lending Corporation What is your Pais ? Puerto Rican , Mexican- American descent
Jolie Gonzalez / Latin Times : How did you get started in your career or profession ? Ray Cruz : In 1994 I took an Urban Geography course at USF . During a lecture I was intrigued by the impact I could have in assisting individuals in the real estate market . In 1998 , I had the opportunity to open a mortgage company .
Jolie Gonzalez / Latin Times : As a young boy what did you aspire to become ? Ray Cruz : Even at a young age I was an entrepreneur , selling our household groceries to the neighbors . I enjoyed the art of selling in hopes to one day be a business owner .
Jolie Gonzalez / Latin Times : Tell us about your family : Ray Cruz : I am privileged and honored to be married to a wonderful woman , Kay Hubbard-Cruz . I am surrounded by two beautiful children , Ana Cruz and Nicky Cruz . We enjoy cooking , eating , drinking good wine and having a great time with family .
Jolie Gonzalez / Latin Times : Who here or departed do you consider to be a role model in the Latino Community and why ? Ray Cruz : They are two people immediately that I can think of , they are , civil rights and labor leaders , Cesar Chavez and Delores Huerta . During the 60 ’ s and 70 ’ s they changed the landscape of agricultural throughout the country by uniting the field workers under the National Farm Workers Association , the “ Union ”.
Jolie Gonzalez / Latin Times : What are your immediate and / or long term professional goals ? Ray Cruz : Today is the greatest time to purchase real estate . I see a great opportunity in assisting individuals to pursue their dreams of acquiring a home .
Jolie Gonzalez / Latin Times : What was the biggest challenge that you ever encountered in life and how did you overcome it ? Ray Cruz : After being involved in the optical industry for 15 years and owning Pearl Vision franchises I sold out and decided a new career path . At the age of 40 I decided to go back to school to re-educate myself .
Jolie Gonzalez / Latin Times : Which Latino would you think could run for President of the United States and win ? Ray Cruz : Ana Cruz
Name / Nombre : Henry A . Echezabal Sr . Title / Titulo : President Company / Compañia ? Echezabal & Associates , Inc . What is your Pais ? Cuban descent
Jolie Gonzalez / Latin Times : How did you get started in your career or profession ? Henry A . Echezabal SR .: I started working for John J . Hendrick & Associates Engineers & Surveyors in 1954 , and continued in the same field until I started my own business .
Jolie Gonzalez / Latin Times : Tell us about your family . Henry A . Echezabal SR .: I married my wife Hope Echezabal , and we have two sons and one grandson .
Jolie Gonzalez / Latin Times : Who ( Here or departed ) do you consider to be a role model in the Latino Community , and why ? Henry A . Echezabal SR .: Jack Campo , P . E . and Tino Fernandez , P . E . Campo and Fernandez helped get my business where it is today .
Jolie Gonzalez / Latin Times : What are your immediate and / or long-term professional goals ? Henry A . Echezabal SR .: Continuing to support local organizations to help our community , and have legislation passed to allow Cuban people who have family members that still reside in Cuba , to visit their families without restrictions .
Jolie Gonzalez / Latin Times : Are you involved in any community organizations ? If yes-which ones ? Henry A . Echezabal SR .: Ybor City Rotaries Club , Ybor City Roundtable , Egypt Temple Shriners , Past President of Centro Asturiano de Tampa .
Jolie Gonzalez / Latin Times : Which Latina or Latino would you think could run for President of the United States- and win ? Henry A . Echezabal SR .: Judge Sonia Sotomayor
Jolie Gonzalez / Latin Times : What advice would you give to young Latinos about pursuing their goals ? Henry A . Echezabal SR .: To continue their education after college , and maintain their heritage , culture and language .