Name / Nombre : Edward Reyes Title / Titulo : President Company / Compañia ? Preferred Physicians Group What is your Pais ? Cuban descent
Jolie Gonzalez / Latin Times : How did you get started in your career or profession ? Edward Reyes : I was 19 years old when I got married and had my daughter . I decided to have a major life change . I wanted to go to school to become a chiropractic physician . I ’ m a “ doer ” so once I made up my mind I sold everything in our apartment at the time and was making the necessary arrangements to move to New Jersey to go to Chiropractic school in New York . My wife Maria sat me down and talked me out of it . Her reasoning was that before I up-rooted the family maybe I should get in the field to confirm if I actually like it . She suggested I get my massage therapy license . At first , I was opposed to the idea but I finally gave in and I finally went to Massage Therapy School . Right after school , I started working
Jolie Gonzalez / Latin Times : How did you get started in your career or profession ? Franco Silva : I started by collecting all types of Latino music since 1976 .
Jolie Gonzalez / Latin Times : As a young boy , what did you aspire to become ? Franco Silva : I always wanted to work for a radio station or the entertainment industry .
Jolie Gonzalez / Latin Times : Tell us about your familia : Franco Silva : My wife Wanda and I met in college . We have two kids Daniel and Delisa . Daniel attends FIU at a clinic and within 2 months I was already running that office by myself . That was when I became aware of my entrepreneurial side . For the next 4 months I worked at the clinic , worked another job and started doing therapy on the side and on the weekends . I was able to slowly buy equipment and store them in my home . I accumulated $ 7,000 for seed capital . The whole process took me approximately 6 months of being very frugal and looking for close-out deals . I would even go to companies needing to get rid of furniture either by selling it cheap or donating it . I would then resell and make a profit . This also helped me acquire capital . I was 20 years old when I opened my office and at that time I was the youngest person to open a clinic . I was a one-man show ! I did the therapy , the marketing , everything else .
Jolie Gonzalez / Latin Times : Tell us about your familia : Edward Reyes : My mother and father were both born in Cuba and have always been hard workers . My wife Maria has always been there for me despite
Name / Nombre : Franco Silva Title / Titulo : Radio Show Host Company / Compañia ? WMNF 88.5 FM Tampa What is your Pais ? Puertoriqueño / Puerto Rico
in Miami and Delisa goes to John Hopkins middle school in Saint Petersburg .
Jolie Gonzalez / Latin Times : Who ( here or departed ) do you consider to be a role model in the Latino Community , and why ? Franco Silva : General Simon Bolivar for dreaming of a united Latin America .
Jolie Gonzalez / Latin Times : What are your immediate and / or long term professional goals ? Franco Silva : I would like to have a radio show like my Latino54 which is syndicated from coast to coast .
Jolie Gonzalez / Latin Times : Are you involved in any community organizations ? If yes – which ones ? Franco Silva : Yes , I have worked with local
Name / Nombre : Mike Suarez Title / Titulo : Commercial Risk Management Consultant Company / Compañia ? Insurance Office of America ( IOA ) What is your Pais ? Cuban descent tough times . We have two beautiful daughters who are twelve and four .
Jolie Gonzalez / Latin Times : Are you involved in any community organizations ? If yes – which ones ? Edward Reyes : I help and sit as a board member in different organizations . Some of the non-profits include : Mable ’ s Kids , Revealing Truth Ministries , Moms Care , Children with a Vision , Friends of Clean City , Hype , and some churches .
Jolie Gonzalez / Latin Times : Who ( here or departed ) do you consider to be a role model in the Latino community , and why ? Edward Reyes : Carlos Slim Helú also known as Carlos Slim . I respect how Slim overcame giants such as Bill Gates and Warren Buffet . Slim became a billionaire by offering great service at a price people could afford . According to Forbes Magazine , Slim was not born from a family of money and / or power . He had to overcome many obstacles in his life , but now he is the richest man in the world .
community radio for over 15 years , and through that have been involved with many local community organizations throughout the years .
Jolie Gonzalez / Latin Times : Which Latina or Latino would you think could run for President of the United States – and win ? Franco Silva : Judge Soto Mayor
Jolie Gonzalez / Latin Times : What was the biggest challenge that you have encountered in life and how did you overcome it ? Franco Silva : Getting people to understand that Latinos have been part of the culture in the United States since before it was called the United States and that people from Argentina to Canada are all “ AMERCANS ”. I try to teach this every week on Latino54 .
Jolie Gonzalez / Latin Times : How did you get started in your career or profession ? Mike Suarez : I was fortunate to have my father , Mario , already in the insurance industry . My father brought me into his business , a small automobile insurance agency on a part-time basis . After about 2 years of learning the business , I started my first insurance agency in Tampa and then in New Port Richey .
Jolie Gonzalez / Latin Times : Who ( here or departed ) do you consider to be a role model in the Latino
Community , and why ? Mike Suarez : Roland Mantiega , the late owner / editor of La Gaceta newspaper . He was a voice for the Latin community in Tampa for many years and always spoke truth to power . He was the tirelessly fighting for the community and a counter-weight to the more reactionary Tampa Tribune , especially in the 1960s .
Jolie Gonzalez / Latin Times : What are your immediate and / or long term professional goals ? Mike Suarez : I would like to continue getting better at my profession and eventually create a scholarship fund at USF for Latino students .
Jolie Gonzalez / Latin Times : Are you involved in any community organizations ? If yes – which ones ?
Mike Suarez : I am a board member of the Independent Insurance Agents of Greater Tampa , I have been on several subcommittees for the Greater Tampa Chamber of Commerce , I serve on the City of Tampa ’ s Civil Service Board and their Equal Business Opportunity Advisory Committee .
Jolie Gonzalez / Latin Times : What was the biggest challenge that you have encountered in life and how did you overcome it ? Mike Suarez : I lost an election about 12 years ago for the Florida Legislature . The time , money and energy spent drained me emotionally . I was able to move forward because of my wife and my family ’ s constant encouragement . It ’ s what motivates me to this day .