For complete coverage of this feature , please visit our website at : www . Latin-Times . com where complete interviews and bios are available for you to read !
Meet some of Tampa Bay ’ s
Latino Movers N Shakers
Tampa Bay ’ s Leading Latino Businessmen
Roy De Jesús
Title : Anchor / Reporter Profession : TV Journalist Company : Bay News 9 En Español
Latin Times : How did you get started in your profession ? Do you enjoy your job ? Roy : I was lying around , watching TV during my college years ... I loved watching the learning channels ... you know Discovery , TLC , Travel , Arts and Entertainment ... and I think it was “ A and E ” where they had the program “ Great Chef ’ s of the World ”. What a great show ?!! Not only would I learn one of my passions , which is COOKING … I would learn from all corners of the globe . I said to myself ... I need to be involved with something like this . My first job was in Tallahassee and it launched my career on learning about the News Industry .
Latin Times : What was or is your biggest challenge as a Hispanic Professional ? Roy : As a Hispanic Journalist I think the biggest challenge is getting the rest of the industry to take us as a formidable communicator . And within our community , letting them know that Journalists are not out there to exploit but to help out .
Latin Times : Tell us about your family . Roy : I am married to a wonderful accomplished Journalist that not only serves as my confidant and mentor but is also my best friend . I am the second of six siblings , and after years of having to work to get attention , being in front of the camera is not a problem . I ’ m proud of all of them and I am most proud of having parents that symbolize what a Hispanic Professional should be .
Latin Times : What are your immediate and / or long term goals ? Roy : Continue to strive and make the Latino community recognized as a powerful professional group . Hopefully one day when Don Francisco decides to retire , I can be there to fill the void . You got to dream big …
Orlando R . Nieves
Title : General Manager , CENTRO Mi Diario Profession : Publisher Company : Media General , Inc
Latin Times : What was or is your biggest challenge as a Hispanic Business Man ? Orlando : Getting people to recognize and validate more than 20 years of experience outside the U . S . Someone once told me : “ Oh , but Puerto Rico is not a market …” And at that time I was responsible for $ 45M dollars in product sales there . Truly mind boggling !
Latin Times : What does being a Latino mean to you ? Orlando : One word : Pride . It means showing others the diversity of our heritage and opening their eyes to the contributions we can make to whatever country we decide to live in . We come in all colors , all shapes and all styles . That ’ s what makes us interesting ! Latin Times : What are your immediate and / or long term goals ? Orlando : Right now to continue growing CENTRO into truly the ‘ plaza ’ for all Hispanics in Tampa Bay . Long term I ’ d like to eventually be able to share my learning ’ s and experiences with others . Nothing gives me more pleasure than being able to help someone thanks to my past experiences .
Latin Times : Who do you foresee in the White House in this years election ? Orlando : Barack Obama . I think its time this Nation healed and moved on . The 2010 Census will be a BIG wake up call to many and they MUST realize that the U . S . has always been a ‘ melting pot ’. The only difference now is that it has more ‘ sazón ’…
Jorge L . Hernández
Title : News Anchor / Producer Profession : Communicator Company : Entravision , Inc . ( Univision )
Latin Times : Do you enjoy your job ? If so , why ? Jorge : My job can be very rewarding if at the end of the day I feel that I have accomplished what I set out to do . Because at the end of the day , I feel that through providing information I have helped somebody . I feel satisfied and enormously happy .
Latin Times : Tell us about your family … Jorge : My gorgeous wife Ines Hernandez , my precious daughter Cristina . I have 1 brother in Tampa , Carlos , and one in Miami , John , who lives with my sister Marina . My father lives in Barranquilla , Colombia , and my mother passed away 2 years ago .
Latin Times : Are you involved in community organizations ? Which ones ? Jorge : Univision can be considered a community organization because that ’ s who we serve on a daily basis . Everyday we are involved with the community and the things that matter to them ...
Luís López
Title : Producer and director , Buenos Días Tampa Bay Profession : Radio Announcer , Public Relations Company : WQBN , Hillsborough County
Latin Times : What does being a Latino mean to you ? Luís : It was a very tough time in New York . I remember , as a child , the things we had to do to survive . Fighting harsh discrimination , yes , discrimination . There were signs on apartment buildings that read : “ No dogs , no Puerto Ricans ”. It was a very difficult time , but my parents fought it and succeeded . My dad went to night school in order to become a Certified Public Accountant . Mom stopped working ( outside of the house ) as soon as I was born , and 4 years after that , my only sister was born . One day , my dad came back from work jubilant and happy . The company he worked for had decided to open an office in San Juan and , being the only person in the office that could speak Spanish , he was offered to manage and organize the new office . In 2 weeks we were in Puerto Rico , and the rest is history . We were a very happy family even in the tough times . My parents never wanted me to worry about anything , no matter how hard life was in “ el barrio Latino ” in New York . I was taught that you should always be proud of your roots , and to this day I quote a great composer and friend , Roy Brown , “ Yo sería borincano aunque naciera en la Luna ” ( I would be Puerto Rican even if I were born on the Moon ).
Latin Times : What are your immediate and / or long term goals ? Luís : Being part of this Latino community is something that I treasure every day . When I sit behind the microphone , or at my office on the County , nothing makes me more proud . Now , in this time of my life , I don ’ t distinguish countries , for me we are all Latinos and we should defend our rights and contribute to the happiness of others . When I talk about our traditions , our languages , our cultures , it is the soul of a community that has no equal , a hard working and generous community that is moving forward . For now , being in radio gives me the great honor to touch so many lives every morning , to contribute and educate , as well as being an agent of change and unity for this community . I can ’ t see myself doing anything else . Long range plans , if possible , I might try to buy a radio station .
Latin Times : Who do you foresee in the White House in this years election ? Luís : This year ’ s elections are very important ; it is an era of change . Many tough decisions await the next incumbent of the White House . But all Latinos who are able to vote MUST do so , not only for this country , but for our community . Our voice must be heard .
Jayme Ribeiro Neto
Title : General Manager Profession : Broadcasting Company : WRMD Telemundo Tampa
Latin Times : What was or is your biggest challenge as a Hispanic Business Man ? Jayme : When you work on Hispanic Media , you have a lot of convincing to do . Educating people about the immense value of the Hispanic market is a big challenge , but it is also quite rewarding .
Latin Times : Where were you born and raised ? Jayme : I was born in Uberlandia and was raised in Belo Horizonte . Both cities are in the state of Minas Gerais , in the southeastern part of the country . Minas Gerais is Portuguese for “ General Mines .” The state got this name because during Brazil ’ s colonial period , the Portuguese explored the area in search of gold and diamonds . A lot of people might not be familiar with those towns , but they ’ re pretty big Brazilian cities . Latin Times : What does being a Latino mean to you ?
16 LATIN TIMES MAGAZINE | May - July 2008