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Thank you everyone for joining us at the Embassy Suites by Hilton at Brooks City Base for our Business Awards Luncheon where we featured and recognized 5 exemplary individuals and businesses in San Antonio for their achievements throughout their career.
Scroll Below to View our 2023 Award Honorees, or click below to view photos from the event!
Innovator of the Year:
Yves Vazquez
CEO, Valiant-X Enterprise Corporation
As CEO of Valiant-X Enterprise, Yves is responsible for providing strategic leadership, managing the organization's overall operations, and ensuring that the company achieves its goals.
His experience stems from Military Intelligence Operations, specializing in Signals Intelligence, in the U.S. Army and Program Management for the Air Force Cyber Weapon System Programs. Yves leads a company that proudly provides the best-of-bread Cyberspace Operations, Program Management, Cloud Services, DevSecOps Optimization, CMMC 2.0 Consulting, and IT Operations Management.
Yves has become a proven leader in the IT & cyberspace domains and is a mainstay among the active San Antonio military community, frequently participating in and sponsoring community events & socials, DoD recruiting events, and serving as co-chair of the Alamo AFCEA Small Business Subcommittee. Yves also takes significant pride in promoting a better culture, work environment, advancement of entry level professionals, and volunteering within the IT industry. Yves loves German automobiles, European Soccer, Coaching, and being significantly involved in his kids’ sports, and promoting modern work culture, privately and publicly, and maintaining his scratch-level Golf skills.
Yves’ holds a Master of Science degree in Information Technology & Project Management from Colorado Technical University, a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration, and Associate of Art in Military Intelligence Operations from Cochise College. Yves also holds certifications as a Project Management Professional, PMI- Agile Certified Practitioner, ITIL Foundations, and Lean Six Sigma Green Belt, among other recognized certifications such as SAFe Agilist, CompTIA Security+/Network+ and other IT-related certificates.
The Innovator of the Year Award recognizes an individual who displays an Entrepreneurial spirit in technological excellence and advancement to deliver innovative solutions to our community.
Start-up OF THE YEAR:
Andrea Rodriguez
Owner and Chief Product Officer, Olla Express Cafe
Passionate Mexican Woman, former IT Software Engineer by profession and dedicated to coffee by election, she created a company called Olla express cafe in 2017, using her own nostalgia and homesickness craving for cafe de olla.
She created a cultural concept through gastronomy innovating with unique and traditional Mexican flavors for a lovely experience. Rescuing recipes from her Abuelas, starting in a vintage mobile unit and growing the brand in a journey all the way to retail with her Piloncillo Syrup considered one of the best products in Texas in 2021. She opened a brick and mortar this year in Downtown San Antonio with a great potential to be an amazing reference of Mexican hospitality and a must go place to visit in San Antonio for tourists and locals as well.
The Start-up of the Year Award recognizes an individual who has started a new business in San Antonio that has shown exponential growth and innovation within our city and community.
Small business OF THE YEAR:
Frank & Ramiro Jimenez
Co-Owners, Panaderia Jimenez
Panaderia Jimenez was established in 1968 in both Lubbock and Eagle Pass, Texas. In October 2018 the family business expanded in San Antonio. This bakery is well known for their San Antonio Pan De Dulce.
The two brothers, Luis Ramiro Jimenez and Frank Jimenez are the third generation of bakers. Luis Jimenez has been baking for over 56 years. Specializing in pan de dulce/Mexican pastries. Recipes have been passed down generational for over 100 years old. Frank is the face of Panaderia Jimenez who has generously served the Deco District and San Antonio community for the past five years. Not only has his baking skills, but his leadership qualities have impacted the Arts community and local non profits.
The Small Business of the Year Award recognizes an individual who is leading a successful company, contributes to the economic development of the community, and is highly respected within their industry.
Family Excellence in Business:
La Familia Cortez Restaurants
The Family Excellence in Business Award recognizes a family based business or legacy within the community.
Lifetime achievement award:
Joe Pena
Market President, Frost Bank
Joe Peña is a Market President at Frost Bank, a 150-year-old financial institution established in San Antonio, Texas. Joe is a graduate of the University of Texas at San Antonio, where he received his BBA in Accounting.
Joe’s career began at Frost Bank in 1982, where he started in Deposit Services. His career path continued within several bank departments, including Human Resources, Credit Analysis, International Banking, and currently works in the Corporate Banking Division. As Market President, Joe oversees the development of the southern sector of San Antonio for the bank and works with business entities, providing them with all their business banking needs.
Joe is a former Board Member of the South San Antonio Chamber of Commerce, and was the 2017 Board Chairman. He is also a graduate of the City South Leadership Academy. Joe currently serves on the Board of The San Antonio Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Board of Trustees for New Frontiers Public Charter Schools, Board Member of the Daughters of Charity Services of San Antonio and the Southside First Economic Development Council. He also sits on the Finance Committee for LiftFund. Joe served as Treasurer, then as Chairman of the Board for the CommuniCare Healthcare Centers, a full-service healthcare system serving Bexar, Kendall and Hays counties. Additionally, he has served on several boards, including Community Development Loan Fund, Accion Texas, and the Alamo Colleges District Citizens Bond Oversight Committee. Believing in education for the disadvantaged, Joe is involved in Communities in School, a high school mentoring program. He participates in many Career Day events within the various school districts in his market. In 2016, Joe was selected to membership in the Rey Feo Consejo Educational Foundation. The Rey Feo Consejo is comprised of business leaders in the community. The Consejo’s award college scholarships to deserving high school students in the San Antonio area.
Joe is a family man with a devotion to God, his wife Bernadette, his son and daughter-in-law and his grandchildren, Ella and Ozzi. In his spare time, Joe enjoys the sounds of great music, fishing and most importantly, spending time with his family.
The Lifetime Achievement Award recognizes an individual who has made significant and consistent contributions to our community over the course of their career within the non-profit, corporate, government, or small business sectors.
Vanessa Alonso
CEO, Alonso & Alonso Attorneys at Law
Andrew Anguiano
Co-Founder and CEO, Southside Craft Soda
Mariam Bah
Owner, Pure Aloha Bath & Beauty
Anthony Carrasco
Owner, Bellissima Laser Hair Removal
C. LeRoy Cavazos
Founder & CEO, Localism Inc.
James Chandler
CTO, IMG Studio
Estella Garcia-Perez
COO, Fairway Landscape & Nursery Inc
Roland Gonzales
Owner, Roland's Roofing
Salena Guipzot
Owner /Founder, Casa Guipzot
Raquel Hernandez
Owner, Charcuterie By Raquel
Lucinda Leal
President, Labor on Demand
Daniel Mezza
Founder & CEO, Puro Nitro Coffee
Eliana Mijangos-Brown
CEO and Founder, GEM (Growth, Equity, Marketing) Strategy
Manuel Oblitas
Managing Partner, VND
Parra & Co
Sofia Renteria
Owner, Plantaqueria
Carmen Tellez
Owner, Dewy Skin Studio
Presenting Sponsor:
Gold Sponsor:
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Bronze Sponsor:
Hola!
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