Lifetime Achievement honoree
Dr. Antonia Coello Novello,
MD. MPH. Dr. PH.
Pioneer Award Honoree José
Nido, Vice President, Global
Supplier Diversity, Wyndham
Destinations.
She completed her subspecialty training in
pediatrics and pediatric nephrology at the University of
Michigan in Ann Arbor and Georgetown University.
Following her training, she worked at the National
Institutes of Health later becoming Deputy Director of
the Child Health and Human Development Institute.
She served in this capacity until becoming the U.S.
Surgeon General in 1990. Dr. Novello has a Master’s
degree in Public Health (1982), and a Doctor of Public
Health (2000) from the Johns Hopkins School of
Hygiene and Public Health. She holds countless
awards, among them 57 Honoris Causa degrees.
Similarly, she was given the Legion of Merit by General
Colin Powell.
Dr. Novello was the first woman, and the first
Latina to be appointed U.S. Surgeon General. She was
appointed by President George Bush in 1990 and
served in the position until 1993. After her
tenureship, she was assigned to UNICEF as Special
Assistant to the Director, and thereafter she
became the New York State Health Commissioner
(1999-2006), and in 2008, the Executive Director of
Public Health Policy at Florida Hospital, until 2014
when she retired.
Currently, she is a spokesperson and
public health advocate for the prevention efforts
regarding coronavirus in Puerto Rico. She is
also involved with VOCES Vaccines Coalition, and
with the National Guard of Puerto Rico vaccinating
Diane Sears, Central Florida
Regional Director, WBEC
Florida.
for Influenza the whole island of
Puerto Rico.
Pioneer Award Honoree was
José Nido, Vice President, Global
Supplier Diversity, Wyndham
Destinations. Nido is the vice
president of global supplier diversity
at Wyndham Destinations. He is
responsible for managing the
development and implementation of
a world-class supplier diversity
program across Wyndham
Destinations, growing the number of
diverse suppliers within the
company’s portfolio and increasing
diverse business partnerships while
cultivating positive relationships and
building goodwill within the diverse
business community. Over the years,
under Nido’s leadership, Wyndham has been listed on
the DiversityInc’s Top 10 Companies for Supplier
Diversity specialty list, and in 2014, Wyndham was
presented the DiversityInc Top Company for Supplier
Diversity Award.
Entrepreneur of the Year
Award honoree Marisa
Rivera, President &
CEO, Mpowerment
Works.
Entrepreneur of the Year Award honoree was
Marisa Rivera, President & CEO, Mpowerment Works.
Rivera is a social entrepreneur and global citizen who
provides dynamic presentations and seminars that
captivate the audience and empowers them to become
Wendy Platon, CPA, President,
WP Accounting Services.
agents of change. She also provides
innovative consulting and coaching
ser vices on program development
tailored to each client needs by
empowering people. Throughout her
career, Rivera has shared her
experience and personal knowledge
on becoming an effective leader in
today’s global marketplace in the
corporate, government and non-profit
sectors as well as in schools, colleges,
and universities both in the U.S.
and abroad.
“I am humbled and honored to
receive the Entrepreneur of the Year
award from LATINA Style. I accept it
on behalf of the millions of Latinas in
this country who are using their
innovation, creativity, hard work and
boldness to face the many challenges of running
a business even during a global pandemic and
economic crisis,” says Rivera. “Thank you, Robert Bard,
and thank you LATINA Style Business Series for
forging the way for so many Latinas and providing a
voice and a platform for Latinas to thrive. Latina
business owners will continue to lead and be the face
of America’s small businesses. ¡Muchisimas Gracias!”
Closing Remarks were provided by title sponsor
Vanessa Hyden, Director, Claims Quality Assurance,
Nationwide, co-chairs Karen Vergara, CPA, Fiduciar y
Financial Advisor, AllGen Financial Advisors, Inc.
and Lourdes Mola, President & Founder, Lourdes Mola
Solutions.
The program could not be possible without the support of following. Title Sponsors:
Nationwide and American Airlines. Partners: Florida State Hispanic Chamber of
Commerce, Prospanica Orlando, National Association of Women Business Owners
(NAWBO). United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce; Hispanic Chamber of
Commerce Metro Orlando; Telemundo Orlando; South Florida Hispanic Chamber of
Commerce.
LS
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33 LATINAStyle Vol. 27, No. 1, 2021 www.latinastyle.com
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