Message
LATINAStyle®
Publisher’s Founder & Publisher Anna Maria Arias
President & CEO Robert E. Bard
Robert@latinastyle.com
Chief Operating Lupita Colmenero
Officer Lupita@latinastyle.com
Managing Editor Gloria Romano-Barrera
Gloria@latinastyle.com
2021, A Year Like No Other
I am sure that this year will live in our memories as one of the most difficult times
that we’ve had to face in our lives. Everything in our world has been challenged, our
health, our family, our livelihood, our relationships, you name it. Nearly one-third of
Latina-owned small businesses have closed their doors. It has been a tremendous loss to
our community, especially since Latina-owned businesses are the economic engine of our
community. Our dreams and hopes have been under a relentless attack that as of today it
does not seem to let up.
We have been tested as individuals, as families, as a community, over and over again.
We have seen the worst and the best our country has to offer. We have learned to
distinguish who our real friends are. The good and the bad have come to the surface and a
silver lining, if there’s any, is that now we move forward with a collective team of friends and
supporters who really have our best interest at heart. To all of you who have been with us
throughout the years and all the new friends, we thank you. Without your support we could
have not survived. Allow me to repeat my favorite saying: YOU ARE NOT ALONE,
together we will overcome all the obstacles, don’t be afraid to reach out.
In spite of all the challenges, we have been able to produce, with our partners, all our
conferences, albeit virtually, six issues of LATINA Style Magazine and complete our 27th
year of publication. This issue highlights the achievements of Latinas in the military
services and veterans, outlining the coverage of our Distinguished Military Service Awards
during the National LATINA Symposium this past September. I want to thank Walmart for their
Title Sponsorship of the conference, the Department of Defense, USAA, General Motors,
JPMorgan Chase, Alice Rodriguez, chairwoman of the board for the United States Hispanic
Chamber of Commerce (USHCC), and Ramiro Cavazos, CEO, USHCC. We also thank
Congresswoman Grace Napolitano for returning as our Honorary Chair for the conference.
Your support has made all the difference.
We thank Nationwide, Wells Fargo, Comerica Bank, Bank of America, JPMorgan Chase,
and the Small Business Administration, for their staunch support of Latina entrepreneurship
and our LATINA Style Business Series.
In this edition, we also announce our Corporate Latina Executives of the Year and the
Employee/Business Resource Groups of the Year. We look forward to seeing you next
year at the LATINA Style 50 Awards and Diversity Leaders Conference on May 18th and
19th to congratulate you in person. We also congratulate the Honorable Carlos del Toro on
becoming Secretary of the Navy, a great role model to us all! You can read more about him
and his undertakings in this issue.
Finally, our deepest condolences to all the families that have lost dear ones this year. I
hope you will take the vaccines, I truly believe that it will help. And in the middle of all the
turmoil, we have welcomed Jerico Joel (JJ) Barrera and Angelina Juliette (Tita) Martinez to
the LATINA Style family, there has been not only sadness but joy as well.
4 www.latinastyle.com LATINAStyle Vol. 27, No. 6, 2021
Contributing Victor Hugo Coronado Castañeda
Graphic Designer
Contributors Adriana Rosales
Alondra Reyes
Carlos Del Toro
Christine Bolaños
Isabelle Anaya
Jennifer Velasquez McCord
Jose L. Montalvan
Jo-Ann F. Burdian
Marisa Rivera
Event Manager Jakki Perry
Jakki@latinastyle.com
Accounting & Maria E. Gallegos
Circulation Director maru@latinastyle.com
Director of Beana Ramirez
Corporate Relations Beana.d@latinastyle.com
Web Address www.latinastyle.com
Stock Photography istockphoto.com
Photo cover: Dr. Irene M. Zoppi Rodriguez, Brigadier General
U.S. Army Reserve (Ret).
Stay healthy, Stay safe.
LATINA Style is published bimonthly by LATINA Style, Inc. 2102 Empire
Central, Dallas, TX, 75235. Subscriptions are available at $20 for two years
for a total of 12 issues. To subscribe to LATINA Style call (214) 357-2186 or send
checks to LATINA Style Magazine, 2102 Empire Central, Dallas, TX,
75235. The publisher reserves the right to accept or reject any editorial
or advertising matter. Editorial submissions must be accompanied by a
self-addressed, stamped envelope. The publisher assumes no responsibility
for return of unsolicited manuscripts or art. No part of this magazine may
be reprinted or otherwise duplicated without the written permission of
the editor. Copyright by LATINA Style, Inc. All rights reserved. "LATINA
Style" (ISSN 1531-0868). Vol. 27, No. 6, 2021.
Robert E. Bard
Beana Ramirez with Angelina
Juliette Martinez born on
8/26/21.
Gloria Romano-Barrera with
Jerico Joel Barrera born on
4/15/21.
Photo by Annie N Photography.