Tere Zubizarreta honored with Eduardo Caballero Lifetime Achievement Award.

Tere Zubizarreta, founder and CEO of Zubi Advertising, one of the nation’s leading independent Hispanic marketing agencies, was honored with one of the industry’s highest honors – the Eduardo Caballero Lifetime Achievement Award presented by the Association of Hispanic Advertising Agencies (AHAA). During a special luncheon at the 21st semiannual AHAA conference, advertising professionals from around the country and local opinion leaders tipped their hats to a pioneer of the flourishing industry that specializes in marketing to the nation’s 44.2 million Hispanics.

“I am truly humbled to receive the Eduardo Caballero award, especially here in front of my peers and the future leaders of the Hispanic advertising industry,” said Tere Zubizarreta, CEO and president of Zubi Advertising. “The last 30 years have brought me joy and wisdom, a testament to the pleasure it’s been for me to build this agency with wonderful co-workers and clients – all with the goal of communicating meaningful messages to the Hispanic community.”

During the AHAA conference, taking place in downtown Miami from September 19-21, the association boldly redefined Hispanic consumers using a new language – one of cultural identity rather than Spanish or English. The conference delved deep into Latino character and identified a new marketing model for U.S. Hispanic agencies to communicate and connect with Latinos even more effectively. The awards luncheon also recognized the winners of the 2006 Circulo Creativo Young Creatives Competition, highlighting the top emerging talent in the industry.

“AHAA is thrilled to honor Tere with our industry’s most coveted award,” said Carl Kravetz, chairman of AHAA and chairman/chief strategic officer of cruz/kravetz:IDEAS. “As we embark on the next phase of advertising using the new Latino cultural identity model, it is appropriate that we honor this visionary, who like us and other visionaries strive to forge a deeper understanding of the Hispanic consumer. Tere is a true pioneer of the industry and is most deserving of this recognition for her remarkable accomplishments.”

It was over three decades ago that Tere founded Zubi Advertising in a rented office with one phone and a borrowed typewriter. She was a Cuban-American woman starting a business in the male-driven 70’s corporate America. One of her first clients was The Miami Herald, who was seeking an agency to market its new Spanish-language newspaper, El Nuevo Herald.

Since then, El Nuevo Herald has grown exponentially to become one of the nation’s largest, and so has Zubi.

Against all odds, Tere has led the Coral Gables-based agency and its staff of over 100 employees to soaring levels of success with projected billings of $175 million for 2006 and a remarkable list of Blue Chip clients, namely American Airlines, Ford Motor Company, Progressive Direct and SC Johnson to name a few.

Throughout a distinguished career in broadcasting, Eduardo Caballero has exemplified charisma, vision and an unrelenting determination to make a difference in his field and more importantly, for the Hispanic community. Zubizarreta has been no different. She’s been quoted many times as saying Zubi employees are more like her team and she is only the coach.

“Tere’s confidence, perseverance, and passion has inspired and will continue to motivate generations of marketing professionals,” said Kravetz. “Her entrepreneurial spirit and drive to succeed have catapulted Zubi Advertising to tremendous success, while her trailblazing attitude has propelled our industry as a whole.”

Over the last several years, Tere has passed on more of the day to day activities of the agency to her “assistant coaches” and kindred, son Joe and daughter Michelle, who operate the company as chief operating officer and chief administrative officer respectively.

The Latino Character of Tere Zubi by Luis Miguel Messianu

Here’s to a great character…
Ejemplar mujer
Alegre cubana
Pionera y guerrera incansable
Que a todos enseñó a crecer

Here’s to a proud Latina
An example of strength of character…
Whose thirst for freedom
Gave her wings and opened doors
For her, her family and all of us.

Here’s to a woman we all admire
She never feared risks…
She trusted her dreams…
With faith and perseverance
She soared and paved the road

Here’s to our dear Tere
You make us proud!
You helped erase Stereotypes
You’re ONE OF A KIND.
We cherish you and what you’ve built…
Your legacy will always live among us!