Howard Kalmenson to receive Lifetime Achievement award at Medallas de Cortez Hispanic Radio Awards
January 14, 2012
B. Eric Rhoads, Publisher and CEO of Radio Ink, announced that Howard Kalmenson, President & CEO of Lotus Communications, has been named to receive this year’s Lifetime Achievement honor in Radio Ink’s Medallas de Cortez Hispanic Radio Awards. This is the highest honor in the Medallas de Cortez, named after Hispanic radio pioneer Raoul Cortez.
Kalmenson founded Lotus in 1962 with the purchase of KWKW-AM, one of Los Angeles’ original Spanish-language stations. The company has grown into one of the largest privately owned radio station groups in the United States, operating a total of 27 stations, 13 of them Spanish-language.
“Mr. Kalmenson’s long record of accomplishment and dedication to Spanish radio is recognized and admired among everyone in Hispanic media,” says Deborah Parenti, Radio Ink EVP/Radio and Hispanic Radio Conference manager.
Eric Rhoads adds, “Howard is a true pioneer who suffered tremendous hardship to follow the path he believed in for Hispanic radio. His efforts made today’s success possible, and the entire industry needs to come out to honor his trailblazing.”
Eduardo Caballero, previous recipient of the Medallas de Cortez Lifetime Achievement Award and this year’s Honorary Chair of the Hispanic Radio Conference, says, “Together with Herb Levin in Miami, Mel Karmazin in New York, and Nathan Safir in San Antonio, Howard Kalmenson played a very big part in my first connection with Spanish radio, when my late wife, Raquel, and I created Caballero Spanish Media/Caballero Radio Network, 40 years ago.
“Howard did not have to do Spanish radio on KWKW/Los Angeles and KOXR/Oxnard-Ventura, but he wanted to do it, he did it, and he continues with absolute dedication, pride, and a great deal of success. Howard and his company, Lotus Communications, are true pioneers in the U.S. Hispanic broadcasting industry. No one deserves the Lifetime Achievement Award more than mi amigo Howard, who has always served the Hispanic communities of Los Angeles with mucho respeto.”
