50 Hispanic Business Owners Closer To Winning $100,000.

The Top 50 finalists for El Visionario (“The Visionary”), the online Spanish language contest for small business owners have been selected (See Full List Below). Ford Motor Company in partnership with AOL Latino launched the contest in July 2005 to discover the next Hispanic business visionary, someone who embodies the entrepreneurial spirit and demonstrates that Hispanics are leaders in successful small business ownership.

Hundreds of applications for the groundbreaking contest were submitted electronically at the Ford Mi Negocio website, www.ford.com/go/minegocio, and via U.S. mail following a call to entry period that lasted from July 20th to September 2nd. The El Visionario Panel of Advisors, composed of leaders in the Hispanic business community, selected the Top 50 El Visionario finalists on September 9th in Miami based on the creativity, clarity and strategy reflected in their answers to the application questions about their businesses and future strategies for success.

“I am honored to be selected as a finalist for the El Visionario contest,” said Alejandro Espinal, owner of Miami-based AF International and one of the Top 50 finalists. “I want to thank Ford for this wonderful opportunity to grow my business.”

For being selected as a finalist, the Top 50 contestants will receive an AOLR Optimized PCR computer and AOL Latino membership for one year. The contestants are competing for a grand prize that includes a $25,000 cash award towards his/her small business, a brand new 2006 Mercury Mountaineer, $25,000 in business services (legal, finance, marketing) and a business profile in Hispanic Business and Hispanic Magazine, for a total estimated value of $100,000.

“Ford is proud to continue to support Hispanic entrepreneurs by providing them with an opportunity to obtain valuable resources to develop their businesses through the El Visionario business contest,” said Armando Ojeda, director of Supplier Diversity Development, Ford Motor Company. “We wish each of the Top 50 finalists the best of luck in the next phase of the contest and with their individual businesses.”

From September 28rd until October 7th, the general public is invited vote for their favorite El Visionario contestants by visiting the Ford Mi Negocio website, http://www.ford.com/go/minegocio . The Top 5 vote getters will be invited to
Miami on October 13th for a high profile event where they will be recognized by Ford, AOL Latino and community leaders. Beginning October 18th, the general public will again be invited to vote at the Ford Mi Negocio website, this time for the winner of El Visionario, who will be announced the week of November 15th. Online voters will also be eligible to win prizes such as digital cameras, subscriptions to business magazines and gift cards.

Ford’s EL VISIONARIO Top 50 Finalists

CALIFORNIA (9)
. Javier Rodriguez, J&R Fleet Services, LLC, Fontana, CA
. Danny Rodriguez, Bella Vic Entertainment, Sherman Oaks, CA
. Marco Anaya, Mercadotek, Fontana, CA
. Jose Lopez, Marketing USA, Monrovia, CA
. Luis Henriquez, L. Henriquez & Associates, Palo Alto, CA
. William Paulet, Paulet & Son Transportation, Colton, CA
. Felipe Gomeztrejo, IgorGIS, San Francisco, CA
. Carlos Gamarra, Go Computers, Granada Hills, CA
. Samuel Fuentes, 2000 Fuel, Whittier, CA

FLORIDA (13)
. Alejandro Espinal, AF International, Miami, FL
. Jose Luque, Merkatum, Coral Gables, FL
. Luis Baron, TV Net Productions, Inc., Sarasota, FL
. Luisa Barrios, Imagenes P&M Inc., Homestead, FL
. Lilly Blanco, Azuca Visual & Audio Design, Miami, FL
. Francisco Bustos, Daflores.com, Miami, FL
. Iradia Brouwer, Coral Reef Creations, Miami, FL
. Jorge Perez, Jorge Perez Real Estate Inc., Miami, FL
. Mari Sallaberry-Mallicote, Unforgettable Events & Productions,Inc., Lutz, FL
. Franklin Forte, Florida Truck Parts & Accessories, Inc., Miami,FL
. Javier Valerrama, Opportunities All Over the World, Plantation,FL
. Eduardo Munoz, Intl. Carnival of Carnivals Organizations, N.Miami, FL
. Sandra Escobar, Highland Food Resources Inc., Sunrise, FL

ILLINOIS (1)
. Juan Martinez, JNRC Capital Investments, LLC, Plainfield, IL

MASSACHUSSETS (1)
. Juan Carlos Lopez, LatinosUSA Communications LLC, North Andover,MA

MARYLAND (1)
. Carlos Devis, Bosa Systems Corp., Potomac, MD

NEW JERSEY (5)
. Mario Saquisela, Sabores Latinos Corp., West New York, NJ
. Ricardo Tobon, Tobon Cod Express LLC, Edgewater, NJ
. Juan Carlos Garcia, Joberus Inc., Union City, NJ
. Osary Rodriguez, Oficina Dental, Queens, NJ
. Blanca Torres, G2 Cleaning LLC, Piscataway, NJ

NEW MEXICO (1)
. Annette Morales, Medius Inc., Las Cruces, NM

NEW YORK (6)
. Miguel A. Sanchez, Autoenciclopedia.Inc, Baldwin Harbor, NY
. Carlos Vassallo, Latin Vision Media Inc., New York, NY
. Olga Barba, Soap Scents Designs, Inc., Scarsdale, NY
. Christopher Castro, Fiesta Corp., Brentwood, NY
. Carolina Zaballa, Yajaira Co., New York, NY
. Omar Rivera, Samix International, Inc., Sea Cliff, NY

OHIO (1)
. Angel Ramos, Latino Media Group, Cleveland, OH

PENSYLVANIA (1)
. Ivette Bermudez, Genesis “The Beginning of Your Image”, Bethlehem, PA

TENNESSEE (1)
. Ricardo Santiago, Mexico Depot Inc., Nashville, TN

TEXAS (7)
. Roberto Martinez, Globe International Investments, LLC, Houston, TX
. Arturo Pinzon, Spanish Tech, Austin, TX
. Elizabeth Avelar, e-Avelar Hispanic Marketing, San Antonio, TX
. Javier Ortiz, Javier Ortiz Consulting, El Paso, TX
. Ninive Banez, Banez Enterprises, Fabens, TX
. Gloria Gonzalez, GMA Notary Services, El Paso, TX
. Mario Alberto Rangel, Semera, Brownsville, TX

UTAH (1)
. Julian Guzman, Guzman.MBA, West Jordan, UT

VIRGINIA (2)
. Pamela Pineda, Realtor Top Producer RE/MAX Allegiance, Springfield, VA
. Jose Vanegas, Equator Productions, South Riding, VA