Last week I attended the Latin American Association 23rd Annual Compañeros Awards Luncheon.  Held at the Georgia Aquarium on April 29, 2012, this year’s event was especially festive with the LAA celebrating 40 years! Nick Valencia, Journalist at CNN and President of the Atlanta Chapter of National Association of Latino Journalists, served as the Master of Ceremony for the event.  One of my favorite people, filmmaker and community icon Moctesuma Esparza was the keynote speaker.  I was quite looking forward to the Compañeros Luncheon, especially because it always attracts Atlanta’s most influential Latino leadership, who are making a significant impact on Georgia and the nation.

This year the LAA had quite an impressive group of honorees.  Awardees included Philip Alequín, Jr., Turner Broadcasting System for Outstanding Community Leadership, Service and Commitment; House Minority Leader Stacey Abrams for Outstanding Public Service; Wells Fargo for Exemplary Corporate Leadership; Lino Domínguez, Founder, MundoHispánico for Media Excellence; and María Vargas, Perseverance Award.  Congratulations to all of the awardees!

Thank you to my friend LAA Board Member Ricki Fairley-Brown of Dove-Marketing, who invited me to be her guest at the event.  I love Ricki and always enjoy spending time with her.  Ricki is such a delight and I am sure she is an invaluable asset to the Latin American Association.