Negocios Now

www.negociosnow.com 6 Julio 2018 EZEQUIEL (ZEKE) FLORES Founder and CEO Entity: Flying Concessions Website: flyingcon cessions.com Zeke Flores is founder and CEO of Flying Concessions, an experienced airport retail, food and beverage concessionaire. He also is President of Flores Retail Corporation, a real estate company specializing in public-private partnerships, development, financing, brokerage, and advisory. Zeke knows first-hand the benefits of mentorship and is dedicated to providing educational opportunities for younger generations and talented employees. ALEJANDRA (ALEX) GARZA CEO Entity: AGG Consulting Website: aggconsulting. net Alejandra Garza is Founder and Owner of AGG Consulting, a strategic marketing and consulting firm that provides services to businesses and non- profit organizations. Alex has also served on various boards of community-based organizations for over 15 years. She has provided leadership in organizational strategic direction, board governance initiatives, and marketing strategies. Ms. Garza is currently a member of the Chicago Board of Education and the Metropolitan Planning Council of Chicago. CAMERINO GONZALEZ President Entity: Taqueria Los Comales Website: loscomales.com Camerino Gonzalez is the current President of Taqueria Los Comales. He has been supervising the management of all restaurant operations since 1973. Mr. Gonzalez is also president of TLC Licensing and TLC Franchising corporations, where he oversees the management of restaurant licensees and franchisees. In addition, he is the current president of Valley Grande Foods & Supplies, which manages all commissary operations related to purchasing and distribution to restaurant locations. DELIA GUTIERREZ MCLAUGHLIN President and CEO Entity: AzTech Innovation Website: goaztech.com Delia Gutierrez McLaughlin is an entrepreneur with more than 20 years of successful experience with technology innovation, supplier diversity and vendor management. She uses that experience as a business owner, a STEM advocate, and a lifelong student. In business, she partners with Fortune 500 clients, manages relationships, and expertly navigates the corporate landscape. This year Delia was celebrated as Latina Style's Entrepreneur of the Year in Chicago. She was also selected for the Latino Entrepreneurial Program at the Stanford Graduate School of Business. In addition, she has served as Aon's National Chairperson for Latino Business Networking to create opportunities for minorities. RICO MARTINEZ President & CEO Entity: Water Integrated Treatment Systems LLC Website: waterITsystems.com Rico Martinez is a mechanical electrical engineer who has worked in the wastewater treatment industry for over 25 years. Rico was the driving force behind the creation of Water IT Systems in 2015. He designed the plant, obtained materials, and aided in its construction. His company's success is based on providing a reliable, reputable, and efficient disposal facility that adheres to environmental regulations. He is affiliated with the American Gas Association, Edison Energy Institute, Class K Water Works of Illinois, and HACIA. He is also a USO member and involved with Habitat for Humanity. SERGIO MUÑOZ Founder and President Entity: Tecnica Environmental Services, Inc. Website: www. tecnicaenviro. com Sergio Muñoz is President of Tecnica Environmental Services. He has over thirty years of experience in performing AHERA inspections and complete environmental audits, air monitoring, project management and coordination, safety appraisals, and financing remediation projects. He was recognized by the Erie Neighbor House for supporting their mission and by HACIA as their 2017 Contractor of the Year. SAM SANCHEZ CEO Entity: Samco Enterprises, EMC Construction Website: thirdcoasthg. com Samuel Sanchez is the CEO of Samco Enterprises, an accomplished hospitality company, where he oversees all facets of the business. Mr. Sanchez has served as Corporate Secretary of the Illinois Restaurant Association since 2015. He currently serves as CEO of EMC Construction, a construction company that offers job skill training and employment opportunities to the community. ROBERT AGUILAR CEO Entity: Cabrera Capital Markets Website: cabreracapital. com Robert Aguilar serves as a CEO and CFO for Cabrera Capital Markets. He is responsible for all aspects of daily operations and overseas for several business groups for the company, including municipal finance, municipal securities trading, taxable fixed income, equity trading, and futures. Prior to joining Cabrera Capital, Robert served as Operations Manager for Schwarz Supply Source where he was responsible for twelve domestic and international distribution facilities in four countries. RAYMOND ALMADA President Entity: ReyCo LLC Website: reycollc.com Ray Almada opened ReyCo LLC in December 2015. He is a former union painter specializing in high-rise swing stage scaffolding and painting high-rise exteriors in Chicago. ReyCo specializes in ground penetrating radar services, but encompasses many other services. Mr. Almada was born and raised in Chicago under the guidance of hardworking parents. JULIO ARTEAGA President / Founder Entity: Arteaga Landscapes & Erosion Control LLC Website: arteagaland.com Julio Arteaga started working in horticulture shortly after finishing school in 2003. In 2012, he founded Arteaga Landscapes, focusing on landscape construction. Today Arteaga Landscapes is one of the leading landscaping contractors in the area. Arteaga Landscapes is recognized for its experienced team and great service. His company is an active donor to the charity, Brillantes Caminantes. OLGA CAMARGO Managing Partner Entity: FARO Website: torosoinv.com Olga Camargo is CEO and Founder for FARO Associates, a woman-owned business and nationally-certified Minority Business Enterprise, a specialist in operations consulting, risk management/ insurance brokerage and advisory services. With a combined 45 years of experience, the experts at FARO Associates have delivered high-quality tailored financial services to businesses, nonprofits, and government across industries that include education, construction, and healthcare. Olga is a Commissioner for Public Building Commission, the National Board Chair for HACE, serves on the Metropolitan Planning Council and Northeastern Illinois University Foundation boards, and a member of the IL State Treasurer's Hispanic Advisory Council. BUSINESS READ THE COMPLETE BIOS AT NEGOCIOSNOW.COM ADELA ORTEGA Founder and CEO Entity: Professional Locomotive Services, Inc. Website: plsworks.com Adela Ortega has much in common with the very locomo- tives she rebuilds. She is a determined woman who pulls life's train along, overcoming all obstacles on the track to success. When she founded Professional Locomotive Services, Inc. (PLS) in 1996 in Illinois, her business path had not been all that smooth. Today, the company is based in East Chi- cago, Indiana, and over twenty years old. It was a rough world of men galvanized like iron rails. She barely had $20,000 of capital that she took from her 401k retirement fund — and a newborn baby. "It was difficult. During the first year, I brought the baby with me to feed him, but I also had to do many other things at the same time," she recalls. Adela wore many hats as she began the PLS enterprise. She was the engineer, salesperson, administrative lead, marketing point person, accountant, strategist, and, soon, a single mother. The challenge of starting her own business and the joy of being a new mother combined to impact her character. At the beginning of her divorce, she left a comfortable job in downtown Chicago and moved to Naperville where she was hired by a company in the railroad industry. "The company leased railway cars to Mexican compa- nies, such as Cementos Mexicanos (Cemex). Then, I started selling locomotive batteries, and one day my boss offered me an opportunity to sell locomotives. My heart beat loudly! I could not sell something I did not know," she confesses. Then and there, Adela entered her future. First, she learned to understand the market, who purchases loco- motives, and who sells them. She spent hours studying and learning the business, researching diligently and with no Internet. The day she physically met the iron monster in person, she fell to her feet. "It was like a love at first sight. I remember the moment they opened the door of the locomotive, and I heard the sound of the engine. At that moment I began to see my future. I said, 'I have to make one of these," she smiles. LATINAS IN BUSINESS AWARD A Look Back on 5 Years of Who's Who DAN ARCE President and General Manager Entity: Tropical Optical Website: opticatropical.net HENRY CÁRDENAS President and CEO Entity:Cardenas Marketing Network Website: http:// cmnagency.com CESAR A. DOVALINA, JR. Founder/President Entity: Cristina Foods, Inc. Website: cristinafoodsinc.com ELIZABETH COLÓN President and Founder Entity: Metaphrasis Language and Cultural Solutions, LLC Website: metaphrasislcs.com EZEQUIEL FUENTES Owner and CEO Entity: Mi Tierra Restaurant South / El Toro Inc. Website: mitierraenlavillita.com JUAN GAYTAN, JR. President and Founder Entity: Monterrey Security Website: monterreysecurity.com JOSÉ JIMÉNEZ Founder Entity: Carnicerías Jiménez Website: carniceriasjimenez. com MIKE MORENO Founder Entity:Moreno's Liquors Website: www. morenosliquors.com MARIA DE J. PRADO Founder and President Entity: Prado & Renteria CPAs Profession Corporation Website: pradorenteria.com LUIS TOLEDO President and CEO Entity: Midwest Moving & Storage, Inc. Website: midwestmoving.com JEFF TOVAR Founder and CEO Entity: Tovar Snow Professionals Website: tovarsnow. com ARTHUR ZAYAS MILLER President Entity: MZI Group, Inc. Website: MZIGroup. com

• Cover