LATIN TIMES MEDIA INC.
SPRING HILL, FLORIDA

2008 Tampa Bay Business Journal, Business Woman of the Year in Media; 2007 Tampa Bay Business Journal, Minority Business Person of the Year in Business Services Jolie R. Gonzalez was born and raised in Chicago, IL to parents Carmen Santiago and Orlando Rodriguez, of Puerto Rican descent. In 2000, in search of new opportunities, Jolie relocated to Tampa Bay, and after taking a crash course in publishing, and “business 101” and while knowing only a handful of people in the Tampa and Orlando areas, she started her first publication; C.L.U.B. Magazine, (City of Latin Urban Beats!). The mini-magazine was a digest size and targeted mainly Latin Entertainment. The magazine eventually began distribution to the Metro Orlando area. Today, her publication is called Latin Times Magazine, a full-size color, glossy (bi-lingual) publication that combines Business, Community, Culture, and Entertainment, in an impressive presentation. It offers statewide businesses a viable marketing and advertising tool by which to reach local Hispanic consumers. Latin Times Magazine is available for FREE at approximately 2,000 locations throughout Florida. In early 2002, she became the Founder and Director of the Latin ConneXions Business Networking Socials a series of business oriented events in Tampa Bay and Metro Orlando, hosting over 30 unique and exciting events in 2011. These networking socials effectively promote local business, services, products, and businesses. Scheduled events include its popular and successful monthly networking series, 1st Fridays! In early 2004, Jolie Gonzalez created the “e-Latino Weekly” Newsletter, which is an electronic Newsletter which features local and international news, cultural articles, and current events. The newsletter is emailed to over 25,000 professionals throughout Florida each week. In April of 2006, Ms. Gonzalez was awarded the prestigious “Hispanic Business Woman of the Year” award by the Puerto Rico Cultural Parade Organization of Tampa Bay. Jolie Gonzalez is also a Founding/Former Board Member of HYPE (Hispanic Young Professionals and Entrepreneurs), a former Board Member of Puerto Rico Chamber of the Gulf Coast, and of Latino Leadership. In early 2007, Jolie Gonzalez was awarded the 2007 Tampa Bay Business Journal’s Minority Business Person of The Year Award. In mid-2007, Latin Times Magazine was awarded the Idolo Award which was presented by Tampa Bay’s Historical Centro Asturiano, for best Spanish Owned Magazine in Tampa Bay. In early 2008, Jolie Gonzalez was awarded the 2008 EXITO Award for Women Entrepreneurs by the Hispanic Business Initiative Fund of Tampa Bay. Annual Hispanic Legislative Conference, exposing her publication to a national audience for the first time. In late 2008, Jolie Gonzalez was awarded the 2008 Tampa Bay Business Journal’s Business Woman of the Year in Media! Late in 2008, Jolie Gonzalez in collaboration with Higher Dreams Productions created Latin Times TV, an internet Magazine show. In 2009, Jolie Gonzalez became a founding board member of Tampa Latin Chamber of Commerce, and was named one 2010’s Women as Visionaries in Tampa Bay! In 2011 Jolie received the Builder of Community Award by Univision and FMCRC at the Let’s Do Business Florida Summit. In 2012, Ms. Gonzalez helped to organize a merger between the two leading local Hispanic/Latino chambers of commerce in Tampa Bay, and was elected as President of the merged organization the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Tampa Bay. Vice President / Partner of Latin Times Media, Inc. A Tampa Native, Victor Padilla attended High School at Tampa Bay Technical High School, and attended Hillsborough Community College, going on to later attend Gulf Coast Community College and majoring in Business Administration. Victor is of Puerto Rican/ Sephardic Jewish descent, the son of Victor and Ana Padilla both Ministers and Missionaries, and an inspiration for him in 1985 to begin Ministry School. Victor graduated from The Institute of Ministry at Gospel Crusade (Christian Retreat) in Bradenton, FL. Victor was also a staff Instructor for the Missionary Jungle Training Survival School outreach in Bradenton, FL. Victor traveled to Haiti in 1985 to build a church with a team formed by his Father Victor Padilla Sr., Jim and Karen Smith. Victor Padilla also graduated from the Business Academy of the University of San Juan, Puerto Rico. Victor then worked in the Healthcare and Pharmaceutical business for over 20 years and taught Pharmacology and Spanish for Healthcare workers. Victor is the Vice President/Partner of Latin Times Media Inc., he is also editor/photographer and with his wife Jolie Gonzalez-Padilla work and publish their Bilingual Magazine “Latin Times”. Victor works closely with entertainers, celebrities, actors, actresses, and in the spiritual realm with Pastors, evangelists, and ministries in the Tampa Bay Area and internationally. – 2009 Victor Padilla Becomes Vice President/Partner of Latin Times Magazine and Latin Times Media Inc. Latin Chamber Business Person of the Year, “Being Puerto Rican, I always felt like I pertain to this community even though I’m not international. We share that same sense of being different and having a culture that directly affects the way we do things. But, to many students, Puerto Ricans -pretty much exclusively- are almost seen as like a different breed of people. Where we are not American enough but we are not Hispanic enough either.” The study found 51 percent of Hispanic students who start college complete their bachelor’s degree in six years compared to 59 percent of white students. Even the Hispanic-serving institutions – federal program created to help first generation Hispanic students – graduate less than half of Hispanic students. Lezama works at the University of South Florida trying to help Hispanic students in any way she can. She feels universities and colleges do okay when it comes to helping Hispanic students. However, she also knows that a lot more needs to be done.