La Paz Chattanooga, the longest-serving non-profit organization working directly with the Chattanooga area’s rapidly-growing Latino population, announced on Tuesday finalists for the 2023 Latino Leadership Awards. Having added new award categories and updated the event format from a luncheon to an evening soirée with dinner and dancing, the team at La Paz is eager to elevate these Latino leaders making a noticeable impact in the Chattanooga area, officials said.
“We received some truly outstanding nominations this year — choosing finalists was no small feat, and it’s safe to say that our selection committee has their work cut out for them in choosing winners,” said La Paz Chattanooga Executive Director Stacy Johnson.
“We hope you’ll join us in celebrating these incredible professionals, organizations and community members for all they do to make our city a more connected and inclusive Chattanooga.”
Award categories, as well as finalists in each category, are listed below:
Latino Leader of the Year
Paulo Hutson Solórzano, A Medida Communications
Liz Gibbons, Chattanooga School of Language
Iris Negrete-Regagnon, Hamilton County Schools International Welcome Center
Chattanooga’s Choice
Dylan Rivera, City of Chattanooga
Arnold Alexis Ruelas, Entrepreneur/Consultant
Viridiana Marin, Chattanooga Community Fridge/Tennessee Immigrant & Refugee Rights Coalition
Latino Community Champion Award (organization/business)
The Enterprise Center
Hamilton County Schools
Cempa Community Care
Brewer Media/Tu Radio
Hamilton County Health Department
Emerging Latino Leader Award
Daisy Hernandez Puac, Howard School
Mateo Jimenez, The Enterprise Center
Liliana Trejo Zavaleta, Red Bank High School
La Paz Volunteer of the Year Award
Velvet Hernandez-Johnson for leadership in Tech Goes Home Spanish classes
Raiza Barahona & Amira Marquez Moreno for helping launch the La Paz food pantry
Ashton Jolley for crucial support in building efforts for Latino student success
Latino Business of the Year
The Local Juicery + Kitchen, Luis Contreras and Gisela Bellina
Supermercado El Sol, Carlos Perez
LogistiX, Carlos Garcia
Latino New Business of the Year
MR Construction LLC, Ivan and Marta Manrique
CulturAlly, Angela Garcia
Ayelet’s Style Indigenous Mexican Art, Claudia Berck
The 2023 Latino Leadership Awards will take place on Thursday, Sept. 21 at The Westin Chattanooga, 801 Pine St. To learn more about the event and award categories and to purchase tickets, visit
lapazchattanooga.org/awards.