Speakers

Nancy Alvarez
Dr. Alvarez provides advice on marital and sexual problems as host of the TV program "Quien Tiene la Razon?"

Douglas Candelairo
Douglas Candelairo designs and builds gardens all over the island, and is the founder of Plantas de Caparra, one of the best-known ornamental plant companies in Puerto Rico.

Awilda Carbia
Comedienne and actress Awilda Carbia began her acting career at age five.

Deborah Carthy-Deu
Deborah Carthy-Deu became the second Miss Universe from Puerto Rico in 1985.

Alba Nydia Díaz
Alba Nydia Díaz is one of the brightest stars in the Puerto Rican entertainment industry.

María Amparo Escandón
María Amparo Escandón, a best-selling bilingual storyteller, published her first novel, Esperanza's Box of Saints, and its Spanish version, Santitos, in 1999.

Gloria Estefan
International superstar Gloria Estefan, who has more than 70 million albums sold worldwide and five Grammy Awards, is the most successful crossover performer in the history of Latin music.

Magali Febles
Magali Febles is a famous Dominican beautician, and the former owner of two luxurious spas in San Juan.

Don Francisco
With the stage name “Don Francisco,” Mario Kreutzberger hosts one of the most popular programs in Spanish-language television history, Sábado Gigante.

Alejandro Garcia
Garcia is director of the School of Social Work in the College of Human Services and Health Professions at Syracuse University (SU).

Lily García
Lily García is a Puerto Rican TV and radio personality, writer, motivational speaker and personal empowerment coach with more than 20 years of experience.

Francisco Goldman
Francisco Goldman is the author of three novels: The Long Night of White Chickens, The Ordinary Seaman, and The Divine Husband.

Alice Huyke
Alice Huyke has dedicated the last 45 years of her life teaching the culinary arts.

Giovanna Huyke
Puerto Rico’s most acclaimed bilingual culinary expert, Giovanna Huyke, is also a cookbook author and TV celebrity chef.

Jaime Manrique
Jaime Manrique was born in Barranquilla, Colombia and has written books, in English and Spanish, for thirty years.

Sonia Manzano
Sonia Manzano, a first-generation American of Latino descent, is an influential and positive role model for millions of children.

Angela Meyer
Angela Meyer is an actress, comedian and producer of television and theatrical works.

Denise Quiñones
Miss Universe 2001 Denise Quiñones is a stage, television and film actress as well as a professional dancer and singer.

Zuleyka Rivera
Zuleyka Rivera was crowned Miss Universe 2006 last July.

Juan Chi-Chi Rodriguez
In a career which spans four decades, Juan Chi-Chi Rodriguez won 22 Senior PGA Tour victories, eight regular PGA Tours, and has career earnings of over $7 million dollars.

Esmeralda Santiago
Esmeralda Santiago and her husband, Frank Cantor, founded CANTOMEDIA, a film and media production company, which has won numerous awards for excellence in documentary filmmaking.

Cristina Saralegui
Cristina Saralegui is a journalist with 30 years of experience who is recognized as one of the most influential role models for today’s Hispanic woman.