Small Business Owners Saluted

Rockland Community College Foundation, the state Small Business Development Center and Key Bank sponsored the first Hispanic Small Business Awards Luncheon, Celebrating Optimism and Opportunity, recently at the Union Restaurant in Haverstraw.

Nearly 90 people attended the event, which included business workshops along with the awards luncheon. Emily Dominguez, owner of the business solutions company emSOLUTIONS in Haverstraw, said she was humbled at receiving the award for Latina Entrepreneur of the Year.

Dominguez said she hopes that more Latino women are encouraged and able to start their own businesses, and also hopes that the event sponsors will continue to provide classes and workshops for new business owners.

John Alexander of Key Bank addressed the group in Spanish and, in addition to their shared sponsorship of the event, presented a Key Bank scholarship to benefit a local civic-minded Hispanic college junior or senior. The $1,500 award was given to RCC alumna Kimberly Neal-Tallandier, a mother of three from Haverstraw.

She is earning her bachelor’s degree from SUNY Cobleskill though attending classes right on the RCC campus. Neal-Tallandier also works part-time as an adviser at RCC’s Haverstraw Center.

Business Award 2011 Winners
Latino Business of the Year - Jorge Lopez  - Jorge Lopez Architect
Latino Corporate Citizen of the Year – David Martinez and Paulo Feteira - Union Restaurant
New Latino Business of the Year – Dr. Sandra Sadler – Pediatrics
Latina Entrepreneur of the Year – Emily Dominguez – emSOLUTIONS
Latino Entrepreneur of the Year – Rafael Bueno – Modern Hair Design