Radio Ink is pleased to announce the finalists for the prestigious 2018 Medallas de Cortez, the only awards dedicated to recognizing the very best in Hispanic radio. The Medallas de Cortez awards are named in honor of Raoul Cortez, founder of the first Spanish-language radio station in the United States, KCOR/San Antonio, in 1946. Raoul Cortez was a visionary for his time and a legend for all times in the annals of Hispanic radio.
Radio Ink Publisher Deborah Parenti said, “The Medallas de Cortez awards represent a celebration of Hispanic radio and its dedicated professionals. Every one of them, from major markets to small towns, are the reason why Hispanic radio continues to play such an integral part in the lives of listeners and clients. This year’s competition was especially impressive. We received a record number of nominations, including some from stations in markets hit hard by the recent hurricanes. The dedicated service and leadership they provided proved time and again the important role radio continues to play in the communities it serves. While there can be only one winner in each category, we are extremely proud to recognize all of the finalists, who are truly worthy of our respect and admiration.”
Winners will be announced at the ceremony on Tuesday, March 13 as part of the Hispanic Radio Conference, March 13-14 at the Intercontinental at Doral in Miami.
Here are the 2018 Medallas de Cortez Awards Finalists:
Broadcaster of the Year
Jack Hobbs, Revolver Podcasts
Norberto Sanchez, Norsan Media,
Tomas Martinez, Solmart Media
Carlos Moncada, AL & CM Broadcasting
Mike Flood, Flood Communications
Jim Kalmenson, Lotus Communications
Station of the Year
WITZ-AM & FM/Jasper, IN
KLNO-FM/Dallas-Ft. Worth, TX
KBGT-FM/Abilene, TX
KWID-FM/Las Vegas, NV
KLZT-FM/Austin, TX
WEMG-AM & FM/Philadelphia, PA
KOYE-FM/Tyler-Longview, TX
General Manager of the Year
Diana De Lara, KINT-FM/El Paso, TX
Hector Marcano, WRUM-FM/Orlando-Jacksonville-Tampa, FL
Christian De La Cruz, KRZZ-FM/San Francisco, CA
Donny Hudson, WXDJ-FM, WRMA-FM & WCMQ-FM/Miami, FL
Cary Camp, KOYE-FM/Tyler-Longview, TX
Ken Kwilosz, Lotus Arizona, Tucson, AZ
Humberto Hormaza, WNUE-FM/Orlando, FL
Shirley Davenport, WYMY-FM/Raleigh, NC
Sales Manager of the Year
Rich Ripley, KRCX-FM & KXSE-FM/Sacramento, CA
Melissa DelCarlo, KLBN-FM, KHIT-FM & KGST-AM/Fresno, CA
Rick Hernandez, WEPN-AM/New York, NY
Ericka Aguilar, KCMT-FM/Tucson, AZ
Jorge Castaneda, KDBI-FM & KPDA-FM/Boise, ID
Jason Strongin, KLVE-FM, KSCA-FM, KRCD-FM & KTNQ-AM/Los Angeles, CA
Program Director of the Year
Luis Montoto, WLMV-AM/Madison, WI
Tony Luna, KLOL-FM/Houston, TX
Ana Maria Carballo Gonzalez, WBON-AM/Nassau-Suffolk, NY
Danny Ortiz, WEPN-AM/New York, NY
Jorge Guillen, KLBN-FM/Fresno, CA
Jammin Johnny Caride, WXDJ-FM/Miami-Ft. Lauderdale, FL
Pepe Garza, KBUE-FM & KBUA-FM/Los Angeles, CA
Arnaldo Olivieri, WNUE-FM/Orlando, FL
Isabel Gonzalez, KLVE-FM/Los Angeles, CA
Javier Cosme Matias, WKAQ-AM/Puerto Rico
Syndicated/National Personality of the Year
Erazno Y La Chokolata
Tino Cochino
Stephanie “Chiquibaby” Himonidis
Alex “El Genio” Lucas
Ernesto Jerez
Alex Sensation
Local Personality of the Year
Patricia De Lima, WLZL-FM/Washington, DC
Alberto Alegre, KSAH-AM & FM/San Antonio, TX
Jose Luis High, KWLN-FM/Wenatchee-Moses Lake, WA
Juan “DJ Gallo” Lezama, WYMY-FM/Raleigh-Durham, Greensboro
Juan Manuel Yanez, KOYE-FM/Tyler-Longview, TX
Jaeson Cardona, WNUE-FM/Orlando, FL
Oswaldo Perez, KLZT-FM/Austin, TX
Ruben Sanchez, WKAQ-AM/Puerto Rico
Marketer of the Year
Joanna Alvarado, KBMG-FM/Salt Lake City-Ogden-Provo, UT
Rick Ramos, Katz Radio Group
Marco Gonzalez, LBI Media National
Vladimir Gomez, Spanish Broadcasting System
Guillermo Torres, Univision Communications, Dallas, TX
Craig Williams, KWID-FM, KLAV-AM & KENO-AM/Las Vegas, NV
The Hispanic Radio Conference is the only conference dedicated solely to Hispanic radio. Now in its ninth year, the conference attracts the industry’s key leadership in management, sales, and programming, whose combined audience reaches approximately 95 percent of the 59+ million Hispanics in this country.
