The Medallas de Cortez awards are named in honor of Raoul Cortez, founder KCOR, the first Spanish-language radio station in the United States, in 1946. His passion, dedication, and visionary nature are not only the stuff of which dreams are made, but serve to inspire and carry forward those dreams and continue to make Hispanic radio a compelling force in media and the communities it serves.

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Here are this year’s finalists:

Marketer of the Year

Tony Garcia
Global Media Services

Andy Sanchez
Radio Rancho LLC, Twin Falls-Sun Valley, ID

Raysa Rodriguez-Leon
Katz Radio Group

Rick Ramos
Katz Radio Group

Karina Cerda
Entravision, Los Angeles, CA

Carla Sanez Aroushanian
Univision

Local Personality of the Year

Dani Lomeli
KEGH-FM, Salt Lake City-Ogden-Provo, UT

Juan Lezama
WYMY-FM, Raleigh-Durham/Greensboro-Winston Salem, NC

Elsa Sanchez
WLZL-FM, Washington, DC

Carolyn “Dulce Carolina” Benavides
KTAM-AM, Bryan-College Station, TX

Rita Rodriguez
KMMQ-FM, Omaha-Council Bluffs, NE

Cruz Santibanez
WYMY-FM, Greensboro-Winston Salem-High Point, NC

Raul Brindis
KLTN-FM, Houston-Galveston, TX

Syndicated/National Personality of the Year

Stephanie “Chiquibaby” Himonidis
DEG Entertainment

Eddie “Piolin” Sotelo
Entravision

El Bueno, La Mala, y El Feo
Univision

El Show de Erazno y La Chokolata
Entravision

Armida y La Flaka
MLC Media

Program Director of the Year

Angel Aguilar
KNIV-FM & KEGH-FM, Salt Lake City-Ogden-Provo, UT

Candy Cintron
WLZL-FM, Washington, DC

Jammin Johnny Caride
WXDJ-FM, Miami-Ft. Lauderdale-Hollywood, FL

Nio “Encendio” Fernandez
WYUU-FM, Tampa-St. Petersburg, FL

Gustavo Aguilar
WLFM-FM, WVKO-FM & WOXY-FM, Cleveland/Columbus/Cincinnati, OH

Oscar Rios
Univision

DOS/Sales Manager of the Year

Armando Lapido
iHeartLatino

Jorge Castañeda
Radio Rancho LLC, Boise, ID

Carolina Patino
Spanish Broadcasting System, Miami-Ft. Lauderdale-Hollywood, FL

Jason Strongin
Univision, Los Angeles, CA

Alison Hendrix
Entravision, Palm Springs, CA

Market/General Manager of the Year

Belia Paz
Aerostar Media, Salt Lake City-Ogden-Provo, UT

Romeo Herrera
R Communications LLC, McAllen-Brownsville, TX

Victor Martinez
WHOL-FM, Allentown-Bethlehem/Reading, PA

Claudia De Leon
La Mega Media Inc, Cleveland/Columbus/Cincinnati OH

Doug Levy
Univision, Chicago, IL

Station of the Year

KNIV-FM
Salt Lake City-Ogden-Provo, UT

KTAM-AM
Bryan-College Station, TX

WEMG-AM
Philadelphia, PA

KLLI-FM
Los Angeles, CA

WAMR-FM
Miami-Ft. Lauderdale-Hollywood, FL

Broadcaster of the Year

Norberto Sanchez
Norsan Media

Alfredo Plascencia
Lazer Broadcasting

Tomas and Mercedes Martinez
Solmart Media, Sarasota-Bradenton, FL

Alfa Cortorreal
WHOL-FM, Allentown-Bethlehem/Reading, PA

Jesus Lara
Univision

Otto Padron
Meruelo Media