We are thrilled to honor Iris Alexia Marroquin as our Student of the Year at the 27th Excelente Awards Gala. Iris, a graduate from Rowan Early College with a 3.8 GPA, is a true embodiment of perseverance and leadership. Her diverse background, with a mother from California and a father from El Salvador, enriches her perspective and strengthens her connection to her heritage. She also proudly serves as a role model for her 14-year-old brother.

Hailing from China Grove, NC, and a proud U.S. native, Iris is set to attend Johnson & Wales University, majoring in Baking & Pastry Arts/Food & Beverage Management. Her ultimate dream is to one day apply her hospitality degree to become the owner of a restaurant or a hotel. Beyond her academic prowess, she has balanced numerous roles, including Student Body President, Crosby Scholar Action Leader, and the entrepreneur behind her home-based business, MD Sweet Treats where she is capable of baking and decorating 19 cakes in one weekend.

Iris openly shares the challenges she's faced, particularly as a Latina, navigating self-doubt and the weight of multiple responsibilities. Yet, she's transformed these into opportunities, using her unique perspective to inspire and advocate for her community. Her involvement with the Youth Empowerment Team and Salisbury Youth Council highlights her dedication to youth safety and community engagement. Iris is a remarkable role model, demonstrating that with hard work and determination, Latino students can overcome any perceived barriers and achieve their college dreams.

For over 18 years, Liliana has been a tireless force for good in our community. She is the inspiring volunteer Founder and Director of the Colombian Association of Charlotte NC, a role she has passionately held for 16 years. Through this vital organization, Liliana works diligently, without compensation, to connect the Latino community with essential resources, from aid during natural disasters with the Red Cross to crucial educational workshops.

A testament to her profound impact is the "Add Life to Your Years" program, which Liliana has coordinated for nine years. What began with 17 participants has blossomed under her volunteer leadership to empower over 380 seniors in our community. This incredible initiative provides health prevention talks, promotes physical activity through dance and exercise, and enriches lives with cultural events and outings, fostering a vibrant sense of belonging. The heartwarming success story of Cecilia, a cancer survivor who found renewed joy and a supportive family within this program, perfectly encapsulates Liliana's transformative work.

Liliana's commitment extends further as a board member of ENLACE, coordinating its Faith Committee, and actively collaborating with organizations like the Latin American Coalition and MeckMIN. She also champions Colombian culture, ensuring that Latino heritage thrives in our community.

She is a certified chaplain and a lay member of the United Methodist Church.

Liliana truly embodies the spirit of community service, showing us that every day is an opportunity to uplift, grow, and build a brighter future for all.

Jessica, a remarkable first-generation college student from Mint Hill, North Carolina, is a shining example of dedication and a true role model for Latino students everywhere. Currently pursuing a Bachelor of Science in International Business with a minor in Spanish at Appalachian State University, Jessica has a 4.0 GPA, a testament to her commitment to education.

Jessica's journey showcases incredible resilience. Her freshman year of high school presented a significant challenge: learning fully virtually due to COVID. This difficult period, which required her to take summer classes to stay on track, became a powerful turning point. Recognizing her performance wasn't reflective of her potential, she transformed this obstacle into motivation, consistently pushing for greater success. This drive led her to graduate from high school on time, with multiple awards and the prestigious International Baccalaureate Diploma an achievement she is very proud of.

This great academic foundation, coupled with her early, hands-on business experience, selling her father's home made bread door to door in the neighborhood, planted in her powerful seeds of ambition, hard work, and determination. These formative experiences prepared her for college-level work and ignited her passion for business and community mobilization.

Jessica's accomplishments are truly impressive. She has earned a spot on the Chancellor's List and was invited to an exclusive accounting dinner for top – performing students. Beyond academics, she's an executive member and first – year representative of the Latin Hispanic Alliance, an organization dedicated to promoting awareness of Latino culture at Appalachian State University. Her commitment extends to her work translating for The Appalachian newspaper ensuring vital local news is accessible to Spanish-speaking residents.

Inspired by her father’s entrepreneurial spirit, Jessica’s ambition to foster economic progress and strengthen relationships between Mexico and the United States makes her an extraordinary role model for all aspiring Latino students.

As President of Bank of America Charlotte, he is responsible for connecting banking and investment resources offered to people and companies across the region as well as deploying Bank of America’s resources to address social and economic concerns to help the Charlotte region thrive.

During his 42 year career in the financial industry, Kieth has held several key executive roles and is a passionate ally and advocate for Opportunity and Inclusion. Kieth is also an active member of the community serving as Board Chair of the Foundation For The Carolinas, Chair of the Finance and Audit Committee for Johnson C. Smith University as well as member of the Executive Committee, Board Member for United Negro College Fund, Charlotte Sports Foundation, HoopTee Foundation, My Brother’s Keeper Charlotte-Mecklenburg, Road 2 Hire, and is Past Chair of the Charlotte Regional Business Alliance. He also serves on the Board of Visitors for Davidson College.

He and his wife, Serena are proud parents of three adult children: an NFL Super Bowl Champion, a practicing Attorney in DC, and an Olympic Silver Medalist.

Johanna is the Chairwoman of the Latin American Chamber of Commerce of Charlotte, bringing formidable expertise in entrepreneurship and organizational growth. Her remarkable journey began 26 years ago, arriving in the U.S. from Bogotá, Colombia. For 16 years, Johanna has been a driving force as Co-Founder & CEO of Reliable Restorations, a thriving general contracting firm specializing in commercial property restoration and renovations. Her strategic acumen also extends to Snacket Foods, an innovative mobile catering company promoting local products.

Under Johanna's leadership, both companies have flourished, achieving over $6 million in annual revenues and employing 20 individuals. Her commitment to "Relentlessly Reliable" service and building long-term relationships has been paramount. Johanna's journey is a testament to her perseverance, transforming challenges into opportunities and balancing significant growth with sustainability. She is a proud alumna of prestigious programs, including the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses Program at Babson College and various executive programs at the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth College. She has earned prestigious awards, including the ICIC-Inner City 100 Fastest Growing Business award and the 2024 CBJ Most Admired CEO.

Johanna's success is rooted in her core principles: faith, integrity, reliability, and a growth mindset. She embodies leadership with heart, creating opportunities and actively mentoring Latino-owned businesses.

Away from her professional life, Johanna has been married to Mauricio Suarez for 26 years, and together they have three amazing adult children. The family shares a passion for travel, enriching their lives with diverse experiences and cultures from around the world.

As the Founder and CEO of Raydal Hospitality and President of Carolina Cooks, Dalton, who is originally from the Dominican Republic, has not only built a remarkable business empire but has also fostered a culture of opportunity and growth. A proud graduate with a Civil Engineering degree from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Dalton's entrepreneurial journey began in 2010 with a powerful mission: to revitalize an underperforming Mexican restaurant and, more profoundly, to create lasting wealth opportunities within his community.

By 2014, working alongside his wife Miriam and a dedicated team, Dalton successfully revitalized Three Amigos Mexican Grill & Cantina and brilliantly launched their now-iconic concept, Sabor Latin Street Grill. Dalton's success is a testament to his ability to embrace challenges and solve complex problems – a skill he masterfully applies to every facet of his enterprise. He leads with transparency, openly sharing both his triumphs and setbacks, and consistently empowers his team. What truly sets Dalton and Raydal Hospitality apart is his groundbreaking philosophy: he champions the idea of offering employees—from managers to cooks and beyond—the remarkable opportunity to become partners in the business. This visionary approach has transformed Raydal Hospitality into a genuine entrepreneurial incubator, nurturing the next generation of business leaders.

Today, Raydal Hospitality Group proudly owns and operates 19 restaurants across four concepts: Three Amigos Mexican Kitchen & Cantina, Sabor Latin Street Grill, La Caseta, and MaBi Tropical.

Furthermore, Sabor has expanded its reach with three successful franchised locations right here in the greater Charlotte area. These collective ventures generate $20 million in annual revenues and provide employment for 265 dedicated individuals. Despite his incredible professional achievements, Dalton remains grounded, valuing his time at home and enjoying evenings with his wife and two sons.

For more than two decades, Alvaro Gurdián Jr. has been at the helm of La Noticia, the leading Spanish-language media company based in Charlotte, North Carolina. As publisher, he is a champion for the Latino community, providing them with essential news and information to help them thrive and succeed.

Alvaro’s commitment to community extends to his great work for independent and minority-owned media. As President of the National Association of Hispanic Publications (NAHP), he’s at the forefront of the national journalism ecosystem, helping publishers strengthen their operationsand develop sustainable business models for the future.

He is also deeply dedicated to advancing education. Serving as Vice-President of the La Noticia Education Foundation, he has helped lead the effort to award more than $300,000 in college scholarships over the last 22 years. Thanks to his work, countless Latino students have been able to pursue their academic goals.

A proud alumnus of the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Alvaro holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Science.

Jane has been an anchor/reporter at NBC affiliate, WCNC Charlotte, since 2022. You can catch her regularly on weekdays at 4 PM, plus she now anchors LIVE Impact News on WCNC PLUS, the station’s streaming platform, from 9-11 every morning. She was recently nominated for an Emmy for her breaking news anchoring work in 2024.

Before joining WCNC, Jane was the evening anchor and investigative reporter at WFTX in Fort Myers, Florida, where her work also earned her an Emmy nomination and recognition from the Florida Association of Broadcasters. Her career includes stops at major markets including Los Angeles, Denver, South Texas, and Kansas City.

Jane graduated with honors from the University of Miami with a bachelor’s degree in international finance and marketing. She’s a memberof the Screen Actors Guild and volunteers for Blumenthal Performing Arts. Back in the day, Jane was also a competitive amateur Latin ballroom dancer. Now, in her spare time, she meets with her tutor (virtually) for her weekly Spanish lesson.