Congratulations to the 2022 Tampa Hispanic Man and Woman of the Year!

Congratulations to Anthony Perez and Grace Maseda Sainz, Tampa Hispanic Heritage Inc. 2022 Tampa Hispanic Man and Woman of the Year!

Just attended the 34th Annual Tampa Hispanic Heritage, Inc. 2022 Hispanic Man and Woman of the Year Gala, held at Armature Works on October 21, 2022, in Tampa, Florida. As always, it was an amazing event, filled with laughter, joy, dancing, music, and delicious food. And as always, it was an inspiring, motivational, and meaningful night highlighting the lifetime work and achievements of Anthony Perez , the 2022 Tampa Hispanic Man of the Year, and Grace Maseda-Sainz, APR, MSM , the 2022 Tampa Hispanic Woman of the Year.

The Gala is one of Tampa Hispanic Heritage, Inc.’s signature events held during Hispanic Heritage Month, bringing people in the Tampa Bay area together to celebrate the region’s rich Hispanic heritage while simultaneously raising funds towards higher education scholarships for deserving Hispanic students.?The Hispanic Man and Woman of the Year Award is a lifetime achievement award that honors Hispanics who have contributed significantly to the success of our community. These Hispanic men and women have excelled in their endeavors to advance, promote, maintain and enhance our Hispanic heritage and, by their outstanding contributions, have improved the quality of life for Hispanics in the Tampa Bay area.

This was my 32nd gala. After graduating from Florida State University College of Law , Lisa and I moved to Tampa in the Summer of 1990. Tampa Hispanic Heritage, Inc., which was founded in 1979 to serve as an umbrella organization for Tampa Bay Area Hispanic groups which wanted to promote, preserve, celebrate, and share Hispanic culture, heritage, and traditions with the community, had started its Hispanic Man and Woman of the Year in 1988. Since then, except for in 2020 due to Covid-19, THHI has awarded its Hispanic Man and Woman of the Year on an annual basis to the following individuals:

Hispanic Man of the Year

1989 Governor Bob Martinez

1990 Ralph Fernandez

1991 Honorable Dennis Alvarez

1992 Cesar Gonzmart

1993 Honorable E. J. salcines

1994 Honorable Elvin Martinez

1995 Roland Mantega

1996 Dr. Victor Martinez

1997 M. G. "Manny" Alvarez, Jr.

1998 Fernando Noriega

1999 Dr. Hernan Leon

2000 Rene Gonzalez

2001 Osvaldo Laino

2002 Dr. Dennis Puppello

2003 Victor Fernandez

2004 John Ramil

2005 Jose Valiente

2006 Richard Gonzmart

2007 Dr. Ferdie Pacheco

2008 Honorable Charlie Miranda

2009 Frank G. Cisneros

2010 Arturo Fuente, Jr.

2011 Enrique A. Woodroffe

2012 Gil J. Hernandez

2013 Santiago Corrada

2014 Ret. Colonel Evelio Otero

2015 Daniel A. Alvarez, Sr.

2016 Ret. Colonel Orlando Rodriguez

2017 Mario Quevedo

2018 Tony Morejon

2019 Simon Canasi

2021 Romulo Camargo

2022 Anthony Perez

About Anthony Perez

Anthony began leaving his footprint in the banking industry 20 years ago, his drive for excellence was cultivated years prior. He was born in Chicago to Cuban-born parents. Growing up he found inspiration in his parents' story of sacrifice. That inspiration has transformed into a passion of giving back to the community & disadvantaged youth.

His passion has been recognized by the community as he serves on several boards and is often asked to speak at events. He gained the trust of Mayor Bob Buckhorn and Mayor Jane Castor and the Mayor’s Hispanic Advisory Council where he serves as a board member and immediate past two-term Chair.

He earned his MBA from USF and serves as the Chairman for the USF Latin Community Advisory Committee.

This year, Anthony established a not-for-profit organization - Covered Hearts. The organization is a reservoir of love, joy & inspiration that permeates the lives of the less fortunate in Tampa Bay and delivers them the promise of a better tomorrow.

He is a father of three and is an avid runner. In 2019, he completed the Chicago Marathon and will run the New York City Marathon Nov. 6, 2022.

Hispanic Woman of the Year

1988 Edith Pandiella

1989 Margarita Gonzalez

1990 Alis Nieto

1991 Mercy DiMaio

1992 Matilda Martinez Garcia

1993 Delia P. Sanchez

1994 Raquel Carrodeguas

1995 Evelyn Rodriguez

1996 Adela Gonzmart

1997 Dr. Liana Fernandez Fox

1998 Dr. Margarita Cancio

1999 Maruchi Azorin Blanco

2000 Donna Perrino

2001 Dr. Remember Maceo Gomez

2002 Ana Crespo

2003 Hon. Virginia Covington

2004 Dr. Lydia Medrano

2005 Dr. Adrienne Garcia

2006 Diana Toledo Almeida

2007 Maria Teresa Steijlen

2008 Bella Maria Canasi

2009 Maria Esther Carrillo

2010 Margarita Romo

2011 Maritza Rovira Forino

2012 Lilly M. Gonzalez

2013 Lissette Campos-Perez

2014 Maria del Pilar Ortiz

2015 Norma Camero Reno

2016 Patsy Sanchez

2017 Marilyn Alvarez

2018 Adri Colina

2019 Betty Viamontes

2021 Monica Rodriguez

2022 Grace Maseda Sainz

About Grace Maseda Sainz

Grace Maseda Sainz, APR, is a proud first-generation Cuban American and Tampa naitive. An education advocate, she champions the transformational power of education to ensure other first-generation students are empowered for life-long success.

After “writing” her first book in elementary school, Grace knew she was designed for the field of communications. In her current role as Vice President of Communications for Helios Education Foundation, Grace champions educational equity and college degree completion. Prior to Helios Education Foundation, Grace worked in the communications department of Hillsborough County Public Schools and at the Tampa Bay Times where she held various advertising and marketing roles.

Community service has been a hallmark of Grace’s career. As a community leader, she served as Chairwoman of the City of Tampa Mayor’s Hispanic Advisory Council, the University of South Florida’s Latin Community Advisory Committee, and led membership sustainability efforts for Girl Scouts of West Central Florida focusing on recruitment and retention of Hispanic girls. Additionally, Grace was Chairwoman of SERVE, Volunteers in Education and a member of the Glazer Children’s Museum board of directors.

Grace holds the designation APR, Accredited in Public Relations, from the Public Relations Society of America, a Bachelor’s degree in Management from Saint Leo University and completed graduate studies at the University of South Florida obtaining a Master of Science in Management.

About Rafael Gonzalez

Rafael earned his Bachelors of Science degree from the University of Florida, and his Jurisprudence Doctorate degree from the Florida State University.?

Rafael has over 35 years experience in the legal and insurance industries. He is currently a partner in Cattie & Gonzalez, PLLC, a national law firm serving clients in all 50 states, focused on Medicare and Medicaid secondary payer law and compliance in auto, bodily injury, liability, mass tort, medical malpractice, nursing home, no-fault, products, workers compensation, and wrongful death claims and litigated cases.

Rafael writes and speaks about workers compensation, social security, medicare, medicaid, marketplace, mandatory insurer reporting, conditional payments resolution, set aside allocations, msa and snt administration, social determinants of health, and diversity, equity, and inclusion throughout the country.

Rafael can be reached at 844.546.3500 or at [email protected]. You may also reach out to him on social media, as he is active on linkedin, twitter, facebook, instagram, and youtube.