Governor Bill Richardson, Senator Ken Salazar, Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, Texas Senator Leticia Van de Putte, and NCLR President Janet Murguia to attend event marking 4th Anniversary of Latino Leaders Luncheon Series™
(WASHINGTON, D.C. )—Federico Peña, former mayor of Denver and Secretary of Transportation and Energy during the Clinton Administration, will be honored at the upcoming Latino Leaders Luncheon Series™, taking place from 11:30am-2:00pm on Tuesday, August 26, 2008 at the Denver Performing Arts Complex (Donald R. Seawell Grand Ballroom, 14th & Curtis Steet) during the Democratic National Convention in Denver, Colorado. The series is a quarterly event hosted by Latino Leaders Network™ and founder, Mickey Ibarra, to provide a platform for prominent Latino leaders to share their personal story of obstacles overcome to achieve success. This event will mark the fourth anniversary of the popular luncheon series, which was launched in 2004 at the Democratic National Convention in Boston, Massachusetts.
Born in Laredo, Texas, Federico Peña attended the University of Texas at Austin and The University of Texas School of Law. Moving to Colorado, where he became a practicing attorney, Peña was elected to the Colorado House of Representatives as a Democrat in 1979, where he rose to become Minority Leader. In 1983, Peña defeated a 14-year incumbent, William H. McNichols, Jr. to become the first Hispanic Mayor of Denver, a post to which he was re-elected in 1987. Peña advised Arkansas Governor Bill Clinton on transportation issues during Clinton’s successful 1992 presidential campaign, and Clinton chose Peña to head the United States Department of Transportation. Peña also served as Secretary of Energy from 1997 to 1998. Upon leaving the Clinton administration, Peña returned to Denver and joined investment firm Vestar Capital Partners, where he now serves as Managing Director
“We are delighted to welcome Federico Peña to the Latino Leaders Luncheon Series™ and to present him with the Nambe Eagle Leadership Award for outstanding contributions to his community,” said Mickey Ibarra, Founder and Chairman of the Latino Leaders Network™. “As a candidate for mayor in 1982 he asked voters to “Imagine a Great City” and he delivered for Denver, host of the Democratic Covention.
Joining Ibarra in tribute to Peña will be Governor Bill Richardson, Senator Ken Salazar, Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, Texas Senator Leticia Van de Putte, and National Council of LaRaza (NCLR) President Janet Murguia. Sponsors for the event include Verizon Communications, The Coca-Cola Company and Western Union.
The first Latino Leaders Luncheon was held in 2004 and featured then Representative Bob Menendez. In 2005, speakers included Senator Ken Salazar and Representative John Salazar, brothers from Colorado currently serving in Congress, delivering joint keynote addresses; Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa delivering a keynote address just days after his historic 2005 victory; and Attorney General Alberto Gonzales headlining the luncheon in November. In 2006, the luncheon series featured Senator Bob Menendez; Texas State Senator Leticia Van de Putte; Father Virgilio Elizondo, a Hispanic Heritage Awardee; and actress Eva Longoria. In 2007, luncheon speakers included Governor Bill Richardson (D-NM), Oregon State Superintendent of Public Instruction Susan Castillo, NY Mets General Manager Omar Minaya, actor and youth advocate Wilmer Valderamma, and journalist Maria Hinojosa. The 2008 series has honored Senator Mel Martinez and LA County Supervisor Gloria Molina. Details and photos from each of these events are available on the Latino Leaders Network™ website.
Latino Leaders Network™ (LLN) is a non-profit, 501(c)(3) organization whose mission is to develop ongoing opportunities to bring leaders together to establish relationships and dialogue on issues important to the Latino community. In addition to the Latino Leaders Luncheon Series™, other signature events supported by the LLN are the Latino Leaders Issue Hour and the Latino Mayors Tribute. LLN is also the producer of the “Latinos on the Hill” directory and first-ever Latino Honor Roll. Mickey Ibarra, Founder and Chair of LLN, is the President of Mickey Ibarra & Associates, a government relations and public affairs firm that hosts the events of the LLN. He served as Assistant to the President and Director of Intergovernmental Affairs at the White House from 1997 to 2001. In addition to Mickey Ibarra, the Board of Directors of the Network includes: Michelle Minguez Moore, Executive Director; Maria Teresa Petersen, the founding Executive Director for Voto Latino; Raul L. Rubio, a government affairs consultant; Ruben Alvarez, co-founder and Managing Partner of the Molera Alvarez Group; and David Ibarra; a Utah business owner and founder of the Ibarra Foundation.
Notes: Participation in the Latino Leaders Luncheon Series™ is by invitation only. For more information, please contact Michelle Minguez Moore at 202-969-8777. Media wishing to cover the luncheon must be credential press attending the convention and must RSVP no later than August 25th to Jennifer Devlin at 703-876-1714 or jennifer.devlin@cox.net.
