Cox Communications announced a partnership with Prensa Hispana newspaper, Azteca América Phoenix and the Arizona Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (AZHCC) to recognize successful Latina entrepreneurs whose innovative business strategies are perfect examples of many small businesses blooming in Arizona.

The one-of-a-kind campaign is back for the third year and it includes a series of 30-second spots produced by Cox Media in English and Spanish that highlight two outstanding Latina Entrepreneurs in Phoenix. The spots will run across the Cox channel line up throughout the month of June and July. Through the media partnerships, honorees’ stories will also appear on the pages of Prensa Hispana newspaper, Azteca América Phoenix’s channels and through communication vehicles of the Arizona Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.

Latinas make up the single largest minority group among women-owned businesses. According to the 2014 State of Women-Owned Businesses Report, Latina entrepreneurs have an estimated 1,033,100 businesses as of 2014. In addition, Latina-owned businesses generated $71.1 billion in revenue and employed over 400,000 workers.

“We are honored to highlight the accomplishments of these exceptional Latina entrepreneurs in Phoenix,” said John Wolfe, Vice President and General Manager, Cox Communications. “These Latina entrepreneurs are not only contributing to the thriving Arizona economy, but also to the communities that they live in.”

“The success of minority small business and women owned businesses here in Arizona is at an all time high,” said Mónica Villalobos, Vice President for the AZHCC. “The Cox Latina Entrepreneurs program is a testament to the growing force of accomplished Latinas in Phoenix and it’s with great pleasure that the AZHCC is partnering with Cox Business to support this wonderful program for the third year in a row.”

The individuals featured in the Phoenix campaign are:

Silvana Salcido Esparza: Owner of Barrio Café and Barrio Urbano
Silvana was born in Los Angeles, California and grew up in the San Joaquin Valley. Raised in a family whose ancestors were once appointed the official pastry chefs to Spain’s royal family, Esparza’s family immigrated to Mexico in the 1600’s. Silvana has been nominated for the prestigious James Beard award in 2010, 11, 12 & 14. Esparza now owns and operates Barrio Café and Barrio Urbano in Phoenix.

Lety Garcia: Owner and CEO of Prensa Hispana
When Lety Garcia and her husband, Manny Garcia, started the newspaper in 1990 the circulation totaled 5,000 and was primarily distributed in the Phoenix area. Today, it has a weekly circulation of 65,000, making it the leading Spanish newspaper publication in the valley catering to the growing Hispanic population.