The 2009 Senoras of Excellence -Senores of Distinction Awards Gala was recently held at the ENCORE HOTEL’s GRAND BALLROOM. The beautiful event, co-hosted by Sandy Colon Peltyn and Alma Garcia Vining benefited The Latin Chamber of Commerce Scholarship Fund which provides needy and deserving youth in Southern Nevada the opportunity to go to college and succeed in life.

This annual event was created to honor men and women who have excelled in their professional careers, as well as having contributed to the enrichment of the Latin community. Hostess of the gala, Sandy Peltyn defines a Senora as a woman who is loyal to family and friends, who expects no more from others than she is willing to give: who is confident in her beliefs, yet is willing to listen to what others have to say. She defines a Senor as a man to be admired, a man who raises our spirits and never lets us down. A man who young men look up to and hope to someday emulate.

This year’s Lifetime Achievement Award Recipient was Isabel Perera Pfeifer.

Isabel was born in Santiago de Cuba and was a competitive athlete receiving medals in swimming, sailing and bowling. She moved to Washington D.C. in 1953 and became a legal U.S. citizen in 1959.  Ms. Pfeifer and her late husband moved to Las Vegas NV in 1986.  Isabel has been involved with many Nevada political and charitable organizations and has received numerous achievement awards and recognitions.

The event started with a cocktail reception and silent auction while the

E.W. Clark High School Chamber Orchestra played. Each guest had their picture taken when they arrived and their picture was put in a frame and given to the guest as a gift. Dinner was then served on tables with beautifully appointed linens and decorations. An exceptional dinner menu started with a duo of Tomato Bisque and Mini Grilled Cheese. Then a House Special Caesar Salad was served with Ciabatta Croutons and shaved Parmesan. To cleanse the palate there was a Tangerine Sorbet Intermezzo.  The Entrée consisted of a duo of Filet of Beef and Filet of Salmon with seasonal vegetables.  Dessert was a soft milk Chocolate Pyramid with chocolate Wafer and Golden Raisins. 

The Awards Ceremony was presented between dinner courses. M.C.’s for the Awards Ceremony were Channel 3 Anchorwoman Maria Silva

and R.J. Peltyn. Ambassadors Lia Roberts and Gail Anderson presented the Honorees with their award banners. The Awards Ceremony was highlighted by the Nellis Air Force Base Honor Guards who raised their swords forming an arch for each of the Honorees to walk through. The Honor Guards were amazingly stalwart, as they stood motionless in a parallel row for quite some time as each Honoree was presented onstage and made their remarks before walking through the arched row of the colorful uniformed Honor Guards.  

The SENORAS of EXCELLENCE were: 

Maria Nicolini-Bergman: Maria was born in Lima, Peru and moved to Las Vegas in 1996 to marry Joel Bergman and work at the renowned architectural firm of Bergman, Walls & Associates.  Maria has used her talents and resources to benefit many charitable organizations. She believes strongly in the importance of higher education and she and her husband, Joel have provided tuition as well as books to UNLV architectural students. At the previous 2008 Gala, Maria received a standing ovation for her dance performance.

Judy Fleischman: Since January 1999, Judy has served as District Representative for Congresswoman Shelley Berkley. Judy has been responsible for covering most Hispanic issues, Department of Justice, State Department, Citizenship and Immigration Services, Small Business Administration, Constituent Services and Hispanic Outreach. She is completely bilingual and was selected as a co-host for the Spanish language radio talk show, “De Todo un Poco”.  Judy serves as President of the Boricua Puerto Rican Association of Las Vegas, a community-based group committed to supporting and raising awareness of the Puerto Rican culture in Las Vegas.

Maggie Arias-Petrel: Maggie currently represents the prestigious Law Firm of Benson, Bertolda, Baker and Carter as a Director of Community Outreach. She serves as the Nevada representative on The White House Committee on Aging, the Congressional Hispanic Leadership Summits, the US Hispanic Chamber Summits and the Latino Coalition, a national advocacy group dedicated to furthering Latin causes headed by former SBA Administrator Hector Barreto. Maggie’s goal in service to the community is to promote bilingual and bicultural programs

The SENORES of DISTINCTION were: 

Domiingo Cambeiro:  Dom is the principal architect and CEO of DCC Architects. He grew up in Santiago De Las Vegas, a small town in HAVANA, CUBA.  He came to Las Vegas, as a stop-over city 48 years ago, to leave the oppressing communist regime of Castro. In his 50 years of practicing Architecture, he has completed over 120 projects for the Clark County School District, in addition to many other landmark projects.

Rene’ Cantu’ Jr., Ph.D: Dr. Cantu’ is Vice President for Multicultural Affairs at Nevada State College where he established the Multicultural Affairs Department.  He founded the NSC Heritage Center, the Resource Center for Students with Disabilities and Project Crossroads – a program that reaches out to at-risk middle school students. Dr. Cantu’ is currently serving as the Vice Chair of the Latin Chamber of Commerce. As a scholar/practitioner/activist, his primary area of research interest, social justice and community action, is student access and success to higher education.

Joe Cortez: Joe was born and raised in Spanish Harlem, New York. He had a great amateur boxing career, winning 6 various Golden Gloves tournaments from 1960 to 1962. He turned professional at the age of 18 and when he retired, he had an outstanding boxing record of 18-1. In the mid 1970’s he started working as a professional boxing referee and has become one of the world’s premier referees, refereeing some of the greatest fights of all time. Joe has been inducted in the New Jersey HALL of FAME and the WORLD BOXING HALL of FAME.  Joe helps at-risk kids by visiting after school programs and various children’s organizations. He has been married to Sylvia for 43 years. Unfortunately, in June 1996, his wife and daughter Cindy were injured in a car accident in California, leaving his daughter a quadriplegic. Joe’s project in life now is to help raise funds and awareness for spinal cord injury and stem cell research.

Julio Garcia, M.D: Dr. Garcia emigrated with his family to Chicago, Illinois after the collapse of the Cuban government during the takeover by Fidel Castro. He became an American citizen and after completing his medical training, he moved to Las Vegas in 1988. Julio is a nationally recognized Surgeon in the practice of Plastic Surgery as well as a business executive and has appeared 16 times on the Discovery Channel. He has promoted the humanitarian activities of LIGA Corporation, providing underserved areas in Mexico with surgical care. He also has performed more than 750 pro-bono reconstructive surgeries to indigent people in the Philippines affected by birth defects, injuries and other deformities.  Dr. Garcia has enhanced emergency response capabilities for the City of Las Vegas and is a member of an elite medical team affiliated with the SWAT rapid response unit of Metro. 

A live auction and a raffle prize of a gorgeous diamond necklace donated by Canturi Jewels at the Palazzo,

had the audience excited and brought in a vast amount of financial benefit to the Latin Chamber of Commerce Educational Scholarship Fund. 

Entertainment was provided by ND’ Fuego Dance Company with Veronica Valdes.

Siegfried Fischbacher went onstage and announced a singing sensation, Deyanira.  She wowed the audience with her singing and allure accompanied by exotic showgirls.

Feathered hats, boas and party shakers were provided to guests by Carnival costumed hostesses and the excellent orchestra and singers kept the merriment going and guests were dancing wearing their party favors.   

Among the vast amount of guests attending were: U.S. Congresswoman, Shelley Berkley with husband Dr. Larry Lehrner, Siegfried Fischbacher, Lynette Chappelle, Drs. Ted and Parvin Jacobs, Eddie Escabedo (publisher, El Mundo,) Franz Czeisler Tihany, R.J. Peltyn, Leo and Judge Natalie Tyrell, Jack and Nancy Weinstein, (Tower of Jewels), Lorraine Hunt-Bono and Dennis Bono, Carmen and Arthur Mahan,  Irene Bustamante Adams. former Judge John Mendonza, Sheila Beaton, Carmen Vega (Canturi Jewels), Lisette Rosa. Ed Bernstein and Claudia Noriega, Larry Hart and Michael Lach, Irene Bustamante, Jaki Baskow, Dr. John Morley, Steve Sisolak, Kathleen Boutin and so many others too numerous to mention. 

The dancing went on and on and no one seemed to want to leave.

Eventually, the fun and glitzy evening that was enjoyed by all, ended. And, as each guest was leaving, they received a pretty canister enclosed with a Fuego Latin Fire Tee Shirt and a CD from ND Fuego.

Accolades go to Sandy Peltyn and Alma Garcia Vining for co-hosting an exceptional Gala Event and for their relentless dedication to the Latin Community.