ENTREPRENEUR OF THE YEAR Mayté Rodríguez Cedillo, CEO and Publisher of Traveler Publications, received the coveted “Entrepreneur of the Year” award at the recent 2008 Illuminada Annual Gala.
By Pat Tyson/ April 2008
Sponsored by the San Diego County Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, the award was one of three categories given for Entrepreneur of the Year.
The ceremony took place at the Hard Rock Hotel in downtown San Diego.
“I’m extremely honored for having been invited here tonight to receive this award – Entrepreneur of the Year,” said Mayté upon receiving the award. “I thank all those involved in the voting process… and all of you present for supporting my publications and my mission – to impart the best of Mexico and Baja California to the world as both a travel destination and a total experience that celebrates Hispanic culture, heritage, cuisine and life.”
As CEO, Publisher and Editor-in-Chief for the past 10 years of the widely successful BajaTraveler® and more recently, the newly launched MexicoTraveler®, Mayté has become the premiere ambassador and promoter of Baja California and Mexico as a choice destination for executives, businessmen, investors, entertainers, and savvy travelers.
Affectionately dubbed as the “Queen of Baja” because of her vast knowledge, extensive contacts and positive message of all things Hispanic, she is considered to be one of the most influential media women on the Baja Peninsula today. Her publications are admired and read by a global audience of countries and native language speakers that mirror the six translations of destination pieces in her magazines: English, Spanish, German, French, Italian, and Japanese.
This year, Mayté was also honored as one of “Baja’s Successful Women,” an award sponsored by the Governor. Additionally, she was a winner of the Tijuana San Diego 20/20 Regional Leaders Award, an award sponsored by San Diego Metropolitan Magazine and Frontera, Tijuana’s leading daily newspaper.
Her contributions both north and south of the border are consistently focused on all things positive as she nurtures a deep appreciation for Hispanic culture, heritage, and art. Mayté serves to unite where differences separate and to celebrate diversity where homogenization threatens to turn extraordinary things to the ordinary. In short, she is a role-model and leader who leads with her passion and lives life with her heart.
