Tucson Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Award Winners
Tucson Hispanic Chamber of Commerce recently recognized their Business Man, Business Woman and Corporation of the Year.
Julie Gallego
Hispanic Business Woman of the Year
• Owner, VIVA Hispanic Performing Arts Center; Event Coordinator, Tucson Convention Center
• Bachelor of Arts in Consumer and Family Resources, The University of Arizona
• Founder and Director, CHISPA Foundation Inc.; Member, Arizona Commission of the Arts-Individual Traditional Folk Artists; Mariachi and Folklorico Coordinator, Las Vegas International Mariachi Festival, Arizona Christmas Mariachi Festival
• Husband of 25 years, Tony Gallego; daughters Clarissa, 24, and Chanel, 21; son Carlos, 19; grandson James, 2
For one local woman a life-long passion for culture and a desire to educate others was all it took to persevere and follow her dreams. Julie Gallego, owner of VIVA Hispanic Performing Arts Center, has translated her affinity for dance into a career of enriching the lives of children and their parents while building a legacy on the southside of Tucson.
As a child, Gallego’s parents introduced her to the colorful and exciting world of Mexican folklórico dance. “I was in awe of those productions — the music and dancing and everything,” says Gallego. She began her own dancing career at age 12 with the Ballet Folklórico Los Corazones de Oro, and continued through her time at Tucson High School. Before entering college, she expressed an interest in studying dance at UA. However, her guidance counselor felt her lack of skills in ballet, jazz and other disciplines would hold her back and encouraged her to pursue another path.
By 1986, however, her interest in dance proved to be too strong and she made the decision with her husband to start a studio for children to study Mexican folklórico. Her first classes were taught in the cafeteria at St. John the Evangelist School. “On my first day I had 65 children enroll, and from there I never looked back,” says Gallego. “In the span of the next 15 years we kept expanding and moving around on the southside, which is where they were loyal to me.” Eventually, the father of one of her students, John Peabody of KMJ General Construction, offered to build her a low-cost building that she could purchase back from him over the course of three years. “When he asked me about this I was in tears and couldn’t believe this man, my angel, would help me,” she recalls. “What he gave me is something I can leave to my children.” Now going into its third year the studio has 300 members, two dance rooms, a lobby, viewing rooms for the parents and 12 instructors, many of whom used to be students themselves. VIVA offers classes and workshops in several different disciplines, so other children won’t be discouraged to follow their dreams.
Gallego has had the opportunity to include her family in what she loves. Although her husband is her biggest supporter, her elder daughter serves as office manager, her son helps with upkeep and maintenance, and her youngest daughter teaches Folklórico and Zumba Fitness, a Latin-inspired workout for women. “Everyone knows that when you have your own business, your family has to support you,” explains Gallego. “My husband and children have been sharing me with thousands of children for 23 years!”
In addition to her performing arts center Gallego has created and oversees the Ballet Folklórico San Juan, Ballet Folklórico Arizona, CHISPA Hip Hop Dance team and the Viva Arizona Dancers. She also annually produces and coordinates the “Viva Arizona!” Hispanic Performing Arts Conference and Concert, as well as the mariachis and Folklórico for the Las Vegas International Mariachi Festival and the Arizona Christmas Mariachi Festival in Phoenix.
“To me this award is so humbling and so unbelievable,” says Gallego. “There are two sides to my business — my dance studio, and my non-profit performance groups. I have never been recognized for my business so it means a lot to me that my peers and other businesses will know a little more about what we offer and what we have done. The number one thing I’m the most proud of is all the children and parents that the business has touched and what impact it has made in their lives.”
Robert D. Ramirez
Hispanic Business Man of the Year
• President and CEO, Vantage West Credit Union
• Bachelor of Science in Accounting, The University of Arizona; CPA, University of Colorado at Boulder; graduate of CUES CEO Institute and Advanced Leadership Institute; attended Walden University, Cornell University and Darton College
• Member, Credit Union Executives Society board of directors; National Credit Union Roundtable Advisory Council; Southern Arizona Leadership Council; Arizona Society of Certified Public Accountants; American Institute of Certified Public Accountants; vice chair, Arizona Credit Union League; treasurer, DM-50 Club; board treasurer, FirstCorp; board member, Credit Union Financial Network, LLC
• Wife of 19 years, Katharine Ramirez; daughter Gabriella, 13
Not many people can say they got their first job at five years old, but that is exactly how Robert Ramirez, president and CEO of Vantage West Credit Union, received his start. “My dad always said you have to work hard to get things. So I started at five building toy cars and bicycles,” says Ramirez.
It was that hard work and determination Ramirez learned at a young age that propelled a career spanning nearly 25 years. Today, he is at the top of a company worth more than $1 billion in assets.
Equally interesting is that Ramirez started with the company in 1985 after answering a newspaper ad for an assistant controller position and was given a huge promotion on the first day. “After half an hour on the job, my boss the CFO resigned and gave me the keys,” says Ramirez. After holding the title of CFO for 11 years, Ramirez became executive vice-president and finally president in 2000.
“This award is an appreciation, a thank you and a pat on the back,” explains Ramirez. “People recognizing me for doing what I love is phenomenal and a great feeling.”
Enjoying what he does is not only important to Ramirez personally, but necessary to survive the tough times his industry is facing. He believes strongly in the mission of Vantage West, which strives to help people achieve their financial goals.
Although Ramirez explains that Vantage West was not involved in any of the risky loan ventures that have gone on throughout the financial industry, his business has unfortunately felt the aftereffects, as many businesses have. Despite the fact that it has been challenging seeing members lose their jobs and have difficulties making their payments, one of the things he loves most is helping people by restructuring their finances so they can hold onto the things that mean the most to them.
“The problem nowadays is a lack of financial literacy. In the ’90s Wall Street got involved in our business and it became more of a casino and we are seeing the results of what happened,” says Ramirez. “But from my perspective I love helping people with their finances. I help my employees understand our business so they can sell it to the membership.”
Despite the challenges Ramirez is confident in his business and proud of what he has been able to achieve through good old-fashioned patience, persistence and teamwork.
“You have to be patient to get ahead in the world. You have to prove yourself. Over the years there have been challenges, but it has paid off,” says Ramirez. “When I started here we had $99 million in assets. When I took over in 1999 we were at $250 million. Now we have more than $1 billion. I am very proud of that. It happened by working as a team to get things done.”
