Breaking the walls of stereotype: the top 25 Latinos in finance

Latino Leaders: The National Magazine of the Successful American Latino, Dec, 2007 by Valerie Menard

On the heels of the success of its $100 million Nogales Fund I, Nogales Investors Management, LLC has raised Nogales Fund II, a $245 million fund designed to make investments ranging from $10 million to $30 million in middle market companies.

Nogales received his B.A. from San Diego State University and Juris Doctor degree from the Stanford Law School.

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RAMIRO A. ORTIZ

President & Chief Operating Officer

BankUnited

Area of Specialty: Banking & Investments

His Location: Miami, Florida

Company Assets: $15 billion

Ramiro Ortiz is president and chief operating officer of BankUnited Financial Corporation, the largest banking institution headquartered in Florida and parent company of BankUnited FSB. Prior to joining BankUnited in 2002, he spent 21 years with SunTrust Bank, where he was most recently chairman and CEO.

With assets of $15 billion as of Sept. 30, 2007, BankUnited serves customers in thirteen Florida counties through 86 branches. Revenues for 2006 totaled $659.4 million. It provides a full spectrum of consumer and commercial banking services, mortgage and loan products, and investment and financial planning.

Over the past two decades, Ortiz has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to the community through his active involvement in various civic and community organizations. This dedication to community involvement and improvement has garnered Ortiz honors locally and nationally. In 2005, he received the American Jewish Committee's Human Relations award, an honor presented to civic leaders who have demonstrated their profound commitment to preserving our democratic heritage. The South Florida Hispanic Chamber of Commerce named him 2005 Banker of the Year and he was honored as South Florida Banking Institute's 2001 and 2007 Leader of the Year.

Ortiz is a graduate of the School of Bank Administration at the University of Wisconsin. He is married and has four children.

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FEDERICO PENA

Managing Director

Vestar Capital Partners

Area of Specialty: Capital Investments

His Location: Denver, Colorado

Company Assets: $17 billion

Former Denver Mayor Federico Pena held two cabinet positions under the Clinton administration before embarking on his current venture as managing director of Vestar Capital Partners, an international private equity firm. The fund currently has $3.7 billion to invest and Pena has actively combined his governmental experience and interests, particularly for dean energy and alternative fuels, to steer the company toward viable projects. He has also pursued Latino investments, including Valor Telecommunications in New Mexico and Border Media Partners in Texas.

Vestar's investment strategy targets companies in the U.S. and Europe with valuations in the $100 million to $5 billion. It was founded in 1988 and has completed over 50 investments in the U.S. and Europe with a total value of approximately $17 billion.

Prior to joining Vestar, Pena served as U.S. Secretary of Energy (1997-1998) and U.S. Secretary of Transportation (1993-1997), ran his own investment company, Pena Investment Advisors (1992-1993), and served as mayor of the city of Denver (1983-1991).