Diversity in business awards: minority businessperson of the year and diversity corporation of the year finalists.

• Position: DIVERSITY IN BUSINESS

ColoradoBiz is in its I 8th year or celcbrating the best in minority businesses and businesspeople, and as the pool of achievers has expanded over the years, singling out the standouts among them has become, if anything, more difficult. Adding to that, last year GoloradoBiez initiated the Diversity Corporaticnt of the Year award to recognize companies not necessarily minority-owned that have demonstrated a commitment. to diversity in hiring, contracting and customer/community relations.

This year's finalists are profiled on the Following pages. Here is a snapshot of the throe companies and three businesspeople who will be honored July 24 at the 18th Annual Diversity in Business Breakfast, where the winners will be announced.

MINORITY BUSINESSPERSON OF THE YEAR FINALISTS:

VETTE DOMINGUEZ, PRESIDENT AND OWNER OF ALPINE BUICK GMC IN DENVER, is the daughter of Cuban immigrants. She started working at. a ear dealership the summer after graduating from San Diego State University and now is one or only six Hispanic female owners among 4,458 GM dealers in the U.S. Hall of Alpine's salespeople speak Spanish, providing a supportive environment for nonnative English speakers. Alpine ranks third on this year's ColoradoBiz Top 50 Minority-Owned Companies list with sales of .511.5 million in 2011.

TIM MARQUEZ; CHAIRMAN AND CEO OF DENVER-BASED OIL AND GAS FIRM VENOCO INC. is a product of Denver Public Schools and Colorado School of Mines. Venoco is the No. I company in the ColoradoBiz Top 50 Minority-Owned Companies ranking with revenues of $328.8 million last year, but Ntarquez is as well known for his education-focused philanthropy as lor his business exploits.

NATHAN MARTINEZ STARTED NM INDUSTRIAL SERVICES out of his basement in 2004 with $2,000. This year the Denverbased mechanical contractor ranked No. 7 on the ColoradoBiz Top 50 Minority-Owned Companies list with revenues or $15 in 2011.

DIVERSITY CORPORATION OF THE YEAR FINALISTS:

FOREST CITY, THE MASTER DEVELOPER FOR STAPLETON NEIGHBORHOOD, AND MORTENSON CONSTRUCTION, THE CONSTRUCTION MANAGER UNDER FOREST CITY, completed one of (he largest infill developrments in the country xvith a diverse roster of contractors and suppliers.

XCEL ENERGY contracted out $249 million to minority-, women-, and veteran-owned businesses nationwide in 2011. lite Denver offices of Xcel launched a diversity department in the 1980s.

LAKEWOOD-BASED SCLERA BANK

employs bilingual tellers and customer-service reps, partners with minorit) organizations and businesses, and supports Hispanic and minority nonprofits. h is Denver's first and only Latino-, minority-awl small business-liwused, conununity-owned bank.

IVETTE DOMINGUEZ

Alpine Buick GMC

Ivette Dominguez has worked in the ear business since the summer after she graduated from San Diego State University. "I went to take my car in for service," she says. "The dealership had a help-wanted sign and I thought it would be a great summer job."

Today Dominguez is president and owner of Alpine Buick GMC, a General Motors dealership in southwest Denver. Dominguez, who purchased the dealership in 2005, is one of six Hispanic female dealership owners among 4,458 GM dealerships in the United States. Dominguez is from California, and her parents immigrated from Cuba.

Dominguez doesn't see car buyers as consumers looking for a vehicle. She sees people experiencing life events. "The act of buying a car is a significant milestone in everyone's life," she says. "Whether it's a young man or woman buying their first car, a young couple buying their first baby-friendly car, or someone buying their first luxury car, these are big events. I love being a part of these milestones and doing my part to make the experience great."

In 2009 GM awarded Dominguez its Mark of Excellence for the Western Region. Dominguez sits on the company's Minority Dealer's Advisory Council, representing Hispanic GM dealers, and is a member of the GM Women's Retail Initiative to change industry practices. She also volunteers for the Colorado Automobile. Dealers Association and the National Automobile Dealers Association.

Dominguez's volunteer efforts extend beyond the...