Capital Wire PR

The United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (USHCC) is proud to collaborate with the Secretariat of Foreign Relations (Secretaría de Relaciones Exteriores) in Mexico and the Embassy of Mexico in the United States led by Her Excellency Martha Bárcena, Ambassador of Mexico to the United States to bestow the Ohtli Award at the 2020 USHCC National Conference to Mr. Raul Lomeli-Azoubel, Executive Chairman, SABEResPODER.

In announcing the award, Ramiro A. Cavazos, President and CEO, USHCC said, "Raul is a remarkable servant leader possessing true passion, devotion, and has dedicated his life to building bridges of opportunity between Mexico and the United States of America. He is a true champion for the underserved and underrepresented communities through his civic engagement, business advocacy, and the empowerment of social justice for all people seeking the American dream."

The Ohtli Award (Reconocimiento Ohtli) is an honor that the Mexican Government gives to citizens of Mexico or Mexican descent who work in the United States of America and other countries who have given assistance to Mexican citizens or promoted their culture and civic well-being in global society.

"To be nominated by the USHCC for this recognition is humbling and an immense honor in itself. To find out that my nomination was accepted by the SRE and the Mexican Government to be this year’s recipient of the prestigious Ohtli Award is received with great responsibility. Together, let’s continue our binational brigade to tear down walls and replace them with bridges as we carve an inclusive path for a better tomorrow,” said Raul Lomeli-Azoubel.

The award will be presented on Tuesday, September 29, 2020 during the USHCC’s Virtual National Conference by Ambassador Martha Bárcena. To register to attend, please click here.

Ohtli is a Nahuatl word that means "the way." The prominent researcher Miguel León Portilla describes it as follows: “In the codices, the paths are marked with footprints. This is how the directions and pathways where women and men went, were marked.” The Nahuatl poets wondered: what is the path that the heart should follow? There is an answer in the codices: Melahuac Ohtli, the straight path, the one that will lead you to realize your destiny. When the Nahuas said goodbye, and those who kept their language alive continue to say, "Cualli Ohtli! Good road! The one that you and I, we all, must walk."

One of the objectives of the Institute of Mexicans Abroad (IME) is to strengthen relations with the Mexican community and of Mexican origin residing outside our country. To this end, a wide variety of projects have been put into operation that have allowed us to strengthen Mexico's ties with its diaspora.

Recipients of the Ohtli Recognition are Mexicans residing in the country or abroad, who recognize and appreciate the value of the activities they carry out in favor of the well-being of our compatriots wherever they may be. They carry the torch of diplomacy and lead the path forward for others - the Melahuac Ohtli... the straight path.

Co-Founder & Executive Chairman of SABEResPODER, a venture funded mobile tech platform helping immigrant communities connect to information, products, and services. SABEResPODER is a “digital Ellis Island” with a mission to empower Spanish-speaking consumers to become better informed, confident, and active participants in U.S. society.

Prior to launching SABEResPODER, Raul was Vice President of Diverse Growth Segments at Wells Fargo Bank; he has also served as President of the Latino Education Achievement Project (LEAP), where he led two nationwide initiatives to promote financial literacy awareness for immigrants. He previously served as Press & Public Affairs Attaché for the Consulate General of Mexico in Los Angeles.

Raul has co-authored a book on financial aid for higher education and is the lead author of 18 booklets on financial services, the health care system, and higher education—with over nine million copies distributed nationwide.

Raul is the Immediate Past National Chairman of the Board of Directors at the Mexican American Legal Defense and Education Fund (MALDEF)—the Latino Legal Voice for Civil Rights in America—and served in its board from 2012-2020. He was Chairman of the San Antonio Hispanic Chamber of Commerce in 2012 and served in the National Latino Advisory Council for the Nielsen Company (2010-2017).

In 2007, Raul was recognized by the United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce with its National Corporate Advocate of the Year Award. In 2009, he received the San Antonio Business Journal’s 40 Under 40 Award and in 2011 was bestowed the Corporate Responsibility Award by MALDEF.

Raul was selected by his peers at the University of California Los Angeles as the 1997 Student Keynote Speaker at “La Raza Undergraduate Commencement Ceremony.” He is a regular panelist and speaker at national and international academic and industry conferences. He is the proud son of migrant farm workers and labored the fields in the San Joaquin Valley the summers of his youth through his first year of college. He now lives with his wife and three children in San Antonio, Texas.