Generational Impact
As the father/son duo behind Griffen Construction, Ricardo & Ricky Quadri are looking to shake up the building scene in Miami by integrating safer systems of construction. Ricardo, Sr., arrived penniless to the U.S. in 1984 and created a successful family company after overcoming many obstacles and challenges along the way. “I’m proud of our culture’s innate resilience and self-sacrifice for those we care about,” he says. From Brickell to Key Biscayne and Star Island, he and his son have added an impressive list of projects to their portfolio. They aim to mentor young immigrant men and women in their business so they can upstart their own ventures as well. “It’s important to never forget where you came from,” they say.
Diverse Interests
Moonlighting as an actress and playwright, Sonia Cordoves is a top realtor whose Latina heritage has flowed through the choreography of her career. Arriving in the U.S. from Cuba at just 9 years old, she loves the life she’s built in The Magic City. “Miami is a kaleidoscope of never-ending cultural pizazz,” she marvels. Her latest play, No Cojas Lucha, tells the hilarious tale of a cultural clash that results when a Cuban-American “princess” marries an American Texan. “Be proud of your heritage and don’t ever let anyone stop you from achieving what you want in life!”
Social Influence
As popular on-air personality & content creator, Jon Salas is living his authentic truth thanks his parents for enforcing a bilingual dynamic at home and ensuring that he would always be in touch with his culture. He credits their perseverance for his success in Hispanic media. Today, he’s a regular on morning and lifestyle TV programs, forecasting the latest trends to the masses. “Gone are the days when Spanish language and culture were an afterthought,” he says. “Miami has its own pulse and agenda that stands out from other metropolises around the world.”
Cafecito Capitalist
It wasn’t until he went away to college that Tony Jimenez said people began noticing his Miami accent. “I didn’t understand what accent they were talking about,” he quips. Jimenez, a son of Cuban migrants who fled communist Cuba, is a venture capitalist who is the co-founder & chairman of plant-based brand JOI, and an advisor for eMerge Americas. He also supports local charities and sends aid to countries in humanitarian and political crises. For him, Miami is a city built by immigrants for immigrants and is warm — both literally and figuratively: “Latinos communicate through food, music and love,” he says. “I think we have the best of all three!”
Empathetic Essence
From an early age, Dr. Anay M. Abraham learned passion and purpose by drawing inspiration from her family who fled to the U.S. for a better life. “I view every opportunity to make a meaningful impact as a privilege, not a given,” she says. Currently she serves as the Executive Director of Casa Familia and a Trustee at Miami Dade College, where she strives to create a holistic system to enhance educational opportunities and foster community engagement, encouraging others to embrace their story and family history with pride and use it as a vehicle of hope and resilience. “My Latino heritage instilled in me a sense of purpose and a passion for giving back to others,” she says. “I’m guided by a spirit of gratitude and love.”
