The Denver Hispanic Chamber of Commerce honored Patricia Barela-Rivera with a Lifetime Achievement Award Friday during its annual meeting and business awards luncheon at the Denver Marriott City Center.
“It’s about unconditional love,” Barela-Rivera said. “I got up every day and loved what I was doing.”
Barela-Rivera, 60, is the former director of the U.S. Small Business Administration’s Denver district office. In the 10 years she was at the SBA, guaranteed loans to Colorado small businesses reached $545 million.
Several other awards were given to both business and corporate standouts.
Olga Garcia, director of diversity recruitment at Coors Brewing Co., was named the DHCC Business Woman of the Year. James Perez Foster, founder of Solera National Bank, took home the Businessman of the Year award.
State Sen. Abel Tapia, D-Pueblo, received the Public Official of the Year award; Allstate agent Mimi Bell, Chamber Advocate of the Year; and Western Union, Corporate Advocate of the Year.
DHCC president Jeff Campos presented the first annual President’s Award to the Colorado Rockies for their support of the chamber.
Elizabeth Aguilera: 303-954-1372 or eaguilera@denverpost.com
