Aida Levitan, Ph.D., APR, President of The Levitan Group, Inc has been named Latina Pioneer of the Year for 2011 by the Hispanic Women of Distinction Charity of South Florida. This prestigious award names a Hispanic-American woman who has successfully intertwined her cultural traditions and values in combination with her American entrepreneurship, paving the way for other Latinas to achieve their personal goals.
The charity luncheon will take place on Friday, August 12, 2011 at the Signature Grand in Davie, Florida and along with Dr. Levitan the event will honor 12 Latinas from Broward, Dade and Palm Beach counties.
In 1986 she founded Sanchez and Levitan, Inc. with Fausto Sanchez, a filmmaker and Hispanic advertising expert. In 2001, the agency was renamed Publicis Sanchez & Levitan and by 2003, under her leadership as CEO, the company became one of the top ten U.S. Hispanic advertising agencies with more than $92 million in billings, 80 employees and offices in California, Texas, New York and Florida.
Levitan earned her PhD in Spanish Literature from Emory University and a B.A. from the University of Miami. A professional and cultural leader, Dr. Levitan is also president of a 501(c)3 organization, ArtesMiami, Inc., dedicated to supporting and promoting Hispanic artists and cultural organizations. Since 2009 she has served as chairperson of the Public Communications Committee of the National Museum of the American Latino Commission. In April 2010 she was named Chairperson of the Aetna national Latino Advisory Council.
Until 2011 she has served on the Commission to create the National Museum of the American Latino (named by Congress and the President) and on the boards of: the Miami Art Museum; the Latin Chamber of Commerce (CAMACOL), and The Spanish Cultural Center. In 2010 she was a member of the Honorary Committee of the National Hispana Leadership Institute Conference and the Advisory Council of the Spain-Florida Foundation. From 2006 to 2009 she served on the board of the local university of The Art
Institutes, a public company that owns over 40 education institutions located
throughout North America.
From 2004 to 2005 she was the president of the national Association of Hispanic Advertising Agencies. She has served on numerous non-profit boards, including the American Cancer Society, the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce Board of Governors, and the American Red Cross. In the 1990s Dr. Levitan co-produced and publicized the Andy Garcia-Cachao Concert Series in Miami and at Radio City Music Hall in New York. She won the PRSA Multicultural Excellence Award for this program and was named Associate Producer of the film Cachao There is Nothing Like His Rhythm film, directed by Andy Garcia.
More than 1,000 people are expected to attend the 10th anniversary of the Hispanic Women of Distinction Charity luncheon, presented by Bank of America in partnership with Latina Style Magazine August 12th. Tickets for the luncheon are $75 per person and can be obtained by calling (954) 527-0627 or by visiting www.wedoevents.net <http://www.wedoevents.net/> . .
The 12 Hispanic Women of Distinction for 2011 are: Sandra Lozano-Barry; Ana E. Calderon, Phd; Gladys Castro;Tatiana Eyzaguirre; Ivonne Fernandez; Amanda P. Gonzalez; Sgiandra Gonzalez-Levy; Doris R. Muscarella; Deborah Ramirez; Diana C. Ortiz; Emily Santos; Maria M. Vallejo, PhD.