Mrs. Ortiz Verified

Nancy Ortiz is Host of the 'Alma Latina Radio Show' from 1:00PM to 4:00 PM on KWAI-AM. Ortiz is Executive Director of Centro Hispano de Hawaii (Hispanic Center of Hawaii ) in Honolulu, the only non-profit organization of its kind in Hawaii that assists the hispanic community through the proactive dissemination of information and services. A bilingual resource and referral information center designed to help individuals and families in the hispanic community, Centro Hispano de Hawaii also sponsors many hispanic community events. Ortiz is also the owner of latin entertainment promotion company Alma Latina Productions, which has played an important role in bringing many latin music groups from Puerto Rico, New York and California to Hawaii, including such luminaries as Yomo Toro, Costa Brava, Eddie Palmieri, Adalberto Santiago, Willie Colon, Marc Anthony and the Latin Legends. A veteran radio broadcaster with over 30 years experience, Ortiz is a retired loan officer who was forced into early retirement through a generated bone disease - with two total knee replacements and severe scoliosis. An Hawaii-born Puerto Rican, Ortiz began her broadcasting career at KISA radio where she worked for over 17 years. She later moved to Hawaii Public Radio KIPO-FM/AM) where her three-hour program "Alma Latina" (Latin Soul) became the longest-running Latin music radio program in the Pacific. A woman of many talents, Nancy helped coordinate the Annual Hawaii Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and AT&T Festivals in 1996 and 1997. With over 15,000 people in attendance, the festival turned Waikiki's and Honolulu Hale grounds into miniature latino nations. In 1999, Nancy coordinated the first Centro Hispano-sponsored Hispanic Family Health Fair at the Pearlridge Center, an event that was co-sponsored by HMSA and the Stuart Mott Foundation. Nancy has also worked with internationally renowned artistes such as Orquesta de la Luz, Tito Puente, Cubanisimo, Bobby Sanabria, Poncho Sanchez and Celia Cruz. as well as local Hawaiian talent like Rolando Sanchez and Salsa Hawaii, Orquesta SalsAloha, Second Time Around, Los Carinosos, Tommy Valentine y Sus Amigos, "El Leo" the Jarican Express, Latin Fire and more. She continually promotes latin entertainment and produces several of the most attended Latin Nights in Hawaii. Alma Latina Productions hosts amongst other things "La Zona Latina," a Mexican flavored Latin night held each Friday at Panama Hattie's in Aiea. In January 2002, she was invited to assist Univisionin producing its Hawaii segment aired in February and May of 2002. Other organizations Ortiz has been involved with include Aloha Festivals Committee, United Puerto Rican Association of Hawaii, American Business Women's Association - Punahele Chapter, and Lion's International - Aloha Pono Chapter. Ortiz also helped coordinate the Hispanic segment of the Heritage Series presented by the City and County of Honolulu in 2001. She was Co-chair of the Puerto Rican Centennial Commission, and has chaired the entertainment committee of several Annual Hispanic Heritage Festivals sponsored by the Hawaii Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.[CR-LF]In July 2002, Ortiz worked closely with University of Hawaii outreach staff and was instrumental in helping to coordinate the Celia Cruz Dance Concert which was well received both in Honolulu and on Maui. She also pens a monthly column, Hispanic Scoops. Ortiz is married to Retired Naval Master Chief John A. Ortiz. She is a mother of three children and a proud grandmother of five.

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