When it comes to recognizing excellence in Hispanic radio programming, sales, and management, there’s no higher honor than the Medallas de Cortez Awards.
Named in honor of Raoul Cortez, founder of the first full-time Spanish-language radio station in the United States — KCOR-AM in San Antonio, in 1946 — this year’s awards recognize 80 years of audio opportunities for Hispanics in the U.S. and will be presented exclusively at the 17th annual Hispanic Radio Conference, scheduled for May 27-28 in Phoenix.
Who gets the Medallas de Cortez this year will be revealed at an awards ceremony leading in to the Opening Reception of the 2026 Hispanic Radio Conference, on May 27. It begins at 5:50pm local time, and the awards ceremony is sponsored by Xperi. The Opening Reception is presented by MediaCo, parent of Estrella Media.
The 2026 finalists are:
Marketer of the Year
Juan Bohorquez, Salem Media Group, Miami-Ft. Lauderdale-Hollywood, FL
Jasmine Mejia, iHeartMedia
Monnette Sewell-Fernandez, Norsan Media
Grace M. Agostino, Nueva Network
Jason Alejandro Carranza, Bryan Broadcasting, Bryan-College Station, TX
Salesperson of the Year
Marisol Otero, Spanish Broadcasting System, Orlando, FL
Nelly Mauricio, Bryan Broadcasting, Bryan-College Station, TX
Ruthie Sanchez, Cox Media Group, Orlando, FL
Gerardo Cierra, Spanish Broadcasting System, Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL
Tommy Ramirez, Bryan Broadcasting, Bryan-College Station, TX
Personality of the Year
Marco Antonio Esparza, Norsan Media, Charlotte-Gastonia-Rock Hill, NC
Liliani Hernandez, Cox Media Group, Orlando, FL
Nandy Davila and Cristy Balderrama, Spanish Broadcasting System, Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL
Patricia De Lima, Audacy, Washington, DC
Oswaldo Perez & Melissa Perez Vasquez, Norsan Media, Austin, TX
Raul Brindis, Spanish Broadcasting System, Houston-Galveston, TX
Program Director of the Year
Jorge Guillen, Lotus Communications, Fresno, CA
Adolfo Iñiguez, Gulf California Broadcast Company, Palm Springs, CA
Raymond Hernandez, Cox Media Group, Orlando, FL
Cesar Montalvo, Norsan Media, Charlotte-Gastonia-Rock Hill & Greensboro-Winston Salem-High Point, NC; Greenville-Spartanburg, SC
Maria Barquin, Chavez Media – Radio Campesina Network, Phoenix & Yuma, AZ; Bakersfield, Salinas & Fresno, CA; Las Vegas, NV
Pedro Javier (PJ) Gonzalez, iHeartMedia, Miami-Ft. Lauderdale-Hollywood, FL
Alberto Vega, Bryan Broadcasting, Bryan-College Station, TX
DOS or Sales Manager of the Year
Normand Levy, Cox Media Group, Orlando, FL
Jessica Martinez, Spanish Broadcasting System, Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL
Gabriela Ruiz, Norsan Media, Jacksonville, FL
Dale Hendry, Bryan Broadcasting, Bryan-College Station, TX
Anibal Soto, Spanish Broadcasting System, Orlando, FL
General or Market Manager of the Year
Matthew Cardenas, Entravision, Phoenix, AZ
JC Campese, Cox Media Group, Orlando, FL
Fernando Bauermeister, Spanish Broadcasting System, Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL & Orlando, FL
Patty Ruiz, Bustos Media Holdings, Tucson, AZ
Matt C. Martinez, Sangre de Cristo Broadcasting, Albuquerque, NM
Cynthia Saucedo, Spanish Broadcasting System, Houston-Galveston, TX
Station of the Year
WOEX-FM, Cox Media Group, Orlando, FL
WSUN-FM, Spanish Broadcasting System, Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL
WLZL-FM, Audacy, Washington, DC
KNDE-HD3, Bryan Broadcasting, Bryan-College Station, TX
WTKZ-FM, VP Broadcasting, Allentown-Bethlehem, PA
KROI-FM, Spanish Broadcasting System, Houston-Galveston, TX
