Four Madison-area community leaders will be honored for their contributions to the greater Madison community during the Latino Professionals Association of Greater Madison’s annual Yo Soy celebration on Thursday, Nov. 12, at the Park Hotel’s Top of the Park room in downtown Madison.
This year’s honorees are Dr. Karen Menéndez Coller, executive director of Centro Hispano; Gloria Castillo Posada of Madison Gas and Electric (MGE); Dr. Nestor Rodriguez of Carbon Health; and Andrea Muñiz Ortega of UNIDOS.
“Every year, we ask our community to vote for community leaders. They don’t necessarily have to be executive directors or heads of organizations. We’re looking for people who are doing good deeds and have consistently given their time and made a difference in our community,” Brian Espinosa, board chair of LPA, tells Madison365.
“It’s not just about what they’ve done in a single year, like 2026, but the contributions they’ve made throughout their time in Madison. We allow the community to nominate and vote for individuals they believe align with our mission.”
According to its website, LPA’s mission is “to recognize, elevate, and connect Latino professionals by providing opportunities for leadership development, career advancement, civic engagement, and personal enrichment—empowering them to thrive, lead, and make a lasting impact in their communities.”
Yo Soy, which means “I am” in Spanish, celebrates the richness and diversity of Latino identity while recognizing the people who help strengthen the region. Thursday’s celebration will honor four individuals whose leadership, service and dedication have made a meaningful impact across Dane County. Their contributions span supporting families, advancing sustainability, mentoring future leaders and connecting community members with vital resources.
“The annual event allows honorees to share their personal stories, cultural identities and the experiences that motivate their community work,” Espinoza says. “But it’s also an opportunity for new and up-and-comers in the community to figure out how they can get involved.”
For Espinosa, hearing the honorees’ stories is one of the most meaningful parts of the celebration.
“That’s the one thing I really look forward to for this event: the stories. Everyone has a unique story,” he says. “People can share openly and in confidence in a room where everyone may not necessarily have the same story or the same roots, but it is relatable to many of the Latinos and Hispanics there.”
The 2026 celebration also marks a milestone for the Latino Professionals Association (LPA), which became an independent organization in 2016 and is celebrating its 10th year.
The organization is led by a volunteer board and works to support professional development and community connections. In recent years, LPA has resumed its free professional development workshops, Espinosa says, providing opportunities for community members to build skills and advance their careers. “Those we do for free as a way to give back and they have been very impactful for our community,” he says.
In addition to Yo Soy, LPA hosts its annual Brillos de Éxito gala, which recognizes achievements and contributions throughout the community.
The 2026 Yo Soy celebration will take place Thursday, Nov. 12, from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Top of the Park room at the Park Hotel, 22 S. Carroll St., in Madison. Refreshments and light appetizers will be provided, and a cash bar will be available.
“It’s always good to highlight outstanding individuals, and the great work they’ve been doing,” Espinosa says. “We are really looking forward to the event.”
General admission tickets are $75, but the organization partners with Madison College and UW–Madison to help provide tickets to students and emerging leaders. “The ticket price helps the organization with all of the costs to put this event on, but we know that not everybody can afford a ticket,” Espinosa says. “We do try to make it as inclusive as possible in that sense.” LPA also makes tickets available to nonprofit and community organizations.
For more information about the event and tickets, visit the Latino Professionals Association of Greater Madison’s website.
