CELEBRATING OUR CHAMPION

As I compiled the information for the article “Positive Perspectives,” I couldn’t help but think about my business partner, Susan Pagan.

As a first-generation American of Puerto Rican parents, one of Sue’s greatest challenges was being raised by a single mother in the New York projects. She also had to deal with discrimination, domestic violence, becoming a single mother of two after her divorce and cervical cancer. Yet, she persevered.

Professional challenges have included choosing to work in a field that was male-dominated at the time (publishing). Also, along with me, she started a company during a recession with little more than an idea and a dream. Yet, she succeeded.

Sue’s story would have been a perfect fit among the other Hispanic leaders— if only she weren’t co-publisher of the magazine in which the article would appear. Yet, that doesn’t mean she’s not worthy of attention.

Most recently, Sue has even made news, attracting reporters and camera crews from across the country in her opposition of direct advertising by McDonald’s to children in Seminole County schools. She took a stand to help others. For such efforts, at the 1st Central Florida 2008 Hispanic Women Awards Luncheon in March, Sue was nominated for the “Women Who Make the Difference Award” under the Media category.

Sue serves as an inspiration, certainly to me, and I’m sure to many other people.

“I never saw any of my challenges as stopping points,” she says, “only as hurdles to get over and lessons to learn, which made me who I am today, a stronger Hispanic-American woman.”