The Way We Travel | Los Cabos

The Way We Travel | Los Cabos

Aug 14, 2026 | The Way We Travel

HL | The Way We Travel

The Way We Travel | Los Cabos

We weren’t looking for a story. We were just on summer vacation and then one thing led to another.

Photos and article by
Richard Sandoval

This vacation wasn’t supposed to be Los Cabos.

We had been looking at another destination, somewhere within driving distance of our Southern California home. But then we started doing what families do when planning a vacation: we did the math.

By the time we compared the costs and considered what we actually wanted from those four days, returning to Mexico wasn’t only within our budget it sounded more like a vacation.

So, Los Cabos it was.

HL | STUDIO • 4k

A one-minute visual story

Voiceover • Photography • Music

August 2026
Los Cabos, Mexico

This vacation wasn’t supposed to be Los Cabos.

We had been looking at another destination, somewhere within driving distance of our Southern California home. But then we started doing what families do when planning a vacation: we did the math.

By the time we compared the costs and considered what we actually wanted from those four days, returning to Mexico wasn’t only within our budget it sounded more like a vacation.

So, Los Cabos it was.

There wasn’t an agenda.

We arrived, found something to eat, changed into our swimming trunks and got into the water.

Later that evening, we ordered room service, rested and reserved a cabana for the following day.

And, in one form or another, that’s pretty much how the next four days went.

Eat. Swim. Relax. Figure out tomorrow when tomorrow gets here.

It Takes Me a While to Disconnect

Even on vacation, I’ll find myself walking around noticing things. I’ll wonder how something works, start thinking about an idea or see something that sends my mind in a completely different direction.

Eventually, I slow down.

Water helps.

Warm water helps even more.

I always find it amusing when someone at a resort asks where we’re visiting from.

“Southern California.”

Then comes the inevitable question: Don’t you have beaches there?

Of course we do. We have some beautiful beaches.

But they’re not like these.

There is something about getting into warm water, looking toward the horizon and realizing there really isn’t anywhere else you need to be.

At least not today.

Returning to Cabo

We had visited Cabo San Lucas before, around 2023.

There was plenty we enjoyed about that first trip. Beautiful beaches. Jet skiing. Snorkeling. Walks along the beach and around the marina. We ate at The Office, the well-known beachfront restaurant a colleague had recommended, and thoroughly enjoyed it.

Our resort experience on that trip was less memorable.

The room was fairly basic, the food wasn’t particularly good and there were some challenges with the property. There’s no reason to identify it now. Resorts change, management changes and sometimes you simply experience a property at the wrong time.

What mattered was that we enjoyed Cabo enough to know we’d eventually return.

This time, however, we stayed at Hilton Los Cabos, along the resort corridor between Cabo San Lucas and San José del Cabo.

And this trip felt different.

We Really Didn’t Go Anywhere

It wasn’t until after we returned home that I realized how much of our vacation we’d spent at the resort.

We hardly left.

And nobody complained.

We walked the beach. We spent time in the warm waters of the Sea of Cortez. When we’d had enough of the ocean, there was the pool. When we’d had enough of the pool, we could head back toward the ocean.

Nicholas kept up with his workouts at the fitness center.

We rented a cabana for a day. At roughly $100, it represented good value for us—a comfortable home base with food and beverage service nearby.

We spent time in the adults-only area with its infinity pool, Jacuzzi, cabanas and ocean views.

And sometimes we did absolutely nothing.

That’s allowed on vacation.

The property was family-friendly without feeling chaotic. There were children and teenagers around, but we never encountered the overwhelming party atmosphere that can sometimes change the personality of a resort.

It was comfortable.

And it raised a question I hadn’t really considered while we were there:

Has the resort itself become part of the destination?

The Resort Is No Longer “Base Camp”

My curiosity eventually got the best of me.

After we returned home, we reached out through some of our industry colleagues, which led to a conversation with Antonio, general manager of Hilton Los Cabos.

Antonio brings an interesting perspective to the subject. He previously spent 14 years working in Los Cabos before leaving the area and working in luxury hospitality in Los Angeles. He returned to Los Cabos two years ago.

When I asked how the resort vacation has evolved as Los Cabos itself has evolved, he described a shift that sounded remarkably similar to what our family had just experienced.

“The resort is no longer base camp. It has become part of the destination.”

Years ago, Antonio explained, a resort was often viewed primarily as the place where travelers stayed between excursions. Today, guests are looking for more: dining, wellness, personalized service, meaningful experiences and a sense of place.

He also confirmed that they’re seeing more guests spending time on property.

But he made an important distinction.

“The goal is not to keep people from leaving the resort. It’s to make them feel that they don’t have to leave just to have a memorable day.”

That’s it.

We weren’t avoiding Los Cabos.

We simply weren’t waking up every morning wondering where we needed to go.

Some days, the answer was nowhere.

And that was perfectly fine.

What Kind of Vacation Do You Want?

Another part of my conversation with Antonio stayed with me.

When people are choosing among the many resorts in Los Cabos, he believes they should begin by asking themselves a simple question:

What kind of vacation do I want?

Look at the location. Look at the beach. Consider the dining choices, service and experiences available on property. Understand what’s included—and what isn’t.

But Antonio also suggested understanding something less tangible: the personality of the resort.

A family may be looking for something completely different from a couple. Golfers and fishermen may experience Los Cabos differently than someone whose primary objective is to find a cabana, get into the water and disconnect for four days.

“There are many wonderful resorts in Cabo,” Antonio told me, “but they aren’t interchangeable.”

Our two visits proved his point.

Same broader destination.

Very different vacations.

A Few Bumps Along the Way

As with most vacations, not everything went exactly as planned—not that we really had a plan.

We experienced a few minor issues during our stay, but what mattered to us was how they were handled. When something needed attention, the staff responded, listened and worked to make it right.

None of those moments defined our experience.

What we remember is a comfortable resort, a beautiful setting and a staff that made us feel welcome throughout our stay.

And, Of Course, We Ate

Food is always part of the way our family travels.

We photographed quite a few meals during this trip, although somehow our room-service dinners escaped the camera.

Our package included complimentary breakfast for two, despite three of us staying in the room. It’s one of those details that reminds me why travelers should understand exactly what’s included in a vacation package.

For our final evening, we continued one of our family traditions.

We splurged on dinner.

This time we chose Vela, the resort’s Italian restaurant. Our entrées generally landed in the high-$30 to low-$40 range in U.S. dollars. It wasn’t inexpensive, and the portions weren’t enormous, but the food was good.

A piano player added to the atmosphere.

And on the final night of a summer vacation, atmosphere counts for something.

EXCLUSIVE PHOTOS

2026 The Way We Travel | Los Cabos

A Few Things We’d Do Differently

We booked our vacation through Costco Travel, something we’ve done on other trips largely because we find the service convenient and reliable.

One thing worth remembering when comparing travel packages is that the first hotel or room option presented isn’t necessarily your only choice. We upgraded our accommodations, and it’s worth looking at those choices and deciding what represents value for your family.

I’d also seriously consider another upgrade next time: private airport transportation.

The flight from San Diego to Los Cabos International Airport was only about an hour and 45 minutes. But driving to San Diego, parking, arriving early for an international flight, flying, retrieving luggage and then traveling to the resort made the door-to-door journey closer to six or seven hours.

Our shared transportation worked fine. But shared transportation also means potentially stopping at other resorts before reaching yours.

Private transportation is an available option when arranging some travel packages, and next time I’d probably spend the extra money.

After a long travel day, there is value in getting into a vehicle and going directly where you’re going.

There’s another airport lesson we learned the hard way during our first Cabo visit.

Follow the instructions provided by your transportation company.

After leaving the baggage area on that first trip, we encountered people who appeared to be directing us toward our Costco Travel transportation.

They weren’t.

We spent a good half hour or more talking with them before realizing they were trying to sell excursions and get us into a timeshare presentation.

And despite believing I’m reasonably savvy when it comes to aggressive salespeople, I got caught up in both.

Lesson learned.

This time, we knew where we were going.

Looking Back From the Water

There was one day when we did venture away from the resort.

Our friends at Los Cabos Tourism arranged a catamaran and snorkeling excursion for us.

It became one of the highlights of the trip.

We were greeted with champagne. There was plenty of food from sliders and chicken sandwiches to shrimp cocktail—and a few piña coladas along the way.

Eventually we stopped to snorkel in calm, beautiful water. We didn’t see as many fish as we’d hoped, but that hardly diminished the experience.

And then something happened that I hadn’t expected.

I looked back toward shore.

From the water, you get an entirely different perspective on Los Cabos. Resort after resort stretches along the coastline. Some properties appear enormous. Others seem almost tucked into their surroundings.

Then I saw Hilton Los Cabos.

For several days, we’d been standing on the beach or our balcony looking outward toward the Sea of Cortez.

Now I was on the water looking back.

Same place.

Completely different perspective.

Later, when I told Antonio about seeing his property from the catamaran, he acknowledged that he hadn’t experienced that particular view from the water himself.

He said he wanted to.

Sometimes stepping away from something really does allow you to see it differently.

One Thing Led to Another

That’s really how this entire trip happened.

One thing led to another.

We started by considering a vacation somewhere within driving distance.

Then we did the math.

That led us back to Mexico.

We arrived without much of an agenda. One swim led to another. One meal led to another. We reserved a cabana and figured we’d worry about the next day when the next day arrived.

Somewhere along the way, I started making mental notes.

Those notes led to questions.

Those questions eventually led to Antonio.

And a summer vacation that wasn’t supposed to become a story became one anyway.

Maybe that’s part of returning to somewhere you’ve visited before.

The place may have changed.

The experience may have changed.

And perhaps you’ve changed a little, too.

We didn’t travel to Los Cabos looking for a story.

We went there to spend four days together.

Turns out, that was the story.

This is The Way We Travel

Editor’s Note

HL Media Network paid for our Los Cabos summer vacation. Our accommodations and travel arrangements were booked through Costco Travel; neither Costco Travel nor Hilton Los Cabos sponsored or hosted our stay.

After returning home, our curiosity about the changing resort experience led us to reach out to industry colleagues, resulting in a follow-up interview with Antonio, general manager of Hilton Los Cabos.

The catamaran and snorkeling excursion described in this story was arranged by the Los Cabos Tourism Board.

© 2026 HL Media Network Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Milestone | Patricia Pérez: Setting the Standard

Milestone | Patricia Pérez: Setting the Standard

Aug 14, 2026 | Culture and Influence

HL | Culture and Influence

Milestone | Patricia Pérez: Setting the Standard

HL Media Network congratulates longtime communications executive, community advocate and 2017 Hispanic Lifestyle Latina of Influence Patricia Pérez as she begins a new chapter following nearly four decades with VPE Communications. habits separate broadcasters from the communities they served. 

Photos and article by
Richard Sandoval

ome moments deserve to be recognized as milestones. Patricia Pérez’s retirement from VPE Communications is one of them.

For nearly four decades, Patricia built a career in public relations and communications connecting major corporations, public agencies and organizations with the U.S. Hispanic market. Just as importantly, she remained actively engaged with the community-based organizations and causes serving many of those same communities.

As Patricia begins her next chapter, we want to say something very simple:
Congratulations on a job well done. You have built a career to be proud of and thank you for your many years of service to our community.

A Career Built on Relationships

My memories of Patricia go back many years.

I remember crossing paths with her at numerous community events over the years. Her name would often appear on the boards of organizations and community-based initiatives, and there would be many more events, meetings and opportunities to watch Patricia and VPE at work.

Her professional career put her in the company of major brands and organizations. VPE’s client history has included organizations such as Disneyland, McDonald’s, AT&T and Farmers Insurance, along with numerous government agencies and community organizations.

That professional record speaks for itself.

But when I think about Patricia, some of the things I remember most didn’t happen from a stage or in front of a camera.

I remember the conversations.

Patricia was one of those people with whom you could have a quiet conversation and walk away with a new perspective.

She might share an insight, make a suggestion or point out something you hadn’t considered. These were valuable pieces of information coming from someone with years of experience who was willing to share some of what she had learned along the way.

There was never much fanfare surrounding those moments.

It was simply good advice.

And I appreciated it.

Serving the Market and the Community

Patricia’s career also represents an important chapter in the evolution of communications with the U.S. Hispanic market.

Through VPE, she helped bring stories, information and campaigns to the attention of audiences that historically had often been underserved or overlooked.

That work required more than delivering a message. It required understanding the communities those messages were intended to reach.

Patricia understood that distinction.

She wasn’t simply communicating to the community. She was active in the community.

Throughout her career, she contributed her time, experience and leadership to community-based organizations, civic efforts and causes. That involvement provided a perspective that couldn’t simply be learned by studying demographics or reading a marketing report.

She knew the people. She knew the organizations. She understood the marketplace and she understood the value of relationships.

Pictured among Hispanic Lifestyle’s 2017 Latinas of Influence is
Patricia Perez (is standing in the back row).

Documenting the Journey

For more than three decades, our cameras, microphones and pages have documented the people and organizations influencing our communities.

Patricia and VPE are part of that history.

VPE Communications was recognized through Hispanic Lifestyle’s Business: Surviving to Thriving series, which celebrated businesses demonstrating longevity, adaptability and the ability to grow through changing economic conditions and marketplaces.

In 2017, Hispanic Lifestyle recognized Patricia Pérez as a Latina of Influence, acknowledging her professional accomplishments, leadership and commitment to community.

That year, we also sat down with Patricia for an interview, giving her an opportunity to share some of her experiences and perspective in her own words.

Setting the Standard

There is another part of Patricia’s career worth recognizing.

She demonstrated that it was possible to operate at the highest levels of the communications industry, work with major corporate and institutional clients, and remain genuinely connected to the community.

That matters.

Influence isn’t simply about having access to important rooms. It’s also about what you bring into those rooms, the perspectives you represent and what you do with the opportunities you’ve earned.

Patricia helped set that standard.

Her retirement also represents another measure of professional success:

What she helped build continues.

VPE Communications now enters its next chapter under the leadership of longtime VPE professionals Maricela Cueva and Lorena Alamillo. Their opportunity is to build upon a foundation developed over nearly four decades while defining what comes next for the organization.

We look forward to documenting that journey.

A Milestone Worth Recognizing

We often talk about standing on the shoulders of the people who came before us.

People like Patricia helped create a foundation upon which others can continue to build.

They opened doors. They developed relationships. They demonstrated the importance and economic influence of the U.S. Hispanic market. They gave their time and experience to organizations and communities.

And sometimes, away from the cameras and microphones, they quietly shared what they had learned with someone else who could benefit from their experience.

The responsibility for those who follow isn’t simply to admire what was built.

It is to build upon it.

That’s how influence continues.

That’s how a legacy grows.

And that’s why Patricia Pérez’s retirement deserves to be recognized as a milestone.

Patricia, from all of us at HL Media Network, congratulations on a job well done.

Thank you for your service to our community, for the conversations and insights shared along the way, and for helping create a foundation upon which others can continue to build.

You have set a standard and built a career to be proud of.

We wish you much happiness and success in whatever comes next.

EDITOR NOTES 

Culture & Influence is about more than documenting what is happening today. It is about preserving the stories of the people who helped create the opportunities we experience today and documenting those who will build upon them tomorrow.

Our history with Patricia Pérez and VPE Communications spans many years. We recognized their accomplishments, recorded their perspectives and watched their influence within the community.

Today, HL Media Network has the privilege of returning to that archive to recognize another milestone.

That is why we document.

Because today’s interview, photograph or conversation eventually becomes part of the record of who we were, who helped shape our communities and how the next generation moved the story forward.

What’s Next for VPE

As VPE Communications begins its next chapter under the leadership of Maricela Cueva and Lorena Alamillo, HL Media Network looks forward to continuing the conversation. In an upcoming Culture & Influence feature, we’ll introduce VPE’s new leadership and explore their vision for building upon the organization’s legacy and what’s next.

Video interview with VPE posted in 2014

When Local Voices Go Silent

When Local Voices Go Silent

Aug 3, 2026 | Culture and Influence

HL | Culture and Influence

When Local Voices Go Silent

 What radio loses when consolidation, automation and changing habits separate broadcasters from the communities they served. 

Photos and article by
Richard Sandoval

arly in my career, I spent at least an hour a day in the car, commuting from suburbia into the city. Radio was my companion.

I listened to morning shows, talk radio and, occasionally, music. I wanted to know what was happening in the world, but music provided another kind of connection. Having played several instruments in high school and performed in a band, I wanted to know what people were listening to and where musical tastes were heading.

Growing up in the Bay Area, I remember personalities such as Dr. Donald D. Rose with KFRC. I remember listening to sports radio on KNBR and hearing voices that seemed to belong not merely to a station, but to the entire region. This was during the late 1970s and 1980s, when local radio personalities helped set the rhythm of the day.

They told us what had happened overnight. They made us laugh during the morning commute. They talked about our teams, our neighborhoods, our weather and the events taking place around us. Even when we had never met them, we felt as though we knew them.

Years later, I found myself in Southern California, once again spending considerable time on the freeways, traveling into the Coachella Valley. I listened to a young broadcaster named Chris Kimmel who would later become known as Jimmy Kimmel and his sidekick, Carson Daly.

There is a wonderful personal story from that period involving Jimmy explaining the birds and the bees to my son Christopher. He later took me to lunch and managed to eat an entire pizza by himself.

This was before television fame. And I am not going to lie it was very good pizza.

These memories may sound like amusing detours, but they help explain what made local radio special. The people behind the microphones became part of our lives. They were not anonymous voices delivering interchangeable programming from somewhere else. They lived in the market. They understood its personality. In some cases, their listeners watched their careers develop in real time.

Photo taken around the timeframe of when  they worked at a Palm Springs radio station. Front row: Kit Carson (Carson Daly) and Chris Kimmel (Jimmy Kimmel). Photo credit: Instagram.

The people behind the voices

Over the years, perhaps because I entered the media business myself, I became friends with several local DJs, news personalities and talk-radio hosts.

I met Evelyn Erives when she was still in high school and watched her build a long career at KGGI before being laid off recently. Hispanic Lifestyle recognized another local personality, Vic Slick, whose work introduced listeners to old-school music and the memories attached to it.

My longtime friend Syeda Jafri worked in morning talk radio and later at KCAL-FM before she, too, was recently laid off. Lacey Kendall is another colleague I met years ago when she was hosting a talk-radio program. We later worked together on a nightly television newscast serving the Inland Valley.

These are only a few of the people I have met during more than three decades in media. Some began in radio and moved into other areas. Others remained because radio was where they wanted to be.

They loved entertaining people. They loved sharing information, playing music and connecting with their communities. Some may also have chosen to remain in local markets because they were raising families and building lives there.

That is an important part of this story.

When a local radio personality disappears from the air, a company may view it as a staffing decision. For listeners, however, a familiar part of their community has gone silent.

The Business Reality

Radio has always been a difficult business. Stations are bought and sold. Companies consolidate. Formats change. Advertising revenue shifts. Contracts end. Bankruptcies occur. Owners must adapt to new technology and changing audience behavior.

Automation has made it possible for fewer people to operate more stations. Programming can be produced in another city and distributed across multiple markets. Artificial intelligence will likely expand those capabilities even further.

From a business perspective, some of those decisions may appear necessary. But efficiency carries a cost when it removes the people who understand the communities being served.

A prerecorded voice can announce the name of the next song. A syndicated program can fill several hours of airtime. An algorithm can assemble a playlist.

But can any of them understand why a local high school championship matters? Can they speak naturally about the restaurant that everyone in town knows, the freeway closure changing the morning commute, the community fundraiser that needs attention or the emotional aftermath of a hometown team’s win or loss?

Local radio did more than transmit sound. It reflected a place back to the people who lived there.

Syeda Jafri, Hispanic Lifestyle honoree David Hernandez and
Mayor of Riverside Rusty Baily

Pictured among Hispanic Lifestyle’s 2015 Latinas of Influence is
Evelyn Erives (seated, second from right).

I Changed, Too

If I am being honest, it is now rare for me to tune in to local radio.

I listen to SiriusXM and podcasts. I do not spend as much time driving as I once did. When I am in the car, I am often on the phone connecting with people. My habits have changed because my lifestyle has changed.

Millions of people could probably say the same thing.

We gained more choices, greater control and access to programming from almost anywhere. But as our listening became increasingly personalized, we may have lost some of the shared experience that local radio once provided.

There was a time when thousands of people across a region heard the same joke, debated the same comment or listened together as a local announcer described an important moment. Radio created a kind of common room for a community.

Today, each of us can occupy a media room of our own.

A lesson from the Rick Dees

Several years ago, we interviewed nationally recognized radio personality Rick Dees. I will need to revisit our archives to confirm the exact date, but I believe it was around August 2001.

When we entered the studio, I noticed advertisements promoting the station’s new morning-show personality. The announcement had been made only a few days earlier, following the departure of George Lopez.

What struck me was how quickly the transition appeared to happen. The promotional campaign was ready. The replacement had apparently been planned. The station had already moved forward.

At the time, I knew very little about how radio contracts were structured or the business considerations behind these decisions. I am sure there were reasons for the change. Still, George Lopez was one of the first high-profile Latino comedians to lead a major morning radio program, and his departure felt like more than a programming adjustment. To many people in Southern California’s Latino community, it felt as though one of our most visible voices had suddenly been removed.

That experience taught me something about media: what audiences experience as an abrupt and emotional loss may have been treated inside the company as a carefully planned business transition.

The show goes on but not always with the same connection.

Why I did not ask for quotes

I considered calling several friends and colleagues who have recently been displaced and asking them to share their thoughts for this article.

I decided not to put them on the spot.

Some may still be processing what happened. Some are looking for their next opportunity. Others may be restricted by severance agreements or simply may not be ready to publicly discuss an employer that had been part of their lives for many years.

Their silence should not be mistaken for a lack of feeling.

For someone accustomed to waking before sunrise, preparing for a morning show and directing that energy toward thousands of listeners, suddenly having no microphone and no audience must create a profound sense of disruption.

The obvious suggestion is that these experienced personalities should start podcasts or online streaming programs. Some probably will. But recreating the radio experience is not as easy as setting up a microphone and pressing “go live.”

Listeners came for a complete experience: music, conversation, humor, information and companionship. Producing that experience independently requires technology, promotion, distribution and, when music is involved, licensing. Talent alone does not provide the infrastructure that a radio station once supplied.

What happens when local voices disappear?

Consolidation may preserve a company. Automation may reduce operating costs. Syndication may make programming more efficient.

But who remains responsible for listening to the community?

Who introduces the new local artist, supports the neighborhood organization, recognizes the small business, talks about the hometown team or gives attention to an issue before it becomes national news?

The question is not whether radio should resist every technological change. That would be unrealistic. The question is whether efficiency must require the removal of local identity.

When local voices go silent, communities do not simply lose broadcasters. They lose witnesses people who have been listening, observing and helping a region understand itself.

EDITOR NOTES 

I love radio.

There is still something special about listening to a ball game and then hearing the announcers and fans react on the way home after a win or a loss. It is a habit I have held onto because radio can make a shared moment feel personal.

Radio also remains one of the simplest expressions of free choice. If you do not like what a broadcaster is saying, you can turn the dial. Another voice is only a station away.

What concerns me is not that listeners have fewer channels. We have more choices than ever. What concerns me is that fewer of those voices may actually come from the communities they are addressing.

I look forward to seeing what comes next for my friends and colleagues. They are talented. They are experienced. They are innovators. They know how to inform, entertain and create meaningful connections with an audience.

Their voices have not disappeared.

For the moment, some of the microphones that carried them have simply been turned off. I look forward to the day when we and the communities they have served hear those voices again.

Cover of Hispanic Lifestyle Magazine 2002

Culture & Influence | WHAT’S NEXT

Culture & Influence | WHAT’S NEXT

Jul 23, 2026 | Culture and Influence

ISSUE 01 | July 2026

WHAT’S NEXT

MILESTONE SERIES
Recognizing Leadership

JUDITH VALLES
The Passsing of a Leader

MONEY & WEALTH
Silicon Valley

A Question
Worth Asking

ANDY GARCIA
Lifetime Achievement

WEALTH REPORT
Insights from Luis Alvarado

here are moments in every journey when you realize your perspective has changed.

For me, that moment came while standing along the waterfront in Lower Manhattan, camera in hand, just days after our HL | Milestone Series event in the Bronx. Looking across the New York skyline, I wasn’t simply photographing another city. I was reflecting on more than three decades of conversations, relationships, and experiences that began in California and have gradually expanded across the country.

That photograph became the inspiration for the cover of this inaugural edition of Culture & Influence, a publication of HL Media Network.

Since publishing our first newsletter in 1995 and launching Inland Empire Hispanic Lifestyle Magazine in 1997, our mission has remained remarkably consistent: to discover, document, and share the stories of people and organizations making a meaningful difference in their communities. While our platform has evolved into HispanicLifestyle.com and HL Media Network, our purpose has never changed.

What has changed is the scope of the conversation.

Today, influence is no longer defined by geography alone. Ideas move across industries, technology is transforming how we live and work, and leadership continues to emerge from places and people that may have once gone unnoticed. Understanding where those ideas originate, how they grow, and why they matter has never been more important.

That is the purpose of Culture & Influence.

This publication is dedicated to exploring the people, organizations, ideas, and experiences shaping our communities, our economy, and our culture. Through thoughtful journalism, compelling photography, meaningful conversations, and in-person experiences, we hope to provide context, celebrate achievement, and encourage dialogue that informs and inspires.

About the Cover Photograph

Lower Manhattan, New York City
Photographed by Richard Sandoval | May 2026

Captured just days after the HL | Milestone Series event in the Bronx, this photograph represents more than the New York skyline. It reflects a moment of perspective and possibility. While our story began in California, the conversations we are documenting and the relationships that inspire them—continue to expand across the United States.

Our cover asks a simple question:  What’s Next?

It is a question we intend to keep asking.

Not because we believe we have all the answers, but because curiosity, thoughtful conversation, and a willingness to understand different perspectives have always been at the heart of meaningful progress.

Thank you for joining us as we introduce Culture & Influence. Whether you’ve been with us since our earliest publications or are discovering our work for the first time, we’re grateful you’re here.

The conversation continues.

Richard Sandoval
President & Founder HL Media Network Inc.

In This Edition

Welcome to the inaugural edition of HL | Culture & Influence, a publication by HL Media Network.

For more than three decades, our mission has remained remarkably consistent: to discover, document, and share the stories of the people, organizations, and ideas shaping our communities. What has changed is the way we tell those stories and the conversations we believe are most important to explore.

A collection of recent stories exploring leadership, business, wealth, travel, and the people shaping our communities.

Coming Conversations

We’re already working on the next edition, featuring new conversations, fresh perspectives, and stories from across the country. We hope you’ll return and continue the journey with us.

Thank you for joining us as we begin this next chapter. We look forward to continuing the conversation and sharing new stories with you in the editions ahead.

Richard Sandoval
President & Founder, HL Media Network Inc.

More Stories

Introducing HL Media Network

Introducing HL Media Network

Jul 23, 2026 | Business

HL | BUSINESS

Introducing HL Media Network

“Our name has changed over the years, but our purpose never has to discover, document, and share the stories that connect communities.”


Richard Sandoval

Introducing HL Media Network Inc.
Building on three decades of trusted storytelling. Founded in 1995

uilding on Three Decades of Trusted Storytelling

Some journeys begin with a business plan. Ours began with a simple belief.

In 1995, we launched a four-page newsletter called Inland Empire Hispanic Business Update with one goal: to tell stories that mattered to our community. Two years later, that publication evolved into Inland Empire Hispanic Lifestyle Magazine, expanding our editorial vision to celebrate the people, businesses, organizations, and ideas shaping our region.

As technology changed, so did we.

Our storytelling expanded online with HispanicLifestyle.com, allowing us to reach audiences well beyond Southern California. We introduced video, photography, live events, interviews, podcasts, and conversations that connected leaders from across the country. What never changed was our purpose to discover, document, and share stories that create understanding and strengthen communities.

Today, that journey continues under a new name.

HL Media Network represents more than a new brand. It reflects who we have become after more than three decades of growth, learning, and serving our audience. It brings together the work many people already know HispanicLifestyle.com, our live events, editorial publications, photography, video production, and new initiatives under one unified identity.

This evolution also creates room for what’s next.

Through Culture & Influence, we’ll explore the people and ideas shaping our communities. Through the HL| Milestone Series, we’ll continue recognizing leadership and achievement. Through Home TU Casa and future editorial initiatives, we’ll expand conversations that inform, inspire, and connect people across industries and generations.

Our editorial philosophy remains the same: Precision Media bringing together the right audience around the right conversation. We believe great storytelling creates value, builds trust, and strengthens relationships.

While our name has evolved, our mission has not.

For more than 30 years, we’ve been committed to discovering, documenting, and sharing the stories, ideas, achievements, and experiences that connect communities.

We’re excited for what’s ahead, and we’re grateful to everyone who has been part of this journey.

Welcome to HL Media Network.

Signiture activities of HL Media Network

Since 1995

  • Founded as Inland Empire Hispanic Business Update (1995)
  • Launched Inland Empire Hispanic Lifestyle Magazine (1997)
  • Introduced HispanicLifestyle.com (1999)
  • Introduced our Latinas of Influence series
  • Expanded into national editorial coverage, photography, video production, and live experiences
  • Today, united under HL Media Network Inc.

Imagen Foundation to Honor Andy Garcia

Imagen Foundation to Honor Andy Garcia

Jul 9, 2026 | Culture and Influence, Entertainment

HL | Culture and Influence

Imagen Foundation to Honor Andy Garcia

The acclaimed actor, filmmaker, producer, and musician will receive the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 41st Annual Imagen Awards, recognizing more than four decades of artistic excellence and a lasting commitment to authentic Latino storytelling.

Photos and article by
Richard Sandoval

Why This Matters

For more than four decades, the Imagen Foundation has celebrated authentic Latino representation in film, television, and, more recently, streaming media. At a time when conversations about representation continue to evolve, the Imagen Awards remain one of the few national entertainment awards dedicated to recognizing Latino excellence both in front of and behind the camera.

This year, the Foundation will present its Lifetime Achievement Award to acclaimed actor, filmmaker, producer, and musician Andy Garcia during the 41st Annual Imagen Awards, to be held on Friday, August 21, 2026, at the The Beverly Hilton.

For audiences who have followed Garcia’s career over the past four decades, the recognition honors not only an accomplished body of work, but also an artist whose integrity and commitment to authentic storytelling have inspired generations of filmmakers and performers.

A Career Defined by Excellence

From his Academy Award-nominated performance in The Godfather Part III to memorable roles across film and television, Garcia has built a career grounded in artistic excellence and cultural authenticity.

Most recently, Garcia premiered his latest feature film, Diamond, which he wrote, directed, and stars in, at the Cannes Film Festival, where it received a nine-minute standing ovation. He also stars in the Paramount+ series Landman and continues developing projects through his production company, CineSon Productions.

Throughout his career, Garcia has earned Academy Award®, Golden Globe®, and Emmy® nominations while also receiving Grammy® and Latin Grammy® honors for his musical work. Just as significant has been his dedication to creating opportunities for authentic Latino stories and voices within the entertainment industry.

From the HL Archive

One of the advantages of covering our community for more than three decades is the opportunity to build lasting relationships with the people whose work shapes culture and inspires audiences.

Over the years, HL has had the privilege of interviewing Andy Garcia on multiple occasions, documenting not only his accomplishments as an actor and filmmaker, but also his reflections on storytelling, creativity, and the importance of authentic representation.

Those conversations continue to resonate today and provide additional perspective on the career being recognized by the Imagen Foundation.

WATCH HL’S CONVERSATION WITH ANDY GARCIA

Andy Garcia and Tony Plana share their thoughts on the arts being tought in schools

Antonio Banderas and Andy Garcia at the 2006 Imagen Awards

Recognition From the Imagen Foundation

Announcing the honor, Helen Hernandez, Founder and President of the Imagen Foundation, reflected on Garcia’s decades of artistic achievement and his commitment to advancing Latino representation in entertainment.

She noted that from hosting the fourth annual Imagen Awards in 1989 to his continued work today, Garcia has built an extraordinary career while inspiring generations of storytellers through both his work and his leadership.

Accepting the recognition, Garcia shared his thoughts on receiving the Imagen Foundation Achievement Award:

“I’m deeply honored to receive this recognition from the Imagen Foundation, an organization that has championed Latino talent and authentic representation for more than forty years. This award is especially meaningful because it celebrates not just my journey, but the many artists, mentors, and audiences who have been part of it and have inspired me. Our common Hispanic culture has many important and inspirational stories that can reflect the richness of who we are and our contributions to the world.”

Moments like these remind us why HL continues to create experiences that bring accomplished leaders, entrepreneurs, artists, and innovators together. While our events recognize achievement, they also create an environment where conversations can happen naturally where questions are welcomed, ideas are exchanged, and inspiration is often found in the most unexpected places.

As both a father and a storyteller, watching that exchange reaffirmed something I have believed for many years: some of life’s greatest lessons begin with a simple question.

Looking Ahead

The 41st Annual Imagen Awards will recognize more than 30 individuals and productions representing excellence in film, television, and streaming. For more than forty years, the Imagen Foundation has remained committed to encouraging authentic portrayals of Latinos while expanding opportunities for creative professionals throughout the entertainment industry.

The Foundation also enters an important chapter in its history. While Helen Hernandez continues to lead the organization and remains actively engaged in its mission, Director Esteban Melendez has assumed a growing leadership role as part of the Foundation’s long-term succession planning. The transition reflects a thoughtful commitment to preserving the Foundation’s legacy while preparing the next generation of leadership.

EDITOR NOTES 

One of the privileges of producing HL for more than three decades is witnessing careers that stand the test of time.

Andy Garcia’s career has never been defined simply by the roles he has played, but by the integrity he has brought to his craft and the example he has set for generations of artists who followed. His work reminds us that great storytelling begins with authenticity and that representation is strongest when stories are told with honesty, depth, and respect.

The Imagen Awards continue to recognize those values, making this year’s Lifetime Achievement Award a fitting tribute to one of entertainment’s most enduring voices.

At HL, we also recognize the organizations whose commitment makes these moments possible. For more than four decades, Helen Hernandez has guided the Imagen Foundation with purpose and vision. As Director Esteban Melendez assumes an expanded leadership role, the Foundation is thoughtfully preparing for its future while remaining grounded in the mission that has defined it since its beginning.

As HL continues documenting the people, organizations, and ideas shaping culture and influence, we look forward to celebrating this milestone and sharing more stories that inspire future generations.

Milestone | Judith Valles

Milestone | Judith Valles

Jul 7, 2026 | Culture and Influence, Milestone

HL | Milestone Series

Milestone | Judith Valles

For generations, Mayor Judith Valles represented the very best in public service. As an educator, trailblazer, and the first Hispanic elected Mayor of the City of San Bernardino, she dedicated her life to expanding opportunities for others while inspiring future leaders through her example.

Article/Commentary by
Richard Sandoval

Mayor Judith Valles
1933–2026
Educator • Mayor • Mentor • Trailblazer

er influence extended well beyond City Hall. She believed in education, invested in people, and demonstrated that leadership is rooted in character, service, and a genuine commitment to improving the lives of others.

Those who knew her admired her accomplishments.

Those who met her remembered her presence.

A Leader Who Left an Impression

My first introduction to Judith Valles came long before Hispanic Lifestyle existed.

A newly made friend, Raven Workman Lopez, encouraged me to attend a political fundraiser for Esther Estrada, who was running for office in the City of San Bernardino.

She offered one simple piece of advice:

“Look for Mary Figueroa. She’s good people and she’ll take care of you.”

She was right.

That evening became one of the pivotal moments in my career.

Around that table I met people like Mary Figueroa, who would later become President of the Riverside Community College District Board of Trustees, and Andres Soto, then President of the Greater Riverside Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. More importantly, I found myself surrounded by people who believed community leadership wasn’t simply a title—it was a responsibility.

Among them was Judith Valles.

At the time, she was already an accomplished educator and academic leader.

What I remember most wasn’t her title.

It was her presence.

She possessed a quiet confidence.

She spoke with clarity and purpose.

She carried herself with grace, dignity, and professionalism.

She didn’t need to command the room.

The room naturally listened.

Breaking Barriers

Born in 1933 in San Bernardino, California, to Mexican immigrant parents, Judith Valles believed deeply in the transformative power of education.

Her career began in the classroom before advancing into educational leadership, eventually becoming President of Golden West College, where she made history as the first Latina to lead a California community college.

In 1998, she again broke new ground when she was elected the first Hispanic Mayor of the City of San Bernardino.

Throughout two terms in office, she championed education, neighborhood revitalization, youth development, economic opportunity, and civic engagement.

Whether serving students or residents, she believed strong communities are built by investing in people.

Supporting a Vision

Years later, as Inland Empire Hispanic Lifestyle Magazine was beginning to take shape, I invited Judith to join an informal advisory board made up of community leaders whose judgment and experience I respected.

She graciously accepted.

When she was elected mayor, she stepped away from the advisory board to focus on serving the City of San Bernardino, but she remained supportive of our mission.

Looking back, I realize she was one of the earliest people who affirmed the vision behind Hispanic Lifestyle.

She helped me believe that the stories of community leaders deserved to be documented not because of who they were, but because of the difference they made.

She later became one of the earliest recipients of our Inland Empire Latina of Influence recognition and returned as a featured speaker during our inaugural Inland Empire Latina Conference.

 Judith Is My Homegirl

One story has stayed with me for decades.

During one of our advisory meetings, Judith mentioned that Stater Bros. Markets Chairman Jack H. Brown had Latino roots.

Some time later I had the opportunity to briefly meet Mr. Brown and shared what Judith had told me.

He smiled and simply replied:

“Judith is my homegirl.”
— Jack H. Brown, Chairman, Stater Bros. Markets

Those four words said everything.

They reflected the genuine respect and affection Judith Valles earned throughout her lifetime.

HL Archive

Mayor Judith Valles addresses attendees during HL’s inaugural Inland Empire Latina Conference in 1999. Long before HL became a statewide and national platform, she encouraged our mission to recognize, celebrate, and document leadership throughout our communities.

Her Legacy Lives On

Mayor Judith Valles passed away in 2026, leaving behind a remarkable legacy of education, public service, and community leadership.

But perhaps her greatest legacy cannot be measured by elections won or titles held.

It lives in the students she encouraged.

The neighborhoods she served.

The leaders she mentored.

And in those of us who looked at her example and believed our communities deserved to have their stories preserved.

For me, Mayor Judith Valles was one of those people.

She helped shape the editorial philosophy that has guided Hispanic Lifestyle for more than three decades.

Mayor Judith Valles…

You were a role model to me.

Thank you for believing in our community.

Thank you for believing in our work.

And thank you for inspiring one young publisher to believe these stories were worth telling.

“Leadership is not defined only by the offices people hold, but by the lives they inspire.

That is how I will always remember Mayor Judith Valles.”

— Richard Sandoval, Founder & Publisher, HL

Milestone Timeline

1933
Born in San Bernardino, California.

Education
Began her career as an educator before serving in numerous academic leadership roles.

1988
Appointed President of Golden West College, becoming the first Latina to lead a California community college.

1998
Elected the first Hispanic Mayor of the City of San Bernardino.

1999
Featured speaker at HL’s inaugural Inland Empire Latina Conference and an early supporter of the vision behind Inland Empire Hispanic Lifestyle Magazine.

2000
Recognized as one of Inland Empire Hispanic Lifestyle’s earliest Latina of Influence honorees.

2002
Re-elected Mayor of the City of San Bernardino.

2003
Awarded Mexico’s prestigious Ohtli Medal for her contributions to education and public service.

2012
Published As My Mother Would Say: Como Decía Mi Mamá.

2026
Passed away, leaving an enduring legacy of leadership, education, and public service.

EDITORIAL NOTES 

Today, as HL begins a new chapter, this article also marks the beginning of HL | Milestone Legacy our commitment to preserving the stories of leaders whose lives have shaped our communities and inspired future generations.

Our responsibility is not to define our community.

It is to document its history, celebrate its achievements, and ensure that the lives of people like Mayor Judith Valles are remembered long after today’s headlines have faded.

Because today’s milestones become tomorrow’s history.

 Richard Sandoval, Founder & Publisher, HL

Defining Wealth in Silicon Valley

Defining Wealth in Silicon Valley

Jul 5, 2026 | Money, Finances & Wealth

HL | Wealth Report

Defining Wealth in Silicon Valley

Latinos are emerging as one of the region’s most influential growth segments shaping wealth through education, ownership, technology, real estate, entrepreneurship, leadership, and culture.

Photos and article by
Richard Sandoval

ilicon Valley is often defined by technology, venture capital, innovation, and global wealth creation. It is a region known for producing ideas, companies, and industries that influence the world.

But the definition of wealth in Silicon Valley is changing.

Wealth is no longer measured only by market valuations, stock options, executive titles, or access to capital. Wealth is also measured by education, ownership, home equity, business growth, leadership, cultural influence, access to networks, and the ability to create opportunity for the next generation.

For the Latino community, this broader definition matters.

“The data gives us context. The leaders give us proof. The stories give us meaning.”

Latinos are not simply participating in the Silicon Valley economy. They are helping shape its future through business ownership, institutional leadership, real estate, technology, workforce development, financial services, entrepreneurship, and culture-driven brands.

That was the larger conversation reflected at the HL | Milestone Series Silicon Valley event, where Hispanic Lifestyle recognized leaders whose stories represent a more complete view of wealth, influence, and legacy.

The evening also included remarks from Luis D. Alvarado of Wells Fargo, who helped frame the economic environment through insights connected to the Wells Fargo Investment Institute’s 2026 Midyear Outlook. The report’s theme, “Keeping discipline in noisy markets,” speaks directly to this moment. It points to a world being shaped by artificial intelligence, geopolitical uncertainty, inflation, energy prices, interest rates, and long-term structural change.

For Hispanic Lifestyle (HL), the takeaway is not investment advice.  The takeaway is context.

Serious conversations about wealth require serious information. They require trusted research, responsible interpretation, and a clear understanding of how economic forces affect families, entrepreneurs, professionals, homeowners, and communities.

That is the purpose of the HL Wealth Report.

We are not telling readers what to invest in. We are highlighting credible research, connecting it to Latino wealth and influence, and encouraging our audience to think more deeply about the forces shaping their future.

In Silicon Valley, one of the clearest forces is artificial intelligence.

According to the Wells Fargo Investment Institute’s 2026 Midyear Outlook, AI and other technology spending are helping shift economic growth from consumer-led activity toward investment-led growth. That includes data centers, power, technology infrastructure, electronic structures, information-processing equipment, and software.

Through the HL lens, this is not only a technology story.

It is a Latino wealth story.

Who will build the next generation of infrastructure?
Who will finance it?
Who will lead the companies connected to it?
Who will prepare the workforce?
Who will own businesses that serve this new economy?
Who will help families understand the opportunities and risks that come with economic change?

These are the questions that matter.

The Wells Fargo outlook also notes that larger companies often have advantages in uncertain markets because they tend to have stronger pricing power, less credit sensitivity, and broader access to financing. That point is especially relevant to Latino entrepreneurs and small business owners. Inspiration alone does not scale a business. Capital readiness, financial relationships, strategic planning, and access to trusted networks matter.

HL | Milestone Honorees recognized in Silicon Valley on June 17, 2026.

Back row: Dr. Marilyn Flores, President of San José City College; Frank Carbajal, Founder of Es Tiempo and the Silicon Valley Latino Leadership Summit; Hilda Ramirez, CEO and Team Leader of Keller Williams Silicon City; and Julian Cañete, President and CEO of the California Hispanic Chambers of Commerce.

Front row: Mauricio, Gabriel and Luis, Founders of Paleta Planeta; Gloria Mirazo Gregor, Senior Market Manager, Wells Fargo; Jazmin Diaz, Founder of Flourish Learning & Development; and Javier Diaz, Founder and CEO of OSI Engineering.

This is where Latino wealth must be understood beyond individual success stories.

The community needs more than visibility. It needs infrastructure.

“Latinos are not a one-size-fits-all market. They are homeowners, investors, executives, founders, creators, travelers, philanthropists, educators, and decision-makers. They are building companies, buying homes, leading institutions, influencing culture, and creating legacy.”

Latino wealth in Silicon Valley is not a future possibility. It is already present.

It is present in education.
It is present in real estate.
It is present in business ownership.
It is present in technology.
It is present in leadership networks.
It is present in financial institutions.
It is present in culture-driven entrepreneurship.
It is present in the families and professionals building legacy one decision at a time.

The opportunity now is to frame these stories properly.

For too long, successful Latino stories have been presented only as inspirational journeys. Inspiration matters, but it is not enough. These stories are also business case studies. They are evidence of a growing consumer segment, a rising professional class, an entrepreneurial engine, and a community with purchasing power, cultural influence, and generational ambition.

This is why brands, financial institutions, real estate developers, technology companies, civic leaders, and luxury companies should pay attention.

Latinos are not a one-size-fits-all market. They are homeowners, investors, executives, founders, creators, travelers, philanthropists, educators, and decision-makers. They are building companies, buying homes, leading institutions, influencing culture, and creating legacy.

Silicon Valley’s next chapter will not be defined by technology alone.

It will be defined by who has access to opportunity.

Who owns businesses.
Who leads institutions.
Who understands capital.
Who builds networks.
Who prepares the next generation.
Who tells the story.

That is why the HL Wealth Report matters.

It allows Hispanic Lifestyle to connect trusted research, real community leadership, and culturally relevant storytelling in a way that extends the conversation beyond the event room.

The data gives us context.
The leaders give us proof.
The stories give us meaning.

Latinos are emerging as one of Silicon Valley’s most influential growth segments.

And the future they are building is already here.

EDITOR NOTES 

HL Wealth Report is an editorial feature from HL | Culture and Influence  focused on wealth, ownership, leadership, and influence in the Latino community. This content is for informational and editorial purposes only and does not provide investment, legal, tax, or financial advice.

Readers should consult qualified professionals before making personal financial decisions.

Additional photos taken at the HL | Milestone Silicon Valley event were taken Lilith Sanchez

HL | Milestone Series – Honors Jazmin Diaz

HL | Milestone Series – Honors Jazmin Diaz

Jun 7, 2026 | Milestone

HL | Milestone Series – Honors Jazmin Diaz

Growth • Purpose • Impact

When Jazmin Diaz founded Flourish Learning & Development, she transformed a lifetime of personal resilience, professional achievement, and leadership experience into a mission dedicated to helping others grow with intention, confidence, and purpose.

As a first-generation Mexican-American, wife, mother of four, author, executive coach, and business leader, Jazmin’s journey reflects the power of perseverance, continuous learning, and a commitment to helping others recognize their potential. Through her work, she has inspired individuals to embrace growth, overcome limiting beliefs, and pursue meaningful success in both life and career.

Jazmin Diaz will be recognized during  our HL | Milestone Series – Silicon Valley event, taking place on June 17, 2026. This invitation-only reception brings together a curated audience of executives, entrepreneurs, and community leaders for an evening of connection, conversation, and recognition.

👉 Event details & RSVP: https://bit.ly/41B5Z3J

Throughout her career, Jazmin has demonstrated a unique ability to bridge leadership development, education, business, and community impact. Her professional journey spans more than two decades, beginning in public education where she dedicated herself to serving students and families before transitioning into the technology sector. Today, she serves as Chief of Staff for a leading cybersecurity company, helping executive leadership teams advance organizational strategy, transformation, employee engagement, and operational excellence.

Her passion for personal and professional growth extends beyond the workplace. Through Flourish Learning & Development, Jazmin provides coaching, workshops, keynote presentations, and leadership development programs designed to empower individuals to take ownership of their future and flourish in their own unique journey.

Milestone Moments

• Founder and CEO of Flourish Learning & Development, a leadership development company focused on personal and professional growth.

• Author of Ignite Your Growth: Perspectives and Tactics to Flourish in Life and Career and the Spanish-language companion Enciende tu Crecimiento.

• More than twenty years of leadership experience spanning public education, technology, organizational development, and executive leadership support.

• Serves as Chief of Staff for a leading cybersecurity company, partnering with executives on strategy, transformation, and organizational effectiveness.

• Board Member of the Center for Employment Training (CET), supporting workforce development, skills training, and economic opportunity.

• Mentor, speaker, and advocate dedicated to empowering students, emerging leaders, first-generation professionals, and members of the Hispanic community.

What distinguishes Jazmin’s leadership is her belief that growth is not reserved for a select few it is available to anyone willing to invest in themselves, embrace change, and pursue continuous improvement. Through her coaching, speaking, writing, and community engagement, she has helped countless individuals discover their strengths, build confidence, and create new possibilities for their future.

Her story serves as a reminder that leadership begins with personal growth and that the greatest impact often comes from helping others recognize what is possible within themselves.

As HL  celebrates leadership, influence, and legacy, we are proud to recognize Jazmin Diaz for her commitment to empowering individuals, strengthening communities, and helping others flourish in life and career.

The HL | Milestone Series is a national platform designed to celebrate leadership across business, community, education, and innovation.

The 2026 HL | Milestone Series is made possible through the support of Wells Fargo, the series’ funding partner, whose commitment to community engagement and financial empowerment helps bring these important conversations and recognitions to life.