November 21, 2024
Royal Sonesta Boston
The Barry M. Portnoy Immigrant Entrepreneur Awards Benefit honors the innovation, jobs and so much more that immigrant entrepreneurs contribute to Massachusetts and the country. This year, in addition to the awards, The ILC also presents a panel discussion moderated by the Boston Business Journal‘s Executive Editor, Doug Banks.
The Boston Business Journal Executive Editor, Doug Banks, will moderate the panel discussion.
The Evening Includes:
5:30 – 6:30 PM Reception with heavy hors d’oeuvres
6:30 – 7:00 PM Awards presentation
7:00 – 8:00 PM Panel discussion
8:00 – 8:30 PM Drinks and desserts
Thank You to Our Sponsors
Diane Portnoy
Norma Portnoy
Diane Stern and Neil Ungerleider
2023 Award Winners
Business Growth
Wendy Estrella
Dominican Republic
When Wendy Estrella opened her own law practice in 2005, she was one of only a handful of Latina lawyers in Greater Boston. Estrella Law hasbeen so successful that it more than tripled its staff since 2019. Wendy and her husband also launched a real estate development and property management firm, Estrella Enterprises, that currently has a $30 million real estate portfolio in Lawrence.
Wendy was among the first to make a prominent investment in Lawrence’s downtown, and her commitment to Lawrence has been unwavering. She is a founding member and recent chair of the Lawrence Partnership and a board member of North Essex Community College.
Neighborhood Business
Son Vo
Vietnam
Son Vo’s mother ran a restaurant in their native Vietnam. After serving in the U.S. Army, he followed in her example and opened his first restaurant, Kaizen Sushi Bar & Grill, in Sturbridge in 2007. His second restaurant, Pho Sure, opened in Shrewsbury in 2014. His third restaurant, Chashu Ramen & Izakaya, opened in downtown Worcester in 2019 and quickly became an anchor business in that neighborhood.
Son prides himself on being a mentor to his employees, encouraging both their professional and personal growth. He was one of five recipients of the Worcester Business Journal 2019 Business Leaders of the Year awards.
High-Tech Business
Frank van Mierlo
Netherlands
Frank van Mierlo’s first business success, the autonomous underwater vehicle company Bluefin Robotics, positioned him well to do just about anything. He wanted to help transition the energy sector, and CubicPV was his solution. The company and its technology portfolio promise to underpin the next wave of solar growth, reducing cost while increasing the power output of solar installations.
Not satisfied with one company’s success, Frank wants to see the whole industry succeed. To that end, the U.S. Department of Energy recently awarded CubicPV and MIT a multi-million dollar grant to establish the ADDEPT Center at MIT to accelerate the commercialization of tandem solar technology. CubicPV is also focused on building a U.S.-based silicon wafer facility that is expected to be the largest outside of China.
Life Science Business
Isabel Aznarez
Uruguay
Dr. Isabel Aznarez co-discovered Stoke’s TANGO technology (Targeted Augmentation of Nuclear Gene Output). Their unique scientific approach aims to address a broad range of severe genetic diseases by increasing, or stoking, protein output from healthy genes to compensate for the non-functioning copy of the gene. Isabel and her team have identified approximately 6,500 genes that may be amenable to TANGO. She holds 29 patents.
As a woman, a lesbian and a Latina in biotech, Isabel has been vocal about topics of diversity and inclusion and has been a mentor to many. The Boston Business Journal honored her as a 2022 LGBT Trailblazer as part of its annual Business of Pride program.
Previous Nominees and Winners
Two hundred and sixty-seven Massachusetts business owners and innovators from 68 countries have been nominated and recognized for their outstanding accomplishments through the Barry M. Portnoy Immigrant Entrepreneur Awards.
Business Growth
- Fitzroy Alexander, Traditional Breads Inc., Lynn (2014 WINNER)
- Tonn Cao, TCA Counseling Group, Boston (2023)
- Herby Duverné, Windwalker Group, Boston (2016 WINNER)
- Wendy Estrella, Estrella Law Firm, Lawrence (2023 WINNER)
- Eduardo & German Fernandez, Brothers Market, Inc., Dorchester (2016)
- Francisco Fernandez, Happy Supermarket, Dorchester (2016)
- Boppanda Ganapathy, Boston Services, LLC, Burlington (2018)
- Fausto Garcia, Five Star Plating, Lawrence (2018 WINNER)
- Jose Garcia, Ebi Sushi in Somerville, Sapporo Ramen in Cambridge and Sushi Kappo in Boston (2018, 2019)
- Rafael Guzman, RM Technologies, Inc., Lawrence (2013 WINNER)
- Elias and Juana Interiano, El Potro Mexican Bar & Grill in Lowell, Malden and Somerville (2018)
- Ely Kaplansky, Kaplansky Insurance, Needham (2019)
- Venkat Kolluri, Chitika Inc./Cidewalk, Westborough (2015)
- Marc-Andre Lebel, FRX Polymers, Inc., Chelmsford (2016)
- Christine Lin, The Cambridge Institute of International Education, Waltham (2014)
- Yan Liu, TVision Insights in Boston (2018)
- Roger Magalhaes, Shades in Place, Franklin (2022 WINNER)
- Ravi Meruva, IconSoft, Burlington (2015)
- Chris & Lauriete Miller, Millers Professionals Co., Oak Bluffs (2023)
- Lisandra Mones, Glitterati Style, Salem (2013)
- Charbel Najem, Capstone General Contracting, Worcester (2014)
- Vijay Nalamada, Avco Consulting, Worcester (2017)
- Joseph Ngaruiya, A Better Life Homecare, Springfield (2019 WINNER)
- David Nguyen, US Bedding Inc., Fall River (2017)
- Larry O’Toole, Gentle Giant Moving Company, Somerville (2016)
- Hitendra Patel, IXL Center, Cambridge (2016)
- Dmitriy Peregudov, GiftBasketsOverseas.com, Arlington (2014)
- Daniel Perez, DPV Transportation Worldwide, East Boston (2017)
- Jose de la Rosa, Guardian Healthcare, Jamaica Plain (2017 WINNER)
- Tony Salem, Sea-Dar Construction, Boston (2016)
- Ashish Sangani, GIRI Hotels, Quincy (2012)
- Amir Shiranian, Amelia’s Taqueria, Inc., Boston and Brighton (2017)
- Julia Silverio, Silverio Insurance, Lawrence (2012, WINNER)
- Helene and Thomas Stohr, swissbakers, Allston and Reading (2015 WINNER)
- Sushil Tuli, Leader Bank, N.A, Arlington (2012)
- Son Vo, TTS Trio, LLC, Fiskdale (2019)
- Paolo Volpati-Kedra, Sauces ‘n Love, Inc., Lynn (2013, 2015)
Neighborhood Business
- Rosemary Agbede, Unique You Salon, Lowell (2013)
- Maria Alcantara, Lawrence Training School, Inc., Lawrence (2018)
- Adolfo Alvarado, Tu Y Yo Mexican Restaurant, Somerville (2018)
- Victoria Amador and Rosa and Nisaury Tejeda, Tremendous Maid LLC, Jamaica Plain (2014 WINNER)
- Yovanny Arias, Sharps Barber Shop, Hyde Park (2018)
- Elias Audy, Cypress Automart, Brookline (2016)
- Denise and Sambath Ban, Simply Khmer Restaurant, Lowell (2014)
- Carlos Barbosa, Colors of Cape Cod, Hyannis (2019)
- Victor Barros, Systemize Networks, Stoughton (2014)
- Arturo Barroso, Boston Shoe Service, Boston (2014)
- Edan Barshan, Universal Dental Plan, Boston (2014)
- Umesh Bhuju, Zumi’s Espresso and Ice Cream, Ipswich (2012, 2013, 2018 WINNER)
- Veronice Biscalquim, Outstanding Cleaning, Inc., Somerville (2018)
- Freddy Blanco, Don Quijote Market, Boston (2018)
- Jitka Borowick, Cleangreen, Inc., Barnstable (2017, 2018, 2022 WINNER)
- Brad Brown, The Blue Frog Bakery, Jamaica Plain (2018)
- Alberto Calvo, Stop & Compare Supermarkets, Chelsea (2014, 2015)
- Angelica & Diana Cardona, Chocolafee, Revere (2016)
- Martin Carrera, La Veracruzana, Amherst and Northampton (2015)
- Frank Chan, Chan Insurance Agency, Boston (2019)
- Eva and Nick Chau, Tai Tung Pharmacy, Boston (2016)
- Henry Chung, Pho Saigon, Lee (2012)
- Sebastian Corbat, Del Sur LLC, Lowell (2019)
- Mario Cruz, Mario’s Subs and Salads, Roxbury (2017)
- Luiz DaCosta, Modular Concepts LLC, Marlborough (2019, 2023)
- Agusto “Gus” DaCunha, Ola Cafe, Somerville (2019)
- Tom Dang, Pho Da Lat Restaurant, Lowell (2013)
- Grace Dias, Grace Group Realty, LLC, Ludlow (2023)
- Javier Diaz, Rincon Caribeno Restaurant, Hyde Park (2014, 2015)
- Larry Dossantos, 912 Auto, Dorchester (2012 WINNER)
- Margarita Druker, Persona Jewelry in Boston (2018)
- Mai Du, Wah Lum Kung Fu & Tai Chi Academy, Malden (2016)
- Calvin Duong, New Century Auto Collision and Service Center, Lowell (2013)
- Ahmed Egal, Car Service Boston, Boston (2015)
- Edna Etienne, LeFoyer Bakery, Mattapan (2019)
- Yessy Feliz, Tails, Inc., Jamaica Plain (2017, 2019 WINNER)
- Tania and Antonio Forte, Red Fez Bar and Grill, Chicopee (2018)
- Ruth Francis, P&R Ice Cream and Restaurant, Mattapan (2015)
- Julia Frenkle, Opus Design LLC, Brighton (2016)
- Fernanda Ghi and Guillermo Merlo, Artango Dance School, Brighton (2018)
- Shelia Gibbs, Optical Expressions, Springfield (2018)
- Zoila Gomez, Gomez and Palumbo LLC, Lawrence (2019)
- Jose Antonio Guerrero, Cafe Azteca, Lawrence (2014)
- Anu Gupta Immigration Desk Inc., Newton (2023)
- Suraj Gurung, Asian Star Markets LLC, West Springfield (2016)
- Andres Gutierrez, JP’s Massage Therapy Center, Jamaica Plain (2015)
- Dheyaa Habeed, Baghdad Bakery and Market, West Springfield (2016)
- Eli Hsu, Tepthida Khmer, Lowell (2012)
- Janet Hung and Delia Vildoso, Tiny World Child Care Inc., Brookline (2014)
- Juan Ingles, Imigrante Latino America Services, Chelsea (2013)
- Kham Inthirath, Envision Digital Group, Worcester (2017)
- Mahmud Jafri, Dover Rug & Home, Natick (2013 WINNER)
- Anna Janik, Janik’s Pierogi Café, Westfield (2023)
- Marie Claire Jean-Guillaume, La Ronde de Marie Claire Early Learning Center, Hyde Park (2013)
- Jean Jose, J&R Enterprises, Malden (2019)
- William Joseph, Globo Computer Center, Lynn (2019)
- Fahri Karakaya, Pera Mediterranean Bistro, Williamstown (2018)
- Sandra Katz-Deleon, Center For Bilingual Services, Lawrence (2016)
- Inna Khitrik, Inna’s Kitchen, Boston (2018)
- Rowaid Khudhur, STELA TECH, Worcester (2017)
- Sun Kim, Sun Kim Bop, Springfield (2018)
- Nai Nan Ko, Ko Automotive Group, Wellesley (2014)
- Fatima Langa, Muqueca Restaurant, Cambridge (2016)
- Hong Liu, A Friendly Inn at Harvard, Cambridge (2015)
- Francisco Lora, Tropicana Market, Salem (2013)
- Gerardo Loza and Hilda Torres, My Little Best Friends Early Learning Center, Malden (2016 WINNERS)
- Josefina Luna, CEROcoop, Boston (2017 WINNER)
- Roger Magalhaes, Shades in Place, Franklin (2012)
- Valentin Maldonado, Continental Construction Group LLC, Lynn (2017)
- Maria Maria, Los Mágicos Barbershop and Beauty Supply in Boston (2023)
- George V. Markos, Brother’s Deli, Lynn (2015)
- Giuseppe Masia, Giuseppe’s Fresh Pasta and Fine Foods, Inc., Newburyport (2019)
- Danaris Mazara, Sweet Grace Heavenly Cakes, Lawrence (2016)
- Ricardo Miranda, Miranda Auto Body, Springfield (2014)
- Moe Mobasherat, Omnidentix & Associates, Medford (2016)
- Mike Mohamed, Il Forno Restaurant, Acton, Fitchburg and West Boylston (2017)
- Miriam Morales, Recreo Coffee and Roasterie, West Roxbury (2019)
- Ekaterina Morozova, Lash Boutique, Hyannis (2018)
- Tarun & Simi Narula, Spice Root Indian Restaurant, Williamstown (2012)
- Anthony O. N. Ngethe, Nursecare Transportation, Methuen (2015)
- Ky Nguyen, Kingston Station, Boston (2015)
- Phong Nguyen, Yoki Restaurant, Medford (2014)
- Phalla Nol, Phalla’s Produce, Lowell (2019, 2023)
- Elizabeth Nolberto, Ellie’s CPR and First Aid Training, Lawrence (2016)
- Laila Pasha, Alpha Dental, Somerville (2023)
- Jignesh Patel, Jay Square, Beverly (2016)
- Colette Phillips, Colette Phillips Communications, Boston (2016)
- Damaris Pimentel, ULTRA Beauty Salon, Jamaica Plain (2013, 2015 WINNER)
- Roger Samkhon Pin and Soben Pin, KhmerPost USA, Lowell (2014)
- Gildardo Preciado, Preciado Corp d/b/a Tertulias Café, Boston (2019)
- Antonio Rodrigues, TNT Cleaning Services Inc., Assonet (2016)
- Elizabeth Rodriguez and Gladys Ruiz, Little Children Schoolhouse, Brookline (2015)
- Maria Rosa, Yeska Cakes, Lawrence (2013)
- Jorge Marzuca Rosas, Whitemarz Farm, Lunenburg (2023)
- Monica Ryan, Strawberry Child Care, Watertown (2017)
- Nabil and Joseph Sater, The Middle East & ZuZu, Cambridge (2014)
- Magbe Savane, Makomas LLC, Revere (2016)
- Harley Silva, Cape Cod Marble & Granite, Inc., Hyannis (2017)
- Manuel Silva, Silva’s Mini-Market, Lowell (2013)
- Marc Silva, Somerville Sustainable Cleaning, Cambridge (2014)
- Shane Smyth, Hugh O’Neill’s Restaurant and Pub, Malden (2019)
- Neily Soto, Soto Real Estate Services, Lawrence (2012)
- Joe de Souza, Modelos Market and Cafe, Somerville (2016)
- Rodrigo Souza, Comeketo Brazilian Steakhouse, Leominster (2018)
- Helene and Thomas Stohr, swissbakers, Reading (2013)
- Abrar Ali Syed, Pine Banks Animal Hospital, Malden (2012)
- Sabrina Tan and Chin Lee, Flavours of Malaysia, Pittsfield (2014)
- Tony Tavares, Villa Rose Restaurant & Catering, Ludlow (2023)
- Malee Thai, Pailin Market, Lowell (2012)
- Douglas Tran, All Seasons Table, LLC, Malden (2013, 2016)
- Hong Tran, LEHONG Attorneys at Law, LLC, Malden (2019)
- Long Tran, Viet Thai Restaurant, Lowell (2012)
- Huoi Trinh, My Xuyen Corporation, Dorchester (2012)
- Angel Valdivia, Angel’s Painting, Inc., Framingham (2013)
- Son Vo, Chashu Ramen & Izakaya, Worcester (2023 WINNER)
- Carlos Vargas, Vargas & Vargas Insurance, Dorchester and Stoughton (2015)
- Myra Vargas, J & P Cleaners, Jamaica Plain and Roslindale (2017)
- Tania Vega and Jose Roberto Vega, River Grille, Hyde Park (2015)
- Patria Veras Valenzuela, Sonia’s Bridal, Jamaica Plain (2013)
- Yolanda Villamil, Alpha Travel Agency, Worcester (2015)
- Weidong Wang, Baba Sushi and Chuan Sushi Restaurants, Worcester (2014)
- Angela Westen, Angela Westen Insurance Agency, Lowell (2013, 2016)
- Ahmed Yusef, Suitmen LLC, Worcester (2019)
Rosemary Agbede
Adolfo Alvarado
Edan Barshan
Shelia Gibbs
Sandra Katz-Deleon
Jignesh Patel
Monica Ryan
Maria Alcantara
Victor Barros
Larry Dossantos
Fatima Langa
Ricardo Miranda
Maria Rosa
Harley Silva
Hi-Tech Business
- Raj Aggarwal, Localytics, Boston (2017)
- Vikram Aggarwal, EnergySage, Cambridge (2014)
- Ahmed Albaiti, Medullan Inc., Cambridge (2017)
- Edison Almeida, eCurv Inc., Cambridge (2016)
- Rajini Anachi, mZeal Communications, Littleton (2016)
- Ash Ashutosh, Actifio, Inc., Waltham (2013)
- Mahmud Awan, Tech Man International LLC, Southbridge (2015)
- Aki Balogh, MarketMuse, Inc., Boston (2018)
- Panos Bethanis, survey.com, Boston (2018)
- Himanshu Bhatnagar, HB Software Solutions, Lowell (2013)
- Sridhar Bogelli, Apps Associates LLC, Acton (2018)
- Vladimir Bulovic, QD Vision, Lexington (2016)
- Dries Buytaert, Acquia, Burlington (2015 WINNER)
- Kris Canekeratne, Virtusa Coroporation, Westborough (2012)
- Sandro Catanzaro, DataXu, Boston (2017 WINNER)
- Ling Chai, Jenzabar, Inc., Boston (2022 WINNER)
- Lior Div, Cybereason, Inc., Boston (2018)
- Semyon Dukach, SMTP, Inc., Cambridge (2015)
- Shimon Elkabetz, The Tomorrow Companies Inc., Boston (2023)
- Max Faingezicht, ThriveHive, Boston (2018)
- Alexander Falk, Altova, Inc., Beverly (2018, 2019)
- Joshua Feast, Cogito Corporation, Boston (2015, 2017)
- Lingping Gao, NetBrain, Burlington (2017)
- Ashifi Gogo, Sproxil, Inc., Cambridge (2013, 2014)
- Bart Heilbron, BlueConic, Inc., Boston (2018)
- Bettina Hein, Pixability, Boston (2014, 2018 WINNER)
- Lissy Hu, CarePort Health, Boston (2017)
- Qichao Hu, SolidEnergy Systems, Woburn (2018, 2019)
- Fauzia Khan and Mansoor Khan, Alere Analytics, Lowell (2014 WINNER)
- Larry Kim, MobileMonkey, Inc., Boston (2019 WINNER)
- Krenar Komoni, Tive, Inc., Boston (2023)
- Minh (Sam) Le, HeliDirect LLC, Malden (2017)
- Idriz Limaj, connectRN, Inc., Waltham (2019)
- Natan Linder, Tulip Interfaces, Inc., Somerville (2018)
- Jennifer Lum, Adelphic Mobile, Waltham (2017)
- Frank van Mierlo, CubicPV, Bedford (2023 WINNER)
- Mihael Mikek, Celtra, Inc., Boston (2016 WINNER)
- Gaugarin Oliver, RedEgg Solutions, Waltham (2012)
- Bhaskar Panigrahi, Unique Computing, Cambridge Technology, CellExchange, ConnectM Technology Solutions, Ecovent Systems and Cambridge Energy Resources (2017)
- Christina Qi, Domeyard LP in Boston (2018)
- Vasu Ram, Content Raven, Marlborough (2015)
- Rama Ramakrishnan, CQuotient, Cambridge (2015)
- Markus Rex, ownCloud, Lexington (2016)
- Pedro Santos, OsComp Systems, Somerville (2014)
- Anil Shah, MRCC Solutions, Billerica (2017)
- Swapnil Shah, FirstFuel Software, Lexington (2014)
- Omri Shor, Medisafe, Boston (2016)
- Elad Shoushan, Ready4, Boston (2017)
- Marin Soljačić, WiTricity Corporation, Watertown (2013)
- Nagarjuna Venna, BitSight Technologies, Cambridge (2017)
- Massimiliano Versace, Neurala, Inc., Boston (2019)
- Dinesh Wadhwani, ThinkLite LLC, Natick (2015)
- Anita Worden, Solectria – A Yaskawa Company, Lawrence (2015)
- Xavier Xicay, Tuatara Corp., Boston (2014)
Sandro Catanzaro
Swapnil Shah
Life Science Business
- Sudhir Agrawal, Idera Pharmaceuticals, Cambridge (2016)
- PJ Anand, Alcyone Lifesciences, Lowell (2016, 2019)
- Patrick Anquetil, Portal Instruments, Inc., Cambridge (2019)
- Robert Ang, Vor Bio, Cambridge (2023)
- Garo Armen, Agenus, Inc., Lexington (2016 WINNER)
- Bela Asztalos, PhD, Boston Heart Diagnostics Corporation, Framingham (2014, 2015)
- Isabel Aznarez, Stoke Therapeutics, Bedford (2023 WINNER)
- Pravin Chaturvedi, PhD, IndUS Pharmaceuticals, Woburn (2014)
- Laxman Desai, Toxikon Corporation, Bedford (2015 WINNER)
- Johannes Fruehauf, BioLabs and LabCentral, Cambridge (2017 WINNER)
- Guangping Gao, Voyager Therapeutics, Inc., Cambridge (2018)
- Waleed Hassanein, TransMedics, Andover (2019)
- Avak Kahvejian, Rubius Therapeutics, Cambridge, (2022 WINNER)
- Jan Kieleczawa, Wyzer Biosciences, Cambridge (2019)
- Michael Koeris, Sample 6 Technologies, Woburn (2017, 2018 WINNER)
- Paulo Garcia, Kytopen, Cambridge (2023)
- Magdalena Leszczyniecka, STC Biologics, Cambridge (2016)
- Chiang J. Li, Boston Biomedical, Inc., Cambridge (2013 WINNER)
- Vincent Linder, Claros Diagnostics, Woburn (2012)
- Alexey Margolin, Allena Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Newton (2017)
- Davide Marini, Firefly BioWorks, Inc., Cambridge (2014)
- Salvatore Mascia, CONTINUUS Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Woburn (2017)
- Mariana Matus, Biobot Analytics, Cambridge (2023)
- Krishna Menon, Innovation Pharmaceuticals Inc., Beverly (2015)
- Babak Movassaghi, InfiniteMD, Inc., Boston (2019)
- Bernat Olle, Vedanta Biosciences, Inc., Cambridge (2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 WINNER)
- Marta Ortega-Valle, Greenlight Biosciences, Medford (2019)
- Ajikumar Parayil, Manus Bio, Cambridge (2017)
- Elisabet de los Pinos, Aura Biosciences, Cambridge (2016)
- Shahin Pourrahimi, Superconducting Systems, Billerica (2017)
- Josef von Rickenbach, PAREXEL International Corp., Waltham (2014 WINNER)
- Derrick J. Rossi, Moderna Therapeutics, Cambridge (2015)
- Ram Sasisekharan, Visterra, Inc., Waltham (2019)
- Amarpreet Singh Sawhney, Ocular Therapeutix, Inc., Bedford (2012 WINNER)
- Sharon Shacham, Karyopharm Therapeutics, Newton (2019)
- Jonathan Thon, Platelet BioGenesis, Cambridge (2018)
- Oliver Yu, Conagen, Bedford (2016)
- Vincent W. Coljee, Excelimmune, Inc., Woburn (2012)
- Bin Wu, Phosphorex Inc., Hopkinton (2019)
- Andrey Zarur, Greenlight Biosciences, Medford (2014, 2019)
- Yang Zhao, Memsic, Inc., Andover (2012, 2013)
