Young Americans Center CEO Richard Martinez a Finalist for Businessman of the Year

DENVER - May 14, 2013 - PRLog -- Young Americans Center for Financial Education, a Denver-based non-profit that develops the financial literacy of youth and young adults, is pleased to announce that CEO Richard Martinez has been named a finalist for the 2013 Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Businessman of the Year Award.

“Mr. Martinez is another wonderful example of the growing influence of our Hispanic business leaders," said Bill Vidal, President and CEO of the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.  "We rejoice in his work in Young Americans to bring financial literacy to young people as it will benefit our community today and for generations to come.”

As President and CEO of Young Americans, Mr. Martinez is responsible for managing and ensuring the success of Young Americans Bank and the nonprofit programs of Young Americans Center for Financial Education.

“It is a wonderful honor to be a finalist for this award, as I find myself keeping company with many other distinguished community leaders,” said Martinez of the announcement.  “The Hispanic Chamber of Commerce continues to recognize the leadership and advancement of Hispanic-owned and -led businesses throughout the Denver community, and I am grateful for their support of my work at Young Americans.”

The Business Man of the Year winner will be selected at the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Business Awards Luncheon, to be held on Thursday, May 23rd at the Hyatt Regency.

Martinez joined Young Americans in 1999 and has held several roles including VP/Audit, VP/Young Americans Bank, and Senior Vice President/Chief Financial Officer. He was named President and CEO in November 2007.

Martinez began his banking career in Colorado in 1990 as an intern at the Norwest Bank of Fort Collins (now Wells Fargo bank) while pursuing a finance degree from Colorado State University. During his two-year internship, he worked in all aspects of commercial bank operations.

Upon graduation from college in 1992, Martinez accepted a position at the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City, Denver Branch as a bank examiner. His responsibilities included conducting examinations of financial institutions and inspections of bank holding companies to determine financial safety and soundness. He earned the commissioned examiner distinction in 1998.

He holds a Masters degree in Business Administration from Regis University. His degree emphasis was in computer information systems. Martinez was appointed by Governor Ritter to serve on the State of Colorado Board of Community Colleges and Occupational Education in 2010, and was appointed by Governor Hicklooper to serve on the Colorado State Banking Board in 2011. Martinez also serves on the University of Denver – Bridge Project scholarship committee. Additionally, he was appointed and served on the CollegeInvest board of directors and is a past member of the Colorado Nonprofit Association Board of Directors.

Young Americans Center for Financial Education is a nonprofit organization committed to developing the financial literacy of young people, up to age 22, through real life experiences and hands-on programs. The Center fulfills its mission by offering programs that complement and reinforce each other to build life skills, work skills and financial self-sufficiency. These include Young AmeriTowne, International Towne, Get aHead for Business, Money Matters classes, summer camps, and more. In addition, Young Americans Center houses the only real bank in the world for young people, Young Americans Bank, which shares the same educational mission of teaching children to be financially responsible. Since 1987, more than 500,000 youth have participated in the programs or bank. For more information on the Young Americans Center for Financial Education, visit www.yacenter.org.