Desserts, Party Plans on Latin Awards Menu

A Huntington Beach gelatin dessert maker and a Los Angeles event planner are among the awardees recognized by the Latin Business Assn. at its annual awards gala.

Lulu’s Dessert, founded by Maria Lourdes Sobrino in 1982 out of a tiny storefront, now pulls in more than $7.5 million in annual revenue and sells its ready-to-eat desserts throughout the country and abroad. That company won the business association’s “established business” award for companies of $5 million or more in annual revenue.

The award for “growing business” went to And Here’s Lily, an event-planning firm that offers fine dining to corporate and private clients. Founded by Liliana Wilkerson in 1987, the company has planned and managed events for heads of state and dignitaries, including Presidents Bush and Reagan and former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher.

Other award winners include Jay Fondevilla of Santa Monica architectural firm Widom Wein Cohen O’Leary Terasawa, for implementing a mentoring program to teach underprivileged children about architecture; Rudy Sanchez, chief executive and president of Balboa Collections, for helping to secure millions of dollars in contracts for Latino business through the Latino Coalition, a group of Latino professional associations; and Jorge Corralejo, president of Macondo Leasing Co., for his efforts to promote diversity among top corporations in the state and nation.