John Sotomayor
Owner and Founder @Sotomayor Media Creations Llc
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WORK HISTORY
Owner and Founder @Sotomayor Media Creations Llc
Ocala, FL, US
Parent Company of Elevate and Embrace Magazines, established in 2017 and 2019, respectively. Originally established as a management company for freelance writing work in 2008. Clients included Akers Media Group: Welcome to Lake, Healthy Living, Lake Business, Lake & Sumter Style, Villages Edition Style MagazinesSpecial Publications Inc: OCALA Magazine, OCALA HOME, Ocala Charity RegisterOthers: St. Petersburg: Florida Trend; Orlando: Florida Travel & Life; Gainesville: North Central Florida Business Report, Travel Host Magazine, Gainesville Today; Ocala: Ocala Star Banner, West Marion Messenger, Voz Latina, El Reportero Latino, Conexion Latina, Wire to Wire, Horse Capital Digest; Houston, TX: ETV, Brookfield, WI: Best Version Media (see below); International: Ambiente (North, Central and South Americas, Europe: published in English, Spanish and Portuguese) Elevate Magazine employs 13 independent contractors in admin roles, designer, photographers, and writers. Embrace Magazine employs 15 independant contractors: designer, photographers, and writers.
EDUCATION
Howard University School of Law
two years completed, Law
St. Francis Preparatory High School
Diploma, college prep
University of Rochester
BA, Economics. Political Science
SKILLS
ABOUT JOHN SOTOMAYOR
John Sotomayor is an acclaimed journalist, editor, & executive, honed as Sotomayor Media Creations LLC (SMC LLC) owner. SMC LLC owns & operates Elevate Magazine est. Jan 2017 & Embrace Magazine est. June 2019JOURNALIST OF THE YEAR Finalist — 2024 by Society of Professional Journalists Florida (SPJ Florida Pro) EDITOR OF THE YEAR Finalist — 2024 by SPJ Florida ProMAGAZINE OF THE YEAR — 2023 by Florida Magazine Association (FMA) for Embrace (MOTY)NEW BUSINESS OF THE YEAR — 2022 by Pride Chamber for Embrace (Orlando)MAGAZINE OF THE YEAR — 2021 by FMA for Embrace (won as a startup, made history)JOURNALIST OF THE YEAR — 2011 by the Ocala/Marion County Chamber of Commerce (Chamber) MINORITY BUSINESS OF THE YEAR — 2010 by the ChamberHistory Maker:• 2021 & 2023. In Jan 2021, became the 1st LGBTQ+ mag member of FMA, est. In July 2021, FMA awarded Embrace with Charlie (1st pl) Best New Magazine, Best Overall Mag, & MOTY. 1st & only startup to achieve that. Won a total of 22 awards. In July 2023, became the 2nd magazine to win twice. Total 24 awards with 15 of them Charlie •Nov 2020, 1st LGBTQ+ member of Associated Church Press (ACP), est. 1916 •1st person to be a finalist for both EDITOR OF THE YEAR & JOURNALIST OF THE YEAR by the SPJ •Tied record for most 1st place awards by a writer in a year, Florida Press Club, est. 1950 — 6National Awards:•2024 GLAAD Media Award Nominated Journalist — Outstanding Print Article•NLGJA: Association of LGBTQ+ Journalists 2022 Excellence in Journalism — Excellence in Photojournalism •ACP Best in Class — Digital Pub 1st & 2nd place for Elevar & Elevate — 2019; 3rd place for Elevate — 2020. 10 national awards totalHighlights:•FPC Excellence in Journalism — Embrace was the most awarded magazine, 20••••23 •FMA Best Digital Mag 1st and 2nd place for Elevar & Elevate; 2018 •Mary Sue Rich Diversity Award by the City of Ocala; 2010 & 2017 •302 Awards 20••••25 — all organizationsOther Jobs:Akers Media Group staff writer: Lake & Sumter Style, Healthy Living, Lake Business Magazine, Welcome to LakeOcala Magazine exec editor 20••••13; managing editor 20••••19 Boards:• Director/Chapter Liaison; NLGJA; National Board, 20••••24 • Board Member/Vice-President (VP), Exec Board: FMA, 20••••25• Director/VP; NLGJA So FL, 20••••22• Director; SPJ Florida Pro, 20••••15• Chairman; Hispanic Business Council, 20••••11Attended law school in Washington DC, worked 10 years for top tier NYC law firms as a litigation paralegal to dept. supervisor. BA: University of Rochester in Economics & Political Science
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