KEYT Channel 3 anchor Paula Lopez will co-host Pacific Coast Business Times’ inaugural Latino Business Awards reception Thursday, July 19 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Crowne Plaza Ventura. The awards program is the first regionwide effort to recognize top Latino business leaders from Ventura, Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties.

“Paula is the perfect person to help us launch our newest awards program,” said Henry Dubroff, chairman and editor of the Business Times, and reception co-host.

The 2012 Latino Business Awards honorees were selected from dozens of nominations submitted earlier this spring. This year’s honorees represent nine categories. The winners are:

•Financial Services: Eloy Ortega, President, Bank of Santa Barbara

•Professional Services: Veronica Quintana, CBIZ

•Agribusiness: Bill Camarillo, President, Agromin

•Large Business: Angel Martinez, CEO, Deckers Outdoor Corp.

•Small Business, Ventura County: Sonia Robles, owner, Quest Staffing Services

•Small Business, South Coast: Saul Alcaraz, Santa Barbara Art Glass

•Small Business, Central Coast: Aureliano and Gelacio Lopez, Tacos El Tizon & Taqueria Guerrero

•Nonprofits: Pedro Chavez, Big Brothers Big Sisters Ventura County

•Higher Education: Celina Zacarias, CSU Channel Islands

Tickets and information are available on the Business Times website www.pacbiztimes.com or via email to jhemmy@pacbiztimes.com.