When Liliana Garcia first came to the United States from Mexico, no one helped her acclimate to her new country. Even though she had been a recording star with Fandango, a pop musical group, and a business owner in Mexico, it took a while for her to get on her feet.

Today, Garcia is the producer and host of a one-hour daily television show on Univision KNBT and a corresponding one-hour radio show that is broadcast throughout Southern California on Radio Unica. She addresses the issues that the local Hispanic population faces, such as the economy, business, health, immigration and education, as well as interviews with key community leaders. Known as “La Voz de San Diego” (“The Voice of San Diego”), she provides small business owners a medium they normally would not be able to afford.

For her efforts, the SBA San Diego district has named her Small Business Journalist of the Year.

“I hope with my programs that I can educate people,” says Garcia. “I want to give people what no one gave me — an education on the opportunities this country has that they don’t know about. That’s why, when I first started the show, I invited the SBA to come and talk about all the help it provides.”

As part of her television show, Garcia has developed and carried out several campaigns — to promote health awareness, motivate Hispanic students to stay in school and the importance of voting.

“Liliana Garcia’s very own nature feeds her passion for knowledge, communication and education,” says Lilia Mojia, vice president, national Hispanic outreach director for Springboard, a nonprofit consumer credit management firm. “No matter what challenges come her way, she exudes focus, vision and is constantly victorious. Her persistence and consistent achievements reflect her core values, integrity and inspiration.”

Her colleagues are also enthusiastic about Garcia. “It was our pleasure to work with Liliana a year ago in a production of a video directed to our Hispanic community, explaining the health care system in the United States,” recalls Gustavo Friederichsen, director of corporate communications and multicultural services for Sharp. “We believe that Liliana Garcia represents the best in journalism, combining her professionalism as a media personality with her profound concern and empathy with the Spanish-speaking community.”

For Garcia, helping others is the best reward she could ask for. “I never stop thinking about what I can help people with next,” she says. “I love helping people and sometimes I get frustrated trying to help them more.”