Honoree Bios

Cesar Alvarez, Executive Chairman, Greenberg Traurig

Cesar L. Alvarez currently serves as the Co-Chairman of Greenberg Traurig. Prior to this appointment, Cesar served the firm as its Executive Chairman for more than 3 years, and as its Chief Executive Officer for 13 years. He began his tenure as CEO in 1997 when the firm had 325 lawyers in eight offices and directed the firm through its growth to approximately 1850 attorneys and government professionals in more than 30 locations in the United States, Europe and Asia, including strategic alliances in Milan and Rome, Italy. The firm has been recognized as the fastest growing law firm in the United States over the last five years and is the 7th largest law firm in the country. In addition, Chambers and Partners, world leaders in client-led intelligence on the legal profession, through a panel of independent judges, selected Greenberg Traurig as "2007 U.S. Law Firm of the Year." In 2008, Cesar was honored by Chambers and Partners with its "Lifetime Achievement Award" and by the American Bar Association with their "Spirit of Excellence Award." Prior to becoming CEO of the firm, Cesar practiced securities, corporate and international law for more than 25 years.

José Andrés, Award-winning Chef and Restaurateur

Named one of the 100 most influential people in the world by Time magazine in 2012 and “Outstanding Chef” by the James Beard Foundation in 2011, José Andrés is an internationally-recognized culinary innovator, passionate advocate for food and hunger issues, author, educator, television personality and chef/owner of ThinkFoodGroup. TFG is the team responsible for renowned dining concepts in Washington, DC, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Miami, and Puerto Rico. He is Dean of the Spanish Studies program at the International Culinary Center, the first program of its kind to be offered in the United States. He is chairman emeritus of DC Central Kitchen, Chairman of LA Central Kitchen and the founder of World Central Kitchen. He is also culinary ambassador to the Global Alliance for Clean Cookstoves, an effort championed by Secretary Hilary Clinton. Andrés also teaches “Science and Cooking” at Harvard as well as “The World on a Plate: How Food Shapes Civilization” at George Washington University.

Vista Hermosa Foundation

Vista Hermosa Foundation was established by Ralph and Cheryl Broetje in 1988 in response to the need for quality, affordable childcare for low-income and farm-working families in southeastern Washington state. Today, the Foundation serves as the charitable arm of Broetje Orchards, aiming to carry forth its mission of “bearing fruit that will last” (John 15:16). In addition to housing local programs in the Vista Hermosa community, the Foundation engages in initiatives on immigration reform and supports budding communities in countries around the world, all the while promoting its Theory of Change: the most impactful way to create long-term change is to build holistic, sustainable communities which empower members to identify their own dreams and to put those dreams into action.