|
I am pleased to announce the 2012 District 5 Communication and Leadership Award will be presented to Urban Miyares at the Spring Conference on May 19! Each year, District 5 bestows this prestigious recognition upon a non-Toastmaster member of the community who has exemplified extraordinary leadership and communication skills. This year’s recipient is well deserving of this award.
Internationally known as the Entrepreneurs’ Entrepreneur, Urban Miyares, with more than 40-years as an entrepreneur, is a blinded and multi-disabled Vietnam veteran, much sought–after motivational and inspirational public speaker and lecturer, author and published writer, inventor, philanthropist, media personality, world-class Alpine skier and offshore racing sailor. Miyares, founder (1985) and president of the volunteer-driven Disabled Businesspersons Association (DBA), oversees all the charity’s operations, to include its National Disabled Veterans Business Center, Special Kids in Business, and Challenged America programs.
Urban is recognized as one of the nation’s leading authorities and presenters on the self-employment of individuals with disabilities, .having assisted thousands in their career development and transition back into the workforce through a self-employment direction.
Active with many community and national organizations and enterprises as a board member and advisor, Urban Miyares and his wife of 44 years, JoAnn, live in San Diego, California, and have one son and four grandchildren.
SELECTED BUSINESS, SOCIAL ENTREPRENEURIAL AND PERSONAL HONORS/RECOGNITION SINCE 1985:
|
1985
|
Founded the Disabled Businesspersons Association (DBA).
|
|
1988
|
Irving Diener Award -- Blinded Veterans Association, Washington, DC
|
|
1988
|
Linnie Howard Spirit Award -- Disabled American Veterans & Department of Veterans Affairs, Winter Sports Clinic, Grand Junction, CO.
|
|
1990
|
Disabled Athlete Of The Year -- San Diego Hall of Champions Museum.
|
|
1990-91
|
U.S. National Disabled Alpine Ski Champion (B-1 Total Blind Division) and ranked as the fastest total blind Alpine skier in the world.
|
|
1991
|
National U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) Veteran Small Business Advocate Of The Year, Washington, DC.
|
|
1991
|
California's Outstanding Veteran and Small Business Award -- by former California Governor Pete Wilson.
|
|
1992
|
Independence Award for Entrepreneurship -- The San Diego Access Center.
|
|
1992
|
Presidential Point Of Light Award -- by former President George Bush,Washington, DC.
|
|
1992
|
Featured in the A&E Network's National CityVideo Award Winner for the EMMY nominated documentary "Local Heroes: Challenged America."
|
|
1992
|
Featured in the television film documentary "Travis Tritt: A Celebration."
|
|
1994
|
National Disabled Veteran Of The Year -- Disabled American Veterans (DAV).
|
|
1994
|
Who's Who In San Diego Business -- San Diego Business Journal.
|
|
1995
|
Eagle Spirit Award in Entrepreneurship -- Sharp Healthcare Foundation, San Diego, CA
|
|
1995
|
Inc Magazine's Entrepreneur Of The Year, -- by Inc Magazine, Ernst & Young, Merrill Lynch.
|
|
1995
|
Presidential Appointee to “The White House Conference On Small Business,” by former President Bill Clinton.
|
|
1995
|
Switzer Scholar - National Rehabilitation Association, Washington, DC.
|
|
1995
|
David Schnair Volunteer Service Award -- Blinded Veterans Association, Washington, DC.
|
|
1995
|
National Samaritan Award -- by Acton Institute, Grand Rapids, MI, and featured in their publication "Guide To Effective Compassion" as founder of one of the 100 most effective and compassionate charity's in the nation.
|
|
1995
|
San Diego Access Award -- by Accessible San Diego.
|
|
1996
|
Inc Magazine's “Positive Performance Award” -- by Inc Magazine and MCI.
|
|
1996
|
National Spokesperson for the 1996 Olympic Torch Relay To Atlanta – by the Coca Cola Corporation, Atlanta, GA.
|
|
1998
|
Brian Robertson Award -- by Adaptive Sports Association, Durango, CO.
|
|
1998
|
Golden SEED Award for Entrepreneurship -- by SEED Institute, Orange County, CA.
|
|
2001
|
U.S. Congressional Black Caucus Veteran Braintrust Award -- Washington, DC.
|
|
2003
|
Transpacific Yacht Race, Team CHALLENGED AMERICA, skipper -- the first team of sailors with significant disabilities to race in the 98-year history of the Transpac race from Los Angeles to Honolulu, Hawaii. Finished fourth in division.
|
|
2003
|
Channel 10 (KGTV-ABC) Leadership Award -- San Diego, CA.
|
|
2003
|
California “Community Catalyst Award” -- by California Community Catalysts.
|
|
2004
|
U.S. Sailing Association's "National Year-Round Program of the Year," Challenged America.
|
|
2005
|
U.S. Sailing Association's "National Outstanding Inclusion Sailing Program,” Challenged America.
|
|
2005
|
Transpacific Yacht Race, Team CHALLENGED AMERICA, skipper, finishing fourth In division.
|
|
2005
|
Bank of America "Neighborhood Excellence Initiative" Award, San Diego, CA.
|
|
2005
|
Recognition as the "National Disabled Veterans Business Resource Center" by the Congressionally-chartered Veterans Small Business Development Corporation (under Public Law 106-50), Washington, DC.
|
|
2006
|
U.S. Sailing Association's (life achievement) “Gay S. Lynn Memorial Trophy” for Advancing the sport of sailing for individuals with disabilities -- Newport, RI.
|
|
2008
|
National Sponsor and originator of the Department of Veterans Affairs' (VA's) 1st “National Veterans Summer Sports Clinic" (in San Diego) for recently injured Veterans, with the DBA's Challenged America program providing the sailing venue
|
|
2009
|
National Sponsor, VA National Veterans Summer Sports Clinic.
|
|
New home page articles 
