Outstanding Americans by Choice
The Outstanding Americans by Choice initiative recognizes the outstanding achievements of naturalized U.S. citizens. Through civic participation, professional achievement, and responsible citizenship, recipients of this honor have demonstrated their commitment to this country and to the common civic values that unite us as Americans.
USCIS will recognize naturalized citizens who have made significant contributions to both their community and their adopted country on a case-by-case basis.
Note: The following biographies have been provided by the ABC recipients.
2007
Farooq Kathwari is Chairman, President, and Chief Executive Officer of Ethan Allen Interiors, Inc. He has been President of the Company since 1985 and Chairman and Chief Executive Officer since 1988.
Chairman-elect and Chief Executive Officer of PepsiCo, Indra K. Nooyi joined PepsiCo in 1994 and directed worldwide strategy for over a decade. She was the primary architect of PepsiCo’s restructuring and transformation, which added some of the world’s strongest health and wellness brands to PepsiCo’s portfolio.
Dina Habib Powell was nominated by President Bush to be Assistant Secretary of State for Educational and Cultural Affairs on April 29, 2005, and was confirmed by the U.S. Senate on June 24, 2005.
Miguel Orozco was born in Guayaquil, Ecuador. When he arrived to the United States, even though he could not speak a word of English and was not yet a citizen, he joined the U.S. Marine Corps.
Dr. Cristina V. Beato is focused on leading the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) efforts to reduce health disparities, combat HIV/AIDS, encourage prevention strategies for reducing chronic diseases, and advance women's health.
Josefina G. Carbonell was appointed by President George W. Bush and confirmed by the Senate as Assistant Secretary for Aging at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) in August 2001.
On November 27, 2005, Alfonso “Al” Martinez-Fonts, Jr. was appointed Assistant Secretary for the Private Sector Office at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS). As Assistant Secretary, Mr. Martinez-Fonts is charged with providing America’s private sector with a direct line of communication to the Department.
Dr. Ricardo Ernst was born in Venezuela on January 9, 1959. He is a professor at the McDonough School of Business, Georgetown University. He holds a civil engineering degree from the Universidad Catolica Andres Bello and a master's in business administration from the Instituto de Estudios Superiores de Administración, both in Venezuela.
Mexican-born director Alejandro Gomez Monteverde moved to the United States at the age of 17, to Austin, Texas to pursue his film career. Mr. Monteverde graduated from the University of Texas at Austin with an undergraduate degree in film.
Mayor Manuel “Manny” Diaz was first elected as Mayor of the City of Miami on November 13, 2001 and then re-elected to a second term in 2005.