Business: Roberto Goizuetta (Cuba)

Roberto Goizuetta was born in Havana in 1931 and emigrated to the United States with his family in 1960.

Goizuetta earned his bachelor's degree from Yale University, and in 1953 he returned to Havana to join his family's sugar business. Soon thereafter, he took a job with the Coca Cola Co., and was made technical director of the company's five Cuban bottling plants.

After defecting to the U.S., he went to work for Coca Cola in Miami, and in 1964 he moved to the company's Atlanta headquarters where he was made vice president for technical affairs and development in 1965. Goizuetta was named president of the company in 1979 and took the additional title of chairman three years later.

Goizuetta remained at the helm of Coke until his death from lung cancer in 1997.

Goizuetta, reportedly the first CEO to become a billionaire at a company his family did not establish, endowed a foundation which supports education and other charitable endeavors. Emory University named its business school in his honor.

Hispanic Heritage Month: ContributionsMore>>
Some familiar names, and perhaps some who are not so well known
Some familiar names, and perhaps some who are not so well known
Immigrants from Spanish-speaking countries have succeeded in many fields after migrating to the U.S. You've probably heard about many of these people, but some many be new to you.More Content
Immigrants from Spanish-speaking countries have succeeded in many fields after migrating to the U.S. You've probably heard about many of these people, but some many be new to you.More Content
Law: Judge Sonia Sotomayor
Law: Judge Sonia Sotomayor
Sonia Maria Sotomayor is an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States, serving since August 2009. Sotomayor is the Court's 111th justice, its first Hispanic justice, and its third female justice.More Content
Music: Lalo Schifrin (Argentina)
Music: Lalo Schifrin (Argentina)
Immigrants from Spanish-speaking countries have succeeded in many fields of endeavor after migrating to the United States. We've selected a cross-section of emigrees from many Latin American countries. You've probably heard about many of these people, but some many be new to you.More Content
Education: Jaime Escalanta (Bolivia)
Education: Jaime Escalanta (Bolivia)
Jamie Escalante was born in LaPaz, Bolivia and emigrated to the United States in 1964. After teaching mathematics in Bolivia, he studied at the University of Puerto Rico and arrived in Los Angeles unableMore Content
Science: Franklin Chang-Diaz: (Costa Rica)
Science: Franklin Chang-Diaz: (Costa Rica)
Franklin Chang-Diaz was born in San Jose, Costa Rica in 1950 and emigrated with his family to Connecticut. Chang-Diaz joined NASA's astronaut corps in 1981 and spent more than 1,600 in space during sevenMore Content
Entertainment: John Leguizamo: (Colombia)
Entertainment: John Leguizamo: (Colombia)
John Leguizamo was born in Bogota, Colombia in 1964 and emigrated to the United States with his family four years later. Leguizamo grew up in the New York City borough of Queens and attended New YorkMore Content
Business: Roberto Goizuetta (Cuba)
Business: Roberto Goizuetta (Cuba)
Roberto Goizuetta was born in Havana in 1931 and emigrated to the United States with his family in 1960. Goizuetta earned his bachelor's degree from Yale University, and in 1953 he returned to HavanaMore Content
Fashion: Oscar de la Renta (Dominican Republic)
Fashion: Oscar de la Renta (Dominican Republic)
Oscar de la Renta was born in the Dominican Republic in 1932 and became a U.S. citizen in 1971. De la Renta left the Dominican Republic when he was 18 years old to study art in Spain, but soon after beginningMore Content
Sports : Francisco Segura (Equador)
Sports : Francisco Segura (Equador)
Immigrants from Spanish-speaking countries have succeeded in many fields of endeavor after migrating to the United States. We've selected a cross-section of emigrees from many Latin American countries. You've probably heard about many of these people, but some many be new to you.More Content
Medicine: Hermann Mendez (Guatemala)
Medicine: Hermann Mendez (Guatemala)
Immigrants from Spanish-speaking countries have succeeded in many fields of endeavor after migrating to the United States. We've selected a cross-section of emigrees from many Latin American countries. You've probably heard about many of these people, but some many be new to you.More Content

*DISCLAIMER*: The information contained in or provided through this site section is intended for general consumer understanding and education only and is not intended to be and is not a substitute for professional advice. Use of this site section and any information contained on or provided through this site section is at your own risk and any information contained on or provided through this site section is provided on an "as is" basis without any representations or warranties.

Business: Roberto Goizuetta (Cuba)

Business: Roberto Goizuetta (Cuba)

Hispanic Heritage Month: ContributionsMore>>