Winners Honored at 2007 USHCC Convention, Business Expo & International Pavilion in San Juan, Puerto Rico SAN FRANCISCO, Nov. 26 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Wells Fargo and the United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (USHCC) recently presented the "Wells Fargo Hispanic Businessman of the Year" and the "Wells Fargo Hispanic Businesswoman of the Year" awards to two small business owners: Dr. Carmen Santiago, who heads a Texas-based healthcare company serving Spanish-speaking patients, and Mr. David Hernandez, who heads a New York-based power company. The annual awards, which pay tribute to the achievements and innovations of Hispanic business owners in the U.S., were announced in September at the 2007 USHCC Convention, Business Expo & International Pavilion in Puerto Rico. Wells Fargo sponsored the awards for the first time this year. Dr. Santiago is the president and CEO of Cuidado Casero Home Health & Hospice, a health care agency serving homebound Spanish-speaking patients. Santiago, a registered nurse who moved to the U.S. from Puerto Rico in 1981, opened her first office in 1995. Since then, her company has grown to more than 1,000 employees and close to a dozen offices in Texas, New Mexico, New Jersey, Virginia and Puerto Rico. Mr. Hernandez, who emigrated from Cuba at age five, is chairman and CEO of Liberty Power Corporation, which he founded after being laid off from Enron. The company provides power to small- and medium-sized businesses in New York, and also serves Maryland, Texas and the District of Columbia and has plans to expand. Hernandez and Santiago were selected as winners for their ability to overcome challenges, their dedication to and involvement with their communities, and their personal and business success. They each received a trophy and a $5,000 check. "These prestigious awards recognize the work of one Latina and one Latino every year who inspire others to achieve success in the spirit of entrepreneurship," said David C. Lizarraga, USHCC Chair. "We believe that, through their personal and professional triumphs, Dr. Santiago and Mr. Hernandez embody the significance of these awards and we are honored to name these two extraordinary business leaders with the 2007 titles." "At Wells Fargo, we are committed to the success of Latino business owners throughout the United States," said Tim Rios, senior vice president and national spokesperson for Wells Fargo's Latino Business Services program. "It gives me great honor to celebrate the achievements of Dr. Santiago and David Hernandez, two business owners who are truly outstanding Latino leaders." Since 1997, Wells Fargo's Latino Businesses Services program has helped Latino business owners increase their access to capital and other financial services. The program is dedicated to making financial literacy and in- language resources available through seminars and community activities. To measure the progress of its outreach efforts, Wells Fargo established a public lending goal to lend $5 billion by 2010 to Latino-owned businesses. Since the program's inception, Wells Fargo has loaned $4.3 billion to Latino business owners nationwide. For more information about Wells Fargo's Latino Business Services program, please visit http://www.wellsfargo.com/biz/latino. About USHCC The USHCC was established in 1979 and is the leading advocate for Hispanic businesses and entrepreneurs. The USHCC represents the interests of more than two million Hispanic-owned businesses in the United States, which earn more than $350 billion annually. The USHCC actively promotes the economic growth and development of Hispanic entrepreneurs and the Hispanic business community. It also serves as the umbrella organization for 200 local Hispanic chambers in the United States, Canada, Puerto Rico and Mexico. About Wells Fargo Wells Fargo & Company is a diversified financial services company with $549 billion in assets, providing banking, insurance, investments, mortgage and consumer finance through almost 6,000 stores and the internet (wellsfargo.com) across North America and internationally. Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. is the only bank in the U.S., and one of only two banks worldwide, to have the highest credit rating from both Moody's Investors Service, "Aaa," and Standard & Poor's Ratings Services, "AAA." Providing financial products and services to more than one and a half million businesses with annual sales up to $20 million in all 50 states, Puerto Rico and Canada, Wells Fargo is America's #1 small business lender in total dollar volume according to the most recent Community Reinvestment Act (CRA data, 2006). The #1 ranked bank lender of Small Business Administration (SBA) loans in total dollar volume, Wells Fargo is an SBA Preferred Lender in 28 states and the District of Columbia, and originated 4,937 loans for $578 million in 2006. Its diverse business services programs provide outreach and education to women, African American, Latino, and Asian business owners about financial services. Since 1995, Wells Fargo has loaned more than $34 billion to women and diverse business owners. For more information, please visit http://www.wellsfargo.com/biz. DATASOURCE: Wells Fargo CONTACT: Media, Allison White of Wells Fargo, +1-415-975-6291, , or Gina Manley of USHCC, +1-202-842-1212 x493, Web site: http://www.wellsfargo.com/ http://www.wellsfargo.com/biz/latino http://www.wellsfargo.com/biz

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