Jeff Valdez (1974)

Jeff is currently the Co-Chairman of Maya Entertainment, the first and only Latino Global Film Distribution Company. In 2007, together with Mr. Moctesuma Esparza, he co-founded and created this global platform for media content. The company produces and distributes films and content, primarily in English for theatrical release, as well as syndication and Video On Demand. Wal-Mart, Target, Blockbuster, Netflix, Redbox, Amazon and many others also carry their product.

From 2007-2009, he was Chairman of Quepasa Corp./Quepasa.com (NASDAQ-QPSA) the largest bi-lingual social network aimed at the US and Latin American markets .

In 2003 Jeff made history when he created, founded and launched the first national cable network, SiTV, a cable channel targeting Latinos in English, and is currently in over 25 million homes in the U.S. By launching SiTV, he also created a new category in American television, The English Language Latino Market, which represents the vast majority of the American Latinos, Jeff was the CEO for two years, overseeing all operations for the critical maiden voyage of the network. He continued as Chairman and as a board member until 2009.

Before his tenure as an entrepreneur, Jeff produced, wrote and directed TV shows and pilots for Showtime, Disney and NBC, amongst others. He was also the co-creator and show runner of the hit series "The Brothers Garcia" which ran for four seasons on Nickelodeon.

Among his many honors and awards, CNN named Jeff, "One Of The Top 50 People Who Matter." He also received, "The Racial Harmony Award," by the Center For Ethnic Understanding, "Top 50 Minorities In Cable," by Multichannel News, NAMIC awarded him the "Quasar Award". He was also named by Advertising Age as one of the "Top 50 Marketers in America."