[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 60 (Tuesday, May 10, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E926-E927]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 HONORING ZEE FERRUFINO AND KBNO RADIO

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. MARK UDALL

                              of colorado

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, May 10, 2005

  Mr. UDALL of Colorado. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a great 
Colorado businessman and community leader, Zee Ferrufino. Mr. Ferrufino 
is the owner and CEO of Latino Communications which is the parent 
company to KBNO 1280AM Radio in Denver.
  KBNO ``Que Bueno'' has long been the leader in Denver's Hispanic 
radio market reaching over half a million people in the Denver metro 
area. Recently, for the first time in

[[Page E927]]

its history, KBNO ranked #1 among adults aged 18-44. All of this--in 
spite of my occasional appearance on the radio speaking in broken 
Spanish!
  Zee doesn't attribute the success of KBNO simply to the growth in 
Colorado's Hispanic community, though he acknowledges that is certainly 
a component. As a successful businessman, he recognizes the importance 
that the strong purchasing power of the Hispanic community has played 
in elevating the success of Spanish radio. He points out that in 1990, 
there were about 2,000 Hispanic-owned businesses, by the year 2000 that 
number had jumped to 30,000, and in ten years it is expected to 
increase to 60,000. It is increasingly critical for the mainstream 
media to adjust to these changing market forces. Zee has long-
recognized this trend and has remained ahead of the curve.
  In addition to being a successful Colorado businessman for several 
decades, Zee is a prominent community leader. In 1997, former Colorado 
Governor Dick Lamm presented him with the ``Americans by Choice'' award 
and in 1983 he was given the ``Outstanding Business Person'' by the 
Minority Business and Professional Directory. In addition, he was the 
recipient of the Small Business Administration's Advocate of the Year 
Award and the Daniel Ritchie Ethics in Business Award. He was also 
selected by former Colorado Governor Roy Romer to serve on the 
International Business Development Committee.
  Zee has been a leading advocate in the Hispanic community working 
diligently on issues of importance like education, economic development 
and civil rights. More than that, he is a role model not only for young 
Hispanics, but for anyone who has dreams of success and the fortitude 
to carry out those dreams. I ask my colleagues to join with me in 
honoring a great American success story, KBNO Radio, and Zee Ferrufino.
  Que bueno!

                          ____________________