[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 44 (Monday, March 25, 2013)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E377]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                       HONORING MS. ANOLAN PONCE

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. MARIO DIAZ-BALART

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, March 25, 2013

  Mr. DIAZ-BALART. Mr. Speaker, in recognition of Women's History Month 
I rise today to honor Ms. Anolan Ponce, an outstanding individual and 
someone who has been an inspiration in the South Florida community.
   Ms. Ponce was born in Las Canas, Cuba and arrived in the United 
States in October of 1961. Her father, who had taken part in the Bay of 
Pigs invasion, had been imprisoned and insisted his family leave the 
country. The family settled in Miami and after graduating from high 
school, Anolan started working as a stenographer for Eastern Airlines. 
She eventually worked her way up to Senior Systems Engineer while 
obtaining her Bachelor's degree from Florida International University, 
and a Master's degree from the New York Institute of Technology.
   Currently, Ms. Ponce is President and Owner of FAM and FAM-West 
Warehouse Corporations, companies which specialize in leasing their own 
commercial properties. In the past she also owned and managed Ponceana 
Travel, and ventured into construction by developing a warehouse 
complex in the Doral area. In the future, Ms. Ponce has plans for 
further commercial development of real estate in Miami-Dade County.
   In addition to her professional work, Ms. Ponce is also an avid 
writer, and is currently finishing up her novel based on the true story 
of ten young men from her hometown in Cuba that were executed by the 
communist regime in 1961. She is also committed to democracy in Cuba 
through her work as a member of the Board of the U.S.-Cuba Democracy 
PAC. Annually she is responsible for organizing the PAC's seminal 
event, a concert in support of a Cuban Democracy. In addition to the 
PAC, Ms. Ponce is also a member of the Executive Committee of the Board 
of Directors of Mothers Against Repression for Cuba, and serves on the 
Advisory Committee of the Cuban Memorial.
   Mr. Speaker, I am honored to pay tribute to Ms. Anolan Ponce for her 
continued service to the Miami community and I ask my colleagues to 
join me in recognizing this remarkable individual.

                          ____________________