Resume
Eloy G. Cepero
Eloy Cepero is a U.S. naturalized citizen who arrived from Cuba through Operation Pedro Pan on June 11, 1962, establishing solid roots in his new homeland. He was raised with his two brothers, Paul and Eloy Mario by foster parents Elizabeth and McGregor Smith, a UM trustee and COB of Fl Power & Light Co., until his parents came to the USA in 1965.
Education
Graduated from Coral Gables Sr. High School (Class of 1964), the University of Miami with a BBA in Finance and History (Class of 1971). Post-graduated studies in Finance FIU (1976).
Military Service
Served in the U.S. Navy and received an Honorable Discharge. (P03) Assistant to the Commanding Officer. Administrative Dept. Confidential and Secret Clearance (1969 - 1971) US. Navy Reserve (1971 - 1975).
Commercial Banker
(1971 - 1975) Southeast Bank, Management Trainee (1971 - 1972) International Bank of Miami Loan Officer (1971 - 1973) "Sun Bank" of Miami, Asst. Cashier (1973 - 1974) Fidelity National Bank, Assist. VP (1974 - 1975).
Mortgage Banker (1977 - present)
Union Federal Savings and Loan Association, Asst. to the President (1977).
Stockton, Whatley, Davin & Co., Director of Builder Projects (1978 - 1981) Metropolitan Federal Savings and Loan Association, President (1981 - 1982).
Peninsula Mortgage Bankers Corp, Co-Owner and Exec. VP (1982 - 2005).
Peninsula Mortgage Co, LLC (2005-2010).
Eloy Cepero and Associates (2010-present).
Radio Exito 105.5 FM, COB and CFO (2007-2009).
Radio and Television
Host of "El Sonido de Miami" — Actualidad Radio 1040 AM. Saturdays and Sundays 7 to 8 pm. (2017 - present).
Host of Great Musical Legends having aired Sunday nights at 7:00 p.m. on Telemiami, Channel 20 and GenTv, Channel 8, a weekly one-hour show, featuring famous musicians, singers, composers, etc.
Previous host of Great Musical Legends (Grandes Leyendas Musicales), a weekly radio talk show on La Poderosa Radio 670 AM, Saturdays from 12:00 - 1:00 p.m. (2008-2017).
Previous host of Great Musical Legends (Grandes Leyendas Musicales), a weekly radio talk show on Radio Exito 105.5 FM, Sundays from 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. (2007 - 2008).
Previous regular guest, "Al Ritmo de Miami", WQBA Radio 1140 a.m. and Radio Mambi 670 a.m. - Friday night at 8:00 p.m, with hosts "Armando Fernandez Lima and Humberto Cortina". (2011 ~ 2014).
Was a regular guest on "The Fernando Hidalgo Show" (Channel 41) bi-weekly at 7:00 p.m for the last six years, featuring music, and other topics of interest. (2002 - 2008).
Publications
Journey Through Postcards 1902 - 1962. Best seller in South Florida, 10,000 copies sold. (2002).
Cuba. a Journey Through Postcards 1898 - 1915. 5,000 copies sold (2003).
Tales of a Cuban Family from Bahia Honda to Iceland; Personal Memoirs, 1000 copies sold (2004).
Cubans, an Epic Journey. (2011) Along with 30 other writers, Eloy was selected to contribute a chapter on the history of "Cuban music in the US in a book comprising the history of the last 50 years of Cuban exile diaspora", which has sold over 5000 copies to date.
Historical Pursuit
Historian, Investigator and Collector of Cuban Music and History and: Owns one of the nation’s largest private collections of LP's, CD.s, videos, Cuban music and rare books, postcards, and other publications.
Associate Investigator of Cuban Studies Institute (ICS) "Grandes Leyendas Musicales" and “Leyendas del Sonido de Miami". Hosting monthly live interviews of "Great Legends" of the Miami Sound to document the musical careers of those who have influenced the music in South Florida since 1960. (Oct 2017 - present).
Project Director of UM's Institute of Cuban and Cuban American Studies (ICCAS) program, Grandes Leyendas Musicales, hosting monthly live interviews of "Great Musical Legends", to fundraise and to promote and maintain Cuban and other Hispanic musical culture of by-gone eras. Interviews are open to the students and general public. (2008 - 2017).
Contributor and participant in numerous award-winning documentaries with HBM Productions, WLRN and WPBS relating to the history of Cuban music.
Community Activities
Latin Builders Association (LBA) President (1996- 1997) Director (1973 . 2004).
Cuban American National Foundation (CANF) Director (1992 . present).
South Florida Hispanic Chamber of Commerce co-founder and Chairman Emeritus (1992 . present).
Channel 17, WLRN, Member of Advisory Board (2013 - 2016).
Alfalit International, Inc, a literacy organization . Director (1988 - 2003).
Inter-American Businessmen Association (1996-2000) U of M Cuban Heritage Collection (CHC) . Director, (2004 . present).
Guest speaker for the Role Model program of the Miami-Dade County Public Schools, (elementary, middle and senior high schools).
Civic Awards and Recognitions
Alfalit International, Inc. "Literacy Award" (1992).
"Entrepreneur Award" of the Interamerican Businessmen’s Association (1996).
South Florida Hispanic Chamber of Commerce "Lifetime Achievement Award" (1997).
"Conquistador Medal" from the Newspaper Association of Miami (2000).
"Leslie Pantin Community Award" of the Interamerican Businessmen’s Association (2003).
"Gold Medal Award", a literacy award from the City of Machala, Dept. del Oro, Ecuador for helping promote literacy in Ecuador (2003).
Latin Builders Association (LBA) "Lifetime Achievement Award" for over 30 years of service as director and officer of the association ( 2005).
"Positive Living Award", Presidential Award for Distinguished Service and Excellence (2013).
“Osvaldo Farres Palma de Oro Award" (2013) for contribution to musical history in South Florida by Alba, Inc.
Medal from "Federacion Mundial de Presos Politicos Cubanos" for contribution to the history of Cuba (2015).
"Medal from Salsa Superior" Radio Station for contribution to Salsa and Cuban Music (2016).
"Alumni Marshall" for School of Business Administration, University of Miami, (2016).
“Gaspar Pumarejo Medal Award" (2017) and "Palma de Oro Award" for contribution to documenting Cuban heritage through television programming.
Sports Awards and Recognitions
Miami Herald All City in Track and Field, while attending Coral Gables Sr. High. Record holder and the first Hispanic to ever receive this recognition (1963).
U of M - Track Team co-captain and record holder and one of the first three Cuban-Americans to receive a sports scholarship to UM (1964).
US. Navy Championship Award in track and field (1970), US. Navy Atlantic Fleet Basketball Championship Award (1970)
Inducted into Coral Gables Senior High School Hall of Fame (2002).
Copa Dorada Award for Outstanding Hispanic Athlete in South Florida for track and field (2003).
Inducted into Cuban American Sports Hall of Fame in track and field, university division, (2004).