Emmy Award Winning ABC News Anchor John Quiñones To Co-Host the 16th Annual Urban Wheel Awards

Online, December 14, 2011 (Newswire.com) - Latino media icon and seven-time Emmy winner, John Quiñones, will join award-winning actress Phylicia Rashad as the co-hosts of the 16th Annual Urban Wheel Awards on Sunday, January 8, 2012 at MotorCity Casino Hotel inside the Sound Board theatre during the North American International Auto Show's (NAIAS) press preview week. The Urban Wheel Awards is the official multicultural event of the NAIAS.

A pioneer among Latino journalists, Quiñones broke through on a national level in June 1982 when he joined ABC News as a general assignment correspondent based in Miami, providing reports for World News Tonight. Before joining ABC News, Quiñones was a reporter with WBBM-TV in Chicago and won his first two Emmy Awards for his 1980 reporting on the plight of illegal immigrants from Mexico. Currently, he co-anchors the ABC News program, Primetime. He also reports for all ABC News programs such as 20/20, Good Morning America, World News with Diane Sawyer and Nightline.

Also appearing on stage as an award presenter will be Latino business advocate Al Pina, co-founder of the National Latino Automotive Council (NLAC). Pina has worked with minority communities around the United States advocating the For-Profit Community Economic Development Model that focuses on job creation in low-moderate income communities. Continuing his efforts, Pina will officially re-launch the National Latino Automotive Council (NLAC) at the 16th Annual Urban Wheel Awards and announce plans for a summit with auto manufacturers to take place May 31, 2012 in Tampa Florida.

Former Chairman of the United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Dr. David C. Lizárraga, will also attend the 16th Annual Urban Wheel Awards as an award presenter. Lizárraga has represented more than 2.5 million Latino businesses throughout the Nation and is also the founder of TELACU, the largest community development corporation in the country. The TELACU Model is based upon the belief that there is no more viable business venture than one that is economically sound, enhances the community, and positively impacts people's lives.

About the Urban Wheel Awards
The 16th Annual Urban Wheel Awards is a world-class awards show, held during the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS). The only Official Multicultural Event held in conjunction with the NAIAS, the awards promote diversity inclusion in the nation's largest auto show and brings together celebrities, automotive executives, international media, government representatives and the multicultural community to celebrate diversity accomplishments in the automotive industry. The festivities begin at 2:00 p.m. with a vehicle exhibit, followed by a reception at 4:00 p.m. to honor William "Bill" Perkins, the first African-American Chairman of the NAIAS. The celebrity Green Carpet and VIP reception follows at 5:30 p.m. and the awards show will take place from 7:00 - 9:00 p.m. An afterglow networking reception will conclude the evening. Proceeds from the event support the Emerging Diversity Education Fund, which provides internships, scholarships and mentoring to students pursuing careers in the auto industry, communications, and Green jobs. For more information, please contact Marjorie Staten at [email protected] or (248) 866-8837 or visit www.urbanwheelawards.com for more information.
Tickets are available online at www.ticketmaster.com or by calling 800-745-3000.