AZTECA FOODS, INC.
Arthur R. Velasquez is a founder of Azteca Corn Products Corporation, Chicago (in 1970), and served as its President and Chief Executive Officer from that time through May 1987. Azteca is one of the largest Mexican food manufacturing companies in the Midwest, and was acquired by The Pillsbury Company in 1984. Azteca Foods, Inc. was formed in early 1989 to acquire Azteca from Pillsbury. This acquisition was closed on June 30, 1989. Mr. Velasquez resumed his position of President and Chef Executive Officer.
Mr. Velasquez received his BS in Electrical Engineering from the University of Notre Dame in 1960 and his MBA from the University of Chicago in 1967. He is active in business, civic, and service groups locally and on the regional and national scene.
A Trustee of the University of Illinois from 1974 through 1980, Mr. Velasquez was the first Hispanic elected to a Statewide office.
Mr. Velasquez is currently a Director of LaSalle National Bank, Peoples Energy Corporation, Arvin Industries, Chicago Metro Board of Junior Achievement, the Maryville City of Youth, The Museum of Science and Industry, serves on the Board of Trustees of the University of Notre Dame, and was appointed as a General Trustee of the Lincoln Academy of Illinois by the Governor.
He also is a Commissioner. Chicago Economic Development Commission; a Past Co-Chair of Chicago United; a member of the Business Advisory Council of the University of Illinois, Chicago; a member of the Advisory Council of the Graduate School of Business, University of Chicago; Commercial Club of Chicago; the Board of Advisors of Catholic Charities; The Big Shoulders Fund, and the Executive Service Corps of Chicago.
Mr. Velasquez was the former president and principal of CID Broadcasting, Inc., Chicago, Illinois, and Crescent Communications of California.
Mr. Velasquez is a Past National Director of the Mexican-American Legal Defense and Education Fund (MALDEF), a past Director of Illinois Bell, Lawndale Bank, Maecorp, the Executive Committee of the Chicago Community Trust, Trustee, St. Xavier University, the Lincoln Park Zoological Society, Economic Club of Chicago, and a Director and Past President of the National Tortilla Association. He also served as a member of the Chicago Plan Commission from 1973 to 1979, Director of the Chicago Community Ventures (MESBIC), the University Civil Service Merit Board, the Illinois Franchise Board, the Sears Roebuck Foundation, the Azteca Lions Club, the Hispanic Housing Development Corporation, the Dearborn Park Development Corporation, United Way, and the Executive Club of Chicago.
He and his wife, Joanne, reside in Palos Hills, Illinois. They have six children and nine grandchildren.