Sam Verdeja in 2003 became the Publisher and CEO of Hispanic Publishing Group, heading a group of investors that bought out a Coral Gables-based company which owned Hispanic Magazine, Hispanic Trends and HispanicOline.com. In 2004, the group created Hispanic Publishing Associates, a joint venture with Editorial Televisa, which in 2006 acquired the entire operation. Verdeja became a Senior Advisor of Televisa until 2008.

Hispanic Magazine was an English-language, general interest publication founded in 1987 and having a nationwide circulation of 300,000 copies. Hispanic Trends Magazine, a joint venture with the U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, was a business publication with a nationwide circulation of 100,000 copies. HispanicOnline.com, a full-service English-language portal geared to U.S. Hispanics was created in 1995.

In 1996, after spending several years in the field of management, marketing, and public relations, Verdeja became the President of Verdeja Marketing Group, Inc., providing his expertise and experience in Marketing and Public Relations for national and international clients.

For 29 years, he worked at The Miami Herald Publishing Company, where from his highly visible position of Vice President for Marketing Services and Community Relations, he was part of the leading teams in a wide range of special tasks and projects, including the launching of El Miami Herald in 1976 and later El Nuevo Herald newspaper in 1987. Sam joined The Miami Herald Publishing Company in January 1967, in the Engineering Department as Management Engineer. He also held positions such as Circulation Director, Home Delivery Manager and Administration & Transportation Manager. Previously, he was employed as a Systems Engineer for Western Electric Company (AT&T) in Atlanta, Georgia. Prior to moving to the United States, Verdeja worked at Junta Central de Planificacion (JUCEPLAN) in Havana, Cuba, from 1960 to 1962.

Verdeja, an engineer by training, received a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from Louisiana State University and studied towards a master’s in business administration at Florida Atlantic University.

He has lectured on management, marketing, and public relations at international forums, under the auspices of universities and trade groups in more than 40 cities in countries including Spain, Canada, Latin America from Mexico to Argentina, and the United States. Sam is co-author of the book Marketing y Gestión de Periódicos (Newspaper Marketing and Management) published in 1988 (second edition 1998) by the University of Navarra (Pamplona, Spain), where he was Associate Professor at the School of Communications from 1980 to 2006. He also co-authored the books Cubans: An Epic Journey in 2011 as well as its second edition in 2022 and its Spanish version in 2015, and Cuba: Chronological History: Cuba’s intertwined destiny with Spain and the United States in 2023.

Verdeja has also been very involved in community affairs. He has many years of service aimed at improving the quality of life and enhancing human relations, including the American Red Cross, Miami-Dade/Monroe President; Interamerican Association of Businessmen (AIHE), President; Facts About Cuban Exiles (FACE), Co-founder and Chairman; United Way of Miami Dade County, Board of Trustees and various committees; Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA), Board of Directors; Greater Miami United, Board of Directors; Miami Citizens Against Crime, Executive Committee; Baptist Hospital Foundation, Board of Directors; United Negro College Fund, Board of Directors; Zoological Society of Florida, Board of Directors; Sister Cities Committee Tenerife/Miami Dade, President; Southeast U.S. Spain Chamber of Commerce, First Vice President; Smithsonian Center for Latino Initiatives, Board of Directors; Hispanic Scholarship Fund, Washington DC, Board of Directors; Downtown Doral Charter Upper School, Chairman; Inspire America, Board of Directors, as well as various other organizations.

Sam has received the following awards: The Interamerican Businessmen Association (AIHE): Businessman of the Year; General Motors Legacy of Excellence Award; and Facts About Cuban Exiles (FACE): Lifetime Achievement Award and the Excellence Award; Asociacion de Publicitarios Latinoamericanos: Mariano Guastella Advertising Award.

Sam Verdeja was born in Matanzas, Cuba. He is a widower and has three children and seven grandchildren.

8/3/2024


Verdeja has also been very involved in community affairs. He has many years of service aimed at improving the quality of life and enhancing human relations, including the American Red Cross, Miami-Dade/Monroe President; Interamerican Association of Businessmen (AIHE), President; Facts About Cuban Exiles (FACE), Co-founder and Chairman; United Way of Miami Dade County, Board of Trustees and various committees; Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA), Board of Directors; Greater Miami United, Board of Directors; Miami Citizens Against Crime, Executive Committee; Baptist Hospital Foundation, Board of Directors; United Negro College Fund, Board of Directors; Zoological Society of Florida, Board of Directors; Sister Cities Committee Tenerife/Miami Dade, President; Southeast U.S. Spain Chamber of Commerce, First Vice President; Smithsonian Center for Latino Initiatives, Board of Directors; Hispanic Scholarship Fund, Washington DC, Board of Directors; Downtown Doral Charter Upper School, Chairman; Inspire America, Board of Directors, as well as various other organizations.