Luisa Baars, the longtime translator for El Mensajero Católico, was named the Rochester Hispanic Business Association’s Hispanic Business Person of the Year.
Baars began her career as a physical and occupational therapist working with Hispanics at both Mary Cariola and Ibero-American Action League in Rochester. She also worked for many years in the area of drug and alcohol addiction treatment with The Health Association.
In 1988, Baars founded MAS Translation Services in response to needs she observed for appropriate translation and interpretation services for Rochester’s Hispanic population.
In 2014, she founded the Rochester Latino Rotary Club, a volunteer community organization that enriches the lives of the Latino communities locally and across the world.
In addition, Baars has served on multiple boards of directors for such organizations as Catholic Family Center, Women’s Commission of the Diocese of Rochester, Common Ground Latino Health Coalition, United Way’s Committee of Aging and Rochester Rotary Club. She also served on the pastoral councils at St. Margaret May Church and St. Kateri Parish in Irondequoit; was secretary and president of the Irondequoit and the Rochester Latino Rotary clubs; assistant governor for Rotary district 7120; president of the American Occupational Therapy Association New York and Puerto Rico chapters; and president of the Occupational Therapy of Examiners in Puerto Rico.
Longtime Rochester community leader Julio Vazquez, who nominated Baars for award, said, “(Luisa) is a role model for the Hispanic community by working hard, showing compassion and understanding for the needs of the community, and living with faith in the creator and fellow human beings. She tends to see the many positive aspects of individuals, believing that there is more good in the world than bad.”
The Rochester Hispanic Business Association will honor Baars at its 33rd-annual gala luncheon Sept. 17 at the Rochester Riverside Convention Center. The keynote speaker for the luncheon will be Rochester Genesee Regional Transportation Authority CEO Miguel Velazquez. Tickets may be purchased at rochesterhba.org/events/hispanic-business-person-of-the-year-gala-luncheon-2024.
