Winter Speaker--Tillie Hidalgo Lima
Born in Havana, Cuba, Tillie was 10 months old when she and her parents came to the United States. Entering this country with only one suitcase and 10 Cuban pesos, her parents taught her to never give up, to be resourceful, to strive to be the best one can be and to appreciate that freedom is a privilege and a responsibility.
Tillie was a pharmacist for 13 years before coming to Best Upon Request in 1996 as Vice President of Operations. In 1999, she became President and in 2003, she was promoted to President/CEO. Tillie is an active member of TEC International (The Executive Committee for Emerging Entrepreneurs), Empire Who's Who Executive and Professional Registry, World at Work, American College of Healthcare Executives, Greater Cincinnati Healthcare Council, and has contributed to her alma mater serving as Saint Ursula Academy's Annual Fund Alumnae Chair. In addition, she attended "Leadership, Disney Style" in February 1999 and in November 2004 she participated as a panelist on talent in Toyota's Fifteenth Annual Opportunity Exchange, entitled "The Power of Getting Connected". Tillie's TEC group (TEC 250), selected Best Upon Request as the Most Improved Business of 2004. The same year, the Journal of Organizational Excellence recognized Best Upon Request as a best practice. Tillie co-authored a case study article entitled, "Concierge Services Help Deliver Better Work/Life Balance at Bronson Healthcare Group", which was published in the Summer 2005 issue. She also co-authored the feature article, "How Can I Help You?" in the Fall 2005 issue of the HR Pulse.
Tillie has been very active in the Cincinnati community in 2005. The following are awards and recognitions she received throughout the year:
- Honored as the 2005 "Woman Against All Odds" by the Leading Women of Cincinnati.
- One of Deloitte's One Hundred Wise Women, mentored women in Cincinnati at the One Hundred Wise Women networking event.
- Keynote speaker at eWomen's Network monthly meeting in June.
- In July, 2005, Best Upon Request was listed in the Business Courier's Greater Cincinnati's Largest 250 Companies, ranking in the top 25 Largest Tri-State Women-Owned Businesses.
- Participant in the Leadership Cincinnati USA program, Class XXIX, '05-'06.
- September 22, 2005 Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber Small Business Excellence Award for Minority Business of the Year.
- On October 26, 2005 Best Upon Request was named by the Cincinnati Business Courier to Fast 55, Greater Cincinnati's premier program recognizing the 15-county region's fastest-growing private companies.
Tillie has three daughters with her husband Dave Lima. Tillie's most courageous achievement was climbing the Sydney Harbor Bridge in Australia in 1999.
© 2006, The Center for Cuban Business Studies, Ohio Northern University.