Martha de la Torre is the CEO of El Clasificado which the flagship brand of the parent company EC Hispanic Media. Founded originally as a weekly Spanish-language classified publication with her husband, Joe Badame, ElClasificado.com is now the largest Spanish language classified marketplace in the United States. It ranks among the top 115 classified marketplaces in the world according to Similarweb.com. With Quinceanera.com, Su Socio De Negocios, EmpleosLatino.com, EC Classifieds, and Al Borde, as well as joint venture startups Pantera Digital and Twyzle, the EC Hispanic Media group provides a marketplace for business to business as well as business to consumer opportunities in the the U.S Hispanic market.
Biography
Ms. de la Torre’s entrepreneurial story of hardship to success in building El Clasificado has received lots of deserved media attention throughout the years. She was awarded the Marcia Lamb Inner City Innovation Award at the ICIC 2016 Inner City 100 Awards for growing job opportunities in the inner cities. Ms. de la Torre has been recognized by The Los Angeles Business Journal, the SBA, United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Latina Style, the California Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, and the Regional Hispanic Chamber of Commerce for her entrepreneurial success and contributions to business and community enrichment, especially in the Latino communities of California.
Timeline
1978
Ms. de la Torre is a graduate of Loyola Marymount University where she earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting. She joined Arthur Young & Company in 1978 and became a Certified Public Accountant and audit manager specializing in banks and businesses targeting the U.S. Hispanic market.
1986
In 1986, she served two years as Chief Financial Officer of La Opinion, the largest Spanish language daily in the United States.
1988
Martha’s dream to help the Hispanic community becomes reality. El Clasificado is started.
2000s
Ms. de la Torre currently serves on the City National Bank Latino Advisory Board and the Loyola Marymount University Latino Alumni Association. She formerly served on the Board of Regents for Loyola Marymount University and was Chair of the International Classified Media Association (ICMA) headquartered in Amsterdam.
About El Clasificado
In 2015, El Clasificado was named Minority Small Business Champion of the Year for helping small businesses thrive in Los Angeles while elclasificado.com was recognized as “Best Classified Website” by Editor and Publisher in 2014. The Company has also been an Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year finalist for Los Angeles three times.
Publications by Martha
Recognitions
Previous Boards and Organizations:
■ Loyola Marymount University’s Board of Regents
■ Los Angeles County Education Foundation
■ Los Angeles Child Guidance Clinic
■ Mexican American Alumni Association (MAAA) of Loyola Marymount University
■ Chair of the International Classified Media Association (ICMA)
■ Los Angeles Family Housing (LAFH – Advisory Board)
■ Los Angeles Economy & Jobs Committee (LAEJC – Advisory Board)