Martha Montoya

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Martha Montoya
NationalityColombian
Known forCartoonist and businessperson
Notable workLos Kitos

Martha Montoya is a Colombian-American cartoonist and businessperson. She is best known for her cartoon, Los Kitos.

Early life and education[edit]

Montoya grew up in Bogotá, Colombia and spent many years in the children's hospital where she was being treated for a kidney problem.[1] While in the hospital, she began drawing to amuse herself and other children.[1] When she was 15, she used her drawing skills to help teach English at the school her parents ran.[2] Later, she went to college where she majored in biology and chemistry.[2]

Career[edit]

At age 23, Montoya moved to Newport Beach, California, where she worked as a maid.[2] She quickly got a new job as a high school librarian, and then later on became an international agricultural development consultant.[2] In 1995, she licensed her characters, collectively called "Los Kitos."[2] Her comic strip began to run in dozens of publications in 1996.[2] By 1999, the strip was featured in 222 newspapers.[3] The newspaper La Opinión gave her her first break.[2] Montoya branched out into working with corporate partners, such as Bank of America who commissioned her to create a bilingual coloring book that would teach children about banking services.[2]

Montoya licensed her characters to appear on radio, working with the Canal Continental radio network.[4] In 1999, she was in negotiations to have Los Kitos turned into an animated show.[3] In 2001, she partnered with Stauffer Biscuit Company to create various baked goods featuring the characters from Los Kitos.[5] Montoya partnered with La Opinion in 2002 to help create Notikitos (News 4 Kids).[6]

Montoya went back into agriculture in 2010, founding Los Kitos Produce and Farms in Orange, California.[7] Montoya was appointed to the advisory board of the California Department of Food and Agriculture, with a term ending in January 2020.[8][9] Montoya has also served as president of the National Association of Hispanic Publications (NAHP).[10]

Montoya is the creator of AG tools, a software for agricultural data used by cultivators and buyers to increase production efficiency.[11]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b "Surviving Difficult Odds Laid Groundwork for Cartoonist". The Indianapolis Star. 22 November 1998. Retrieved 2018-09-03 – via Newspapers.com.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h Romney, Lee (17 September 1998). "Colombian Artist Draws on Heritage". Daily Press. Retrieved 2018-09-03 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ^ a b Saari, Laura (17 May 1999). "Cartoon Characters Open Cultural Doors". El Paso Times. Retrieved 2018-09-03 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ^ Laboy, Julio (10 September 1997). "'Los Kitos' Comic Strip Proves A Hit With the Latino Market". Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 2018-09-03.
  5. ^ "Los Kitos Enters Food and Card Industries". Marketing to the Emerging Majorities. December 2001. Archived from the original on 2018-11-21. Retrieved 3 September 2018.
  6. ^ "La Opinion Develops Website for Young Latinos". Marketing to Emerging Majorities. December 2002. Archived from the original on 2018-11-20. Retrieved 3 September 2018.
  7. ^ "Los Kitos Produce focuses on minority growers". Packer. 2 March 2013. Retrieved 2018-09-03.
  8. ^ "Martha Montoya – Board Member". Latino Food Industry Association. Retrieved 2018-09-06.
  9. ^ Martha Montoya biography, California Department of Food and Agriculture, accessed September 6, 2018
  10. ^ "McAllen to Host National Association of Hispanic Publications Conference". The Monitor. 8 November 2015. Retrieved 2018-09-06 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. ^ "Martha Montoya, la colombiana que revolucionó la agricultura en EE.UU". NTN24 (in Spanish). 2018-07-02. Retrieved 2018-09-10.

External links[edit]

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