Sotomayor Media Creations LLC

01/01/2025

In celebration of Embrace Magazine's 5th anniversary, which occurred on June 29, 2024, I have decided to reshare each issue once a month in order of publication!
Here is the Feb 2022 Luxe Issue (7th one published of 12):
https://issuu.com/sotomayormedia/docs/emb2207_arts
ANNOUNCEMENT: On September 1, 2024, I announced I have decided to restructure Embrace Magazine into a nonprofit business model. I planned to develop a foundation and transfer the asset, Embrace Magazine, from Sotomayor Media Creations LLC to the foundation. Once done, we would not seek advertisers, rather we would seek tax-exempt donations.
THAT PLAN IS NO LONGER IN CONSIDERATION. I have accepted a full-time job with HDG Legacy Hotels. I started on October 2, 2024.
THE MAGAZINE IS AVAILABLE FOR PURCHASE ONLY.
All 12 published issues reshared once per month will hopefully indicate what the power of the publication could present if published once a month.
Some content is timely to the period it was published while others are timeless.
Each issue will be reshared on the 1st of the month.
If you are interested in purchasing, or you have a lead to one, please message me in Direct Message.
To see all issues, visit the website here:
https://www.embracemedia.us/
Thank you, please enjoy, and share feedback in public comments if you desire!

11/24/2024

EMBRACE MAGAZINE — PLUS MY WORK FOR CORAL SPRINGS TALK — ARE FINALISTS IN 14 CATEGORIES IN THE 2024 FLORIDA PRESS CLUB EXCELLENCE IN JOURNALISM COMPETITION!
12 awards for Embrace Magazine.
Two awards for my work in Coral Springs Talk.
I can add this to my Thanksgiving Day Gratitude List.
Recipients and FPC members have been asked to save the Date for February 1, 2025, at the Hilton Ocala! For the first time, the ceremony will be held in my hometown. Lucy Morgan, who worked for the Ocala Star-Banner, founded the Florida Press Club in the 1960s, so this will be a special event as it will be held where it all began!
The finalists for Embrace Magazine and my work for Coral Springs Talk are…
SPECIAL AWARDS
LUCY MORGAN AWARD FOR IN-DEPTH REPORTING, CLASS C
1) Entry: “Florida’s George Santos: The Dishonorable Daniel Sohn” by John Sotomayor and Sharon Aron Baron — Coral Springs Talk (Newspaper: C division), April 3, 2024
WRITING
Art News
2) Entry: “Stroll Down Memory Lane” by Steve Rothaus, and “Platformers” by John Sotomayor, Entertainment Issue, April 2024 — Embrace Magazine
Business News
3) Entry: “Head of a Global Giant” “A Seat at the Table” by John Sotomayor and Jack Lemnus; Leadership Issue, Dec 2023 — Embrace Magazine
Headline Writing
4) Entry: “Summer Camp”; “West Pride Story;” “Follow Me” by John Sotomayor and Rheya Tanner, Travel Issue, July 2023, and Entertainment Issue, April 2024 — Embrace Magazine
Minority News
5) Entry: “West Pride Story,” “A Seat at the Table” and “Head of a Global Giant” by John Sotomayor and Jack Lemnus, Travel Issue, July 2023, Leadership Issue, April 2024 — Embrace Magazine
Opinion Writing
6) Entry: “PSA: LGBTQ+ 101” by John Sotomayor and Marcy Shortuse, Leadership Issue — Embrace Magazine
Travel and Tourism Writing
7) Entry: “West Pride Story”, “Palm Springs — Now with More Gay Added”, and “Attractions of Taiwan” by John Sotomayor and Mark Chesnut, Travel Issue, July 2023, Leadership Issue, Dec 2023, and Entertainment Issue, April 2024 — Embrace Magazine
ILLUSTRATIONS
Art Illustration
8.) Entry: “West Pride Story” and “Gays in Hollywood” by Joshua Clark, Travel Issue, July 2023 and Entertainment Issue, April 2024 — Embrace Magazine
Editorial Cartooning
9) Entry: AJ & Magnus (July 2023 Issue, Leadership 2023 Issue, Entertainment 2024 Issue) by Bryan & Simon Steel Art — Embrace Magazine
LAYOUT (DESIGN)
Front Page Design (Cover)
10) Entry: Travel July 2023, Leadership Dec 2023, and Entertainment April 2024 Covers by Jamie Ezra Mark, Rheya Tanner, Wendy Mak, and Josh Clark — Embrace Magazine
PHOTOGRAPHY
Feature Photo Essay
11) Entry: “Summer Camp” by Magnus Hastings, Travel Issue, July 2023 — Embrace Magazine
General News
12) Entry: “A Convention to Remember” By Ghost Edits Entertainment Issue, April 2024 — Embrace Magazine
Portrait/Personality
13) Entry: “Summer Camp” by Magnus Hastings, Travel Issue, July 2023 — Embrace Magazine
ONLINE
Multimedia Presentation
14) Entry: “Florida’s George Santos: The Dishonorable Daniel Sohn” by John Sotomayor, Alexander Sotomayor, and Sharon Aron Baron — Coral Springs Talk (Newspaper: C division), April 3, 2024
Congratulations to all our finalists at Embrace Magazine!
ENDING OUR HISTORIC RUN WITH A BANG.
As publisher and editor-in-chief of Embrace Magazine, I thank ALL our contributors, advertisers, readers, and supporters. I ended Embrace Magazine in July 2024. The April 2024 Entertainment Issue was our final issue. Launched in July 2019, it was an incredible 5-year run. You have made the experience truly exceptional and memorable. I will always look back at our achievements at the helm of Embrace Magazine — something I created from nothing — as a highlight of my life. It would not have been possible without you.
Grateful.

11/07/2024

How do I cope with disappointment? I remind myself of the basic realities of life, and I say the Serenity Prayer. It puts everything into perspective, enables me to trust a higher power, and it calms me.

11/01/2024

In celebration of Embrace Magazine's 5th anniversary, which occurred on June 29, 2024, I have decided to reshare each issue once a month in order of publication!

Here is the Advocacy Nov 2021 Issue (5th one published of 12):

https://issuu.com/sotomayormedia/docs/emb2110_advocacy_2_

ANNOUNCEMENT: On September 1, 2024, I announced I have decided to restructure Embrace Magazine into a nonprofit business model. I planned to develop a foundation and transfer the asset, Embrace Magazine, from Sotomayor Media Creations LLC to the foundation. That the foundation has yet to be created or given a name. Once done, we would not seek advertisers, rather we would seek tax-exempt donations.

THAT PLAN IS NO LONGER IN CONSIDERATION. I have accepted a full-time job with HDG Legacy, LLC Hotels. I started October 2, 2024.

THE MAGAZINE IS AVAILABLE FOR PURCHASE ONLY.

All 12 published issues reshared once per month will hopefully indicate what the power of the publication could present if published once a month.

Some of the content is timely to the period it was published while other content is timeless.

Each issue will be reshared on the 1st of the month.

If interested in purchase, or you have a lead to one, please message me in Direct Message.

To see all issues, visit the website here:

https://www.embracemedia.us/

Thank you, please enjoy, and share feedback in public comments if you desire!

10/31/2024

Happy Halloween!

10/30/2024

Halloween Eve.

10/26/2024

YARD SALE STARTS IN ONE HOUR! Come to my house in Ocala Palms Golf and Country Club to buy GREAT STUFF CHEAP! 8 AM to 1 PM. My address: 2355 NW 59th Terrace, Ocala, FL 34482.
EVERYTHING MUST GO!
See you soon!

10/25/2024

FINAL NOTICE. Ocala Palms Golf and Country Club will host its annual Community Garage Sale TOMORROW, Saturday, October 26, 2024 from 8 AM to 1PM and this year, my brother, Alex and I are participating!
GREAT STUFF AT LOW PRICES! Everything must go. All appliances have been tested and work. We will have a cord available for on-site testing before purchase. Most of our items are kitchenware. Most unused.
Entry through the front gate on Hwy 27, one mile west of exit 354 of I-75. All participating houses will have balloons tied to the mailboxes.
To find our house, here's my address for your GPS: 2355 NW 59th Terrace, Ocala, FL 34482.
Good quality stuff. Come by and see!

10/24/2024

John Kelly, a four-star Marine general and former chief of staff to Pres. Donald Trump, hammered his old boss in a stunningly public fashion on Tuesday — just two weeks before Election Day.
The former general held nothing back, arguing that Trump could fit the bill of a "fascist."
The remarks from Kelly, while astounding coming from a veteran who attained such a high ranking in uniform, are just the latest to come from a former senior official in Trump's administration.
https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=461711046922570

10/20/2024

How the human experience balances itself.

10/20/2024

This succinct take away also demonstrates the art of headline writing.

10/18/2024

Hoping for an awesome day for everyone.

10/12/2024

Modern Presidency. Race to the Finish.

10/01/2024

In celebration of Embrace Magazine's 5th anniversary, and by show of interest after announcing the magazine is on indefinite hiatus pending a partner or purchase, I have decided to reshare each issue once a month in order of publication!
Here is the Business July 2021 Issue (4th one published of 12):
https://issuu.com/sotomayormedia/docs/emb2107_business-issue_digital_v3
ANNOUNCEMENT: On September 1, 2024, I announced I have decided to restructure Embrace Magazine into a nonprofit business model. I planned to develop a foundation and transfer the asset, Embrace Magazine, from Sotomayor Media Creations LLC to the foundation. That the foundation has yet to be created or given a name. Once done, we would not seek advertisers, rather we would seek tax-exempt donations.
THAT PLAN IS NO LONGER IN CONSIDERATION. I have accepted a full-time job with HDG Hotels. I start tomorrow.
THE MAGAZINE IS AVAILABLE FOR PURCHASE ONLY.
All 12 published issues reshared once per month will hopefully indicate what the power of the publication could present if published once a month.
Some of the content is timely to the period it was published while other content is timeless.
Each issue will be reshared on the 1st of the month.
If interested in purchase, or you have a lead to one, please message me in Direct Message.
To see all issues, visit the website here:
https://www.embracemedia.us/
Thank you, please enjoy, and share feedback in public comments if you desire!

09/30/2024

MY MAJOR ANNOUNCEMENT
I HAVE A NEW JOB AND A NEW CAREER PATH!

I am thrilled to announce that I have just been onboarded as a new employee of HDG Hotels. My title is Guest Experience Engagement Coordinator. The role is described as “ensuring exceptional guest satisfaction and loyalty by focusing on brand enrollment efficiencies, elite-level recognition, and enhancing overall guest interactions. This role requires a dynamic individual with a passion for hospitality, guest engagement, and brand loyalty, who will act as a key driver in promoting and maintaining the hotel’s guest experience standards. [I] will work closely with the front desk, housekeeping, and management teams to ensure every guest feels valued, recognized, and appreciated from check-in to check-out.”

In essence, it will be a combination of communications manager, project manager, and facilitator and utilizes all the skill sets I developed in previous employment as a publisher, editor-in-chief, writer, and owner of Embrace Magazine, my former employment in magazine publishing at Ocala Magazine, and Akers Media Group, paralegal jobs I have had at Clifford, Chance, Rogers & Wells; Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz; Sullivan & Cromwell; and McDermott, Will & Emery (all in NYC); and my hotel experience at Faber, Coe & Gregg (hotel gift shops in high-end hotels, in my case, in NYC, midtown and downtown); concierge/experience specialist at Hilton Ocala, and front desk at Red Roof Ocala. It also includes my event coordinating experience with boards and committees such as the Hispanic Business Council (Ocala), and the Florida Magazine Association, among others.

HDG Hotels currently has 30 hotels in its portfolio throughout Florida, with its greatest concentration in Ocala and the surrounding areas, such as Gainesville, Crystal River, and Leesburg. I will be involved with the two new projects, the Staybridge Hotel currently under construction at US 27, one mile west of exit 354 of I-75, close to my home in Ocala Palms Golf & Country Club. Completion is expected summer of 2025 (First 3 photos). I will also be involved with the new AC Hotel by Marriott at 210 W. Silver Springs Blvd. According to a post by the Ocala Metro Chamber and Economic Partnership on May 23, 2024, “the hotel will feature 176 rooms, a rooftop bar, a full-service restaurant, and a speakeasy.” Completion is expected in the summer of 2026 (see 4th photo).

In the meantime, I will also work at HDG Hotels’ first hotel, the Howard Johnson, off US 27 and I-75, also near my home (see 5th and 6th photos). I will also spend some time at the TownPlace Suites by Mariott in Ocala before the Staybridge is completed (see 7th and 8th photos). I am honored and excited to join the HDG Hotels Legacy team. My thanks to Chelewa Springs, Antonio Figueroa, Navroz Saju, Nurjehan Saju, and John Franco at HDG Hotels for their faith in me.

I published my final issue of Embrace Magazine in April 2024. I placed the magazine on indefinite hiatus in July 2024 in hopes of finding a media partner or a purchaser. Having found a new job, and a new career, three months later, the only option I have for Embrace Magazine now is to find a purchaser. I am officially out of the magazine business. I am in the hotel/hospitality/travel and tourism industry now.

With an interest as a book author.

In my spare time, I will continue my work on my memoir. I have already started the preparation phase, and plan to begin the outline shortly. My new employers are supportive of my personal project; another reason why I am delighted to join the HDG Hotel family.

09/17/2024

FMA Coffee Chat: “Maximize Your Magazine Ad Sales Now”

Join us on Wednesday, September 18 for expert tips to revamp your ad sales strategy and increase magazine revenue. Our Coffee Chat will be hosted by Jason Cutter, chief transformation officer at Cutter Consulting Group.

Event Details

Date: Wednesday, September 18
Time: 11:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m. ET
Duration: 1 hour
About Our Speaker

As chief transformation officer at Cutter Consulting Group, Jason Cutter is focused on delivering on his mission every day of facilitating transformation by sparking lightbulb moments and leaving people better than he found them. Jason is a recognized thought leader, author and international speaker focused on creating scalable sales teams. His foundational book, Selling With Authentic Persuasion: Transform From Order Taker to Quota Breaker, provides salespeople and leaders with a guidepost for shifting “sales” to a profession people want to be a part of.

Starts Wed Sep 18 2024, 11:30am ET
Ends Wed Sep 18 2024, 12:30pm ET

FREE for FMA members
$25 for non-members

Link here:

FMA Coffee Chat: “Maximize Your Magazine Ad Sales Now” on Wed Sep 18 2024, 11:30am ET: Join us on Wednesday, September 18 for expert tips to...

09/05/2024

I participated in my final board meeting yesterday as a national Director-at-Large board member of the NLGJA - The Association of LGBTQ Journalists. My term was 2022 - 2024. See third photo attached. All three photos comprised the board members I served with during my term. I have decided not to pursue another term as I transition my career from magazine publisher to memoir author. I thoroughly enjoyed my board experience and I am grateful to the 13 other national board members I served with including president Ken Miguel, vice-president of broadcast Jen Christensen, Rick Stuckey, and Bethany Grace Howe, and the executive staff Adam Pawlus, Daniel Garcia, Clare Lefebure, and Jacquelyn Jenson. My fondest memories are from the conventions in Chicago in 2022 and Philadelphia in 2023. The 2024 NLGJA convention begins today and ends on Sunday in Los Angeles, CA. They did their best to get me to attend, finding sponsorship for the flight, hotel, and convention, but ultimately I declined their generous gesture as I could not commit to the additional costs not covered by them. I attended the meeting via conference call. I wish them a successful convention and all my best for a bright future!
I am glad I was able to complete my term successfully. I am staying on my final year with the Florida Magazine Association board as Vice-President. My three-year term with them is 2022 - 2025. My term ends August 2025. That will be my final board or committee involvement in media. Any future board involvement will most likely be in book publishing, my new writing career track.

09/01/2024

When the Arts Issue Feb 2021 was first seen, everyone including us knew that we had something special. In celebration of Embrace Magazine's 5th anniversary, and by show of interest after announcing the magazine is on indefinite hiatus pending a partner or purchase, I have decided to reshare each issue once a month in order of publication!
Here is the Arts Feb 2021 Issue (3rd one published of 12):
https://issuu.com/sotomayormedia/docs/embrace_the_arts_issue_2021
I initially reshared the first two issues in hopes that a partner or purchaser can be found. Now I am doing something entirely different.
ANNOUNCEMENT: I have decided to restructure Embrace Magazine into a nonprofit business model. I will develop a foundation and transfer the asset, Embrace Magazine, from Sotomayor Media Creations LLC to the foundation. The foundation has yet to be created or given a name. Once done, we will not seek advertisers, rather we will seek tax-exempt donations.
Please share with those who you think may be interested or can help.
All recent contributors — writers, photographers, and designers — have confirmed interest in continuing if I give the green light, based on securing a new form of funding.
All 12 published issues reshared once per month will hopefully indicate what the power of the publication could present if published once a month. I am capable and interested in doing so with funding.
Some of the content is timely to the period it was published while other content is timeless.
Each issue will be reshared on the 1st of the month.
If interested in sponsorship or donations, or you have a lead to one, please message me in Direct Message.
To see all issues, visit the website here:
https://www.embracemedia.us/
Thank you, please enjoy, and share feedback in public comments if you desire!