Onahira Rivas, founder and CEO of Florida’s Cotton Clouds, has received a 2026 Latin Business Award following the organization’s annual ceremony held September 12 at Telemundo Center in Miami.
Rivas was honored in the category recognizing Sustainability, Responsible Development and Long-Term Vision in Business Operations, marking another milestone in a year centered on expanding her Miami manufacturing operation and strengthening domestic production.
The award follows Rivas’ selection as an official nominee for the 2026 Latin Business Awards earlier this year. Her nomination highlighted more than two decades of international business experience and her current work building Florida’s Cotton Clouds, a Miami-based manufacturer of cosmetic cotton products. (Onahira Rivas)
A Recognition of Long-Term Vision
For Rivas, the recognition comes at a significant stage in the development of Florida’s Cotton Clouds.
After a career spanning markets across Europe, Asia, Latin America and the United States, Rivas shifted her focus toward manufacturing in America, building a production operation in Miami and developing the infrastructure needed to manufacture, package and distribute consumer cotton products at scale. (Onahira Rivas)
Her approach has centered on building a company designed for long-term growth while creating opportunities to expand domestic manufacturing.
“True success is measured by the positive impact we leave on people’s lives and the communities we serve,” Rivas said.
The Latin Business Awards highlighted Rivas’ work as an entrepreneur, business strategist and founder of Florida’s Cotton Clouds, along with her mission to strengthen American industry, create jobs and encourage a new generation of entrepreneurs to consider manufacturing in the United States.
Manufacturing Takes the Stage in Miami
Rivas accepted the recognition at Telemundo Center in Miami, where the 2026 Latin Business Awards brought together Hispanic entrepreneurs and business leaders from across industries.
The moment also placed manufacturing at the center of a broader conversation about entrepreneurship and economic development in South Florida.
For Rivas, that distinction carries particular significance. Florida’s Cotton Clouds represents a transition from more than two decades of international business into the physical realities of American manufacturing: machinery, sourcing, production, packaging, logistics and the challenge of scaling a factory from the ground up.
The company is building its presence across retail, wholesale, e-commerce and private label while continuing to expand its manufacturing capabilities in Miami.
Building for the Next Generation
The Latin Business Award joins a growing list of recognitions for Rivas, including The Blox Most Valuable Company, Business Woman of the Year in Manufacturing, CEO of the Year – Southeast USA 2026, and Top 100 Game Changers – Class of 2026. She is also a member of the Forbes Business Council.
But the latest recognition arrives while the larger project is still being built.
For Rivas, the long-term vision extends beyond growing one company. Her broader mission is to demonstrate that entrepreneurs can build and manufacture products in the United States, create employment and establish businesses designed to endure across generations.
The 2026 Latin Business Award marks another milestone in that journey, and another moment in which a Miami factory built around an everyday product finds its place on a much larger business stage.