The Latino wealthy — a new breed
LA TimesDan Pena waits for his plane, which will take him to Texas to close an oil deal. The other two are Manuel Caldera, 51, whose Hawthorne-based Amex Systems Inc. is probably the largest minority-owned high-tech company in the United States, and cinematographer John A. Alonzo, 48, whose 47 films — “Chinatown,” “Norma Rae,” “Sounder,” “Harold and Maude,” “Lady Sings the Blues,” “Blue Thunder” and others — have not only made him wealthy but also a legendary figure among striving young Mexican-Americans in Southern California’s giant film industry. Each, as Caldera says, came to realize long ago that “There’s more to life than picking lettuce.” :: “Times is money,” Pena was saying between telephone calls in his hillside Palos Verdes home. “I’m not the way I used to be,” Pena said, putting another stick of gum in his mouth, squeezing the hand grip, tapping his foot nervously. Have faith in yourself.” “There are very few success-level 10’s in the world,” Dan Pena said without the least hint of modesty.
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