HOUSTON, Sept. 18, 2002 – Javier Loya, president and chief executive officer of
Houston-based CHOICE! Energy, is a finalist for two awards based on his success as an Hispanic entrepreneur. Hispanic Business magazine has named Loya one of its three finalists for the Rising Star Award. The Houston Hispanic Chamber of Commerce has selected Loya as one of three finalists for Entrepreneur of the Year.

“I take a lot of pride in the fact that I built CHOICE! Energy from the ground up and I am humbled by this recognition,” Loya said. “I am especially proud of my Hispanic heritage and am committed to helping other Hispanic businesses in Houston succeed.”

Loya helped found CHOICE! Energy in 1994. As president and CEO he has built CHOICE! into one of the most successful businesses of its kind. Earlier in 2002, Loya signed on as a minority owner of the NFL’s Houston Texans – a move that immediately elevated his stature as a leader and role model in the Hispanic community. He serves on the Board of Directors of Hispanic Achievement Place and on the Board of Arté Publico. Additionally, Loya is an active member in The Houston Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, The Houston Minority Business
Council and Young Entrepreneurs Organization.

Hispanic Business magazine’s Rising Star Award recognizes a nominee’s success in the workplace, contribution to their field, drive and innovation, in addition to their civic contributions. The award will be presented on October 10, 2002 in Los Angeles.

Nominees for the Houston Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Entrepreneur of the Year award are Hispanic business leaders who, through their contributions, innovation and civic responsibility, have helped Hispanic business thrive in Houston. The Houston Hispanic Chamber of Commerce will honor the Entrepreneur of the Year at their awards gala on September 26, 2002 at Minute Maid Park.

CHOICE! Energy is a Houston-based, Hispanic-owned energy services company. Since its inception in 1994, Choice has served as a leader in the institutional energy market, with a customer base consisting exclusively of the largest utilities, energy marketers, and financial institutions in the world. With the recent introduction of its newest division, Choice Energy Services, Choice Energy now offers retail electricity to the commercial and industrial end-user.
In a dynamic and rapidly deregulating domestic energy environment, Choice continues to diversify and grow as an energy company.