JULIO MELARA
225 Magazine Publisher, Author & Motivational Speaker

Growing up in New Orleans, Julio Melara was on the fast track to success from birth. Destined for the media industry, one of Julio's first jobs was making $3.35 an hour as a courier for a local magazine in the late 70's. Julio proudly said that back then, he drove a '76 Monte Carlo!

From there he went on to attend the University of New Orleans and became the first recipient of the UNO Early Achievement Award for Distinguished Professional and Civic Accomplishments. By age 29, Julio was the youngest publisher in the nation of a major city magazine - New Orleans Magazine.

At 29, Julio also started receiving requests to speak to large groups. As a child, Julio was faced with a stuttering problem, which he overcame with the help of his mother. Also working his way up from courier to publisher in just 13 years, Julio feels strongly that his adversities have given him the passion he exudes today and tries to inspire other people to realize their true potential.

So what may surprise you about Julio? He loves to vacuum! A self-proclaimed neat freak, Julio says his entire closet is color-coordinated.