Awards and Qualifications

Amalia’s work and talent have been recognized locally and internationally. She has received awards for her cookbooks, services, and business leadership through her entrepreneurship to share the Latin American culture with corporations, organizations, and professional groups.

Amalia Moreno-Damgaard’s accolades include:

• Taste of the Twin Cities Honoree 2025 Celebrating Minnesota’s Women Leadership
• National Immigrant Spirit Award 2024 presented at the Immigrant Entrepreneurs Summit, Ankeny, Iowa
• National Woman Business Owner of the Year Award 2024 presented by Bank of America at NAWBO, Washington, D.C.
• 100 Women to KNOW in America by KNOW Women 2024 presented by JP Morgan Chase, Phoenix, AZ
• Cultural Impact Honoree, LatinoLEAD Impact Awards 2023, Minneapolis, Minnesota
• Hispanic Stars Rising Vol. IV The New Face of Power Inclusion (Contributing Author) 2023,  We Are All Human, New York, New York
• Notable Nonprofit Board Member 2023, Board President National Association of Women Business Owners NAWBO-Minnesota, Twin Cities Business Magazine
• Enterprising Women of the Year Award Champion 2022, Cary, NC
• Latino Entrepreneur of the Year Award 2021 by the Latino Chamber of Commerce Minnesota
• The Woman in Business Champion of the Year Award 2020 by the U.S. Small Business Administration Minnesota District Office
• The Catalyst Award 2020 by Women Venture Minnesota
• Woman in Business Honoree 2020 by the Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal (MSPBJ)
• Nine-first prize literary awards (2013-2014) for her book Amalia’s Guatemalan Kitchen, including the prestigious Gourmand World Cookbooks Award for Best Foreign Cuisine book USA, and Gold Medal for Best Cookbook from the International Latino Book Awards
• Six literary awards (2022-2023) for her second book Amalia’s Mesoamerican Table, including Best in the World by Gourmand International in Umeå, Sweden, and Gold Medal for Best Cookbook from the International Latino Book Awards
• Advocate Award 2018 (a first of its kind) by NAWBO-National Association of Women Business Owners-Minnesota
• Heritage Award for Community Leadership by Latino American Today
• Champion Award for board service excellence by Depart Smart
• Women Who Lead Honoree by Minnesota Business Magazine
• Two-time Bold Award nominee by ACG-American Corporate Growth-MN
• Speaker’s Academy Strides finalist by the National Speakers Association-MN
• Outstanding Mentor Nominee by Team Women-MN