Negocios Magazine has announced that Mario Murgado, President & CEO of Murgado Automotive Group, will be honored with the "Automotive Entrepreneurship & Business Leadership Award" at the 2026 Top Entrepreneur of USA Awards. The ceremony is scheduled for Thursday, October 8, at the EB Hotel Miami, and will bring together approximately 120 entrepreneurs, CEOs, executives, investors, and professionals for an evening dedicated to recognizing business excellence.
Murgado's recognition stems from his entrepreneurial career and the remarkable growth of Murgado Automotive Group, which is headquartered in Miami and now operates 29 locations across five states: Florida, Illinois, New Jersey, Virginia, and California. Under his leadership, the group has transformed underperforming dealerships into standout operations. Notably, the Buick, GMC, and Honda dealerships near Downtown Miami improved significantly after years of declining results under previous ownership, becoming top performers for General Motors and Honda.
The group's portfolio now includes a wide range of automotive brands, from mainstream to luxury and high-performance marques, such as Honda, Toyota, Ford, Lincoln, BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Porsche, Cadillac, Audi, Volkswagen, Acura, Infiniti, Mazda, Buick, GMC, Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, Ram, as well as Ferrari, Bentley, Maserati, and Alfa Romeo.
Eduardo Hapke, Publisher of Negocios Magazine, expressed the publication's pride in recognizing Murgado, stating, "For Negocios Magazine, it is a true honor to recognize Mario Murgado, an entrepreneur with deep ties to Miami who has successfully transformed a local automotive operation into a group with a presence across different regions of the United States."
The Top Entrepreneur of USA Awards 2026 is organized by Negocios Magazine, a media platform founded in 2013 by journalist Eduardo Hapke and attorney Karen Blanco. The magazine focuses on entrepreneurs, executives, business owners, and business leaders in South Florida and the U.S. Hispanic market. It is published in print and digital formats and operates NegociosMagazine.com, a platform featuring news, interviews, business profiles, and content related to business, finance, technology, investments, entrepreneurship, and leadership.
The event highlights the importance of recognizing business leaders who drive economic growth and innovation. Murgado's journey from a local Miami operation to a multi-state automotive group exemplifies the entrepreneurial spirit that the award seeks to honor. His leadership not only revitalized underperforming dealerships but also contributed to the broader automotive industry's landscape.
Negocios Magazine further expands its content distribution through international digital platforms like PressReader, as well as through social media and business events. The publication is part of Acta Diurna Urbis Group Corp., a Miami-based media group that also publishes Ejecutiva Magazine, Welcome to America, Salud & Buen Vivir Florida, Hispanic Time, and Electric Cars Plus.
The awards ceremony will be held in the Ballroom of the EB Hotel Miami, providing an intimate setting for networking and celebration among the region's business elite. This recognition underscores Murgado's significant contributions to the automotive sector and his role as a prominent business leader in the United States.
