Martha Montoya has been actively drawing the Los Kitos cartoons since her childhood in Bogota, Colombia. Through her parent's involvement in the educational field as owners of schools and universities, she acquired the experience and the capability to create characters that convey her messages to children and teenagers.

At age 25, in pursuit of her dream to become a successful and prosperous cartoonist, she immigrated to the United States. Martha soon discovered that there were many obstacles to overcome, but she never lost sight of her dream. Although she had been a teacher of English and Chemistry in her native country, she soon found that those teaching doors were closed. To make ends meet financially, she utilized her entrepreneurial skills and founded LBS services, a maintenance firm.

She later achieved success in international management positions with different firms in the agricultural field. This allowed her to travel extensively throughout Latin America and hone her communication and organizational capabilities. Little did she know that the marketing and networking skills she gained would prove invaluable when Los Kitos was first published in 1995.

Through Los Kitos, Martha created an avenue in which she could help immigrants enculturate themselves into a new nation. An immigrant herself, she understands the difficulties that people encounter when they enter a new country and her characters explore how two different cultures see the same things. More than anything, they're about fighting obstacles that seem overwhelming. The characters promote aspirations to the new American dream, while maintaining the old traditions, cultures and family oriented values.

Today, Los Kitos is featured in 222 newspapers in 17 countries worldwide. Ms Montoya is currently in negotiations with two major studios for a 26-episode animated television series based on her characters.

The comic strip's universal appeal has won numerous awards and many American corporations and institutions are just now discovering how effectively the animated figures can serve as the gateway between themselves and the Hispanic market. Bank America Corp. has utilized the characters Sears Roebuck & Co. is currently featuring the colorful characters on a full line of children's clothing and a Singapore based company will soon feature a new line of children's shoes bearing the animated figures.