MTV Tr3s Executive Lucia Ballas-Traynor to Speak at HPNG's January Networking Event

PRESS RELEASE

NEW YORK, NY, January 20, 2008 – The Hispanic Professionals Networking Group (HPNG) is pleased to announce its speaker for the first networking event of the year, Ms. Lucia Ballas-Traynor, senior vice president and general manager, MTV Tr3s. The event will be held on Thursday, January 31, 2008 at 6:00 pm at ELMO Lounge, 156 7th Avenue, New York City.

“The New Year brings with it new opportunities, new goals, new dreams,” said Ali Curi, president and founder, HPNG. “It has become a tradition of ours to feature an inspirational and outstanding Latina as the first speaker of the year. It sets the tone for what’s possible, and we are proud to have Lucia join us for our kick-off event.”

Lucia Ballas-Traynor is the senior vice president, general manager of MTV Tr3s, based in New York. Prior to joining MTV Networks, Ballas-Traynor worked for IDT Corporation where she served as Senior Vice President of Hispanic Marketing and was responsible for formulating Hispanic marketing strategies for its Telecom division.

Lucia started her career in Hispanic television 20 years ago at Univision where she held a succession of senior positions. In 1989, she began a new career path in advertising sales as a sales executive for Univision's Mas Magazine. In 1994, she joined Galavision as Director of Ad Sales and in 1999 was appointed General Manager, assuming responsibility for all of the network's operations.

“This is going to be a stellar year for HPNG that will also have a direct benefit on all of our members. As part of our ongoing commitment to providing value to our members we’ll be rolling-out a series of new leadership development programs and new career development workshops,” continued Curi. “In a time where corporate goals are geared towards capitalizing on the booming Hispanic purchasing power, HPNG offers its Hispanic professional member base a unique way to empower themselves.”

HPNG organizes monthly cross-industry networking events featuring a one-on-one discussion with a powerful leader from the Hispanic business community. The speakers share their "story behind the story" in which they talk about what drives them to success, what motivates them and offer their insights on leadership, entrepreneurialism and success. It is an intimate experience and rare opportunity for Hispanic professionals to be inspired and involved by these shared experiences.

Past speakers at HPNG events include executives from Lifetime Television, LatComm, Batanga, Microsoft, Citigroup, MTV Networks, Scholastic, People En Español, among others.

VIEW EVITE & RSVP

HPNG Co-Founder Moves From Coors to Western Union

Congratulations to HPNG Co-Founder Max Ramirez!

============================================

WESTERN UNION APPOINTS MAX RAMIREZ; FIELD MARKETING MANAGER - US HISPANIC MARKET

January 7, 2008 -- Western Union announced the new hire of Max Ramirez as Field Marketing Manager - US Hispanic Market. He will be responsible for managing and facilitating Hispanic marketing initiatives and playing a key role in working closely with Latino communities across the United States, driving the retail marketing execution process from end-to-end.

Most recently, Ramirez served as the National Field Supervisor for The Integer Group; where he managed a team of promotional Coors Light promotional representatives in the United States. In 2003, he launched Max Media Worldwide where he strategically worked with advertisers such as Procter & Gamble, Codetel Communications, DigitGlobal Communications and Absolut Vodka. Previously sales and marketing executive roles included: Spanish Broadcasting System, Azteca America, WAPA-TV, MTV Puerto Rico and Katz Media Group where he had a proven track record in delivering outstanding returns. Ramirez will be based in Western Union's Latin American and Caribbean headquarters in Sunrise, Florida.

Known today as an innovator in financial services, The Western Union Company, together with its affiliates Orlandi Valuta and Vigo, has become an industry leader in global money transfer with over 320,000 Agent locations in more than 200 countries and territories. From the roots of our signature telegram business, we expanded and evolved our services in 1871 to offer electronic money transfer. Today, Western Union offers money order, money transfer, payment and prepaid services. While the telegram is a memory, we continue a long history of connecting people around the corner and around the globe with financial services that are fast, reliable and convenient.

=================================================

Max Ramirez
USOB Field Marketing Manager
Hispanic Division - Latin America