Learn the Business of Fashion. Boardroom Rock Stars Fashion Brand Launch Academy

To help intrepid entrepreneurs navigate the confusing process of launching their own fashion brand, footwear industry veteran Shawn Ward of Shane+Shawn shoes has launched Boardroom Rock Stars Fashion Brand Launch Academy.

Enrollment is now open for the December session One Week Boot Camp. 

Founded in 2010, Boardroom Rock Stars is the only entrepreneurial academy of its kind. The company provides new and aspiring entrepreneurs with hands-on training and guidance through the process of successfully launching and running their own fashion or lifestyle consumer goods brand. Courses cover registrations and trademarking, logistics and distribution, product development and manufacturing, branding, marketing and PR, e-commerce and retail strategies, business plans, funding, investor relations, and more. 

Boardroom Rock Stars instructors draw from more than 75 years of combined experience in brand building, operations and entrepreneurship, having worked with companies such as adidas, Coca-Cola, Converse, Rock & Republic, Equinox, and Hermés. The mission is to share real-world knowledge to help entrepreneurs realize their dreams faster and more efficiently than if they were to do it alone. 

Recent Boardroom Rock Stars Six Month Launch Academy graduates, such as Tommy Owens Eyewear, have gone on to launch companies in the areas of footwear, custom-made eyewear, helmet covers and apparel.

The One Week Boot Camp is a condensed, generalized version of the company’s flagship Six Month Launch Academy and was developed due to an increasing number of aspiring entrepreneurs wishing to participate in Boardroom Rock Stars programming. The five-day session is an intensive, 100% online course that runs twice a month on an ongoing basis, with daytime and evening options. Each intake is capped at 50 students and participation is first come, first served, with no application process. The curriculum is broken up into five 45-minute sessions daily (30-minute lectures followed by a 15-minute Q&A). 

The Boardroom Rock Stars advisory board consists of experts from a range of industries and includes Vasilios Christofilakos, Accessories Design Department, Fashion Institute of Technology; Jamal Simmons, Political Commentator, CNN and MSNBC; Trisha Sweeny, EVP and Chief Marketing Officer, ShoeBuy.com; Bill Baum, EVP, Consolidated Shoe Company; Bella Acton, Lead Inventor, ?What If! Innovation.

This One Week Boot Camp session will take place December 9 - 15, 2013.

Fees are $1,050 per person; use the discount code: HPNG for a 25% discount ($250) off the $1,050 Regular Registration Fee

REGISTRATION: http://www.boardroomrockstars.com/

Casa Latina Home Expo - Nov. 9th in New York

DON'T MISS the Casa Latina Expo on Saturday, Nov. 9th in NY
REGISTER AT: www.CasaLatinaHomeExpo.com
The Casa Latina Home Expo – is the first bilingual home expo in the NY Tri-state area and will take place on November 9th at the historic Altman Building (135 West 18th Street) from 10:00am-5:00pm.
This event will provide a wide-variety of culturally-relevant home-and-lifestyle information that Latino(a)s can use to improve their homes and their lives in an engaging, entertaining and inspiring setting. Top talent/influencers and experts will host home-and-lifestyle clinics in the areas of Financial literacy, DIY/How-to, Décor, Parenting, Cooking and Home Health.
HOME BUYING CLINICS: Chase will be conducting mortgage and financing related clinics for first time homebuyers to help aspiring homeowners access available grants and subsidies they may not know about.
HEALTH COVERAGE: The Affordable Care Act has created many unanswered questions on the home health care front. Empire BlueCross BlueShield will host an informational clinic to inform the community about the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and answer any and all questions.
Come MEET TALENT & INFLUENCERS including:
Minerva Borjas, host of Tubebe, Evette Rios, host of Recipe Rehap, Kathy Cano-Murillo founder of The Crafty Chica, Martin Amado, founder of The WOW Factor!, Jeannette Kaplun founder and editor-in-chief of Hispana Global, Ana Flores co-founder of Spanglish Baby Marlene Pratt, Casa Latina co-founder, Helen Troncoso, former Ms. NY America 2012 and founder of Reinventing You others!
ENTERTAINMENT: Latin Trends Magazine will be hosting Salsa classes and a Salsa Competition with the winner featured in the next Latin Trends Magazine!
CELEBRITY CHEF’S: And for all of our food lovers, Chef Hamlet host of V-me TV’s Sazón para el mundo and And The Food Network's "Chopped" alumni, Chef Ronaldo Linares will host cooking demonstrations followed by Q&A!
CHILDREN’S ENTERTAINMENT: Our children’s area will have tons of fun entertainment brought to you by La Casa Azul Book Store! Award winning Jose Luis Orozco will join us to sing and tell stories, children’s authors will do readings and Vme Kids is bringing our kid’s favorite characters – Lunar Jim and Tricky The Tiger - to interact with the children!

HPNG Entrepreneurs Networking Event Invitation - March 26th in New York

Dear Friends and Colleagues:

You’re invited to the HPNG Entrepreneurs Networking Event on March 26th in New York.

Like many of you, I spend my share of time on Facebook. Social media really hit its stride when Facebook revolutionized the idea of sharing. This platform connects us, informs us and entertains us.

With such an enormous reach, it’s not surprising that business owners and brands want to leverage it. We all know it’s great for posting pictures and cute cat videos, but how can you use it to increase brand awareness, market your business and close more sales?

We invited them to share with us how this can be accomplished.

Please join us as we proudly welcome:

Corey Neufville
Manager, Media Solutions Group
Facebook

and

Carlos Garcia
Client Partner
Facebook


Don't miss it, I'll see you there!

- Ali


Ali T. Curi
President
HPNG
New York | Miami | Chicago

--------------------------------------------------------------

Tuesday, March 26, 2013
Elmo @ The Lounge
156 7th Avenue (btwn. 19th & 20th Sts.)
New York, NY

AGENDA
6:00 - 7:00 p.m. - Registration & Networking
7:00 - 8:00 p.m. - Guest Interview and Q&A with Audience
8:00 - 8:45 p.m. - More Networking


- $25.00 pre-register -> http://tinyurl.com/HPNGENT-MAR2013
- $35.00 at the door

Facebook invite: http://tinyurl.com/HPNGEnt-MARCH2013

THANKS TO OUR PARTNERS: ETPNetwork.com, NocheLatina.com, LatinTrends.com, CafeMagazine.com, NSHMBA.org/newyork, hispaniceventsusa.com, UnitedLatinoProfessionals.org, multicultural.com, GRAN RESERVA WINES

Networking in the Healthcare Sector

Networking in the Healthcare Sector
by Eve Pearce for HPNG

Latinos have been gaining a foothold in just about every business industry out there, reflecting the growth of the population of the United States in terms of diversity. Though there are plenty of industries out to support general organizations, there are still plenty that focus now on issues that Latinos find most important, including health care.

For those looking for somewhere in the health industry to network, there are two top establishments to consider: the National Association of Hispanic Nurses and the National Hispanic Medical Association.

NAHN
Founded by Ildaura Murillo-Rohde, the National Association of Hispanic Nurses came to be in the year 1975. In the prior year, several Hispanic members of the American Nurses Association met with the group at a convention in New Jersey with the hope of establishing a Hispanic Caucus.

The company was later renamed to be the National Association of Hispanic Nurses (http://www.nahnnet.org/NAHNMembership.html) later on in the year 1979. Since then, the association has grown, launching the Hispanic Health Care International publication.

NHMA
The National Hispanic Medical Association was established in DC in 1994 as a non-profit organization defending Hispanic physicians across the United States. The association is dedicated to giving such physicians the ability to become leaders while improving health with Hispanics. The association's vision is to become a leader.

Reasons to Network in the Health Care Industry

There are plenty of benefits to working in the health care industry, regardless of whether or not the applicant is Hispanic and regardless of what role the applicant aims for. With this in mind, it is important to know all the different benefits to gain before networking within the industry and reaping those benefits. In here, each facet will be discussed in proper detail.

Good Money: No matter what one says, there are plenty of positives when it comes to comparing the majority of health care specialist roles in comparison to those in the national average. The national average in the United States as far as salary is concerned is $42,979, and the average specialist in the private practice of the health industry is somewhere around $168,550 -- four times as high. Even having a general role in nursing can offer more than this average.

Security: Even with the recession being so high, there has only been an increase with it comes to jobs in health care. When it comes to health care, job security is naturally much better than any other role since it is difficult to find someone who has the same kind of education and experience that can handle the role that would need to be filled again.

Education: Those who opt to get a job in the health care industry can still continue to improve what one knows about the job. There are plenty of employees in health care who can still receive education and further training without having to pay any extra for the lessons, which is a major benefit due to the expense it would otherwise bring. Because of this, it is far worth the effort to get this kind of thing for free. For those undergoing training in the sector then finding useful medical resources (http://www.kwikmed.org/20-medical-student-medical-education-sites/) to help their studies is vital. Having a bank of informative and useful contacts can make all the difference to medical students (http://www.utexas.edu/nursing/hnsa/) seeking support as they progress on their study program. That said continuing education is just as important when embarking on a career in the health sector as it is to maintain your knowledge and training.

Shift Work: There are plenty of roles within the industry of health care that allow employees to work in shifts. This is definitely a benefit for someone who is not capable of working the usual 9 to 5 jobs that most industries offer. For instance, Latinos who work in a hospital may often swap shifts; more often than not, the bosses in the industry will generally not care if the staff members want to swap shifts as long as it does not affect how many people there are in each shift.

Benefits: It should go without saying that those who work in the health care industry can receive good vacation pay, good health insurance, good sick pay and very good plans for pension -- but what else could one expect working in health care?

Those who are looking for a career in radiology, as a medical officer or as a general practitioner can expect these benefits. However, it is important to ensure one is moving into the right career for that individual.

2012 HPNG Holiday Party

Dear Friends and Colleagues:

You’re invited to the 2012 HPNG Holiday Party on December 18th in New York’s Greenwich Village.

The end of the year allows us to reflect on our accomplishments and plan for new ones. It also brings us the Holiday Season, a time to wind down with friends and family.

So join us for a festive time at the 2012 HPNG Holiday Party!

- Enjoy Open Bar by Chivas Regal!
- Great food and drinks from the legendary restaurant Gonzales y Gonzalez!
- Live Salsa Music Band!

Don't miss it, I'll see you there!

- Ali


Ali T. Curi
President
HPNG
New York | Miami | Chicago



Tuesday, December 18, 2012
6:00 - 9:00 p.m.

Gonzalez y Gonzalez
192 Mercer Street
Greenwich Village
New York, NY


Your Registration Includes:

* 3 hour open bar by Chivas Regal
* Drink specials exclusively for our guests
* Great food prepared by Gonzalez y Gonzalez restaurant
* Live Salsa Music Band

- $25.00 pre-register online
- $35.00 at the door


THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS: CHIVAS REGAL, NY1 News, Time Warner Cable, NY1 Noticias

THANKS TO OUR MEDIA PARTNERS: ETPNetwork.com, NocheLatina.com, LatinTrends.com, CafeMagazine.com, NSHMBA.org/newyork, HispanicEventsUSA.com, UnitedLatinoProfessionals.org

HPNG Latino Leaders Networking Event Invitation - November 15th in New York

Dear Friends and Colleagues:

You’re invited to the HPNG Latino Leaders Networking Event on November 15th in New York.

A few years ago an HPNG member introduced me to a young man who had just arrived in New York from the mid-West. He embodied the adventurous spirit of those who journey to the Big Apple with big dreams and big ambitions. I was glad to share some advice and make some introductions, but what he achieved in the next few years would change the Latino social media landscape in a way nobody could have imagined.

Please join us as we proudly welcome:

Mr. Lance Rios
President & Founder
Being Latino

Lancio (Lance) Antonio Rios grew up on the west side of Cleveland, Ohio. Lance’s long-time interest in Latino cultures and communities spiked when he accepted an internship in the South Bronx in New York. After witnessing the diversity of the Latino culture in the area, he realized that he found a community seeking a platform to bring them together. Through finessing his skillset in Hispanic sales and marketing at MTV tr3s, VME, and VEVO.com, he decided to take his concept and company, Being Latino, to another level.

Since its launch in May of 2009, Being Latino has experienced exponential growth with support from Latinos who care about discussing history, culture, entertainment and social issues. Being Latino has organically harnessed over 80,000 fans with an additional 170+ Latino-based fan pages on Facebook, a tremendous following on Twitter and its own YouTube channel with a reach of over 200,000 people, all launched with no startup funds. Lance is also a partner and shareholder of Hispanicize and Latina Mom Bloggers, two leading companies in the Latino social media space.

Their new website, www.BeingLatino.us, is a nationally recognized, engaging, community targeted brand, serving a demographic of English-dominant, bilingual Latinos. In addition, their new venture DigiBunch, is a company dedicated entirely to social media video production and distribution.

Having received many awards for his innovative creations, Lance Rios has turned Being Latino into a nationally recognized leader within the Latino Social Media space.

Don't miss it, I'll see you there!

- Ali


Ali T. Curi
President
HPNG
New York | Miami | Chicago


Elmo @ The Lounge
156 7th Avenue
(btwn. 19th & 20th Sts.)
New York, NY

AGENDA
6:00 - 7:00 p.m. - Registration & Networking
7:00 - 8:00 p.m. - Guest Interview and Q&A with Audience
8:00 - 8:45 p.m. - More Networking

- $25.00 pre-register at http://tinyurl.com/HPNG-Nov15-2012
- $35.00 at the door

* Appetizers compliments of HPNG


THANKS TO OUR MEDIA PARTNERS: ETPNetwork.com, NocheLatina.com, LatinTrends.com, CafeMagazine.com, NSHMBA.org/newyork, hispaniceventsusa.com, UnitedLatinoProfessionals.org

HPNG Networking Event Video - Guest Speaker: Maritza Puello, NY1 Noticias

Ali Curi, HPNG President, interviews Maritza Puello, Executive Editor, NY1 Noticias

Maritza Puello was the first person hired to oversee the launch of NY1's Spanish language newschannel NY1 Noticias in June of 2003. As Executive Editor, Puello hires and trains a staff of Spanish speaking writers, producers and reporters, and handles day-to-day operations of the newschannel.

She came to NY1 from Starmedia.com where she was a project manager, working on all their Spanish language web products. Prior to that, she was a producer for Fox News Channel where she helped launch Fox NewsEdge.

Among her accolades in November 2009, she received Defining Times Magazine's Latino Trendsetter award, also in May of 2009 El Diario La Prensa presented her with the Mujeres Destacadas Award. She also received a Groundbreaking Latina of the Year from CATALINA MAGAZINE in October 2007.

Puello, a native New Yorker, has lived on the Upper West Side her entire life. She is a graduate of Fordham University.

HPNG Entrepreneurs October Networking Event in New York

Dear Friends & Colleagues:

You're invited to the HPNG Entrepreneurs Networking Event on Tuesday, October 30th in New York.

Latinos and food are bound to each other by more than just exciting flavors. Our food is a source of pride and it's a front-runner in the way it shapes our culture.

The business of Latino food runs the gamut from the humble taco truck to the high-end hotspots frequented by celebrities. However, it's safe to say that in this economy, any would-be restaurateur would think twice before venturing into this line of business.

So I invited the pros to help us navigate this territory. During our chat we'll explore the factors that help transform this service business from good to exceptional.

Please join us as we proudly welcome:

Ms. Johanna Mendoza
Chief Executive Officer
Taina Cafe

and

Mr. O'Neiell Espinal
House Manager
Soho House New York

Don't miss it, I'll see you there!

-Ali

Ali T. Curi
President
HPNG
New York | Miami | Chicago


TUESDAY, OCTOBER 30, 2012
Elmo @ The Lounge
156 7th Avenue
btwn. 19th & 20th Streets
New York, NY

AGENDA
6:00-7:00 p.m. - Registration & Networking
7:00-8:00 p.m. - Guest Speaker Interview and Q&A with Audience
8:00-9:00 p.m. - More Networking!

* $25.00 pre-register online 
* $35.00 at the door

* Appetizers compliments of HPNG

INVITATION ON FACEBOOK
https://www.facebook.com/events/350484848378915/?context=create

THANKS TO OUR MEDIA PARTNERS: ETPNetwork.com, NocheLatina.com, MiguelRosario.com, LatinTrends.com, CafeMagazine.com, NSHMBA.org/newyork, hispaniceventsusa.com, United Latino Professionals

Check out the photo album from the 3rd Annual HPNG Latino Leadership Conference in New York hosted by KPMG

Check out the photo album from the 3rd Annual HPNG Latino Leadership Conference in New York hosted by KPMG


https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.436735556362621.90700.115604205142426&type=1&l=ec9f3c3324

The 13th Annual HOLA Awards - Oct. 8th - NYC

The Hispanic Organization of Latin Actors (HOLA), the nation’s longest running active arts advocacy organization for Latino actors, is pleased to announce that it will honor film and television stars David Zayas (currently on Showtime’s “Dexter”), Marlene Forté (currently on TNT’s “Dallas”) and Félix Solís (most recently a series regular on CBS’ “NYC 22” at the Thirteenth Annual HOLA Awards Gala and Benefit, sponsored in part by CBS.

The Awards Gala and Benefit is an official event of NYC’s Latin Media & Entertainment Week and will take place on Monday, October 8, 2012 at 6:30pm at The Battery Gardens, located on the waterfront in New York’s scenic Battery Park (opposite 17 State Street). Sponsorships slots are still available and range from $10,000 for a silver sponsorship to $50,000 for the Presenting Sponsor. A limited number of individual tickets are available at $150.

David Zayas, currently playing Ángel Batista on Showtime’s “Dexter” will receive the HOLA José Ferrer Tespis Award. Marlene Forté, currently playing Carmen Ramos on TNT’s “Dallas”; and Félix Solís, who most recently played Sgt. Terry Howard on CBS’ “NYC 22”, will be honored with the organization’s inaugural HOLA Excellence in Television Award. Featured speakers include SAG-AFTRA Co-President Roberta Reardon and SAG-AFTRA Co-Secretary-Treasurer Amy Aquino.

In addition to the aforementioned awards HOLA will also continue its annual tradition of honoring the best of Latino theater in New York with noncompetitive awards encompassing multiple winners in each category.

Individual tickets are $150 and can be purchased in advance by calling (212) 253-1015 or by going to www.hellohola.org. Table sponsorships are also available and can be purchased by calling María F. Nieto at (212) 253-1015 or via e-mail at mariafnieto@hellohola.org.

The Hispanic Organization of Latin Actors (HOLA) is an arts service/advocacy organization dedicated to expanding the presence of Hispanic artists in entertainment and media through the cultivation, education and recognition of emerging artists. HOLA strives for an accurate, informed and non-stereotyped portrayal of the full spectrum of Latino culture and heritage in the entertainment and media industries.

Don't miss this incredible event honoring our very own Latino actors!

www.hellohola.org

HPNG Latino Leaders Networking Event in New York - Sept. 27th

You are invited to the HPNG Latino Leaders Networking Event on September 27th in New York.

Not only was Will a total hit at the HPNG Latino Leadership Conference with his insight, I''m proud to say I've been personally inspired by this all-around dynamo of a guy.

Please join us as we proudly welcome:

Mr. William Robalino
Executive Director, Global Diversity, UBS
President, ALPFA New York

EVENT INFORMATION
Thursday, September 27, 2012
6:00 - 9:00 p.m.

LOCATION
Elmo @ The Lounge
156 7th Avenue
btwn. 19th & 20th Streets
New York, NY

AGENDA
6:00-7:00 p.m.  -  Registration & Networking
7:00-8:00 p.m.  -  Guest Interview and Q&A with Audience
8:00-9:456 p.m. -  More Networking!

REGISTER HERE

Does Social Media Have A Bad Romance With Latinos?

by Ali Curi, Sep 20, 2012, 10:00 AM
MediaPost Publications
Engage: Hispanics
 

The Latino romance with social media has been a passionate one. We’ve embraced this frontier for the betterment of our careers and our businesses. We tweet, post, update, like and comment as we validate ourselves or denigrate stories and events. Along the way, often incidentally, we build communities and networks.

The trusted “go where they congregate” axiom in order to reach Latinos may be spot on, but somehow might not be generating the desired results.

It’s apparent that you are targeting the right demographic for your business or brand, and clearly its online community is engaged. But where are the click-throughs to your website or check-out page? The thing about Latino communities is that they retain many of the nuances of their real world counterpart. You will find the cliques, along with those observing from a safe distance, but notably, within this community resides the valued opinion of friends and peers regarding, well, everything.

Enter old-school, face-to-face marketing. Latinos have long regarded networking events as a social hub, a place to meet up with friends and colleagues from jobs long forgotten. As a result, many marketers have dismissed the effectiveness of these events due to their highly social style and lack of structure. It seemed like the logical alternative was to engage them online. Here’s where it gets tricky.

Latinos, like many in the general market, engage with brands that they relate to from their upbringing. So it’s not an either/or strategy. It would benefit marketers to position their brands visibly at the “ground floor” of engagement for Latinos, live events. Keeping in mind that these events have also evolved to reflect the nature of the modern Latino who is looking to expand his network and build business relationships outside of their industries. Big-name American liquor brands have become ubiquitous at Latino events because of their long-term vision as partners at social and business functions. As a result, they have become top-of-mind brands for the Latino demographic they covet.

In many instances, social media can be more effective as a retention tool, complementing face-to-face interactions with a brand, rather than an acquisition tool. One domestic automaker’s Hispanic site, along with Home Depot, have been implementing, and now extending, this strategy for a couple of years. Brand-driven events targeting specific demographics, such as Latinas, have shown to have a high follow-through of engagement online. The key, of course, is to have relevant content online and a strategy that can be replicated in a newly targeted geographic area.

The good news is, exclusive online acquisition strategies are evolving to take advantage of built-in Latino communities to promote their brand. Sidestepping a large-scale campaign that’s built and managed in-house, some marketers have found that targeted partner events have built-in credibility when endorsed and promoted by highly engaged online Latino communities. Threading boldly with this strategy is super retailer Best Buy with its newly formed partnership with Facebook’s most populated Latino community, Being Latino. Best Buy’s strategy appears that it will be exclusively an online initiative, featuring an original video series. Given their choice of partner, it’s a smart move, one that may be worth its gamble.

It’s often pointed out that Latinos have an innate desire to connect and get personal with those we do business with. As a marketer, you can chose to simply expose your brand to the Latino community or build a relationship that engages deeper than fleeting updates and tweets. Chances are, we want to meet you, too.


Read more: http://www.mediapost.com/publications/article/183072/does-social-media-have-a-bad-romance-with-latinos.html#ixzz27Og5W8kP

Networking Done Right Is Not Just A Party

Ali Curi latest interview with Claudia Baier from Latino Choice:

Networking Done Right Is Not Just A Party

http://alatinochoice.com/networking-done-right-is-not-just-a-party/

Power To The Online People

Where were you when news of the tsunami hit Japan in 2011? How about when Michael Jackson died?

Probably online, according to many experts who claim that social media has become the main media source for hundreds of millions of people. Not just in the U.S., either; Facebook alone has more than 900 million users spread across the globe as of 2012. Other social media giants like Twitter have facilitated revolution against unjust leaders and warned people of impending natural disaster. In fact, so many people regularly interact online that if the Internet were a nation, it would exceed the Americas, Europe and the Middle East combined in population.

No wonder more than 13 million members of the online community used Reddit and other media platforms to protest SOPA, a proposed Internet censorship bill. Keep this graphic in mind next time you log on, because knowledge is power — and a little knowledge goes a long way in the Internet Age.

http://open-site.org/blog/power-to-the-online-people/

HPNG Networking Event Video, February 2011 - Guest Speaker: Bob Llamas, EVP & Chief Human Resources Officer, Univision

Ali Curi, HPNG President, interviews Roberto Llamas, former Chief Human Resources Officer, The Nielsen Company. Currently Mr. Llamas is Executive Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer of Univision Communications Inc.

Mr. Llamas will be presenting at the 3rd Annual HPNG Latino Leadership Conference on August 27, 2012 in New York. www.hpng.net/LLC12

Ali Curi, HPNG President, interviews Mr. Jorge Ferraez, Publisher of Latino Leaders Magazine

Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz, Jr. to Deliver Opening Keynote Address at the 3rd Annual HPNG Latino Leadership Conference

New York, NY, June 1, 2012 – The Hispanic Professionals Networking Group (HPNG) announces that Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz, Jr. will deliver the Opening Keynote Address at the 3^rd Annual HPNG Latino Leadership Conference in New York on June 12, 2012. 

HPNG’s flagship conference features Latino leaders from Fortune 500 companies and offers HR executives and business professionals an opportunity to learn from and meet top Latino leaders from some of the world’s leading companies and organizations.

The HPNG Latino Leadership Conference continues its tradition of gathering influential leaders from diverse fields for inspiring and thought provoking discussions on how to advance the Latino leadership agenda. The panelists and presenters this year come from some of the most innovative corporations in America and they have been selected to share best practices, provide new perspectives and to challenge our thinking of how to generate a steady pipeline of Latino leaders.

This year’s event includes presentations from executive management from companies such as Google, NBC Universal, JP Morgan Chase, IBM, HBO, Univision, Avon, Deloitte, Colgate-Palmolive, State Farm, Univision and many others.  The HPNG Latino Leadership Conference will also premier the 1^st Annual HPNG Latino Leader Awards presented by Ford.  The awards will honor Latino leaders who exemplify Ford’s four pillars of excellence; Safety, Quality, Technology, and Environment.

“There is growing sense of urgency in corporate America to develop the next generation of Latino leaders, especially Latinas. We are very excited to have the country’s top executives sharing exactly how to implement and achieve these development goals, either for yourself, your company or your organization” adds HPNG president, Ali Curi.

Sponsors and media partners for this highly acclaimed event include Marketwire, HACR, State Farm, Portada, ClickROI, LatinosInHigherEd.com, Latin Trends Magazine, LatinoGraduate.com, HISPA, Hispanic Events USA, NY Business Latino, Hispanic Market Weekly, LaCosmopolatina.com, Latino Leaders Magazine and iHispano.com

The 3^rd Annual HPNG Latino Leadership Conference will be held on Tuesday, June 12, 2012 at the Concierge Conference Center in New York.

For more information visit: www.hpng.net/LLC12

"Orgullo Latino” highlights the new American reality

"Orgullo Latino” highlights the new American reality – Latinos are one of the fastest growing minority groups in the U.S. Time Magazine recently proclaimed that Latinos will pick the next president of the United States. Along with that, new research shows that Latinos are more tolerant than the majority of Americans on LGBT rights. The show uses the new research from the National Council of La Raza to highlight the emergence and multiple realities of LGBT Latinos.

Features Ali Curi, President, Hispanic Professionals Networking Group (HPNG)

IN THE LIFE is distributed by American Public Television across all of the major media markets in the United States.

http://www.itlmedia.org/

PBS Documentary - In The Life "Orgullo Latino" featuring HPNG President, Ali Curi

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Journalists/Multimedia Producers Carlos Anaya and Carlos Mayorga showcase "Orgullo Latino" this June, a look at the complexity of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) Latinos in the United States with the award-winning news-magazine IN THE LIFE airing nationwide on public television stations.

NEW YORK — Get ready for “Orgullo Latino,” a 30-minute show airing nationally this June 1st on the award-winning show IN THE LIFE. The show is the first of its kind for public television stations. Produced by Journalists/Multimedia Producers Carlos Anaya and Carlos Mayorga, it captures the emerging movement of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Latinos in the United States.

“Orgullo Latino” highlights the new American reality – Latinos are one of the fastest growing minority groups in the U.S. Time Magazine recently proclaimed that Latinos will pick the next president of the United States. Along with that, new research shows that Latinos are more tolerant than the majority of Americans on LGBT rights. The show uses the new research from the National Council of La Raza to highlight the emergence and multiple realities of LGBT Latinos.

As Latinos continue to move to the forefront of American society, so is their movement into mainstream media, which shows there is opportunity for inclusion.

“I believe this is the best time to be a Latino,” says Producer Carlos Anaya. “Living a bicultural lifestyle gives us more choices and buying power. It was a privilege to showcase stories that embrace the multiple realities and how much our community has advanced.”

The show enters the lives of a number of celebrities and leaders in entertainment, politics, religion, business and advocacy in four different U.S. cities – Los Angeles, New York, Tucson and Miami. Some of the interviews include:

Daniel Hernandez, former intern for Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords. Hernandez is credited with saving her life last year during a shooting at a Tucson supermarket.

Jane Velez-Mitchell, anchor for the CNN Headline News show “Jane Velez-Mitchell.”

Eduardo Xol, designer for seven seasons on the hit ABC show “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition.”

Pedro Julio Serrano of the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force.

Richard Zaldivar of The Wall/Las Memorias Project.

Andres Duque, a gay Latino blogger nominated by GLAAD for his work.

Ali Curi, President of HPNG

Several other influential LGBT Latinos appear in the show, including a discussion about Ricky Martin coming out of the closet.  Experts such as Ruth Gaviria, Senior VP of Corporate Marketing at Univision and Joel F. Jaro, Psychotherapist/Inspirational Coach and others provided research on biculturalism and dual identification. As Latinos continue to move to the forefront of American society, so is their movement into mainstream media, which shows there is opportunity for inclusion.

“Latino leaders who are making a difference and smashing stereotypes continue to emerge in our society,” adds Producer Carlos Mayorga. “As producers, we chose individuals who are living the American Dream and setting the example of what all Latinos can become.”

IN THE LIFE is the longest-running LGBT show on television, debuting in 1992 on PBS. The show is a two-time Emmy Award nominee, a 15th Annual Webby Award nominee and the recipient of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences Ribbon of Hope Award, the National Lesbian and Gay Journalists Association's 2011 Excellence in HIV/AIDS Coverage Award and 2006 Seigenthaler Award for excellence in network television and a GLAAD Media Award for Outstanding TV Journalism-Newsmagazine.

About Carlos Anaya:  Carlos Anaya, GLAAD Award Winner for Best Spanish Journalism - known as the Latino Ryan Seacrest is an entertainment contributor for NBC/Telemundo and other media outlets. He offers services as a reporter, host, multimedia producer, and social media influencer. He is the Managing Editor for My Lifestyle Magazine, a chic publication for multicultural readers in New York City. He is the exclusive reporter for Sprint Network since 2008, creating over 100 million impressions. carlos@carlosanaya.net

About Carlos Mayorga: Carlos Mayorga specializes multicultural reporting in both the print and multimedia platforms. He has a Master's degree in television broadcasting from the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism and a Bachelor's degree in print journalism from the University of Utah in Salt Lake City. Mayorga is a former crime and courts daily newspaper reporter and now serves as Junior Managing Editor for My Lifestyle Magazine in New York, a publication that caters to chic multicultural readers.

About IN THE LIFE:  In The Life Media was founded in 1992 on the premise that visibility in media is vital to achieving equality and social justice for LGBT people. IN THE LIFE, produced by In The Life Media, was the first and remains the only national LGBT issue-oriented television program to feature the faces, voices and stories shaping the gay experience.  In The Life Media produces change through innovative media that exposes social injustice by chronicling lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender life and providing audiences with effective ways to advance equality within and beyond communities.

PRESS RELEASE: LATINO LEADERS OF NEW YORK TO BE HONORED BY HPNG AND FORD

3rd Annual HPNG Latino Leadership Conference to Include Awards Ceremony for First Time

New York, NY (April 16, 2012) – The Hispanic Professionals Networking Group (HPNG), in partnership with Ford Motor Company, announces the first annual HPNG Latino Leaders Awards.

The HPNG Latino Leader Awards will be presented as part of the 3rd Annual HPNG Latino Leadership Conference to be held in New York on June 12, 2012. Four individuals who have provided industry-leading solutions within one of Ford's Four Pillars of Excellence will be honored.

“We are delighted to be hosting the Latino Leader Awards with Ford and excited to see them recognizing the stellar achievements of the Latino community. It makes a very powerful statement to have a classic American company recognize the achievements of a group that is so integral to this country and the American way of life,” says Ali T. Curi, HPNG President. “It is going to be an incredible event!”

The Awards will be presented at a reception immediately following the HPNG Latino Leader Conference – a multi-disciplinary forum dedicated to exploring effective leadership development tools for middle-management corporate Latinos.

“Ford is committed to supporting the progress and achievements of Latinos making an impact in a variety of sectors,” said Alvaro Cabal, Multicultural Communications Manager at Ford Motor Company. “Partnering with HPNG to honor local Latino Leaders in New York is a privilege for Ford.”

The Four Pillars of Excellence that define the HPNG Latino Leaders Awards are Technology, Quality, Environment, and Safety. A panel of cross-industry leaders from various companies representing each category will serve as judges. Nominations can be submitted on the Ford Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/fordenespanol on the HPNG Awards Tab. Awards submissions have begun and will be accepted until May 11, 2012.

About HPNGLaunched in 2003, HPNG hosts networking events in New York and Miami and offers career management and leadership development workshops and conferences. Contact:Ali CuriHPNG 917-860-5673

ali@hpng.net

Andy Checo

Ford Hispanic Communications Team/RLPR

212-206-8668

Andy.checo@rlpublicrelations.com