Hispanics — or Latinos, a term some prefer — are an attractive market because the population is young and growing at an extraordinarily fast rate. Along with that, spending by Hispanics is growing at a faster clip than for non-Hispanic consumers.

Hispanics in the US have long been known as “the sleeping giant” for their potential as a substantial and still-growing voting bloc. Now, some in the financial services industry are getting serious about targeting Hispanics — and Hispanic millennials in particular — as a prime source for market growth. READ MORE AT THE CHRISTIAN SCIENCE MONITOR

Your first holiday office party is approaching and you’re looking forward to schmoozing with your colleagues. But don’t mistake this get-together for “thirsty Thursday” or other favourite get-togethers with your new-found work buddies. Especially if you’re just launching your career, you want to protect your untarnished reputation.

In other words: Do the exact opposite of what you’ve seen in the trailers for Office Christmas Party... READ MORE AT TORONTO SUN

Urban legend has it that corporate budgets for the year have already been expended and the hiring process all but stops in December. Not so! While you may be tempted, do not put your job hunt on ice. Even in those companies where hiring is temporarily frozen, networking and interviewing continues unabated in order to lay the groundwork for a rush of job offers going out when the new budget year arrives in January.

Remember that about 80 percent of all new hires are the result of someone knowing someone else through personal networking. And because there are so many parties, gathering and events of all kinds in December, this is the high season for networking your way into a new job. READ MORE AT U.S. WORLD & NEWS REPORT

There is a big reason why marketers have spent the last five years obsessed with Millennials — the numbers. Millennials total 75.4 million and have overtaken Baby Boomers as America’s largest generation. The business community is also starting to pay attention to the next generation, Gen Z. This group of people under the age of 20 is already almost as large as Millennials. Millennials and Gen Z combine to make up more than 50% of the entire U.S. population. The future is now.

The youth movement is even more dramatic in the Hispanic market, READ MORE AT MEDIAPOST

Hispanics in the U.S. have long been known as “the sleeping giant” for their potential as a substantial and still-growing voting bloc. Now, some in the financial services industry are getting serious about targeting Hispanics — and Hispanic millennials in particular — as a prime source for market growth.

Hispanics — or Latinos, a term some prefer — are an attractive market because the population is young and growing at an extraordinarily fast rate. Along with that, spending by Hispanics is growing at a faster clip than for non-Hispanic consumers.

“All of these combine to make a pretty potent formula for growth among Latino consumers,” says Robert Brown, an analyst with Packaged Facts, which released a report in June titled “Hispanics: Demographics and Consumer Spending Trends.”
The report calls Hispanic millennials a key to growth for the financial services industry. READ MORE AT DENTON RECORD-CHRONICLE

It’s commonly accepted advice that a large network is beneficial to your career, but how do you actually stay in touch with everybody? If you’re career-minded enough to know you need a network, you’re probably already working hard at your job. You will know more and more people as you gain experience, making it even harder to stay in touch.

How do you stay in touch with your ever-growing network without getting overwhelmed? Decide to prioritize. READ MORE AT FORBES

This week's "Monday Night Football" game will be played in the Estadio Azteca in Mexico City -- the first time the NFL has held a regular season game south of the border since 2005.

Over the last decade, the Hispanic audience for football has boomed. NFL viewership among Hispanics has increased 28% in the past five years alone, according to Nielsen.

The NFL estimates it has about 22 million fans in Mexico, and Mexico City has the seventh largest fan base of any city in North America. (The six other cities are all in the U.S.)

The NFL airs nine games live every week in Mexico. READ MORE AT CNN MONEY

At first, it was scary, admits Joe Muñoz, 19, referring to his experience being admitted into the psychiatric hospital’s emergency room. “It was overcrowded. You feel you do not belong there. You see others who are much worse off than you, like drug addicts and crazy people.”

Having been born with partial facial paralysis and an outer ear deformity, called microtia, Muñoz, of Riverside, was bullied by his classmates in high school for being different. They would steal his hearing aids, call him names and make prank calls.

The bullying continued on social media, too. The psychological effects reached the point where he contemplated suicide. READ MORE AT THE PRESS ENTERPRISE

Hispanics are more cautious about their holiday spending this year with 1 in 5 saying they will not be shopping at all, according to a national survey by the Florida Atlantic University Business and Economics Polling Initiative (FAU BEPI).

The number of respondents who said they would not shop in 2016 has increased by 10 points since the 2015 survey, from 11 percent to 21 percent. Others plan to delay holiday shopping. Earlier shopping has declined, with 18 percent of Hispanics saying they already started to shop, compared with 20 percent in 2015 and 24 percent in 2014.

"Hispanics became less optimistic about prospects for the economy compared to September," said Monica Escaleras, Ph.D., director of the BEPI. "This may simply be a temporary reaction due to the uncertainty caused by the presidential election or part of a continued downward trend in consumer confidence among Hispanics." READ MORE AT YAHOO NEWS

Noramay Cadena is a #bosslady in all aspects of her life. As the daughter of immigrants, she understood the intricacies of growing up in a Latino family, the responsibility that it entails and the opportunity that living in the United States affords her.

As a teen mom, she understood that the example she set for her daughter would have ramifications beyond the short-term, day-to-day.

In addition to the skills she learned in her roles as daughter and mother, her time spent working through degree after degree at MIT (she has three) helped set the foundation for the entrepreneurship path she is on now. READ MORE AT FORBES

The holiday season is coming up fast and this could be a great opportunity to make some career connections with family and friends. Networking during the holidays is mingling and making small talk; it's a more informal experience than a network meeting in someone's office.

When relatives and neighbors ask you about what you want to do after graduation, give them the names of a few organizations you may be interested in and a general idea about the role you want to play. Then ask them the big question: "Do you know someone who works in these fields who might be willing to speak with me about what they do?" You may be surprised at who they know. READ MORE AT SETON HALL UNIVERSITY

Read feature guest biographies of the 2016 Law and Government Networking Forum tomorrow at LondonHouse Hotel Chicago.

Moderator

Marlo Rodriguez, The Court Reporter Chronicles

Marlo Rodriguez, CSR, RPR has been a court reporter in Chicago for almost 20 years and is the Founder of The Court Reporter Chronicles, an international organization supporting independent court reporters. Marlo currently works at Certus Deposition Services serving as Executive Vice President specializing in complex litigation. She is licensed in Illinois as well as holds a national certification allowing her to court report in other states.

Marlo previously owned her own agency called Marlo Reporting & Video Services, which was WBE and MBE certified, and which was also chosen as HLAI's preferred court reporting agency.

Marlo is passionate about promoting court reporting, court reporting services and products, its advancement, and mentoring court reporting students. She is grateful for an amazing group of friends that continue to support her in her now and future endeavors.

Discussion Panelists

Martin Castro, Chair, US Civil Rights Commission,CEO - Castro Synergies, Interim CEO, Casa Central

Marty Castro is the President and CEO of Castro Synergies, LLC, which provides strategic consulting services to corporations, entrepreneurs and non-profit organizations that seek to collaborate with and have a positive social impact on diverse communities.

Mr. Castro was appointed by President Barack Obama to the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights in January of 2011. In March 2011, President Obama elevated Mr. Castro to the position of Chairperson of the USCCR, making him the agency's eighth Chair since the formation of the Commission, and the first Latino Chairperson in the over half-century history of the USCCR.

In December 2009, Mr. Castro was appointed by Illinois Governor Pat Quinn to Chair the Illinois Human Rights Commission. The Human Rights Commission is the State public body that arbitrates complaints of civil rights violations in housing, employment, public accommodations and financial credit.

Mr. Castro is on the board of directors of the National Museum of Mexican Art; the only accredited Latino Museum in the United States. He also serves on the board of the Chicago Community Trust. Mr. Castro is also chair and co-founder of New Futuro, LLC. Mr. Castro is a former national board member of the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund and former chair of the Hispanic National Bar Association's U.S. Supreme Court Committee. Mr. Castro is also the former chair of the Judicial Nominations Commission for the Northern District of Illinois, by appointment of U.S. Senator Richard Durbin.

For his leadership and accomplishments, Mr. Castro has received numerous awards and recognitions, including the National Medical Fellowships' Humanitarian Award; the Hispanic National Bar Association's Cesar Chavez Humanitarian Award; the Edwin A. Rothschild Civil Liberties Award from the American Civil Liberties Union of Illinois; and the Thurgood Marshall Lifetime Achievement Award from the Association of Corporate Counsel, Chicago Chapter.

Mr. Castro is the proud product of Head Start and affirmative action in higher education. He received his B.A. in political science in 1985 from DePaul University and his Juris Doctorate degree from the University of Michigan Law School in 1988. Mr. Castro was also awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters from Roosevelt University in December 2011 for his work in the area of social justice.

Currently Mr. Castro serves as Interim President and CEO of Casa Central, a Chicago non-profit serving the Hispanic community. Mr. Castro provides executive leadership and assists Casa Central in strengthening its relationships with partners, donors, and advocates.

Homero Tristan, Partner, Tristan & Cervantes

Homero Tristan is the Founding Partner of Tristan & Cervantes. His practice includes counseling companies in Labor & Employment Law, as well as Corporate Transactions. Formerly, Mr. Tristan was an attorney with the National Labor Relations Board for the Chicago Region, where he investigated hundreds of unfair labor practice charges and prosecuted numerous trials. Later, he entered private practice at Jackson Lewis LLP, one of the largest national firms dedicated to representing management in the area of Labor & Employment Law.

Mr. Tristan is active in the local political landscape, and routinely advises clients regarding Government Relations. He is one of the founders of the Chicago Latino Public Affairs Committee, a political action committee that is engaged in state and local races. In 2008, former Mayor Richard M. Daley appointed Mr. Tristan to serve as Commissioner of Human Resources for the City of Chicago.

Mr. Tristan is a graduate of Loyola University, DePaul University College of Law and has a Masters of Science in International Relations from Loyola University Chicago School of Business. 

Karina Ayala-Bermejo, General Counsel & Executive Vice President, Metropolitan Family Services

Karina Ayala-Bermejo is currently the General Counsel and Executive Vice President of Metropolitan Family Services. As General Counsel she is responsible for all legal matters for Metropolitan. As of April 1, 2015, she also serves as the Executive Director of the Legal Aid Society of Metropolitan Family Services.

Prior to Metropolitan, she worked for the City of Chicago in Mayor Daley’s administration as Acting Commissioner, First Deputy Commissioner and Managing Deputy Commissioner for the Department of Human Resources. Prior to working for the City of Chicago, she spent seven years as the Director of Community Services for the Chicago Bar Association where she encouraged attorneys to take on pro bono work and collaborated with the bar and various divisions of the CircuitCourtofCookCounty on initiatives to improve the justice system.She also served as the first Executive Director of the Sun Times Judge Marovitz Lawyers Lend-A-Hand to Youth Program, a foundation that mobilizes the legal profession around mentoring youth. She was instrumental in securing a $2 million dollar cy pres award, the largest in CookCounty’s history for Lawyers Lend-A-Hand. Ms. Ayala-Bermejo legal career began as an attorney in the Litigation Division of the Chicago Board of Education handling labor and employment matters.

Ms. Ayala-Bermejo has been a leader in the legal community and the community at large for over 20 years. She was appointed as Commissioner for the Cook County Human Rights Commission where she serves as its Vice-Chair. She was also recently appointed as a Commissioner for the Commission of the Status of Latinas in the Legal Profession. She also serves on the Board of Trustees for the Hispanic Lawyers Scholarship Fund; Dean’s Advisory Council for the DePaul University College of Law; Board of the Public Interest Law Initiative; Board of the Center for Conflict Resolution; Board of Managers for the Chicago Bar Association; and Executive Board for Illinois Partners for Human Service.

She is the former President of the Hispanic Lawyers Association of Illinois where she founded their mentoring program, JD Mentors now in its 12th year. She served in numerous positions for the Hispanic National Bar Association (HNBA) including General Counsel; National Vice President of Programs; National Vice President of Regions; and Regional President (WI, IL, MI, IN). She was also appointed as a Commissioner for the American Bar Association Commission on Racial and Ethnic Diversity in the Profession.

Ms. Ayala-Bermejo was born in Jalisco, Mexico. She resides in Chicago with her husband Frank, and three children (Liam 12, Elijah 10 and Abbey Rose 8). She is a graduate of Loyola University-Chicago and her JD is from DePaul University College of Law.

Ennedy Rivera, General Counsel. Office of the Lieutenant Governor. Evelyn Sanguinetti, State of Illinois

Ennedy D. Rivera is General Counsel to the Office of the Lieutenant Governor, Evelyn Sanguinetti, and legal liaison to the Department of Human Rights, Human Rights Commission, Torture Inquiry & Relief Commission, Guardianship & Advocacy Commission, Department of Labor, Illinois Power Agency, Illinois Pollution Control Board, Illinois Commerce Commission, and the Illinois Department of Transportation. In addition, Ms. Rivera assists in overseeing the clemency review process for the Office of the Governor. Before joining the Office of the Lieutenant Governor, Ms. Rivera was a Senior Associate at the Law Office of Wysocki & Smith, where she focused on civil litigation, municipal law, general practice and criminal/immigration defense. Ms. Rivera is a proud graduate of the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and DePaul University School of Law.

Claudia E. Castro, Associate Attorney, Odelson & Sterk, Ltd., President - Hispanic Lawyers Association of Illinois

Claudia Castro, a graduate of Proviso Township High School District 209, received her Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice from Loyola University Chicago and her Juris Doctor from the Thomas M. Cooley Law School in Lansing, Michigan. She began her legal career as an Assistant State’s Attorney with the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office in Chicago where she prosecuted hundreds of bench and jury trials. Claudia served as Chief Legal Counsel for the Illinois Concealed Carry Licensing Review Board, and prior to joining the State, she was General Counsel for the Illinois Coalition against Sexual Assault in Springfield.

Throughout her career, Claudia has worked closely with the Latino communities providing assistance and education in criminal justice issues. Her litigation experience and fluency in Spanish earned her a position as an instructor with the Conference of Western Attorneys General (CWAG) Alliance Partnership Program, where she participated in training programs in trial advocacy for prosecutors throughout Mexico.

Currently, Claudia serves as President-Elect of the Hispanic Lawyers Association of Illinois. She was the former Young Lawyers Division National President of the Hispanic National Bar Association. Claudia also served on the Board of Directors and as President-Elect of the National Hispanic Prosecutor’s Association. In 2012, Claudia was named as one of Chicago Daily Law Bulletin’s 40 Illinois Attorneys under Forty to Watch List.

Don't miss out. Time is running out to register >> http://bit.ly/2gcX3xh

In advance of the holiday shopping season, BODEN, a cross-cultural communications agency, and QuestMindshare unveiled The Latina SmartPurse™. The Latina SmartPurse is an innovative research initiative focused on the Hispanic female in the U.S. This progressive research takes a deep dive into the modern Latina consumer, her influence, and what she expects from brands when making purchasing decisions.

"We are seeing a continental shift in Latina females and their role in our society and economy; they are playing many roles as business owners, mothers, cultural evangelists, and societal influencers," Natalie Boden, president, BODEN, says. "The Latina SmartPurse study shows us that there is no better time than now for brands to invest in Latinas as a key consumer segment within the U.S. landscape." READ MORE AT PRNEWSWIRE

Most of the choices we make every day are simple and straight-forward: what to wear to work, what to eat for lunch, whether to go to sleep at a reasonable hour or stay up watching Netflix. They don’t cause much stress or inner conflict.

Career transition points, on the other hand, can leave you feeling significantly more stuck—especially when you’re facing a big, life-changing decisions.

Should you take that promotion? Move to a different city? Transition to a new industry? Launch a business or take your side hustle full-time? READ MORE AT FORBES

Wage theft is epidemic and it hits Latino workers the hardest. A recent study by the Economic Policy Institute found that wage theft across America is costing workers $50 billion per year. Compare that to the robberies, burglaries, larcenies, and motor vehicle thefts in the FBI’s uniform crime report, which cost victims an estimated $14 billion over the same period, and you can see that calling wage theft an epidemic is no exaggeration.

Paying workers below the legal minimum wage, not paying for overtime hours worked, forcing workers to work off-the-clock or, for workers on federal contracts, not paying the proper wage rate for their occupation, are just some of the sleights-of -hand that employers engage in to cheat workers. Although all of these maneuvers are illegal, they are rarely punished. READ MORE AT THE HILL

Soft skills are essential in any job. But these are not always being focused on when it comes to technical jobs. But the truth is, when it comes to jobs in science, technology, engineering and mathematics, soft skills are much more important.

Soft skills are important when you want to get hired and when you want to stay longer on the job. Employers do not only base their requirements on the technical skills you bring to the table. They also want to hire someone who have the necessary soft skills that can fit in their environment. READ MORE AT UNIVERSITY HERALD

José R. Sánchez, CEO of Norwegian American Hospital who was recognized by Nueva Latina Leaders group posed with all the professional ladies in attendance 

CHICAGO, —Nueva Latina Leaders (NLL), a group of successful women in the fields of business, community service, education, health and technology, hosted a recognition event for José R. Sánchez, President and CEO of Norwegian American Hospital. This special occasion was held on Wednesday, October 26, 2016 to honor the achievements and empowerment of Mr. Sánchez, who has been a fundamental mentor and motivator to many Latinas.

The event was hosted by Lourdes Duarte, WGN News Anchor. Jose Sanchez who is an art collector was given a post-modern acrylic art piece, painted by Catalina Sanchez Vargas, called Triune, which means a trinity in unity.

“Tonight is all about LEADERSHIP, particularly, the Leadership of the NLL who are making an impact in the businesses and society in general, but especially today, we get together to recognize Jose Sanchez, this Latino Leader who has been a mentor of many young Latinas in his community”, expressed Milena Tous, President of Multi Latino Marketing, Inc. and Founder of the Nueva Latina Leaders group.

Jose Sanchez expressed his gratitude and commitment to continue inspiring and guiding Latinas to help them to move forward and their career, especially in the Health field and through his job as a CEO at the Norwegian American Hospital.

Jose Sanchez is the only Latino CEO of a hospital in Chicago and has been recognized for his accomplishments in the area of Finance, Information Technology, Innovation and Quality Improvement.

Thank you to our sponsors Sodexo, USI, JGMA and Multi Latino Marketing Agency, Inc.

José R. Sánchez, CEO of Norwegian American Hospital, Lourdes Duarte, WGN TV News Anchor and Milena Tous, president of Multi Latino Marketing, Inc and Founder of Nueva Latina Leaders. 

José R. Sánchez, (in the middle) alongside Illinois Senator Omar Aquino and Pedro Cevallos

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There is no faster-growing group of entrepreneurs in the United States than Hispanic business owners.

Over the last decade, Hispanic-owned companies have grown at a rate 15 times higher than that of all other firms, according to the U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.

In the mid-Atlantic region — consisting of New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania — there has been a 20% increase in Hispanic-owned companies in the years between 2012 and 2015.

Last year, Hispanic entrepreneurs — represented by more than 4 million companies nationwide — contributed more than $600 billion in revenue to the national economy. READ MORE AT DAILY NEWS

Networking is a wonderful thing. The connections you make and friendships you establish in your professional life will power you through your career.

It’s not just that the people you know will help you spot opportunities and get great jobs or clients, although that could easily happen.

Your network is good for much more than leads and advice during your job search or your business development projects. Your network of friends and associates is also your brain trust. READ MORE AT FORBES

So much of the focus in bank technology is on making life easier for everyday customers, but a handful of banks and fintechs are trying to simplify banking for everyone.

Recently some banks have introduced products or mobile features intended to help customers who are otherwise being passed over by technology because of disabilities, language barriers or other factors.

USAA has introduced a remote-deposit function that is guided by voice. Bank of America has committed to making sure the Spanish-language settings on its app are on par with the English version's. READ MORE AT AMERICAN BANKER