WINNERS WERE REVEALED AT THE MARIA MANGUAL LATINA LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE

CHICAGO, October 20, 2014—Verizon Wireless was one of the official sponsors of the fourth Maria Mangual Latina Leadership Conference in aims of showcasing the important role Latina professional women play in society. The conference took place at the Hyatt Regency Chicago where the four winners of the annual “Nueva Latina Estrella Award” (NLEA) program were announced, of which received more than 400 nominations in 2014.

At this successful event organized by Mujeres Latinas en Acción, Verizon recognized professional women who have demonstrated success in the areas of technology, business, education and community service.

The committee that selected the semifinalists and winners of each category was comprised of women leaders from Chicago, Minneaopolis, Kansas City and Cleveland who work in diverse industries which include companies, education, community service, healthcare, government services and media. The contest prized each winner with $1,000 and a Verizon Wireless 4G LTE Smartphone.

“It is an honor to be recognized by Verizon for my efforts as a business owner and advocate for the

arts and education in the Latino community,” says Jessica Priego, winner in the Business category,

“I am simply doing my best to provide a good life for my family and to help as many people as I can

around us so that they can do the same. I feel strongly that an appreciation for one’s cultural identity

is critical to happiness and success and that is why my ‘free’ time and energy are focused largely on

the arts and education,” stated the president of JPriego Communication.

"On behalf of all of us at A Safe Haven and our supporters, thank you for the honor and recognition we received through the Nueva Latina Estrella Award,” said Neli Vazquez Rowland, winner in Illinois in the Community Service category, “At A Safe Haven we are all devoted to influencing a new, cutting edge, efficient and effective model focused on ending homelessness in a sustainable manner, and in a way that truly engages and connects all stakeholders and systems. We are very grateful to Verizon and that together we can share, support and celebrate our social responsibility vision for lifting the spirits and the economic conditions of the homeless and disenfranchised long-term, and for our mutual mission of connecting people for making this a better world for all,” affirmed the president of A Safe Haven.

“Verizon feels proud to recognize the outstanding work of Latina professional women in our society

through the “Nueva Latina Estrella Award,” expressed Miguel Bassail, Marketing and Multicultural Strategy Manager at Verizon in the Midwest area, “It is a privilege for Verizon to be able to recognize through this program these leaders who have made a difference in their industries and communities.”

The winners from each category were:

In the BUSINESS category the winner was Jessica Priego, president of JPriego Communications, from

Illinois.

From the COMMUNITY SERVICE category: Neli Vazquez Rowland, co-founder and president of A Safe

Haven Foundation, from Illinois.

In EDUCACIÓN the winner was: María Teresa DePaoli, profesor from the Modern Languages department

from Kansas State University in Kansas.

In the area of TECNOLOGY the “NLEA” winner was: Maria Elena Tototzintle, from Tequila Digital Media, who resides in Minnesota.

With this initiative Verizon not only awards the work of today’s Latina, but also highlights that she is bilingual, bicultural and a college graduate. They are women who envelop their culture and heritage, and at the same advance in their distinct industries, acquiring experience and serving their communities.

About Verizon Wireless

Verizon Wireless operates the largest and most reliable 4G LTE network in the country. As the largest mobile telephone company in the U.S., Verizon Wireless serves 104.6 million retail customers, including 98.6 million postpaid customers.

Verizon Wireless is proprietary of Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE, Nasdaq: VZ). For more information, visit www.verizonwireless.com. For the latest news and updates concerning Verizon Wireless, visit our News Center at http://www.verizonwireless.com/news or follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/VZWNews.

Opening Remarks

Susana Mendoza, City Clerk of Chicago

Susana A. Mendoza was sworn in as City Clerk of Chicago on May 16, 2011. She is the first woman ever elected to the Office, one of only three city-wide elected positions.

Clerk Mendoza is committed to improving the Office by making it the most technologically savvy, user-friendly and efficient City Clerk’s Office in the country. Her Office recently successfully transitioned 1.3 million motorists from an inefficient seasonal Chicago City Vehicle Sticker sales program to a modern Year-Round Sales system. Since being elected Clerk, she has overhauled the Office, cut overtime and increased Wheel Tax compliance, generating new, sustainable revenue for the City of Chicago. In March 2014, she championed a landmark ordinance to require that City pet stores sell only rescue animals from humane shelters. The Companion Animal & Consumer Protection Ordinance received 49 votes in the City Council and Chicago is now one of just a select number of major U.S. cities to have enacted a ban on the sale of animals from large-scale mills, including dogs, cats, and rabbits.

Prior to serving as City Clerk, Mendoza was elected as the youngest member of the 92nd General Assembly where she proudly served six terms as a Democratic member of the Illinois House of Representatives from 2001 to 2011. As a State Representative, she was publicly recognized for her leadership and legislation on social services, education, law enforcement, animal welfare, and job creation. She served as Co-Chairperson of the Conference of Women Legislators and twice served as a delegate to the Democratic National Convention. Most recently, she served on the Board of the National Foundation of Women Legislators.

Mendoza has been named one of Crain’s Chicago “40 Under 40” and one of its “Women to Watch.” She lives on the northwest side of Chicago with her husband David and their son David Quinten.

MODERATOR

Lourdes Duarte, Co-Anchor, WGN TV Morning News Chicago

Lourdes Duarte is co-anchor of WGN Morning News from 4-6am. Prior to the early shift, Lourdes was co-anchor of WGN Evening News and a reporter for WGN News at Nine. Lourdes came to WGN-TV in September 2007 as a general assignment reporter for WGN Midday News, WGN Evening News and WGN News at Nine.

Prior to joining WGN-TV, Lourdes worked for three years as a reporter and fill-in anchor for WJBK-TV, the Fox affiliate in Detroit, Michigan. She also worked for two years as a reporter for WXIN-TV in Indianapolis. While there, she launched and hosted the station’s public affairs program, “Hoy en Dia,” and anchored daily news cut-ins for radio station WEDJ-FM. Lourdes was a reporter in Peoria at WHOI-TV and at Metro Networks in Miami, Florida for radio stations WLRN-FM and WTMI-FM. She got her start here in Chicago, working as a freelance reporter for Telemundo.

Lourdes has won several awards including an Emmy award for her work on “Hoy en Dia” and Society of Professional Journalists awards for Minority Issues Reporting. Most recently, she won an Emmy award for her story titled “Unlicensed and Serving.” She also received an Emmy nomination for a story on deportation. Lourdes and a WGN photographer where aboard the plane that transported undocumented immigrants to their home country.

Currently, Lourdes hosts “Adelante Chicago” on WGN and sits on the board of Arden Shore Child and Family Services. In the winter of 2010, Lourdes began contributing video pieces to Hoy, Chicago’s largest Hispanic newspaper.” Last year, she was picked as one of DePaul University’s 14 Under 40.

Lourdes received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communication from DePaul University.

PANELISTS

Elba Aranda-Suh, Executive Director, National Latino Education Institute (NLEI)

Elba Aranda-Suh leads the National Latino Education Institute (formerly Spanish Coalition for Jobs, Inc.) as its Executive Director. The National Latino Education Institute (NLEI) is a nationally accredited nonprofit organization founded in Chicago forty two years ago. NLEI has served generations of Latino families enabling economic empowerment through comprehensive industry-driven job training, career placement and supportive services that include capacity building in technology, financial literacy and worker health and wellness. NLEI's mission is to enhance the quality of life for Latinos through educational, vocational and employment services and through advocacy, thus enabling the achievement of economic independence.

Ms. Aranda-Suh is a transformational leader with an entrepreneurial spirit and pragmatic approach to community development and works tirelessly in forging opportunities that develop, strengthen and afford meaningful systemic change for the Latino community. She is an accomplished Workforce Development professional with more than 17 years in leadership roles. Since 1999, she has led NLEI in creating and delivering award winning and nationally recognized career education programs for the Latino community.

She has served on boards of directors and executive committees for several community-based organizations including: The Latino Council on the Media (LCOM), Illinois League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC), National LULAC Educational Center, Maria High School, and People's Music School and was a founding board member of the Pilsen/Little Village Information Center and served on the Michael Reese Hospital Advisory Council. She has been recognized by corporations such as Citibank, Pepsi-Cola, Lucent Technologies and the National Diversity Council for her community leadership.

Luis Gutierrez, Founder & Executive Director, Latinos Progresando

Luis founded Latinos Progresando in 1998 to serve Chicago's Pilsen and Little Village communities, where he was born and raised and continues to live today. Beginning in a small office on 18th Street, with just $200 in the bank, Luis has built a nearly 17-year-old organization that has served more than 25,000 families.

Luis was also responsible for founding the Marshall Square Resource Network (MSRN), a coalition of 20 organizations on Chicago's southwest side that meets monthly for capacity building and developing collective impact strategies.
In addition to serving on Mayor Rahm Emanuel's Advisory Committee to the Office of New Americans, Luis also participated in the Donors Forum's "Communities of Practice," a year-long program bringing together leaders from both the nonprofit and funding communities to discuss true costs of running nonprofit organizations.

Luis currently serves on the Board of Directors of the ACLU of Illinois, and the Latino Policy Forum. Luis received the Excellence in Community Service Award from MALDEF, the Community Partner Award from the University of Chicago, a "35 Under 35" Leadership Award from the Community Renewal Society, and a Certificate of Appreciation from the City of Chicago.

Tricia Martinez, Founder & CEO, Basic Transfer

Tricia Martinez is the Founder and CEO of Basic Transfer, a Fintech social venture focusing on underbanked women in developing countries. Through their peer-to-peer platform, you select different communities to support and send money directly to the women who need it most. Once you invest in a community, you will receive updates on the groups progress and learn more about their lives through feature stories, videos, and impact reports.

Prior to Basic Transfer, Tricia founded two impact companies and worked with technology- driven startups based in Chicago. Tricia completed her Master of Public Policy at the University of Chicago's Harris School. With a background in development economics and poverty, Tricia is a strong believer that technology can scale social innovation and achieve immense impact.

Victor Herrera, President, NSHMBA Chicago

Victor Herrera joined the National Society of Hispanic MBAs (NSHMBA) Chicago Chapter in 2009, where he has served as Education Officer, Executive Vice President, and currently as President. With more than 17 plus years broad-based general management experience gained working with Chicago Public Schools, he understands how each part of an operation functions on a deep level. Victor also knows that it is imperative for organizations to continuously review their strategic plans to further their goals. Another lesson learned is that, above mentoring and leading, being capable of motivating staff must be every organization’s primary goal.

Throughout his leadership with NSHMBA Chicago, Victor has contributed not only to increasing membership by more than 100%, but also providing their constituents with the highest quality events, programs, and activities they expect from the premier organization for Hispanic professionals. Victor takes pride in professional development and dedicates substantial resources to developing new and better ways to enhance member, sponsor, and partner experience.

Victor is extremely generous in sharing his talents, time, and success with his community and numerous organizations. He genuinely cares about giving back to the community and his country through his activism. His passions away from work include serving on the Board of the Illinois Technology Foundation, Lead for Organizing for Action Chicago North Chapter, and Advisory Board Co-Chair for Organizing for Action.

Most recently, Victor was awarded an Honorary Ph.D. Degree from Robert Morris University and recognized as one of 25 young rising Latinos of Chicago by Latino Leaders Magazine. These are Latinos who are in the forefront of the next generation of Powerful Leaders. His recognition is featured in the "Club Leaders of the Future" section of the magazine.

Victor received a Masters degree from Morris Graduate School of Management in Chicago.

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In today’s STEM-driven economy, the need to talent ratio in the STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) fields is less than favorable. The scarcity and availability of qualified talent in STEM is creating a huge talent gap – and therefore, a problem for companies looking to innovate at the velocity required to stay competitive.

Taking the STEM field analysis a step further, the STEM field also lacks diversity. It is a hugely male-dominated field, which limits the talent pool even further. And based on the latest stats, the outlook for filling that gap doesn’t look too promising; it may even get worse before it gets better.

According to a Department of Education study, only 16 percent of high school seniors are interested in pursuing careers in STEM. And although those with STEM degrees are highly sought and earn higher wages than their non-STEM majoring counterparts, of those graduating with STEM degrees, 74 percent pursue non-STEM jobs, such as healthcare, law, education, and the like. From the gender standpoint, nationally only one in four girls graduating college go into any profession within the STEM field. READ MORE AT BUSINESS2COMMUNITY

Network, update your resume, and network are keys to finding the right job

Fall is the start of many things - cooler weather, first days of school and, for many, a new career search. 

"Finding a job is more difficult than having a job." That's the consensus of most job search professionals. So looking for a job might mean starting from scratch — like hiring a career coach to get you over those hurdles.

Although there is some good news on the employment front — The Bureau of Labor Statistics latest job numbers show that nonfarm payroll employment increased by 248,000 in September, and the unemployment rate declined to 5.9 percent — the reality is that many people are actively looking for jobs or to switch careers.

Peter Heymann sees a lot of people who are starting a new career or business and are in transition. "I give them a road map and plan, and be someone they can be accountable to," says Heymann, who runs break/through Career and Life Coaching. "My job is to guide people. What a coach can do is give someone objective, be a cheerleader and a nudge. They can take the first small steps and build on that success." READ MORE ON IOHUD

It’s called the Hispanic mortality paradox. In the United States, Hispanics die at slower rates than non-Hispanic whites. This is true even before accounting for differences in incomes and health-care access, which put Hispanics at a disadvantage.

One of the first people to point that out was Kyriacos Markides, a professor at the University of Maine who noted in a 1986 paper that Hispanics in the Southwest were remarkably healthy. Compared to whites, they had lower rates of death from cardiovascular disease and cancer, and lower rates of infant mortality. The “accumulating evidence,” he wrote, “suggests that the health of Hispanics is much closer to that of other whites than to the health of blacks, with whom Hispanics share socioeconomic conditions.” READ MORE AT THE WASHINGTON POST

We’ve all heard the stories about job interviews gone wrong, like the eager young applicant who brought a sandwich to the interview, because, after all, it was lunch time. But a candidate’s first impression begins long before the interview. It starts with cover letter and CV or resume, which often are far from blemish-free.

BBC Capital asked recruiters, hiring managers, and career coaches to share some of the most egregious errors they see in applications — and how to fix them.

Cut and paste isn’t your friend

Matthew Lanier, a Boston-based corporate recruiter at technology staffing firm Eliassen Group, recalls the resume of an applicant in her twenties, who had mostly retail and customer-service experience. So he was surprised when lower down on the CV, he found an executive-level position with a major finance company and dates of employment spanning almost 10 years. Turns out the applicant had searched professional-looking resumes online, found one she really liked, and cut and pasted her own experiences over it. But, she mistakenly left some of the other person’s work history and personal contact information on the document. READ MORE AT THE BBC

It doesn't take long for Latinas entering the workforce to find themselves up against heaps of structural barriers. As gender and ethnic minorities, who, many times, also experience discrimination based on their race, class, language, or immigration status, we quickly begin to realize that papi might have been onto something when he griped about "working twice as hard and getting half as far." Despite these very real structural barricades though, there are some trabajos looking to hire Latinas specifically — and they're pretty well-paying. These careers are in demand for mujeres just like you.

1. Marketing/Advertising

It's estimated that by 2050, Latinos will make up about 29 percent of the U.S. population, increasing marketers' attention to the ethnic group. Edward Rincon, president of market research firm Rincon & Associates, says it's not enough to just have bilingual workers; Latino insight is crucial too. READ MORE AT COSMOPOLITAN

While it has become common knowledge that Latinos represent the fastest growing segment in the country, their force and power in the economy, politics and business are yet to be fully leveraged by America’s decision makers across sectors.

Somehow the math does not seem to be enough to unlock the audience, consumer or voter population that is set to make a winning difference for many.

With a projected population growth of 167 percent from 2010- 2050 versus 1 percent for non-Hispanic whites and a thriving $1.2 trillion in buying power, when compared to the GDP of the G-20, Hispanics are the 11th largest economy in the world, according to the U.S. Census and the Selig Center for Economic Growth. READ MORE AT FOX NEWS LATINO

1. Prepare for the event by wearing something bright like a pretty brooch or statement necklace. When you are introducing yourself to 100-plus people, it will be hard to re-approach a person as the event comes to a close. Everyone is wearing similar clothing, and who was that woman with the job you admired?! The least you can do is make yourself stand out so they can find you. Men call this peacocking when they wear bright colors to pick up girls. There is definitely a science behind making yourself memorable.

2. Get out of the cold corners of the room, find a group of people, and stand on the outskirts of their cluster. You're at an event ready to make an impression, but you don't know anyone there to introduce you to people. This trick is called the penguin because you have to huddle for warmth. Eventually, you may be able to jump into the conversation, and now you have an in. Time to introduce yourself.

3. Don't just share your title; share what you do. READ MORE AT COSMOPOLITAN

Top universities turn out black and Hispanic computer science and computer engineering graduates at twice the rate that leading technology companies hire them, a USA TODAYanalysis shows.

Technology companies blame the pool of job applicants for the severe shortage of blacks and Hispanics in Silicon Valley.

But these findings show that claim "does not hold water," said Darrick Hamilton, professor of economics and urban policy at The New School in New York.

"What do dominant groups say? 'We tried, we searched but there was nobody qualified.' If you look at the empirical evidence, that is just not the case," he said. READ MORE AT DETROIT FREE PRESS

Recent debates surround the "Browning of America" -- the continuous reshaping of America and its Hispanic influence. Yet many of us fail to grapple that America has always been Hispanic. In fact, according to the 2011 Census Bureau, one out of every six people in the United States is Hispanic. In 2010, the New York Times reported for the first time in our country's rich history that we had more brown and black children being born than white, yet despite this astonishing information, many Americans are confused as to who Hispanics really are.

For many of us, Hispanics are envisioned as migrant workers, cheap laborers with leaf blowers, non-English-speaking individuals or any number of media driven portrayals (and of course there are Cesar Chavez, Jennifer Lopez and Ricky Martin). The blending of various Hispanics' identities, cultures, traditions and lifestyles makes America culturally Hispanic without many of us even realizing it.

What mainstream Americans have failed to realize is that Hispanics have played and will continue to play a crucial role in our nation. Hispanics have contributed to every avenue of American life since the inception of this country. Hispanics' origins have played a key role in our country's socio-economic, political, and cultural development that many argue: What would America would be like without the presence of Hispanics and their influence? READ MORE AT HUFFINGTON POST

Networking is meeting and sharing information with individuals and groups of people in your field of interest. For example, if you are looking for a job, these people include potential employers, recruiters, head hunters, and HR agencies.

Networking is very easy to do, if you do it right. You can network pretty much anywhere and with whomever you are interested in networking with. There are no restrictions. You can even network when you’re riding on the subway. You can start talking with the person you are sitting next to and make a new connection.

Networking is all about meeting with new people and expanding who you know. However, it also depends on what you are trying to accomplish by meeting these new people. If you are searching for a new job, it is important to meet the right people to get the interviews you want. In order to meet the right people, you should start going to networking events... READ MORE AT BUSINESS2COMMUNITY

As the senior vice president and general manager for the Hispanic market at Nielsen, Juan Carlos Davila hears a lot of talking points about the Hispanic population. Unfortunately, those talking points tend to be overly focused on the group's size and growth rate.

"I assume we all know by now that's a fact," Davila said during his 2014 NACS Show educational session in Las Vegas. "What I want to give you today is information that you can use tomorrow in selling."

Of the 55 million Hispanics in the United States, 64% are U.S.-born. Although that percentage is growing, Davila said U.S.-born have been in the majority since the 1980s.

There are, however, a number of things that are changing within the Hispanic market. Compared to when Davila grew up, more Hispanics embrace their heritage, whether it's proudly identifying as Hispanic or encouraging bilingual households. READ MORE

A wary but tenacious middle class is fast becoming the majority in Mexico, breaking down the rich-poor divide in a profound demographic transformation that has far-reaching implications here and in the United States.

Although many Mexicans and their neighbors to the north still imagine a country of downtrodden masses dominated by a wealthy elite, the swelling ranks of the middle class are crowding new Wal-Marts, driving Nissan sedans and maxing out their Banamex credit cards.

The members of this class are not worried about getting enough to eat. They’re worried that their kids are eating too much.

“As hard as it is for many of us to accept, Mexico is now a middle-class country, which means we don’t have any excuse anymore. We have to start acting like a middle-class country,” said Luis de la Calle, an economist, former undersecretary of trade in the Mexican government and the co-author of a new report called “Mexico: A Middle Class Society, Poor No More, Developed Not Yet.” READ MORE

Looking for a new job when you already have a job, though common, is a risky proposition. It’s not a comfortable place to be in, especially if your current employer gets a whiff of your intentions. So how can you continue looking for a job without emitting any job-search scent?

1. Don’t look for external opportunities on your employer’s time.
When at work -- do your job. You don’t want to be caught in an awkward position when your colleague or manager sneaks up on you, only to catch you looking for opportunities elsewhere. This sends across a clear message that you are disengaged in your current role.
2. Don’t use company equipment.
For all job search related communication, use your personal email ID and personal equipment. Granted, your IT team has far more important work to do than to track individual employee activity, but the fact is that it is possible to do so when you use the company's email, software programs, or computers. Stick to your own laptop and handheld device.
3. Enhance privacy settings on your activities on LinkedIn profile.
Check out this tutorial on how to go about doing this. You can control who gets to see your activities, updates and connections without alerting your boss. READ MORE AT PAY SCALE

Latinas have a bright future in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). Latina girls love learning how things work. They love building things. They think it would be fun to design a video game or an app. Unfortunately, they have fewer opportunities and resources to make that bright future a reality1.

The Latinas in STEM Foundation is leveraging family, culture and community to change that. Founded in 2013 by five alumnae from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), the organization aims to inspire young Latinas to pursue careers and thrive in STEM fields.

“We want to spread awareness about STEM and to encourage Latinas in K-12 grades, especially within underserved communities, to strongly consider pursuing a STEM career,” says Diana Albarrán Chicas, an electrical engineer who is a co-founder and the financial director of Latinas in STEM. Fellow co-founders are Noramay Cadenas, Luz Rivas, Jazlyn Carvajal and Veronica Garcia. READ MORE AT SCIENTIFIC AMERICAN

More than 300 female Hispanic executives and high-level officials met here at Google's headquarters for a conference aiming to change the stereotype of Latinas in the United States.

The Latinas Think Big Innovation Summit came amid a raging debate about Silicon Valley's lack of diversity in both gender and race.

At Google, for example, only 30 percent of employees are women, a situation that is repeated, or is even worse, in other companies like Twitter, Apple, Facebook and Microsoft. READ MORE ON FOX NEWS LATINO

It is no surprise the sheer size of the Hispanic population and its growth over the years. However, it may be a revelation to know that there is a sub-segment of this group that is becoming quite attractive to marketers.

Think of this as dating. One should always attempt to put the best face forward while cultivating the other person’s interest level. The same applies to marketing when targeting specific ethnic groups, and in this case, a sub-segment of Hispanics. This sub-segment of Hispanics straddles worlds. They tend to speak English by day and Spanish-language by night. In effect, this makes them “bi-cultural.” They embrace both cultures, and will switch depending upon the situation they find themselves in. READ MORE AT EPOCH TIMES

Networking is an skill essential for rising entrepreneurs, and often goes hand-in-hand with developing and running a successful business. Even though most entrepreneurs have hectic schedules, it’s important to find time to build out your social network. The more connections you have, the more doors you will open for you and your business.

Want to network like a pro? Follow these 4 tips to make the most of your time and the connections you make.

1. Identify industry related organizations and events and get involved

Join organizations related to your industry and attend their events. Many of these groups host monthly networking get-togethers that provide members the opportunity to mix and mingle with other industry professionals. READ MORE AT BUSINESS2COMMUNITY

Hispanic children, the largest minority group in public schools as well as the fastest growing, are increasingly showing up in preschool programs, have made significant gains on national math tests, and are posting record high school graduation rates, according to a new study released Wednesday. But they still lagged behind their white peers in academic achievement and were more likely to live in poverty and not finish college.

Child Trends, the non-partisan, non-profit research organization, analyzed a wealth of recent Census data regarding the country’s 17.5 million Hispanic children and teens, and the group identified some surprising facts. READ MORE AT WASHINGTON POST