The economic output of the roughly 55 million Latinos in the United States would form the seventh-largest economy in the world, a new report shows, with a GDP of $2.1 trillion in 2015 — just behind France, but ahead of India.

If they were a US state, they'd have the country's second-largest economy, behind only California.

The report, produced by the Latino Donor Collaborative, is part of an effort to promote what is says is "a factual view of the importance of Latinos to our economy."

Far from being "a burden to U.S. society," it says, Latinos are a young, growing, and productive part of the economy. READ MORE AT BUZZFEED NEWS

Everyone wants success in his or her career, but it does not happen by accident or overnight. Those seeking to reach this destination should pay equal emphasis to the journey itself. Perseverance, hard work, training and the habits cultivated, are the path to achieving success and fulfillment that you want in your career.

Professional goals are proportioned by personal traits. These traits separate regular professionals from successful professionals:

1. Resilience : Rather than succumbing to failure, resilient people accept that something didn't work and go about finding a successful solution. READ MORE AT ECONOMIC TIMES

The workers’ comp industry is in for big changes as older workers continue to stay on the job longer and more Latinos are employed in the workplace. These changes to the U.S. workforce present employers with challenges to safety and retention, according to Rich Ives, Travelers vice president of workers’ compensation claims.

According to a U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics 2017 career outlook report, older employees (ages 65 and up) are staying on the job longer and, as a labor group, are expected to grow the fastest of any other age group through 2024. READ MORE AT CLAIMS JOURNAL

Hispanics are less likely than other demographic groups to access the internet, while whites continue to be more connected than anyone else, according to new data from internet research company eMarketer.

In 2017, less than 80 percent of Hispanics in the U.S. will access the internet at least once a month from any device compared with 85 percent of whites, thanks to socio-economic factors, as well as education. READ MORE AT RECODE

As with so many other industries, higher education is facing major existential challenges. Among the biggest issues raising questions around the fundamental model of colleges and universities include:

• Reduced revenue driven by flat/declining enrollment and reduced public funding
• Reduced demand resulting from a shrinking pool of high school students and stagnating household incomes

• Increased questions about the value of a four-year college degree as young people’s attitudes change and demand increases for better outcomes

• Technological disruption with the growth of online education, MOOCs (massive open online courses), and other non-traditional forms of education powered by digital technology READ MORE AT MEDIAPOST

Can’t access a desktop computer? There’s an app for that. Thanks to the rise of smartphones, underserved populations are more digitally connected than ever. Since 2009, internet connection has shot up 20 percentage points among Latinos and 10 percentage points among African-Americans.

Smartphones are behind the bulk of these gains. According to the Pew Research Center, 1 in 5 Americans rely on smartphones to access the online world. Young Americans, non-whites and populations with low income and education levels are especially “smartphone dependent.”

Unfortunately, it’s difficult to explore the digital universe on a 5-inch smartphone screen. And now that skills like coding and web development are increasingly valuable in the professional world, low-income students are experiencing a new kind of poverty. READ MORE AT THE DETROIT NEWS

AT&T and more than 150 CEOs agreed to join the largest CEO-driven business commitment to advance diversity and inclusion in the workplace. They will sign the CEO Action for Diversity & Inclusion™.

CEOs are pledging to promote a workplace where diverse perspectives and experiences are welcomed and respected and employees feel encouraged to discuss diversity and inclusion-. For continued advancement of diversity and inclusion in the workplace, companies can share best practices through a unified hub, CEOAction.com.

“At its core, diversity is not about tolerating our differences – it’s about understanding them. And that requires a commitment to honest and open dialogue,” said Randall Stephenson, Chairman and CEO, AT&T. “I’m proud to work with my fellow CEOs to help make that a reality in the workplace.” READ MORE AT AT&T NEWSROOM

Ideally, a job search is something you start on your own terms. You feel ready for a fresh challenge, or a career change or to move from one company to another.

But the harsh reality is that you won’t always start looking because you want to.

Downsizing, layoffs—and, yes, even getting fired—can happen unexpectedly. With all of these, you may have an inkling of what’s to come, but it can still be pretty shocking. READ MORE AT FORBES

As the weather gets warmer, the office gets quieter and the world moves at a more relaxed tempo. But that doesn’t mean you have to slow down your career advancement. Here's how to keep up the pace through Labor Day.

Expand your skill set. Take advantage of summer courses offered by community colleges and local universities. Whether you sign up for content marketing, coding or management, come fall you'll have a leg up on your coworkers. READ MORE AT FORBES

An increasing number of Latino families are happy with their children’s schools, though institutional racism and unequal funding are still significant concerns, according to a new national poll.

The Leadership Conference Education Fund’s second annual New Education Majority Poll found that three-quarters of Latino parents believe “U.S. public schools are doing a good job preparing Latino students for success,” a 10-point improvement over last year.

Perceptions of disparity based on race and income have decreased among Latino parents, the report states, and 52 percent now believe that Latino students receive as good an education as their Anglo peers. READ MORE AT ALBUQUERQUE JOURNAL

After being hit hard during the recession, Latinos say they worry that the same reckless behaviors that precipitated the economic crisis could make a comeback.

Latinos were one of the primary victims of the predatory lending practices that led to the housing crisis.That included being offered low-interest teaser rates on mortgages that later ballooned to a point they could no longer afford.

Many borrowers were forced to default. As a result, Latinos lost their homes more than any other racial or ethnic group between 2007 and 2010, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. READ MORE AT CNN MONEY

Hispanics make up 17.6 percent of the total population of the United States. By 2060, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, that figure will jump to 28.6 percent.

As of 2012, the most recent figure, there were 3.3 million Hispanic-owned businesses, a modest rise from 2007. But the odds of middle-aged, college-educated Hispanics becoming millionaires are less than 7 percent, while those of Caucasians are better than 21 percent. And those odds only go up for immigrants.

Immigrants, though, are risk-takers. A recent Kauffman study found that people who come to the United States are almost twice as likely to be entrepreneurs versus native-born Americans. And while their failure rate is also higher, there are some very notable success stories. Here are some of the biggest. READ MORE AT CNBC

Whether you’re a new mom looking to re-enter the workforce or you just want a job that lets you work remotely, flexible careers can lead to better productivity and happiness — so why not break out of the traditional mold?

“If you've been away from the workforce for a while, it's common to worry that diving back into the traditional 9 to 5 work style won't quite work for you,” says Brie Reynolds, a career specialist with FlexJobs. “Flexible and remote jobs can be a great option, especially if you still have a lot of responsibilities to juggle outside of your professional career.” READ MORE AT SHEKNOWS

Improving pathways to the professoriate for Hispanics in environmental sciences and engineering (ESE) and related fields is the goal of a new $3 million grant from the National Science Foundation that The University of Texas at El Paso will share with the City College of New York (CUNY-CCNY).

The five-year project will develop, implement and study a model for training and transitioning Hispanic-American doctoral students majoring in ESE fields to STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) instructional faculty at community colleges and other associate degree-granting institutions. READ MORE AT KRWGTV

Norwegian American Hospital Foundation is set to host its Third Annual Power of Community Benefit, which will take place on June 22, 2017 at the Union League Club of Chicago beginning at 6:00 p.m.

The event raises money to address chronic health disparities in Humboldt Park, West Town, and surrounding neighborhoods and will support the Norwegian American Hospital Comprehensive Diabetes Center.

Luis Navarro, a Mexican native of Zacatecas and a resident of Little Village in Chicago is among 13% of the population in Illinois who suffer from diabetes. Navarro was diagnosed with diabetes 12 years ago. In 2012 an artery was blocked in his left foot and his toes turned purple. Navarro went to a clinic - where he was hospitalized for a month - and they decided to amputate three toes and tendons due to his pain. The doctors then told him that they would have to amputate his entire foot. Luis Navarro recalls that during his desperation, he became lucky that someone recommended him to visit Dr. Ángeles Valdés, who has worked at Norwegian American Hospital’s Wound Clinic for more than 23 years. Under the care of Dr. Valdés, Navarro says that he was able to see the light again since his foot was saved and is now able to walk.

The Humboldt Park community has a high incidence rate of diabetes, among the highest in the nation, and major disparities in outcomes around other chronic diseases as well, including breast and prostate cancer, heart disease, mental health, and maternal and infant health. According to Norwegian American Hospital, 12% of adult residents in Humboldt Park have diabetes, compared to a national benchmark of 8%. A contributing factor is the high rate of obesity, in which 36% of the residents are obese, compared to the national benchmark of 28%.

"They have been very understanding, kind and have an incredible generosity," stated Luis Navarro, who says he is more than grateful to Norwegian American Hospital, who have helped control his diabetes for several years and taught him to lead a healthy life. "If my foot would have been amputated, my life would have changed drastically. I would have been disabled and my quality of life would not have been the same," he added. "I do not care that the hospital is not in my neighborhood and need to drive to get there. I've heard of people that come all the way from Waukegan because of the great service and the way diabetes wounds are cared for at this hospital,” concluded Luis.

Under the leadership of José R. Sánchez, attacking diabetes is one of the hospital’s top initiatives.
Proceeds from this year’s The Power of Community Benefit will directly impact Norwegian American
Hospital’s ability to expand its, integrated services for diabetes through the Norwegian American Hospital Comprehensive Diabetes Center, which become a reality in April when the Center held its grand opening celebration.

“This year’s Power of Community event represents Norwegian American Hospital’s commitment to the power of partnerships. We are proud to be able to recognize our community partnership. Like Norwegian, these organizations are devoted to addressing and improving the health disparities in the communities they serve,” said José R. Sánchez, president and CEO, Norwegian American Hospital. “What better way to acknowledge the relationships than through the Power of Community Award. These valued professionals and friends are the hospital’s partners in transforming the lives of patients and delivering on the promise of a healthier future.”

Norwegian American Hospital Foundation will honor the following community partners at The Power of
Community Benefit: New Life Covenant Church, Erie Family Health Center, Near North Health Service Corporation, St. George’s University, and PCC Community Wellness Center. The hospital will also name Dagoberto Camacho, MD as the 2017 Norwegian American Hospital Physician of the Year. 

For more information on the event or to purchase tickets, visit https://www.nahospfoundation.org/poc/

The best career advice I ever received came at an absolute career low point.

I was working for a total jerk. A classic "take credit for others’ work, sit in your cube and delegate, arrive late, take long lunches, egotistical" — you get the picture. I was working hard, making an impact, and believed that my good work would speak for itself. But that's career mistake No. 1: No one will be as interested and invested in your career as you are. If you are waiting for others to recognize your brilliance — and to reward you accordingly — you’ll have a long wait. READ MORE AT FORBES

In a recent study Yahoo conducted with Ipsos on Hispanic millennials focused on the third generation, over half of the respondents said it’s about time that advertisers recognized that Hispanics shop, too.

It’s a new year, and another reminder that the Hispanic consumer is exponentially growing in buying power. Now more than ever, it’s imperative for marketers to understand what it takes to reach this important customer segment and build a proper marketing strategy that’s thoughtful, effective and appeals to their specific interests and preferences. READ MORE AT ENTREPRENEUR

Read biographies of feature guests for the Marketing, Media and PR Networking Forum being held Thursday, June 08 at SHAY Chicago.

MODERATOR

Sandra Torres, News Reporter, CBS 2 Chicago

Sandra Torres is bilingual journalist, currently working as a general assignment reporter for CBS Chicago.

She returned to Chicago in November 2015, after a working in Milwaukee as a multi-media journalist for CBS 58 (WDJT-TV). She also worked for sister station, WYTU as a producer and co-anchor for Telemundo Wisconsin.

Prior to her time in Milwaukee, Torres worked in Chicago at NBC Chicago (WMAQ-TV) from 2010-2012, as a morning news content producer. Before that, she worked as a general assignment reporter and fill-in weather anchor at Telemundo Chicago (WSNS-TV).

While at WSNS, she also appeared on network shows, including Noticiero Telemundo and Al Rojo Vivo.
Torres began her broadcast career at Illinois State University in Normal at TV-10 News, where she anchored, reported and was a photojournalist for the school’s television station. After graduating from ISU, she interned for WMBD-TV in Peoria and then worked for the Illinois Center for Broadcasting in Lombard as a television instructor.

Torres, who was born and raised in Cali, Colombia, moved to Chicago’s northwest suburbs when she was 13 years old. She’s fully bilingual, proud of her culture and extremely passionate about issues that relate to the Hispanic community.

You can follow Sandra's work on Facebook: Sandra Torres
Twitter: @SandraTorresL
Or Instagram: @SandraTorresCBS2

DISCUSSION PANELISTS

Mark Flores, Vice President, Olson Engage

Mark Anthony Flores is currently a Vice President at Olson Engage. He started his career in Chicago Latino media working for Extra Bilingual Newspaper as an account executive before moving on to the Tribune and Hoy Newspaper as a marketing manager. After working on the traditional media side for three years, he moved on to work for one of Chicago's largest Latino nonprofits, the United Neighborhood Organization (UNO) as Communications Director.

In 2005, he also started his five year appointment as Commissioner of Latino Affairs under Mayor Richard M. Daley's Chicago Commission on Human Relations where Flores, along with a board of commissioners, adjudicated discrimination cases that came in front of the commission.

While at UNO he was responsible for cause marketing, public relations, content development and branding initiatives. He also began an events company, M?rk Productions which promoted Latino based networking events and political fundraisers.
Mark joined Olson in early 2011 when he was recruited to run the MillerCoors Latino Public Relations initiatives as an account supervisor. In his time at Olson, he has led multicultural efforts for clients such as Target, PepsiCo, McDonald's, Wrigley, Super Cuts, Alzheimers Association, and has been involved in a number of products under the MillerCoors portfolio. Most importantly however, Flores has spent his tenure at the helm of Olson Multicultural to cultivate talent and grow the practice from a 3 person team running two accounts, to an eight person team contributing to twelve larger accounts.

Today Flores runs the American Light Lager business for Olson which is primarily made up of three general market teams for Miller Lite and the Coors Family of Brands. This is in addition to his continued role as the multicultural practice lead where he navigates the opportunities presented by the recent partnership with ICF International. Opportunities presented by this partnership include incorporating the multicultural practice into larger government, utility and aviation projects. His team recently won the Cross Boarder Express as its first aviation client and continues working for the Energy Providers of Southern California in the energy sector.

Outside of work, Flores is an accomplished artist who has displayed his work at the Mexican Museum of Fine Art's located in Chicago's Pilsen neighborhood twice, and recently completed a project for Rick Bayless' Fronda Frontera located in Wicker Park and continues doing private commissions for long time collectors.

Sheena Quinn, Director of Public Relations, Chicago White Sox

Sheena Quinn joined the Chicago White Sox as the Director of Public Relations in December 2014. In this role, she oversees the team’s communications strategy, annual fan convention called SoxFest and multicultural community outreach. With her guidance, the White Sox rebranded the organization’s Spanish-language platforms, including a transition from “Los Medias Blancas” to “Los White Sox” in 2016.

Prior to joining the White Sox, Quinn spent 10 years at Public Communication Inc., where she oversaw the communications plan for the Shedd Aquarium. She received a Bachelor’s Degree in Communications and Public Relations from Marquette University.

Ozzie Godinez, CEO, PACO Collective

Ozzie Godinez is the Co-Founder and CEO of PACO Collective, the fastest growing cross-cultural marketing agency in the Midwest. A natural entrepreneur, Godinez has helped PACO grow from a two-person operation to a company with over 50 diverse employees and gross revenues of almost $20 million.

Godinez has emerged as an authority on cross-cultural marketing by establishing new techniques on marketing to the new America.

Natellie Ibarrientos, Media Manager, Adaptly

Natellie Ibarrientos is a Media Manager at Adaptly, the agency that enables the world's biggest advertisers to scale campaigns across paid social platforms.

Her role combines many of her passions: data, technology, analytics, and innovation. Natellie uses her expertise to optimize cross-platform performance of brands including Progressive, Target, and Express. She collaborates with her team to deliver data-driven insights — an essential piece to understanding the mind of a consumer.

In her prior role at ZenithOptimedia, Natellie executed digital, TV, and radio buys for a variety of Fortune 500 companies. She became a market specialist for key regional markets and successfully negotiated competitive advertising rates to maximize return on investment.

Natellie is an advocate for Latina empowerment and currently serves as an alumnae mentor for Gamma Phi Omega International Sorority, Inc. She is also a graduate of DePaul University with a bachelor’s degree in public relations and advertising.

Salvador Maldonado, Account Manager, U.S. Hispanic Market, Google

Salvador Maldonado graduated from Harvard University with a Bachelor’s degree in History and French. After graduation, he joined Google in Mountain View then shortly moved to Mexico City to join Google’s nascent Hispanic team. For the last 7 years, in Mexico City, then NYC and now Chicago, Salvador has been consulting with agencies and clients on digital strategies to reach multicultural audiences across Google’s platforms.

Outside of work, Salvador enjoys traveling, listening to music, spending time with his family and friends and used to dance ballet folklorico in college (Mexican traditional dances).

Isabel Villegas, Brand Manager Multicultural Marketing, MillerCoors

Isabel is currently a Marketing Manager at MillerCoors, focused on retail marketing for Commercial Center of Excellence. She is an accomplished focused multi-lingual brand strategist & multicultural marketing expert with strengths in multi-cultural market development, retail/shopper marketing, brand strategy, experiential, communications, & social/digital media strategy.

For nearly 19 years, her experience has included creating & launching campaigns, brands, platforms, & leading cross-functional teams to produce results; as well as cultural insights, strategic planning, integrated marketing, promotions, sports/entertainment & sponsorship development. Some of her Jack Morton accolades include creating the music platform for Alltel Wireless to help build brand awareness & drive sales; Leading the McDonald’s team & the sponsorship of the Mexican National Team; leading Target’s multicultural event strategy plan; the Samsung’s Galaxy S product launch.She was also the Director of Marketing & Broadcast, for the Major League Soccer team, Chivas USA, where she directed all marketing aspects of this unique soccer brand.

Prior to, she was the Sr.Manager of Hispanic Marketing for the Chicago Fire (MLS), responsible for integrated marketing communications to better serve the Fire’s Hispanic fans & partners.

Isabel’s community activities include serving as a Regional Director for the Northwestern University Alumni Association and a founding member & Advisor to the Latino Alumni of Northwestern University. She received her BS from Northwestern & lived a short sabbatical in Italy during 2006, which included participating in the World Cup in Germany.

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Maybe you’re starting to feel like it’s time to consider making a change and pursuing opportunities elsewhere. You’re probably not alone.

In a shaky, uncertain economy, it may also be a good time to remember that the grass often seems greener on the other side. So how do you know when it’s time to go?
Ask yourself the following three questions:

What is causing you to question your current job?
Take some time to sit and think about the true impetus behind this desire to find a new place to work. READ MORE AT FORTUNE

Since the early-2000s when cell phones evolved from mobile dialing devices to “smart” phones for checking email, playing games, work and watching entertainment, it became very clear through research that the Hispanic population in the U.S. was a demographic consisting of eager and early adopters.

While the research clearly showed Latin Americans taking to the newest gadgets – not all entertainment and telecom companies were spending the money to truly market to this important demographic. Or if they did, they took a “one-size-fits-all” approach and did not take cultural and generational differences into account. READ MORE AT TG DAILY