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Banks Try to Understand Latinos
The
first ones to understand the contribution of the
Hispanic community to profitable revenue growth will be
in the best position to thrive over the long-term.
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Hennesy
Celebrates Bicentennial of Mexican Independence
Product unveilings counting down to the bicentennial
(Sept. 16, 2010) will featuring Mexican soccer legend
Luis Hernandez.
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Save-A-Lot Announces Affiliation
with Local Hispanic Operator
Six stores operated under new co-branded format
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President of University of Houston-Downtown
Joins Call for DREAM Act
If passed by Congress, the DREAM Act would give
undocumented immigrants brought to the U.S. as children
a shot at permanent residency status
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Employers Still Giving Raises, Mostly to High Performers
U.S. employers are reporting a 2.5% average salary
budget increase across all employee categories for 2010,
which means many employees may expect a base pay raise
of around 2.5% before the year is over.
-
U.S.
Government Renews GobiernoUSA.gov to Engage Hispanics
The new design is strikingly simple. Online Hispanics
can now navigate a wealth of official Spanish language
government information through an intuitive and elegant
interface designed to help visitors find the information
they need most.
-
Merger of two top Magazines Becomes the
Leading Latino Magazine in its Category
The merger of PODER and Hispanic Magazines to create
PODER Hispanic, a Hispanic-focused business and
lifestyle publication, has been announced. With this
merge, PODER Hispanic will increase circulation from
125,000 to 400,000.
-
Nearly 10 Million Latinos May
Benefit From Affordable Care Act
The Affordable Care Act will make health insurance more
accessible and affordable to the nine million Latinos
that will be eligible to receive health coverage under
the new public health law.
-
5 Tips for Safe Online Shopping
Shopping online is a great way to find deals. But, if
you're not careful, you could be putting your personal
information at risk of being stolen by identity thieves.
-
Seven Lessons for Leaders Charged
with Leading their Organizations Through a Crisis
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Financial Institutions
That Take the Time to Understand the Latino Market
Segment will Emerge on Top
The latest reports show that only 16 percent of
Hispanics own individual stocks and mutual fund shares
compared with 23 percent of non-Hispanics, regardless of
the statistics confirming the vast number of Hispanics
who live in the United States. The most recent study,
conducted by the Pew Hispanic Center demonstrates that
the financial status, practices and even attitudes
towards investing and money among Hispanics can vary
depending on an individual’s nationality of origin.
Hispanics
are an ethnicity, not a race and we come in all sizes
and colors. By putting a “brown” picture on a brochure
in an attempt to attract our business, some companies
are alienating a vast portion of our population. We are
“vegetable soup” of Spanish-speaking people.
Financially speaking, our efforts go to provide food,
shelter and warmth. Whether we have just managed to
cross the border by foot, crossed the ocean, or landed
at an airport, the first step in this great new country
is to find a place that we can call home. Any extra
money gets sent across the border to help our loved ones
back home.
Most of us move through the first years very slowly. Our
main enemy is our own mind. Some 52 percent of the
foreign-born Latinos believe that it doesn’t do any good
to plan for the future because we have so little control
over it. We are now learning to move from the “I can’t
afford it” to the “how can I afford it” mentality. We
need permission to dream and need to be guided on how to
turn those dreams into attainable financial goals. After
we begin to figure out how the money system works, we
move from the realm of “needs” to the area of “wants.”
It’s time to find out about banking, establishing
credit, car purchases and better employment.
Statistics show that almost half of foreign-born Latinos
do not have a bank account—loosely termed, they are “The
Un-banked.” By the way, if you are waiting for us to
come into your bank and ask about your services, you
will be sadly disappointed. Go to our supermarkets—we
are there often because we buy more food. We buy more
food because we have more mouths to feed. Help us
understand how to benefit from your wares. Show us how
to become part of the banking system, even if we don’t
have legal residency. When it comes to money matters, it
is still more comfortable to hear the guidance and
instructions in Spanish.
The best part is that it pays off for corporate America
to help us. Companies like Coca-Cola, Sears,
Anheuser-Busch, Procter & Gamble and State Farm have
seen the fruit of their labor when it comes to building
brand loyalty among Hispanics. Now it’s the turn of the
financial institutions. The first ones to understand the
contribution of the Hispanic community to profitable
revenue growth will be in the best position to thrive
over the long-term.
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Hennesy
Celebrates Bicentennial of Mexican Independence with
Commemorative Bottle and Gift Box Set
Hennessy, the number one selling cognac in the
United States, announces a limited edition bottle in
tribute to the 200th anniversary of the independence
of Mexico. Elegantly presented, each bottle is
individually- numbered and packaged in a collectible
gift box wrapped with vintage art showcasing
Hennessy's proud legacy in Mexico. Both the bottle
and box distinctively feature the official "Mexico
2010" seal. Hennessy's unique commemoration of this
cultural milestone makes this launch especially
significant and prestigious within the Mexican
community.
Product
unveilings counting down to the bicentennial (Sept.
16, 2010) will featuring Mexican soccer legend Luis
Hernandez. Celebrations in Los Angeles, San Jose,
Chicago and Houston will showcase the special
packaging, new cocktail recipes, and interview
opportunities with Hernandez and Hennessy
executives. "It is Hennessy's privilege to be part of
Mexico's rich heritage and cultural celebrations,"
said Manny Gonzalez, director of Hispanic Marketing
for Hennessy. "Hennessy was the spirit of choice 200
years ago as Mexican soldiers and civilians toasted
to their victory in battle. We are proud to
recognize this powerful legacy and honor the 200th
anniversary with an exclusive, commemorative box set
perfect for gifting."
In keeping with the brands authentic connection to
the Mexican community, Luis Hernandez, known for
being the highest goal scorer in World Cup
competition for the Mexican national football team,
will serve as the ambassador for the launch of
Hennessy's Mexico 2010 bottle.
"I am proud to be part of Hennessy's Mexico 2010
launch," said Hernandez. "I value and respect that
Hennessy Privilege created a special, limited
edition bottle to commemorate this
once-in-a-lifetime cultural celebration." The
limited edition Mexico 2010 gift box sets will be
available for sale beginning in August at select
retail locations in Arizona, California, Colorado,
Illinois, New Mexico and Texas as well as in Mexico
while quantities last. The suggested retail price
per 750ml bottle is $44.99-49.99
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Save-A-Lot Announces Affiliation with Local
Hispanic Operator
Six stores operate under new co-branded format
Save-A-Lot, one of the nation's leading hard
discount, limited assortment grocery chains and
a division of SUPERVALU, and Hispanic grocery
operator Mr. Rafael Ortega recently announced
that they have joined together to form a new
company, Adventure Supermarkets LLC. The new
company owns and operates six former Save-A-Lot
stores in the Houston and South Texas markets
under a co-branded format, “El Ahorro
Save-A-Lot.”
“We
are always looking for innovative opportunities
to bring the Save-A-Lot brand to local
communities, and we think this affiliation best
enables us to serve the Hispanic community in
this area,” said Bill Shaner, Save-A-Lot
president and CEO. “This relationship is a new
business model for the company.
Combining Mr. Ortega’s local insights with the
power of the Save-A-Lot network of stores and
exclusive-label expertise will enhance our
ability to provide our Hispanic customers in
this part of the country
with the products and services they need and
want, while positioning the Save-A-Lot brand for
growth.”
Mr. Rafael Ortega has 24 years of experience in
serving the Hispanic community in Texas and
currently owns and operates 15 El Ahorro
Supermarkets and almost 100 La Michoacana Meat
Markets.
“I am pleased about joining with Save-A-Lot in
this opportunity and excited about the potential
of our new, blended format,” said Rafael Ortega.
The six stores, which are located in Brownsville
(one store), Victoria (one store), Harlingen
(one store) and Houston (three stores), Texas,
began operating under the new co-branded name,
“El Ahorro Save-A-Lot,” at the end of May.
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President of University of Houston-Downtown Joins
Call for DREAM Act
William V. Flores, president of University of
Houston-Downtown, voiced his desire for passage of
the DREAM Act (Development, Relief and Education for
Alien Minors). He spoke on a conference call with
college presidents from Northern Virginia Community
College, Eastern Washington University and the
University of California, Berkeley.
If passed by Congress, the DREAM Act would give
undocumented immigrants brought to the U.S. as
children a shot at permanent residency status,
provided they have lived in the country for at least
five years without getting in trouble with the law,
that they have a high school diploma or equivalency
and that they commit to two years of college or
military service. According to recent polling, it
has widespread support among U.S. voters.
UH-Downtown plays host to about 13,000 students in
the middle of, as Flores noted, a "very
international city." Approximately 39 percent of the
school's students are Hispanic, 29 percent are
black, 22 percent white, 5 percent are Asian and 5
percent are international students. Flores said that
about 200 or fewer students would be affected by the
DREAM Act.
"Tragic" is the word Flores used to describe the
plights of students who are held back due to
residency status. Many, he said, often can't speak
or read their native language because they
immigrated at such a young age. He says the DREAM
Act would provide a necessary pathway to
achievement. "It would be a very unusual way of
treating someone to not allow them to contribute,"
Flores said. "Many of them want to become teachers,
doctors, or lawyers and contribute to this society."
On the call, supporters of the act said that while
the odds of a congressional vote on more
comprehensive immigration reform coming this year
appear to be dwindling, it might be easier, in the
meantime, to secure passage of the DREAM Act on its
own given the bipartisan nature of its support.
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Employers Still
Giving Raises, Mostly to High Performers
U.S. employers are reporting a 2.5% average salary
budget increase across all employee categories for
2010, which means many employees may expect a base
pay raise of around 2.5% before the year is over.
However,
the size of the raise changes when the employee’s
performance is factored in. Low performers can
expect to see minimal increases of up to 0.7% or
nothing at all, middle performers might expect a
nominal base pay raise of 2.4%, and high performers
may expect an average of 3.7% (54% higher than a
middle performer). Surveyed employers reported that
roughly 24% of employees are rated as high
performers, while most are classified as middle
performers.
These were just a few of the conclusions drawn from
the annual WorldatWork 2010-2011 Salary Budget
Survey, the largest survey of its kind with 2,497
respondents representing 15.5 million U.S.
employees.
Top Places for Top Performers
Metro area is another variable influencing the size
of salary increases for top performers. While
surveyed employers reported an average pay increase
of 3.7% for exceptional performers, employers in the
following metro areas reported above-average base
pay increases for the cream of the crop:
Metro Average raise for top performers*
San Jose, Calif. 4.10%
Boston, Mass. 4.00%
Portland, Ore. 4.00%
Seattle, Wash. 4.00%
Houston, Texas 4.00%
Detroit, Mich. 4.00%
Washington, D.C. 3.90%
Atlanta, Ga. 3.90%
San Diego, Calif. 3.90%
Tampa, Fla. 3.90%
*Based on average pay increases for top performers,
percentage of companies awarding raises (not shown)
and percentage of employees classified as high
performers (not shown).
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U.S. Government
Renews GobiernoUSA.gov to Engage Hispanics
The GobiernoUSA.gov, the official portal of the US
Government in Spanish, unveiled a new site design
with new and improved features. The new design is
based on user testing, usability best practices, and
feedback gathered from a public dialog called “Your
Voice Matters." The redesigned GobiernoUSA.gov makes
an already valuable resource for the Hispanic online
community even better.
The new design is strikingly simple. Online
Hispanics can now navigate a wealth of official
Spanish language government information through an
intuitive and elegant interface designed to help
visitors find the information they need most.
Up-to-date content is now front and center, with
clear home page links to timely government resources
on most sought after information and
GobiernoUSA.gov’s original Spanish-language
articles. It’s now easier for Spanish speakers to
find GobiernoUSA.gov’s plain-language
easy-to-understand stories on timely and relevant
topics such as the features of the new green card,
what to expect from an airport security screening,
or summer safety tips.
Spanish preferring users can now easily engage with
GobiernoUSA.gov through Facebook, Twitter, YouTube,
RSS, and a widget all accessible from the “Connect
with Government” bar on the bottom of each page.
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After the Merger of two top Magazines, PODER Hispanic
Magazine Becomes the Leading Latino Magazine in Its
Category
The merger of PODER and Hispanic Magazines to create
PODER Hispanic, a Hispanic-focused business and
lifestyle publication, has been announced. With this
merge, PODER Hispanic will increase circulation from
125,000 to 400,000. This will make PODER Hispanic by
far the most important magazine reaching Hispanic
leaders, doubling the circulation from 1.2 million
to 2.4 million copies a year.
PODER Hispanic retains the look of the former PODER
Enterprise, while incorporating several features of
Hispanic magazine, including the popular Julie Stav
column. PODER Hispanic will continue to offer
readers what it likes to call "intelligence for the
business elite," but will now be adding a little
more Latino lifestyle flavor to the editorial menu.
The Pew Research Center estimates Hispanics of all
ethnicities will number 128 million in 2050, accounting
for 29 percent of the population. By combining
coverage of business and lifestyles, PODER Hispanic
hopes to show the rest of the country what the
Hispanic community offers to the U.S., whether
through the creation of badly needed new jobs, or
cultural diversity. This month the magazine features
on its U.S. cover the captain of the U.S.A. soccer
team, Carlos Bocanegra, who has Mexican roots.
Under the direction of Isaac Lee, the magazine's
founder and Editor in chief, the Miami and U.S.
editions are now led by award-winning journalist
David Adams.
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Nearly 10 Million Latinos May Benefit From
Affordable Care Act
The United States Department of Agriculture, Food
Nutrition Services (USDA, FNS), the Department of
Health and Human Services (DHHS), and public health
officials joined the League of United Latin American
Citizens (LULAC) to highlight ways in which the
Affordable Care Act will make health insurance more
accessible and affordable to the nine million
Latinos that will be eligible to receive health
coverage under the new public health law.
"Health Care Reform brings us closer to establishing
health care as a civil right," said LULAC President
, Rosa Rosales. "With one in three Latinos lacking
health insurance coverage, Hispanic families have
suffered more than any other ethnic group due to
lack of coverage and inadequate care."
As one of the leading Hispanic organizations in
support of the passage of the Affordable Care Act,
LULAC will focus its attention on ensuring that:
•Discriminatory health practices are eliminated
•Insurace companies do not drop health coverage
because an individual becomes sick
•Preventative care such as mammograms, immunizations
and screenings for cancer or diabetes will be
utilized by Hispanics especially since the
out-of-pocket costs will no longer be required for
these health screenings
•Medicare recipients have access to rebate checks
for prescription drugs
Hispanics are disproportionately impacted by chronic
health conditions, and face disparities in accessing
health care and the quality they receive. Even when
Hispanics and non-minorities have the same types of
insurance, racial and ethnic minorities receive
lower quality care or live in neighborhoods where
quality health professionals and services are not
available.
The health status of Latino communities is an issue
that demands immediate and ongoing attention,
advocacy, and education. In an effort to combat the
obesity epidemic among Hispanics, LULAC has
partnered with the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
and is spearheading the Latinos Living Healthy
initiative. This initiative will provide greater
access to affordable and healthy foods for Hispanic
families and will focus on creating and supporting
safe spaces for physical activity for children and
families.
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5 Tips for Safe Online Shopping
Shopping online is a great way to find deals.
But, if you're not careful, you could be putting
your personal information at risk of being
stolen by identity thieves.
Michael Gregg, a cyber security consultant for
Fortune 500 companies and the federal
government, says the volume of attacks that
target Internet users has been on the rise this
year. However, he says there are several steps
you can take to protect yourself while shopping
-- or doing anything -- online.
1. Never shop online from a public Wi-Fi
connection. Hackers can tap into Wi-Fi
connections at hotspots, such as coffee shops,
airports and hotels, to capture your personal
information. If you must use public Wi-Fi, you
can download for free the AnchorFree HotSpot
Shield to hide your IP address while you're
online and protect your computer from snoopers.
Also, never use a public computer to shop or
check accounts online.
2. Don't use your smartphone to shop. Hackers
can use the same tactics for tapping into your
smartphone as they use for your laptop or PC.
3. Don't use your debit card for online
shopping. If hackers steal your debit-card
information and raid your bank account, you must
report any misuse within two days to get the
same $50 limited liability as you would with a
credit card. Miss that deadline but report your
loss within 60 days and you could be liable for
up to $500. After 60 days, your liability is
unlimited. If you don't like using credit cards,
though, consider using EBillme to make secure
cash payments when shopping online.
4. Shop online only at known retailers. Don't
let a search engine pick a site for you because
it could be bogus, Gregg says. Even if you're
using a site that you think is legitimate, look
for security labels, such as VeriSign and
Cybertrust, and for https:// to appear in the
url on pages that prompt you to enter personal
information. Also consider downloading McAfee's
free SiteAdvisor, which tests sites for
dangerous downloads, spamming and more.
5. Don't click on pop-up ads. Hackers recently
have posted bogus ads with malicious software on
legitimate sites (NYTimes.com, for example).
Online retailers will be susceptible to these
attacks, Gregg says.
And remember, keep your guard up even when
you're shopping in stores this holiday season.
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Seven Lessons for Leaders Charged with Leading
their Organizations Through a Crisis
1. Leaders must face reality. Reality starts with
the person in charge. Leaders need to look
themselves in the mirror and recognize their role in
creating the problems. Then, they should gather
their teams together and gain agreement about the
root causes. In order to understand the real reasons
for the crisis, everyone on the leadership team must
be willing to tell the whole truth. Leaders can’t
solve problems if they don’t acknowledge their
existence.
2. No matter how bad things are, they will get
worse. Faced with bad news, many leaders cannot
believe that things could really be so grim.
Consequently, they try to convince the bearers of
bad news that things aren’t so bad, and swift action
can make problems go away.
3. Build a mountain of cash, and get to the highest
hill. In good times, leaders worry more about
earnings per share and revenue growth than they do
about their balance sheets. In a crisis, cash is
king. The question is, “Does your organization have
sufficient cash to survive the direst
circumstances?”
4. Get the world off your shoulders. In a crisis,
many leaders act like Atlas -carrying the weight of
the world on their shoulders. They go into
isolation, and think they can solve the problem
themselves. In reality, leaders must have the help
of all their people to devise solutions and to
implement them.
5. Before asking others to sacrifice, first
volunteer yourself. If there are sacrifices to be
made – and there will be – then the leaders should
step up and make the greatest sacrifices themselves.
Everyone is watching to see what the leaders do.
6. Never waste a good crisis. When things are going
well, people resist major changes or try to get by
with minor adaptations.
7. Be aggressive in the marketplace. This may sound
counter-intuitive, but a crisis offers the best
opportunity to change the game in your favor, with
new products or services to gain market share.
Adapted from a WSJ column by Bill George, author of
“True North” and former CEO of Medtronic.
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Business Corner
Freebirds World Burritos
Since 1987 from coast to
coast, Freebirds World Burrito has been expanding
their tasteful burritos. Houston will soon welcome
more locations where we can enjoy the diversity of
their menu.

With 4 different sizes of burritos, and with 3
different types of meats and 1 vegetarian option
there are numerous combinations that may satisfy
your hunger. Although burritos are the house
specialty, for those who like to eat a little bit
lighter, one can also enjoy delicious tacos,
quesadillas, and salads.
Latest opening scheduled for August 10
3745 Greenbriar Street
Houston, TX 77098-4005
713 524 0621
website
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Zimm’s Little Deck
Zimm's Little Deck is a casual mix of Cajun and
French cuisine. It is a combination of fancy
icehouse, seafood bar and po’boys.

Second generation of Zimmermans, Dan and Mark
Zimmerman, are getting in the Montrose action.
Trying to bring something new to the table, their
menu will include crab claws, frutti di mare,
crawfish remoulade, oysters and sandwiches. For
refreshing drink options they included plenty of
craft beers in cans —wine list split between
"cheap," "decent" and "good."
Scheduled to open in August.
601 Richmond Avenue (corner from La Colombe d'Or and
Zimm's Martini and Wine Bar)
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Chef
Suggestions
Chef Isaac Alvarez
Chef Isaac Alvarez made
his great debut in Houston when he and his brother,
Jorge, opened OCEAN’S this past June. Specializing
in ceviche, as well as other delicious creations
from the sea, their restaurant has already made its
mark on the Montrose area.

For many years Chef Alvarez visited Houston and fell
in love with the city. When he suggested to his
brother to open a restaurant of their own, he was
hesitant. After two years of preparation- trying to
develop the concept, he presented his idea, again.
This time, Jorge accepted.
Although Alvarez first specialized in pasta, he
throughout his 5 years of experience has now
developed a special interest in seafood. Traveling
and visiting different restaurants around the world
developed in him a unique vision and cooking style.
Out of all the options on the menu, which is your
favorite and why?
Taco Maximiliano is my favorite. I experimented with
a lot of ingredients until I reached the flavor,
texture and smell I wanted in a shrimp taco. At
first I didn’t know how to call it, but finally I
decided to name it after my son Maximiliano.
What would you recommend for a first time visit?
I recommend Ceviche yellowtail. When you taste it,
it transports you to faraway lands full of colors,
flavors and exotic scents. I suggest to our clients
to enjoy it with a cold margarita.
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Events
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August 12
Member Orientation
09:00 AM
HHCC Office
Mark Madrid - 713.644.7070
Reliant Energy and Co-Sponsored by ING.
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August 17
Lunch & Learn:Building An Effective Pipeline
11:30 AM - 1:30 PM
University of Houston Small Business Development
Center
2302 Fannin, Suite 200
This Lunch & Learn includes real life examples and
suggestions on how you can increase your bottom line
by understanding and implementing business
development strategies.
Contact:
Abby McFarland
email
713 844 3692
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August 28
2010 World Trade Soiree
7:00 PM - 12:00 PM
Hotel ZAZA, 5701 Main St.
The Soiree draws more than 600 of the region's
global business, government and economic development
leaders. We also host our valued consular corps
during this world-class salute to international
business and the world marketplace.
Contact:
Kristin Smith
email
713 844 3694
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September 14
Mitigating Political Risk in Your Oil & Gas
Investments
11:30 AM to 1:30 PM
Mr. Antonio Barbalho, Global Head of underwriting
for the oil, gas, mining, chemical, and energy
sectors for MIGA, the political insurance arm of the
World Bank Group. Concerns about investment
environments and perceptions of political risk often
inhibit foreign direct investment in developing
countries.
Petroleum Club
800 Bell Avenue,
43rd Floor
Houston, TX 77002
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September 18-19
The 6th annual Houston Latino Book & Family Festival
George R. Brown Convention Center
Look for the annual Houston Fiestas Patrias Parade
that winds its way through downtown Houston to end
near the George R. Brown as we open our doors. We
will be taking part in the parade welcoming all the
parade viewers to attend the Festival.
Free event
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September 21
Health Summit & Business
Expo
HHCC
7:30 to 10:30
Keynote Address:
Honorable Ed Emmett
Harris County Judge
713 644 7070
Hilton Americas
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September 30 – October 2
Business/Civic Leadership Forum
Location TBA
Senior leaders will address regional issues such as
education, quality of life, and economic
competitiveness.
Contact Center for details
Center for Houston's Future
1200 Smith, Suite 1150
Houston, TX 77002-4400
713 844 9303
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We recommend this website:
beehive
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Latest Events Picture Gallery
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July 22, 2010
Houston
Restaurant Week Kickoff Party
at Bistro Don Camillo |

July 28, 2010
Houston Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
Networking and Business Development Breakfast |

June 29, 2010
Talento Bilingue de Houston
Gala Kickoff Party
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Latinos in Business:
Marlene
Trujillo
"We have to work hard and keep on going, even during hard
times."
Marlene Trujillo was born and raised in Houston, where she
also went to college and now plays multiple roles including
working mother and wife.
Where are you from?
I was born in Houston, but my mother is from Mexico and my
father from Colombia.
How
did you begin your career?
I graduated from the University of Houston with a degree in
Marketing and Finance. I first worked for YMCA, and then for
Houston City council member Gordon Quan. Currently I work as
the Chief Executive Officer for the Spring Branch Community
Health Center.
How long have you been working for the Spring Branch
Community Health Center?
I started working for them since 2006 in a clinic on Blalock
and Kempwood.
What has been your greatest achievement and challenge
when you first started working?
My achievements: acquiring grants to provide more services
for the community. The money gained from the federal funding
allowed us to expand and help more people with low income in
the community of Spring Branch. It was a big change because
before we only had contributions from churches and some
state funding which was not enough to cover the peoples’
demand.
My challenges: the necessity to find more funding, more
specialized doctors, and the administration of the grants to
utilize the money in the best possible way for our patients.
What are your work plans for the future?
The biggest project we have right now is the “Capital
Campaign”, we want to have our own building, a Community
Health Center where we would include health services but
also provide classes and talk sessions to educate the
community. The majority of our patients are Hispanic (85%)
who are in need of much aid, and so far our plan for
construction will take place within five years.
What would you advise other professionals who want to
reach the success level you have gained?
Education is the key, but it is also important to get to
know other people in your field of study and to have mentors
that are leaders in the community for guidance. Working very
hard every day and constantly moving even during hard times,
and always searching new opportunities to meet more people.
How do you balance your work and home lifestyle?
Just ask my husband…(laughs). It is very difficult, I have a
girl of four year old and a husband to look after which is
hard to do when I have to work for long hours at the office.
Since I am at the head of the clinic, I have to be focused
in every detail of what goes through my hands. However, my
husband and mom are very supportive, especially in the
emotional sense.
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Latinos in Business:
Roberto Girotti
Roberto Girotti is the
director of sales and marketing for Continental Airlines in
Latin America with a lot experience in the tourism market.
He is kind, friendly with a direct and humorous
personality. He says that humor is an essential part of his
everyday life. He laughs at everything, including at
himself. Roberto says, “No one is so important in life. I
believe that everyone has to be bigger than the title he or
she holds and no vice versa.
Roberto,
could you tell us how you started your career in
Continental?
I graduated with a double master’s degree from the
University of El Salvador in Buenos Aires, Argentina. I hold
a degree in Tourism & Travel Administration with a focus in
marketing and a second a degree in Clinical Psychology.
At age 16 I received my proficiency in English at the Lyceum
of British Culture in Buenos Aires.
When I finished college, two friends and I decided to open a
clinic for child development. But before that we wanted to
go on vacation to Rio de Janeiro. There I met the owner of
a big Argentinean travel company that had plans to open
branches in Brazil. He offered me a job and I accepted. I
lived in Brazil for four years- working and learning
Portuguese at the same time. This job position opened the
door for me to meet a lot of people. Once again, I met the
owner of another big travel company specializing in Latin
America. He later offered me a position at the office in
Beverly Hills because I spoke several languages. Soon, I was
working in LA for this company. Shortly, I became director
and continued working for another nine years. I began
traveling once a month to all Latin America and I got
interested in the culture and costumes of all the countries
I was visiting. For this reason, I started spending 50% of
my time giving workshops- teaching tips on what I knew about
Latin American countries; it was at that moment that I
discovered a new career: “Public Speaker”.
Later, I decided to take classes on Ecotourism at UCLA. Back
then no one knew much about this new term. I took what I
learned and incorporated it into my classes. I was teaching
on this subject to many countries and companies when I ran
into Continental Airlines. At the time, this company was
undergoing a Latinization program headed by my ex-boss and
friend Pete Garcia. One day I received a phone call
from one of the Directors of Continental Airlines offering
me a job. It was the moment that my dream came true. I could
travel around the world for free!
My duties at Continental were to teach the cultural
differences of Latin American countries and conduct seminars
to all the Accounts in the USA, Canada, Europe and Asia,
later it was extended to the flight attendants as part of
their “Cultural Sensitivity Training”, so they knew how to
take care of passengers in the best possible way. The staff
needed to understand the culture of the passengers.
If you could work in any other field what would it be?
I like dealing with people and help them to solve their
problems, so I would have liked to work as a psychologist.
Tell us of a past anecdote from your job?
One time while I was preparing myself to give conference in
Portugal, at the last moment and without announcing it to
the audience I decided to give it in Portuguese. This was
extremely well
received by the audience and by several newspapers from that
country where I became a headline. They all mentioned how a
representative from an American company had given a
presentation in the country’s language.
What message will you give to people pursuing the same
career?
First, airline companies are very unstable. The salary is
not as good as it seems. A wonderful benefit, though, is the
ability to travel for free anywhere in the world on the spur
of the moment.
It compensates for the money difference. You can travel all
the time, if you wish, but you need to have money to spend
in order to enjoy the place of your destination.
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Latinos in Business:
Eduardo Nuñez
Where were you born?
I was born in Buenos Aires, but my parents were from Junín,
in the Province of Buenos Aires, where my grandparents lived. Two
of my grandparents were from Argentina, the other two were
Spanish, from Andalucía and from Asturias. Both my parents
and grandparents always worked hard for their sons and
daughters to acquire college degrees.
What
was your biggest obstacle when you came to the United
States?
When I was transferred to the United States, I knew I came
to stay. It was not just another assignment abroad, it
transformed me to an immigrant, and likewise, I encountered
several challenges that immigrants see day to day. Whether
it was the language barrier, or identifying myself in a new
atmosphere and in a new society. Being able to implement the
English language in the workforce is a challenge for
immigrants, especially for all Latinos. The identity crisis
was also important because we come from holding a position
in our countries of origin to become strangers in this new
society “from being somebody to being nobody." The counter
attack to this language problem is arduous daily study; to
forge the new identity, it is to have active participation in my
new society circle, where Houston offers vast opportunities
to immerse you into new cultures and being able to work with
people from different parts of the world, surprisingly to
find common threads between us.
What other profession would you have liked to follow?
I always liked Math and Physics that is why I decided for
Engineering. If I had to choose another career at this time
of my life, I would probable opt for a career in Medicine or
Genetics, because it offers enormous potential for cures for
grave diseases like Cancer, Alzheimer, Parkinson’s and Aids.
You are part of various non-profit organizations, tell us
why you hold memberships with them and what actions you are
taking while working with each of them?
Since I arrived to Houston in 2002, I have been a member of
the Houston Minority Supplier Development Council (HMSDC),
which is a non-profit organization with a mission to develop
companies owned by minorities: Hispanic-American, African
American, Asian, and Native American. I was president of
HMSDC for years 2006 and 2007, where I encouraged new
education plans and networking for small to medium minority
owned businesses. I also work as a member in the assessment
council for the Cámara de Empresarios Latinos de Houston,
and also I am President-Elect of the Institute of Hispanic
Culture as well as for the Casa Argentina de Houston.
Can you tell us about your Family?
It has been ten years since we have been living in the
United States, and 2009 has been very memorable for us. My
wife Adriana has been accredited to pursue her Bachelor’s
Degree in systems from the University in Buenos Aires in the
United States. She has completed her studies to be certified
as a Mathematics Professor and has gained a position as a
Professor in the John Cooper School. Meanwhile, our son
Santiago graduated in Finance and Marketing in Southern
Methodist University in Dallas and is now working as a
financial analyst for an investor bank in Wall Street. Our
daughter María Paula has graduated from high school and is
now beginning her studies in Rice University.
What would you say to Hispanic Families for them to reach
their goals?
I would say that the key to succeed in any of our goals is
based on hard work with responsibility and professionalism
every day, with honesty and ethics. Also, have complete faith
in our dreams as Latinos. I would suggest getting closer to
organizations that are there to help out others, and
together we can make a big change.
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Latinos in Business:
Benny
& Connie Soliz
Serving
delicious homemade authentic Mexican food has been their
mission for more than 25 years. Benny and Connie Soliz
opened Soliz Casa de Tacos, a classic mom and pop business,
in 1984, and they have been serving Stafford residents ever
since. Everything they offer on the menu is made at the
restaurant; warm tortillas, crispy chips and fresh salsa.
They have more than 20 different types of tacos, great
enchiladas, tamales and carne guizada.
This is a real “mom and pop” business. They know most of
their costumers by name, and don’t even think about using
your credit card, cash only! Latin Breaking News visited
Soliz Casa de Tacos and sat down with Eric Otto, Benny and
Connie’s grandson, who runs the family business.
Where is your family from?
We were all born and raised right here in Texas!
How did it all begin?
My grandma used to work for Intex, before it became
Centerpoint, but she grew tired of working for someone else.
My grandpa was working for Imperial Sugar at the time, and
he had bought the some land around here and because my
grandma liked to cook, they decided to open Soliz Casa de
Tacos.
They never ran any ads; the business grew from word of
mouth. Actually, it’s still like this today…We don’t run
ads, if you look for us online, you’ll find reviews from our
clients. I actually just started a Facebook account, and in
a month we had over 1,000 fans!
What is the secret of running a legit mom and pop
business?
The secret…For me it’s to keep it small. Being small and
family operated is part of the lure; it’s what makes it
cozy. Many people have asked me to franchise it, but we
rather not…I think it loses the appeal. It wouldn’t be the
same.
What is the biggest challenge of running a small
business?
So far, the biggest challenge here would be parking
(laughing)! If I had to estimate I would say we serve 700
people every day. On the weekends we have a line that goes
around the restaurant! But seriously, it’s hard to say,
working hard is part of any business. We’re are only open
from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. because at the end of the day we have
to prepare everything for the next day, the tortillas, the
salsa, the chips…and since everything here is made in house
it takes a while. Keep everybody happy is also a challenge,
It’s hard to satisfy everybody.
What is your advice for someone that wants to start a new
business?
Be patience, it took my grandma 5 years to start paying the
bills. Before the restaurant was able to pay itself, she
paid all the bills out of her savings. So it takes time and
dedication to make your business succeed. Location! We have
been blessed with this location. Dulles High School is
across the street, the kids come here all the time, their
parents stop here on the way to work, the faculty has
breakfast here, most of the residents that work Downtown
come through this street to get to work.
House favorite?
I would say the Soliz Special, it comes with carne guizada,
rice and beans. Our most popular ones are the “name tacos”;
Nash, Darleen, Maryanne and Eric’s - my creation – It comes
with eggs cheese, potatoes, onions and guacamole! |
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And in the
Kitchen Chef Jose Vela
Chef Jose Vela was recently named Up-and-Coming Chef of the Year at the Houston Culinary Awards, sponsored by My Table magazine. Growing up in a traditional Mexican family, Vela always showed interest for cooking, he used to stick around the kitchen and help his mom prepare “sopas”. Chef Vela moved from Mexico City to the United States in 1995 to pursue a music career as a drummer with his rock band. After the band split he decided to work in a commercial kitchen. Vela started at Chef John Sheely’s Riviera Grill as a dishwasher, he used to stay after his shift to help on the prep line so he could learn. Within a few months Vela earned his respect in the kitchen, and since then he has remained a fixture in Chef Sheely's ventures.
1) Chef Vela, last year My Table magazine’s 13th Annual Awards for Culinary Excellence voted you as the best Up-and-Coming Chef of the Year, how did that you feel?
That was exciting! I actually have been nominated four times! This was my last chance because this year I’ll turn 35. That was my last chance to be nominated as Up-and-Coming Chef, and luckily we got it! There are lots of good chefs out there, and to be nominated is amazing. My Table magazine is a very prestigious magazine; they have been around forever…It made me feel really good.
2) Did you cook growing up?
In Mexico you grow up out of the kitchen, but I always like going to the kitchen and make sopas…But actually I learned during “la prepa” in Mexico. I started working in a construction company as a supervisor engineer, and we had to sleep on the site. We set up a small kitchen and I was the one making all the food for the guys, on the weekends we used to cook barbecue for 100 people! I think it was kind of destiny, I started back then for fun, and now I’m here!
3) Before you became a chef, you played drums in a rock band.
Yes I did, I was the drummer! We played for four or five years, we started to get popular, opening for bands that have been playing for years. We played a mix of urban underground rock, we started with punk, but as you go to school and learn things, you start refining the music and mixing things. It was fun!
3) What made you decide you would become a professional cook? Actually is the pressure you feel when you are busy. I like to be on the move all the time that’s one of my things… I don’t like to be relaxed.
4) Funniest kitchen incident?
You know we were talking about music. There is one incident I always remember. Before I became a chef I was working for Chef Glen Trumble, he lived abroad for many years and he loved Latin music, salsa, merengue… We were very busy one night, with a whole line of tickets backed up, the waiters were all stressed. Everybody was stressed. So I scream to the chef asking for salsa: “We need salsa!” He goes and turns the radio on, and Willie Colon was playing! We all started dancing; the waiters got even more stressed! I think that was a like release, you know? The night turned out really well after that incident! It was really funny!
5) What is your favorite gadget?
My knives! I can’t live without them. Some people buy books! I buy knives!
6) How about reading, any recommendations?
There is one I really like from Chef Daniel Boulud from New York. There are 75 recipes, but what I like the most is that he describes his day. It’s a good experience. There is another one I like that just came out from Chef Thomas Keller it’s called Ad Hoc at home, It teaches comfort food that you can make at home, very nice, definitely worth it.
7) What is your favorite food?
I will say breakfast! I can have breakfast for dinner, a couple of eggs and pork chop! And when I go to my town, the street foods!
8) Any new spots here in Houston you would recommend to our readers?
There are two new ones I like. Randy Evans’s Haven, he is doing a great Job. And Brennan's family Bistro Alex, Chef Juan Carlos is really nice guy and he is also doing a great job.
9) When visiting Mockingbird Bistro, any suggestions?
Just sit, relax and enjoy the ride!
10) Any advice you would give to our food enthusiasts?
If you really like long hours and hard work go for it! Read a lot and try everything, you need to be adventurous! |
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