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| Spotlight on Latina Elected Officials
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LATINA Style Business Series New York, NY
 Featured speaker of the event: Mariela Dabbah, Author and Speaker during Luncheon Awards. |
On Thursday, July 22, LATINA Style gathered entrepreneurs and business professionals from across the country into the Crowne Plaza Time Square Hotel in New York City for its 12th annual tour of the LATINA Style Business Series. The event offered knowledge, empowerment, inspiration and an immeasurable networking opportunity to over 200 “unstoppable, thriving, power brokers.”
Recognizing the rapid growth of the Hispanic-owned business market, the Business Series strives to enhance the Latina entrepreneur’s business foundation and has done so successfully for over 27,000 Latinas since 1998. On this day, the conference provided information for up and coming Latina professionals whose control in the small business market is also growing phenomenally. “As women, we’re accustomed to adversity,” said the honorable Deputy Mayor Legal Affairs and Counsel to New York City Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg, Carol A. Robles-Roman in her welcoming remarks, but these were no words of defeat. “Be sure to hold those who have your best interest close, and make sure you’re doing what you need to thrive-especially in today’s market.” With the guests’ best interest at heart, LATINA Style kicked off the third stop of the Series’ tour.
Robles-Roman administers organizations that make judicial and city services available to the New York City community. Before and during her position in city governance she has worked, toward improvement of the people with efforts in equal opportunity in the workforce, business development across the United States and the promotion of business companies in Puerto Rico. Robles-Roman was just the first among many more successful Latinas to speak.
Director and executive of the national sponsor company, State Farm Insurance, Adriana Comellas-Macretti, has followed the Series for years and admits that the New York conference was among the best. “I’m awed by Latinas,” said Comellas-Macretti “We are unstoppable. This day was designed with each one of us in mind,” she said in encouragement that the audience would take full advantage of the available opportunities, and they did. She was later even more so awed by their attentive, inquisitive nature.
 (L-R) Nereida Perez, Vice President Inclusion and Diversity, National Grid; Carlye Bills, GVP Divisional Planning Manager; Macy's; Monika Mantilla, President & CEO, Altura Capital; Mariela Dabbah, Author & Speaker; Ines Ferré, Reporter & Anchor - CNN en Español; Jerusha Ramos, Financial Advisor, NL Financial Alliance. |
 Dineen Garcia (right), Director, Diversity Strategies, Macy’s, Inc., with an attendee during the event. |
 “The Essentials of a Successful Business” speakers (L-R) Brenda Stuart-Luke, Senior Stakeholder Liaison, IRS; Hilda Porrata-Doria, Agent; State Farm Insurance; Eneida Roman, Principal Attorney, ROMAN Law Offices; Raysa Castillo, President, Castillo & Associates, P.C., HNBA Member. |
“I feel wonderful!” said Mantilla. “It’s a great honor and I hope it’s an inspiration to young girls in finance. LATINA Style highlights Latina leaders and gives me the opportunity to learn about other Latinas. It’s the opportunity to showcase our talents.”
Adding laughter, tears and wisdom to the luncheon was Mariela Dabbah, author, speaker and consultant. Most recently, her book titled “Latinos in College: Your Guide to Success,” provides helpful information to the Latino high school student preparing for their journey to a college education. She has appeared on ABC’s “Good Morning America,” NBC’s “Today in New York,” Univision’s “Despierta América” and CNN’s “Directo desde Estados Unidos.”
Dabbah left the audience with three tips for future networking events—perhaps LATINA Style Business Series San Antonio, Texas. “Don’t overestimate every person, it’s not just bad manners, it’s a missed opportunity”; “Think about getting one or two business cards instead of 20 or 30, a reference validates you in a different way”; “Follow up with everyone you meet.” Her guidance gave the entrepreneurs further tools for their future in the business world.
“LATINA Style gives the opportunity for non-Hispanics to learn about our culture,” said Maria Roman, executive officer of the Board of Directors of 100 Hispanic Women, Inc. and winner of the $150 Macy’s gift card. “I was not expecting this! The conference itself was very rewarding so this was a bonus. After the fashion show, I’ll be ready to purchase my fresh, new fall wardrobe and makeup! Congratulations to Robert Bard on this event.”
President and CEO of LATINA Style, Robert Bard and LATINA Style congratulate Roman as well and all of the conference prize winners. “To our national sponsors, our official hospitality sponsor, the New York City sponsors and our title sponsor, thank you for making New York such a wonderful place and to every woman in general, thank you for being able to multi-task and being able to take care of us,” said Bard.
 Caridad Fernandez Carreras, founder, President and Chief Executive Officer of Unica-Centro de Refinamiento, Inc. During Fashio Show Presentation Sponsored by Macy’s, Inc. |
Title Sponsor: Macy’s, Inc.
National Sponsors: State Farm Insurance, United State Postal Services. Official Hospitality Sponsor: Hyatt Hotels & Resorts. Official Airline Carrier: Continental Airlines. New York City Sponsors: National Grid.
Thank you Partners:
Community Partners included: Teleflora, Hispanic National Bar Association (HNBA), WIPP, National Association of Women Business Owners of NY (NAWBO), Association of Latino Professional in Finance & Accounting NY (ALPFA), NSHMBA, 100 Hispanic Women, Long Island Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Inc. (LIHCC), M&M Advertising & Productions, ACCION USA, NYC LGBT Chamber of Commerce, Inc., Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Queens (HCCQ), REDBEAN Society, Madrinas: Latinas empowering Latinas, New York State Federation of Hispanic Chambers of Commerce (NYSFHCC), and the Puerto Rico Federal Affairs Administration (PRFAA). Media partners included: LatinVision, Reporte Hispano Publications, and PR Newswire.
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