On October 6, 2011, hundreds of successful Latina CEOs, business executives and entrepreneurs united for a full day of panel discussions and workshops at the Walt Disney World Resort Hilton in Orlando, Fla., closing out the 13th annual LATINA Style Magazine Business Series with a bang.

The LATINA Style Business Series empowers Latina entrepreneurs across the country. More than 28,000 Latina entrepreneurs and professionals have benefited from participating in this exciting and informative one-day business program since its inception in 1998.

Participants enjoyed the opportunity of speaking and interacting with numerous expert presenters during the series’ numerous workshops and panel discussions. After starting the day with a networking breakfast, event co-chair Paul Roldan, co-founder and partner, Allgen Financial Services, Inc., welcomed attendees and introduced Robert Bard, president & CEO, LATINA Style, Inc., as well as Orlando Commissioner Tony Ortiz.

In addition, Dineen Garcia, vice president of diversity strategies for Macy’s, Inc., title sponsor, and Loreley “Lory” Rigsby, personal lines underwriting manager for Nationwide offered their congregations to LATINA Style for another successful Business Series.

In the “Making Networking Events Pay” session, Ivette Mayo, president and owner of Yo Soy Expressions, redefined what it means to offer an interactive workshop. “It’s time to move from simply collecting business cards to truly connecting with people,” Mayo said.

In addition to offering tips to help attendees overcome fear of networking, Mayo divided participants into groups and led a networking exercise in which each attendee had exactly one minute to introduce themselves and say what she calls “the what-what” —what you want and what you need to be successful.

Moderated by Maritza Rabinowitz, senior stakeholder liaison and IRS representative, the “Building Capacity to Position Your Business for Growth” panel featured guest speakers Ed Jose Ramos, area manager for the Small Business Administration; Aretha Olivarez, SCORE Orlando representative; and Jose Cruz, sales manager for Nationwide. Olivarez encouraged all entrepreneurs to create a business plan that works for them calling business plans “a GPS and roadmap to your company’s success.” In addition, Rabinowitz and Ramos advised attendees to check out the free webinars and business guides available at www.irsvideos.gov and www.sbaguides.com.

  In between sessions, series attendees enjoyed visiting several exhibiting booths hosted by both sponsors and local organizations. An especially popular area was the Beauty Lounge hosted by Macy’s, where attendees received complimentary makeovers featuring Clarins and Estee Lauder cosmetics.   Attendees were treated to a panel discussion full of practical tips for marketing their businesses and themselves in the “Successful Marketing Strategies to Promote Your Business and Yourself” program. The panel was moderated by Angela Lagos, senior manager of diversity and inclusion of NBC Universal Orlando; speakers included Marie E. Masson, Esq., partner of Quintairos Prieto Wood & Boyer, P.A and the Hispanic National Bar Association; Cristina M. Calvet-Harrold, founder and president of CCH Marketing Consulting Inc.; and Wilma Colón, public relations manager of Florida’s Blood Centers. The panelists encouraged attendees to invest the proper time and attention to creating and maintaining their brand via social media.   Seasoned business owners shared must-know advice during the “Latina Entrepreneurs’ Spotlight: Lessons Learned” panel discussion led by Magda Ivette Torres, radio personality of “En Agenda” news analysis talk show. Panel members Liza Ordoñez, managing director of NRelectronics; Dr. Francelis Gonzalez, CEO of Kidsville Pediatrics; Elsa Lopez-Morales, owner and CEO of Atlantis Flowers Weddings & Events; and Evelyn Brooks, owner and designer of Evelyn Brooks Designs, encouraged attendees to take smart risks.   During the Latina Entrepreneur Award Luncheon, guest speakers Mercy McCall, vice president at Regions Bank, and Yamilet Torres, HITEC board member and senior director at Oracle, shared their personal journeys to achievement. Later, Bard returned to the lectern to recognize Dr. Francelis Gonzalez as LATINA Style entrepreneur of the year for 2011.   A board-certified pediatrician and fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics, Dr. Gonzalez has cared for children in Central Florida and the surrounding communities since 1999, with five clinics. “You get recognized when it’s your time, and today is my time,” Dr. Gonzalez said as applause filled the ballroom.   The luncheon closed with the “Look Successful…Be Successful” Fashion Show sponsored by Macy’s, and presented by Sharon Miranda, anchor and reporter of Univision.

Special Thanks to Our Sponsors

A special thank you to all of the companies and organizations that through their support made this series possible.

The event is sponsored by:
Title Sponsor: Macy’s, Inc.

Sponsors includes: Hyatt Hotel & Resorts, Verizon, Wyndham Worldwide, PepsiCo, Inc., Sodexo Health Care, Beauty Control,  Southwest Airlines, Teleflora, and Telemundo.

Partners: ALPFA, HNBA, WIPP, NAHP, Metro Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, National Latina Leadership Institute, Hispanic-American Professional and Business Women’s Association, SCORE, Yo soy expressions, IRS, Latino Leadership, Webcitygirls, Tres Communications, NSHMBA, Working Women of Central Florida, SocialBizMembers.com, and PR Newswire.