Monthly Archives: August 2013

Interview with Alfredo Placeras, President of the New York State Federation of Hispanic Chambers of Commerce

A brief history on Alfredo Placeres:

• President of the New York State Federation of Hispanic Chambers of Commerce.
• Elected in 2004 and 2007 to serve on the United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors.
• Current member of the NYC Dept. of Small Business Services (NYCDSBS) Advisory Committee.
• Appointed to DASNY Advisory Committee in 2011.
• Former Chair of the Hispanic Bar Association Immigration Committee. Former Co-Host of NY’s 1280AM WADO’s “La Ley y Usted” 1987-2004.
• Immigration Legal Commentator for NY’s TELEMUNDO’s Canal 47 News segment, “Martes de Inmigracion” – 2003-2007.

Hispanic Professionals Networking Group (HPNG) 3rd Annual Latino Leadership Conference – 2012

The 3rd Annual (HPNG), Latino Leadership Conference on Aug 27th 2012, offered the same focused look at professional growth in the Latino community, as well as an insider’s perspective on what Hispanic professionals, can do to get ahead. This year’s conference focused on specific employee strategies and 21st century tools Latinos can utilize to further educate themselves, seek expert guidance, network within their industry, and ultimately achieve their maximum potential.

The Hispanic Professionals Networking Group (HPNG) 3rd Annual Latino Leadership Conference 2012, is founded by Ali Curi. The group holds monthly networking events for Hispanic professionals from all industries. HPNG invites speakers to address, to educate, and share what’s happening in their industry.

Gabriel Abaroa Jr. – President/CEO of The Latin Recording Academy (2011)

“Gabriel has graciously served The Latin Recording Academy for the past seven years as President, making immense strides to reach an international audience and establishing the Latin GRAMMY® Awards as a brand recognized worldwide,” said Cobos.

“He continues to demonstrate great leadership and is determined to create and support new initiatives and programs that will further increase the visibility of Latin music and culture. He has successfully led the Latin GRAMMYs through its milestone 10th celebration with vision and purpose, and we look forward to his continued success and accomplishments as The Latin Recording Academy enters its next decade.”

Throughout his tenure as President, Abaroa has provided overall direction and re-positioned the goals of the organization while maintaining its financial health. In 2005, the annual Latin GRAMMY Awards telecast moved from CBS to Univision, giving the show and its new home record-breaking ratings every year since, along with numerous memorable musical moments. Additionally, the Latin GRAMMYs have been held in different cities bringing the excitement of Latin music to such places as Los Angeles (STAPLES Center, Shrine Auditorium and Kodak Theatre); Miami (American Airlines Arena); New York (Madison Square Garden); Houston (Toyota Center); and Las Vegas (Mandalay Bay Events Center). He has led the way in making the Latin GRAMMY Awards a point of reference within the music community both domestically and worldwide.

Jorge Munoz, Winner of the Presidential Medal – 2011

Jorge Muñoz, born March 23, 1964, is the founder of the non-profit An Angel in Queens, an organization begun in the summer of 2004 that delivers free home-cooked meals in Queens. The food is delivered at the corner of Roosevelt Avenue and 73rd Street in Jackson Heights.

Muñoz was born in Colombia and his father died in an accident when he was young. Muñoz followed his mother, moving to New York to find work to support the family, obtaining legal residency in 1987, and later becoming a citizen, along with his mother and sister. He has estimated that he has served to more than 70,000 people since 2004.

On August 4, 2010, Jorge Muñoz was presented with the Presidential Citizens Medal by President Barack Obama.

Institute for the Puerto-Rican/Hispanic Elderly Gala – 2011

Suleika Cabrera Drinane, Founder and President of Institute for the Puerto Rican Hispanic Elderly, Inc. addresses the crowd of over 1,000 that attended her 33rd annual gala event held at the prestigious New York Hilton. The work done by Suleika and IPRHE is very important and has enhanced the lives of senior citizens in the Eastern seaboard of the United States, especially in the City and state of New York.

Interview with Jorge Ramos, Anchor for Noticiero Univision – 2012

Jorge Ramos is a Mexican journalist, anchor for Noticiero Univision and host of the Sunday morning news talk show Al Punto.

Jorge Ramos has won eight Emmy Awards and the Maria Moors Cabot Award for excellence in journalism. He has been the anchorman for Univision News since 1986 and has appeared on NBC’s Today, CNN’s Talk Back Live, ABC’s Nightline, CBS’s Early Show, and Fox News’s The O’Reilly Factor, among others. He is the bestselling author of No Borders: A Journalist’s Search for Home and Dying to Cross. He lives in Florida.

Ramos joined Univision, Telemundo, Fox Sports, ESPN Deportes, and many others in 1985. He has interviewed multiple world leaders including Fidel Castro, Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, Evo Morales, Hugo Chávez, Terry Porter, Rafael Correa, Fernando Ferrer, Barack Obama, Joe Biden, and many others.

Interview With Ernesto J. Cury, President of Cury and Associates, LLC – 2012

Ernesto Cury is the President and Owner of E. Cury and Associates, a business in Elmhurst, Queens that provides business accounting and consulting services to small businesses. He is the Immediate Past President and a Co-Founder of the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Queens, which represents over 20,000 Hispanic businesses in that borough. He is also a member of the board of the Queens Economic Development Corporation and the 82nd Street Business Improvement District. Previously he served as an executive officer of several banking institutions and executive director of the Queens Minority Business Development Center.

Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr.’s Women’s History Month Celebrating Women’s Education & Empowerment Brunch at Tosca Restaurant – Bronx, NY, 2012

On Tuesday, March 19, Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. hosted his annual Women’s History Month Celebration at the Tosca Marquee in Throggs Neck. Among those honored were June M. Eisland, former City Council Member from the northwest Bronx; Hon. Nelida Malave-Gonzalez, Surrogate Judge for Bronx County; and Wanda Williams, DC 37’s Political Action & Legislation Director. Ms. Williams was unable to attend the event, and her award was accepted by Sheana Smith, Legislative Analyst/Bronx Coordinator for DC 37.

Exclusive Interview with Mr. Robert Unanue, President of Goya Foods – 2012

In 1936, Prudencio Unanue had a vision that lives on today: to provide authentic Spanish foods to the Latino population in America.

Since the company started, by selling imported ingredients like olives, olive oil, and sardines out of a small storefront in Manhattan, Goya Foods Inc., has become an American household name and grown into an international food titan with more than 3,000 employees. Yet, many of the original mom-and-pop store values remain intact. Goya has avoided the temptations of oversimplification; it provides more than 1,600 products, including, the slower-selling specialty products larger corporations tend to forgo, and they still do direct, customized deliveries to small stores.

It is also a rare third-generation, family-run business, perhaps the reason why so much of the original philosophy has remained intact.

The Promesa Foundation Annual Gala by Acacia Network at Maria Del Rey – Bronx, New York, 2011

Acacia Network has a sound fiscal base supported by our diverse funding portfolio comprised of government contracts from city, state and federal agencies as well as commercial insurance and other third party payers. Additional support for the network comes from housing development activities, and contributions from individuals and companies. The mission ensures that we continually reinvest in our communities through innovative programming and affordable housing ownership.

Acacia Network’s Board of Directors represents the finest leaders from our community who bring expertise in their respective fields of healthcare administration, nonprofit management, community advocacy, government relations, law and public policy. Their commitment to oversight, integrity, and governance is demonstrated through the time they volunteer to comprehensively review the Network’s activities and set the strategic direction.

Dominican Women’s Development Center 23rd Anniversary Gala Dinner – 2011

Dominican Women’s Development Center (DWDC) is a non-profit organization located in Washington Heights, Northern Manhattan.

DWDC was founded in 1988 by nine Dominican women who identified the need for Latinas to organize around critical issues and seek solutions to systemic problems affecting their families and community, such as: sexism and discrimination, high housing costs, low-achieving schools, high dropout rates, limited access to health care services, attacks on reproductive rights, high teenage pregnancy, and high poverty rates.

National Association of Hispanic Nurses 7th Annual Gala at Russo’s On The Bay – 2012

National Association of Hispanic Nurses’ Goals:
• Identify barriers to the delivery of health services to Hispanic consumers and recommend appropriate solutions to local, state, and federal agencies.
• Develop, test, and promote culturally sensitive models of intervention that provide effective nursing care for Hispanic communities. Disseminate research findings and policy perspectives related to Hispanic health care needs to local, state, and federal agencies in order to impact policy making and the allocation of resources.
• Collaborate with, and provide assistance to, other Hispanic health care professionals.
• Identify Hispanic nurses throughout the nation in order to monitor the size and growth of this group of health care professionals who may provide culturally sensitive nursing care to Hispanic consumers.
• Identify barriers to quality education for Hispanic nursing students and recommend appropriate solutions to state, local, and federal agencies.
• Work toward recruitment and retention of Hispanic students in nursing education programs, in order to increase the number of bilingual and bicultural nurses who may provide culturally sensitive nursing care to Hispanic consumers.

The following people were honored at the Gala:

Honorees & Awardees

Althea Mighten, EdD APRN BC
Dr. Ildaura Murillo-Rhodes Nursing Leadership Award

George A. Zeppenfeldt-Cestero
Community Advocacy Award

Visiting Nurse Service of New York
Institution of the Year

Rosario B. Jaime-Lara, BSN RN
Scholarship Award – MSN Candidate 2013

Angela Plasencia
Scholarship Award – BSN Candidate 2013

The World Liberty TV team was on hand to cover this wonderful event filled with great honorees, speeches, and food.