LATINA Style in Honoring Victoria E. Villalba as the ‘Latina Entrepreneur of the Year’ of Miami, Florida!

LATINA Style Business Series is coming back to Miami celebrating its 10 Year Anniversary Tour on Thursday, November 20, 2008 from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the Hyatt Regency Miami, located at 400 SE Second Avenue, Miami, Florida, 33131.

The event includes exhibits and expert presenters who will speak and interact with the audience on different topics. We will feature local business leaders and hear first-hand how they were able to find true business success! These women will share the obstacles they have overcome, their secret to work-life balance, and how they stay motivated in their business.

The “Access to Capital” panel will be moderated by Nery Torrent, Vice President, Community Development Lender, Ocean Bank. Panelists include: Ms. Ilene Rubio, Assistant District Director for the Business Development Division of the U.S. Small Business Administration and Ms. Cristina Lopez, Senior Loan Officer, Accion USA.

The “Essentials of a Successful Business” panel focuses on the greatest challenges to small business and is composed of moderator: Maria Elena Cisneros, State Farm Agent, and speakers: Jeanne D. Stitt, Vice President of Multicultural Markets, UnitedHealthcare; Maritza Rabinowitz, Senior Stakeholder Liaison, IRS; Mayda Prego, Senior Counsel, Chevron Corporation; and Maria M. Yip, CPA, President and Founder, YIPCPA.

The “Growing Your Small Business” panel, sponsored by Verizon Communications, will offer insight on small business strategies and be presented by Maria de Lourdes “Lulu” Sobrino, Author, President & CEO, Lulu’s Dessert.

On the “Latina Entrepreneur Spotlight: Lessons Learned” panel, four successful Latina entrepreneurs at different stages of business maturity discuss lessons learned throughout their enterprise life. Panelists include moderator Liliam Lopez, President and Founder, South Florida Hispanic Chamber of Commerce; speakers Lesley Keenan, District Sales Coordinator, Aflac; Ileana Cabrera-Rodriguez, State Farm Agent; and Miami Latina Entrepreneur of the Year Victoria Villalba, President, Victoria & Associates Career Services, Inc.

Macy’s will host a seminar presentation during the luncheon: “Marketing & Certification: Essential Tools to Engage Corporate America.” The panel will focus on how to sell your services or goods to Corporate America. Moderated by Wilka Varela Toppins, OVP Diversity Strategies, Macy’s, Inc. Panelists include: Nancy Allen, President and CEO, Women’s Business Development Center; Beatrice Louissaint, President & CEO, Florida Regional Minority Business Council; Carolina Brito, Vice President, Archipress & Design; and Maria Elena Dominguez, Owner, JEM Promotions.

Additionally, Macy’s has engaged their local cosmetic partners, Bobbi Brown and MAC, who will showcase an all day Beauty Lounge for attendees.

During the Award Luncheon Ceremony, LATINA Style Magazine will honor Victoria E. Villalba as the “Latina Entrepreneur of the Year” of Miami, Florida.

Victoria E. Villalba is the President of Victoria & Associates Career Services, Inc. Victoria is a pioneer in her field, having established many “firsts” in the industry, such as the “vendor on premise” concept at Royal Caribbean Cruise Line and Preparing Youth for Industry (PYI) Program in South Florida. She has also lectured at Miami Dade Community College for the MEED (Microcomputer Education for Employment of the Disabled) Program. Victoria currently serves on the Board for the Coral Gables Chamber of Commerce and the Board for His House Children’s Home. Victoria received a Bachelor of Science degree from Florida Southern College in 1986, majoring in Personnel Management. She has also received a Master’s Degree in Human Resources from Nova Southeastern University. Victoria’s leadership skills have earned her several awards including: Pinnacle Award Winner and Small Business of the Year.

Our Keynote Speaker is the Honorable Luz Urbaez Weinberg. She has served as councilwoman and vice mayor since 2005 and represents the city at local, state and national events. Ms. Weinberg serves on the Board of Directors of the Hispanics Elected to Local Office (HELO) Constituency Group of the National League of Cities (NLC), and is a proud member of the National Association of Latino Elected Officials (NALEO) and NLC’s Women In Municipal Government (WIMG) Constituency Group.

The event co-chairs are outstanding Latina Leaders in the city of Miami: Liliam M. Lopez, President & CEO, and one of the co-founders of the South Florida Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (SFLHCC) and Nery Torrent, Vice President & CRA Lender, Ocean Bank. She is also a board member of South Florida Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.

Registration fee includes: dynamic panels, high power networking opportunities in the exhibit area, breakfast, lunch, commemorative gift bag, and a two-year subscription to LATINA Style Magazine; only $30.00 for early registration or $60.00 the day of the event.

The 2008 LSBS title sponsor is Macy’s Inc. The national sponsors include: Wal-Mart Stores, Inc, Sam’s Club, State Farm Insurance, Aflac and UnitedHealthcare. Miami sponsors include: Verizon Communications and Hyatt Hotels & Resorts. The official Business Series Airline is American Airlines and the series beverage sponsor is PepsiCo.

To register for the Miami Business Series, visit www.bs.latinastyle.com or call 1-800-651-8083.

LATINA Style Magazine, a lifestyle magazine for the professional Hispanic woman, hosts the LATINA Style Business Series, bringing resources to entrepreneurs and aspiring entrepreneurs in the local area. “

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