Congressional Hispanic Leadership Institute (CHLI) Successfully Hosts 3rd Annual Future Leaders Conference

The Congressional Hispanic Leadership Institute (CHLI) is pleased to announce the successful completion of its 3rd annual Future Leaders Conference. Participants included six members of Congress: CHLI Chairman Lincoln Diaz-Balart (FL-21); CHLI Vice-Chair Congressman Henry Cuellar (TX-28); Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (FL-18); Congressman Mike Pence (IN-6); Congressman Mario Diaz-Balart (FL-25); and Congressman Albio Sires (NJ-13), as well as experts from Argentina, Chile, Mexico, Spain and the U.S.

“The CHLI Future Leaders Conference is our premier annual event that brings together a growing level of interest from student leaders, policy makers and corporate supporters,” said Octavio A. Hinojosa Mier, CHLI Executive Director. “This year, the topic of Democracy in Latin America is very timely given the current challenges of free and fair elections, rule of law and legitimacy. Our goal through the CHLI Future Leaders Conference is to actively engage emerging young leaders from diverse backgrounds in the future economic and political relations within the Americas.”

The theme of the conference was “Democracy in the Americas: Challenges and Opportunities for the Leaders of Tomorrow.” Following welcoming remarks by CHLI Executive Octavio Hinojosa and CHLI Chairman, Rep. Lincoln Diaz-Balart (FL-21), the conference featured a talk by Rep. Mike Pence (IN-6), as well as words on leadership by Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (FL-18).

The conference also included two panel discussions: The Emerging Role of the Millennial Generation in the Economic Integration of the Americas; and Democracy in the Americas: New Directions in the 21st Century.

During the Emerging Role of the Millennial Generation panel, Hector Romero, CEO of Signum Research presented the case study of Grupo Salinas, who through the leadership of Ricardo Salinas Pliego has successfully expanded Grupo Elektra and Banco Azteca to provide goods and services to the bottom of the pyramid in nine countries throughout the Americas.

The CHLI Future Leaders Conference is a free annual conference that brings together summer interns, young professionals and policy makers for an opportunity to share viewpoints and offer solutions to the challenges facing the region today, as well as to network with local, national and international leaders in the public, private and non-profit sectors. Corporate sponsors for the event this year were Comcast Corporation, Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., MillerCoors Lideres and Univision Communications, Inc.

First held in 2007 at the Inter-American Development Bank in Washington, D.C., CHLI has also hosted this important conference series nationally. Most recently, the CHLI Future Leaders Conference was held in San Antonio, Texas in March 2009 featuring former President of Mexico Vicente Fox as the keynote speaker on the role of emerging young leaders in U.S.-Mexico relations.

About CHLI

The Congressional Hispanic Leadership Institute (CHLI, pronounced “chili”) is a non-profit, non-partisan organization, based in Washington, D.C., that advances the diversity of thought in U.S. Hispanic community in the public, private, and non-profit sectors, as well as in the international community. For more information, please visit http://www.chli.org. You may also connect with us on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.

    CONTACT:
    Vanessa Bilanceri
    202-244-0121
    Vanessa@exitomarketing.com

    About Grupo Salinas
    Grupo Salinas (http://www.gruposalinas.com) is a group of dynamic, fast-

growing and technologically advanced companies focused on creating shareholder
value, contributing to building the middle class of the countries where it
operates, and improving society through excellence.  Created by Mexican
entrepreneur Ricardo B. Salinas (http://www.ricardosalinas.com), Grupo Salinas
operates as a management development and decision forum for the top leaders of
member companies TV Azteca (http://www.irtvazteca.com), Azteca America
(http://www.aztecaamerica.com), Grupo Elektra
(http://www.grupoelektra.com.mx), Banco Azteca
(http://www.bancoazteca.com.mx), Afore Azteca (http://www.aforeazteca.com.mx),
Seguros Azteca (http://www.segurosazteca.com.mx), and Grupo Iusacell
(http://www.iusacell.com). Each of the Grupo Salinas companies operates
independently with its own management, board of directors and shareholders.
Grupo Salinas has no equity holdings.  However, member companies share a
common vision, values and strategies for achieving rapid growth, superior
results and world-class performance.
    For more information, visit www.gruposalinas.com

    CONTACT:
    Daniel McCosh
    011 52 55 1720 0059
    dmccosh@gruposalinas.com

About Signum Research

Signum Research is an independent financial and market analysis company that uses cutting edge systems and technology to create efficient, real-time analytical models that are posted on an open website in a timely manner.

Visit: http://www.signumresearch.com

Comments on CHLI Future Leaders Conference:

“It is a pleasure to once again take part in this event, which each year gathers young professionals and an impressive list of panelists to discuss issues of importance in our hemisphere like democracy, trade and foreign policy. I commend CHLI for its dedication and commitment to the Hispanic community and look forward to continuing to work towards strengthening its role in policy-making, advocacy and outreach,” said Congressman Mario Diaz- Balart.

“The CHLI Future Leaders Conference does a wonderful job of bringing together student leaders and policymakers to tackle the grave problems facing the United States and in this instance, Latin America. From the challenges to democracies and the rule of law in the Western Hemisphere to narco-terrorism, this Conference provides the perfect setting to engage our youth and share ideas on resolving serious international issues. I am honored to be speaking before such an industrious and capable group,” said Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen.

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