Florida

Úrsula Hilaria Celia Caridad Cruz Alfonso, Celia Cruz or simply Celia, who hailed from the humble Havana neighborhood of Santos Suárez, would become one of Latin music’s seminal figures, and probably the most recognized Cuban female singer.

A popular off-Broadway musical, Celia: The Life and Music of Celia Cruz, celebrates her 60-year career and, after an extended run in New York — scheduled to end in December, the show’s success kept it onstage until last month — starts its international tour Wednesday at Miami’s Arsht Center, with shows in Spanish and English.”*

The election may be 10 weeks away, but Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos Alvarez is almost certain to win a second four-year term in the county’s most powerful post because no big-name opponents are expected to launch campaigns before Tuesday’s noon deadline.

Alvarez’s sole challenger is Helen Williams, a former teacher who reported raising $50 by the end of March, compared to his $720,000.”*

When Martin Memorial Medical Center administrator Carol Plato testified in Tallahassee in April about the impact of illegal immigrants on her hospital, the meeting was attended by fewer than 50 people and got scant attention in the media.

But Plato’s two-minute testimony to the House Committee on State Affairs is making big waves on YouTube. A video of her testimony has received more than 360,000 hits on YouTube as well as hundreds of comments”*

If you tried to have lunch or dinner at one of a few Mexican restaurants in Tallahassee on Wednesday, you were greeted by a closed sign.

That’s because a few Mexican restaurants in Tallahassee were targeted in a federal sting that took several illegal immigrants into custody.

Federa law enforcement officials haven’t confirmed an exact number but we know at least three Mexican restaurants in Tallahassee were affected in this sting.”*

Whether it’s a bakery selling mango and guava pastries, a sporting goods store called Deportes, or a Latin deli offering yucca and pork, Hispanic businesses are popping up all over eastern Hillsborough.

Now the Greater Brandon Chamber of Commerce wants to both capture and nurture that growing sector as well as teach its current members and general businesses how to tap coveted Hispanic customers.

The chamber launched the initiative in February with a focus group made up of first-generation immigrants, Hispanics new to Brandon from other parts of the country, and second-generation Hispanics who prefer English.”*

Today accentmarketing, Chevrolet’s Hispanic agency of record since 1998, announced the recent promotions of account management and creative personnel on its talented team that services Chevrolet.

-  Yareli Esteban has been promoted to Group Vice President, Management Supervisor. During the past three and a half years, Yareli has made a significant impact on Chevy’s regional business with her strategic marketing skills, and has excelled in building collaboration within Chevrolet’s roster of agency partners, while overseeing the brand’s Hispanic efforts in the South and North Central Regions of the country.   Yareli has launched many innovative regional programs focused on maximizing media and promotional opportunities for key nameplates including Silverado, Tahoe and Cobalt. With a deep understanding of the retail marketplace under her belt, Yareli is well poised to lead Chevrolet’s national and regional US Hispanic marketing initiatives in an integrated manner.

-  Sergio Rodriguez has been promoted to Vice President, Group Creative Director.  At accentmarketing since 2005, Sergio has led the development of Chevrolet’s national Hispanic targeted creative that has successfully launched Malibu, HHR, Cobalt, Tahoe and the redesigned Silverado.  Sergio’s creative work for the launch of the new Silverado, the “Milestones” TV spot, was recognized with an ADDY® Award  in 2007.  In his new and expanded role, Sergio will lead the Chevy creative team, while overseeing both national and regional creative development for the Chevrolet brand.

-  Christy Schiffer has been promoted to Vice President, Group Account Director on the Chevrolet national business, reporting to Yareli Esteban. Christy has been instrumental in the growth of the business and was responsible for the successful Malibu multi-platform launch earlier this year. In addition to her recent successes on the Chevrolet account, Christy brings 10 years of automotive advertising expertise to accentmarketing.

-   Kurt Kruger has been promoted to Group Account Director, Chevy regional advertising and fulfillment.  Since joining accentmarketing in 2006, Kurt has developed a deep understanding of Chevy’s business needs in addressing the Hispanic market across the US.  His commitment to accentmarketing and to Chevrolet’s growth, his energy level and drive are a big asset to accentmarketing’s Chevrolet service team.  Kurt, too, will report to Yareli Esteban.

“I am confident this talented, strategic and capable leadership team will excel in their new roles and continue to bring energy and excitement to the business.” said Lisette Hoyo, EVP Client Services Director, and Managing Partner.

About accentmarketing

Established in 1993, accentmarketing (www.accentmarketing.com) is a full service Hispanic Integrated Marketing Communications agency with a staff of 90 throughout its offices in Miami, Detroit, Los Angeles and Dallas.  A member of The Interpublic Group of Companies, minority-owned accentmarketing employs a multinational and multicultural staff.  The agency’s client roster includes: the American Heart Association, Alltel Wireless, Brown-Forman, General Motors, Kaiser Permanente, Farmers Insurance, the United States Navy and USA.gov.

A broad coalition of Christian leaders from Central Florida called on state elected officials Tuesday to tone down “hateful immigration rhetoric” and strive for compassionate immigration reform.

The letter, signed by 31 clergy members and church leaders, was addressed to elected officials at the state and congressional levels.

The Rev. Nino Gonz�lez, head of Central Florida’s largest Latino mega-church, Iglesia el Calvario just south of Orlando, is the newest high-profile member of the coalition to advocate for immigration reform. He joins Catholic Bishop Thomas Wenski and the Rev. Joel Hunter of Northland, A Church Distributed, who helped launch the advocacy effort last year as part of Christians for Comprehensive Immigration Reform, a Washington, D.C.-based group”*

John McCain is once again reaching out to Hispanic voters on the radio, this time targeting Cuban-Americans in South Florida in a 60-second radio ad voiced by Roberto Martin Perez, who was imprisoned by the Cuban government for 24 years, until his exile in 1988.

“Cuban Prisoners,” as the ad is called, will air on Radio Mambi, a 50,000-watt news and talk radio station popular with the state’s Cuban-Americans. It’s a station that transmits all across Southern Florida, and sometimes even as far away as Jamaica, according to Loretta Anaya, head of sales at Radio Mambi.”*

Pacer Health Corporation (OTCBB:PHLH), a Miami-based provider of financial and operational management to distressed businesses in several market segments, has been ranked in the top 500 Hispanic businesses in this year’s Hispanic Business 500 list for the third consecutive year. According to the magazine, the annual directory has served as a barometer of the U.S. Hispanic economy for more than two decades.

Pacer Health Corporation’s rank of 116, up from the previous rankings of 185 in 2007 and 330 in 2006, is a sign of strong corporate and financial growth which further shows a maturation of the company.

“Pacer Health Corporation made a significant move this year on our top 500 list, more so than many of the other companies ranked,” said Michael Bowker, managing editor of Hispanic Business. “This is an indicator of the substantial financial growth happening within the company.”

“We are pleased by the acknowledgment of being one of the top 500 Hispanic businesses in the country,” said Rainier Gonzalez, chairman and CEO of Pacer Health Corporation. “This achievement demonstrates the success of Pacer Health Corporation’s evolving business model and further exemplifies our growth and achievement as a company.”

Hispanic Business, a monthly magazine written for affluent Hispanic business owners, entrepreneurs and professionals, is an industry staple focusing on business, finance and trends and forecasts within the Hispanic business sector. The methodology behind the annual listing of the 500 largest Hispanic-owned businesses is based on company data and requirements established by the Hispanic Business research staff. To be considered, companies must show at least fifty-one percent ownership by Hispanic U.S. citizens and must maintain headquarters in the continental United States.”*

John Morales, currently chief metereologist at Telemundo 51, will expand his broadcasting horizons. Starting Monday, June 9, he will also be doing weather reports for Radio Caracol in Miami.”*

Florida International University ranked first in the nation out of 4-year colleges for awarding the most bachelor’s degrees to Hispanic students, according to a survey conducted by Hispanic Outlook in Higher Education.

Colleges and universities in Florida, Texas and California dominated the magazine’s annual top 100 list for awarding degrees to Hispanics. Florida has six public universities and two private universities ranked among the top 50 in the list published in the magazine’s May issue.”*

Barack Obama or John McCain?

“El Que Vota Cuenta,” a political club is telling Hispanics in West Pasco. The Spanish phrase means “The One That Votes Matters,” roughly translated.

The Spanish-speaking population here shares more values with conservative candidates, the founder and president of the Pasco chapter of Club Politico, Louie Rodriguez, believes.”*

Orlando’s Hispanic population is not only growing but also becoming more diverse.

Aside from Puerto Ricans and Cubans, who have been coming to Florida for decades, the Latino population of Metro Orlando now also includes significant numbers of Mexicans, Colombians, Dominicans and Venezuelans.

During the next 40 years or so, Hispanics are projected to continue growing in the region, the state and the nation.”*

Treasure Coast civic leader Bobby Rodriguez believes he’s opened-minded at election time, voting for the best candidate, regardless of party affiliation.

However, like the majority of those considered Hispanic along the Treasure Coast — and in Florida — Rodriguez is registered to vote as a Democrat.

“I feel myself more independent,” said the Port St. Lucie resident, who has Puerto Rican ancestry. “I usually go with the one who best fits the job. I’ve been that way for years. I’ve voted for Republicans. I’ve voted for Democrats.”"*

Mega Communications in Tampa, has announced that the hugely successful ‘Piolin por La Manana’ AM Drive Comedy/Reality Show will now be heard on WLCC ‘La Ley’ Tampa Monday-Friday 7am - 1pm beginning Monday, June 2nd. “*

At the second day of Ad-Tech Miami cross-platform distribution was a key topic. In a panel titled Hispanic Media and Entertainment: Programming, distribution and advertising in a multi-platform world, speakers from Starmedia, Televisa and Batanga LIVE/Publishng highlighted their experiences.”*

The “7ma. Entrega de la Portada Hispanic Target” successfully occurred on May 28th with the presence of 170 guests at the Conrad Miami Hotel. Special guests, Miami radio and TV celebrities enjoyed the award ceremony. Journalist and News Host Marian de la Fuente, Miguel Gonzalez and Gilberto Reyes (los Fonomemecos), journalist and writer Enrique Córdoba, and Michelle Sanchez, prestigious lawyer, were among the most acclaimed celebrities that attended the spectacular event.

The “7ma. Entrega de la Portada de Hispanic Target” took place on the 25th level of the Conrad Miami Hotel, which provided the guests with an incomparable view of Biscayne Bay. South Florida’s most important businessmen and women were given special recognition. Among the awardees are Rafael Olloqui, CEO of telecommunications BTS; David Schwartz, president of the Florida International Bankers Association (FIBA) and vice-president of the Regions Bank; Carlos Gonzalez, lawyer and partner of the Díaz-Reus law firm; Liliam Lopez, president of the South Florida Hispanic Chamber of Commerce; José Duarte, president of SAP for Latin America; Rui da Costa, managing director of HP Latin America; Fernando Perez Hickman, managing director of Banco Sabadell, Pete Pizarro, ex president of Telefónica USA, Tomas Nassar, founder and president of Nassar & Asociados and Miguel Cabetas, general director of Ahorro Corporación.

“It is an honor for us to be able have these local Miami celebrities join this event. The intention is to reunite all of the successful individuals that were on our magazine cover and in the main articles, so that our readers can meet them in person and vividly experience their success stories. We are very pleased to share this event with the South Florida Community,” said Eduardo Hapke, founder and publisher of Hispanic Target.

The event served as the perfect setting to inform all of the guests of the recent awards presented to Hispanic Target by the National Association of Hispanic Publications (NAHP). Repeating last year’s success, Hispanic Target obtained the Silver (2nd place) award for being the best “Design Magazine”, Silver for “Outstanding Glossy Magazine”, and Gold (1st place) for “Outstanding Business Section.”

This event was made possible by the following sponsors: Conrad Miami, Díaz-Reus, Nassar, AeroSur, Pilsen Trading Inc., Jack Daniel’s, Silva Heeren, InDolce, Clásica 92.3, AFCC, SFLHCC, ABICC and Radio Caracol.”*

Hispanics make up the largest minority consumer presence online, but 60 percent of the top advertisers are missing out on reaching that audience.

It’s a problem marketers have been facing for years, but have only begun to address.

That’s where Ad:Tech Miami comes in. Tuesday kicked off the second year of the conference at the Miami Beach Convention Center, and hundreds of attendees discussed the challenges in reaching the 19.5 million U.S. Hispanics online as well as non-U.S. Latin Americans.”*

Miami residents who do not speak Spanish are in the minority, and the language divide has an impact on the job market.

According to the latest U.S. Census information, 60 percent of Miami residents are Hispanic. Miami-Dade County’s non-Hispanic white population has decreased from 80 percent in the 1950s to about 18 percent.

“Things have changed tremendously. I remember Miami in 1962, when I was about 9 1/2, and no one really spoke Spanish here,” said FIU professor Dr. Ana Roca”*

It used to take a day or two for officers to get to an address after tenants received a notice to leave. Now, with evictions up by roughly a third over last year, Miami-Dade’s backlog is around two weeks, sometimes longer.

“It is what it is,” Officer Fernandez said, looking at a list of addresses about to be emptied. “People of all walks of life are getting evicted.”

If South Florida is a barometer for the housing crisis and the economy, the forecast does not look good. Like other areas nationwide, evictions are rising throughout the state, clogging county courts and spawning a boom in companies that specialize in “eviction services” like moving furniture to the curb.”*

Robert Morales was the latest person to come to this realization when he and business partner Carlos Cruz went to Miami to participate in the company’s Business-to-Business Expo last week. More than 400 small-business owners attended the event, which was the fourth Wal-Mart has held in various locales.

Morales and Cruz, who own Black Bean Cuban Cuisine on Apalachee Parkway, saw the event as an opportunity to grow their budding food-service business. The pair started Sofritos Foods in 2005 and since then have provided food products for the military.”*

What: Polito Vega, radio personality from WSKQ La Mega 97.9 FM, will be honored with a Pioneer Trendsetter Award for being the King of Latin radio for more than 50 years, during the AT&T Tropical Night at the South Street Seaport.

The recognition is presented by Ralph Paniagua in association with The NYC Latin Media and Entertainment Commission. The event kicks off the National Puerto Rican Parade Weekend Festivities.

Polito Vega

This event, now in its 15th year, was introduced back in 1992 at the South Street Seaport to celebrate the success of the Puerto Rican and Latino community in the Tri-State area. It quickly became a cornerstone of the Puerto Rican Day Parade Festivities and the highest attended event at the pier.

The event is free to the public.

When: Thursday June 5th from 5 - 9 p.m.

Where: At the South Street Seaport

Don’t miss this musical extravaganza on Thursday June 5th from 5 - 9 p.m. - Free to the general public and sponsored by La Mega 97.9 FM - part of the Spanish Broadcasting System family.”

Cuban-Americans can visit the island of Cuba only once every three years, so because he spent 12 days there last October, he must wait, hoping and praying that his mother, who has cancer, lives until 2010.

“It doesn’t make any sense,” Mr. Garrote said. “If you have sick relatives, you should have a right to see them. That’s not political.”

Miami being Miami, however, the policy is political and always has been. President Bush tightened the travel rules just months before the 2004 election at the behest of Cuban-American hard-liners, and this year, Democrats are trying hard to exploit growing frustration with the law’s impact.”*

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