News (Noticias) Tagged ‘National LATINA Symposium’

Latina achievement and leadership was the focus of the days activities at the 5th Annual National LATINA Symposium. The event, organized by LATINA Style Magazine, was held on September 5, 2008 from 8:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. at the Capital Hilton in Washington, D.C.

The event chair was Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen; she congratulated and thanked all attendees for their achievements in her welcome letter in the program. The event began with a ceremonial breakfast following a series of workshops that allowed participants to learn about issues such as: advancing Latinas in the workplace, successful leadership, applying military skills to everyday life, entrepreneurship, business, political leadership, professional development and balancing health, career and personal life.

The panel “Secrets of Successful Leadership: Translating Power into action” was moderated by Anna Escobedo Cabral, U.S. Treasurer. The panelists included: Brigadier General Angela Salinas, U.S. Marine Corps, Diana Rael, Multicultural Director-Northeast Zone, State Farm Insurance, and Lourdes Hassler, CEO, National Society of Hispanic MBAs. Speakers shared their insights on how to effectively impact their community and how communicating ideas inspire others. They also shared their experiences, achievements and how to become strong Latina leaders. The panel “Discipline, Commitment, Courage: Applying military skills to everyday life” featured Captain Kathlene Contres, Commandant of the Defense Equal Opportunity Management Institute, U.S. Navy, Colonel Lisa Firmin, Commander, Reserve Officer Training Corps Detachment 842, U.S. Air Force, Lieutenant Commander Patricia T. Mitroswki, Response Department Head for Sector Baltimore, U.S. Coast Guard, Major Lina M. Dowing, U.S. Marine Corps, and Lieutenant Kim Cota-Robles, Diversity Directorate, U.S. Navy. Their discussion included issues such as transferring military skills to civilian life, their motivation to enlist in the service, and experiences navigating through a male dominated environment. The “Achieving your Potential” panel featured Carmen Bauza, VP/DMM Confections/Front End Impulse, Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., Jenifer Sevilla-Korn, U.S Department of Justice, Cristina Lopez, President, National Hispana Leadership Institute, and Anne Alonzo, Vice President, Corporate & Legal Affairs, Kraft Foods. Their conversation presented advice on achieving success while balancing career, family, personal life and civic participation,

The National LATINA Symposium culminated with the “Distinguished Service Awards Luncheon”. Keynote speaker Colonel Lisa Firmin, U.S Air Force gave an uplifting speech that touched upon her personal experiences of being a woman in the military and the importance of education for Latinos. An awards ceremony followed honoring 10 Latinas representing each branch of the Armed Forces and Fourth Estate Agencies.

Among the criteria used to select the honorees was: embodying qualities that are at the core of the service’s mission, being well respected by their superiors and peers as leaders and upstanding servicewomen, assisting in creating opportunities and careers that support and contribute to the advancement of Hispanic Americans toward senior level positions, displaying exceptional character and representing the Hispanic community with dignity and pride. The following Latinas were recognized this year: Sergeant First Class Dolores Rivera U.S. Army, Shirley A. Hill U.S Army, Lieutenant Leticia Soto, U.S. Navy, Esther Thatcher, U.S. Navy, Master Sergeant Morayma M. Rodriguez U.S. Marine Corps, Staff Sergeant Joanna E. Vasquez U.S. Air Force, Dr. Maria-Paz U. Smith, Commander U.S. Coast Guard, Lieutenant Colonel Kimberly Derouen, National Guard Bureau, Colonel Madeline Lopez, Defense Logistics Agency and Maria Castillo, Defense logistics Agency.

The event was sponsored by the State Farm Insurance, U.S. Department of Defense, Shell Oil Company, United Healthcare-AARP Health, The U.S. Navy, Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., Exxon Mobil, The Hershey Company, PepsiCo, HITN, with the partnership of Washington Hispanic, El Pregonero, El Tiempo Latino, Telemundo WZGS Washington DC, Maryland Public Television, The George Washington University, The Greater Washington Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and the Hispanic Heritage Foundation.

Launched in 1994 by the late Anna Maria Arias, LATINA Style is the first organization with its flagship national magazine dedicated to the needs and concerns of the contemporary professional and entrepreneur Latina in the U.S. Arias’ legacy continues through LATINA Style Magazine and its events empowering women.

For more information visit www.latinastyle.com or call 703-312-0904 or tolls free 1-800-651-8083. “