August 2008
In this issue of NHCC NEWS look for:
|
The National Hispanic Corporate Council Welcomes its Newest Members
The NHCC is proud to announce the addition of COUNTRY Financial and Starbucks Coffee Company as its newest members. We want to extend a warm welcome to Manuel Amezcua, Associate Agency Manager at COUNTRY Financial and Laura Swapp, Global Director, Diversity & Inclusion at Starbucks Coffee Company. We look forward to working with them on efforts to expand their presence in the growing Hispanic community.
Manuel Amezcua
Associate Agency Manager at COUNTRY Financial
Manuel Amezcua serves as associate manager of the South Holland Agency for COUNTRY Financial. Amezcua joined COUNTRY in 2003 as an agent with the South Holland agency. In his position as associate manager, Amezcua is responsible for recruiting, training and sales development of new agents. He is also involved in special assignments related to the growth of COUNTRY in Chicago.
Amezcua earned a bachelor’s degree in Spanish from DePauw University, Greencastle, Ind. He is an Investment Solutions Representative and has been named a COUNTRY All American three times. In 2005, he was named Sophomore Agent of the Year for District 1. He was South Holland Agent of the Year in 2006. Amezcua maintains membership in the National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisers, GAMA International, Southwest Realty Board and the National Hispanic Corporate Council. He also serves on COUNTRY’s Diversity and Inclusion Task Force.
COUNTRY Financial was founded in 1925 as a fire and lightning insurance company. Today, COUNTRY Financial provides insurance services through a wide network of dedicated and independent agents all around the U.S. The company, formerly named COUNTRY Insurance & Financial Services, offers life and annuity, auto, homeowner, long term care, and business related policies as well as other traditional insurance products. Its COUNTRY Trust Bank also offers services and products such as retirement planning, education funding, investment advices, asset management, and mutual funds. COUNTRY Financial donates to organizations at the national and regional levels that help communities thrive, from improving people’s health, to helping families achieve financial security, to offering educational programs and much more.
Laura Swapp
Global Director, Diversity & Inclusion at Starbucks Coffee Company
Laura Swapp is currently the Global Director of Diversity and Inclusion for Starbucks Coffee Company. Swapp is responsible for leading company-wide strategy to operationalize Starbucks second guiding principle: to embrace diversity as an essential component in the way we do business. She is accountable for the company’s Partner Networks, Diversity Leadership Teams, executive engagement, speaker series, diversity and inclusion education platform, external relationships and functional integration.
Swapp is a native Californian who received her Bachelor of Arts from University of California at San Diego in Anthropology. She obtained her Masters in Applied Sociology from California State University San Marcos. Her advance degreed focused on the impact of race and gender in organizations. She was a founding member of The Community Action Research Center, an organization committed to providing consulting services free of charge to community service agencies. She currently serves on The Conference Board’s Council for Workforce Diversity and on the Board of Powerful Voices, a Seattle-based nonprofit that fosters adolescent girls’ development by providing programs and actively challenging social injustices.
Starbucks Coffee Company is the world's #1 specialty coffee retailer, Starbucks has more than 16,000 coffee shops in more than 35 countries. The outlets offer coffee drinks and food items, as well as roasted beans, coffee accessories, and teas. Starbucks owns more than 8,500 of its shops, which are located in about 10 countries (mostly in the US), while licensees and franchisees operate more than 6,500 units worldwide (primarily in shopping centers and airports). The company also owns the Seattle's Best Coffee and Torrefazione Italia coffee brands. In addition, Starbucks markets its coffee through grocery stores and licenses its brand for other food and beverage products.
Welcome NHCC Staff Members
Claudia L. Torres
Communications Coordinator
Claudia L. Torres is a naturalized U.S. citizen born in Lima, Peru; her family immigrated to the United States when she was 11 years old. Claudia earned a bachelor’s degree from James Madison University, Harrisonburg, VA. She majored in Public Policy & Administration and minored in Spanish and Women Studies. Last summer Claudia was the recipient of a NHCC LOFT internship sponsored by The Sprint Foundation. Claudia attended our fall member meeting hosted by Hyatt Hotels Corp. As Communications Coordinator, she is responsible for member communications. She conducts research and develops text in addition to planning and editing communications and publicity for both internal and external distribution including electronic and web-based messaging. Claudia lives in Arlington, VA. Welcome to the NHCC family Claudia!
Miguel Ramon Salazar
Member Services, Intern
Miguel Salazar is a rising junior in The Columbian College of Arts and Sciences at The George Washington University, with double majors in Latin American and Hemispheric Studies and History with a minor in Political Science. Miguel was born and raised in San Antonio, Texas. His mother, a native of Dallas, Texas, and his father from Saltillo, Coahuila, Mexico ensured that Miguel be fully bilingual. Miguel has aspirations to work in the government arena focusing on, International Relations, Immigration, International Development, Civil Rights, Policy Development, or International Law. Miguel plans to continue his education by pursuing a Juris Doctorate degree. Miguel is currently NHCC’S Member Services representative. He corresponds with NHCC members and designs multimedia projects for distribution. Miguel, welcome aboard!
Member News
Marriott International Gives Back to Students
July 29, 2008- Marriott International will launch a $100,000 scholarship fund for diverse students pursuing an education in the hospitality industry. The “Alice S. Marriott” scholarship will be managed by the Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority and will award $25,000 to its recipients from 2008 to 2011. The scholarship program was named in honor of cofounder Alice S. Marriott, who founded the Marriott Corporation with her husband, J. Willard Marriott. The program will mirror the spirit of Marriott, whose passion for philanthropy is an essential part of the hotel corporation's values.
For article visit http://www.diversityinc.com/public/3907.cfm
Microsoft's Diversity Program Clicks into High Speed
July 30, 2008- In its efforts to reach a higher level of diversity, Microsoft is boosting the diversity-recruiting budget and increasing the staff handling diversity recruiting. After increasing its vendor and employment diversity, Microsoft is catching up with other corporations that place a great deal of importance in diversity. Jose Pinero, Director of Multicultural Marketing, Microsoft believes that a “diverse workforce that includes Hispanics helps Microsoft market products and services to ethnic communities.” Every year the number of Hispanic employees, managers and executives escalates; currently Microsoft has eight Hispanic corporate vice presidents. One of Microsoft’s diversity goals is to bring aboard more Hispanic executives and manager to help the company develop and market products that appeal and services the Hispanic consumer.
For article visit
http://www.hispanicbusiness.com/news/2008/7/30/microsofts_diversity_program_clicks_into_high.htm
Other News
Hispanic Marketing Communication Course Online
After three successful semesters, the online course in Hispanic Marketing Communication will be offered again this fall by the Florida State University Center for Hispanic Marketing Communication. The center is headed by Dr. Felipe Korzenny, NHCC presenter and pioneer in Hispanic Marketing online education. The fall session is fifteen weeks, with classes beginning August 25 and ending December 5. Topics will cover cultural identity and its impact on consumer behavior, language use, Hispanic cultural insights for marketing, and case studies relating to Hispanic marketing. The course will also address research and marketing strategies. Upon completion, a certificate will be issued.
For application information contact Danielle Kress at inquiries@campus.fsu.edu or by phone at 850-645-5639.
Member Highlights
Yolanda Casey, Retail Merchandising Program Leader at Hallmark Cards, Inc.
and NHCC Chair-Elect is our highlighted member of the month. Thank you
Yolanda for your contributions to NHCC and all your hard work.
For complete Member Highlight visit http://nhcchq.org/memberhighlight/Yolanda_Medina_Casey.asp
Congratulations NHCC Members
DiversityInc’s Top 50 List entirely driven by metrics obtained in a detailed survey ranks companies with consistent strength in four areas: CEO Commitment, Human Capital, Corporate and Organizational Communications, and Supplier Diversity.
Hispanic Business´ Top 40 Companies measures a company's commitment to Hispanics in the workplace. Top 40 Companies list is based on an in-depth analysis of 30 critical statistics, examining how companies reach Hispanics in recruitment, promotion, retention, procurement, community support, and consumer marketing.
NHCC is proud to recognize our member companies for their selection to the following top lists
|
|
Register Now!
Atlanta Member Meeting
October 21-23, 2008
Turner Broadcasting System
Techwood Campus
Atlanta, GA
View our Meeting Agenda. Register on line.
It’s time to register for our fall member meeting, Oct. 21-23, 2008 to be held at the Omni Hotel at CNN Center in Atlanta, GA. The conference theme is “Hispanic Marketing: The Convergence of Traditional and New Media” with the Think Tank spotlighting Corporate Social Responsibility at Georgia Tech University. Register at www.nhcchq.org.
Sponsorships available, please contact Carlos Soto or Helen Trinidad for levels and benefits. We are seeking promotional items for the conference and school visit bags, 100 for each event. Email htrinidad@nhcc-hq.org if interested.
Thank you to Turner Broadcasting System for hosting our 2008 fall member meeting.