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Meet Pamela Maria Wright — the "contemporary Latina consumer." She has two kids — Nico and Rita — whom she hopes will be bilingual, as she is. She's a tech-savvy working professional with a master's degree, but she's also very traditional and family-oriented. (While I was visiting her home, her father showed up for a surprise visit. "How much more Latino can you get?" Wright asked.)

Wright not only consumes her media in English and Spanish, she also buys groceries biculturally. She'll hit up Whole Foods for organic milk, Greek yogurt and kale, and the Mexican family-owned grocery chain Northgate González for stuff like queso quesadilla and queso fresco — items, as she puts it, "that you can't find in an American store." READ MORE

The federal government is notorious for missing its goal of awarding 23 percent of contracts to small businesses, a target that Washington has missed for at least seven straight years. The government also sets targets for granting contracts to businesses owned by women, minorities, service-disabled veterans, and firms located in disadvantaged neighborhoods. Some agencies are better than others at hitting these goals, but on the whole, the results aren’t very inspiring.

Danielle Ivory’s story in Bloomberg News today on government contracting to black- and Hispanic-owned businesses asks if government contracting can even keep up with the growing Hispanic population... READ MORE

As of this May, nearly three out of every four online Americans used social networking sites according to new research from Pew Internet. This number jumped 7.5% from late 2012 when two-thirds (67%) of adults used social sites. So, how far have we come? Well, back in 2005 just 8% of adults used social networking sites:

This number skews slightly toward women as 74% of online American women use networking sites versus the 70% of men. The Hispanic demographic leads the way in social networking with 80% of online Hispanics using social networking sites compared to 75% of the “Black, Non-Hispanic” group and 70% of the “White, Non-Hispanic” group.

Social networking adoption rates of seniors 65 and older have tripled in the last four years, up to 43% from 13% in 2009. However, the 18-29 demographic still leads the way with 89% of users on social networking sites: READ MORE

Hispanics are the demographic most engaged with mobile devices, yet far too many feel that brands aren't doing enough to make their apps accessible to Spanish speakers.

In a recent survey that our agency commissioned by the research agency YouGov, 45% of fluent Spanish speakers aged 18-34 said they felt this way. Among all the 500 Hispanics polled, nearly one out of four (22%) said that they would be much more interested in learning about a brand and its offerings if that brand offered an app in Spanish.

It's actually a large base of Hispanics that speak Spanish fluently . YouGov estimates that 45 of the 52 million Hispanics in the United States (86.5%) speak Spanish as a first or second language. And, according to the Nielsen Mobile Hispanic Insights, Hispanics are 28 percent more likely to own a smartphone than non-Hispanics. Hispanics over-index on mobile activity, especially when it comes to time spent on mobile apps. READ MORE

Latin America, where 1 in 3 people already have Facebook accounts, will increasingly drive the social network’s global profits.

That is according to Alexandre Hohagen, Facebook’s vice president for the region, in an exclusive interview with Reuters’ Spanish-language service, in which he highlighted both Latin America’s already heavy use of the website and its potential for growth.

On Wednesday, shares in the world’s largest social network finally surpassed their value when they debuted on the stock exchange in May 2012, powered by major growth in smartphone advertising revenue.

“We [Latin America] have had an important role in the growth of those company results,” Hohagen, a 45-year-old Brazilian, told Reuters. “And we are still far from the ceiling. We are a region of 600 million people where 250 million people have still never connected to the internet.” READ MORE

Entrepreneurs have been a driving force behind the global economic recovery. They bring energy, passion and innovative ideas that can help solve some of our most pressing problems. In Latin America, startups are the hope for the future. In Brazil alone, some 65 percent of young people say they plan to start their own businesses.

Technology companies, entrepreneurs and investors alike are looking to Brazil as a place for future growth in the region. Brazil’s successful startup culture is due in part to recent government incentives and programs designed to help entrepreneurs launch their businesses. More important than government assistance or encouragement, though, is the innovative spirit entrepreneurs bring to their ventures.

During my 30 years in the consumer electronics industry, I’ve seen plenty of businesses start and fail, and I’ve noted some universal characteristics among the businesses that succeed. The key to success is not government aid – although too many government regulations can stifle startups before they ever get off the ground. READ MORE

Some industries are missing out on a critical growth opportunity by overlooking the purchasing power of Hispanic women.

Guests gathered downtown at the JW Marriott Marquis Thursday morning to watch a presentation of “Latina Power Shift,” a new report by the Nielsen Company.

Hispanic income is on the rise, the report says. Twenty-one percent of households earn $75,000 or more yearly, which corresponds with a drop in incomes below $25,000.

“The Hispanic population spends $1.2 trillion annually. In a survey that we conducted, 86 percent of respondents said that Latinas control household spending. So Latinas dominate the lion share of that $1.2 trillion,” said Monica Gil, Nielsen’s senior vice president of public affairs and government relations.

Nestled in those trillions, Hispanic women are spending money on fashion footwear faster than their population is growing, said Marshal Cohen, industry analyst with the NPD Group, Inc. “That’s an early indicator that footwear is moving forward, and the industry isn’t looking at that well enough,” he said.

Retailers and manufacturers must focus on Hispanic markets to understand what is driving the growth, Cohen said. READ MORE

Two or three decades ago, Sylvia Puente could gain visibility in Chicago with relative ease. But that’s because so few other Latinas in the city held leadership positions.

“What it’s taken me 25 years to do, I see it happening for younger women in a much shorter period of time,” said Puente, 54, who directs the Latino Policy Forum, an advocacy organization.

Today, some of those trailblazers say they and others should feel obligated to mentor that growing Latina workforce into a new generation of Latina leaders.

“I truly believe that as Latina women we need to help our fellow Latina women,” said Juana Ballesteros, 37, a manager at Alivio Medical Center, which helps uninsured patients in Little Village, Pilsen and Cicero. READ MORE

Dr. Juan Andrade, President, United States Hispanic Leadership Institute

USHLI is led by Dr. Juan Andrade, Jr., one of only two Latinos in history to receive a Presidential Medal "for the performance of exemplary deeds of service for the nation" and "promoting leadership and civic participation," and the 11th Latino in history to be decorated by a U.S. President (Bill Clinton).

In May 2011, Dr. Andrade became the 4th Latino in history to be decorated by both the government of Mexico and the government of the United States, when he received the Ohtli Award, Mexico’s highest honor presented to a civilian not living in Mexico “in recognition of his contributions to the empowerment of the Mexican and Mexican-American communities in the United States.”His predecessors include the late Cesar E. Chavez, the late Dr. Hector Garcia, and the late Mario Obledo.

Omar Duque, President & CEO, Illinois Hispanic Chamber of Commerce 

Omar Duque is the President & CEO of the Illinois Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (IHCC), the leading Hispanic business, networking, advocacy and development organization in Illinois. 

Duque is a member of the Board of Trustees of Northeastern Illinois University where he serves as the Secretary of the Board as well as Chairman of the University’s finance committee. Duque is a member of the state of Illinois’ Business Enterprise Council as well as a Mayoral appointee to the City of Chicago’s Community Development Commission. He previously served on the Illinois Legislative Latino Caucus Foundation board, on the state of Illinois Economic Recovery Commission and the City of Chicago’s Affirmative Action Advisory Board.

Duque has served as an advisor on major economic development projects in the Chicago area. Duque has also served as a communications and public relations advisor. He has experience in government and has served as an advisor to different elected leaders. In 2011 Duque was recognized by the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Minority Business Development Agency as the 2011 Minority Business Advocate of the Year.

Susana Gonzalez, President, Illinois Hispanic Nurses Association 

Susana González is the Director of Women’s Services at MacNeal Hospital in Berwyn Illinois. In this role she is responsible for developing and leading her department to great quality care, nursing services, & promoting educational gains. In addition, she has extensive knowledge in program management, resource development, public policy and advocacy, and community health outreach program development. She has progressive supervisory experience in directing; managing, and providing leadership in many settings. Susana directs & sets standards for the delivery of competent, humane, and individualized nursing care to patients and families. She enjoys the challenges of creating a culture, which promotes professional growth and development in her staff.

Throughout her career Susana has role modeled true servant leadership and served on various committees and board of directors of great organizations. She has been loyal and active on issues that relate to women, youth, children, and the nursing profession. She is active on several advisory committees for Illinois Latino elected officials and participates with policy recommendations; addressing issues of main concern for their constituents.

Susana volunteers on several board of directors; such as the March of dimes, Chicago Chapter, the Chicago bilingual Nurse Consortium, Mujeres Latinas en Acción, and currently is the president, of the Illinois Hispanic Nurses Association (IHNA) a National Association of Hispanics nurses (NAHN) chapter and she serves on the NAHN scholarships & awards committee. In addition, she is an active member of the Illinois Organization of Nurse leaders (IONL).

Kisha Tate, Director of Strategic Partnerships, National Sales Network

Kisha Tate is the National Officer Director of Strategic Partnership with National Sales Network (NSN). In this role, she leads the development of building strategic partnerships with key professional associations with local NSN chapters to support NSN Conference and Diversity Career Fair and other major organizational initiatives. Kisha is a dynamic and highly skilled Healthcare Leader with broad experience in the clinical, pharmaceutical, and business sector. Before joining Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, she spent her career in various healthcare leadership positions with companies such as Pfizer, Roche, Favorite Healthcare Staffing and NYU Medical Center. Kisha holds a MBA degree in Global Management from the University of Phoenix and Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing with Hampton University.

In the western reaches of Miami-Dade County, the two powerhouses of American Hispanic TV have been working at full swing since dawn.

At the Univision studios in Doral, the five hosts of Despierta América (Wake Up America ) are throwing their daily four-hour party. The show kicks off at 7 a.m., defying drowsiness with raucous skits, musical performances and celebrity guests. The format is increasingly popular; the show’s audience — almost 900,000 viewers — grew 22 percent from last season to the current one, according to ratings company Nielsen.

This studio is also home to two other live Univision blockbusters. In the evenings, veteran variety show El Gordo y la Flaca (The Fat Guy and The Skinny Lady) plays to an average of 1.4 million viewers. Sábado Gigante (Giant Saturday), the longest-running TV show in any language dating from 1962 —is followed by 2.2 million people.

Three miles away, at the Hialeah studios of Telemundo, telenovelas are the stars. Dozens of extras wait in line to take part in a restaurant scene for Marido en Alquiler (Husband for Hire), READ MORE

The rapid rise and overall size of the U.S. Hispanic population has received headline after headline in recent years. It is well-known and widely accepted that companies doing business in the U.S. need to pay careful attention to this audience for their bottom lines today, and even more so tomorrow.

What has gotten a little less attention are the changing social dynamics of this group. Contemporary Latinos are more educated, wealthier and have greater influence on mainstream America than they did just 10 years ago. A Conill research study earlier this year found that 78% of non-Hispanics and 74% of Latinos agree that Hispanics have had a great or moderate amount of influence on American culture. The rising affluence and influence of this group is even outpacing its own unprecedented growth rate, and the relative youth of the Hispanic population ensures that this trend will only accelerate in the coming decade. These are powerful truths that all marketers, particularly those of luxury and financial products and services should recognize. READ MORE

The Education Trust’s new mini-brief Intentionally Successful: Improving Minority Student College Graduation Rates reveals Hispanic college enrollment at four-year schools increased by 22 percent between 2009 and 2011. The increase in enrollment for non-Hispanic white students during the same timeframe was 2.7 percent.

Using college enrollment and graduation data from the U.S. Education Department, the study shows promise regarding bridging achievement and success gaps in higher education.

The Education Trust Director of Higher Education and Education Finance Policy Michael Dannenberg stressed success in college is not simply a function of student characteristics and high price does not necessarily equal high quality.

“What individual colleges do often can make all the difference in the world between a student graduating or leaving with a pile of debt and no degree,” Dannenberg said. “Demography is not destiny and what colleges do matters.” READ MORE

Bankrupt. Dangerous. Vacant.

Such adjectives are typical in describing the demise of Detroit, a metropolis that was once one of America’s greatest cities. But in a southwestern neighborhood of Detroit, the future of the Motor City takes on a different description.

Hopeful. Young. Hispanic.

As Detroit makes history as the largest American city to file for bankruptcy, there is a small glimmer of hope for the city: A Latino population that continues to grow and prosper.

Since 2000, Detroit’s population has plummeted by 26 percent and its unemployment rate has tripled. But in southwestern Detroit, nicknamed “Mexicantown,” the Latino population has grown and small business has flourished. Over the last 20 years, Detroit’s Hispanic population has grown by 70 percent, from 28,473 in 1990 to 48,679, according to the 2010 Census. The Hispanic community in Detroit is also young, with a median age of 24. READ MORE

An increasing number of Hispanics in the United States are getting their news in English, according to a report released on Tuesday by the Pew Hispanic Center.

Eighty-two percent of Latino adults surveyed said that at least some of the news they followed in 2012 was in English, an increase from 78 percent in 2006. Nearly a third of Hispanics, 32 percent, said they got their news exclusively in English, according to the report, compared with 22 percent in 2006. At the same time, the consumption of Spanish news decreased among Hispanic adults, with 68 percent saying they got some of their news in Spanish, compared with 78 percent in 2006.

Part of what is driving these changes is the shifting demographics among the 52 million Latinos in the United States. Immigration of Hispanics to the United States is slowing, and more of the Latino population was either born or raised in the United States, increasing the level of English fluency. READ MORE

The sizeable business opportunity related to Latinas in the U.S. sports industry will be examined during a high level session on Sunday, July 21st at the annual National Council of La Raza (NCLR) conference hosted in New Orleans, LA from July 20th – 23rd.

Executives representing MLB, NASCAR, MLBAM and FOX will share their views and business outlooks on the often-overlooked Latina market within sports. As professional leaders, consumers and fans, Hispanic women are not traditionally the target of sports related diversity efforts or sports marketing and advertising campaigns. This key group represents 8% of the U.S. population and holds the purse strings to an estimated $1.2 trillion of purchasing power and will rise to an estimated $1.5 trillion by 2015. They also attain advanced education at a rate of 61% (for Bachelor's Degree) that outpaces 56% of White females.
The session will be hosted and moderated by Jessica Priego, founder of JPriego Communications, a communications firm that specializes in multicultural sports and entertainment marketing nationally. "Bringing this unique discussion to the nation's largest gathering of Latino leaders and having the female sports power houses we do on our panel is very special and I know it will spark dialogue that will be good for Latinas and for businesses interested in connecting with Latinas through sports," said Jessica Priego. READ MORE

Customers at Janitzio Restaurant in Caldwell have a clear view into the kitchen where they can watch owner Maria Chavez at work.

Chavez likes it that way. Over the eight years she has been making meals for the people who come through her doors, she has grown close with her regular customers. Their children even refer to her as Grandma Maria.

“I love my job,” she said. “... This is my life and I’m very happy.” Chavez got her start working in other people’s restaurants, but it wasn’t what she wanted.

“I worked too many years in other restaurants,” Chavez said. “I told my husband I wanted to open my own.”
Her husband, Horacio Castillo, asked her if she was crazy, she said. Later, when she was fixing up the building their restaurant is in now at 313 S. Kimball Ave., Chavez said she did almost go crazy. The project involved tearing down walls and pulling up floors. READ MORE

Univision expects to claim a coveted title this month: the most-watched network on television.

The Spanish-language broadcaster leads the July ratings race for adult viewers under 50, beating out the “Big Four” for the No. 1 spot in prime time. On Monday, Univision launched a bragging blitz with an open letter to ABC, CBS, Fox and NBC declaring “Número Uno is the new Number One” and ending with the sign-off line: “We are the new American reality.”

This would be the first time Univision has outright won a “sweeps” period, loosely defined as a month where Nielsen collects especially detailed viewing data for advertisers. Nielsen hasn’t released its final prime-time ratings for the month, but preliminary numbers show Univision edging out the other networks in the under-50 category between the hours of 8 p.m. and 11 p.m.. Univision executives say their internal numbers show a July win is inevitable.

“Obviously, it’s an historic milestone for Univision, and frankly for Spanish-language media in general,’’ said Cesar Conde, president of Univision, which is headquartered in Doral. “It was a pretty substantial win.” READ MORE

Getting a personal introduction to a strategic investor or business partner means everything to an entrepreneur. Likewise, executives depend on being able to pick up the phone to get insights into a new market or find the world's greatest marketing guy.

Business life has always been about connections. Business leaders spend decades building and cultivating those relationships. They cherish their networks because they know it's their most valuable asset. And they're not about to do anything stupid to jeopardize them.

Unfortunately, you may be doing just that. If your networking strategy is simply to grow it, then you're likely doing more harm than good. Contrary to popular wisdom, bigger networks are not necessarily better networks. There are pitfalls I see too many of you falling into, these days.

Here are four ways to building and maintaining a network made up of strong, quality relationships that will last forever. READ MORE

David Segura, CEO of VisionIT Inc., a Detroit-based provider of information technology managed services and talent management solutions, gets quite a charge when he comes across stakeholders such as clients, customers, job candidates and vendors who are up-to-date about many of his company’s activities.

The leader of the Hispanic-owned firm that specializes in delivering services to Fortune 500 corporations and large government agencies, Segura is referring to the impact of social media and networking ¯ a brave new world of conversations, followers, fan pages, likes, tweets, re-tweets, video clips and instant images that is redefining how corporations are going about doing their business these days.

“Today, we live in a time where people are much more knowledgeable about our business and activities. There are times they will tell me about information they found about VisionIT and I’d say, ‘Wow, we’re doing that project right now,’ ” Segura said.

VisionIT was founded in 1997 with an initial mission to assist other companies and organizations to gain visibility online and leverage emerging media for business benefit, but Segura says social media is as vital for his firm’s strategic efforts in a number of areas, particularly as a certified, minority-owned business. READ MORE

Latinos outlive non-Hispanic whites in the United States by four years on average, and the disparity is even more striking in some states, according to a new report from Measure of America, a project of the Social Science Research Council.

In the Washington, D.C. metro area, for example, a Latino baby born today can expect to outlive a non-Hispanic white baby born on the same day by eight years. (That same baby will outlive an African-American baby by an incredible 13 years.)

Latinos live longer despite being less likely to have health insurance than whites, facing higher barriers in access to medical care, and experiencing higher poverty rates – a contradiction that has led researchers to dub it the "Hispanic mortality paradox." READ MORE