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There is no doubt the digital media universe continues to shift and evolve with the constant introduction of new platforms and ways for consumers to engage.

Marketers looking for a massive demographic embracing this shifting landscape needs look no further than U.S. Hispanics. A community 52 million strong, representing 17 percent of all Americans, Hispanics are a marketer's dream: digitally savvy, young and socially connected.

Indeed, it's no secret that Hispanics are tech-forward. Digitally, Hispanics far over-index non-Hispanics. For example, smartphones are indispensable to their lifestyles, with the vast majority (72 percent) owing at least one device, according to a recent Nielsen Mobile Media Marketplace study. Web video? Hispanics watch 62 percent more digital video than non-Hispanics, according to Nielsen’s Cross-Platform Report. READ MORE

The growing influence of Hispanics is front and center at “upfront week,” an annual event where media companies try to interest advertisers.

According to the New York Times, companies that feature online entertainment have been increasing their appeal to Hispanic audiences as a way to increase revenue.

Cesar Conde of Univision told the Times that, “everything we’re thinking about, we’re thinking about with our digital hat on.” READ MORE

Alma Molina is a 27-year-old recent Ivy League graduate and self-employed entrepreneur.
She’s also uninsured.

"I'm just hoping I don't catch a cold," Molina said. She is a first generation Hispanic-American and she feels it is her job to explain the 2,700-page Affordable Care Act, also referred to as ACA or “Obamacare,” to her family, including her also self-employed mother.

Molina lost her health insurance two months ago, after the politician she was working for lost his re-election campaign. Now in the middle of starting her own marketing and digital strategy business, she cannot get coverage under her parents’ insurance because she is older than 26. And she does not want to apply for government assistance like Medicaid because, she earnestly pointed out, others need the help more than she does.

Just five months before Molina can begin to enroll in health insurance exchanges, where people who don't have insurance through their jobs will be able to shop around for insurance, it's clear that the burden of understanding Obamacare has shifted from the hallways of Congress to the hungry millennial techies and shops on Main Street, who must come to terms with new regulations, costs and uncertainty.
Healthcare Reform 101 is happening in webinars and conferences all over the country, as millions of everyday Americans attempt to educate themselves about a complex law that continues to befuddle politicians and lawyers alike. READ MORE

impreMedia and Latino Decisions in conjunction with The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, Health Policy Center, today released key findings of a national Latino poll indicating that less than a quarter of Latinos feel well informed about the Affordable Care Act (ACA).

The results of the tracking poll were released as part of the “We The People, Health Care Symposium” sponsored by impreMedia, The Latino Coalition and AltaMed, held today in Washington, D.C. With more than 46 million uninsured people living in the U.S., nearly 35% of the uninsured are Latinos. The symposium brought a collective group of some of the country’s top medical experts, business leaders and advocates to discuss how healthcare under the ACA will play a heightened role in the lives of Latinos across the country.

Signed into law by President Barack Obama in 2010, the ACA is landmark legislation including comprehensive health care reforms that will roll out through 2014. However, the impreMedia-Latino Decisions poll found that 69% of Latinos think the ACA is confusing and complicated. When asked to name different parts of the ACA, 71% of respondents said, “don’t know” yet 89% said they are interested in learning more about the law.

“This is a watershed moment in the American health care system and sadly Latinos are feeling left out,” said Monica Lozano, CEO of impreMedia. “It is imperative that Latinos understand how the changes under this law will impact them, and how to make the informed decisions for themselves, their businesses and their families.”

Only 13% of Latinos believe that public officials took the needs of the Latino community into account during the ACA debate and bill passage. Despite having limited awareness about the legislation, 75% indicated that the ACA would be good for the Latino community in the long run. READ MORE

Latino small business owners are increasing in number. But the Latino business community still lacks access to that -oh-so-important resource: capital.

Latinos are one of the fastest-growing segments of small business owners in the United States. Estimates suggest by the end of the decade there could be as many as 12 million small businesses owned by Latinos.

A recent report from Biz2Credit, a website connecting small businesses with lenders, suggests assistance is needed to give Latino and other small business owners greater access to the capital they need.

The “Biz2Credit Small Business Lending Index” from March 2013 shows loan approval rates increased for the fourth consecutive month at small banks. Those rates reached an all-time index high of 50.8%. Rohit Arora, co-founder of Biz2Credit.com, says the numbers suggest the recovery is starting to bring relief to some small business owners. READ MORE

The small business sector of the United States currently employs 60 million Americans full of entrepreneurial spirit, invaluable experiences and encouraging solutions for the expansion and growth of our economy.
Small businesses are the engine of our nation's economic prosperity.

They employ about half of all private sector employees, and they create nearly two-thirds of all new jobs. By far, they are the most significant, most populated and therefore the most potentially powerful sector of our economy and our electorate.

Hispanic Americans are a major force in this small business sector with 3 million Latino-owned companies and over $500 billion in revenue.

As administrator of the U.S. Small Business Administration, I led an organization that exceeded all previous records in small business loans, women and minority owned business support and private-public sector procurement opportunities, guaranteeing loans totaling more than $60 billion. READ MORE

As recognition for the role of Latina Women in society, Verizon Wireless has launched the “Nueva Latina Estrella Award” program.  The winners will be revealed during the 9^th celebration of “Global Latino Fest”, which will take place on Friday, October 11, 2013.

At this event, which is part of the festivities during Hispanic Heritage Month, Verizon recognizes professional women leaders who embrace creativity and integrity, and have shown success in the fields of technology, business, education, and community service.  Nominations are being accepted in the following cities: Chicago, Minneapolis, Kansas City, Cleveland and Milwaukee.

The deadline to submit nominations is August 30^th, 2013, during which a committee will select semifinalists in each category and finally select winners in the four categories. The contest will reward each winner with $1,000 and a Verizon Wireless 4G LTE Smartphone.

The Committee will be composed of individuals from the city of Chicago, Minneapolis, Kansas City, Cleveland and Milwaukee who work in various industries, including business, education, community service, healthcare, government services and media.

“Verizon recognizes the important role of professional Latina women in society,” expressed Miguel Bassaíl, Midwest Area multicultural marketing manager at Verizon. “We are proud to be able to recognize these leaders who have contributed so much in their industries and communities.

With this initiative Verizon highlights the Latina of today, who is bilingual, bicultural, and college graduate.  They are women who embrace their culture and heritage, and at the same time advance in their distinct industries by gaining experience and serving their community.

Verizon invites all who know or work with a distinguished Latina professional to visit www.VerizonInsider.com/NuevaLatina and nominate your Nueva Latina and/or find more information regarding this program and Verizon Wireless.

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About Verizon Wireless

Verizon Wireless operates the nation’s largest 4G LTE network and largest, most reliable 3G network. The company serves 98.2 million retail customers, including 92.5 million retail postpaid customers.  Headquartered in Basking Ridge, N.J., with more than 73,000 employees nationwide, Verizon Wireless is a joint venture of Verizon Communications (NYSE, NASDAQ: VZ) and Vodafone (LSE, NASDAQ: VOD).  For more information, visit www.verizonwireless.com. To preview and request broadcast-quality video footage and high-resolution stills of Verizon Wireless operations, log on to the Verizon Wireless Multimedia Library at www.verizonwireless.com/multimedia.

The history of Latin American emigration is best told over lunch. Taco and tostada stalls have spread across the United States because 12m Mexicans have settled there. In Madrid, steaks sizzle on parrillas tended by Argentines who fled the economic crisis of the early 2000s. To wash such delicacies down, bars in any big city serve mojitos mixed by Cuban exiles.

These days culinary ideas flow both ways. Mexico City is full of Spanish tapas bars. New Portuguese bakeries are springing up in São Paulo. Even American eateries are proliferating south of the border. The reason is that Latin America has become a destination as well as departure point for enterprising migrants.

As rich countries stagnate, they cease to be magnets for mobile hands and brains. Net migration from Mexico to the United States has fallen to roughly zero. In Spain, where more than half of young people are unemployed, the number emigrating each year to Latin America trebled in the five years to 2011. “Necessity has made them overcome the fear of moving abroad for work,” says Juan José Ribas, a Spaniard based in Costa Rica as regional head of Barceló, a Spanish travel company with 29 hotels in Latin America. READ MORE

Good news, the digital divide is closing for Hispanics. The Pew Hispanic Center recently published an encouraging report that indicates that the digital divide is shrinking due in large part to rapid Hispanic mobile adoption and strong usage of social networking sites. For marketers, the report should be another clear indication that it is time to get serious about investing in the U.S. Hispanic digital market.

Hispanic internet, smartphone and social media usage

From the highest level, the report finds that usage of the Internet among U.S. Hispanics jumped 14 percentage points between 2009 and 2012. Today, a full 78% of U.S. Hispanics use the Internet compared to 87% of non-Hispanic whites. When it comes to smartphone and social media usage, Hispanics are actually ahead of non-Hispanic whites. Today, 49% of Hispanic adults own a smartphone vs. 46% of non-Hispanics whites. What’s more, Hispanics are more active on their mobile devices with 76% of them accessing the Internet via mobile vs. 60% of non-Hispanic whites. In terms of social media usage, 68% of Hispanics use social networking sites vs. 66% of non-Hispanic whites. READ MORE

For the fifth straight year, Milwaukee-based Harley-Davidson Inc. was the No. 1 seller of new street motorcycles (all engine sizes) in the United States to young adults ages, 18-34, women, African-Americans and Hispanics, as well as Caucasian men ages 35 plus. The newly available data from Polk shows that Harley-Davidson experienced a double-digit market share gain from 2008 to 2012 in the U.S. with these customer groups.

Harley-Davidson chief marketing officer Mark-Hans Richer attributes the company's success to its unique purpose.

"We don't just build motorcycles. We fuel personal freedom," Richer said. "The desire for individual expression draws customers from all walks of life because it's a universal, human value that transcends cultures, generations and history."

In 2012, sales of new Harley-Davidson motorcycles grew in each of the company's key U.S. customer segments. Altogether, Harley-Davidson's U.S. sales to young adults, women, African Americans and Hispanics grew at more than twice the rate of sales to Caucasian men 35 plus. READ MORE

Authenticity and a family-friendly atmosphere are key restaurant qualities for Hispanic consumers, according to new research from Chicago-based Technomic, Inc.

Seventy-one per cent of Hispanic consumers said meals at Mexican or other Hispanic restaurants should taste authentic, and 44% said they would pay more for food described as authentic, compared with 21% of the general population. Carne asada, burritos and tacos were deemed top dishes in the survey.

Additionally, 69% of Hispanic consumers said that restaurants are an ideal venue for quality time with family, compared with 52% of the general population. When choosing where to eat, 46% of Hispanic diners seek a family-friendly atmosphere, compared with 33% of all U.S. consumers. READ MORE

Hispanics are an important factor for the housing market recovery in the U.S., according to a report by the National Association of Hispanic Real Estate Professionals (NAHREP).

The "2012 State of the Hispanic Homeownership" report states that in 2012 Hispanics accounted for more than half of new homeowners.

The NAHREP says Hispanics have made progress in the labor sector, income level and education.

Because of this, Hispanics are ready to take the lead in the purchase of a home, generating a demand that would foster a sustained recovery of the housing market. However, the NAHREP also says that Hispanic buyers face two obstacles: the lack of homes to purchase, and government and corporate policies that tend to favor investors.

In 2012, almost half of homes valued at $250,000 or less were purchased by investors, including Wall Street firms, according to the report. READ MORE

Whether it’s served hot or iced, black or con leche, one thing is certain: Latinos love their coffee. And a new study out by the National Coffee Association (NCA) is saying just how much.

According to the NCA’s National Coffee Drinking Trends 2013 market study, Hispanics are leading the way in coffee consumption. A whopping 67 percent of Hispanics said they drank coffee the day before. That number is 13 percentage points ahead of the population, with 47 percent of African-Americans and 64 percent of Caucasian Americans reporting drinking coffee up the day before.

The NCA has conducted the market study annually since 1950, but this is only the second year that they included ethnicity. This year, the study was designed to be more reflective of the United States population and involved 2,840 adults with ethnicities proportionate to the U.S. population’s makeup. Hispanics topped coffee consumption last year as well. READ MORE

Cencosud's President Horst Paulmann, gave his view on the current economic situation in Latin America and outlined important facts about the economic development of his holding. "Latin America is the darling of the moment," Paulmann said, noting that the area is the best place in the world to do business.

As part of the Recon Latin America event, the businessman said that Peru and Colombia have, intelligently, engaged in an open market and that the interest in the domestic economy lies in the policy of opening the markets that the governments in power have maintained.

Moreover, he also mentioned that the Brazilian market is complicated because each province was an independent state with different taxes but, he added, due to its size, Brazil would play an important role in South America. READ MORE

Progressing

On Monday, April 30^th, 2012 the Wall Street Journal published the article:  “More Women are Primed to Land CEO Roles”. Based on the their blogs, authors Joann S. Lublin and A. Kelly Eggers have followed this topic for a couple of years, and their conclusion was rather stimulating.

It is true that only 35 women hold the top job at Fortune 1000 companies as of 2012.   Yet, this is progress.  As recent as 2009, when the first African-American woman became CEO of a Fortune 500 company, Ms Ursula Burns at Xerox Corp., there were only 22 CEO seats held by women, a welcome movement in the right direction.

About 73% of Fortune 500 companies now have at least one female executive officer, although women make up only 14% of all executive officers, quoted the article from research firm Catalyst Group.  Even better news is that according to a McKinsey & Co. study for WSJ, 24% of senior vice presidents at 58 big corporations are women.  The WSJ article then highlighted ten women — an incomplete list of course — who are likely to land a role of CEO in the coming years.  These women represent the pipeline of the future.  Not one was a Latina.

Similarly the Fortune October 17, 2011 issue named that year’s “The 50 Most Powerful Women”. Not one was a Latina.

Why?  Aren’t qualified Hispanic female business executives around?  Are they known?  Even if they are now at senior executive positions at publicly held corporations, have they had the profit and loss management experience considered ‘de rigueur’ to even qualify for the pipeline? Have they even been considered for such experiences? What would it take to compete for top posts in the near future?

Continue reading:  Latina Leaders: An Untapped Business Asset

Latinos are the fastest growing ethnic group in the U.S. and also have experienced the most significant growth among small businesses. In fact, Latino-owned companies comprise 3 million U.S. businesses, and that figure doubles every five years. These companies generate an estimated $500 billion in sales annually. Demographers are predicting that by 2020, there will be about 12 million Latino-owned businesses.

While the number of businesses owned by Latinos continues to rise, the challenges in securing capital have not shrunk. This week, former SBA Chief Hector Barreto, now the chairman of The Latino Coalition, met with me at Biz2Credit’s offices in New York to discuss how to increase the flow of capital to entrepreneurs in his community. READ MORE

Ten years ago at the University of Texas, students Laura Donnelly Gonzalez and Alicia Rascon were asked to create media that empowered Latinos.

“Both of us noticed the lack of magazines that were inclusive of young Latinas and presented positive images of young Latinas, so we decided to develop Latinitas Magazine in that class,” Gonzalez says.

Rascon felt there were serious issues in her community that needed to be addressed and that girls were really lacking resources. “I felt that media was a perfect outlet to empower girls, help break some of the stereotypes, and help represent our community,” she says. READ MORE

A recent study shows that, while Hispanic Americans feel more confident about their financial futures than the population in general, they want more financial information and assistance.

A recent study, conducted jointly by New York Life Insurance Co. and market research firm Ipsos Public Affairs, shows 84% of Hispanic adults surveyed expect improvements in their families’ financial lives in the next four years.

That compares to only 68% of the general population, the study shows. But, according to at least one New York Life executive, the more important numbers the study uncovered show a dearth of financial understanding between the two populations. READ MORE

It's not always about you.

That's what a national speaker who formerly oversaw civil right programs for the U.S. Department of Labor had to say Wednesday night about economic development, immigration and leadership challenges in the Midwest.

When Roberto Carmona thinks about how far he has come, he remembers that his father didn't sweat for the steel mill for 30 years so he could throw it all away.

"Get the message out. Focus on serving," he said. "It doesn't matter where you start. It's where you finish."

Carmona gave the talk to a group of about 40 people at Mexico Antiguo, 25 W. Main St. For nearly 20 years, Carmon, a Harvard graduate, has provided business development, client management and executive coaching for non-profits, higher education and Fortune 500 businesses. READ MORE

Hispanic home ownership is skyrocketing, providing an important driver to the rebounding U.S. housing market, according to a new study by the National Association of Hispanic Real Estate Professionals.

Hispanics accounted for 355,000, or 51 percent, of the total net increase of 693,000 owner households in the U.S. in 2012, the study found.

From 2000 to 2012, Hispanic homeownership increased 58 percent, from 4.2 million to 6.7 million homes. The non-Hispanic U.S. population reported just a five percent increase during the same period.

The Hispanic community has remained remarkably resilient during the soft economy, according to Gary Acosta, chief executive of NAHREP and editor of the study. Hispanics view homeownership as a status symbol, with 56 percent of respondents to the survey saying that homes are seen as a symbol of success, which is a major motivation for buying, he said. Less than a third of non-Hispanics offered the same view. READ MORE