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As the holiday season approaches, many small business owners turn their attention to the holiday party circuit where networking is front and center. Holiday parties can be fun but most small business owners are focused on networking with a purpose. READ MORE AT ATLANTA SMALL BUSINESS NETWORK

The Casa Central Emerging Leaders Auxiliary Board (ELAB) is a network of young professionals in the Chicago area who volunteer their time and talent to support the programs, activities, and participants served by our organization.

As a member of the ELAB you will have the opportunity to contribute to the Casa Central mission, impact the lives of the people we serve and the opportunity to network with other professionals who share your passion for helping others. Meet the current ELAB cohort.

Applications are currently open! The deadline to apply is November 30, 2019.

Looking for a career change? Re-entering the workforce after taking time off? Regardless of your catalyst for change, creating a second act career is all about intention, defining what you want the next chapter of your life to be. READ MORE AT UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA NEWS

Education has been touted as the great equalizer, but Latinas are still playing catch-up when it comes to wages — even as they've made tremendous strides on the educational front.

Latinas who have obtained an associate degree or higher on average earn a third of what non-Hispanic white males with similar educational profiles earn. READ MORE AT NBC NEWS

If you are a Hispanic and planning to put up a business in U.S, then this article will help you as to what state in U.S. is the best place for Hispanic entrepreneurs. If you are living in Laredo, Texas, your business has a big chance to prosper and grow!

In an article published in INC, the Southern Texas City which in the North Bank of Rio Grande has a population of more or less 260,000 and the place is known as a prominent hub for Hispanic entrepreneurs. READ MORE AT LATIN POST

Real networking is the art of building meaningful relationships for shared positive outcomes. Whether you’ve made a single connection or collected a slew of business cards, it’s what happens after the initial encounter that determines success. If you’re not following up, you’re not networking. READ MORE AT TALENT DEVELOPMENT

Technology has made it easier for anyone to apply for a home loan, a process that until recently took weeks or even months to complete. Yet those innovations haven't completely eliminated one hurdle for many borrowers: bias.

A recent analysis of nearly 7 million 30-year mortgages by University of California at Berkeley researchers found that black and Latino applicants were charged higher interest — an average of nearly 0.08% — and heavier refinance fees when compared with white borrowers. READ MORE AT CBS NEWS

When it comes to your career, everyone will try to give you some advice, but like all advice, you should use your critical judgement before taking it to heart.

Often the advice reveals more about the person giving it than being helpful for you. Here are the top three worst pieces of career advice so you can spot them when someone tells them to you. READ MORE AT THRIVE GLOBAL

Diversity helps in bringing the right representation, and inclusion is a must to having these voices heard at the decision-making level.

An effective D&I program can serve as a springboard for an inclusive approach across all stakeholders, including not only employees but also suppliers, retailers and consumers. READ MORE AT FORBES

Read biographies of feature guests for the 2019 Championing a Diverse Workforce Networking Forum to be held Tuesday, November 19 at the media and conference lounge at the University of Phoenix. 

MODERATOR

Anayeli Ruiz, Bilingual Reporter, NBC & Telemundo Chicago

Anayeli Ruiz is a bilingual news reporter who joined NBC 5 and Telemundo Chicago in October of 2017.

Ruiz came to Chicago by way of Corpus Christi, Texas where she worked for the local NBC and Telemundo affiliate for 3 years.

Anayeli was born in Mexico City but was raised in Houston, Texas. She graduated from the University of Houston with a bachelor’s degree in Communications and Spanish.

DISCUSSION PANELISTS

Carlos Butler-Valle, Director of Diversity & Inclusion, McDonald's

In August of 2019, Carlos Butler-Vale joined McDonald’s to serve as Director in the company’s Global Diversity, Inclusion, and Community Engagement team. In his role, Butler-Vale supports Latinx partnerships, oversees operations of the company’s global employee business networks, and supports the work and focus of the U.S. Diversity Council. Prior to this, Butler-Vale served as Global Inclusion & Diversity Program Manager at Groupon, where he oversaw diversity recruitment and employee engagement, and multicultural customer outreach and merchant development. Butler-Vale is an advocate for inclusive corporate culture built on transparent and consistent talent and business practices.

Butler-Vale has served as a board member of the Chicago chapter of ALPFA (Association of Latino Professionals for America), the Illinois Technology Foundation, and the Illinois Diversity Council. Butler-Vale is involved with the Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce, where he has received recognition as an emerging leader. Butler-Vale is a Senior Certified Professional through the Society of Human Resource Management, has earned a certificate in Human Resources from Northwestern University and a certificate in Change Management from the Human Capital Institute, holds an MBA in Management and Human Resources, and served as the co-chair of the George Washington University Alumni Association network in Chicago for six years, where he earned his bachelor’s degree in International Affairs.

As a native of Puerto Rico, Butler-Vale’s passion for advancing diverse top talent comes from his own experiences, and he credits his career progression to incredible people who have supported his growth, exposed him to great opportunities, and encouraged him to take on new and different challenges.

Karina Mendez, Learning & Development Senior Consultant, Allstate

As the Leadership Development Program (LDP) manager, Karina aims to develop the pipeline of versatile leaders for Allstate, by designing and executing a rotational experience for early career professionals. She is dedicated to propelling their professional careers by creating an experience that exposes them to the meaningful tools, resources and leaders that enable them to seize successful futures. Karina has been with Allstate for six years and has always been a champion for Diversity and Inclusion. Karina is actively involved in Allstate’s Professional Latino Allstate Network, is a Posse Scholar, Mujeres de HACE candidate, and sits on the advisory board of the HighSight foundation. Her purpose in life is to inspire and enable other to chase after their dreams and live into their highest potential - personally, and professionally.

Meredith Morales, Senior Program Manager, Inclusion Recruiting, Innovation & Solutions, LinkedIn

Meredith Morales is a Senior Program Manager on LinkedIn’s Inclusion Recruitment Team, and has nearly 12 years of industry experience in the HR space as a dedicated Talent Acquisition Diversity and Inclusion Recruiter and Strategist. Prior to joining the LinkedIn Team, Meredith worked for the 5th largest wireless- telecom provider as Diverse Talent Manager, where she guided the organization through Diversity Recruitment Strategies externally and had a dual focus on enabling diverse internal succession slates for internal talent. Meredith also has experience in Financial Services and Consulting through her time with Aon Hewitt where she led a team of 12 and was accountable for Diversity & Campus Talent Strategies across North America. Prior to consulting, Meredith served as Senior Diversity Recruiter for The Federal Reserve System. Outside of her role with LinkedIn, Meredith serves as Vice President on the Executive Board of Chicago SHRM (Society of HR Management) , and also serves on the DePaul University MSHR Advisory Board. Prior to her career in HR, Meredith spent time in the Finance industry on Wall Street's New York Stock Exchange (NYSE).

Meredith holds a B.A. cum laude from Adelphi University in NY, and an M.A. from Northwestern University in Chicago.

Jacqueline Rodriguez, Chief of Staff, Groupon

Jackie is the Chief of Staff to the Chief Operating Officer at Groupon. As a Chief of Staff, Jackie works together with the COO on critical global priorities and works closely with leadership team to facilitate their execution. Aside from her role as Chief of Staff, Jackie is the Chair and Co-Founder of Groupon’s Latinx Business Resource Group, Groupon for Latinos. In this role, Jackie and her team have helped facilitate Groupon’s first Super Bowl ad in Spanish and assisted in the execution of Groupon’s Discover Pilsen campaign, where businesses in the Pilsen neighborhood were highlighted for an entire week on email, app, and social media to encourage Chicagoans to support local businesses and communities.

After graduating from University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign with a BA and Masters of Accounting Science and before beginning her career at Groupon, Jackie became a Certified Public Accountant and went to on to work as a Senior Auditor at Ernst & Young LLP--a professional services company specializing in auditing, technology and security risk.

In her free time, she volunteers as a Wish Granter at Make a Wish Foundation, serves as a Big Sister for the Big Brothers Big Sisters of America program. Jackie also loves to try new restaurants in the city, travel abroad, and watch social documentaries.

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Seniority is not necessarily proof of competence - there are individually many bad bosses even at the highest levels - but collectively, the leaders of our biggest firms must be doing something right.

Here are seven nuggets of career-enhancing wisdom from the C-suite. READ MORE AT MANAGEMENT TODAY

Lana Melendres-Groves, MD, stands just 5 feet 1½ inches tall, and has seldom – if ever – been described as physically imposing. But she has never let her stature hold her back.

At UNM, she was a Regents’ Scholar and a record-setting center midfielder for the women’s soccer team. After medical school and residency at UNM, she did advanced postdoctoral training at Stanford University in pulmonary vascular disease. READ MORE AT UNM HEALTH SCIENCES NEWSROOM

Surveys have shown that the priorities of young Latino workers often differ from millennials of other demographic groups. Here you'll find three common priorities, and how to show that your company takes these priorities seriously. READ MORE AT HRDIVE

When you’re asked to explain why you should be promoted, get a raise or have a new job, it can make you feel uncomfortable.

Why? Because you’re forced to talk about yourself — something mother told you never to do. Besides, who will believe you?

Well, there’s a better way to get noticed without having to say a word. READ MORE AT INSIDE BUSINESS

In the 21st century, digital literacy is no longer a luxury – it’s a necessity. Every day, we’re becoming more reliant on technology to accomplish basic tasks, from making doctors’ appointments, to paying bills, to applying for jobs, to communicating with friends and family. The ability to use computers and access, create, and share digital content is critical to thriving at work and in our daily lives. More than 8 in 10 jobs require some level of digital competency. Yet, according to a Pew Research Center report, 10% of American adults say they do not use the internet. That figure is higher for Hispanics and seniors: 14% of Hispanic adults in the U.S. and 27% of those 65 and older say that they do not use the internet. Household income is also a factor affecting internet adoption. Adults from lower income households are more likely to be offline than more affluent adults.

Here in Chicago – despite being a hotspot for innovation where the growth rate of tech startups has nearly tripled over the past decade – many communities are faced with these issues of digital exclusion. For the city to thrive it is imperative to train and upskill the current workforce to meet tomorrow’s needs. To do this, Verizon and Unidos.US have joined forces to build digital learning centers in major cities, starting with Chicago. The Chicago center is located at Northwest Side Housing in the Belmont Cragin neighborhood and is equipped with mobile technology, an educational curriculum, and professional services to help program participants become digitally competent in the workplace. The centers will also offer child care and lunches for those enrolled. Verizon and UnidosUS will also launch similar learning centers in Lawrenceville, Massachusetts, Seattle, Washington, and New Orleans, Louisiana.

Cities like Chicago are doing their part to combine efforts of local government, private companies and non-profits to take action to foster workforce readiness for underserved populations. For example, one group, the Chicago Citywide Literacy Coalition, has partnered with more than 15 local organizations to improve health and digital literacy among underrepresented groups. The coalition provides a free, one-year subscription to a digital literacy testing service aimed at older residents of the city. The service offers online training through personalized learning programs, and sets users up for success in our increasingly tech-based workforce.

These types of efforts along with Verizon and UnidosUS’s launch of new digital learning centers have the power to make a real impact on the workforce at a time when digital literacy skills are more crucial than ever. As our society becomes more digital, we must ensure that no community is left behind. By continuing to promote the effective initiatives funded by the city of Chicago, private companies, NGOs and others, we can help bridge the digital divide and prepare more residents for meaningful careers.

Janet Murguía is President and CEO of UnidosUS; Craig Silliman is EVP and chief administrative, legal and public policy officer of Verizon

Opportunities in the Diversity and Inclusion (D&I) industry are exploding. Over the past few years, more companies have been looking for people to diversify their employee base.

1. Companies are learning that diversity creates better products.
According to a recent study, diverse companies make 19 percent more revenue than companies that don’t value diversity. READ MORE AT KNOW YOUR VALUE

The rush from corporate America to recruit today badly needed Hispanic talent was quite evident last week in Phoenix, Arizona, where the Society of Hispanic Professionals Engineers (SHPE) was hosting their 43rd annual convention.

Although only 7% of Hispanics are part of the STEM workforce in the country, while the Hispanic population in the country is close to 20%, the pace to increase those numbers is gathering speed, propelled by the aging and retirement of the current workforce. READ MORE AT AL DIA

A new AARP survey has found that despite Hispanics spending nearly $7 billion in annual US sales, 69% of them report feeling that the beauty and personal grooming industry treats people their age as an afterthought.

The national survey, “Latinos and Beauty as We Age: A Cultural Reflection,” reveals that Hispanics aged 50 and over wish images in advertising and the media were more age-inclusive, and they are more favorable of brands that reflect people their age in advertising. Nearly 700 Hispanics age 18 and older in the US were questioned for the survey. READ MORE AT BEAUTY PACKAGING

Most working professionals have at some point found themselves stuck in a rut.It could be that their boss is a tyrant; it could also be that they're bored and curious to see what else is out there.

Whatever the situation, there's almost assuredly a way out. And while it might involve quitting, moving to a new city, and overhauling your entire lifestyle, it might instead come down to trying a different role within your current team. READ MORE AT BUSINESS INSIDER

If the contribution to gross domestic product by Latinos in the U.S. were its own country, it would be the eighth-largest economy in the world, just behind France’s—and the fastest-growing of all developed countries. What’s more, the Latino cohort will be responsible for the majority of U.S. economic growth in coming years, according to the Latino Donor Collective U.S. Latino GDP Report. READ MORE AT BARRON'S