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Read biographies of the feature guests for the 2016 Marketing, Media and PR Networking Forum being held this Tuesday, May 24th at ESTATE Yacht Club and Ultrabar Chicago. 

Moderator

Alfonso Gutiérrez, News Anchor, Telemundo Chicago/WSNS

Alfonso Gutiérrez works as a news anchor for Noticiero Telemundo Chicago, which airs Monday through Friday at 4:30 PM, 5:00 PM, and 10:00 PM on Telemundo Chicago/WSNS, the local station which serves the Spanish speaking community of Chicago.

As part of Noticiero Telemundo Chicago, Gutiérrez reports the latest and most important news for Chicago area viewers. Gutiérrez first joined Telemundo Chicago in 2003, when he worked in the creative services department as an intern.
Gutiérrez has received two Emmy Awards for his journalistic work in a series of special investigations for Telemundo Chicago. He has been nominated an additional 6 times to the Emmy for his work as reporter and producer. Gutiérrez received his Bachelor’s degree in Video and Film Production from Columbia College Chicago.

Originally from Jalisco, Mexico, Gutiérrez advocates for the success of young students, inspiring them to become future leaders. To learn more about Alfonso Gutiérrez, please visit his Facebook page at www.facebook.com/alfonso.telemundo and follow him on Twitter @alfonsoreporta.

Discussion Panelists

Henry Alegria, Author/Speaker/Marketing Expert, Co-Host, Chicago Latino TV on Telemundo

Henry Alegria was doing well for himself until the economy crashed in 2008. He lost everything, including 12 properties - his business and even his marriage. There came a point when he hit rock bottom and couldn’t even afford to buy his children Christmas gifts.
 
Henry stayed positive and made the decision to change his story. Since then, Henry built a successful business, launched a speaking and coaching career, wrote a book, “Gana La Guerra Contra Tu Banco” (Win the War Against Your Bank), launched his fan page to motívate and inspire Latinos which now has over 1 million fans and became co-host and President of Chicago Latino TV on Telemundo.

Vanessa Ferniza, Senior Project Manager, Havas Worldwide

Vanessa Ferniza is currently a Senior Project Manager at Havas Worldwide Chicago. She specializes in large-scale integrated campaigns that include broadcast, web, mobile, display, email, direct mail and social media. She is known for her agile creative process and management style.

Vanessa transitioned to Havas following work with Arc Worldwide Chicago and at Edelman where she oversaw digital executions for a variety of consumer packaged goods, luxury, health and non-profit clients.

She began her career as a Strategic Positioning Planner with Thinkinc. Strategy, a public affairs and political consulting firm. From branding to communications planning, she helped amplify and elevate her clients’ public profile. Passionate about emerging technology, Vanessa also serves as a Marketing Consultant for app start-ups and is actively pursuing consulting and collaboration opportunities.

Vanessa attended the University of Wisconsin-Madison as a Posse Foundation Scholar and graduated with a Liberal Arts Degree in Political Science and Sociology.

Vanessa Figueroa, President, Figueroa Strategic Communications

Vanessa Figueroa is a versatile professional with 15 years experience advising clients. A recognized leader in media relations, strategic communications, reputation management, events management, community engagement and crisis communications, she understands how to navigate the public relations landscape and a diverse array of public affairs challenges.

Vanessa Figueroa has provided consultation and in-house representation of corporate, government, and non-profit clients such as Comcast, Sinai Health System, Sinai Community Institute, Sinai Children’s Hospital, Chicago Metropolitan Breast Cancer Task Force, ComEd, Dove, Wrigley, Butterball Turkey, U.S. Cellular, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois, Pfizer, World Business Chicago, Latino Policy Forum, Chicago Community Trust, Year Up Chicago, various elected officials and the Chicago White Sox.

Prior to launching the Figueroa Strategic Communications consulting firm in 2014, Vanessa Figueroa served as a director or manager at multiple, reputable Chicago public affairs firms. She has also worked as an in-house public affairs manager at a global media corporation where she worked with community and business leaders, elected officials, and non-profit organizations to promote the company’s education, government and public affairs initiatives.

Vanessa Figueroa graduated from Northwestern University with a bachelor’s degree in Sociology and has a master’s degree in Public Service Management (Public Policy and Public Administration) from DePaul University.

Mark Flores, Vice President, Olson Engage

Mark Anthony Flores joined Olson in early 2011 coming from one of the largest Hispanic based non-profits in the Midwest where he served as their communications director. He was responsible for their cause marketing, public relations, content development and branding initiatives. He also served as Commissioner of Latino Affairs for the City of Chicago’s Human Relations Council from 2005-2010.

Before UNO, Mark worked for the Chicago Tribune’s first Daily Hispanic Newspaper HOY as well and after receiving his Bachelors in Communications and minor in Latino studies from the University of Illinois, he began his career at Extra Bilingual Newspaper, one of Chicago’s first Hispanic owned print media outlets as a reporter and community engagement director.

Flores brought with him deep rooted experience and knowledge of multi-ethnic communities which has helped expand Olson’s base in the multicultural marketing field in both the advertising and PR spaces.
Mark believes that the best brands are not singular in how they go to market. The most successful marketing strategies understand the need to be inclusive of multi-ethnic communities. They must reflect insights that are born from these communities in order to succeed in the increasingly diverse society that we live in. He and his team employ a deep seated cultural understanding to ensure a brand and its communities are best served with a cultural gap that is bridged and not divided. The team accomplishes this goal by assuring that all of their executions are culturally relevant, language appropriate, in-culture, while maintaining the interests of the community in mind and ensuring commitment on behalf of the client to go all-in by using the most strategic vehicles to support the brand’s message.

Lorena Nuñez, Associate Multicultural Marketing Manager, Allstate

Lorena is an Associate Marketing Manager at Allstate Insurance in Northbrook, IL. She has been with Allstate Insurance for three years as a part of the Multicultural Marketing team. She works on all things Hispanic from national brand campaigns to sponsorships, soccer and social media programs.

Previously, Lorena was at Bravo Advertising, Young & Rubicam’s Hispanic sister agency, where she worked for three years as Account Supervisor. There she led various national and local campaigns for a broad range of clients including Wrigley’s Gum, Tampico Beverages, BMO Harris and Wendy’s.

Lorena holds a bachelor’s degree in marketing and MBA both from Dominican University. She was born and raised in Melrose Park, IL. She loves dancing, hanging out with friends and family, chocolate, Don Draper, tequila and of course, novelas.

Christopher Rivera, Associate Director, Brand Marketing - Multicultural, Kellogg's Company

Christopher is currently Associate Marketing Director of Multicultural at Kellogg Company. He was named as one of the top Hispanic Thought Leaders profiled in Hispanic CMO special report by HispanicAd.com and has been a featured speaker at ANA Multicultural, Portada Media & Advertising, & AHAA conferences. Christopher has over 18 years of marketing leadership experience across CPG categories (Tobacco, Beer, Soft Drinks, Cereal, Snacks, & Frozen). He holds an MBA from Southern Methodist University and undergraduate degree from Texas A&M University.

Time is running out to register! Connect with marketing, Media and PR professionals on Tuesday. Register via Eventbrite >> http://bit.ly/1YJ0cAz

Previously, we discussed how to prepare for a networking event. Today I want to talk about how to follow up after the event. In my book about business networking, I said, "If you don't follow up, you were never there." I am amazed that so few people follow up with the people they meet at networking events.

Let me tell you a story. Last week, I had a person attend my event who told me that he had been to seven networking events that week. I smiled and said, "Wow, that is an amazing commitment to networking. You should be proud of yourself. But let me ask you a question: How did you find the time to follow up with everyone you met?"

His response was that he simply gave them his card. "They will call me if they need me," he said. READ MORE AT LOWELLSUN.COM

If the goal is to hire an engineering workforce that reflects the population at large, then employers in the science, technology, engineering and mathematics fields are failing. Consider that African-Americans comprised 3.6 percent of the engineering workforce in 2013, while Hispanics constituted 6.6 percent and women accounted for 14.8 percent, according to the National Science Foundation. Meanwhile, the need for engineering and STEM professionals is growing tremendously.

Low minority workforce participation in engineering and STEM generally is driven by low numbers of African-American, Hispanic, American Indian and other underrepresented populations pursuing degrees in these fields. READ MORE AT U.S. NEWS & WORLD REPORT

Hispanic executives made up just 4 percent of new directors at U.S. companies last year, the lowest since 2011 and a fraction of the 17 percent of the U.S. population that the group represents, according to a report by executive recruiter Heidrick & Struggles.

The annual study also found that 54 percent of 399 incoming directors at U.S. companies are either current of former chief executive officers. With Hispanics making up just 2 percent of CEOs at S&P 500 companies, that doesn’t bode well for increased diversity, the firm said. The number of boardroom appointments in 2015 was at a seven-year high. READ MORE AT BLOOMBERG

You're standing face-to-face with a professional in your industry who can help you advance your career. This is your chance to wow this person with a strong handshake, bright smile and direct eye contact, followed by a witty comment that initiates a loud fit of laughter.

However, you can't communicate well or make a good first impression when your mouth is dry, your palms are sweaty, your thoughts are scattered and you're blanking on that pitch you prepared.

Here's the good news: These nervous feelings and anxious thoughts are completely normal (and, in fact, very common), and there are ways to overcome them. Before you know it, you'll be shaking hands and expanding your network with ease and confidence. READ MORE AT MASHABLE

College graduation is right around the corner, and according to the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE), an anticipated 1.87 million students will be graduating with a bachelor’s degree this spring. Many will begin their first real job search, and while NACE says employers expect to hire 5.2% more new graduates from the Class of 2016 than they hired from the Class of 2015, that doesn’t mean they’re guaranteed a job. READ MORE AT FORBES

There’s a saying to get ahead ‘It’s not what you know but who you know‘ and when building a new business ‘It’s how many people get to know you‘. Recently the term ‘white privilege‘ has been bandied about more than ever. It refers to many things but clearly to opportunities one has to achieve success through family, wealth, contacts and connections, built up over years and generations. It can matter who your family is; their business; what schools you went to; and what neighborhood you grew up in. These can all help achieve success in life.

Some believe using connections to get ahead is cheating. Others think connections are only something those with ‘privilege‘ have. Reality is we all have the ability to make connections and build networks. READ MORE AT HUFFINGTON POST

In just a few decades, Miami has been transformed from a sleepy Southern city into an energetic Hispanic metropolis. How?

Ask Americans about Hispanic migration to the United States. For many of them, the first image that will come to mind will be one of impoverished migrants walking across the Arizona desert to enter the country illegally.

But alongside the millions of undocumented men and women who have arrived with little money or formal education in recent decades from Mexico and other Latin American countries, the US has also received a smaller but significant inflow of more affluent migrants from south of the border, many of them choosing to live in Miami. READ MORE AT BBC NEWS

As a young actress, Rita Moreno looked up to Elizabeth Taylor — although that was somewhat out of necessity. There were no Latina actresses available for her to admire.

"It's kind of heartbreaking when I talk about it now, I still get very moved by the lack of opportunities that were available to myself and to the very few others who were Hispanic young actresses," Moreno said.

It wasn't until she was cast as Anita in 1961's "West Side Story" — a role for which she would win the Academy Award for best supporting actress — that Moreno found true inspiration.

"I mean, I was playing a Latina, but I was playing a Latina of substance and self-respect. She became my role model because I didn't have one, ever," Moreno said. READ MORE AT JOURNAL SENTINEL

As the reality of graduation begins to settle in for college seniors, finding the perfect entry-level job should be a top priority. For the class of 2016, fortunately, the job market seems more promising than ever. With employers planning to hire 11 percent more college graduates this year for U.S. jobs than last year, the likelihood of finding a suiting profession seems high.

To assist you during your job search, we've come up with some of the most important tips and pieces of advice to help you land the job of your dreams. READ MORE AT AOL

Thanks to both income growth and population growth, Hispanics of all ages in the U.S. will drive consumer spending beyond millennials’ influence by 2020, according to a research report from Morgan Stanley analysts, MarketWatch reports.

Retail spending by Hispanic-Americans will rise by 1.6 percentage points by 2020, more than millennial spending growth of 0.6 percentage points and spending growth by 65-years-old-plus whites of 0.4 percentage points, according to the report. READ MORE AT RETAIL DIVE

The Hispanic population is the fastest-growing demographic groups in the country. Today, Hispanic students make up nearly one-quarter of all public school enrollments. By 2036, they are projected to make up one-third of the nation’s 3 to 17 year olds.

As the progression toward becoming a country that is “majority-minority” continues, Hispanic students will increasingly be a presence in K-12 and postsecondary classrooms. Their success also is inextricably tied to the economic health and prosperity of the nation. READ MORE AT DIVERSE ISSUES IN HIGHER EDUCATION

I never heard of the term “networking” when I was in high school or college. This may be because the teachers (and possibly our parents) wanted us to spend less time going to parties and more time studying so we could get into a good college or graduate school. Since I opted to go law school, my college guidance counselors told me to focus solely on doing well on the LSAT (and to try and change the subject whenever my GPA came up). READ MORE AT ABOVE THE LAW

Regardless of their employer, parental status, or income level, the majority of workers will experience a work-life conflict at some point in their lives.

Whether it is to be at home for an emergency household repair, pick up a sick child from school, or simply recover from their own illness, most workers need access to scheduling flexibility and paid leave. Despite the nearly universal need for such policies, Latino working men and women—as well as lower- and middle-income workers and workers with jobs in the service industry—are often unable to earn paid sick days, secure fair and flexible scheduling, or have access to any paid leave. READ MORE AT CENTER FOR AMERICAN PROGRESS

Everyone keeps talking about millennials and their shopping habits.

But that doesn't mean they will be the only influential consumers in America's near-term future.

A Morgan Stanley team led by Paula Campbell Roberts argues that two other demographic groups will also be key drivers of future consumption trends in the US: Hispanics of all ages and whites over 65.

The team writes that in the next five years the proportion of Americans who identify as Hispanic or Latino will increase by a "whopping" 1.6 percentage points and that of people over 65 will increase by 0.9 of a percentage point. Meanwhile, millennials' share of the population will increase by only 0.6 of a percentage point. Moreover, 52% of the US's population growth will be driven by the Hispanic population. READ MORE AT BUSINESS INSIDER

The National Hispanic Caucus of State Legislators (NHCSL) concluded a successful two-day Energy & Environment Summit, which was held in Washington, DC, that brought together dozens of state legislators, federal government officials, industry experts, and advocates, among others to discuss the many ways in which energy issues impact Latino communities across the country. Panel discussions focused on a variety of specific topics ranging from the EPA's Clean Power Plan and the interrelation between energy and Clean Water Act to Weighing the Costs of Energy Diversity, the Grid, and Consumer Protection and Innovation and the Workforce, and other relevant topics. Most panelists agreed that the nation's 54 million Latinos have a crucial role to play in shaping energy and environmental policies.

The keynote speech for the event was delivered by former Interior Secretary Ken Salazar. Secretary Salazar spoke about the need to diversify the energy workforce, emphasizing that in 10 years, more than 50% of electricity workers will retire and therefore Latinos have a crucial role to play in making sure the industry looks like America. READ MORE AT PRNEWSWIRE

Hispanics tend to over-index when it comes to smartphone usage, with levels well above the national average. Alas, there’s another area of smartphone usage where they’re also well above the national average, and it’s putting them in danger.

More than three-quarters of Hispanics, 83 percent, said they use their smartphones while they’re driving, according to a study from AT&T, well above the national average of 71 percent across all demographics.

About half of Hispanics said they use social media sites and apps on their smartphones while they drive, while 28 percent take selfies or photos and 68 percent send text messages. READ MORE AT MEDIALIFE MAGAZINE

It’s common knowledge that networking is a necessary skill in business. But there is a lot of mystique and ambiguity in how to go from a handshake to a cultivated, valuable, professional connection.

The key is this: People need to feel like they are genuinely important and valued by you before they will view you as important and valuable to them.

The difference between the guy they shook hands with at the event and later forgot about and the girl they shook hands with at that same event who later became a great business connection is one thing: genuine care and support. READ MORE AT FORTUNE

The Partnership for a New American Economy and the Latino Donor Collaborative’s new report, “Better Business: How Hispanic Entrepreneurs Are Beating Expectations and Bolstering the U.S. Economy,” shows how the number of Hispanic entrepreneurs in America has grown exponentially over the past two decades, powering the economy during the recent recession. Hispanic immigrants in particular are now more likely to be entrepreneurs than the average member of the U.S. population overall.

Key findings of the report include: READ MORE AT NEW AMERICAN ECONOMY

Networking is one of the most important areas small-business owners should focus on in the 21st century.

My definition of networking is actively making professional relationships, developing and maintaining those relationships, and leveraging them for the benefit of all parties.

But before you can develop a relationship, you first have to meet the other person and establish a basis for future contact.
Networking opportunities are everywhere you turn, but especially at Chamber of Commerce events or any venue likely to be attended by business and community leaders. READ MORE AT BUSINESS JOURNALS