Mexican Mutual Society Announces “Little Princess” Nominees

Feb. 13 the Mexican Mutual Society, located on E. 28^th street took the first step in continuing its five decade long tradition in having a “Little Princess” on Cinco de Mayo.

From now until April 25, four young ladies, ages five to six will be fundraising in an attempt fo be the 2010 Mexican princess.  These young ladies have their minds, hearts and raffle tickets set on winning this year.  Whomever sells the most tickets will be this year’s princess.  The money raised will go toward the princess’ dress and other items needed for the Cinco de Mayo parade.

All the princesses are well rounded, their talents range from singing and dancing to science and history.  As young ladies, all hope to carry on the tradition of not only their local community, but their ethnic heritage as well.

Minnie Rivera - Montrose West

Business Name: MONTROSE WEST
Business Address: 10505 Brookpark Rd, Cleveland Ohio  44130
Business Phone:  216.265.4152
Name/TITLE: Minnie Rivera, Wholesale Lot Sales Professional

Tell us a little bit about your company and/or your industry?
I have been serving the Latino community for approximately 18 years in the automotive industry.

How is your company or you personally reaching out to the Hispanic Community to help support this growing segment?
The Montrose Auto Group values the importance of the Hispanic Community and therefore reaches out and advertises within this community. I speak fluent Spanish, know the automotive industry and was brought on staff at Montrose West to help other Latinos feel comfortable in communicating their needs and wants when in comes to purchasing a vehicle.

In a corporate career, we have to work well with people and posses the ability to inspire and persuade large groups. As a successful Latina, what is one or more of your own accomplishments that you feel support this fact?
As far as I know, I was one of the first Latinas selling vehicles in the Cleveland market. Over my 18 years in the industry, I have influenced other Latinos in helping them to be comfortable enough to go into this field. I have also helped to inspire dealerships to open their eyes and see the importance of marketing and reaching out to Latinos as worthy consumers.

What, if any, is one of the obstacles that you feel you have had to overcome as a Latina within the business community? And how have you embraced it and turned it into a positive?
As a Latina trying to break into the business world, I have found that Corporate America doesn’t seem to take you too seriously. However over the years, I have used this as my driving force to work harder which has ultimately allowed me to achieve a level of success that I may not have achieved otherwise. I wanted to prove to other Latinos that despite obstacles in our way, we can overcome if we keep pushing forward toward our dreams.

What would you as a Latina like to see happen in the near future so other Latinos in the community can achieve the same level of success?
I would like to see the Latino people not be judged and labeled but rather be accepted and embraced and be recognized as a value within their companies as well as a valued as consumers.

Census: Ohio still one of slowest-growing states

AKRON, Dec. 24, 2009 (AP): Ohio is barely growing and still in danger of losing two congressional seats next year, according to new U.S. Census Bureau numbers that also show immigrants are helping the state avoid even slower growth.

The state added only 14,573 residents last year, or a little more than one-tenth of a percent.

Since the 2000 Census, Ohio gained only 189,505 residents. During the same time only five other states grew more slowly than Ohio, which has about 11.5 million residents.

The state had about 40,000 more births than deaths over the past year, but that was offset by 36,000 people who left the state for elsewhere, according to the Census. The only bright note was about 12,000 new residents from outside the U.S.

Gov. Ted Strickland has warned that slow growth leaves Ohio in danger of losing two seats in the House of Representatives when the official 2010 Census counts are released next December. The 435 seats in the U.S. House of Representatives are divided by population.

Losing two seats would hurt Ohio politically since the state would have less clout in Congress and fewer electoral votes in presidential elections, said University of Akron political scientist John Green.

No Republican has been elected to the White House without winning Ohio in more than 100 years, and only two Democrats have done so.

The low population growth will hurt Ohio economically as well, said Mark Salling, director of the Northern Ohio Data and Information Service at Cleveland State University.

“It means fewer businesses in the state, because people are leaving,” Salling said. “Tax revenues will decline because we’re not really growing.”

Texas stands to gain three states in Congress next year, most of any state. Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Nevada, South Carolina, Utah, and Washington would all pick up single seats.

Ohio had 24 U.S. representatives during the 1960s, slipped to 23 during the 1970s, 21 during the 1980s and 19 during the 1990s.

Information from: Akron Beacon Journal, http://www.ohio.com

The 43rd Kent State Folk Festival opens with music from Puerto Rico

The 43rd Kent State Folk Festival kicks off seven days of performances with a concert featuring Puerto Rican musical treasure Edwin Colón Zayas and friends on Thursday, Nov. 5 at 8 p.m. at the Kent Stage in downtown Kent. The evening presents a panorama of Puerto Rican instrumental and vocal music and dance and is suitable for all ages. This is Colón Zayas’ first appearance in Kent. Tickets for the concert are free for students with a valid ID.

Colón Zayas, a master of the “jíbaro” style of Puerto Rican roots music, will be joined by Noel Velázquez and Bill Colón Zayas from Puerto Rico; members of Rondalla Puerto Rico from Dayton; Orlando “El Mostro” Santiago from Elyria; Northeast Ohio’s Grupo Isla del Encanto folkloric dance troupe; and Noraliz Ruiz Caraballo (a graduate student at Kent State University). In September of this year, Colón (a virtuoso on the cuatro and the tiple) was awarded a prestigious National Heritage Fellowship, the country’s highest honor in folk and traditional arts.

Born in the central mountain town of Orocovis, Colón Zayas has traveled the world introducing audiences to his island’s musical traditions. Similar to the Cuban music featured in the documentary “Buena Vista Social Club,” Puerto Rico’s traditional music is a blending of Spanish and African musical elements mixed with a tropical flavor. Typical instruments include the cuatro (a 10-string instrument similar to an Irish bouzouki) and the tiple (a 5-string instrument similar to a mandolin). Much older than the better known salsa, música jíbara (much like the old-time music of Appalachia) has been kept alive for centuries by inhabitants of Puerto Rico’s central mountains, passing songs down from generation to generation.

The concert includes a reception at intermission featuring traditional pastries by Cleveland’s Lelolai Bakery and is sponsored by the Gerald H. Read Center for International and Intercultural Education.

Tickets for all concerts presented during the 43rd Kent State Folk Festival are now on sale through the Kent Stage – (330) 677-5005 or KentStage.org – or in person at Woodsy’s Music and Spin-More in Kent. Band bios, ticket information, links and more are available online at www.WKSU.org. The Kent State Folk Festival has a fan page on Facebook and can be followed on Twitter @KentFolkFest.

The line-up for the 43rd Kent State Folk Festival (all concerts at the Kent Stage unless otherwise noted):

Thursday, Nov. 5 at 8 p.m.: Masters of Puerto Rican Roots Music featuring Edwin Colón Zayas – $10 general admission tickets, free for students with valid ID.

Friday, Nov. 6 at 8 p.m.: Greg Brown and Jorma Kaukonen – $25 reserved, $45 gold circle.

Saturday, Nov. 7 at 8 p.m.: The Del McCoury Band with Sarah Jarosz – $30 reserved, $50 gold circle.

Wednesday, Nov. 11 at 8 p.m.: Old Crow Medicine Show – $30 general admission ($35 day of show).

Thursday, Nov. 12 at 8 p.m.: Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros with Family of the Year – $12 general admission.

Friday, Nov. 13 (various times): Folk Alley ‘Round Town (35+ venues throughout Kent) featuring a special appearance by Country Joe McDonald – FREE

Saturday, Nov. 14, noon-5 p.m.: Workshops (KSU Student Center) – FREE

Saturday, Nov. 14, 5 to 6 p.m.: Talent Contest (KSU KIVA) – FREE

Saturday, Nov. 14 at 8 p.m.: Rhythm in Shoes presents Banjo Dance with Dala – $20 reserved, WKSU members 50% off with member card, $5 for students with valid ID.

Festival support is provided by Kent State University, the City of Kent, Cascade Auto Group, Dominion East Ohio, Marc’s and Kashi, Great Lakes Brewing Co., Lehman’s, Continental Airlines, PARTA, Audio Technica, and Omnova Solutions.

WKSU broadcasts NPR & Classical Music at 89.7 FM, and is a service of Kent State University. WKSU programming is also heard on WKRW 89.3 FM in Wooster, WKRJ 91.5 FM in Dover/New Philadelphia, WKSV 89.1 FM in Thompson, WNRK 90.7 in Norwalk, W298BA 107.5 FM in Boardman, and W239AZ 95.7 FM in Ashland. The station broadcasts three HD Radio channels – adding WKSU-2 Folk Alley and WKSU-3 The Classical Channel to the analog broadcast schedule. The Classical Channel can also be heard in Cleveland at 107.3 HD-3. The WKSU web site is www.wksu.org.

Daniel Abreo, Inspirational Speaker

“Hello, I am Daniel Abreo and I was born in the USA,” he tells a suspicious audience, puzzled by his accent. But Daniel goes on to explain that he was born in Uruguay South America or the USA. The audience begins to laugh and they are immediately drawn to him. They begin to sit up and lean forward ready to take in one of the most heartfelt and inspirational messages they will ever hear. It’s the story of how he overcame obstacles to live the American dream and how each and every one of us can make small changes to catapult us toward our goals and our dreams.

Daniel followed his childhood sweetheart to Cleveland in 1979, unable to speak a word of English, but filled with enthusiasm energy and a burning desire to be part of the American Dream. Today the Abreo’s had been married for 29 wonderful years, and have three children all of them attending College at this time.

In 1981 he started working part-time with a Sales Company where he learned about self-help and personal growth. In 1983 he started a career with the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers. But his passion for speaking was already there.

Trained by Dale Carnegie, he gained experience through Toastmasters International and has gone on to speak with countless audiences ranging from small groups to a crowd of more than 10.000. He has spoken at the Quicken loans Arena Twice.  He Has been featured in newspapers and radio, and anyone who spends just a few minutes with him is drawn to his warmth, genuine love for America and his belief that anyone can make their dreams come true.

He speaks at public and private events and is active in the community, generously giving his time to groups like Madd, police programs, schools and churches.

Business Name: Positively Speaking

Business Address: 24725 Chardon Rd., Cleveland, Ohio, 44143 Business Phone: 216-486-6539

Website Link: www.danielabreo.com

Name/TITLE: Inspirational Speaker

Tell us a little bit about your company and/or your industry?

I found out a long time ago that there are a lot of important things about our lives that we don’t learn at home or in school. Some of them are the most important elements that will constitute our belief and philosophy on how to live a successful and happy life. And I believe that is the reason that there are so many people living their lives in quiet desperations, always unhappy going around in circles, without directions or a set of rules that will help them achieve what ever it is that they want out of this life. Since 1981 I’ve been studying what makes some people happy or unhappy, successful or unsuccessful, Philosophy, Psychology, all about human behavior, inspiration and motivation. I have read hundreds of books and listened to thousands of hours on tapes and cds, and attended seminars all over the Country on these subjects. My objective is to help whoever is open minded enough to want to improve themselves. Every time we help a person everybody wins: that person, his family, his friends, his employees or employers, etc.

How is your company or you personally reaching out to the Hispanic Community to help support this growing segment?

I get to speak in front of different groups, for instance I’ve been doing the Spanish Tear for the Madd organization since 1996, in which I get to talk to a group of Latinos once a month about the ideas that I have collected over the years that have helped me and my family to live an enjoyable life. I speak that as humans we are physical, mental and spiritual beings, and the need that we have to feed and exercise those three elements to be able to have a chance to live the kind of life we desire. And I go on to explain each one of them and then give them directions and ideas for them to use. Most of them tell me that they never thought about life that way and they can see themselves improving their lives, and they have hope, and consequently they become happy.

In a corporate career, we have to work well with people and posses the ability to inspire and persuade large groups. As a successful Latino, what is one or more of your own accomplishments that you feel support this fact?
Since I started speaking I had the opportunity to speak in front of groups for companies like: Amway, Primerica Financial Services, Cuyahoga Valley Career Center, Cuyahoga Juvenile Detention Center, the City of Euclid, the 4th of July Celebration, Villa Angela St. Joseph High school, Professional Hockey Team Staff Members: The Lake Erie Monsters, Quicken Loans employees, Madd Tears, Richmond Hts. High School and Abundant Life Community Church. Over 750 speeches so far. You can check visit You Tube Videos: Daniel Abreo, I have some examples of my speeches in a Stadium, Quicken Loans Arena, and a High School. I hope you enjoy them.

What, if any, is one of the obstacles that you feel you have had to overcome as a Latino within the business community? And how have you embraced it and turned it into a positive?
The number one obstacle that I had to overcome was myself. When I came to this country I thought that people didn’t like me because I was Latino. I thought that Cleveland was too cold, the Government didn’t know what it was doing and I couldn’t find a good job. But then somebody pointed it out to me that the problem was not in the outside of me, but rather the inside of me. I had a case of stinking thinking. I didn’t even like myself much and that is what I was getting from life a reflection of how I felt inside. That is when I decided to start working on myself; mentally, physically and spiritually - and sure enough the better I felt about myself, the better Cleveland looked, the Government wasn’t that bad , and the people liked me better too. Maturity does not come with age but comes when we take responsibility for what happens in our life.

What would you as a Latino like to see happen in the near future so other Latinos in the community can achieve the same level of success?
Well, I think that we all need to look inside of ourselves and ask the question: Am I doing all that I can to make my life as great as I would like to see it? We need to be responsible for our own lives and not point fingers at anybody, because when we point one finger at somebody, three fingers are pointing back at you. Realize that is easier to change yourself than trying to change everybody around you.

Rick Zamora, President/CEO Global Point Technologies, Inc.

Business Name: Global Point Technologies, Inc. Structured Cabling Company

Business Address: 13953 Progress Parkway, North Royalton, Ohio 44133

Business Phone: (440) 582-5087

Website Link: www.gptinc.com

Name/TITLE: Rick Zamora, President/CEO

Bio:

Rick Zamora presently serves as President and Chief Executive Officer of Global Point Technologies, Inc. which is a full service structured cabling company specializing in data, voice, and video transmission. The company offers complete design/build and installation services for all data and voice communication needs, including structured cabling systems, fiber optic installations and outside-plant cabling. Additional services offered under the Global Point umbrella include a full-service Horizontal Directional Drilling (HDD) operation handling all aspects of underground utility installations and replacements. Through the HDD capabilities the company installs underground cables, conduits and pipelines. Rick has successfully run Global Point Technologies for the past 5 years, and has led the company to successive years of double digit sales growth. The company is now positioned to profitably grow sales in excess of 50% over the most recent 12 month period as it looks towards 2009.

Prior to launching Global Point Technologies, Rick served four years in corporate America in the telecommunications industry following a successful exit of two entrepreneurial ventures sold to investors in 1998. Rick’s combined experience as an entrepreneur and corporate executive serving the communications industry spans over 20 years. This extensive and specialized experience, combined with a well established network of key industry relationships and business certifications, uniquely positions Rick and Global Point Technologies for continued success going forward.

In addition to successfully running his company, Rick is also very active in the local community. Since 1994, Rick has been a member of the Hispanic Business Association and Chamber of Commerce for Ohio. During his tenure, Rick has served as President, 2nd. Vice President, Treasurer and Vice President. He is also a current board member at St. Albert the Great serving on the Technology Board since 2002. Rick also supports the Northern Ohio Minority Business Council through his service as Executive Board Secretary. Finally, Rick is a recent graduate of Leadership Cleveland class of 2008 (Best Class Ever).

Rick was born in Mexico and became a United States citizen in 1984 taking residence in Northeast Ohio. Rick’s formal education includes Cuyahoga Community College and Baldwin Wallace College. He is a dedicated husband to his wife Suanne, and the two are raising two sons, Michael and Jacob. Beyond continuing to take Global Point Technologies to new horizons, Rick also maintains future political aspirations to continue to serve the local, regional, and perhaps national community.

Q&A:

Tell us a little bit about your company and/or your industry?

Global Point Technologies is a full service structured cabling company. We offer complete design/build and installation services for all data and voice communication needs, including structured cabling systems, fiber optic installations and outside-plant cabling.

We also provide Horizontal Directional Drilling services. Handling all aspects of underground utility installations and replacements. The company installs underground cables, conduits and pipelines

How is your company or you personally reaching out to the Hispanic Community to help support this growing segment?

Over the years, we have worked with several non-profit organizations where we help to educate the community through various workforce development programs. We give presentations about our industry and from there offer the opportunity to interested Latinos to interview for open positions that we may have within our companies. Once hired, we invest heavily into providing them with industry training.

In a corporate career, we have to work well with people and posses the ability to inspire and persuade large groups.

As a successful Latino, what is one or more of your own accomplishments that you feel support this fact?

If you look at our business model, we focus on Fortune 500 and Fortune 1000 companies and have been very successful in this area. For example, some of our clients are Eaton Corporation, Key Bank, Case Western Reserve University & University Hospitals. We also partner with some the largest manufacturers and service providers in the country.

What, if any, is one of the obstacles that you feel you have had to overcome as a Latino within the business community? And how have you embraced it and turned it into a positive?

Typically, Latino owned businesses are perceived as small mom & pop type businesses. But our company, even though Latino owned, has developed an infrastructure to give us the ability to support larger clients. When our clients come to visit our facility they are always impressed at how large we actually are. Being able to show this kind of success, especially as a Latino owned business, makes me very proud.

What would you as a Latino like to see happen in the near future so other Latinos in the community can achieve the same level of success?

I would like to see more Latino champions in Corporate America who can successfully represent our culture. I would also like to see the financial industry support continued growth and development of Hispanic owned businesses.

José C. Feliciano

Business Name: Baker Hostetler
Business Address: 3200 National City Center, 1900 East 9th Street
Business Phone: 216-861-7827
Website Link: www.bakerlaw.com
Name/TITLE: José C. Feliciano/Partner

BIO

José C. Feliciano is an active trial lawyer and has 30 years experience in complex commercial and employment litigation. His trial experience has included business litigation, products liability, construction, shareholders’ derivative suits, contracts, eminent domain, and commercial and personal torts.

Mr. Feliciano has considerable experience as a first chair litigator in jury trials, having tried to verdict more than 70 civil and criminal trials in state and federal courts. His class action experience includes the areas of pharmaceuticals, computers and newspapers. Mr. Feliciano also has experience in the labor area and in litigating strike issues. He has handled wrongful discharge and race, sex and age employment discrimination cases.

Mr. Feliciano has extensive experience in the defense and prosecution of white collar crime matters, which he acquired during his tenure as Chief Prosecuting lawyer for the City of Cleveland and as a Cuyahoga County public defender—ranging from the management of investigations to jury trials and appeals. In 1983 he was recognized as Administrator of the Year by the Northeast Ohio Chapter of the American Society for Public Administration.

Mr. Feliciano was elected to the American College of Trial Lawyers in 1995 and is a Life Member of the Judicial Conference, Eighth Judicial District, Cuyahoga County, Ohio. Mr. Feliciano is listed in Who’s Who in American Law. He served on the Board of Governors and House of Delegates of the American Bar Association, is former Chair of the ABA Section of Dispute Resolution and former ABA representative to the National Conference of Commissioners on Uniform State Laws, where he participated in drafting the Uniform Mediation Act. Mr. Feliciano is a past President of the Cleveland Bar Association.

Mr. Feliciano was appointed by President Reagan as a White House Fellow in 1984. Prior to the Fellowship, he was appointed by Senator (then Mayor) George Voinovich as the City of Cleveland’s Chief Prosecuting lawyer (1980-84). He previously served as Cuyahoga County public defender (1978-80), defending criminal matters ranging from grand theft to murder.

Q&A

1. Tell us a little bit about your company and/or your industry?

Baker Hostetler was founded in 1916. when our three founding partners each deposited $500 into a firm account. Today, we have more than 600 partners and associates contributing to the success of our clients. The values they share are the same ideals on which our firm was founded: love and respect for the law, respect for each other, and the courage to make hard decisions on the basis of what they know to be right.

Baker Hostetler is “Counsel to Market Leaders.” Our clients include businesses and individuals considered leaders globally, nationally, regionally and locally. Many are at the top of their market segments, and many are household names. Others are leaders of the future—companies with the aspiration and foresight to drive tomorrow’s high-growth industries.

José C. Feliciano is a partner at the firm and is an active trial lawyer with more than with 30 years experience in complex commercial and employment litigation. His trial experience has included business litigation, products liability, construction, shareholders’ derivative suits, contracts, eminent domain, and commercial and personal torts.

2. How is your company or you personally reaching out to the Hispanic Community to help support this growing segment?

I am the founder and chairman of the Hispanic Roundtable.  The Roundtable engages Hispanic leaders to unite and empower the Hispanic community to play a more active role in the economic, educational, civic and political life in Greater Cleveland.  Roundtable members represent a core group of Hispanic leaders in the community under my leadership. We convene our community throughout the year to  keep the Hispanic vision in front of civic and business leaders.  We organize and support charitable and education programs to develop a well educated, fully participating Hispanic community.  We act as a catalyst to empower the Hispanic Community to become partners and leaders in the Greater Cleveland community.
Baker Hostetler also has allowed me on a pro bono basis to represent the Hispanic Roundtable, including handling all of their corporate work.  Moreover, Baker has generously supported the Hispanic Roundtable’s efforts in connection with Convencion 2007 and in underwriting numerous activities, including community briefings for Governor Ted Strickland, Mayor Jackson, Sandy Cutler (Chief Executive Officer of Eaton Corporation), and Chris Connor (Chief Executive Officer of Sherwin Williams).  Additionally, Baker Hostetler has been a regular supported and contributor to not only  The Hispanic Business Association but also to The Esperanza Scholarship fund.

3. In a corporate career, we have to work well with people and posses the ability to inspire and persuade large groups. As a successful Latino/Latina, what is one or more of your own accomplishments that you feel support this fact?

I was privileged to be appointed a White House Fellow (1984), which allowed me to learn about government at its highest level and meet with and learn from most significant political and public leaders, including the President, Vice President, all cabinet officers, and the leaders of the Senate and the Congress.

I was a recognized by the U.S. Jaycees as one of the Ten Outstanding Young Men in America in 1985, an award received by President John F. Kennedy, former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, and Elvis Presley, among others.   I was privileged to be the first Hispanic president of the Cleveland Bar Association, which is one of the largest metropolitan bar associations in the Untied States.

I have been honored by the American Bar Association (where I also served on the Board of Governors) which awarded me the Spirit of Excellence award, a national award for mentoring and developing minority lawyers, not only in my own firm but throughout the United States.

The Federal Bar Association awarded me the Boots Fisher Achievement Civic Achievement  Award, a national award for community involvement.  I have been privileged to receive the United States Small Business Association’s Award, as advocate of the year in 2000, for helping to develop Hispanic businesses.  Most recently, the Hispanic Business Association has recognized  me with its Visionary award for assisting the development of Hispanic businesses in Greater Cleveland.

4. What, if any, is one of the obstacles that you feel you have had to overcome as a Latino/Latina within the business community? And how have you embraced it and turned it into a positive?

One of the key obstacles faced by Latinos, as well as other minorities, the proverbial glass ceiling.  That is a consistent challenge in the business and civic environment of Cleveland.
Performance and success in the law and in business has helped crack this ceiling for Hispanics and helped create additional opportunities for others.  Any time that Hispanics bump into that glass ceiling, it develops in us a renewed sense of determination, perseverance, and motivation to overcome the challenges and help advance our goal of equality in all phases of American life – professional, civic, political, and business.

5. What would you as a Latino/Latina like to see happen in the near future so other Latinos in the community can achieve the same level of success?

I would like Latinos to be bigger, broader and bolder in their vision, not only for themselves but for their community as a whole.  I would like Hispanics to realize that whenever they join an organization, they have an opportunity not only to participate but to add value to the mission of an organization.  I want to encourage us to either lead or provide leadership in all their efforts.

We need to think about our value proposition to any initiative or effort in which we participate so that the organization or entity is enhanced, developed and enriched by our Hispanicness.

Finally, I would like our community to think about and be challenged by the motto of the Hispanic Roundtable: If not us, then who? If not now, then when?