As we wrap up this year and gear up for 2018 – our 30th Anniversary as an organization, we look back at the impact Prospanica has had and want to thank you for being part of our story. We hope we have delivered on your expectations and look forward to what we will accomplish moving forward.

In January, we will have 3M’s Judith Garcia Galiano assume her role as the new Chair of Prospanica’s National Board of Directors, and reinforce the impact that Latinas have had in the growth of the organization. If we take a close look at this past year’s conference’s guide, we can’t help but notice that over 30 of our 46 professional and university chapter presidents are women. I’m very proud that Prospanica is an organization that promotes inclusiveness. Female and male members bring a wide variety of experiences from academia, the corporate sector and the business world and very unique perspectives from a gender standpoint. It helps us make sound decisions that improve the quality of our member experience and provide a safe space where everyone has a voice.

Make your travel arrangements during the Holiday break to attend Pospanica’s 2018 Leadership Summit, From Personal Influence to Collective Impact, which will take place from February 8-10, 2018, at the DFW Airport Marriott South in Dallas, Texas. The Prospanica Leadership Summit convenes Latinos who drive change in their professions and communities. Over the course of three days, Prospanica’s chapter leadership and members will dive into topics and hands-on experiences designed for immediate application across their spheres of influence. The summit features keynote speakers, breakout sessions, and special events that offer resources, tools, and opportunities for peer engagement and learning. With sessions for both Prospanica chapter leadership and other business professionals, the Summit will highlight how to transform personal effectiveness into community-wide change. Register at prospanica.org/LeadershipSummit.

In 2018, Prospanica will celebrate 30 years of creating tangible opportunities for Hispanic business professionals. Since its inception in 1988, Prospanica has taken a leadership role nationwide as the non-profit organization dedicated to empowering the Hispanic community to achieve their full educational, economic and social potential. The 2018 Annual Conference and Career Expo—¡IMPACTO! Rising & Thriving—will serve as a platform for companies to connect with qualified and diverse professionals, entrepreneurs and students who can fuel their competitive engines.

The 2018 Annual Conference and Career Expo: ¡IMPACTO! Rising & Thriving will be held in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, from September 12-14, 2018, and it promises to deliver on everyone’s expectations. Attendees will have access to life-changing career opportunities and learning sessions with subject matter experts. Sponsors will have a chance to scout and engage exceptional new talent, while tapping into one of the most coveted consumer segments: Hispanic professionals. Learn more about how to get involved with Prospanica at www.prospanica.org. Remember, every career needs an inner circle.

With the United States Census Bureau projecting the number of Hispanic women to nearly double by 2050, and for Hispanic people to become the number-one minority group in the United States, the growth rate in the number of Hispanic women-owned businesses is expected to continue to surge. 

Judith Garcia Galiana (left), Vice President of 3M, assumes leadership role at the premier non-profit organization focused on the advancement of Latino professionals in the corporate and business sectors.

Chicago, IL - December 2017 - The National Board of Directors of Prospanica, the association for Hispanic professionals, convened for the last time this year in the city of Chicago to affirm transitions in leadership that include the official appointment of 3M Vice President, Judith Garcia Galiana, to the role of Chair. “Judith is a seasoned professional that has unequivocally contributed robust business insights and a global perspective to the work we do at Prospanica since she became part of our National Board in 2014. Her role as our new Chair will help us build on the growth we have experienced in the last few years, and further our impact on a national scale,” said Thomas Savino, Prospanica CEO.

Coors Light Líder of the Year L. Xavier Cano was presented with a $25,000 grant during a special reception on November 15 at the JW Marriott in Austin, Texas, surrounded by family, friends and distinguished community leaders. Cano will use the funds to develop a Latino leadership program with his nominating nonprofit Prospanica, an organization whose mission is to empower Hispanic business professionals to achieve their full educational, economic and social potential. "Xavier has the qualities of a great leader, and I am confident that his efforts towards the professional and academic achievement of Hispanic talent will encourage future generations to climb their personal mountains and achieve unprecedented success," said Alberto Senior, who leads MillerCoors' national Latino community efforts.

Prospanica was awarded with an Impact Grant by IBM, designed to provide consulting expertise and technologies such as cognitive, mobile and social to support educational and nonprofit organizations. They deliver hundreds of these grants worldwide, every year. As part of the grant, Prospanica’s national team received on-site training from IBM consultants on Strategic Planning, which included interviews with the executive staff, a dedicated workshop and follow-up.

Samí Haiman-Marrero is the President and CEO of Urbander, a Minority and Women Business Enterprise solution-based agency that specializes in assisting companies and organizations in developing groundbreaking business development and integrated marketing strategies with a strong focus on Diversity & Inclusion. The Urbander team is the Marketing arm of Prospanica. Prior to founding Urbander in 2008, Samí fulfilled a stellar 12-year career in Hispanic Marketing and Publishing, making her one of the nation’s leading experts today specializing in the U.S. Hispanic market. She holds a Masters in Communications from the University of Puerto Rico, and has been interviewed by international, national and regional media regarding the Latino experience in the U.S.