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The event brought great
resources for attendees
as entrepreneurs sought
access to capital. The
informative workshop,
Innovative Resources for
Access to Capital
provided an outlet and
innovative ways to gain
capital. Linda Laws,
lender relations
specialist of the Small
Business Administration
moderated this panel and
panelists included
Rosario Arias de Caroll,
vice president and
relationship manager for
Plaza Bank, Diana
Morelli-Klima, Economic
Development of Skagit
County and Susana
Gonzalez-Murillo, vice
president of US Bank.
Not only did they
discuss the importance
of a business plan and
the proper technique,
but they noted what
bankers look at when
opening a business.
Knowing your own credit
score and the meaning of
it was one of the major
key points mentioned.
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Mayor
Greg
Nickels
greets
attendees |
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Moderated by Linda
Villegas Bremer,
director of General
Administration, another
informative session
Successful Marketing
Strategies for You and
Your Business, provided
information on how to
market your business and
how to market yourself
in the business world.
Panelists included
Carmen Carrero de
Esparza, president of
Esparza + Business
Communications, Anna
Maria Canales, president
& CEO of Soleil Noir
Inc., and Pamela
Chiriboga, president of
Pyramide Productions
Inc. They shared their
knowledge of marketing
to specific companies,
government agencies and
to the masses. Questions
arose about the
different strategies of
guerrilla marketing and
the low to no cost
marketing.
When starting a business,
there are several bases
that need just as much
attention. In the
Protecting Your
Investments panel,
Sheila Burros, an agent
for State Farm Insurance
engaged the audience
with questions related
to the IRS, managing
finances appropriately,
common bookkeeping
mistakes, the meaning of
Limited Liability
Company and if/when a
business should
incorporate or form an
LLC. Questions were
answered by the
following panelists:
Ciarelle Jimenez “CJ”
Valdez, general counsel
& vice president of
operations at the Zella
Company, Audrey Godwin,
founder of the Godwin
Group and Kristen Hoiby
senior stakeholder
liaison at the IRS.
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During the luncheon,
Maria Marín, president
of Voice of Empowerment
and radio talk show host
inspired and motivated
attendees to pursue
their dreams. She
declared that anyone can
do it by “expecting
more, demanding more,
and getting more” when
negotiating in life.
Following Marín’s words,
Amelia G. De Los Santos
of De Los Santos
Construction—who
followed her dreams and
began her own business—was
recognized and presented
with the “2007 Latina
Entrepreneur of the Year”
award by Robert Bard,
president of LATINA
Style and the
mistress of ceremony,
Roberta Romero, reporter
of KING 5. In addition,
Nordstrom was given
special recognition as
one of the first
companies to support the
inception of the LATINA
Style Business
Series. |
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The
LATINA
Style
Business
Series
speakers |
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Immediately following
the luncheon, attendees
heard first hand advice
from several
entrepreneurs. The first
type of entrepreneurs –
franchise owners –
revealed their reason to
open a business with a
franchise and the
advantages/disadvantages
of owning a franchise.
Detra Montoya, assistant
professor of marketing
at the University of
Washington moderated
Franchising
Opportunities in Your
Area panel. Panelists
included David
Santillanes, owner and
operator for McDonald’s,
Fabiola Vega Dortch,
owner and agent for
Keller Williams Real
Estate and Jaime
Williams, owner of Once
Upon a Child. Each
business owner had
chosen different
franchises. They are an
example of how anyone
can find a franchise in
almost any field.
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US Bank
representatives
networking
and
sharing
information
with
attendees |
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The last panel, Latina
Entrepreneur, featured
three exceptional
entrepreneurs in various
stages of their
businesses. Dr. Sandra
Madrid welcomed and
introduced Sandy Cavazos,
president of Above the
Rest Aerial Photography,
Nubia Penuela-Ryan,
owner of Nubia’s
Collections and Julie
Guerrero, owner of
Dulces Latin Bistro.
Attendees listened as
each entrepreneur shared
their story, the efforts
that they have overcome
and what motivates them
to continue in their
career. The theme for
both panels was: once
you realize your passion,
just go for it, enjoy it
and be surrounded by
wonderful supporters.
Each attendee was able
to depart with something
new. Whether they are
ready to begin their
business or taking it to
that next level, each of
them met someone who has
made their dream come
true. They are
successful entrepreneurs
making great strides in
today’s U.S. business
world.
Without the support of
sponsors the Business
Series could not have
been as successful,
thanks to: State Farm,
ExxonMobil, Wal-Mart,
Sam’s Club, IBM, US Bank
and American Airlines.
In
addition, many local
support and partners
included: Washington
State Hispanic Chamber
of Commerce, City of
Seattle, Northwest
Minority Business
Council, U.S. Small
Business Administration,
Department of Labor &
Industries, Magia 1210
AM, Viva Hispanic
Foundation NW,
Professional Women of
Color Network, Latino/a
Bar Association of
Washington, U.S. Mexico
Chamber of Commerce,
SCORE, Washington
Business Center, ALPFA
and National Association
of Hispanic MBAs.
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State
Farm
representatives |
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Jose
Gaitan
of the
Gaitan
Group;
Rep.
Phyllis
Gutierrez
Kenney;
Dr.
Sandra
Madrid,
University
of
Washington-School
of Law;
Chris
Guillen,
Washington
State
Hispanic
Chamber
of
Commerce
Photos
by Jack
Storms
and Ron
Henry |
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