 Professional Mentoring Network Shadowing Day hosted by UPS
For future young professionals nothing is more valuable than access to opportunities and experiences in the business world. As part of the GPHCC’S Professional Mentoring Network a group of students from Congreso were afforded the opportunity this week to engage in a job shadowing day at UPS. The students experienced what a day of business is like at a major corporation touring UPS’s PHL air hub and visiting their district office where they heard from UPS employees about the company’s ambitious culture.
Students then partnered with employees from a variety of departments including community affairs, safety, engineering, marketing, and finance, for one-on-one job shadowing. Kim Van Utrecht, Keynote Speaker and Chesapeake District Operations Manager at UPS, shared her insights and advice regarding motivation, goals, and the importance of confidence. Exposing area youths to professional environments helps groom them for greater success after high school, leading to increased quantity and quality of members in the region’s workforce pipeline.
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PMN Inspires Latino Youth at Thomas Edison High School
Staying true to its purpose of connecting professionals with Latino high school youth in order to provide mentoring activities and motivation to receive higher education, the GPHCC’s Professional Mentoring Network hosted professionals from a variety of business backgrounds at the Professional Mentoring Youth Activity at Thomas Edison High School. The activities promoted college and career readiness and included a welcome session where professionals opened up and shared their personal and professional experiences, exposing students to a more stable outlook on life and the choices they make.
Afterwards, professionals split up and met with different students for mock interviews that provided students with a better understanding of the interview process including how to present themselves, what employers are looking for, and why they should practice and tailor their answers. The youth are the future and by exposing them to role models, encouraging them to pursue a post-secondary education degree and understand the transition from school to the workforce, the economy and pipeline of quality prospective workers in the Philadelphia region improves. |
The Professional Mentoring Network Hosted PMN, Diversity and Mentoring Panel
The Greater Philadelphia Hispanic Chamber of Commerce’s Professional Mentoring Network hosted the PMN, Diversity and Mentoring Panel where Hispanic professionals convened for a night of networking and heard from the PMN advisory board and other accomplished executives. The packed room at Thursday night’s event was sponsored by Comcast | NBC10 and Temple’s Fox School of Business who also hosted the event at the school’s Alter Hall.
Those in attendance enjoyed a presentation from PMN Advisory Board co-chairs Nancy Wagner, Human Resources Manager for UPS Chesapeake District and Nick Jimenez, Manager of Political Affairs at Comcast about the PMN’s mission, goals, and accomplishments. The 2012 Dr. José E. Lebron Scholarship recipient Geraldo Oyola shared his experience with the PMN and his desire to be a part of the PMN in a mentorship role in the future
The highly anticipated panel event followed and was moderated by GPHCC President & CEO Varsovia Fernandez. The esteemed panel featured Andrea Agnew, Executive Director, Workforce Diversity and Inclusion for Comcast Cable, Maria Arias, Executive Director, Diversity, for Comcast Corporation, Oscar Budejen, Vice President, Channel Growth for ARAMARK Higher Education, and Mario Zacharjasz, President of 503 Corporation. The panel of experts shared their insights on a variety of topics pertaining to the PMN including how diversity and mentoring helped shape who they are today and their successful careers. The panel was followed by a Q+A enlightening the Hispanic professionals in attendance about decision-making and leadership skills to help them grow into management and executive positions.
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 GPHCC Latino Business Community Takes to the Hill
The Greater Philadelphia Hispanic Chamber of Commerce along with Pennsylvania’s Statewide Coalition of Hispanic Chambers held its 2013 Latino Latino Business on the Hill event Tuesday, April 30th advocating increased economic development, minority participation, and business opportunities.
A group of GPHCC’S officials and members took to the state capitol in Harrisburg to promote the Hispanic business community’s interests and contributions to the commonwealth’s economy. The day included sixteen meetings with legislators and staff including Senator Williams, Senator Tartaglione, Senator Hughes, and Senator Farnese in which issues ranging from funding streams, promoting positive immigration policies and access to capital were discussed. The GPHCC members also met with with Governor Corbett’s office where further issues such as tax incentive opportunities for small businesses, assuring safe commercial corridors throughout the state, and small business education programs were discussed.
Advocacy for small business issues is vital to the Hispanic Chamber’s mission and this annual event served to inform legislatures on Hispanic business issues and to strengthen the voice of Hispanic business within the state legislature and promoting our contributions to the commonwealth’s economy.
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 Latina Leadership Network Kicks off with a Succesful Opening
Kicking off its third year the Latina Leadership Network (LLN) connects Latina business owners, executives, community leaders and professionals in a business setting to nurture leadership, professional skills and self-assurance. On Thursday, April 18th the LLN hosted the seminar “Women as Minority Suppliers: Empowering Business”, sponsored by State Farm where Latinas with a varied background came together and heard from two successful keynote speakers about the significant contributions that women businesses and supplier diversity bring to the Greater Philadelphia Market.
Keynote Speakers included Ms. Geri Swift President of the Women’s Business Development Center of PA-DE-NJ and Ms. Natalia Olson-Urtecho Regional Administrator of the U.S. Small Business Administration Mid-Atlantic Region. The keynote speakers captivated the room with their personal stories, advice, and guidance. A Q&A proceeded and lead to an interactive dialogue, which highlighted the significance of self-confidence, volunteerism and networking for the success of women everywhere.
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A Conversation with Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor
The Greater Philadelphia Hispanic Chamber of Commerce co-presented with the National Constitution Center was honored to bring Justice Sonia Sotomayor to Philadelphia. Varsovia Fernandez, President & CEO of the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce introduced Justice Sotomayor to a packed room where her dynamic charisma and inspiring words provided a stimulating open dialogue.
Her NYT bestseller My Beloved World was used as an outline of her life’s many adventures, hardships, and wonderful opportunities. Her motivating words of growing up in in the projects in the Bronx to working her way up to Yale Law School, and eventually the Supreme Court touched everyone in the room. Justice Sotomayor was so engaging that no matter where you were in the room you felt as if she was speaking directly to you. Justice Sotomayor makes the Hispanic community proud and teaches you that with an education, hard work and courage no goal is too high and anything in life can be achieved. |
 GPHCC Held the 23rd Annual Meeting of the Membership
Mario Zacharjasz was unanimously elected as Chairman by the Greater Philadelphia Hispanic Chamber of Commerce board of directors.
The Greater Philadelphia Hispanic Chamber of Commerce hosted its 23rd Annual Meeting of the Membership on February 21st, 2013. The event gathered over 100 members who learned about GPHCC’s 2012 accomplishments, challenges and 2013 goals. To read more about the event click here
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 GPHCC Hosts the 2013 Alegria Ball, Panama: Gateway to the World
On January 18th, GPHCC hosted the 2013 Alegria Ball: Panama: Gateway to the World at Vie in celebration of Hispanic business success and Panama's diverse culture and its signature structure, the Canal. The gala attracted over 460 attendees and featured the 4th Annual Excelencia Hispanic Business Awards.
Featured photograph includes the Awardees of the night joined by the President and Chairman of the GPHCC and the Ambassador of Panama to the US. The picture form left to right: Lou Rodriguez, President of Rodriguez Consulting LLC and recipient; Varsovia Fernandez, President GPHCC; Mr. Ovidio Irizarry, Plant Manager District Plant Engineering from UPS; H.E. Mario Jaramillo, Ambassador of Panama to US; Nelly Jimenez-Arevalo, Director of Kennett Square Family Center and the Community Relations Director for the Maternal and Child Health Consortium; Dr. Charles Baltimore from Thomas Alva Edison High School; Paul Lima, Chairman of GPHCC.
To read and view more from the 2013 Alegria Ball, click here. |
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 A Successful and Impactful 2012 Youth Summit
Since its inception in 2007, one of the purposes of the GPHCC Professional Mentoring Network has been to connect Latino professionals with Latino youth; helping mentor them by sharing their professional experience and exposing them to a more stable outlook on life and opportunities. On November 29th, the GPHCC partnered with Thomas Edison High School to hold the impactful 2012 PMN Youth Summit. Over 60 professionals gathered at the High School to share their personal and professional stories with the Class of 2015. Activities included a two hour session where the students received presentations from as many as four professionals, a performance from the school choir and a panel with the 11th and 12th grade.
The event was a true success, impacting not only the students but professionals as well. Mr. Joshua Cortes from Comcast graduated from Thomas Edison High School in 1997 and was able to return to his alma mater. In summary of the event he stated, “I had a breakthrough from the experience. It was a reminder for me of where I came from, allowing me to appreciate where I'm at in life. I was able to access an emotion in my heart that put me back in their seats.” This is what the PMN work is about: helping Latino professionals like Joshua grow while connecting them back to our youth and helping employers build on workforce pipeline by helping students graduate high school.
The GPHCC give a heartfelt thank you to all 2012 Youth Summit participants from APM, Bank of America, Congreso, Comcast, Merck & Co., Siemens, TD Bank, United Health Care, UPS, Wells Fargo and especially Thomas Edison High School for helping us make this event possible.
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 South Philadelphia Mexican Merchants and GPHCC Celebrate Fiesta Comerciantes Calle 9
The South Philadelphia Mexican business owners and the Greater Philadelphia Hispanic Chamber of Commerce held the second annual festival, Fiesta Comerciantes Calle 9, a celebration in honor of the work and success that Mexican merchants in South Philadelphia are enjoying. This event was created in collaboration between Mexican merchants and GPHCC to promote South Philly's Latino businesses and to give the surrounding community an opportunity to buy locally while experiencing the Mexican culture. The event provided information useful to business owners from supporters as the City of Philadelphia Department of Commerce Business Services, Licenses and Inspection and Wells Fargo financial literacy tools. Over 2,000 locals gathered at the all day festival, which took place in and around the Italian Market and encouraged neighbors to buy locally while nurturing South Philly's diverse population.
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 The 10th Annual Golf Outing Welcomes Members, Business Owners, and The Philadelphia Phillies Carlos "Chooch" Ruiz
The 10th Annual Golf Outing was a pleasant and successful day drawing members, business owners, and stakeholders for a day of golf and networking. The Philadelphia Phillies player, Carlos "Chooch" Ruiz, kicked off the event at lunch and shot gun in support of Hispanic business growth.
The outing attracted over 100 guests to strengthen business relationships and fundraise for the Small Business Development and Education program serving small business owners with technical and financial assistance. Bank of America served as the presenting sponsor in addition to support from Sovereign | Santander, The Hershey Company, The Swarthmore Group, and the Philadelphia Beverage Association
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 Congratulations to Geraldo Oyola, Recipient of this Year's Dr. Jose E. Lebron Scholarship
The Greater Philadelphia Hispanic Chamber’s Professional Mentoring Network (PMN) presented the 2012 Dr. Jose E. Lebron Scholarship to the Community College of Philadelphia to Edison High School student Geraldo Oyola.
The reception event provided an opportunity for professionals and executives to connect and network while supporting the efforts of the program. David L. Cohen, Executive Vice President of Comcast Corporation spoke about the importance of this program in mentoring high school Latino students. Mr. Cohen has supported the PMN program since inception. Filemon Lopez, Senior Vice President of Strategic Operations, Comcast Cable- Florida region and co-founder of Comcast University highlighted the need to support Latino students in addressing low graduation rates and resources for them to attend college. Both executives praised the work of the PMN program and its contribution towards feeding the workforce pipeline through college and work readiness activities and Latino professional mentoring.
With the help of many donors, friends of the Professional Mentoring Network, the Greater Philadelphia Hispanic Chamber was able to endow the scholarship fund to the Community College of Philadelphia Foundation for $100,000 to ensure that Hispanic youth will continue to benefit from the opportunity for years to come. |
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 Department of Revenue's Secretary Daniel P. Meuser Present's Governors Budget Plan to GPHCC Members
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Secretary of Revenue, Daniel Meuser, shared with members of the GPHCC insightful information about the various initiatives and projects the Department is implementing to maintain a balanced budget and shorten the existing deficit.
The Secretary shared Governor Corbett’s proposed budget plan for 2012-2013 and engaged into a productive conversation with participants regarding existing legislation that affects the growth of Hispanic businesses locally and statewide. |
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 Professional Mentoring Network Holds Executive Leadership and Diversity Panel
The Professional Mentoring Network hosted the Executive Leadership and Diversity Forum on April 13, 2012. The panel included three seasoned executives of small to mid-size companies in the greater Philadelphia region: Mr. Robert J. Ciaruffioli, CEO, ParenteBeard LLC, Roseline Hernandez Marston, CEO, A.D. Marble and James E. Nevels, Chairman of The Swarthmore Group. President and CEO of GPHCC, Varsovia Fernandez served as moderator of the panel.
Among the forty guests, were professionals,executives and business owners from various industries seeking to understand and learn about perspectives in diversity and executive leadership. The panelists shared their experience and insights about the role of diversity in leadership and how professionals can both define and develop their leadership paths. Guests heard about the importance of shared corporate values, being at the table, keeping up one’s word, mentoring and giving back. Panelists emphasized the shortage of minority engineers, accountants and executives in leadership. |
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