UPCOMING LIVE CHATS ON HISPANIC.COM
January 16, 2008, Wed. 3pm PST, 5pm CST, 6pm EST
Denise Barge, "Starting Your Own Business: Multicultural Women Are Doing It" 
Executive Director: Minority Investment Development Corporation and Rhode Island Coalition for Minority Investment
Did you know the pace of multicultural entrepreneurship, especially among women is outpacing that of non-multicultural women? What is driving it? How can you do start your own business? What tools do you need? Where can you get funding?
Ms. Barge has been in financial services for over 20 years working in retail operations, consumer lending, commercial lending, community development and most recently serves as the Executive Director for the Minority Investment Development Corp. and the Rhode Island Coalition for Minority Investment. Ms. Barge co-hosts along with the Center for Women & Enterprise, The Emerging Women in Business Conference held in June annually, focused on low/moderate income women and women of color.
Prior to joining the MIDC and RICMI in April 1999, Ms. Barge was an Assistant Vice President and Community Development Officer for BankBoston. Ms. Barge serves on the boards of Rhode Island Housing, Greater Providence Chamber of Commerce, RI Coalition Against Domestic Violence, South Providence Development Corp. and the RI Commission on Women. At MIDC and RHCMI, she is responsible for managing the overall operations and programs of both entities concentrating in marketing, public relations, portfolio management, technical assistance programming, and fundraising. Denise works to establish and develop partnerships within the Rhode Island community which will effectuate its mission to serve disadvantaged urban small businesses primarily in low/moderate income areas by providing alternative financing in promoting economic development.
January 21, 2008, Mon. 2pm PST,4pm CST, 5pm EST
Maureen Hall, " MBA, Business School, How to Get into Your Dream School & Land The Job You Want"
Director;Academic Programs & Services; Michigan State University College of Business MBA, former Asst. Dean of MBA Student Programs at Georgetown University MBA
Join Maureen Hall to discuss everything MBA. Should you get one? Where should you go? How should you apply? What test scores do you need? Who should write your recommendations? Does an MBA really make a difference in salary? What about internships? How do you get one? What jobs are available after getting your MBA? How do you get one of those high-paying jobs?
Maureen Hall currently holds the position of Director of the Full-time MBA Academic and Program Services office at Michigan State University. Previously she held several positions at Georgetown's Business School. During her tenure as Georgetown's Assistant Dean of MBA Student Services, the Program consistently appeared in the top tier of both US News and Business Week rankings. Most recently she designed and launched a Leadership Program for Undergraduate Business students. She is a Virginia native and has lived and travelled abroad. Maureen Hall has over 20 years experience in higher education. She holds a BA and MA from Georgetown University.
January 22, 2008, Tues. 3pm PST, 5pm CST, 6pm EST
Harry Schuhmacher, "Latin American Beers...U.S. Beer Drinkers Love'Em"
Founder, Editor & Publisher of Beer Business Daily
Beer! Who doesn't want to talk about it? Latin American beers are booming in popularity. Who's drinking all this beer? What beers should you try? Why do we add a lime and salt to some beers. Corona Extra is the 2nd best selling non-light beer in the USA. Modelo beer is the fastest growing import in recent years. Miller is now retailing its Mexican inspired beer, Miller Chill, globally. Beers such as Pacifico and others are making their way into mainstream shopping carts. Why the recent growth?
Mr. Schuhmacher is a former beer distributor, an accomplished online journalist and a savvy marketer of his information products. He founded BeerNet Communications, Inc., in 1997 and today is the editor and publisher of two sharply focused widely-read online newsletters about the beer industry, Beer Business Daily and Beer Distributor Monthly.
January 28, 2008, Mon. 4pm PST, 6pm CST, 7pm EST
Rita Valenciano, "Kansas City, Immigration, Hispanics in Kansas City
Kansas City community leader discusses recent Kansas City events involving The National Council of La Raza, The NAACP, and the Minutemen
Rita Valenciano was a community leader at the forefront of a Hispanic movement requesting the removal of a Minutemen member appointed to the Kansas City Parks' Board. The Minutemen member was not removed. The National Council of La Raza pulled their 2009 national conference from Kansas City. After La Raza pulled out, the Minutemen scheduled their 1st ever annual conference for February 1-2, 2008 in Kansas City.
Valenciano serves as Executive Director of APOYO (Assistance to Parents of Youth Organization), a family support and education program serving predominantly Spanish speaking families who are low income and high-risk. Valenciano also runs Valenciano and Associates where she facilitates diversity, dispute resolution and strategic planning workshops and seminars. Valenciano is highly involved in the Kansas City community, and will be running for City Council in the next election. Valenciano earned a Master’s of Public Administration and a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Missouri. Link to Rita Valenciano's blog.
January 29, 2008, Tues. 3pm PST, 5pm CST, 6pm EST
Ralph P. Paniagua Jr. & Beto Villa, "Let's Play Ball!: Latinos Play Sports & Caribbean World Series Feb. 2-7"
Ralph Paniagua: President and CEO of RPI, Latinobaseball.com & Latinoboxing.com; Organizer of Caribbean World Series: 50th Anniversary Broadcast
Beto Villa: Spanish language voice of the New York Yankees & editor of Latinobaseball.com
Ask your questions in English or Espanol: Mr. Paniagua and Mr. Villa preview the Caribbean World Series Feb. 2-7 in Santiago, Dominican Republic, answer your questions about Hispanic sports stars, and talk shop.
Ralph P. Paniagua Jr., is President and CEO of R. Paniagua Inc. (RPI), a New York based firm formed in 1984 to create alternative methods in reaching the U.S. Latino community. RPI introduced the first bi-lingual publication in the country, VIVA New York which is the Tri-State area’s #1 Latino publication reaching over 400,000 homes monthly. By 1992, RPI launched Latino Baseball Magazine and in 1994 Latino Boxing Magazine, covering stars like Sammy Sosa, Alex Rodriguez, Pedro Martinez and Papi Ortiz. The publication has become Latinobaseball.com and is a leading site for Hispanic baseball fans. Latino Boxing Magazine and Latinoboxing.com have been an important voice of the Latino dominant boxing era that saw young Champions De La Hoya, Trinidad and Vargas.
RPI has created and implemented special events: Hispanic Achievement Awards, Hispanic Heritage Day @ the Ballpark, Caribbean World Series Broadcast, Dominican League Broadcast, Nights of Latino Boxing Champions, Boxeo Caliente Broadcast, Baseball & Boxing Celebrity Appearances
RPI has been appointed by the World Domino Federation to manage and implement the World Domino Tournament in Las Vegas in 2006, Dominican Republic in 2007 and Orlando in 2008. Ralph Paniagua is a pioneer in Latino Sports Marketing. Today Mr. Paniagua is sought out by many leading media companies in their quest to successfully target Latinos in the U.S. through sports.