Marie Patricy, Associate V.P.,
Fixed Annuity Product Portfolio,
Nationwide.
Silvana Montenegro, Global
Head of Advancing Hispanics &
Latinos, JPMorgan Chase.
Southeast Region LATINA Style
Business Series a Success!
By Gloria Romano-Barrera
Gabi Ortigoni, President &
CEO, Hispanic Chamber of
Commerce of Metro Orlando.
On Friday, November 12th, 2021, LATINA
Style, Inc. hosted its Southeast Region
(Florida/Georgia) Virtual LATINA Style
Business Series themed “Latinas Pivot and Adapt:
Conquering New Opportunities In 2021 and Beyond.”
The virtual program allowed attendees to
participate safely while also engaging with speakers
on learning about business ownership. Attendees
were presented with career development seminars
designed to benefit Latina professionals and
entrepreneurs. In addition, participants partook in
several workshops aimed to address the strains
placed by the current pandemic.
Welcoming remarks were provided by the
Honorable Buddy Dyer, Mayor, City of Orlando. National
partner remarks were provided by Mark Madrid,
Associate Administrator/Office of Entrepreneurial
Development – SBA; Community partner remarks were
provided by Gabi Ortigoni, President & CEO,
Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Metro Orlando.
Presenting sponsor remarks were provided by Marie
Patricy, Associate V.P., Fixed Annuity Product Portfolio,
Nationwide and Corporate sponsor remarks were
provided by Silvana Montenegro, Global Head of
Advancing Hispanics & Latinos, JPMorgan Chase.
The first session of the day titled, “Economic
Briefing – Round Table Discussion,” delved into the
current economic climate and how business has
changed due to the new COVID mandates. Facilitated
by Robert E. Bard, President & CEO, LATINA Style, Inc.,
speakers included national co-chair Ramiro Cavazos,
President & CEO, USHCC; Ben Ayers, Senior Economist,
Nationwide; Linda Navarro, Global Lead for the Latin
Diversity Network, American Airlines; Sandra Magallon,
Minority Entrepreneurs West Division Area Manager,
JPMorgan Chase; and Victoria Guerrero, South Florida
District Director, SBA.
The second session “Cultural Mindsets: Decodedpresented
by Nationwide” was facilitated by Lory Burgos,
Senior Consultant, Enterprise Diverse Marketing,
Nationwide and Valeria Aloe, President & Founder,
Abundancia Consciente.
Mark Madrid, Associate
Administrator/Office of
Entrepreneurial Development –
SBA.
The third session “How Mental Health Affects
You, Your Work and Your Business,” focused on the
pressures faced by all of us during the COVID-19
Pandemic. Experts discussed ways to recognize the
signals of stress (the shadow pandemic) and provided
tools on how to address these challenges.
Moderated by Valeria Aloe, President & Founder,
Abundancia Consciente, panelists included Dr. Sherita
Hill Golden, MD, MHS – Vice President, Chief Diversity
Officer - Johns Hopkins Medicine, and Dr. Mayra
Sanchez Gonzalez, PHD – Assistant Professor – Johns
Hopkins Univ. School of Medicine.
Ramiro Cavazos, President
& CEO, USHCC.
Ben Ayers, Senior
Economist, Nationwide.
Linda Navarro, Global
Lead for the Latin Diversity
Network, American Airlines.
28 LATINAStyle Vol. 28, No. 1, 2022 www.latinastyle.com
/www.latinastyle.com
