Connecting Latinas of Influence | Inland Empire
Inland Empire first stop of the 2024 Connecting Latinas of Influence Series
Hispanic Lifestyle is pleased to announce we will kickoff our 2024 Connecting Latinas of Influence Series in the Inland Empire on May 23, 2024. The “mini conference” sponsored by Wells Fargo Bank will feature panel discussions, presentations by business expert, community leaders and the presentation regional Latinas of Influence.
Recognizing Excellence in Our Community for Over 25 years
Established in 1997, Hispanic Lifestyle takes pride in our proven track record of establishing meaningful connections with hard-to-reach Latino professionals and community leaders. We focus on producing original, authentic content that is designed to inspire our audience. A leader in connecting communities, Hispanic Lifestyle set the regional standard when we produced our first Latina Conference in San Bernardino, California in 2000.
After returning to in-person events last year, we’ve witnessed the power of personal connections and the impact they have on our community. While we appreciate our online audience, there’s truly something special about the energy and camaraderie at Hispanic Lifestyle events.
EVENT VIDEOS
2024 Connecting Latinas of Influence | Inland Empire
2024 Hispanic Lifestyle Latinas of Influence
Hispanic Lifestyle is thrilled to reveal the lineup of remarkable women who will be honored at our upcoming Connecting Latinas of Influence | Inland Empire event on May 23, 2024, in downtown Riverside, California. These distinguished Latinas of Influence, with diverse personal and professional backgrounds, embody excellence as business and community leaders within their respective fields.
Outlined below is the initial roster of honorees for Hispanic Lifestyle’s 2024 Latinas of Influence, to be acknowledged during the Inland Empire leg of our five-state series.
- Estella Acuña – Director, Chicano Student Programs – University of California, Riverside
- Julia Amante – Author, Educator, Community Servant
- Dr. Esperanza Arce – Chief Academic Officer – Moreno Valley Unified School District
- Dina Esquivel – Entrepreneur, Community Servant – PHP Agency Inc
- Yvette Seymour Ed.D. – Portfolio Director IT, Grid Systems/Security Project Management Office – 4Liberty Inc.
- Pamela Velazquez – Executive Director District Branch Network, Senior Manager – Wells Fargo Bank
- Jessica Yañez – Founder and Host – The Wine & Chisme Podcast
- Deandra Zabala – Senior Manager, Consumer Markets – T-Mobile
Since 2013, Hispanic Lifestyle has formally listed our Latinas of Influence. To date, we have posted the profiles and honored over 325 women. In 2024, we anticipate adding 48 profiles of Latinas of Influence and honoring them throughout our Connecting Latinas of Influence Series.
WHY YOU SHOULD ATTEND
Discover the power of connection at Hispanic Lifestyle events, where a vibrant community comes together to champion women lifting each other higher. We showcase insightful speakers and esteemed honorees—community leaders and business professionals—who generously share their personal and career journeys.
At Hispanic Lifestyle events, attendees have the unique opportunity to learn from industry experts, expand their networks, and cultivate lasting relationships. With over 25 years of event production experience, we’ve consistently provided platforms where impactful moments are experienced and cherished.
Join us as we continue to educate, engage, and inspire attendees to reach new heights in both their personal and professional lives. Our goal is to promote a culture of empowerment and growth within our community.
Come be part of something extraordinary with Hispanic Lifestyle
DETAILS
Connecting Latinas of Influence – Inland Empire
a production of Hispanic Lifestyle
Sponsored by Wells Fargo Bank
May 23, 2024 | 4pm – 7pm
California Museum of Photography/Culver Center & Sweeney Art Gallery
3834 Main St, Riverside, CA 92501
WORKING PROGRAM
4:00pm | Check-In • Exhibitors
Welcome – Richard Sandoval, Hispanic Lifestyle
Sponsor Welcome – Natasha Mata, Region Bank President Community Banking , Wells Fargo & Company
City of Riverside Welcome – Mayor Patricia Lock Dawson
4:30pm | Panel Discussion – Latinas in Business
- Wendy Preciado – CEO & COO Murcia Group International LLC
- Jillian Romero Chaves – founder, Clara for Daters is not a dating app
- Carmen Torres – Author, CEO & Chief Specialist of My HR Specialist Inc.
Remembering – Moreno Valley City Council Member Victoria Baca
5:00pm | Panel Discussion – Leading our Community
- Hilda Cruz, Regional Program Director, Inland Empire – Interfaith Movement for Human Integrity
- Karen I (Serrano) Suarez, M.S, VP Collective Impact – Making Hope Happen Foundation
- Natalia Bracco, Entrepreneur, Realtor and Co-Founder Latino Talk
- Mireya Olivera, editor of the Impulso de Oaxaca Newspaper
Remembering our Friend, Latina of Influence | Ofelia Valdez-Yeager
5:30pm | Networking – Break – Heavy hors d’oeuvres
6:00pm | Presentation of Latinas of Influence
Outlined below is the initial roster of honorees for Hispanic Lifestyle’s 2024 Latinas of Influence, to be acknowledged during the Inland Empire leg of our five-state series.
- Estella Acuña – Director, Chicano Student Programs – University of California, Riverside
- Julia Amante – Author, Educator, Community Servant
- Dr. Esperanza Arce – Chief Academic Officer – Moreno Valley Unified School District
- Dina Esquivel – Entrepreneur, Community Servant – PHP Agency Inc
- Yvette Seymour Ed.D. – Portfolio Director IT, Grid Systems/Security Project Management Office – 4Liberty Inc.
- Pamela Velazquez – Executive Director District Branch Network, Senior Manager – Wells Fargo Bank
- Jessica Yañez – Founder and Host – The Wine & Chisme Podcast
- Deandra Zabala – Senior Manager, Consumer Markets – T-Mobile
Sponsorship opportunities, table top exhibitor space and table sponsorship are available now. Please send your request to Richard Sandoval directly at 951.640.1146 or RDS@HispanicLifestyle.Com
Connecting Latinas of Influence | Inland Empire - Speakers
Our Connecting Latinas of Influence | Inland Empire event will feature speakers with diverse professional and personal background. Below are the bios of our featured speakers.
Also, Hispanic Lifestyle is reaching out to our network for speakers and presenters for future panel discussions. Send your information to Rds@Hispaniclifestyle.Com
Speakers, panelists are subject to change without notice.
Mayor | Patricia Lock Dawson
Patricia Lock Dawson is a Riverside native and small business owner. She was elected Riverside’s 18th mayor in 2020. Mayor Lock Dawson is the first UC Riverside graduate and second woman to be elected to Riverside’s only citywide office in its 150-year history. She has an extensive record of service to Riverside, the Inland Southern California region, and the state. Mayor Lock Dawson served three political appointments under two gubernatorial administrations alongside serving in every level of government prior to being Mayor of Riverside.
As an environmental scientist and wildlife biologist by training, Mayor Lock Dawson was instrumental in passing legislation to secure tens of millions of dollars in state and federal funds for regional conservation, habitat, and infrastructure projects. She is well-known across the state as a champion of the Santa Ana River—the namesake of the City of Riverside.
Achievements
Under Mayor Lock Dawson’s collaborative leadership, Riverside has secured over $300 million in state and federal dollars to address needs in infrastructure, homelessness, and workforce development. Her success in securing historic levels of funding for the city is also accompanied by her advocacy work in reforming major mental healthcare laws that have not been accomplished in the last 50+ years. Mayor Lock Dawson’s individual lobbying efforts led to the historic passage of CARE Court, a tool that empowers family members, first responders, and behavioral health providers to petition the court to get help for those incapable of caring for themselves. Her award-winning programs for combatting homelessness have been recognized locally and statewide and serve as an instrumental blueprint aimed at prevention and intervention.
Mayor Lock Dawson is a member of several coalitions such as the Big City Mayors, US Conference of Mayors, Riverside Conservation Authority and South Coast Air Quality Management District. The Mayor notably Chairs the Legislative/Communications & Membership Committee for the Southern California Association of Governments and is the Vice Chair of the Community and Economic Development Federal Advocacy Committee for the National League of Cities.
Awards
As an accomplished, respected leader in the community, Mayor Lock Dawson has achieved numerous awards and accolades throughout her career as a public servant. One of the most notable awards she has received is the Art Pick Distinguished Leader Award from the Greater Riverside Chambers of Commerce
Natalia Bracco
Natalia Bracco is an Argentine born entrepreneur with a passion for serving the community. After moving to the states as a teenager, she finished college and graduate school at the at the top of her class. Natalia earned a Bachelor’s in Political Science Louisiana State University Shreveport and a Master’s in Spanish Literature and Culture from LSU Baton Rouge. She applied her training in managing a multilingual office for the Louisiana Department of Health, while she built her real estate portfolio.
She spent her first 9 years in real estate in the investment and property management field. After moving to California, she joined Rancon Real Estate which was the largest boutique brokerage in the Temecula Valley, and whose owner had helped develop many communities in the Temecula Valley. Natalia learned from this team of professionals and thrived as a local realtor doing business from Southwest Riverside to Orange County. She has since become a part of First Team Real Estate, the largest privately and owned brokerage in the State of California.
While building relationships with her clients, Natalia realized the great need for support of local Latino businesses and the community in her area. She then helped establish Latino Talk, the first community support group for Latinos in the Temecula Valley. Latino Talk’s mission is to connect the local Latino community with Latino businesses and organizations that provide the services they need. Natalia’s passion for service has lead her to participate in and sponsor numerous community events, from community clean up events, to local school activities and fundraisers.
Jillian Romero Chaves
Jillian Romero Chaves, a third generation car dealer born and raised in the Inland Empire, recently paused her roles managing OREMOR Automotive Group and serving as President of the Ontario Auto Center to pursue social impact entrepreneurship. She successfully launched the intentional dating logbook Clara for Daters which has garnered recognition in the February edition of Los Angeles Magazine, as an innovative resource to empower meaningful connections in the digital age.
Clara for Daters is not a dating app – it’s a positive technology tool designed to support daters in their post-match efforts to nurture meaningful connections while safeguarding mental wellness in today’s digital era of romantic distraction. Jillian is dedicated to prioritizing authenticity over swipe culture, aiming to fill the post-match gap of support for modern daters by helping them rediscover the value of in-person meaningful connections that transcend the digital realm.
The recent feature in Los Angeles Magazine highlights Clara for Daters’ commitment to addressing the prevalent loneliness and social isolation epidemic in today’s society. Jillian seeks to bridge the gap between dating apps, social media’s digital interactions and genuine human relationships by supporting individuals seeking meaningful social connections.
Looking ahead, Jillian is determined to collaborate with organizations like The Foundation for Social Connection, local community governments, small business restaurants and coffee shops along with traditional dating apps to address the loneliness and social isolation epidemic affecting our communities. She believes in empowering single individuals to engage in the basic exercise of post-match intentional dating with the support of Clara as an introspective and accessible digital resource. Through post-match data gathering, Jillian aims to make a difference by understanding the dynamics of social atrophy, identifying effective interventions, and tailoring initiatives to meet the specific needs of all affected individuals.
Jillian’s mission is clear: to empower social connection, one intentional date at a time.
Hilda Cruz
Hilda Cruz, Regional Program Director, Inland Empire – Interfaith Movement for Human Integrity supports the immigrant community in the Inland Empire through education, direct outreach, and advocacy for policies that transform and empower our most vulnerable communities. One of her passions is hosting intentional gatherings where she encourages immigrants to awaken their God-given personal power to transform their community through stories, prayer, poetry, and songs.
One of Hilda’s accomplishments in 2021-2022 was Project Thrive, a program that paved the way for immigrants and others facing work barriers. Through the California Department of Labor’s SEED Initiative, she promoted the entrepreneurship of immigrants, English language learners, and those who face employment barriers. In 2022, twenty individuals from this program received microgrants to start their businesses. Read more about Project Thrive and its wonderful participants.
For over twenty years, Hilda has been a community leader, organizer, and advocate focusing on faith, social justice, and the fair treatment of every person. She was drawn to the Interfaith Movement for Human Integrity work because she aspired to work with an organization that represented her values of being an intentional, multi-faith community guided by diverse faith traditions that live peaceably, respectfully, and lovingly with every person.
Before her current position, she was Director of Social Justice and Outreach for St. Martin de Porres Catholic Church in Yorba Linda. She helped form the North Orange County Interfaith Council, which engaged congregations of many faiths. She worked as the Justice for Immigrants Campaign Coordinator for the Diocese of San Bernardino, where she connected church leaders with community partners and allies to advance pro-immigrant legislation through outreach, education, and action. For the past 11 years, she has led public, multi-faith prayer services that center on peoples’ stories and invite attendees to deep reflection and action—gaining recognition as a “Change Maker” and ” Transforming Leader.”
She is currently a Mercy International Global Action Emerging Leadership Fellow, with hopes to raise her voice on a global scale on issues of degradation of the earth and the movement of people.
Rebecca Flores-Castro
Rebecca is currently serving as CEO at Results Driven Enterprises, COO at My Homeownership Academy, Co-Founder of HispanicWay, Board Member for Sluggers Youth Academy and Co-Coordinator for Las Comadres Fort Worth amongst other volunteer activities. Rebecca with Results is an award-winning business and community growth strategist providing innovative programs and opportunities to positively impact her clients and the community.
Rebecca is a homeownership and investment advocate actively participating as a mentor, speaker and coach. She helps others learn the benefits of Business, Community, and Real Estate, with her event and interview series “Investing with Impact”.
Early in her career, Rebecca was recognized by the U.S. Small Business Administration in 2004 when she was the first Latina to be honored as the “Young Entrepreneur of the Year” by the OC/IE region for her pioneering small business model.
Since that time, Rebecca has been instrumental in the growth of many individuals and businesses by developing unique and proactive results driven solutions for business growth campaigns, regional and national outreach programs, asset acquisitions, investor relations, and community engagement initiatives.
Rebecca lives in Fort Worth, Texas with her husband Rob, two adult children, a spoiled dog, and a 22 year old turtle. She loves staying active in her church prayer group, fishing with her husband, and nature photography, especially of sunsets and wild flowers.
Natasha Mata
Natasha Mata serves as the Inland Empire Region Bank President at Wells Fargo. In this role, Mata manages a team of nearly 1,200 employees, ten districts and over 70 branches across Orange County and the Inland Empire and Los Angeles County.
A 29-year financial services veteran, Mata began her Wells Fargo career as a teller. She served in various senior branch-level roles, including personal banker, service manager, branch manager and district manager. Prior to assuming her current leadership role in Central LA, she served as the Region Bank President for the Four Rivers market in 2011 and the Northern New Mexico region in 2007.
Mata is passionate about empowering and motivating employees to succeed personally, professionally, and financially. With more nearly 1,200 employees, Mata challenges everyone to bring humanity to banking and find ways to connect with the community and customers in a genuine way.
As an active participant in her local community and an advocate for workforce development and financial education, Mata was instrumental in the launch of ‘Everyone In’ an initiative that aims to remove barriers and create pathways to economic opportunity in Long Beach. She is also a previous board member of Long Beach Economic Partnerships and is an advocate for the local community.
Mata is a proud mother of two college students and enjoys spending time with her husband and children.
Mireya Olivera
Mireya Olivera is a journalist from Oaxaca and is editor of the Impulso de Oaxaca newspaper founded in 2004 in Los Angeles, California. She graduated with a degree in Communication Sciences and Techniques from the Institute of Higher Studies of Oaxaca.
In 2004, together with her friends, activist Guadalupe Bojórquez, restaurant owner Teresita Hernández and Oaxacan journalist Marcela Rodríguez, who created the newspaper Impulso de Oaxaca.
As editor and reporter of the ethnic media geared towards the Oaxacan community, she seeks to inform her audience and highlight the great economic, political, social, cultural and gastronomic contributions that they make as immigrants by telling their stories.
In 2003 she participated in the book project “Oaxacalifornia” at the invitation of Prof. José Luis Benavides of California State University, Northridge, contributing several stories published in the Impulso newspaper of the Oaxacan immigrant community.
Araceli Martinez Ortega
Araceli Martinez Ortega is a reporter for the La Opinion currently assigned to cover City Hall, Government and Community issues. Between 2006 – 2013, she was the La Opinion Correspondent at the State’s Capitol in Sacramento.
Araceli has a B.A. degree in Communication Sciences from Mexico’s Autonomous National University (UNAM in Mexico City), and a Masters’ in digital journalism from the University of Guadalajara in Mexico (UG). She started her journalism career in the State of Sonora, Mexico, as an agriculture reporter. She left Mexico, and migrated to Northern California in 2001, leaving behind a 12 year-career in print, and radio media.
Before La Opinion, she worked for Univision—San Francisco, and at the California based—Radio Bilingüe. Throughout her career, she has received various journalism awards including the prestigious Jose Marti Award given by the National Association of Hispanic Publications; from Ethnic Media Services, and New America Media as well; but most importantly, she is very proud of the opportunity she’s earned to cover the growing Latino political empowerment, and her everyday connection to the community.
Wendy Preciado
Wendy Preciado, a Latina woman in construction is our Chief Operating Officer & COO Wendy brings over a decade of experience and expertise in commercial construction and development.
With a strong background in the hospitality industry, she has collaborated with numerous recognized franchises. Wendy’s leadership, business development, and public relation skills enrich MGI team.
Wendy is dedicated and committed in making a difference in our communities with her involvement with different associations in the commercial construction industry. As a Latina and a Mexican immigrant Wendy is leading by example, she knows the importance in making a difference and bringing change by sharing information, guidance and helping others. Wendy’s commitment and passion in building, not only buildings but also business and people; she became part of US Council of Hispanic in Construction, La Voz de Construccion as board of advisors.
Our CEO Wendy Preciado is also highly involved with Latino Hotel Association as the Ambassador for Texas region. She joined forces with President & CEO Lynette Montoya to make a difference in our community.
Mission and Vision is to educate and share information on Hotel Ownership; to give each Latino / Hispanic families the opportunity to
create generational wealth. Change starts with us.
Karen Serrano M.S
Karen I Serrano M.S, VP Collective Impact at MAKING HOPE HAPPEN FOUNDATION. Karen has more than decade of experience in nonprofit management, community and government relations, education and philanthropy from her previous roles with Wells Fargo under the Social Impact and Sustainability team, The Dominguez Dream, American Heart Association, Inland Empire Division, and serving as a Congressional Field Representative for the 43rd Congressional District.
Known for her contagious energy and passion for people, Karen is a proud daughter of immigrants and first generation college graduate with a dual bachelor’s degree in Psychology and Human Development from California State University, San Bernardino, and a Master’s of Science in Higher Education Administration from Florida State University. She currently serves as the Vice President of Collective Impact, supporting Uplift San Bernardino at the Making Hope Happen Foundation. In addition, Karen serves in various organizations including as the Co-Chair for Inland Economic Growth and Opportunity (IEGO).
Karen values cross-sector collaboration, diversity, equity, inclusion, collective action, and leverages her professional and personal skills as well as her talents to support organizational infrastructure for collective impact work in the region. With a bias for action, and leading with heart, she considers herself a life-long learner and striving “to give more to the world than takes from it.” -Jacqueline Novogratz.
Karen lives in San Bernardino with her husband who is a teacher and product of SBCUSD, two daughters, and three fur babies. Karen enjoys dessert before dinner, reading, traveling, and volunteering. Karen hopes to use her knowledge, skills and abilities in community development and love for learning to empower the next generation to build wealth and make hope happen.
Disclaimer of Endorsement: Accepting requests to be a part of my LinkedIn network does not constitute an endorsement for your products, services, or views expressed on your site(s) and/or profile from me personally, or the organizations I am a part of, including: Present employer, business, and current and past organizations where I volunteer or work.
Carmen Torres
VIDEO EXCLUSIVE
Connecting Latinas of Influence 2024 Series Announcement
CONNECTING LATINAS OF INFLUENCE SERIES
Connecting Latinas of Influence Series| Sponsorship Levels
CONNECT WITH OUR COMMUNITY
Our community is filled with inspiring stories, empowering voices, and a commitment to education. Hispanic Lifestyle"Connecting Latinas of Influence" series brings people together and creates experiences that linger in your heart.
For over 25 years, Hispanic Lifestyle has been at the forefront of recognizing excellence within our community. Our Connecting Latinas of Influence series is more than an event; it's a celebration of community leaders across the United States.
Feature speakers, panelists share valuable insights on topics ranging from building generational wealth, establishing professional networks, developing leadership skills, to promoting health and wellness. Professionals, small business owners, community organizations, mega companies, gather with one common goal, to connect with the hard-to-reach and fastest-growing consumer segment in the United States: Latinas.
Don't miss this opportunity to find YOUR MOMENT! Join us and be a part of something truly special. Hispanic Lifestyle - We celebrate the extraordinary!
This is your opportunity to participate in the conversation by sponsoring Connecting Latinas of Influence Series produced by Hispanic Lifestyle. We are offering several sponsorship levels for your consideration. Should you have any questions or require additional details such as specific pricing for the sponsorship levels, feel free to contact Richard Sandoval directly at 951.640.1146 or RDS@HispanicLifestyle.Com
Presenting Sponsor
In-Person and Online Presentation Deliverables • Presenting Sponsor - Minimum Four Event Commitment
- Listed in promotional materials (digital ads and video spots) as the “Presenting Sponsor.”
- Speaking/Presenter and/or Panel Discussion Opportunity at the In-person events “or”
- Interview segment feature in the “Online Presentation”
- Selection of a Latina of Influence
- Listed as “Presenting Sponsor” for the “Online Presentation” to be streamed online.
- 2 - 30 Second promo spots to be featured at the event and during the “Online Presentation” (client to provide)
- 25 Admissions to the event
- Exhibitor Opportunity
- 6x Email Newsletter Ad (280 x 280 pixels)
- Logo on additional promotion materials - (emails, video messages, via Youtube, LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter)
- Billboard AD on Event Page - size 970 x 250
- Feature Article Posting - distributed online, email and social media network (client to provide)
- Social Media Thank you posting (LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram)
Regional Sponsor
In-Person and Online Presentation Deliverables • Regional Sponsor Minimum Two Events
- Listed in promotional materials (digital ads and video spots) as the “Lifestyle Sponsor.”
- Speaking/Presenting Opportunity (approximately 5 mins) at our In-person event “or”
- Interview Segment to be featured in the online presentation to edited as a separate posting
- 1 - 30 Second promo spot to be featured at the event and during the “Online Presentation” (client to provide)
- Selection of a Latina of Influence
- 15 Admissions to the event
- Exhibitor Opportunity
- 4x Email Newsletter Ad (280 x 280 pixels)
- Logo on additional promotion materials - (emails, video messages, via Youtube, LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter)
- Billboard AD on Event Page - size 970 x 90
- Feature - Article Posting Posted on our HispanicLifestyle.com (client to provide)
- Social Media Thank you posting (LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram)
Lifestyle Sponsor
In-Person and Online Presentation Deliverables • Lifestyle Sponsor
- Listed in promotional materials (digital ads and video spots) as a “Lifestyle Sponsor.”
- Speaking Opportunity (approximately 5 mins) at our In-person event “or”
- 1 - 30 Second promo spot to be featured at the event and during the “Online Presentation” (client to provide)
- 10 Admissions to the event
- Exhibitor Opportunity
- 4x Email Newsletter Ad (280 x 280 pixels)
- Logo on additional promotion materials - (emails, video messages, via Youtube, LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter)
- Square digital AD on Event Page - size 300x300
- Social Media Thank you posting (LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram)
Community Sponsor
In-Person and Online Presentation Deliverables • Community Sponsor
- Listed in promotional materials (digital ads and video spots) as a “Community Sponsor.”
- 10 Admissions to the event
- Exhibitor Opportunity
- 2x Email Newsletter Ad (280 x 280 pixels)
- Logo on additional promotion materials - (emails, video messages, via Youtube, LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter)
- Square digital AD on Event Page - size 300x300
Additional Details
Our Audience
Our platform, HispanicLifestyle.com has annual online audience of over 3 million visitors according to weblizer reports. The in-person Latinas of Influence series is projected to attract 100-200 attendees per event. Registration for Hispanic Lifestyle “Online Presentations” averages over 1,500 people. Across the board, women between the ages of 24 -54 represent approximately 80% of our viewing audience consisting of community leaders, business owners and professionals.
Terms and Conditions
Commitment for sponsorship is 90 days prior to event. Payment for event must be received in full 30 days prior to event date. Other arrangements must be made in advance. Discount is available for multi-event, multi-year commitments paid in advance.
Client’s logos and digital artwork must be received 45 days prior to the event. Client video messages to be showcased at the in-person event must be received 15 days prior to the event.