Introducing HL Media Network

Introducing HL Media Network

Jul 23, 2026 | Business

HL | BUSINESS

Introducing HL Media Network

“Our name has changed over the years, but our purpose never has to discover, document, and share the stories that connect communities.”


Richard Sandoval

Introducing HL Media Network Inc.
Building on three decades of trusted storytelling. Founded in 1995

uilding on Three Decades of Trusted Storytelling

Some journeys begin with a business plan. Ours began with a simple belief.

In 1995, we launched a four-page newsletter called Inland Empire Hispanic Business Update with one goal: to tell stories that mattered to our community. Two years later, that publication evolved into Inland Empire Hispanic Lifestyle Magazine, expanding our editorial vision to celebrate the people, businesses, organizations, and ideas shaping our region.

As technology changed, so did we.

Our storytelling expanded online with HispanicLifestyle.com, allowing us to reach audiences well beyond Southern California. We introduced video, photography, live events, interviews, podcasts, and conversations that connected leaders from across the country. What never changed was our purpose to discover, document, and share stories that create understanding and strengthen communities.

Today, that journey continues under a new name.

HL Media Network represents more than a new brand. It reflects who we have become after more than three decades of growth, learning, and serving our audience. It brings together the work many people already know HispanicLifestyle.com, our live events, editorial publications, photography, video production, and new initiatives under one unified identity.

This evolution also creates room for what’s next.

Through Culture & Influence, we’ll explore the people and ideas shaping our communities. Through the HL| Milestone Series, we’ll continue recognizing leadership and achievement. Through Home TU Casa and future editorial initiatives, we’ll expand conversations that inform, inspire, and connect people across industries and generations.

Our editorial philosophy remains the same: Precision Media bringing together the right audience around the right conversation. We believe great storytelling creates value, builds trust, and strengthens relationships.

While our name has evolved, our mission has not.

For more than 30 years, we’ve been committed to discovering, documenting, and sharing the stories, ideas, achievements, and experiences that connect communities.

We’re excited for what’s ahead, and we’re grateful to everyone who has been part of this journey.

Welcome to HL Media Network.

Signiture activities of HL Media Network

Since 1995

  • Founded as Inland Empire Hispanic Business Update (1995)
  • Launched Inland Empire Hispanic Lifestyle Magazine (1997)
  • Introduced HispanicLifestyle.com (1999)
  • Introduced our Latinas of Influence series
  • Expanded into national editorial coverage, photography, video production, and live experiences
  • Today, united under HL Media Network Inc.

HL | Milestone Series – Honors Paleta Planeta

HL | Milestone Series – Honors Paleta Planeta

Jun 7, 2026 | Milestone

HL | Milestone Series – Honors Paleta Planeta

Family • Vision • Impact

Some businesses begin with a business plan.

Others begin with family.

For brothers Luis Salazar, Mauricio Salazar, and Gabriel Salazar, the journey that would become Paleta Planeta started during one of the most uncertain periods in recent history. What began as an idea during the COVID-19 pandemic—selling handcrafted paletas from their parents’ garage—has grown into one of downtown San José’s most recognized entrepreneurial success stories.

Today, Paleta Planeta stands as a testament to perseverance, family values, and the power of community.

Paleta Planeta will be recognized during  our HL | Milestone Series – Silicon Valley event, taking place on June 17, 2026. This invitation-only reception brings together a curated audience of executives, entrepreneurs, and community leaders for an evening of connection, conversation, and recognition.

👉 Event details & RSVP: https://bit.ly/41B5Z3J

The Salazar brothers, all products of the San José educational community, built their business on a foundation that reflects the experiences of many first-generation entrepreneurs. Mauricio attended Evergreen Valley College, where he also played soccer. Gabriel graduated from Evergreen Valley College before earning a degree in Finance from San José State University and becoming a Certified Public Accountant. Luis attended both San José City College and Evergreen Valley College before completing his degree in Health Science at Cal State East Bay.

Their educational journey reflects a commitment to personal growth that would later become instrumental in building a successful business.

Inspired by family members with deep roots in the paleta tradition of Tocumbo, Michoacán widely recognized as the birthplace of the modern paleta the brothers embraced an opportunity to learn the craft while creating something uniquely their own. Armed with knowledge, determination, and support from family members who believed in their vision, they launched Paleta Planeta in 2021.

There was no storefront.

No large investment.

No guarantee of success.

Only three brothers working together with a shared belief that they would build something meaningful for their community.

Selling through social media, community events, and neighborhood gatherings, they steadily grew their following one customer at a time. Their commitment to quality, creativity, and customer experience transformed a small family operation into a destination that continues to attract visitors from throughout Silicon Valley.

A defining milestone came on September 21, 2024, when Paleta Planeta opened its first brick-and-mortar location in downtown San José, directly across from City Hall.

For the Salazar family, the opening represented far more than a new business address.

It represented years of sacrifice, countless hours of work, and the realization of a dream that began in a garage.

Today, Paleta Planeta offers more than handcrafted paletas. It creates experiences, celebrates culture, and brings people together through flavors that honor tradition while encouraging discovery and creativity.

Milestone Moments

• Built a family-owned business from a garage operation during the COVID-19 pandemic

• Leveraged the educational opportunities provided by Evergreen Valley College, San José City College, San José State University, and Cal State East Bay

• Grew from direct-to-consumer sales and community events into a recognized Silicon Valley brand

• Opened its first storefront in downtown San José in September 2024

• Created a destination that celebrates culture, entrepreneurship, family, and community

• Demonstrated how education, family support, and determination can transform an idea into a thriving business

The Salazar brothers’ story reminds us that entrepreneurship is often about more than building a company. It is about creating opportunities, honoring family sacrifices, and investing in the communities that helped shape our journey.

Their journey from garage to storefront, from vision to reality serves as an inspiring reminder that some of the most meaningful milestones begin with family, faith, and the courage to take the first step.

The HL | Milestone Series is a national platform designed to celebrate leadership across business, community, education, and innovation.

The 2026 HL | Milestone Series is made possible through the support of Wells Fargo, the series’ funding partner, whose commitment to community engagement and financial empowerment helps bring these important conversations and recognitions to life.

HL | Milestone Series – Honors Julian Cañete

HL | Milestone Series – Honors Julian Cañete

Jun 2, 2026 | Milestone

HL | Milestone Series – Honors Julian Cañete

Culture • Influence • Legacy

Some leaders advocate for business. Others dedicate their careers to creating opportunities that allow businesses, entrepreneurs, and communities to thrive.

Julian Cañete has spent more than two decades doing exactly that.

As President and CEO of the California Hispanic Chambers of Commerce (CHCC), Julian leads one of the state’s most influential business advocacy organizations. Representing more than 135 Hispanic chambers of commerce and business associations, the CHCC serves as a powerful voice for approximately 1.8 million small businesses throughout California.

Julian Cañete will be recognized during  our HL | Milestone Series – Silicon Valley event, taking place on June 17, 2026. This invitation-only reception brings together a curated audience of executives, entrepreneurs, and community leaders for an evening of connection, conversation, and recognition.

👉 Event details & RSVP: https://bit.ly/41B5Z3J

Throughout his career, Julian has been a tireless advocate for entrepreneurship, economic opportunity, and the advancement of small business owners. His leadership has helped connect entrepreneurs with resources, strengthen relationships between business and government, and ensure that the voices of small businesses are represented in important policy discussions across the state.

Julian’s connection to the California Hispanic Chambers of Commerce spans decades. After serving as President and CEO from 1999 to 2006 and again from 2009 to 2013, he returned to lead the organization in 2017. His experience also includes serving as Vice President of Public Policy and Strategic Partnerships for the California Asian Pacific Chamber of Commerce, where he continued his work advancing business development and economic growth.

Known for his ability to build coalitions and create meaningful partnerships, Julian has become one of California’s most respected voices on issues affecting small businesses, entrepreneurship, supplier inclusion, and economic empowerment.

Milestone Moments

• President & CEO, California Hispanic Chambers of Commerce

• Represents a statewide network of more than 135 chambers and business associations

• Advocate for approximately 1.8 million small businesses across California

• Former Vice President, Public Policy & Strategic Partnerships, California Asian Pacific Chamber of Commerce

• Founding Member, California Utilities Diversity Council

• Chairman, Vet Fund Foundation of California

• Board Member, Northeast Community Federal Credit Union

• Member, California Department of General Services Small Business Council

• Member, CalTrans Small Business Council

• Former Chairman, T-Mobile California External Council

• Longtime advocate for entrepreneurship, economic opportunity, and business growth

A Legacy of Advocacy and Economic Empowerment

For decades, Julian has worked at the intersection of business, public policy, and community leadership. His efforts have helped create pathways for entrepreneurs to grow their companies, access new opportunities, and contribute to California’s economic success.

His influence extends beyond chambers of commerce and boardrooms. Through his service on numerous public, private, and nonprofit organizations, Julian has consistently focused on strengthening communities by supporting the businesses that power them.

Whether advocating for small business owners at the state level, building strategic partnerships, or mentoring the next generation of business leaders, Julian’s work reflects a deep commitment to expanding opportunity and creating lasting economic impact.

His leadership continues to help shape a stronger future for entrepreneurs and communities throughout California.

The HL | Milestone Series is a national platform designed to celebrate leadership across business, community, education, and innovation.

The HL | Milestone Series is a national platform designed to celebrate leadership across business, community, education, and innovation.

The 2026 HL | Milestone Series is made possible through the support of Wells Fargo, the series’ funding partner, whose commitment to community engagement and financial empowerment helps bring these important conversations and recognitions to life.

Small Business Month: A Surviving to Thrive Story

Small Business Month: A Surviving to Thrive Story

May 28, 2026 | Business, The Business of Surviving to Thrive

Small Business Month: A Surviving to Thrive Story

by Richard Sandoval, for HL | Culture & Influence

The journey from uncertainty to opportunity and the entrepreneurs building legacies that extend beyond a single generation.

For many Americans, May is recognized as Small Business Month.
For us at HL | Culture and Influence, it represents something much deeper.

It is a reminder that behind nearly every neighborhood, every family story, every growing community, and every cultural movement, there are entrepreneurs taking risks most people never see.

Small business owners are not simply selling products or services. They are creating opportunity, building influence, preserving culture, generating jobs, supporting families, and investing back into the communities they call home.
And in many cases, they are doing it without massive teams, institutional backing, or headlines.

They simply keep showing up.

Across the country, we continue to witness entrepreneurs redefining industries in real time. Some are first-generation business owners. Others are building on family legacies. Many are balancing business ownership with parenting, caregiving, mentoring, and community leadership.

What often goes unnoticed is how deeply personal entrepreneurship really is.
For many small business owners, the business is not separate from life it is life.

  • It represents sacrifice.
  • It represents identity.
  • It represents belief in something bigger than a paycheck.

Over the years, HL has had the privilege of telling the stories of restaurant owners, financial professionals, creatives, nonprofit leaders, real estate experts, retailers, attorneys, wellness advocates, media entrepreneurs, and founders from a wide range of industries. What connects them is not simply revenue or visibility.

It is resilience.

Especially within Hispanic and multicultural communities, entrepreneurship has long been part of the economic engine that helps families move forward. Small businesses often become gathering places, employers, mentors, sponsors, and trusted voices within the community.

They become part of the cultural fabric.

Today’s business environment, however, is far more demanding than it once was.

Entrepreneurs are navigating inflation, rising operational costs, technology shifts, AI disruption, changing consumer behavior, social media pressures, and an economy that often feels unpredictable. At the same time, they are expected to constantly market themselves, create content, manage teams, and remain visible in increasingly crowded digital spaces.

The pressure is real.

Yet despite those challenges, many continue to evolve, adapt, and grow.
That spirit of reinvention may be one of the defining characteristics of modern entrepreneurship.

At HL, we understand that evolution personally.

Our own platform has gone through transformation rethinking not only how stories are told, but why they matter. We have shifted toward deeper conversations around culture, leadership, influence, business, wellness, travel, and aspiration because today’s audience is looking for more than headlines.

  • People are looking for connection.
  • For insight.
  • For inspiration.
  • For examples of what’s possible.
  • Small businesses provide exactly that.

As we look ahead, we believe the future belongs to entrepreneurs who understand the value of relationships, authenticity, adaptability, and community trust. The businesses that will continue to grow are the ones that recognize consumers are no longer simply purchasing products.

  • They are investing in experiences.
  • Values.
  • Stories.
  • And people they believe in.

That is especially true within affluent and emerging multicultural markets, where influence extends beyond economics and into lifestyle, identity, and community impact.

Small Business Month should not simply be about celebrating survival.

  • It should be about recognizing vision.
  • The vision to create something from nothing.
  • The vision to employ others.
  • The vision to build legacy.

And the vision to continue moving forward even when the path is uncertain.

  • To every entrepreneur working long hours behind the scenes…
  • To every founder funding a dream with personal sacrifice…
  • To every family-owned business adapting to a changing world…
  • And to every small business owner still believing in what’s possible…

We see you.

And your story matters.

Because long before corporations discover trends, communities are often shaped by the entrepreneurs already doing the work at the local level building influence one relationship at a time.

That is worth recognizing not just in May, but throughout the year.

HL | Culture and Influence
Defining Culture and Influence… in our community.

Small Business by the Numbers

Why Entrepreneurship Continues to Matter

  • Small businesses account for 99.9% of all U.S. businesses, according to the U.S. Small Business Administration.
  • Small businesses employ nearly 46% of the American workforce, representing millions of jobs across every industry and community.
  • Latino-owned businesses continue to be one of the fastest-growing segments of entrepreneurship in the United States, contributing hundreds of billions of dollars annually to the U.S. economy.
  • Studies continue to show that business ownership remains one of the strongest pathways toward building generational wealth, particularly for first-generation entrepreneurs and multicultural families.
  • Family-owned businesses often create more than income — they create:
    • Homeownership opportunities
    • College funding for future generations
    • Employment within the community
    • Long-term financial stability
    • Legacy and economic influence
  • According to multiple business and financial studies, entrepreneurs are more likely to create transferable assets that can be passed down through generations compared to wage-based income alone.
  • Today’s entrepreneurs are increasingly building businesses around:
    • Culture and community
    • Digital influence
    • Specialized expertise
    • Lifestyle-driven brands
    • Relationship-based trust

The Bigger Picture

For many families, entrepreneurship is no longer simply about owning a business.

It is about creating freedom.
Creating opportunity.
And creating a legacy future generations can build upon.

Source | U.S. Small Business Administration

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