HL | Update 29.9 From Surviving to Thriving Stories Behind Success, Influence & Legacy

May 29, 2026 | Culture and Influence

HL | Update 29.9 From Surviving to Thriving Stories Behind Success, Influence & Legacy

by Richard Sandoval – HL Culture & Influence

Over the past month, I’ve been thinking about a simple question:

What separates those who survive from those who thrive?

As we close out Small Business Month, that question feels especially relevant. Throughout my career, I’ve had the opportunity to meet entrepreneurs, executives, and community leaders who have navigated uncertainty, setbacks, and changing markets. What they share is not luck. It’s resilience, adaptability, and a willingness to keep moving forward.

In this edition of HL | Update, we explore those themes through our feature, Small Business Month: A Surviving to Thrive Story, highlighting the journeys of business owners who continue to build opportunities not only for themselves, but for future generations.

We also take a brief trip back to New York City, where a visit to Café Ginori inside Bergdorf Goodman reminded me that some of life’s best discoveries are often hidden in plain sight. Whether in business or travel, curiosity has a way of opening new doors.

You’ll also meet several of the remarkable individuals recognized through our recent HL | Milestone Series. Their accomplishments span business, community leadership, entrepreneurship, media, and advocacy, yet they all share a common thread: a commitment to creating meaningful impact.

At HL | Culture and Influence, we remain focused on telling stories that inform, inspire, and connect. Stories about leadership. Stories about opportunity. Stories about the people helping shape our communities.

Thank you for being part of this journey.

In this edition of HL | Update

Small Business Month: A Surviving to Thrive Story

Café Ginori: One of Manhattan’s Most Charming Hidden Gems

In case you missed “Videos”

Orange County – HL | Milestone Event

New York – HL | Milestone Event

Milestone Honoree Profiles

HL | Milestone Series – Honors A&H Security Services

HL | Milestone Series – Honors Classico Building Maintenance

HL | Milestone Series – Honors Esperanza (Escobar) Teasdale

HL | Milestone Series – Honors Ana Ceppi

Have a story to share, please send me a message – RDS@HispanicLifestyle.Com

Ready • Set • Home | Opening the Door to Homeownership in Seattle

May 8, 2026 | Events, Home Tu Casa

Ready • Set • Home | Opening the Door to Homeownership in Seattle

For many individuals and families, the dream of homeownership remains one of the most important financial and personal milestones in life. Yet in today’s housing market especially in metropolitan areas like Seattle the path toward purchasing a home can often feel overwhelming.

That is precisely why the Ready • Set • Home program was created.

COUNT DOWN TO SESSION

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REGISTER HERE

Produced in partnership with Credit.org and featuring City National Bank as the featured mortgage lending partner, the virtual homebuyer education program is designed to help individuals better understand the homebuying process while connecting them with trusted professionals and resources.

The Seattle-focused online session will take place on:

Thursday, May 21, 2026
5:30 PM PDT
Focused on the greater Seattle market and surrounding communities.

The Ready • Set • Home program brings together housing counselors, lending professionals, and local real estate experts to provide practical insight into what prospective buyers need to know before beginning their homeownership journey.

Topics covered during the session include:

Understanding credit and financial readiness
Mortgage basics and financing options
Down payment assistance programs
Navigating today’s housing market
Preparing for long-term financial stability through homeownership

A key component of the program is accessibility.

As a nonprofit organization, Credit.org provides educational resources designed to help participants make informed decisions without pressure or sales-driven messaging. The goal is to help individuals and families become financially prepared before entering the homebuying process.

Representing the lending perspective, City National Bank will provide insight into mortgage lending, financing preparation, and the importance of understanding available options in today’s market environment.

Seattle continues to be one of the nation’s most competitive housing markets. Rising home values, changing interest rates, and limited inventory have made preparation more important than ever particularly for first-time homebuyers.

The Ready • Set • Home program was developed to help simplify that process.

Beyond financial education, the conversation also focuses on confidence helping participants understand that homeownership may still be achievable with the right preparation, information, and support system.

The program reflects a growing recognition that prospective buyers need more than advertisements or online calculators. They need trusted conversations, real-world guidance, and access to professionals who understand both the opportunities and challenges facing today’s buyers.

For many participants, the journey toward homeownership does not begin with a mortgage application.

It begins with understanding the process.

And that is where Ready • Set • Home hopes to make a difference.

To RSVP for the Seattle session, visit:
Register Here for the Seattle Ready • Set • Home Session

For additional information on upcoming programs and resources, visit:
Credit.org

About the supporters of the Ready • Set • Home Series

Founded more than 50 years ago, Credit.org is a nonprofit financial wellness organization dedicated to helping individuals and families build stronger financial futures. The organization provides HUD-certified housing counseling, homebuyer education, financial literacy programs, debt management guidance, and foreclosure prevention services designed to help consumers make informed financial decisions. Through education-focused programs like Ready • Set • Home, Credit.org continues its mission of making financial education accessible, practical, and empowering for communities nationwide.

City National Bank continues to demonstrate its commitment to serving communities throughout the Seattle region by supporting programs focused on financial education, responsible homeownership, and long-term economic opportunity. Through its participation in the Ready • Set • Home initiative, City National Bank is helping connect prospective homebuyers with trusted information, lending insight, and community-focused resources designed to help individuals and families navigate today’s housing market with greater confidence and preparation.

← Home, Tu Casa: The First Bloom NHORA | A Path to Homeownership →

Home, Tu Casa: The First Bloom

Apr 28, 2026 | Home Tu Casa

Home, Tu Casa: The First Bloom

Story and photo by Richard Sandoval

Home, Tu Casa Series

Last year, we began reimagining our front yard.

Like many homeowners, our initial focus was on the inside. When you first purchase a home, there’s a long list of priorities furnishings, repairs, and making the space livable. In our case, the exterior had been handled by the builder, so we directed our time and energy inward.

But homeownership doesn’t stand still.

Over time, your perspective changes. The furniture you once loved no longer feels quite right. Your taste evolves. Maybe your career advances, your lifestyle shifts, or your priorities become clearer. You repaint. You redesign. You begin again.

That’s the journey.

This rose captured in a quiet moment from our garden, represents more than a seasonal bloom. It marks the first sign of life in a space we chose to shape ourselves. It reflects effort, patience, and care. From selecting the plant to nurturing it through changing seasons, there’s intention behind every step.

Homeownership works the same way.

For many, especially first-time buyers, the process can feel overwhelming. You may be the first in your family to take that step. That’s why it’s important to lean on experience friends, colleagues, and trusted organizations that can help guide your decisions.

That’s also why we’ve partnered with Credit.org through our Home, Tu Casa series to provide real conversations, practical guidance, and access to resources that help turn the idea of homeownership into something achievable.

Because the truth is simple: owning a home isn’t just about where you live it’s about investing in yourself, your future, and your family.

And yes, it’s also about moments like this.

Taking a step back. Appreciating what you’ve built. Recognizing the growth both around you and within you.

This rose is a reminder.

Your home, like your life, will continue to evolve. And if you’re willing to put in the work, the results will speak for themselves.

We invite you to share your homeownership journey with us as part of Home, Tu Casa. Your story may be exactly what someone else needs to take their first step.

Seattle: Navigating the Path to Homeownership in Today’s Market

Apr 16, 2026 | Events, Home Tu Casa

by Richard Sandoval, for HL and Home, Tu Casa

A Ready, Set, Home – Home buyer Orientation brings together trusted guidance, local market insight, and resources designed to inform and empower.

In today’s evolving housing landscape, the journey toward homeownership begins with access to clear, reliable information.

In markets like Seattle where growth, demand, and affordability continue to shape the conversation understanding the path forward requires more than interest. It requires preparation, perspective, and trusted guidance.

As part of that effort, an upcoming Ready, Set, Home – Homebuyer Orientation, presented as a free, one-hour virtual workshop, will bring together professionals committed to helping prospective homebuyers better understand the essential steps involved in purchasing a home.

Hosted by Richard Sandoval of HL | Culture and Influence, the session will be presented by Credit.org in collaboration with City National Bank, reflecting a shared commitment to expanding access to homeownership through education and community-focused outreach.

Designed as an introductory workshop, the session focused on helping participants:

Understand the key steps in the homebuying process
Clarify common mortgage terms and lending concepts
Build a foundation for making informed financial decisions

The conversation will feature insights from a group of professionals representing both financial and local market perspectives.

Participants will hear from Claudio Espino, a HUD-certified counselor with Credit.org, who will provide guidance on financial readiness and the importance of preparation in the homebuying journey.

From a local market perspective, Marissa Beach, a Realtor® with Keller Williams Realty, will share insight into the Seattle housing landscape, offering participants a clearer understanding of current market conditions and what to expect when entering the market.

Representing the lending perspective, Saul Espinoza, Community Lending Mortgage Banker with City National Bank, will help demystify mortgage concepts and provide clarity around financing options available to prospective buyers.

Seattle, like many major metropolitan areas, presents both opportunity and challenge. Rising home values, evolving lending conditions, and increased demand continue to shape how individuals approach the homebuying process. For many, particularly first-time buyers, the experience can feel complex but not unattainable.

A key theme throughout the session will be the importance of preparation.

Understanding credit, exploring available resources, and asking the right questions early in the process will be emphasized as critical steps toward building confidence and making informed decisions.

The conversation will also highlight the value of local expertise connecting broader financial education with real-world market conditions in the Seattle area.

Those interested in attending the April 23, 2026 session are encouraged to register in advance: https://bit.ly/4cOdOcv

Home Renovation Scams

Jan 14, 2026 | Home Tu Casa, Lifestyle

Home Renovation Scams

As Home Renovation Demand Surges, So Do Contractor Scams. A Warning for Homeowners

As demand for home repair and renovation services climbs across the U.S., so too do scams that leave families financially devastated and projects unfinished. According to recent data, in 2024 the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) received more than 81,900 reports of home improvement scams, with homeowners losing an average of roughly $1,800 per incident.

Industry analysts say scammers exploit periods when demand outpaces available qualified labor much like the market conditions today by targeting homeowners who feel pressured to act quickly. FTC data shows overall consumer fraud losses topped $12.5 billion in 2024, with reported scams increasing in severity and cost.

“Contractor fraud is becoming a significant issue for homeowners,” says Jon Grishpul, Co-CEO of GreatBuildz.com. “With renovation costs rising and schedules tight, unqualified or unscrupulous contractors can prey on trusting consumers. Knowing the warning signs and how to verify contractors is more important than ever.”

Real Consequences: When a Renovation Turns Into a Nightmare

Homeowners who’ve never managed a major construction project may not recognize the risk until it’s too late. In one widely reported case, a Colorado homeowner lost her entire retirement savings during a $350,000 renovation project that was mismanaged and abandoned by the contractor, forcing expensive redo work and jeopardizing her home.

Common Scam Patterns to Watch For

Contractor scams often follow familiar patterns, such as:

Offering unusually low bids or only accepting cash
Pressuring homeowners to sign contracts on the spot
Failing to provide valid license, insurance, or bonding information
Claiming access to “leftover materials” at steep discounts

The FTC and consumer protection groups also highlight these red flags consumers should never ignore:

Vague or missing details in bids
Requests for full payment upfront or very large deposits
No written contract or refusal to verify credentials with state licensing boards

These are consistent with widely cited contractor-fraud warning signs published by the FTC.

Protecting Yourself – Steps Homeowners Can Take

Industry experts stress this isn’t optional verification is essential:

Check credentials: Verify a contractor’s license, insurance, and bond status with state or county authorities before signing anything.
 Get multiple estimates: Collect at least three detailed written bids for comparison.
 Use secure payments: Avoid cash payments use credit cards or checks that provide a financial trail.
Research reputation: Look up contractors with the Better Business Bureau and state consumer protection agencies.

“Homeowners should think like investigators,” Grishpul adds. “A legitimate contractor is transparent about credentials and comfortable with verification checks. If someone avoids scrutiny or pushes urgency, that’s a red flag.”

As part of our Home Tu Casa series, we’re committed to equipping homeowners with not just inspiration for renovations but practical, safety-first advice. Knowing how to spot fraud, verify professionals, and protect your investment isn’t just smart it’s necessary in today’s busy market.

Sources: FTC, Jon Grishpul