HL | Milestone Series – Honors Frank Carbajal

HL | Milestone Series – Honors Frank Carbajal

May 29, 2026 | Milestone

HL | Milestone Series – Honors Frank Carbajal

Culture • Influence • Legacy

Some leaders build companies. Others dedicate their lives to building people, strengthening communities, and creating pathways for future generations to lead.

Frank Carbajal has spent his career doing exactly that.

Frank began his entrepreneurial journey in leadership development, quickly establishing himself as a respected voice dedicated to empowering the Latino community through education, mentorship, and leadership capacity building.

Frank Carbajal 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

He is the Founder and President of Es Tiempo, LLC, a firm focused on developing leaders and helping individuals and organizations reach their highest potential. Throughout his career, Frank’s work has been guided by one consistent mission: creating opportunities for emerging leaders while strengthening communities through intentional leadership.

A respected author and thought leader, Frank is the co-author of Building the Latino Future and Latinx Business Success, publications that continue to inspire entrepreneurs, professionals, and future leaders across the country. He also co-authored El Futuro Latino, a publication distributed throughout 14 Latin American countries, including Mexico.

Frank’s leadership influence expanded nationally through his involvement with renowned management expert Ken Blanchard’s network of keynote speakers, where he helped organizations, executives, and business owners develop leadership strategies rooted in growth, purpose, and accountability.

Milestone Moments

  • Founder and President of Es Tiempo, LLC
  • Founder of the Silicon Valley Latino Leadership Summit (SVLLS)
  • Creator of one of Silicon Valley’s premier Latino leadership gatherings hosted at Stanford University and the Computer History Museum
  • Co-author of Building the Latino Future
  • Co-author of Latinx Business Success
  • Co-author of El Futuro Latino, distributed across 14 Latin American countries
  • Member of Ken Blanchard’s keynote speaker network
  • Longtime advocate for Latino leadership development and community empowerment

A Legacy of Leadership and Community Impact

Through the Silicon Valley Latino Leadership Summit, Frank has created a nationally respected platform that brings together influential voices from business, education, technology, entrepreneurship, and public service to inspire dialogue and leadership at the highest levels.

Hosted at premier venues such as Stanford University and the Computer History Museum, the summit has become a meaningful gathering place for conversations centered on leadership, opportunity, innovation, and the future of Latino influence in America.

A graduate of San José State University, Frank lives in Santa Clara, California, with his wife Molly. While his professional accomplishments are significant, Frank often says his greatest source of pride and inspiration comes from his three daughters.

His life’s work continues to reflect the philosophy behind Es Tiempo:

It’s time to lead.
It’s time to build.
It’s time to create lasting impact.

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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Flour, Faith, and Sugar: Sweet Tooth 909 Bakery

Flour, Faith, and Sugar: Sweet Tooth 909 Bakery

Dec 17, 2025 | Business

Flour, Faith, and Sugar: Sweet Tooth 909 Bakery

Exclusive photos and article by Richard Sandoval | Hispanic Lifestyle

Sometimes the best stories begin with a scroll

After watching an Instagram post by Michelle Valles of NBC4 Los Angeles, curiosity and a serious sweet tooth led us east to Rialto, California, in the heart of the Inland Empire. What we discovered was more than a bakery. We found a family-owned business built on flour, faith, and sugar and a story that reflects the spirit of small business growth in the region.

Located on South Riverside Avenue, Sweet Tooth 909 Bakery has quickly become one of Rialto’s most talked-about local spots. Known for selling out early and drawing customers from across the Inland Empire, the bakery is the realization of a dream that began at home.

From Home Kitchen to Community Favorite

Founded in 2012 by Maribel Diaz, Sweet Tooth 909 started as a home-based baking operation. Word spread fast. What began with friends, neighbors, and social media posts soon turned into growing demand—and eventually the leap into a brick-and-mortar location.

Today, Maribel runs the bakery alongside her sister, Araceli Rodriguez, keeping the business rooted in family, culture, and community. Sweet Tooth 909 is often described as a Mexican family-owned bakery, a point of pride reflected in both its flavors and the way customers are welcomed through the door.

We arrived unannounced, cameras in hand, during the holiday season. Despite the busy pace, Maribel and Araceli took time to greet us, share their journey, and walk us through the space an interaction that says a lot about why customers keep coming back.

Faith in the Foundation

One of the most striking moments of our visit came during a conversation about the bakery’s construction. Maribel shared that while building out the space, she inscribed Bible quotations directly onto the wall studs placing her faith into the foundation long before the first pastry was sold.

Those words may be hidden behind drywall, but they remain central to the bakery’s purpose. It’s a reminder that for many small business owners, faith and perseverance are inseparable from entrepreneurship.

A Box Full of Favorites

Of course, no visit to Sweet Tooth 909 would be complete without tasting the offerings that have earned it a loyal following. We walked away with a box of treats that perfectly captured the bakery’s appeal:

  • Almond Croissant — flaky, buttery, and delicately sweet
  • Chocolate Chip Cookie — classic, comforting, and generously loaded
  • Strawberry Pastry — bright, balanced, and beautifully crafted
  • Cinnamon Roll — rich, warm, and perfect for the holiday season

Each item reflected care, consistency, and pride in craft qualities that define successful neighborhood bakeries.

A Growing Presence in the Inland Empire

Sweet Tooth 909’s popularity has been fueled not only by quality baking but also by strong community support and social media visibility. A viral moment in recent years helped expand its reach, drawing visitors from neighboring cities and reinforcing Rialto’s growing reputation as a destination for locally owned businesses.

Open limited days and often selling out by early afternoon, the bakery has become a reminder of what happens when preparation meets opportunity.

As the holiday season comes to a close, we extend our best wishes to Maribel Diaz, Araceli Rodriguez, and the entire Sweet Tooth 909 team for a prosperous and sweet 2026.

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The Business of Surviving to Thrive | Canales Furniture

The Business of Surviving to Thrive | Canales Furniture

Dec 5, 2025 | The Business of Surviving to Thrive

The Business of Surviving to Thrive | Canales Furniture

The Canales Family and the Power of Latino Entrepreneurship in Texas

Photos by Richard Sandoval | Production by ReWork Media Group

For more than two decades, Canales Furniture has grown from a modest door-to-door operation into one of the most respected Latino-owned retail businesses in Texas and Oklahoma. Their story rooted in family, resilience, and a commitment to helping others is the kind of entrepreneurial journey that defines our Business of Surviving to Thrive series.

Founded in 2003 by Veronica Canales, an immigrant and visionary Latina entrepreneur, Canales Furniture began with a simple but powerful idea: create opportunity through hard work and serve families with dignity. What started with catalogs, personal deliveries, and the collective labor of 10 brothers and sisters has become a multi-location enterprise with 24 showrooms across Texas and Oklahoma.

Today, the company employs 380 families in the Dallas–Fort Worth area alone, reinforcing the powerful economic footprint of Latino-owned businesses in the region.

The Latino Business Boom: A National and Texas Success Story

The story of Canales Furniture is not an outlier it is a reflection of one of the most significant economic transformations in the United States.

According to the Stanford Latino Entrepreneurship Initiative (2024):

  • Latino-owned businesses in the U.S. grew 44% over the last decade, compared to 4.5% for non-Latino-owned businesses.
  • Latino entrepreneurs now contribute over $3.2 trillion to the U.S. economy.
  • Nearly 1 in 4 new businesses in the United States is Latino-owned.

Texas, in particular, has become a powerhouse of Latino entrepreneurship:

  • More than 850,000 Latino-owned businesses operate in Texas.
  • These businesses generate over $150 billion in economic output annually.
  • Latino business creation in Texas is happening at three times the national rate.

Canales Furniture embodies this momentum scaling, hiring, and investing in communities while preserving the family-first values that built the foundation of the business.

Resilience, Reinvention, and the Commitment to Family

Second-generation leaders like Andrea Osorio Canales and team members such as America Renteria carry on the passion and discipline of their founding generation. Their roles in real estate, interior design, community outreach, and operations reveal a business that is more than retail it is a service to families seeking comfort, stability, and home.

“For us, family means everything. Helping other families whether it’s finding their first home or furnishing it is what keeps us inspired,” shared Andrea.

This philosophy is echoed throughout the company. Every morning, team members are reminded that their work supports hundreds of families, not just individual paychecks. The staff are affectionately referred to as “Gallos and Gallas”, a tribute to the Canales family’s grandfather, whose work ethic and leadership shaped their values.

Growing Through Challenges, Thriving Through Community

Like many immigrant-founded businesses, the Canales family faced significant challenges along the way competition in the retail market, rapid scaling, and navigating customer needs across diverse regions. Yet their resilience remains unwavering.

Their approach to business goes beyond the showroom floor. Canales Furniture actively partners with:

  • Local police and first responders
  • Community organizations and nonprofits
  • Families in need of interior design, staging, or furnishing support

This community-centered strategy has strengthened their reputation and contributed to long-term growth.

The Next Generation: A Legacy in Motion

As the third generation begins to enter the business, the Canales family is preparing for a future defined by continued expansion, innovation, and service. Their vision is simple but powerful:

Help as many families as possible.
Stay rooted in culture.
Grow with purpose.

With their expanding footprint and unwavering commitment to community, Canales Furniture stands as a powerful example of what Latino-owned businesses can achieve when passion, family, and resilience come together.

The Business of Surviving to Thrive

The Canales story is one of faith, determination, and strategic growth from surviving the early challenges of entrepreneurship to thriving as one of the largest Latino family-owned furniture retailers in the Southwest. Their journey reflects the strength of the Latino business community nationwide and the bright future that lies ahead.

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Hispanic Lifestyle Relaunches as HL: A Reimagined Platform Celebrating Culture & Influence

Hispanic Lifestyle Relaunches as HL: A Reimagined Platform Celebrating Culture & Influence

Dec 3, 2025 | Community

Hispanic Lifestyle Relaunches as HL: A Reimagined Platform Celebrating Culture & Influence

The climate of our country and the media industry has changed drastically over the last 11 months. To stay relevant, to remain useful, and to continue honoring our community, it became necessary to rebrand, reimagine, and completely rework how we show up and serve.
Through my travels, conversations with colleagues, advertisers, creators, and community leaders and by watching the trends shaping our world I came to one undeniable conclusion: the Latino community continues to be underserved, undervalued, and underrepresented across far too many sectors.

Hispanic Lifestyle now known as “HL | Culture & Influence”

Our community has earned the right to be respected, acknowledged, and celebrated. And while we do not speak with a single voice, we represent a powerful spectrum of perspectives, cultures, and lived experiences. We must do a better job of telling our stories, highlighting our achievements, and being consistent, diligent, and unapologetic about showcasing our excellence.

After 30 years of producing content and events, I remain driven to do better—to go deeper, expand our reach, and collaborate with partners who share our commitment to elevating the voices that deserve to be heard.

At HL, our purpose is simple:
to capture the culture and influence of the community and ensure our stories are seen, valued, and remembered.

With our relaunch, Hispanic Lifestyle now known as HL | Culture & Influence enters a bold new chapter in our evolution as a media company. In our corner of the internet, our editorial focus remains clear: to raise, amplify, and honor the voices and stories shaping our community’s future.

In the months ahead, you will see expanded editorial categories, new online series, renewed storytelling, and fresh opportunities for engagement and collaboration. I invite you to explore the new HispanicLifestyle.com and join us as we build the next chapter of community-centered media.

Thank you for being part of our journey. Buckle up friends, there is so much more we are ready to share with you.

Richard Sandoval,
President & Executive Producer, HL

Please support our efforts by joining HL Partner Network

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