NAA challenges corporate CEOs to expand Latino leadership

Latino Leaders: The National Magazine of the Successful American Latino, June-July, 2003

While Latinos comprise 13 percent of the US population, they hold less than 2 percent of corporate board posts. That's why at their Spring Conference in Chicago, New America Alliance (NAA) challenged corporate CEOs to expand Latino participation in America's corporate boards.

The landmark conference, held May 1-2, hosted CEOs from several of America's major corporations to strategize on how to tap into the burgeoning American Latino market, expand their consumer base and recruit talented Latino workers at the highest levels of their businesses. The meeting was one of two major annual conferences spearheaded by NAA, an organization of American Latino business leaders who focus on improving the quality of life for the Latino community through economic and political empowerment, education, strategic philanthropy and public policy advocacy initiatives.

Kicking-off the event was Moctesuma Esparza, NAA Chair, the Illinois State Hispanic Caucus and NAA directors, who rang the bell to open the Chicago Stock Exchange. That was followed by several key sessions, including the Corporate CEO Forum, which was headlined by John W, Rowe, President, Chair and CEO of Exelon Corporation, and Alan J. Lacy, Chairman and CEO of Sears Roebuck. NAA recognized Mr. Lacy and Raymond F. McCaskey, President and CEO, Health Care Service Corporation with an inaugural award for "Exemplary Practice of Corporate Governance & Board Diversity."

The conference also featured sessions Access to Capital and Political Leadership, as well as a Philanthropy Awards Dinner, which honored philanthropists who have contributed significantly to the American Latino community, including Joseph and Andy Unanue of Goya Foods, Arthur R. Velazquez, Jr. of Azteca Foods, and Sonia Gutierrez of Carlos Rosario International Career Center, For more on the NAA's 2003 Spring Conference & Philanthropy Awards and the upcoming 3rd Annual Wall Street Summit, October 22-24, 2003, visit www.naaonline.org.