Biz Republic Magazine february 2020 by BIZ REPUBLIC

WINTER EDITION, 2020

WOMEN

LEADING & INFLUENTIAL LATINAS, 2020

REAL ESTATE WAVE OF HISPANIC HOMEOWNERS IN US OUTLOOK U.S.-CHINA “PHASE ONE” TRADE DEAL HEALTH DEPRESSION, THE SILENT ENEMY BUSINESS & TOURISM ALBUQUERQUE, NEW MEXICO

CLARISA ROMERO

IS MINDFULNESS... THE NEXT FRONTIER IN LEADERSHIP? bizrepublic.com

2020 HACR SYMPOSIUM: THE POWER OF HISPANIC INCLUSIONâ&#x201E;¢

APRIL 28-30, 2020

INTERCONTINENTAL

LOS ANGELES DOWNTOWN

WWW.HACR.ORG FOR MORE INFO, CONTACT PROGRAMS@HACR.ORG 2

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REPUBLIC has been quietly killing it” Since 2008

MEETINGS, EXHIBITIONS, CONFERENCES & INCENTIVE TRIPS

V.I.P. BIZ CONNECTIONS

hudsonchamber.org | info@hudsonchamber.com | 201.875.0220

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CONTENTS

MAGAZINE

24 INTERVIEW

INTERVIEW

CLARISA ROMERO: TRAINER AND COACH

STEM

“I AM SO VERY BLESSED TO CONTRIBUTE TO SPACE EXPLORATION”

11 TRADE

USA AND CHINA SIGNED ‘PHASE ONE’… BUT THE ROAD IS ROCKY

CID WILSON, PRESIDENT & CEO, HACR

6 EXECUTIVES

GENDER

VETERAN WOMEN JOURNALISTS LAUNCH THE 19TH

CORPORATE CULTURE

“I FEEL VERY PROUD TO WORK FOR A SOCIALLYCONSCIOUS COMPANY”

52 GASTRONOMY

PERSEVERANCE, SOCIAL COMMITMENT ... AND PASSION FOR QUINOA

THE AMERICAS AND THE CARIBBEAN – A QUICK LOOK!

“I SEE MYSELF IN THE PEOPLE I LIVE TO SERVE”

HEALTH OUR COUNTRIES

DEPRESSION, THE SILENT ENEMY: ARE WE LOSING THE BATTLE?

OPINION

THE ECONOMY AND THE ELECTION (BY ISAAC COHEN)

SUSTAINABILITY

6 WAYS TO DRIVE FUNDING TO TRANSFORM THE FASHION INDUSTRY

LEADERSHIP

LUIS PADILLA, PRESIDENT-ELECT OF NAHREP FOR 2020

BUSINESS

LEADING AND INFLUENTIAL LATINAS

REAL ESTATE

MORE AND MORE HISPANIC HOMEOWNERS IN THE US

62 CLICK

NEWS IN PICTURES

INSPIRING

NEW YORK REPRESENTS THE BEST OF AMERICA

Biz Republic Founder/Director: Heidi Castrillon. Director: Carlos Ramos. Editor: Milko León. Creative Director: Emil Lezama. Graphic Design: Jimi Rojas. Social Media Manager: Dario Cantos. Executive Assistant: Rafael Rivas. Translation Director: Jonathan Herron. Financial & Economic Columnist: Isaac Cohen. Columnist: Angiolina Galluccio. Producers Design: Lezama Group (New York), Grupo Publicrea (Lima). Print Production: Octavio Flores, PublimaxPrinting.com. READERS PLEASE NOTE: READERS PLEASE NOTE: The views expressed in articles are the authors and not necessary those of the Biz Republic Magazine. Authors may have consulting or other business relationships with the companies they discuss. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means digital, social, or print, without written permission. Copyright 2020© BIZ LEAD LLC./Biz Republic. All rights reserved. ISSN 1757-3395 NY/NJ, USA.

REPUBLIC has been quietly killing it” Since 2008 biz republic

WOMEN EMPOWERMENT, NOW! We enter into the second decade of the 21st century with an increasingly empowered woman, with much more determination about her future and her role in society. With access to more tools to seek and achieve the professional and personal success we all deserve. We ceased to be the weaker sex, as we were unfairly defined decades ago, to become agents of change and leaders in our countries. However, there is still much to do and that is why at BIZ Republic we promote and move the universal empowerment of women at all levels; no matter her heritage or socio-economic status, because for us simply being a woman means we are more. We have enormous added value for development and for breaking down any obstacle that comes our way. Just look or review the thousands of success stories of women entrepreneurs worldwide, some already famous, but all, absolutely all, examples and inspiration for the world.

Heidi Castrillon Founder/Director

EDITORIAL

But, what is the panorama we have today? According to the latest Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM) report, there are seven women entrepreneurs for every ten men, with the exception of six of the 49 countries surveyed: Indonesia, Thailand, Panama, Qatar, Madagascar and Angola, where the numbers are equal. In countries with high-income economies, there are lower levels of entrepreneurship due part to the presence of alternative work options and higher levels of competitiveness that may make it less attractive to start a business. Despite this, in the United States, women-led businesses are around 20 percent and we believe it’s growing not only because of the measures adopted by the American government or the States in particular, but also because of the impetus and determination we have to forge a culture of SMEs or entrepreneurship that will last over time. What is undeniable is that the world of entrepreneurship does not stop growing and now it is more than evident with the boom of startups and technology businesses and that is the great opportunity that women have. Research from the World Bank, the United Nations, Global Entrepreneurship Monitor, and Deloitte and Ernst & Young shows, according to Weconnect International, women are the real engines of the economy as business leaders, employees, consumers and entrepreneurs. So, investing in women can give a great stimulus to economic growth, known as the gender dividend. And figures and concrete facts show it. Worldwide, there are approximately 187 million women entrepreneurs who own approximately 32-39% of private companies in the formal economy (according to World Bank data) and that should be increased. In developed economies, women entrepreneurs introduce more innovations (new products and services) than men; also, in

societies where women perceive they have the capacity for entrepreneurship, there is a greater probability that women perceive entrepreneurial opportunities. I believe we must all generate scenarios much more conducive to the emergence of entrepreneurs worldwide. A compelling 2015 study by the Mckinsey Global Institute (MGI) comes to mind, which notes that women spend two to five times more time than men on unpaid work. This work includes housework, child, and elderly care and contributions to family businesses, which are not officially taken into account in the economy. However, according to the MGI, that work would contribute to the world economy a total of $10 billion, equivalent to 12 percent of world GDP. On the other hand, the initiatives of some governments and the United Nations itself are commendable in order to achieve gender equality and realizing the human rights of all women and girls, which undoubtedly shape a determining factor for the development of women. By the way, the theme of International Women’s Day (March 8th) 2020 will be, “I am Generation Equality: For the rights of women”. The theme responds to the new multigenerational campaign promoted by the UN: Women, Generation Equality, which commemorates its 25th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action approved in 1995 at the Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing, China; recognized as the most progressive roadmap for the empowerment of women and girls worldwide. At BIZ Republic, we’ve enlisted to support this cause. Finally, we must highlight the Women Entrepreneurs Financing Initiative (We-Fi), the first service of its magnitude led by the World Bank and aimed at promoting women’s business activities. We-Fi will allocate more than $1 billion to improving access to capital, providing technical assistance, and investing in other projects and programs that support women and SMEs led by women in the World Bank Group’s client countries. We will be prioritizing coverage of this initiative. As we can see, there is progress that gives hope and reactivates our enthusiasm and conviction in the preponderant role of women in society. From BIZ Republic we want to start this new decade with concrete action at an intercontinental level. We want to make more enterprising women visible and share their success and perseverance stories to inspire millions. We will open a Gold Women section on our online platform with the aim of establishing a prize to be announced within the framework of the UN Women’s Entrepreneurship Day, celebrated on November 19th in 144 countries worldwide. 2020 will bring us good news for everyone, especially for us women. We wish you the best year and the greatest prosperity for all of you on behalf of the BIZ Republic team.

B I Z L E A D L LC . A L L R I G HTS R E S E RV E D. U S A

Liu He and Trump agreed, among other things, to an increase in the purchases of agricultural products by China and a commitment by the Asian giant to carry out some reforms.

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TRADE Biz

HOW FIRM AND LASTING WILL THE TRADE AGREEMENT BETWEEN WASHINGTON AND BEIJING BE?

USA AND CHINA SIGNED PHASE ONE… BUT THE ROAD IS ROCKY

hen the world’s number 1 economy decides to bicker with number 2, the world inevitably enters a period of instability; because in foreign trade when it rains in Beijing and Washington, everyone gets wet. In a corner of the imaginary quadrilateral, surrounded by sofas and golden curtains (even the carpet looks that color today), President Donald Trump launched tweets and imposed tariffs from the Oval Office for 18 months, accompanied by his advisors and a replica of the bust of legendary British Prime Minister Winston Churchill. And in the other corner, President Xi Jinping, who remained unperturbed, ordering his officials to return blow by blow.

Official White House Photo by Shealah Craighead

But since nothing lasts forever, on January 15th, both world powers saw the light at the end of the tunnel, entered into reason, at least temporarily, and signed, after a long and rugged negotiation process, Phase One of the Trade Agreement. It’s an 86-page document in its English version that is by no means the solution to all the problems that plague global foreign trade, but which constitutes a first step in lifting the mutual imposition of tariffs, appeasing stock markets of both emerging and developed countries.

BILATERAL COMMITMENTS That day, Chinese Deputy Prime Minister Liu He and President Donald Trump were in the White House smiling and more flirtatious than ever before dozens of businessmen, Republican lawmakers, and the media (among them, a true swarm of Chinese journalists, in representation of at least 60

media). Both agreed, among other things, to an increase in the purchases of agricultural products by China and a commitment by the Asian giant to carry out some reforms. Thus, China plans to buy some US $76.7 billion in US products during the first year of the new pact and scheduled US $123.3 billion more in purchases in the second year. The US $200 billion in two years includes about $77.7 billion in sales of manufactured goods, about $52.4 billion in energy purchases and another $37.9 billion in services. The United States pledged, for its part, to suspend a new round of 15% tariffs on Chinese goods worth US $160 billion that had been scheduled for December 15th; and reduce the tariffs of 15% up to 7.5% for Chinese imports worth US $120 billion, which entered into force on September 1st, 2019. The United States also pledged (but by the end of Phase Two negotiations) to eliminate the 25% tariffs imposed on Chinese products worth $250 billion. President Xi Jinping, who did not attend the meeting, perhaps anticipating that the truce won’t last as long as hoped, sent his approval to President Trump through a letter read by Deputy Prime Minister Liu He.

NOT ALL ARE SATISFIED But not everyone is satisfied with this Phase One trade agreement, which, according to President Trump, would be the “biggest agreement anyone has ever seen.” Maxim Oreshkin, former Minister of Economic Development of Russia, who also serves as an

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Biz TRADE

assistant to President Vladimir Putin, has warned, in an interview with news channel Rossiya 24, that the agreement between China and the United States is a “big time bomb” in the long-term for world trade because, although it won’t explode this year, over 2021-2022 it would cause global trade disputes; especially in the US-China-Europe triangle.

Official White House Photo by Shealah Craighead

“I don’t believe that bilateralism is a new future for world trade policy,” Oreshkin said, noting that Russia prefers multilateral formats. In addition, he said it is unclear whether China’s commitment to increase the purchase of US goods will entail additional barriers for products from Europe.

FUTURE MULTILATERAL PROBLEMS While there is a sense of relief in the international community after the signing of Phase One between China and the United States, as in the short term there only seem to be winners, experts agree that the questionable issue is in the long-term horizon where this bilateral trade agreement could generate a barrage of multilateral problems with more losers than seen in this first stage. For example, to satisfy the demands of the United States, China would now have to buy less agricultural products from Brazil. Indeed, before the signing of Phase One of the Trade Agreement, China purchased almost 80% of Brazil’s soybean crop in 2019 after it suspended purchases of soybeans from the United States over the trade dispute. Now that Beijing and Washington are bringing down the tone, the situation will be the other way around and Brazil will see its soy exports seriously depleted and face losses while looking for other markets. This fact was recognized by the Undersecretary (Deputy Minister) of Brazilian Agricultural Policy Wilson Vaz Araujo.

CHINA STRESSED THAT “THIS AGREEMENT IS CONSISTENT WITH WTO RULES AND MARKET PRINCIPLES.”

Precisely, the European Union ambassador to Beijing, Nicolás Chapuis, told reporters that the EU will challenge the trade agree-

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China now must also buy much fewer airplanes from European company Airbus and more from the American company Boeing. This is a result of ‘Phase One’ and could end, over time, distorting global markets and provoking litigation with other countries over contravening guidelines of the World Trade Organization (WTO).

EUROPEAN UNION LAUNCHES WARNING

The Phase One of the Trade Agreement has a limited scope and leaves for Phase Two, which will be the last, as the incredible Trump has predicted, the heaviest part of the problem.

Chinese Vice Premier Liu He, right, talks with U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer, while they line up for a group photo at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing.

AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein

China plans to buy some US $76.7 billion in US products during the first year of the new pact and scheduled US $123.3 billion more in purchases in the second year.

ment between China and the United States in the WTO if it causes market distortions that harm companies in the European bloc. When asked about what Chapuis said, China’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said at a press conference that, “the conclusion of Phase One of the trade agreement between China and the United States is good for China, the United States and for the whole world.” Shuang also said that the agreement, “serves the interests of producers, consumers, and investors around the world, as it can add predictability and promote prosperity.” In order to settle the issue before the press, he stressed that, “this agreement is consistent with WTO rules and market principles.” Despite what was said by the spokesman for the Chinese Foreign Ministry, doubts continue as the distortion of global markets is unavoidable, in light of the United States’ demands on China embodied in Phase One.

of the problem: China would have to correct its questioned subsidy policy that undermines competition and with which it supports its strategic industries. In addition, it would commit to greater transparency in data management and cybersecurity. As far as is known, Beijing would not have, at least not for now, intentions to yield to one of those two strong demands of Washington. Beyond the fact that the role of state-owned enterprises and China’s subsidies will be the big stone in the shoe during the negotiation process of Phase Two, modifying the Anglo-Saxon saying, “The devil is in the detail”, it could well be affirmed that the devil is in Phase Two. Specialists point out that the framework of this trade agreement signed on January 15th has conceptual flaws that will result in not only unrealistic expectations, but also in breach of commitments.

PHASE TWO

MORE TARIFFS ON THE HORIZON

The Phase One of the Trade Agreement has a limited scope and leaves for Phase Two, which will be the last, as the incredible Trump has predicted, the heaviest part

Can China actually meet the ambitious goals of buying US products that it accepted with the signing of Phase One of the Trade Agreement? That remains to be seen,

EU WILL CHALLENGE THE TRADE AGREEMENT BETWEEN CHINA AND THE UNITED STATES IN THE WTO IF IT CAUSES MARKET DISTORTIONS THAT HARM COMPANIES IN THE EUROPEAN BLOC.

although observers point out that the Chinese are likely to incur, sooner or later, a violation of the agreement precisely at this crucial point. In fact, it would not be the first time that China has failed to meet international commitments. And here is where a second major problem appears on the horizon: the mechanism approved in the framework of Phase One for the resolution of disputes that, as written in the 86-page document, would allow the parties to resolve disputes of “fair and expeditious manner.” The Dispute Resolution chapter establishes solid procedures to address disputes related to the agreement and allows each party to “take proportionate response measures that it deems appropriate.” That means if China fails to comply with the agreed purchase volume of US products, the Trump Administration would adopt a corrective measure; in other words, tariffs. And if China considers that this “corrective measure” has been adopted in bad faith, it would have to withdraw from Phase One of the Trade Agreement and everything would go back to zero. bizrepublic.com

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ONLY 41% OF AMERICAN ADULTS WHO EXPERIENCE MENTAL ILLNESS RECEIVE TREATMENT

DEPRESSION, THE SILENT ENEMY: ARE WE LOSING THE BATTLE?

tâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not about provoking alarm, but about bringing awareness and talking seriously about a situation that is affecting everyone in the United States, which is absolutely real and that, far from giving up, is progressing silently and steadily with the passage of the years: millions of Americans live with mental health problems and a significant part of them, for different reasons, donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t receive adequate diagnosis, counseling, or treatment. Anxiety, depression, stress, neuroticism, bipolar disorder, eating disorders and schizophrenia are invading the homes of Americans and it seems time to worry and take more action, especially since only 41% of American adults experiencing mental illbizrepublic.com

Biz HEALTH

ness receive treatment, according to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI). The situation worsens every day due to the lack of professionals, the lack of medical coverage, and the inability to access medications for large groups of the US population. PANDEMIA AFFECTS ABOUT 332 MILLION Studies in recent years estimate that about 800 million people worldwide live with a mental health disorder: that is, something like 10.7%. That’s one in ten people globally, and of them, about 332 million (about 4.4% of the world’s population) suffer from depression. As for the world’s youth, the World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that 2% of children aged 6 to 12 suffer from depression; and in the case of preteens aged 12 to 14, it ranges from 4 and 6%. Some specialists, based on the few updated statistics available on this pandemic, point out that one in five adults in the United States suffers from a mental illness throughout their lives and that one in ten adults in the United States specifically suffers from depression. The rate for women is almost twice that of men, according to health authorities. Women are more prone to depression than men, but researchers still do not agree on the reasons behind this. The most commonly diagnosed form of depression is major depressive disorder. In 2015, about 16.1 million adults over the age of 18 in the United States had experienced at least one major depressive episode in the past year, representing 6.7 percent of all American adults, according to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America (ADAA). Approximately 80% of American adults (men and women) with depression have at least some difficulty with the functioning of their daily lives. Difficulties with going to work, finishing daily activities at home, and getting along with others, according to Debra Brody at the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS). And that isn’t a small figure. DEPRESSION IN THE LATINO COMMUNITY According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), the most common mental health challenges in the Latino community residing in the United States are schizophrenia, generalized anxiety disorder, major depression, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and bipolar disorder. The

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situation turns pressing if we consider Latinos represent a third of the population that does not have health insurance coverage. Also, immigrants who arrive without documentation live with the fear of deportation, which can cause panic and prevent them from seeking help. In the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), African Americans have the highest prevalence of depression (9%) and Asians, the lowest (3%). Caucasions and Hispanics are around 8%. The biggest problems with depression are diagnosis and treatment, according to Dr. David Roane, president of Psychiatry at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City.

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The city’s Health Department reported in April 2018 that Latinos had the highest rate of depression (13%) in New York in 2016, where approximately 548,000 adults suffered from the disease that year. The report on depression in adults in New York, which analyzed ethnic groups and risk factors, noted that the rate of the disease among Latinos almost doubled that of white adults (7%), blacks (8%); as well as Asians and Pacific Islanders (5%). In addition, adults with chronic diseases like hypertension, diabetes, or asthma were “almost twice as likely” to admit they felt depressed.

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ONE IN TEN ADULTS IN THE UNITED STATES SUFFERS FROM DEPRESSION, WITH THE RATE OF WOMEN BEING ALMOST DOUBLE THAT OF MEN.

The Bronx, the district with the largest Latino population, leads the statistics with 12% of its people depressed compared to Manhattan (7%) and Brooklyn (8%). “Depression is a common disease experienced by New Yorkers, but most New Yorkers who are suffering are not seeking treatment,” said the city’s First Lady, Chirlane McCray. NOBODY IS SAFE FROM THE EPIDEMIC When it comes to mental illness, nobody is safe. Billie Eilish, an 18-year-old American singer, Generation Z, world-renowned personality with several Grammys in her short musical career, recently recognized in an interview that she’s not happy and that she suffered from night-time panic attacks, vomiting from anxiety before concerts and as a victim of depression, at some point contemplated suicide. It is no coincidence her song lyrics speak of death, destructive love and panic of herself. A fact is that every 40 seconds a person around the world decides to take their life and depression is one of the main causes. But there’s no doubt that an artist with the influence of millions of fans in every corner of the planet deciding to speak in public about her mental health problem could help many teenagers in the same situation. bizrepublic.com

Biz HEALTH

Depression doesn’t only affect modern stars like Billy Eilish, but also presidents throughout history. American Presidents Woodrow Wilson (1913-1921) and Abraham Lincoln (1861-1865), among others, suffered major episodes of depression. The latter, moreover, is known to have had suicidal thoughts at some time. And one of the best known pop stars, Lady Gaga, publicly admitted she was suffering from depression and anxiety to The Mirror”; and the goalkeeper of the Italian soccer team, Gianluigi Buffon, who had to deal with deep depression that he defined as “a black hole in the soul”. According to WHO, about 788,000 people worldwide take their lives due to depression each year. DEPRESSION: A CAUSE OF DISABILITY Depression, no doubt, is one of the great problems of our time. It’s considered by some to be the largest epidemic in the Western world, above other mental health disorders. According to WHO, depression is considered one of the leading causes of disability in the world. In fact, depression is usually able to worsen the development and consequences of a series of chronic conditions such as cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, cancer, asthma, obesity and arthritis, as well as causing a decrease in productivity and an increase in work absenteeism. Studies in the United States confirm that people most susceptible to depression are African-Americans, Hispanics, non-Hispanics of other races, women, those who didn’t finish high school, the unemployed or unable to work, the uninsured, and even those who are divorced. Likewise, people aged between 45 and 59 are most likely to suffer depression, since they are part of the first generation of individuals whose life prospects are worse than those of their parents. It is necessary to know that all the forms of depressive disorders experience some of the following symptoms: reduced concentration and attention, reduced self-esteem and self-confidence, ideas of guilt and unworthiness, gloomy and pessimistic visions of the future, ideas or acts of selfharm or suicide, sleeping problems, excessive tiredness and decreased appetite. Everyone, whether in our home, neighborhood or workplace, knows someone who has these symptoms, but usually we don’t do anything concrete to help and we settle by saying it will pass. It is well known that the general feeling of loneliness has negative effects on mental

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WITH 13%, LATINOS HAD THE HIGHEST RATE OF DEPRESSION IN NEW YORK ACCORDING TO THE NYC DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH.

health and, in particular, generates anxiety and depression. A recent survey by health insurer Cigna of 10,000 adults revealed that loneliness in the United States has reached epidemic levels, as three out of five adults (61%) indicated that they feel alone “sometimes” or “always.” Cigna made its first Annual Loneliness Scale a year ago and the number of American adults who felt alone at that time only reached 54% (that’s a 7% increase in just one year). As Americans have a marked sense of loneliness at their workplaces, they try to take refuge in social media ... but the result is they end up feeling more alone and depressed. DEPRESSION AND SUICIDE

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The suicide rate increased in the United States by 33 percent between 1999 and 2017. According to WHO statistics, suicide is the second leading cause of death for people aged 15 to 29. And although it’s obvious, the relationship between depression and suicide is getting closer and closer. To cite just one example, 40% of suicides in New Jersey of people with known mental health conditions, more than 40% of these people were depressed according to friends, family or other sources. “Depres-

sion is one of the main causes of suicide that can be addressed through treatment,” said Deborah Hartel of the New Jersey State Department of Health. Most recent statistics indicate that Utah, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, New Mexico, Nevada, and Wyoming are among the states with the highest percentage of suicides per 100,000 people in the United States. In 2017 alone, suicide claimed the lives of 5,016 men and 1,225 women between 15 and 24 years of age in the United States, according to researchers in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA). To conclude, it’s worth quoting the opinion of Lee Siegel, columnist for The New York Times: “We need a national leader who will, as President Carter tried to do, address the urgent issue of mental illness, not with piecemeal legislation but with a national crusade. We need a leader who will elevate this crisis to the same level of national urgency as gun control and climate change. [...] A positive alternative had better come along soon. In the absence of a national resolve to address surging mental illness in America, our politics and its social consequences will continue to toss on waves of depression, anxiety and despair, themselves both a cause and an effect of our collapsing public realm”. bizrepublic.com

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OUR COUNTRIES Biz

The Americas and the Caribbean

Purmamarca, Jujuy (Argentina). Photo Courtesy: G20 Argentina.

A QUICK LOOK!

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ARGENTINA.

BAHAMAS.

France decided to include the Bahamas on its blacklist of tax havens for not cooperating sufficiently in the fight against financial and fiscal crimes. “Our list is tougher than that of the European Union,” said French Finance Minister Gérald Darmanin. The Bahamas, through its Vice Prime Minister and Finance Minister, K. Peter Turnquest, rejected the decision made by Emmanuel Macron’s government and called it an affront to international diplomatic norms.. Attorney General Carl Bethel considered the event as an “unfortunate circumstance.”

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Internet

ARUBA.

Aruba, an autonomous country off the coast of Venezuela is considered one of the world’s leading tourist destinations for travelers in 2020, according to Lonely Planet, for being a leader in sustainable tourism. Aruba uses around 40% clean energy and its Vader Piet Wind Park meets 20% of the island’s electrical needs. Aruba has prevented some 64,800,000 single-use plastic bags from entering into the oceans and since July 1st, 2020, will ban all products containing Oxibenzone, a chemical compound that deteriorates coral reefs and is used to make sunscreens.

Barbados Today

BIS Photo-Derek Smith

Prime Minister Gaston Browne was in Caracas to sign the government of Antigua and Barbuda’s membership to become a full member of the Bank of the Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples of Our America (BanAlba), an international financial organization founded 11 years ago in Venezuela. Antigua and Barbuda’s first action was to request a loan totaling $15.8 million from BanAlba to recapitalize Leeward Islands Air Transport (LIAT), a regional airline based in Antigua that recently commemorated 63 years in Caribbean skies.

Rosselkhoznadzor, an entity that supervises food safety in Russia, imposed restrictions on meat imports from five plants in Argentina after it found ractopamine, a substance banned in Russia and the European Union that allows animals to grow faster by consuming less food. Russia isn’t ruling out restricting meat imports from all Argentine companies, which would be a major blow to the country’s meat exports that sent 42,000 tons to Russia in 2018.

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ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA.

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Biz THE AMERICAS AND THE CARIBBEAN – A QUICK LOOK!

BARBADOS.

The population of Barbados has grown by less than 35,000 people over the last 50 years and there are more retirees than active workers in the country, which has a negative birth rate. Therefore, the Government will introduce a radical relaxation of its immigration laws to capture foreign labor (from CARICOM and all of Latin America) and grant citizenship more expeditiously to sustain the economic growth of Barbados. Interior Minister Edmund Hinkson will present an immigration amendment bill that will facilitate citizenship for migrants.

BELIZE.

Belize celebrated 30 years of trade and diplomatic relations with Taiwan through a series of cultural events. Despite China’s efforts to court countries in the region, “we made the right choice sticking with Taiwan,” said Wilfred Elrington, Belizean Foreign Minister, who described Taiwan-Belize relations as “win-win” . Both governments have concluded a round of trade talks, laying out the path for a Trade Cooperation Agreement to strengthen trade and investment between the two nations even more.

BRAZIL.

Brazil is not only negotiating a free trade agreement with China (the Asian giant has become Brazil’s largest trading partner), but also intents to join OECD. Jair Bolsonaro believes, “we Brazilians can only gain from” a trade relationship with China. Both countries are not only deepening cooperation in the traditional areas of agriculture, electricity, mining and infrastructure, but also promoting growth in new areas such as innovation in technology and digital economy.

CANADA.

Air Canada has been recognized as the “2019 Airline of the Year” by Global Traveler, the leading magazine for business travelers and luxury tourists. “The success we have had transforming our airline into a leading global carrier is being recognized worldwide and we continue to invest in new aircraft, onboard services, airport amenities and a new Loyalty program. Mostly, however, this award recognizes the hard work of our employees and their commitment to deliver customer service excellence every day, for which I thank them,” said Calin Rovinescu, President and Chief Executive of Air Canada.

COLOMBIA.

Entrepreneurs from Colombia and the United States met in Bogota to strengthen cooperation in the private sector and expand business and economic relations. At the meeting, an Investment and Trade Map was launched in cooperation with ProColombia. In addition, the project “Cocoa for Colombia: A Sustainable Initiative” was launched, which is promoted by Vicki Hollub, leader of the Colombia-United States Business Council, and executives from Citi, Coca -Cola and Drummond. The event brought together the National Association of Entrepreneurs of Colombia (ANDI) and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.

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Mall Aventura Perú

CHILE.

Helmut Eichhorn Cisternas, economic director of ProChile in Peru, said that Peru remains “tremendously attractive” for Chilean exporters and investors especially in retail, agribusiness, mining, energy and manufacturing. Peru remained free from the convulsion seen in Latin American in the last few months. Chile also sees investment opportunities in renewable energy, infrastructure and health. Peru is Chile’s second direct investment destination abroad, after Brazil, according to the International Economic Relations Undersecretariat of Chile.

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Quantum Motors

BOLIVIA

Bolivia shocked South America with the manufacturing of a 100% Bolivian electric car, cheap and environmentally friendly, and designed for urban use with the purpose of fighting climate change. The vehicles, assembled and sold in Cochabamba by Bolivian company Quantum Motors, seat three people, reach a speed of 60 kilometers per hour and have a range of 60 kilometers per charge. The project took two years to crystallize and was supported by Juan Viera, a former General Motors employee.

COSTA RICA.

Costa Rican National Animal Health Service (SENASA) reported that after six years of negotiations with the Import and Export Food Safety Bureau of the Chinese General Administration of Customs, Costa Rica was authorized to export pork to the Chinese market. Carlos Alvarado, president of Costa Rica, said this will create jobs in the rural sectors of the country. In 2019, Costa Rican farmers exported more than 7 million kg of beef to China and this year they plan to send about 1,000 tons of pork to the same country.

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DOMINICA.

EL SALVADOR.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock of El Salvador signed an agreement that will allow Salvadoran poultry producers to export poultry meat and other foods containing more than 2% of poultry product (tamales, wings, nuggets, others), said the US ambassador to El Salvador, Ronald Johnson. The USDA will invest more than US $800,000 to implement the agreement, signed by Minister of Agriculture and Livestock Pablo Anliker, and the representative of IICA, Hazel Alpizar.

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Orlando Suárez

ECUADOR.

Given Ecuadorians are the sixth largest foreign community in New York City, on January 12th, Eastern Airlines began its nonstop service between John F. Kennedy International Airport and José Joaquín de Olmedo International Airport in Guayaquil, Ecuador, with promotional rates and a Boeing 767-300ER wide-cabin plane equipped with 30 premium and 212 economy class seats. Eastern has the permission of the Department of Transportation to make up to 7 weekly flights from The Big Apple to Guayaquil, The Pearl of the Pacific.

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MAG El Salvador

The Commonwealth of Dominica was named by the leading travel publication Condé Nast Traveler as the best destination for travelers in 2020. The island is rapidly emerging as a major destination for ecotourism. “More than sand and surf, the most outstanding natural aspects of Dominica include the second largest boiling lake in the world, natural hot springs, volcanoes, isolated pools at the bottom of towering waterfalls, more than 300 miles of trails in the virgin jungle and crystal clear waters ideal for snorkeling and diving,” says Condé Nast.

Sean Kelly Conway

CUBA.

Despite the US embargo on Cuba, the island continues to be attractive for tourism and foreign investment. Grand Sirenis Cayo Santa Maria, a five-star hotel belonging to the Spanish chain Sirenis Hotels & Resorts, opened in December with 633 rooms, an all-inclusive service and a beautiful two-kilometer perimeter beach, as well as two buffet restaurants, four themed restaurants, a snack bar, a barbecue and seven bars. The luxury hotel is located in Playa Las Salinas, on Cayo Santa Maria Island, in the province of Villa Clara, in the middle of Cuba.

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Grand Sirenis Cayo Santa María

Biz THE AMERICAS AND THE CARIBBEAN – A QUICK LOOK!

GRENADA.

The Association of British Travel Agents (ABTA) has named Grenada, the island country in the Caribbean Sea, as the ‘One to Watch’ in 2020. Expert travel agents from the United Kingdom have included Grenada in the ABTA Travel Trends Report 2020, which considered a variety of attractions such as Grand Etang National Park, the Diamond chocolate factory, its beautiful beaches that are less crowded than other Caribbean islands; and its green hills full of fruit trees, nuts and spices, sunsets from the Dodgy Dock bar and its colonial-era fortresses of St. George.

GUATEMALA.

Guatemala is determined to become a leading country for labor exports to the United States through promotional work and marketing overseen by Minister of Labor and Social Welfare Rafael Lobos Madrid. Guatemala competes with Mexico, El Salvador, and Honduras for H2A and H2B visas, and must convince US employers or agents that Guatemalans may be more competitive workers than those from other countries. In recent months, 5,831 Guatemalans traveled temporarily to work in the United States, 11,419 to Canada and 12,218 to Mexico.

HAITI.

MEXICO.

Agricultural authorities of Mexico and China have signed an agreement for the maritime export of Mexican blueberries and not only by air, as has been done since January 2015. The trade relationship between both nations is at its best according to Victor Villalobos Arambula, Mexico’s Secretary of Agriculture and Rural Development. With more than 40,000 tons, Mexico is the fourth largest producer of blueberries, a production that it exports to more than 32 countries including Hong Kong, Italy, Japan, Canada, Singapore, Belgium, the United Kingdom and the United States.

Pete Schnell

Mincetur Perú

JAMAICA.

Jamaica’s Minister of Tourism Edmund Bartlett visited Peru for the first nonstop flight of LATAM Airlines from Lima to Sangster International Airport (Montego Bay). “South Americans who want to come to Jamaica no longer have to worry about visas; we have a visa-free regime that operates with most countries in South America,” said Bartlett. “This service will open new doors for connectivity to South America. We rely on its future expansion to offer daily flights,” said Donovan White, Tourism Director of the Jamaica Tourist Board.

HONDURAS.

Global reports place Honduras in the last spots in terms of digitalization, which is why the public and private sectors, after the Technological Congress “Building a more digital Honduras”, have decided to promote digital transformation together. The Presidential Designee and Minister of Economic Development, Maria Antonia Rivera, said that there is a contract signed with the IDB, an entity that in the first quarter of 2020 will contribute US $40 million to broadband and promote digital government, digital economy and online services.

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The economic situation in Haiti has worsened in recent months following prolonged protests against the government of President Jovenel Moise. Corruption, high inflation, rising food prices, lowering of wages, depreciation of the currency, falling agricultural production and lack of fuel and other supplies are behind the demonstrations. One in three Haitians (3.7 million) require urgent food assistance, according to the UN World Food Program, while 60% of the population earns less than two dollars a day.

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Alex Proimos

The Liza Destiny

GUYANA.

An IMF study projects Guyana’s growth for 2020 reaching 86%, driven by the explosive expansion of its GDP for this year. The economic growth of this small South American nation bordering Brazil, Venezuela, and Suriname amounts to 40 times that of what is projected for the United States. And Guyana has the highest amount of oil per individual in any country in the world, according to a CNBC analyst. ExxonMobil has discovered a reserve that amounts to more than 5.5 billion barrels of oil under the Atlantic waters of Guyana.

NICARAGUA.

The Nicaraguan tourism industry is “surviving and looking for a way to stay afloat” in the midst of the political crisis that plagues the country. Working “low fuel” but with the intention of continuing to function, according to a survey conducted by the Nicaraguan Chamber of Tourism (CANATUR) to more than 300 small and medium-sized tourism companies in the country. The size of tourism businesses has shrunk and, although they have not “bottomed out” as in 2018, tourism sector sales have fallen by 51.1%, as well as the flow of tourists by 45% and International flights 31%.

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PANAMA.

PARAGUAY.

Russia and Paraguay signed at the headquarters of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in Asuncion, a trade agreement for the exchange of information and mutual cooperation in customs matter to improve the movement of goods and prevent illegal acts by providing legal security to businesses in both countries. Thanks to the signing of this agreement, which was attended by the Vice Minister of Economic Relations and Integration, Didier Olmedo Adorno, Paraguay’s exports will be considered by Russia to be of lower risk.

PUERTO RICO.

The first manned space mission to Mars, which NASA plans to launch between 2030 and 2040, depends largely on eight experts leading a project at the Center for Research in Molecular Sciences at the University of Puerto Rico (UPR). The project, headed by Torsten Stelzer, is to create a machine capable of making medicines for astronauts in space. A round trip between Earth and Mars lasts about six years, so the NASA crew must have not only enough food, but also medicines to survive for such a long time.

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Produce Perú

PERU.

Scallops and silverside, traditional Peruvian marine resources, re-entered the powerful market of China after the signing of a “Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation in the import and export of aquatic products” between the Ministry of Production of Peru and the Department of Political Affairs of the General Customs Administration of the People’s Republic of China (GACC). Peruvian Minister Rocio Barrios and Vice Minister of the Department of Political Affairs of the GACC, Hu Wei, signed the agreement.

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The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) and the company Interconectado Electrica Colombia-Panama (ICP) have signed a technical cooperation agreement to support studies for the electrical interconnection between Panama and Colombia, a project that involves an underwater section and that would be up and running by 2024 to consolidate regional energy security and the integration of the Andean Community with Central America. The IDB’s contribution (US $500,000) will be invested in design, technical and environmental studies. The remaining cost (US $4.96 million) will be covered by ICP.

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Biz THE AMERICAS AND THE CARIBBEAN – A QUICK LOOK!

DOMINICAN REPUBLIC.

The Economic Partnership Agreement between the European Union and the Dominican Republic has great potential for the Central American country, but its results are still limited, said Gianluca Grippa, EU ambassador to the Dominican Republic; and Antonio Vargas, general director of Multilateral Cooperation of the Dominican government. The Dominican Republic is the most advanced country out of the CARICOM members in the implementation of the EPA, but it needs to strengthen its private sector, increase export competitiveness, and deepen regional integration.

SAINT KITTS AND NEVIS.

With the aim of converting the Federation of Saint Kitts and Nevis the Caribbean leader in alternative energy sources, Prime Minister Timothy Harris announced the construction of a 35.6 MW photovoltaic solar power generation plant and the installation of 44.2 MWh energy storage batteries on a 100-acre site located in the Basseterre Valley. This historic project will be executed by Swiss company Leclanche SA, one of the world’s leading providers of energy storage solutions.

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Cancillería Perú

Minrex Cuba

ST. VINCENT AND ST. LUCIA. SURINAME. In Castries the Prime Minister and Chan- The Inter-American Development Bank THE GRENADINES. cellor of Saint Lucia, Allen Michael Chas- (IADB) approved a US $30 million invest-

TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO.

The Central Bank of Trinidad & Tobago (CBTT), through its monetary policy report, revealed that the country’s energy companies continue to rationalize their operations in the face of strong global competition. It stated that the closure of state oil company Petrotrin in 2019 resulted in the loss of more than 5,000 jobs. However, the CBTT said that the Ministry of Energy projects an increase in the production of natural gas of around 3.8 billion cubic feet per day, which will help to rejuvenate downstream refining and strengthen petrochemical production.

ment loan to Suriname to support access to sustainable electricity to improve both the living conditions of rural populations and the rural business environment. Suriname will also install solar plants with battery power storage in the cities of Brownsweg and Alliance and solar mini-networks in the Upper Suriname River area. The remote communities of Suriname still receive expensive and low quality electricity, with less than six hours of electrical service daily or no service.

URUGUAY.

Fenthion, an agrochemical classified by the World Health Organization as moderately dangerous for human health and the environment, created a little dislike for Uruguay’s agro-exports. Food safety authorities in Italy rejected and destroyed a shipment of Uruguayan oranges containing residues of the pesticide, so the Ministry of Livestock, Agriculture and Fisheries of Uruguay decided to avoid another bad experience and prohibited the importation, registration, and renewal of phytosanitary products using Fenthion, which is highly toxic to birds and bees, as an active ingredient.

Venezuela Verde

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tanet and Sarah Flood-Beaubrun, received Peruvian Ambassador Hugo de Zela Martínez, candidate for the general secretariat of the Organization of American States, for an extensive dialogue in where they agreed on the need to renew the role of the OAS and find solutions to the conflicts that affect the hemisphere. The Peruvian candidate has the goal of contributing to the strengthening of the OAS as a dialogue body, generating consensus, said the Government of Peru.

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Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and Cuba, whose diplomatic relations date back to May 1992, confirmed their excellent links after the appointment of José Leyva Ventura as Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador of the Republic of Cuba in Kingstown. A few days ago, the Prime Minister of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Ralph Gonsalves, also spoke of the “indestructible bonds of friendship between both peoples and governments” during a fraternal meeting in Kingstown with Cuban doctors and engineers who provide solidarity assistance to the people of St. Vicent.

VENEZUELA.

2019 has been the worst year in the last two decades for the Venezuelan tourism sector, according to the Higher Tourism Council of Venezuela (CONSETURISMO), an entity that brings together the National Federation of Hotels of Venezuela (FENEHOVEN), the Venezuelan Association of Agencies of Travel and Tourism (AVAVIT) and the Association of Airlines in Venezuela (ALAV), among others. “There are fewer people buying flights and packages. There is a 30% drop in the supply of products and services and that includes local and international tourism,” said Leudo Gonzalez, president of Conseturismo. bizrepublic.com

Biz INTERVIEW

CID WILSON, PRESIDENT & CEO OF THE HISPANIC ASSOCIATION ON CORPORATE RESPONSIBILITY (HACR)

“COMPANIES MUST ACCULTURATING TO A GROWING HISPANIC COMMUNITY” BY HEIDI CASTRILLON

ONLY 3% OF FORTUNE 500 BOARD SEATS ARE HELD BY LATINOS WITH LESS THAN 1% OF THE SEATS HELD BY LATINAS. THIS MUST CHANGE

id Wilson has been president and executive director of the Hispanic Association of Corporate Responsibility (HACR) since July 2014. He leads the country’s largest defense group aimed at the inclusion of Hispanics in the United States corporate sector with passion and pride. In addition to carrying out valuable research initiatives and advanced professional development programs, HACR creates a forum for corporate responsibility and market reciprocity for the nation’s growing Hispanic population. Wilson, a proud Dominican professional with roots in New Jersey’s Bergen county, graduated from Ohio State University with a degree in Economics and was featured and cited in numerous publications and by media outlets including The Wall Street Journal, USA Today, The New York Times and Bloomberg TV, among many others.

Cid Wilson, President & CEO, HACR

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In January 2019, he participated on a panel at the World Economic Forum in Davos where business opportunities in the US Hispanic market were discussed. Cid Wilson shared the stage with Brad Smith, president and director of Legal Affairs at Microsoft; and Claudia Romo Edelman, Swiss-Mexican diplomat and founder of We Are All Human. The moderator was

Alan Murray, the President and CEO of Fortune Magazine. Biz Republic had a pleasant talk with Cid Wilson and accompanied him in his corporate activities. During the tour, we discovered a man who not only works passionately for the rights and well-being of Hispanics in the United States, but also boasts an enormous facility to communicate within C-level suites of at top US corporations. TELL US ABOUT YOUR BEGINNINGS AND HOW DID YOU GO FROM WORKING ON WALL STREET AS A MAIL CLERK TO BEING THE CEO AND PRESIDENT OF HACR? From my high school years to my colleges years at The Ohio State University, my dream was to work on Wall Street. When seeking a job and internship, I was not hired by any Wall Street firm. So I went to a regional office of a national brokerage firm and offered to work in the mailroom for free in exchange for them paying for my lunch and paying for my bus transportation back home in Columbus, Ohio. That decision paved the way for a 21 year Wall Street career that included being ranked #1 in my field

Linda Akutagawa, President & CEO, LEAP (Leadership Education for Asian Pacifics); Cid Wilson, President & CEO, HACR; and Lorraine Hariton, President & CEO, Catalyst.

by Forbes in 2006. I was always deeply involved in my community over my professional career. This included multiple Dominican American organizations, civil rights, and diversity/inclusion focused organizations. When the opportunity presented itself in 2014 to join HACR, it was a natural fit because of my corporate background, strong understanding of the corporate C-suite, and deep commitment to the Latino community through my many non-profit and advocacy initiatives. WHAT IS THE SCOPE OF THE WORK DONE BY HACR DURING 2019? HACRâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s mission is to advance Hispanic inclusion in Corporate America. We are very proud of our 2019 achievements. Among the highlights include a successful HACR Symposium and Executive Programs which we hosted in May 2019, our first Hispanic forum in Davos, Switzerland during the World Economic Forum in January 2019, the growth of our newly revamped HACR Corporate Inclusion Index, our research initiatives, our growth of the HACR Leadership Pipeline Program, and lastly, the overall growth of our corporate membership as more companies join our movement to

advance Hispanic inclusion in Corporate America. CAN YOU TELL US WHO ARE THE MAIN CORPORATIONS RECOGNIZED IN RECENT YEARS FOR MAKING A DIFFERENCE IN HISPANIC INCLUSION IN THE AREAS OF EMPLOYMENT, PURCHASES, PHILANTHROPY AND GOVERNANCE? Each year, HACR conducts a survey of participating companies who take our Corporate Inclusion Index. We share the companies that receive five-star rating in each of our four pillars of employment, procurement, philanthropy, and governance. At our 2019 HACR Corporate Inclusion Index Awards Dinner. The list of companies is extensive and thus we encourage readers to visit us at www.hacr. org to see the 2019 release of our HACR Corporate Inclusion Index. WHAT FACTORS HINDER THE INCLUSION AND RISE OF HISPANICS ON THE CORPORATE LADDER IN THE COUNTRY? The biggest factor that has hindered the inclusion of Hispanics in Corporate America

has been a lack of recognition by companies that their business is increasingly reliant on Hispanics. While some companies have been better than others in changing their corporate culture to be more inclusive, others have been very slow in changing their internal corporate culture. Companies should not try to have Hispanic assimilate to an existing corporate culture that may not be inclusive, rather companies must acculturating to a growing Hispanic community. We are approaching 20% of the total U.S. population and growing. With over 2.2 trillion dollars of Latino gross domestic product, we are the 8th largest economy in the world. And yet, only 3% of Fortune 500 board seats are held by Latinos with less than 1% of the seats held by Latinas. This must change. WHAT MUST BE DONE TO, DESPITE THE ANTI-IMMIGRANT POLITICAL DISCOURSE, UNDO MISPERCEPTIONS AND UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE OF HISPANIC AND LATINO COMMUNITIES FOR THE FUTURE OF THE NATION? In the absence of inclusive and diversity-focused leadership in government, Corporate America must step up to lead bizrepublic.com

#HispanicLeadershipSummit at United Nations.

when it comes to promoting Hispanic inclusion. This includes making sure that we are portrayed positively in the media, that companies intentionally illuminate the richness of our culture, and when our community is attacked by those who promote division, ignorance, racism, and hate, Corporate America stand by our Latino community by loudly and publicly declaring that they stand on the side of Latinos. ACCORDING TO THE FINDINGS OF THE HACR CORPORATE INCLUSION INDEX (CII) OF 2019, COMPANIES ALLOCATE ON AVERAGE ONLY 1% OF TOTAL SPENDING ON PURCHASES FROM HISPANICOWNED COMPANIES. WHAT CAN WE DO WITH SUCH A CHALLENGING PANORAMA? The lack of procurement to Hispanic businesses is a major challenge. We know that the growth of the American economy is driven by the growth of small business with Hispanic businesses growing faster than any other sector of small business. There are many great organizations who are focused on growing procurement with Hispanic businesses, the most prominent being the U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce who is a coalition member of HACR. We know that companies that do business with Hispanic-owned enterprises can have a comparative advantage in their business success compared to other companies that lack Hispanic procurement. This is

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IN THE ABSENCE OF INCLUSIVE AND DIVERSITY-FOCUSED LEADERSHIP IN GOVERNMENT, CORPORATE AMERICA MUST STEP UP TO LEAD WHEN IT COMES TO PROMOTING HISPANIC INCLUSION

part of HACRâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s work to change corporate cultures to be more inclusive of Hispanics including procurement inclusivity. HOW IS THE WORK OF THE HACR RESEARCH INSTITUTE (HRI), THE HACR RESEARCH ARM SPONSORED BY THE MERCK FOUNDATION? HACR is proud of our in-house HACR Research Institute that produces bestin-class research and produces our annual HACR Corporate Inclusion Index. Dr. Lisette Garcia our Executive Vice President & Chief Operating Officer leads our research initiatives. Research is very important because it provides the data and outcomes that are consistent with our message that our Latino community is growing, but the lack of Hispanic inclusion must be addressed.

RUDDYS ANDRADE, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR THE GUTTENBERG HOUSING AUTHORITY

“I SEE MYSELF IN THE PEOPLE I LIVE TO SERVE”

f you looked at Ruddys Andrade’s resume, you might think he doesn’t like a long commute. His undergraduate studies at Montclair State University and study abroad experiences in Spain and Italy aside, Ruddys has built his career within the boundaries of Hudson County. “I love Hudson County – the people, the sense of community, the opportunity. There are so many organizations and companies inside the County, I never felt I had to look outside to take that next step in my career. I’m so grateful for that.” Ruddys, who serves as Executive Director for the Guttenberg Housing Authority, has dedicated his life to public service, holding leadership positions at CarePoint Health and New Jersey City University prior to joining the Guttenberg Housing Authority in late 2019. He brings a mix of fundraising, nonprofit, higher education, and corporate experience to his current role, and a passion for the County in which he has built his life. Ruddys was born in Union City, and raised by a single mother in a building administered by the Union City Housing Authority. He attended Union City Public Schools, and, by stroke of good fortune, developed a lifelong friendship with a positive role model who encouraged him to persist in school and strive to achieve his full potential. “I know people had it much harder than I did growing up, but I wouldn’t say that I’ve had it easy. There were plenty of opportunities to give up – but he wouldn’t let me. Having someone to see something in you that you can’t see yourself provides that extra confidence to keep pushing forward.” And that’s exactly what he did. Ruddys turned an entry-level role at NJCU into a fifteen-year career, ascending up the ladder to Associate Vice President of Academic Affairs. Ruddys led multiple NJCU departments, including the Office of Grants & Sponsored Programs, through which millions in federal and state funding were secured for faculty research and capacity building activities. He left NJCU to join CarePoint Health System as Assistant Vice President for External Affairs, where he was charged with ensuring that Hudson County’s largest private employer was an engaged corporate citizen. Ruddys liaised with neighborhood organizers, grassroots activists, nonprofit organizations, and other interested stakeholders to invest philanthropic funds into the community and to ensure that safe, clean, and expert medical care was always available for Hudson County’s uninsured and underinsured community members. His engaging personality and approachable demeanor has helped him to build trusting relationships with those he serves. “The positions I’ve held have been deeply personal for me. I see myself in the people I live to serve. I see myself in the first-generation college students at NJCU who are juggling school with work while caring for family members… investing in themselves for the opportunity to become economically stable in the future. I see myself in the patients, and in the residents I serve today at the Guttenberg Housing Authority. I want to provide access to opportunities for others, just as I had access when I was growing up in Union City.” bizrepublic.com

Biz OPINION

THE ECONOMY AND THE ELECTION BY ISAAC COHEN*

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THE DAMAGE FROM THE TRADE DISPUTES WAS EVIDENT THROUGHOUT THE ECONOMY, MAINLY IN BUSINESS INVESTMENT, WHICH FELL FROM 5 PERCENT IN 2018 TO LESS THAN 2 PERCENT IN 2019.

A worker moves an engine from the final assembly line at the GM Romulus Powertrain plant in Romulus, Michigan, on Aug. 21, 2019.

Rebecca Cook/Reuters

Canadian market for US dairy producers, or better labor conditions in Mexico. However, the major achievement for all three USMCA members is the preservation of one of the most intense trading relationships between neighboring countries, which amounts to more than $1 trillion per year of trade in goods and services.

he economy of the United States is entering vigorously into a new decade, which contrasts with the slowdown prevailing in most of the advanced economies, such as Western Europe or Japan and even in China, the second largest and until recently one of the fastest growing economies. At the start of 2020, the International Monetary Fund has reviewed its estimates and projections of world economic growth to incorporate some recent encouraging events, such as the trade truce achieved by the First Phase agreement between China and the United States. Also viewed positively were the possibility of BREXIT without major difficulties and the US Congress and the White House final approval of the new North American free trade agreement, between the United States, Mexico and Canada. The previously known NAFTA is now known as USMCA, according to the initials of the three partners. Among the positive results for the United States, achieved in the new USMCA, are higher utilization of US parts in automobile manufacturing, more access to the

Also encouraging domestically is last year’s macroeconomic performance of the US economy, with moderate growth of around 2 percent, low inflation and unemployment at 3.5 percent, the lowest level in half a century. True, compared to almost 3 percent growth in 2018, the US economy slowed down in 2019 to an annual rate of 2.3 percent, as a consequence of the vanishing effects of the tax cuts approved in 2017 and the trade confrontations initiated by the White House, some of which concluded just recently. The damage from the trade disputes was evident throughout the economy, mainly in business investment, which fell from 5 percent in 2018 to less than 2 percent in 2019. Therefore, manufacturing was in recession in the first half of last year and construction investment fell, despite an end of year increase in residential construction, as opposed to a decrease in commercial construction. Even personal consumption, the main economic engine, went down from 3.2 percent in the third quarter to 1.8 percent in the last quarter of 2019. Also, the trade gap decreased, exports increased 1.4 percent throughout the year, while imports fell 8.7 percent, another indication of a slowing economy. Looking ahead, regarding the perspectives of the US economy, it cannot be ignored that this is an election year and that, in the next ten months, the agenda will be dominated by the election and its results. In such a year, it is always tempting to assert that the economy will determine the political outcome. To the point that some analysts have already concluded that if the election was today, given the positive macroeconomic performance, the economy would contribute to the reelection of President Donald Trump. Nonetheless, there remain risks and even surprises which can still sour this optimistic prediction. The main risks in the outlook for the US economy were described by Chairman Jerome Powell of the Federal Reserve, during the press conference, of January

29, at the end of the central bank’s first meeting of the year. (https://is.gd/powell) Some risks emanate from the global economy, where there is sluggish growth and no assurance of a global rebound, while powerful disinflationary trends prevail. In the United States, inflation persists below the 2 percent target, amid an eleven year old expansion with very low unemployment, with a risk that inflationary expectations may fall under the target. Chairman Powell said, “We have seen this dynamic play out in other economies around the world, and we are determined to avoid it here in the United States.” Additionally, despite the recent commercial truce with China and approval of the new North American trade agreement, trade policy uncertainties remain elevated. Another major risk is emanating from the economic slowdown in China, which is now at risk of deepening because of the corona virus. Given those risks, ten months before the election, surprises caused by unanticipated events cannot be discarded. The longest expansion in the US economy is entering 11 years and despite its own strength, unexpected events can still derail its progression. As in the case of Australia’s where a 29 year old consecutive expansion is about to be interrupted by forest fires. The same is the case in China, where the corona virus can deepen the economic slowdown. In the United States, it should be recalled, the immediate causes of the last two recessions were unanticipated blow outs of financial bubbles, such as the 2000 dot-com and the 2008 housing crash. Therefore, there are no guarantees that the present conditions may persist by the end of the year. But even if they do prevail, there remains the fact that most of the present volatility and uncertainty have been caused by the White House predilection for being unpredictable, which has led to self inflicted wounds and missed opportunities.

*International analyst and consultant, former Director ECLAC Washington. Commentator on economic and financial issues for CNN en Español TV and radio, UNIVISION, TELEMUNDO and other media. bizrepublic.com

Biz SUSTAINABILITY

6 WAYS TO DRIVE FUNDING TO TRANSFORM THE FASHION INDUSTRY BY KATRIN LEY | CATHARINA MARTÍNEZ-PARDO

n 2020, sustainability is at the top of the fashion industry’s agenda. The industry’s environmental and social impacts are well documented. Under growing consumer and regulatory pressures, industry leaders are recognising the urgent need to move towards responsible practices. The question now is how the industry will transform to achieve a sustainable operating model. Progress to date has been encouraging but still largely incremental. Transformation requires disruptive innovation, at scale, in the form of new materials, processes and business models. To bring the necessary solutions to market and mainstream implementation, the ecosystem of fashion brands, supply chain partners, investors and so on, need to step up to accelerate innovation.

Bringing these innovations to scale requires industry support and financing to advance solutions from R&D to fully commercialized products. “Soft tech” solutions such as digital platforms have attracted more financing than the more asset-intensive forms of “hard tech” such as new raw materials or recycling technologies. However, hard tech innovations will spark the larger transformation towards sustainability and therefore have a greater need for financing per year.

This includes addressing a financing opportunity of $20 billion to $30 billion per year until 2030. Stakeholders need to actively engineer the conditions for strong ventures to emerge and succeed in order to future-proof a sustainable business model for the fashion industry.

Across all technology types, two points in the innovation development process are most challenging to finance. First, innovators struggle to secure financing to develop a minimum viable product. Second, in the scaling phase they struggle to raise the (often substantial) financing needed to reach commercial volumes. This type of capital is difficult to raise from the still-nascent financing landscape, which needs to expand to include growth equity, project financing, lending vehicles and R&D investments from large corporations.

STRONG INNOVATION, EMERGING SUPPORT

THE BARRIERS TO FINANCING INNOVATION

An extensive pipeline of innovations has emerged from new, alternative raw materials right through to digital platforms.

So, what is causing the shortfall in financing for the fashion industry’s move into technological innovation?

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ders build towards conditions that provide for manageable risk, attractive returns and impact that can be measured. 1. An orchestrated and structured innovation process. At the macro-level, multi-stakeholder organisations must drive collaboration and create a cohesive, streamlined ecosystem that accelerates innovation. At a more targeted level, bespoke consortiums of brands, supply chain partners, innovators and investors with a common technology focus are needed to concentrate resources and de-risk investments.

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2. Brand advocacy and hands-on support for promising technologies. Brands must signal to investors which innovations they are supporting and thereby de-risk investments. This can be through: co-developing a project or launching a pilot with an innovator, giving a volume commitment in advance, or directly investing into a venture.

The demand for innovation in the fashion industry is a recent development. As such, private, public and philanthropic investors have had limited exposure to the size and scale of the opportunity that lies in the industry’s impending technological transformation. The limited awareness of the opportunities, but also the lack of expertise in this new space, contributes significantly to the lack of capital flowing into fashion innovations. In addition, misaligned incentives in the supply chain can hamper the advance of disruptive solutions. While brands have the most incentive and pressure to drive towards sustainability, manufacturers have to account for the costs and implementation risks. New innovations also have to compete with the commoditized prices of today’s environmentally harmful production methods. Many brands and retailers benchmark against current costs of production and fail to account for things such as carbon emissions, when assessing business cases.

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AN INDUSTRY-WIDE CALL TO ACTION Considering the enormity of the challenge the industry faces and the barriers that must be overcome to drive this transformation, industry-wide collaboration with six specific actions is required. Financing will flow into the fashion space if all stakehol-

3. Increased engagement and ownership from supply chain partners. Manufacturers and upstream operators, such as chemical companies or fibre producers, have a natural stake in innovation. They are best positioned to partner with innovators and offer expertise and access to equipment, as well as provide capital, or ultimately acquire successful innovators. 4. Innovators’ propositions; focused use cases and practical implementation plans. Innovators have to approach customers and investors with executable use cases, clear value propositions and more realistic implementation plans for commercializing their solutions. 5. Mobilizing more investment and new types of capital through investors and funders. Investors must advance their industry expertise and join forces with brands, manufacturers, and innovators to develop investment propositions that match their risk-return profiles. Also, new sources and vehicles of investment are needed, such as blended finance, combining public, private, and philanthropic capital. 6. Stronger policy framework and mechanisms to catalyse private investment. Regulatory action has begun to help influence the industry’s move to sustainability, but more is needed, to provide a framework of policies and incentives to help inspire systemic change. The public sector must increase direct investments and their support to catalyze investment from the financial and philanthropic sector.

KATRIN LEY. Managing Director, Fashion for Good CATHARINA MARTÍNEZ-PARDO. Principal, Boston Consulting Group bizrepublic.com

Biz INTERVIEW

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C CLARISA ROMERO, TRAINER AND COACH

MINDFULNESS IS THE NEXT LEADERSHIP FRONTIER? 32

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larisa Romero, Certified Mindfulness & Conscious Business Coach, is our cover. Latin businesswoman born in the Bronx and raised in Puerto Rico until she was eight years old, she lived and graduated from North Brunswick Township High School. Former political operative specializing in government affairs and strategic communications, she worked at the Statewide Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of New Jersey and other private and public institutions until in 2015 when she decided to found Mindful Consultants, LLC, a firm specialized in personal and professional development through mindfulness, a practice based on neuroscience that emphasizes the retraining of the brain for consciousness, focus, concentration and regulation of emotions. Clarisa is an international presenter, trainer and coach, as well as a leading voice frequently speaking on mindfulness as the foundation of emotional intelligence, leadership, and how being trauma informed cultivates resilience. Using guided mindfulness

exercises and other techniques, she teaches individuals and professionals how to harness the power of mindfulness to decrease stress and anxiety and in turn improve productivity, creativity and wellbeing. M.A. Candidate in Public Administration from Fairleigh Dickinson University, she has a B.A. in Family & Child Studies - Early Childhood Education at Montclair State University, specializing in Community Psychology. She is a member of the Executive Board of the Latino Action Network and the Mercer County Latino Merchant Association. She has also been president of the National Political Council of Latin American Women, member of the Women’s Political Caucus, and member of the Democratic Committee’s Hispanic Task Force/Latino Caucus. TELL US ABOUT WHO CLARISA ROMERO IS AND WHAT YOU WERE DOING BEFORE BECOMING A CERTIFIED TRANSFORMATIONAL COACH IN MINDFULNESS AND CONSCIOUS BUSINESS. Prior to founding my own company, I was a community advocate and political operative for almost two decades and I specialized in government affairs and strategic communications for public relations and lobbying firms. I consulted for associations and chambers of commerce and eventually found my passion as a mindfulness coach, which is another way to consult. What I do makes people find work, life balance and be more productive in their personal and professional lives. WHAT IS MINDFULNESS AND WHY IS IT SO IMPORTANT NOWADAYS WHEN EVERYONE SEEMS TO BE IN A HURRY AND ON “AUTOPILOT”? Mindfulness is our ability to continuously & intentionally check in with ourselves to see if we are focused and aware in the present moment. Checking in on what we choose to pay attention to and what meaning we are assigning to everything happening to us- both inside and out. When you practice mindfulness throughout the day, you realize how distracted we are most of the time. We live in a fast-paced society, but the reality is that we don’t have to try to match that pace. That revelation is not only important, it is life altering. Mindfulness is the next leadership frontier. Mindful leaders schedule pauses throughout the day to manage their attention and focus; and therefore, are able to manage their reactions and not be overwhelmed. This leads to higher productivity and quality human interaction. Who wants to live life on autopilot, eventually crashing all the time? No one.

TELL US ALL ABOUT THE “4 STEP BRAIN H.A.C.K.” PROCESS, WHICH YOU CREATED AND HOW IT IS TRANSFORMING PEOPLE’S LIVES? The 4 Step Brain H.A.C.K.” is a process I created that trains people how to train their brains and identify negative thoughts that keep them unhappy and ineffective and in turn develop habits that are productive and healthy. Many believe they are struggling and suffering through their lives. Based on new scientific discoveries, this suffering has a direct impact on our capacity to achieve our goals and our overall well-being. HACK is an acronym that stands for: • H-old Focus • A-ssess Thoughts • C-alibrate Emotions • K-eep Conscious

MINDFULNESS HAS BEEN AROUND FOR A VERY LONG TIME, IN DIFFERENT FORMS, AND IS HERE TO STAY

MILLIONS IN THE WORLD PRACTICE MINDFULNESS BECAUSE IT’S A TOOL THAT IMPROVES OUR QUALITY OF LIFE. HOWEVER, THERE ARE PEOPLE THAT THINK IT’S JUST A PASSING FAD, GIMMICK, OR A MARKETING FABRICATION TO GET PEOPLE TO SPEND MONEY ON THINGS THAT DON’T WORK. WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS? Let me be clear, mindfulness has been around for a very long time, in different forms, and is here to stay. Mindfulness is a science-based and evidence-driven practice where you train the brain to have focused attention and increased emotional regulation. The scientific data is increasingly revealing that mindfulness increases the gray matter in the cortical regions of the brain resulting in a brain that is more resilient in the face

of stress. Mindfulness is grounded in over 30 years of scientific study showing it decreases depression, anxiety, stress and increases feelings of well-being, focus attention and emotion regulation. Most major universities around the world teach or research this practice. Harvard University published a study in 2011 where they found that being able to exercise mindfulness as a child predicts physical health, personal wealth and public safety. They concluded mindfulness is more important than intelligence and social class; it is the number one predictor for success. What science has proven is that mindful people lead healthier and more fulfilled lives. ACCORDING TO THE “STRESS IN AMERICA” SURVEY, CONDUCTED BY THE AMERICAN PSYCHOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION, LATINOS HAVE REACHED THE HIGHEST LEVELS OF STRESS IN THE UNITED STATES, WELL ABOVE OTHER ETHNIC MINORITIES. AS A LATINA PROFESSIONAL EXPERT IN MINDFULNESS, HOW DO YOU ANALYZE THIS SITUATION? Although I agree that Latinos in America have many reasons to be stressed in the current political and economic climate, I think that the United States is among the most stressed, no matter your ethnicity. The capacity to access a calm mind while in the midst of stress and challenging moments is an invaluable quality that drives effective decision-making. Science-based brain training creates the basis for cultivating a calm mind and body, even during challenging times. We have to manage how we perceive our circumstances, otherwise we continue to feel like victims. Latinos are the next economic boom in the US; mindfulness is the way for them to enjoy that success. I plan to be a leader in that movement. IN YOUR EXPERIENCE AS A COACH, WHAT ARE THE MAIN PITFALLS THAT KEEP LATINAS FROM ACHIEVING THEIR GOALS? I have observed that as Latinas sometimes we lack the confidence to believe that we have the power to make changes in our lives that go against cultural expectations. It took a lot of internal work for me to work on what was blocking me from believing in myself. I had to personally embark on a journey of deep self-discovery to overcome fear, doubt and limited beliefs. I learned during this journey that fear acts as a silent killer of goals and dreams. That is something that is one of the main pitfalls not just for Latinas, but anyone wanting to achieve anything in life.

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cross-country team of veteran women journalists announced the launch of The 19th, www.19thnews.org, a new nonprofit, nonpartisan national newsroom that will deeply cover the intersection of gender, politics and policy. Its mission is to empower women — particularly those underserved by and underrepresented in American media — with the information, community and tools they need to be equal participants in our democracy. Co-founded by CEO Emily Ramshaw and Publisher Amanda Zamora — both veterans of The Texas Tribune — The 19th’s goal is to provide women from all backgrounds with a place to tell their stories and see themselves reflected in consequential news coverage. The original journalism produced by The 19th will reimagine politics and policy coverage through a gender lens, and be free to consume and free to republish.

NATIONAL NEWS OUTLET TO INFORM, ENGAGE AND EMPOWER AMERICA’S WOMEN

VETERAN WOMEN JOURNALISTS LAUNCH THE 19TH

“The 19th aims to elevate the voices of women who are underrepresented in and underserved by American media: women of color, women living off the coasts and women of limited means,” Ramshaw said. “There are simply not enough women leading newsrooms, and as a result, not enough stories about the issues, inequities and unique challenges that most directly affect women’s lives.” The 19th will focus on deep-dive, evidence-based reporting that exposes gender inequity and injustice, and original stories on the issues that most deeply affect women’s lives, from health care to the economy. It will provide a digital platform for civil conversations and community building, produce national events that bring readers into direct dialogue with their elected officials, and build a newsroom that reflects the racial and socioeconomic diversity of women in America. Initial beats will include presidential politics, women and Congress, the women’s electorate, women’s health, women and the economy, and women and the states. As a nonprofit, nonpartisan newsroom, all of The 19th’s content will be free to consume and will not be behind a paywall. Revenue from member support, individual philanthropy, foundation grants, corporate sponsorships and live events will help ensure the content remains free to consume by readers and free to republish by news organizations and community groups. The 19th’s destination website, newsletter and community platform will launch in the summer of 2020. In the interim, readers can find stories from The 19th exclusively at The Washington Post. Readers will also have the chance to engage with The 19th in several cities across the country this year. Beginning this spring, The 19th is embarking on a national listening tour to hear directly from readers about the state of voting rights in their communities and explore the top issues facing women at the ballot box in November. With the League of Women Voters and The Riveter as partners, The 19th Listening Tour will kick off in Austin on April 22, and will travel to Los Angeles, Denver, Seattle, Minneapolis and Atlanta throughout the summer and fall.

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Members of The 19th’s founding team include: Amanda Zamora, co-founder and publisher; Errin Haines, editor-at-large; Andrea Valdez, editor-in-chief; Emily Ramshaw, co-founder and CEO; Johanna Derlega chief revenue officer.

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Biz LEADERSHIP

REAL ESTATE AGENT WITH MORE THAN 32 YEARS IN THE INDUSTRY

LUIS PADILLA, PRESIDENT-ELECT OF NAHREP FOR 2020

he National Association of Hispanic Real Estate Professionals® (NAHREP), a promoter and advocate for sustainable Hispanic home ownership in the United States, announced Luis C. Padilla as its 2020 President-Elect. Luis has been Co-owner of RE/MAX Oceanside Realty since December 2006 along with his wife Debbie Aquino. Luis Padilla has been in the real estate industry for 32 years and has ranked on the Top 250 Latino Agents list, a report based on the number of residential transactions made in a year, for the past ten years and is now a NAHREP 10 Certified Trainer. He has a Bachelor’s degree in Finance from St. Thomas University (Florida) and is currently a business coach at Tom Ferry International. He also served as president of the NAHREP South Florida Chapter in 2015 and continues to be a coach of that Chapter. “NAHREP has provided me with so many connections and has opened so many doors for me that otherwise would not exist,” said Luis Padilla, a Cuban-born professional who will officially assume the presidency of NAHREP at the NAHREP National Convention & Housing Policy Summit through March 16th18th, at The Ritz-Carlton, in Washington, DC. RISMedia.com says this about Luis: “Culture is important to (Luis) Padilla, not only in his business partnerships, but in the way he runs his own brokerage, as well. In fact, his ability to connect with clients on a cultural

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level has been his greatest asset. Being a part of NAHREP has given him insight into the Hispanic real estate market and continues to help him and other Hispanic real estate professionals stay ahead of the curve”. When he takes his clients to the presentations, the shrewd co-owner of RE/MAX Oceanside Realty says: “I’ve got a car full of three generations and you have to get them all to buy in.” The impressive sales acuity of Luis Padilla, his outstanding sales record and his passion for the community are only comparable to another of his great passions: dedicating quality time to his wife Debbie and their three wonderful children during summer weekends aboard his family boat at the Bay Harbor Islands; as well as enjoying deep-sea fishing with his son and father during winter. NAHREP, the largest business minority group in the real estate industry in the United States, with the entrepreneurial spirit, passion and diversity of its members as great strengths, promotes the placement of highly-qualified Hispanic professionals in key positions throughout the United States housing industry. The non-profit business and multicultural organization, promoter of sustainable Hispanic home ownership in the United States, has more than 50,000 members, including real estate agents and teams, in 48 states and more than 70 affiliated chapters.

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Biz STEM JESSICA J. MARQUEZ, PH.D., HUMAN SYSTEMS ENGINEER, NASA AMES RESEARCH CENTER

“I AM SO VERY BLESSED TO CONTRIBUTE TO SPACE EXPLORATION” BY ANGIOLINA GALLUCCIO

I AM INSPIRED BY EXPLORATION AND KNOWLEDGE, AND NASA’S MISSION IS TO EXPLORE AND LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR EARTH AND UNIVERSE, SO IT ALIGNS WELL WITH MY PASSIONS.

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essica Marquez, Ph.D., Human-Systems Engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), is one of the few Latin women working in Aterospace Science. She was born in Lima (Peru) and has worked for more than 12 years at NASA developing programs that combine technology and human psychology. Jessica did not set the sky as a limit, but space. Not surprisingly, she is considered among the 20 most influential Latinos in technology. “There are a lot of people who will tell “you can’t’ do it” and suddenly you are the person telling yourself “you can’t do it”. Therefore, you have to surround yourself with people who support you and make you remember that you can,” she said. WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO WORK FOR NASA? For as long as I can remember, I have been fascinated by the stars. One of my fondest memories as a child is going with my father to the highlands of Peru, to find open, clear skies to watch stars and look for Halley’s Comet. I was also very good at math and science – so I naturally thought the best place to work in this field is NASA. I am inspired by exploration and knowledge, and NASA’s mission is to explore and learn more about our Earth and universe, so it

aligns well with my passions. You come from a family deeply involved in the textile industry in Peru, what helped your decision to go for mechanical engineering and then Aerospace Engineering? My uncles are engineers, an industrial and a chemical engineer, so growing up I think engineering, along with business management and fashion designer, were all realistic options for me! More importantly, my family and my extended family always encouraged me to pursue my passions and my strengths. It didn’t matter that I was a girl who liked math and science, they always encouraged me to be the best that I can be. YOU HAVE SEVERAL PUBLICATIONS REGARDING AEROSPACE, TELL US WHICH ONE HAS BEEN THE MOST CHALLENGED AND WHY? The most challenging publications are always the ones that make you think. Let me explain: most of the time, publications are summarizing the work you have done. They typically follow a pattern of introduction, methods, and results. Writing those can be difficult when having to concisely describe the work you have done over the course of many months, even years. However, publications that are about what you

HOW DOES IT FEEL TO BE AN IMPORTANT PART OF THE RESEARCH CENTER AT NASA AND WORKING IN AN AREA DEVELOPING TOOLS FOR PEOPLE WHO SUPPORT HUMAN SPACE EXPLORATION, INCLUDING TRAINERS, FLIGHT CONTROLLERS, AND ASTRONAUTS? It is difficult to explain the honor it is to contribute to the human spaceflight program. I have had a few career highlights that makes me very proud to work for NASA. One of them is delivering software that is used every single day by flight controllers to operate the International Space Station. I have quietly observed Mission Control at NASA Johnson Space Center, watching people use the tool we developed. It fills me with such pride that our hard work enables actual human space exploration. The other highlight is that our next-generation software has been to space, demonstrating that we can build user-friendly tools that astronauts may one day use to manage their own schedule in deep space. I feel that even though I have not made it to space myself, a small piece of me has.

think NASA’s future may be like or the challenges NASA faces in future exploration; those are the hardest to write because you are trying to articulate a vision, a better future for the agency and for human exploration. WHAT IS HUMAN SYSTEM INTEGRATION, AND WHY IS IT SO IMPORTANT IN YOUR CAREER? Human Systems Integration is the idea that we build complex aerospace systems with people as a central component. When I was in graduate school, I realized that this was what I wanted to do with my career. I wanted to be an engineer (and had already gotten a degree in it), but I wanted to make better aerospace systems. To me, the way to do that is to ensure that the operator or people using these systems are considered in the design every step of the way. When we build the new lunar lander or spacesuits to explore the Moon, we need to make sure that these systems work for the astronauts; that despite their complexity and safety-critical nature, astronauts can easily live and work in these extreme conditions.

YOU SERVE AS THE LEAD FOR THE SCHEDULING & PLANNING INTERFACE FOR EXPLORATION (SPIFE) TEAM AND AS A SCIENTIST FOR HUMAN-AUTOMATION-ROBOTIC INTEGRATION, CAN YOU BRIEFLY DESCRIBE YOUR MISSION IN THIS AREA OF YOUR CAREER? As SPIFe team lead, our aim is to support space missions with their planning and scheduling tools needs. I also feel we are responsible to lead in developing the next-generation of planning and scheduling software tools. In order to do that, we need to both develop tools for existing missions and imbed ourselves in analog environments that aim to simulate deep space missions. As a lead scientist for Human-Automation-Robotic Integration, I get to guide and advise about the novel and future research that is required in this field to make deep exploration a collaboration between people and machines. YOU HAVE BEEN AWARDED AMONG OTHERS IN THE “20 MOST INFLUENTIAL LATINOS IN TECH” BY CNET EN ESPAÑOL. WHAT DOES THIS AWARD MEAN TO YOU? AND TELL US WHY YOU WERE CHOSEN? I was very surprised to be nominated as one of 20 most influential Latinos in Tech by CNET. It is humbling to be recognized so widely. Latinos and women in the United States are minorities in the field of STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics). Highlighting their representa-

tion in technology is valuable and wonderful to see. I know that this is an essential part of bringing in more women and Latinos into the field. I know that I was encouraged to continue pursuing engineering as a career by bright, thoughtful faculty throughout my time at Princeton and MIT, which included women and minorities. YOU HAVE RECENTLY RECEIVED THE “OUTSTANDING TECHNICAL CONTRIBUTION IN GOVERNMENT AWARD” AT THE 24TH ANNUAL WOMEN OF COLOR STEM CONFERENCE. CAN YOU EXPLAIN WHAT THIS AWARD MEANS AND WHAT IS THE WOMEN OF STEM CONFERENCE? The Women of STEM conference is a meeting that brings together women of color in STEM and engages them in professional development events. Being surrounded by women of all ages, of all backgrounds, of a variety of STEM careers, was very powerful. It is so rare to get to see that, and much less frequently, bring attention to the hard work we all do every day. The most special part of the conference is the award ceremony, where we all hear from everyone’s inspirational stories of success. The award recognizes the years of work at NASA Ames contributing to the next generation of planning and scheduling software tools for space missions. I am very grateful to be recognized for the work that I love to do. TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOUR PASSION FOR WORKING WITH NASA AND THE PROGRAMS YOU CONTRIBUTE? I often tell students the advice to “do what you are passionate about”. I wake up every day to go to work, go to meetings, answer emails- all the mundane things that most jobs have. However, I know I am lucky. Lucky to work in the field that I love. Lucky to work with amazing collaborators. Lucky that my job takes me to Mission Control, rocket launches to Mars, exploring volcanoes and underwater locales. Lucky that I get to learn about how astronauts train, what astronauts do in space every day, and how flight controllers manage the International Space Station. I am so very blessed to do what I love and to contribute to space exploration. WOULD YOU PLAN ON BECOMING AN ASTRONAUT SOME DAY? I would love to be an astronaut and to visit space someday. I have applied several times and while I have not been selected, I still hope that within my lifetime, space travel will be achievable by most.

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WHY START CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY PROJECTS?

ompanies were changed and transformed according to their needs, environment, situations, commitment to society, and even the planet. Over the past decade, we’ve heard more and more about corporate social responsibility (CSR) or business social responsibility (BSR). Companies have turned their look and philosophy to engaging more with their environment; however, they still face problems differentiating this way of running companies with philanthropy. When we speak of philanthropy, we refer to all social action towards a community developed externally or outside the company. While corporate social responsibility (CSR) focuses on the welfare of its stakeholders or interest groups (shareholders, employees, subcontractors, suppliers, consumers, communities, government, environment, among others) through practices basically linked to the business strategy. It’s understood that companies that promote and develop corporate social responsibility projects have a greater competitive advantage over those that, being in the same area, do not carry them out. To have a clearer picture, let’s analyze three important factors why CSR projects should be initiated: 1. Greater customer loyalty. Users have a better appreciation for companies that have good corporate practices such as taking their employees into account, focusing actions on social projects and concern for the environment, among others. With this, social responsibility becomes a contributing factor and, to some extent, guarantees consumer loyalty. 2. Brand and corporate image grows. Social responsibility practices generate a better perception in the public, position your image and recognition with an advantage over competition, which gives added value to the company and its businesses. Currently, companies with CSR initiatives and projects are rewarded, undoubtedly generating positive exposure to the public of the brand and/or company. 3. The sustainability of the business over time. One of the main concerns of a company will always be the sustainability of its business. Given this, corporate social responsibility practices tend to reduce problems and focus efforts on their operations and diversify the target audience laid out in the company’s business development strategy. A STAKEHOLDER IS ANY INDIVIDUAL OR ORGANIZATION THAT, IN SOME WAY, IS IMPACTED BY THE ACTIONS OF A CERTAIN COMPANY.

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LEADING &

INFLUENTIAL LATINAS GRACE PUMA

She leads the global operations center of excellence, global procurement, concentrates operations, safety and security and advanced manufacturing systems. Working across a complex operating environment that is evolving at a rapid pace, Grace is valued for her ability to find innovative solutions and build strong business relationships to meet the needs of customers and consumers. Recognized as a top female leader and Hispanic role-model, she is well-known for her ability to inspire and develop talent. Prior to joining PepsiCo, Grace was Chief Procurement Officer at United Airlines. She holds a B.A. in Business Administration and Economics from Illinois Benedictine University.

CYNTHIA HUDSON

KIMBERLY A. CASIANO

SVP AND GENERAL MANAGER OF CNN EN ESPAÑOL AND HISPANIC STRATEGY CNN/U.S.

Courtesy of Kimberly Casiano

MEMBER, BOARD OF DIRECTORS, FORD MOTOR COMPANY

Kimberly was elected to the Ford Motor Company board of directors in 2003. She serves on the audit committee, nominating and governance committee and sustainability and innovation committee. She is the first Hispanic woman to serve on a Fortune 100 top five corporate board. In 2011, Casiano was elected to the Mead Johnson Nutrition board of directors, a leading nutrition company for babies and children. In 2006, she was elected to the board of Mutual of America. She earned a bachelor’s degree in politics and Latin American studies from Princeton University in 1979, graduating magna cum laude, and obtained her MBA from Harvard Business School in 1981.

Courtesy of CNN

Courtesy of PepsiCo

EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT, GLOBAL OPERATIONS OF PEPSICO

Cynthia oversees all aspects of CNN’s Spanish-language media businesses, including newsgathering, editorial content, programming, production, operations and personnel, of the CNN en Español 24/7 television news networks, CnnEspañol.com and CNN en Español Radio. In the first quarter 2019, Hudson inaugurated CNN Radio Argentina, a radio network available in 120 cities and 23 provinces throughout Argentina. In 2017, Hudson was recognized by Fortune Magazine as one of the 50 Most Powerful Latinas running a leading global company. She was personally nominated for an International Emmy Award as Executive Producer of the documentary, A Trip with Fidel, which aired in over 35 countries around the world. bizrepublic.com

Biz LEADING & INFLUENTIAL LATINAS NINA VACA

Courtesy of Pinnacle Group

CHAIRMAN AND CEO, PINNACLE GROUP Nina founded Pinnacle Group in 1996 and has served as its Chairman and CEO for over two decades. What started as a one-woman IT staffing firm has grown into a workforce solutions powerhouse providing multiple service lines to industry leaders in the telecommunications, financial services, transportation, and technology industries. For her work in the community and business success

she’s received honorary doctorates from Northwood University, Mount Mary University, and Berkeley College. Over the years, Nina has supported organizations that improve the lives of disabled veterans, people experiencing homelessness, families of children battling cancer, women and children in domestic violence shelters, as well as students, parents, and teachers in Title I schools.

TATIANA OROZCO

Courtesy of Torozco Digital Marketing

FOUNDER, TOROZCODIGITAL MARKETING AGENCY

Bilingual professional and passionate entrepreneur who unites two worlds as a multicultural digital marketing consultant. In 2004, she founded TorozcoDigital, a digital marketing agency that focuses on helping Hispanic business owners grow and expand their sales, improve customer retention, and increase brand awareness through creative mar-

keting strategies. Ms. Orozco has 15 years of experience directing the creative and technical elements of integral marketing across various industries in the United States and Central and South America. She has also been an entrepreneurship program coach since 2018 at the Statewide Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of New Jersey.

ELISA D. GARCIA

Courtesy of Macy’s

CHIEF LEGAL OFFICER, MACY’S INC.

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Elisa Garcia is the Chief Legal Officer of Macy’s, Inc. and serves on the Board of Directors and as member of the Nominating and Governance Committee of Dollarama, Inc., a Canadian retailer with over 1100 stores. She is an accomplished C-Suite executive and attorney with over 30 years of experience advising management and boards of directors. Through her broad based ex-

perience in all aspects of international business and corporate law, Elisa has guided her clients through a myriad of business, governance and legal issues, government investigations, mergers and merger integration, international acquisitions and investments, debt refinancings, domestic and international labor issues and legislative and regulatory matters.

MÓNICA C. LOZANO

Courtesy College Futures Foundation

PRESIDENT & CEO, COLLEGE FUTURES FOUNDATION. FORMER CEO OF LA OPINION AND IMPREMEDIA Executive, adviser and leader widely respected with extensive experience in the fields of business, media, philanthropy and education. She was editor of La Opinión, the largest Spanish-language newspaper in the United States, and served as CEO of ImpreMedia and president of US Hispanic Media Inc. Previously, she was a Trustee of the

University of Southern California for more than 20 years and a member of the California State Board of Education. College Futures, a private foundation based in California that Monica has chaired since December 2017, works to help low-income students and others with underrepresentation obtain high school degrees.

RO RODRIGUEZ

Courtesy of The Home Depot

REGIONAL VICE PRESIDENT FOR THE NEW JERSEY METRO REGION, THE HOME DEPOT Ro Rodriguez began her career at The Home Depot, which she considers the most amazing company in the world, as a part-time cashier over 20 years ago and, since 2014, she is the regional vice president of the New Jersey Metro Region; turning her success story into a source of inspiration for future retail

industry leaders. She studied at Central Connecticut State University. Her vast, 23-year professional experience in retail sales and her invaluable bicultural experience have allowed her to participate in all aspects of the business, working with people of all levels within the world’s largest DIY retailer.

MIRIAM HERNANDEZ-KAKOL

Courtesy of David Neff

GLOBAL HEAD OF MANAGEMENT CONSULTING AT KPMG Miriam is a senior partner at KPMG. As global head of the Management Consulting practice, she plays a significant, strategic role in building and executing its strategy, and continuing the business’ double-digit growth momentum. As part of this role, she is responsible for swiftly driving initiatives and programs that impact KPMG’s relevance in the marketplace and ability to drive

new solutions – thus enhancing trust and accelerating growth. Her mandate includes driving KPMG’s global priority solutions of Powered and Connected enterprises. Before this role, she led the firm’s Global Customer and Operations practice, which is focused on delivering industry-specific solutions for the front and middle office challenges of Fortune 500 clients.

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Biz LEADING & INFLUENTIAL LATINAS MARY G. MARTINEZ

OWNER, HOME INSTEAD SENIOR CARE CHAIR OF THE BOARD, ALBUQUERQUE HISPANO CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

Courtesy of Albuquerque Hispano Chamber of Commerce

Mary has been in the senior care industry in New Mexico for 30 years. She is the owner of the Albuquerque Home Instead Senior Care franchise. As a gerontologist, she has consulted with hundreds of families regarding care of older family members. As a business woman she has been recognized as one of the Top 15 Women Business Owners in New Mexico, Top 20 Hispanic Women Business Owners, a Woman of Influence, a Leader in Diversity, Hispanic Small Business Owner of the Year, and Top 10 Best Places to Work. She is also very involved in the community having served, or currently serving, on the boards of Uniting New Mexicans Against Adult Abuse, the Hispano Chamber of Commerce, the Holman’s Autism Foundation, American Heart Association as well as the Lovelace Health Governing Board. Mary is a lifelong resident of Albuquerque who attended Albuquerque Public Schools and earned a bachelor’s degree in Sociology and Geron-

tology with Honors at New Mexico State University. Her research and work at NMSU’s Institute for Gerontological Research and Education created many partnerships and intergenerational programs in the Las Cruces community. She was invited to present her research at the annual Southwest Society on Aging conference as a Junior at NMSU. In returning to Albuquerque, Mary was recruited to the opening teams of two different assisted living facilities. Through this experience she met the original owner of Home Instead Senior Care. Meeting Joe Sanders opened the door for her to become a member of his management team and within a few years, the owner of the franchise. Twenty years later, the adventure continues. The landscape has changed but with the wonderful team of managers and caregivers, Home Instead Senior Care continues to be the premier home care agency in the Albuquerque metro area.

CARMEN CASTILLO

CHAIRWOMAN, BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE USHCC

Courtesy of USHCC

She was elected Chairwoman of the Board of Directors of the United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce in 2018. As Chairwoman, she drives the direction of the USHCC and advocates on behalf of the Hispanic business community. She is also the President and CEO of SDI International Corp., which she founded in Florida in 1992. The

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company provides its clients with fully scalable global, indirect procurement solutions for the tail-end, centered on Procure-to-Pay and Source-to-Pay. Carmen is hands-on with the overall coordination of company operations, global advertising, business development and marketing programs, along with proposal strategies and preparation.

ESPERANZA PORRAS-FIELD

Courtesy of Morris County Hispanic American Chamber of Commerce

FOUNDER & PRESIDENT EMERITUS, MORRIS COUNTY HISPANIC AMERICAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE Mrs. Porras-Field is a graduate of Saint Peter’s University of Jersey City. Social & Political Science, University of Chicago Graduate School of Business, Executive Education Programs, Notre Dame University. Series Business Programs, Bryant College of Rhode Island, Designed of Training Programs, Dale Carnegie, Public Speaking, Business School, Rutgers University, Department of Government Services; Planning, Realtors National Marketing Institute: Real Estate Brokerage Council; Montclair University; Sammons Communications Inc.; and Connecticut School of Broadcasting. She is a Broker Sales Associate with Coldwell Banker Realtors, a member of the North Jersey Association of Realtors, award winner of the President’s Club and Multi-Million Dollar Club, and a member of the National Association of Realtors. In addition, Mrs. Porras-Field managed her own company, HopeSeasons, LLC. Dedicated to small business and training development. She is a savvy business professional with more than 40 years’ experience. She utilizes traditional marketing with new and innovative methods to assist her customers.

Mrs. Porras-Field has dedicated herself to her customers and consistently goes above and beyond for her customer’s needs. Mrs. Porras-Field has offered her support, love and dedication to the Chamber of Commerce premise. Mrs. Porras-Field is the founder and President Emeritus of the Morris County Hispanic-American Chamber of Commerce and has been instrumental in the founding and development of many other Chambers of Commerce. Co-Founder of the Toronto Hispanic Chamber, National Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Health, and the Public & Private Alliance Foundation of the Dominican Republic. She is a former member the Board of Directors of the United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and Foundation and was the Chair of the 2006 National/International Convention & Business Expo. As a member of the Board of Directors, she was the spokeswoman at the XV Congress del Comercio de Detallistas de las Americas in Argentina representing the United States. Her involvement and dedication to the community is highly recognized.

ROSA RAMOS-KWOK

MANAGING DIRECTOR, JPMORGAN CHASE & CO.

Courtesy of HITEC

Rosa Ramos-Kwok joins JPMorgan Chase & Co. as the Head of Technology Risk & Control. She comes to the firm as a dynamic and results oriented Technology Executive with 30+ years held in global roles such as Software Development, Technology Infrastructure Management, Testing, Technology Risk Management, Governance, and

Production Management. Rosa comes to the firm from Bank of America as the Managing Director, Senior Business Executive, Global Technology and Operations. She was identified as one of the Top 10 Female Engineers in the US in Business Insider, one of the top 50 Latina’s in Corporate America (ALPFA and Fortune), and one of the 100 Most Influential Hispanics in Technology (HITEC).

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Biz LEADING & INFLUENTIAL LATINAS CLAUDIA ROMO EDELMAN

Courtesy of Claudia Romo Edelman

FOUNDER AND SPECIAL ADVISER, WE ARE ALL HUMAN FOUNDATION

Claudia is an advocate for the inclusion equity and representation. Her mission is to use her voice to build bridges and remind us that we are all human. She is a Special Adviser for the We Are All Human Foundation; she is also the Co-Host of ‘Global GoalsCast’, a podcast distributed by CBS News Digital, which highlights global progress through the sto-

ries of champions making a difference. Claudia is the Editor at Large of Thrive Global and Editor in Chief of Thrive Hispanics. Prior to this, the Mexican-Swiss diplomat was seconded to the Executive Office of the Secretary-General of the United Nations, to lead communications and advocacy for the Sustainable Development Goals.

ELIZABETH CHALAS BERMAN

Courtesy of Continental Food and Beverage Inc

PRESIDENT AND CEO, CONTINENTAL FOOD AND BEVERAGE INC. (CF&B) Elizabeth is Latina of Dominican origin, president of the exclusive bottler of the Inca Kola brand for The Coca Cola Co., and was awarded in 2019 with The Best 50 Women in Business award by NJBIZ business newspaper. Ms. Berman graduated with a B.A. in Education from Caldwell College and completed her post-graduate work at City University of New York, Hunter College. She is a 2011 Graduate of New York University’s Stern School of Business Berkley Center for Entrepreneurial Studies’ Executive Education Program. For more than a decade she has participated and sponsored humanitarian missions throughout Latin America. Before joining CF&B, Elizabeth spent fifteen years teaching English as a second language in the Passaic City school system. During that time, she served on the Executive Board of the Passaic Education Association and was the District Chair of the New Jersey Education Association Annual Convention. Ms. Berman is Director of Region V of the United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (USHCC) and

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an active delegated member of the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC). Among her many recognitions within the local and national Hispanic business community, Ms. Berman was the recipient of the USHCC Latina Award in 2009, was awarded the 2011 Entrepreneur of the Year by the Statewide Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of New Jersey, 2009 Business Woman of the Year by the NYSFHCC, 2008 Women of Excellence by the NY Women’s Chamber of Commerce, and ImpreMedia El Diario’s 2007 Latina Award. In January 2013, Ms Berman received a Senate Recognition from NJ State Senator Robert Menendez and The Save Latin America Organization for her outstanding and valuable service to the community. In November 2014, The Ford Motor Company honored Ms. Berman with the Mujer Legendaria De Ford Award, recognizing her as one of the 22 Million Exceptional Latinas in the United States that are making a difference in the workforce, household, environment and community.

FAST, ACCURATE & AFFORDABLE MAXIMIZE YOUR TAX RETURNS OUR COMPANY HAS BEEN COMMITTED TO GENERATIONS.

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Biz REAL ESTATE NAHREP NORTH NEW JERSEY CHAPTER

MORE AND MORE HISPANIC HOMEOWNERS IN THE US

he role of the nearly 60 million Hispanics in the United States real estate market is increasingly prominent. Hispanics are, today, the only demographic group that grows steadily in terms of home ownership in the country. In 2016, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, there were 7,339,000 households (46.0%) in the United States whose owner was Hispanic, a figure that in 2017 increased to 7,515,000 (46.2%) and in 2018 reached 7,877,000 households (47.1%). Urban Institute has predicted that the percentage of people who own their home will increase slightly among Hispanics until 2030. “The Hispanic real estate market in New Jersey and the United States is tremendous and more and more homeowners in the country are Hispanic. They are the strongest workers around,” said Al Perez, vice president of Jersey Mortgage Company and vice president of NAHREP North New Jersey Chapter “The housing sector is going through a moment of transformation, and the growth in home ownership by the Hispanic community is a central part of this phenomenon,” said Brien McMahon, senior executive vice president and franchise director of Radian, a key partner of NAHREP since 2013, during the 2019 NAHREP National Convention in San Diego. However, there are in the country and, in particular in New Jersey, a series of myths surrounding the purchase of houses, which often discourage Hispanic families from taking the first step and prevent them, due to lack of information and professional advice, from realizing the American dream of owning a home. Many are unaware, for example, that a mortgage loan can be paid for up to 30 years, that interest rates are relatively low, you only need two years of

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employment to be approved and that a home can be purchased with 3, 5% down (with $ 3,500 you can finance a small house of $100,000). In fact, even an undocumented immigrant can buy a house or be approved for a mortgage loan in the United States if he or she has a Personal Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) and if he or she has a salary that can cover the mortgage; in addition to other documents that aren’t too difficult to gather. There are mortgage banks and credit unions that can approve their loan. NAHREP North New Jersey Chapter has

precisely the mission of debunking these myths that surround the dream of home ownership, training and empowering Hispanic real estate agents and, in parallel, educating and informing Hispanic homebuyers to move forward together in the process of buying their first home. This institution, a proud defender of homeownership in the Hispanic community of northern New Jersey (Bergen, Passaic, Hudson, Morris, Sussex, Essex, Warren and the surrounding area), offers community outreach, industry educational and business networking events thanks to the contributions of its board of directors, members and sponsors.

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Biz GASTRONOMY IRINA CONCEPCIÓN HERRERA, INTERNATIONAL CHEF AND CULINARY ARTS TEACHER

PERSEVERANCE, SOCIAL COMMITMENT... AND PASSION FOR QUINOA

“W

ho does not live to serve, does not serve to live,” is a famous phrase attributed to Mother Teresa of Calcutta and which Pope Francis frequently repeats in his homilies around the world. This phrase has deeply impacted the life of Irina Concepción Herrera, International chef who one day is preparing sophisticated dishes for the most demanding palates in Washington, DC, and the following week is at the other end of the continent, in the Southern Hemisphere, surrounded by humble mothers in soup kitchens, supporting social initiatives by the Peruvian Government to fight poverty and child malnutrition. Or maybe, we can find her teaching culinary arts in events sponsored by the OAS to empower women of the Shipibo-Konibo Amazonian ethnic group. For her, serving and teaching is a way of life and she’s willing to go anywhere in the world to fulfill her vocation. With nearly 30 years of experience, Irina is a specialist in criolla, novoandina, and Mediterranean food. Born in Trujillo (Peru), she studied culinary arts in her native country and Spain and has been recognized for her work in promoting Peruvian and Latin American cuisine through keynote talks, cooking workshops and conferences at culinary fairs across the United States, Spain, the Netherlands, Mexico and Italy. She’s been a speaker at some of the best universities in Latin America, an ambassador of “Quinoa Fusion”, and a promoter of quinoa, the “golden grain of the Incas”, at culinary events, on television programs and at culinary summits like Madrid Fusion. Her mentor, Spanish Chef Martín Berasategui, who has been cooking for more than 44 years and has no fewer than twelve Michelin stars and owns 15 restaurants spread across Spain, Mexico. and the Dominican Republic, once described

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Irina Herrera as “one of the biggest” defending Peru, its culture and gastronomy. “With people like Irina you can achieve what you have never been able to dream of,” Berasategui said long ago while highlighting the perseverance of the Peruvian chef who, with the humility she learned at home, appears one day on Spanish television and days later on Telemundo, sharing her culinary secrets and proudly sharing the ingredients that have made her country memorable. As Irina, “we must never have fear, laziness or shame” in achieving our objectives, said Chef Berasategui. Irina collaborated with 31 other influential chefs (some of them Michelin-star chefs) in gourmet cookbook Quinoa Five Continents, presented in New York (2015), and translated into several languages. The book was awarded the second ‘World’s Best Foreign Gourmet Cookbook’ at the Gourmand CookBook Awards, recognized as the Oscar awards for culinary arts literature. Precisely, Irina told Biz Republic that the cookbook is, “a true legacy for the new generations. It was through teamwork that involved many people and it contains in its pages perseverance, social commitment, passion and above all, love and gratitude for our Quinoa producers, the Andean gold grain, which safeguards the world from hunger”. Irina “is an optimistic, creative, strong, active, and fighting woman, with great social sensitivity. For her, the important thing is the taste, aromas, and new fusion techniques of the Andean grain quinoa with the world’s various cuisines. She admires the cuisine of Chema Isidro and Martín Berasategui, whom she considers as references”. That’s how Spanish television channel Antena 3 described her on their website in 2014. The Irina Concepción that opened family restaurant “La Finca de Perú” in the small and hot city of Catacaos, in the Peruvian region of Piura, almost

three decades ago, is the same gentle, enterprising, and dynamic woman who today spends her days between Madrid and New York; between Lima and any other place in Latin America, giving talks, offering workshops for boys and girls, and participating in gastronomic events, teaching and maybe even learning For her distinguished work as an international chef, culinary arts teacher, tireless advocate of the properties of quinoa and cultural and culinary ambassador of her country, Rafael Ansón Oliart, president of the Royal Academy of Spanish Gastronomy and the Ibero-American Academy of Gastronomy, awarded her in 2015. Irina Concepción considers it a privilege to have been invited by Ferrán Adrià, from Camilo José Cela University, to learn about her gastronomic work. She also remembers her first encounter with Basque cuisine master Martín Berasategui: “He loved the taste and dishes of Peruvian cuisine, which he tasted from my hands, and discovered the love I transmitted in them.” The captivating story of Irina Herrera has been included in 51 Peruanas in Spain, Testimonies of Success, a book where the chef tells how she arrived in Spain in 2009 and had to relocate to a new way of life, very different from what she lived in Peru; in addition to facing discrimination from her own community. “Finally, with much effort and the help of Spaniards, I achieved the goal that I had set myself,” she says in the book. Finally, it should be noted that Irina Concepción Herrera has participated throughout her career as an ambassador chef for the ‘Restaurants Against Hunger’ campaign, an initiative created and promoted by Action Against Hunger as a humanitarian organization that has fought the causes and effects of hunger in about 50 countries for more than 40 years. bizrepublic.com

JOVITA CARRANZA, A LATINA IN CHARGE OF THE SBA After serving as 44th Treasurer of the United States, Jovita Carranza, born into a Mexican family, became the first Hispanic woman in charge of a government agency under President Donald Trump after assuming the direction of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), an entity that helps small business owners and entrepreneurs pursue the American dream. She previously served as an assistant to the SBA leadership during the term of George W. Bush. Jovita Carranza, MBA from the University of Miami, began as a part-time employee at UPS, then was promoted to the president of Latin American and Caribbean Operations and vice president of Air Operations. “I’ve been blessed with the opportunity to achieve the American Dream. I will work with President Trump’s Administration, Members of Congress, and SBA’s dedicated professionals to continue building on this success and help make that dream a reality for others”, said Carranza.

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JBJ SOUL KITCHEN OPENS NEW RESTAURANT IN RUTGERS-NEWARK JBJ Soul Kitchen, the solidarity-oriented, pay-it-forward restaurant chain for low-income people, owned by legendary rock singer Jon Bon Jovi, opened a new restaurant, this time on the campus of Rutgers-Newark University (RU-N). In attendance for the opening were, in addition to Bon Jovi and his wife Dorothea, New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy and New Jerseyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s First Lady Tammy Murphy, among others. At Rutgers-Newark University, 60% of students have experienced food insecurity and more than 50% have an outstanding financial need. Those who do not have money to pay for the healthy and delicious meals served at JBJ Soul Kitchen, eat the same, in exchange for volunteering at the restaurant. In 2014 and 2016, the first JBJ Soul Kitchen restaurants were opened in New Jersey, in Red Bank and Toms River, where to date more than 100,000 meals have been served.

EMILIO ESTEFAN, MOST INFLUENTIAL HISPANIC OF THE DECADE The legendary Cuban musician and producer Emilio Estefan received Most Influential Hispanic of the Decade Award during the mega party Salute To Hispanics in Sports and Entertainment, an event organized by Continental Food and Beverage Inc./Inca Kola USA in the framework of Super Bowl Week on Tuesday, January 28th, aboard the SeaFair Mega Yacht, docked in Downtown Miami. Also awarded at the busy ceremony hosted by Elizabeth and Randall Berman, president & CEO and Chief Operating Officer of Continental Food and Beverage Inc./Inca Kola USA, were Aroldis Chapman, Star Pitcher for the NY Yankees, with the Hispanic Athlete of the Year Award; and Tom Flores, Oakland Raiders Head Coach, with the Hispanic Lifetime Achievement Award; Gus Machado, of Gus Machado Ford Inc., with the Hispanic Living Legend Award; and Nely Galan, founder of The Adelante Movement, with the Hispanic Leadership Award.

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Biz CLICK NEW YORK: “NO HATE IN OUR STATE” Governor Andrew M. Cuomo proposed as part of his FY 2021 Executive Budget an additional $25 million in security grant funding for organizations vulnerable to hate crimes. The Governor also proposed expanding eligibility for these security grants to include houses of worship. The Governor made these announcements at the inaugural “No Hate In Our State” security grants conference at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in Manhattan, where he convened over 600 community leaders and clergy as well as state public safety officials and security experts to discuss best practices to keep communities safe and access grant funding.

LEADERS MEET AT LARIO’S ON THE BEACH Cid Wilson, President and CEO of the Hispanic Association on Corporate Responsibility (HACR), dined at the restaurant Lario’s on the Beach, owned by Emilio and Gloria Estefan in Miami Beach (Florida), in an event attended by corporate, cultural, and community leaders to discuss the power of the growing Latino economy and its impact as the new dominant economic population. Also in attendance were, among others, music icon Emilio Estefan; William Lewis, CEO of Dow Jones & Co.; César Conde, Chairman of NBC Universal International Group; Almar Latour, Publisher and Executive Vice President of Barron’s Group; business leader and visionary Sol Trujillo; and Jorge A. Plasencia, Chairman and CEO of República Havas.

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CHEF JOSÉ ANDRÉS PROMOTES OLIVES IN SAN FRANCISCO January 28th, ‘Have an Olive Day’ organized a delicious event at the emblematic Ferry Building in San Francisco with the support of the European Union and in collaboration with Spanish Chef Jose Andres, ambassador of the project. The event was the finishing touch to a three-year campaign that was based on highlighting the versatility and benefits of European olives in the United States. The campaign, which previously stopped in Chicago, Los Angeles, Philadelphia and New York City, made its final stop in San Francisco. The renowned Northern California city, known for its innovative, vibrant and artisanal food culture, served as an ideal location to play host.

CCSNJ ANNUAL LEGISLATIVE RECEPTION The Chamber of Commerce of Southern New Jersey, whose president and CEO is Christina M. Renna, held its Annual Legislative Reception at Adelphia Restaurant in one of the institution’s flagship events attended by Senate President of New Jersey, Steve Sweeney; the leader of the majority of the New Jersey General Assembly, Lou Greenwald; and other prominent members of the South Jersey Legislative Delegation. Political, business and community leaders agreed on the need to consolidate the economic prosperity and dynamism of southern New Jersey at the annual networking event.

AMERICAN AIRLINES: NEW CHIEF INCLUSION AND DIVERSITY OFFICER American Airlines announced that Kenneth Charles has been named the airline’s Chief Inclusion and Diversity Officer. In this new role, Charles will lead American’s global inclusion and diversity strategies. This includes establishing the company’s Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion to ensure best practices are implemented across all aspects of American’s people and business processes. American has taken a number of steps to strengthen its inclusion and diversity practices. These include implementing both computer-based and in-person implicit bias training for all 130,000 team members and creating a specialized team to listen to, resolve and learn from customer feedback. bizrepublic.com

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USHCC: NEW VICE PRESIDENT OF GOVERNMENT AND INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS C. LeRoy Cavazos-Reyna, a native of the Rio Grande Valley, has been named the Vice President of Government and International Affairs for the United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (USHCC). As part of the senior management team, he will lead the USHCCâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s non-partisan policy and political efforts before the United States Congress and other agencies within the Federal Government that support the Hispanic business community and population. Furthermore, he will evolve business development for our members in other countries with a concentration in Latin America as well as expand the diplomatic relationships of the USHCC. The USHCC actively promotes the economic growth, development, and interests of more than 4.37 million Hispanic-owned businesses, that combined, contribute over $700 billion to the American economy every year.

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OAS AND AT&T BOOST DIGITAL EDUCATION IN THE AMERICAS The Inter-American Telecommunications Commission (CITEL) of the Organization of American States (OAS) and AT&T Latin America today signed an agreement to promote digital education programs together in schools in the Americas. The program will be implemented initially in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Uruguay and Puerto Rico.

The OAS Secretary General, Luis Almagro, said the business sector is a key partner in promoting development policies. For his part, the Vice President of External and Regulatory Affairs of AT&T, Karim Lesina, stressed the importance of the partnership with the OAS to expand digital education in lower resource sectors. The initiative is part of the ICT 2030 Alliance, one of whose objectives is that all public schools in the Americas be connected to the Internet by 2030.

INTERNATIONAL PSYCHIC HANDS OUT AWARD IN MIAMI The Cuban-American mentalist and clairvoyant Rolando Baute, recognized in the Latin world as a spiritual consultant for famous professionals ranging from artists, athletes and politicians, was the host of a busy ceremony on Saturday, January 25th, at the Rinconcito Paisa restaurant in Miami (Florida), where he presented the Arcangel Dorado International Award to distinguished personalities in recognition of their social work at the service of the Latino community.

NEW PRESIDENT OF NAHREP NORTH NEW JERSEY For the first time in history, a non-Hispanic woman, Maria Gesualdi, was named president of the National Association of Hispanic Real Estate Professionals (NAHREP) North Jersey Chapter, at a ceremony held at Palisadium, in Cliffside Park. New Jersey’s Governor Phil Murphy considered necessary a “special recognition and congratulations” to the incoming president Maria Gesualdi and to the director of Government Affairs, Ana Martell. “I applaud you both for your commitment to support and serve the needs of NAHREP members and our communities as a whole,” said the governor of the Garden State.

PRESIDENT TRUMP HANDS OUT AUTOGRAPHS AT THE WHITE HOUSE During the signing ceremony of the United States-Mexico-Canada Trade Agreement (USMCA), on Friday, January 29th, President Donald Trump devoted some time to sign autographs for some of the attendees. The president even put his autograph on the cowboy hat of one of the guests at the ceremony, held at the White House’s South Portico.

A COACH AND PIONEER WOMAN AT THE SUPER BOWL A wonderfully inspiring story. The female role at the 54th Super Bowl edition of the 100-year NFL was not only captured by Jennifer Lopez and Shakira. Katie Sowers, 33, was also in the media grand finale of American football. She stepped on the Hard Rock Stadium lawn as the first female assistant offensive coach for the San Francisco 49ers.

“I never thought I had a chance in American football because I had never seen a coach before. People tell me that the players are not prepared to have a woman leading them, but these boys have learned from women all their lives: mothers, grandmothers, teachers ...” said Katie Sowers, who long ago was rejected as a women’s basketball coach in the private university Goshen College for being homosexual.

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VP PENCE GRABS SOME FAST-FOOD IN IOWA During a bus campaign that began in Sioux City and ended in Des Moines (Iowa), last Thursday, January 30th, U.S. Vice President Mike Pence stopped in Council Bluffs to eat a hamburger and chat with the guests at Culver’s restaurant. The fast-food workers served the Vice President and surprised by his presence, asked him to for pictures to commemorate his visit. Of course, Pence gladly accepted. The Vice President’s trip ended that night, along with Donald Trump, at a busy campaign rally at Drake University.

LATINOS 40 UNDER 40 IN NEW YORK Hispanic business publication “Business Now” recognized “40 Latinos Under 40” in New York at Copacabana Times Square, highlighting the leadership of Latino youth in the metropolitan area of the city of skyscrapers. The 40 winners were selected after a nomination period of more than four months. They belong to different industries ranging from business, corporations, government, nonprofit organizations, the fashion industry and education, among other fields. The Hispanic Alliance for Career Enhancement (HACE), Association of Latinos Professionals For America of New York (ALPFA), New York State Coalition of Hispanic Chambers of Commerce, Hispanic Federation and Univision New York participated in the nomination. Among the winners were Hope M. Field (Senior Manager, Latin Affairs, The Coca-Cola Company), Christina Field (Senior Fashion Designer, Pink Chicken New York), Almaris Acin (Vice President at JPMorgan Chase), Gonzalo Adriazola (Global Strtegy Consultant at Accenture), Rafael Bello (Univision Anchor), Carol Sofia Aguire (NYC Department of Education), Lucy Pinto (Diversity Programs Design Manager, Google Inc.), and Camila Turrieta (JetBlue Airway Pilot), among others.

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NASA ASTRONAUT’S RECORDSETTING MISSION HELPS SCIENTISTS FOR FUTURE MISSIONS NASA astronaut Christina Koch returned to Earth on Thursday, Feb. 6, after 328 days living and working aboard the International Space Station. Her mission is the longest single spaceflight by any woman, which is helping scientists gather data for future missions to the Moon and Mars. Koch returned to Earth alongside ESA (Eu-

ropean Space Agency) astronaut Luca Parmitano and Russian cosmonaut Alexander Skvortsov. She has been a crew member for three expeditions – 59, 60 and 61 – during her first spaceflight. She now holds the record for the second-longest single spaceflight by a U.S. astronaut, which places her seventh on the list of U.S. space travelers for overall time in space.

COACH LAUNCHES A NEW COLLECTION OF FOOTWEAR Coach announces the launch of Coach CitySole, an innovative new footwear collection that merges the house’s fashion authority with leading technology to increase comfort and flexibility and minimize impact and weight. Conceived fashion-first but built for function, Coach CitySole is designed to empower individuals to live life their own way. Made for those with a modern, on-the-go lifestyle and an unapologetically practical approach to style, the shoes debut in Coach’s Spring 2020 campaign, worn by global faces of the house Jennifer Lopez and Michael B. Jordan. The collection offers three sneaker styles which fuse the codes of American sportswear with Coach’s proprietary CitySole technology. Coach is a global design house of modern luxury leather goods, apparel, footwear, fragrance, eyewear and a full range of lifestyle accessories. Founded in 1941, Coach has a longstanding reputation built on quality craftsmanship and is defined by its confident New York style.

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Biz INSPIRING

TOLERANT, STRIVING FOR RENEWAL, ENDLESSLY OPTIMISTIC AND INCLUSIVE

NEW YORK REPRESENTS THE BEST OF AMERICA BY JENNIE MATTHEW Correspondent — Agence France-Presse (AFP) starting a posting in Paris after five years in New York City. Previous postings in Middle East, South Asia, Africa.

he first time I grabbed lunch in New York, I was yelled at. Back then, I was embarrassed, apologetic and intimidated. By the time I left, I was yelling myself. New York does that to people. At the time, I was “fresh off the boat” or more precisely fresh off a flight after 10 years living in the Middle East, Africa, and South Asia, and amazed by everything. I stood in line at the deli during the lunchtime crush and counted 27 different varieties of egg sandwich. 27. ‘Bloody hell,’ I thought, wondering how anyone could splice, dice and mix egg 27 ways. My mind blank, I failed to rattle off my order the split second the server turned to me. “Hey, make up your mind or get out of line!” yelled the guy behind the counter. I got out of line, shuffled off and never went back. Five years later, I’m leaving New York as impatient as the next straphanger. Having to wait more than a few seconds at the lights, the indignity of a tourist dawdling on the sidewalk or the provincial hideousness of not being able to get precisely the right size in uber-over-priced yoga pants at the click of a mouse can reduce me to spluttering outrage. When I lived in Sudan and Pakistan, people back home would react with pity. The second I moved to New York, everything changed. Friends and family I hadn’t seen in years suddenly came flocking, drawn to what is one of the most high-octane cities in the world, with a glamour, chutzpah and adrenaline that make everywhere else look shabby, backward and agonizingly slow. Even for a nervous flier such as myself, the descent over Manhattan’s glittering skyline never gets old. The wastelands of the New Jersey turnpike are instantly transformed when Freedom Tower, the building that symbolizes resilience, built on the World Trade Center site after the 9/11 attacks, shimmers into view. New York is a city on speed. In the city that never sleeps, loitering is a waste of time -

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AFP / Timothy A. Clary

perhaps the worst sin of all. Time is money, there’s always a million things to do and never enough time to do it all. Traffic light has just turned red? Make a sprint for it. Subway car too crowded? Simply get on, shove forward and yell at everyone to back up. You may be a nobody, but you’re sharing the most crowded US real estate with some of the richest, most talented, most successful people on the planet. When I first arrived, Robert de Niro shot a film round the corner. There was brief excitement of frequenting the same burger joint as famed British writer Martin Amis (never saw him). A view of New York City to the east from the 75th floor of 432 Park Avenue.

Later moving to Harlem, my bus stop was 110th Street -- as in the Bobby Womack song. Up the road was the Apollo Theatre, launch boat of a thousand careers. Even I, one of the least go-outy people in the city, have rubbed shoulders at parties with the likes of Naomi Campbell (stunning), Donatella Versace (creepy) and Lady Gaga (tiny). Anna Wintour has more than once appeared to fix her frosty gaze on my exceedingly unfashionable green puffer coat. To skeptical, anti-American types, I retort that New York represents the best of America. Tolerant, striving for renewal, endlessly optimistic and inclusive -- a place where Hebrew and Arabic are spoken in the same subway car, and little old grannies tolerate deafening rap music. It’s a city of constant regeneration. A gateway for immigrants for generations, you can grab an Israeli breakfast, Yemeni for lunch and get Chinese delivered to your apartment for dinner.

Timothy A. Clary/AFP/Getty Images

During my assignment, Eid al-Fitr and Lunar New Year were introduced as school holidays; Jewish high holidays have been such for years. My Indian neighbors put up a chocolate advent calendar in the lobby, the girl next door kept a queer-women-feminist holiday wreath. Menorahs, not just Christmas trees, grace almost every public building

come December. My (British) accent rarely elicits comment, you’re accepted into a melting pot where millions come from somewhere else and that “else” is never as important as being in New York in the first place. As corny as it sounds, it makes you more accepting. No longer do I assume when someone references a partner they mean a) their business associate or b) a member of the opposite sex. It can also made you more strident, #MeToo zeal opening my eyes to inequalities that I once shrugged off as “life”. After stints covering wars in Iraq, Afghanistan and Syria and for years self-conscious if my backside wasn’t covered, I now barely notice crotch-skimming shorts in summer and think nothing of No Pants Subway rides. The kinetic energy of sharing a tiny land mass with so many brilliant people encourages you to be more go-getting, fitter, slimmer, more informed, cooler and instills you with a desire to be richer. New York has been a convergence of my past lives. There’s a branch of my favorite Jerusalem sandwich spot, Afghan kebab joints, Greek-speaking restaurateurs, fine art auctioneers out from London, Syrian refugees taken around Central Park and treated to a taste of pizza by a tour guide. It was in New York that I saw Abu Hamza, the bane of the British tabloids, sentenced to life in prison, albeit after the unflinchingly fair female judge offered him a donut. In New York, where I saw Hillary Clinton anointed the first woman presidential nominee of a major party, where I watched a shell-shocked Donald Trump claim victory in the 2016 election before a room full of drunken, frat-style supporters. If the American Dream, however hard, still lives and thrives in New York, like most things American that look shiny on the surface, not everything that glitters is gold. The subway is in full-blown crisis, never will I miss the awful crushing commute and yes I have seen human excrement on the platform. It’s a slave to all things money, eye-wateringly, at times prohibitively expen-

A woman is reflected in the mirrored walls at the World Financial Center in Lower Manhattan’s Battery Park City.

AFP / Timothy A. Clary

Traders on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange.

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Confetti is showered during celebrations for the opening of New Yorks newest neighborhood, Hudson Yards. (Timothy A. Clary/ AFP/Getty Images

sive. Increasingly only the super rich can thrive in Manhattan, the rest of us forced to make long commutes from outer districts. Chronic homelessness, the opioid crisis, racial divides in healthcare, education and housing, somehow never get enough attention. I splurged my life savings on the down payment for an apartment you can barely swing a cat in, and even then had to rent out my bedroom from time to time to afford luxuries I once took for granted. Recycling is light years behind Europe. Trash piled up on muggy nights whiffs like the beach in Gaza or a sewer in Baghdad. Roads are strewn with potholes. Perhaps the only thing Democrats and Republicans agree on are New York’s “thirdworld” airports.

People commute by bicycle over the Brooklyn Bridge to Manhattan. (Johannes EISELE / AFP)

My five years has seen a depressing cycle of dead celebrities, not from natural causes, but drug overdoses and suicides. In 2014, a black father of six died after police put him in a chokehold for selling illegal cigarettes. If the city is endlessly stimulating, it can be utterly maddening. There are few other places in the world where you have to open the window or whack on the a/c when it’s snowing because the building won’t turn down the Sahara-level of central heating. New York officialdom exists on a constant, seat-of-your pants kind of panic. In summer, you’re assailed with warnings about dangerous heat. When it rains, flash flood alerts drone on your cell phone. In winter, apocalyptic warnings of looming snow-maggedon provoke stockpiling and binge watching. The last two years have been scarred by the collective nervous breakdown of liberal America, still shocked, angst-ridden and disbelieving that Trump is president of what they and the rest of Americans consider the greatest country on earth. What lurks under the surface, yet so rarely acknowledged is that he’s one of them. Like it or not, he’s a New Yorker, the ultimate personification of its 1980s brash. Trump’s ascendancy has been the ultimate slap in the face for the Manhattan elite who snubbed the tycoon over his trashy divorces, casino meltdowns and bankruptcy scandals. His vision of America is the antithesis of what collective New York stands for. His pronouncements send elected representatives, chat show hosts, actors and musicians into a tizzy. Even Wall Street is nervous. A city so large and so powerful in a decentralized America is largely shielded from federal incursions. The tourists still flock. Broadway’s doing better than ever and most problems predate the Trump administration. Yet even here, immigrant round-ups have become reality. Thousands of undocumented workers live in a parallel universe. Hatred is on the rise. In a city where, at 13

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percent, the Jewish population is the largest outside Israel, synagogues have been vandalized. When I tell US friends that New York and America will survive Trump, they seem unsure, the American exceptionalism and legendary confidence now profoundly frayed. As I leave, what I’ll remember most are the ordinary New Yorkers I have met, dazzling in their diversity, and giants I have reported on. Scions of the American dream, designers like Ralph Lauren or Tommy Hilfiger, Microsoft magnate Bill Gates, whose hotel bathroom was bigger than my apartment. Or the straight-out-of-the-movies defense

lawyers, the toiling migrant workers living in the shadows just to give their children a better life. Above all, New York puts you in your place. King of the world one minute, chewed up and spat out the next. There’s nothing more brutal than slumming it home on the subway after bumping into Rihanna at a party, interviewing a 20-something composer about his new musical or have a baby-faced millionaire step over you at Christie’s after dropping more money on a piece of art than you’ll earn in a lifetime. Even then, it’s still the best place I’ve ever lived or probably will live.

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