Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Metro Orlando
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Where Diversity Means
BUSINESS Working toward building solid partnerships with minority-based business, community leaders, and organizations. Visit www.minoritybusiness.wdwpublicaffairs.com for more information.
2 | Walt Visi贸n of Commerce Metro Orlando The DisneyHispanic Company Chamber and its subsidiaries and of affiliated companies are equal opportunity employers. We draw creativity from diversity. 漏Disney 2011
P.15
By Rafael Gerena
By Teresa Jacobs
P.8
P.18
New Business Opportunities For Florida
content
P.7 Panama Canal’s Expansion
Doing Business With Central Florida Why Is This The Place For You And Your Business
Identity Theft
Protecting Your Intellectual Property
Don’t Be A Victim
Trade Secrets and Information Protection Resources
By Ronnie Febles
By Yasmin Tirado-Chiodini
P.11
P.19
Managing Your Career
The Immigrant Investors Act
Your 2011 Strategy
P.24
Show Me The Money
The Mystery of “Stress”
Financing Small Business in 2011
Protect Yourself Against It
By Robert J. Goetz
By Joseph Noecker
P.13
Mobile Productivity Office On The Go
July 2011
P.12
By Scot A. Silzer & Camila Pachon
Issue #7
By Newland Associates Goup, Inc.
EB5 Update
P.25
Dr. Phillips Center
Impacting The Community
By Joshua Johnson
Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Metro Orlando
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editorial team Diana Bolivar
Tony Lagos
Giorgina Pinedo-Rolon
Pam Ledford
Editor in Chief
Rollins College
Gio Communications Inc.
Seminole State College of Florida
Iancarlo Suárez
Martiza Martinez
Rosalina Stober
Hernan Tagliani
Creative & Art Director
University Of Central Florida
Hispanic Business Initiative Fund
The Group Advertising
Robert Newland
Angel Aviles
Joshua Johnson
Lizette Valarino
Newland Associates Group, Inc
Conrad Santiago, CFP, MSFS/Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc.
CourseMob
The Idea Factory
Marilen Marnett Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
HCCMO staff Ramón Ojeda
Diana Bolivar
President
Vice President
Marilen Marnett Events & Operations Manager
Luisa Garcia
Iancarlo Suárez
Administrative Assistant
Graphic Design & Social Media Coordinator
Christine Peña Marketing & Sales Coordinator
Yuitxa Ramírez Veintidós Office Coordinator
HCCMO board members Executive Board Antonio L. Caravia
Maritza Martinez
Chair Exterior Walls, Inc
Chair-Elect University of Central Florida
Tanya Easterling Secretary Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida Central Region
Luz B. Aviles Treasurer OUC: The Reliable One
Janet E. Martinez Legal Advisor Janet E. Martinez, P.A.
Board of Directors Carlos Castro
Yasmin Tirado-Chiodini
Lucas Boyce
Chad Brandt
Ex-Officio Tirado-Chiodini, PL
Director Orlando Magic
HBIF Representative Colombo, Hurd & Brandt, P.L.
Director Walt Disney World Co.
Jose Cerda
Kari E. Conley
Leticia M. Diaz
David J. Maxon
Director State Farm Insurance
Director Orlando Health
Director Barry University School of Law
Director Progress Energy
Karla Muñiz
Giorgina Pinedo-Rolon
Irma E. Stenman
Diane Young
Director Florida Hospital
Director Gio Communications, Inc
EDC Representative Metro Orlando EDC
Director Universal Orlando
Fashion Square Mall 3201 E. Colonial Dr. Suite A-20 Orlando, FL 32803 407.428.5870
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Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Metro Orlando
www.hispanicchamber.net
A WORD FROM THE PRESIDENT Since our last edition, the chamber hosted its largest event of the year, the 18th Annual Hispanic Business and Consumer Expo in combination with the 2nd Annual Hispanic Business Conference. This year’s Expo was held at the Orange County Convention Center on April 29th, 30th and May 1st. The estimated 17,000 in attendance enjoyed over 400 booths, a health fair, kid’s corner, domino tournament, and a stage with international artists ensuring that this Expo continues to be the leading event in its category. The 2nd Annual Hispanic Business Conference, which was also a great success, included Governor Rick Scott, Senator Bill Nelson, Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer and Julie Stav as speakers. Planning has already commenced for next year. Look out for surprises in 2012!
We are also in the planning stages of our 3rd Annual Latin Food and Wine Festival (LFW 2011) which will be held on October 14 and 15. We will be bringing back two popular events, Savor the Night being held on Friday, October 14 and the Grand Tasting being held on Saturday, October 15. The Grand Tasting will have a new home at the Cranes Roost Park in Uptown Altamonte. What great way to showcase delicious Latin inspired dishes and wine! If you have a restaurant or would like to be part of making this wonderful event a success, contact us at info@hispanicchamber.net or call us at 407-4285870. Check out our website at www.latinfoodandwine.com for more detailed information. The Central Florida community received welcomed news this summer. It was announced that Florida Governor Rick Scott authorized the SunRail project to move forward as planned. This should be very positive for our area as the SunRail commuter rail line is expected to create more than 13,000 jobs statewide for construction, operations and maintenance and will potentially generate $1.5 billion in economic benefit. Transit oriented development around the stations has the potential to create another 246,000 new jobs with an economic benefit exceeding $7 billion, including $158 million in additional property taxes alone.
President Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Metro Orlando ramon@hispanicchamber.net
As we continue settling into our new location, we have been working on some interesting things. This summer, the chamber organized a trade mission trip to Puerto Rico that was held June 23 – June 26 with the goal of promoting Metro Orlando as the premier U.S. destination for trade with companies in Puerto Rico. The trip, which was made up of 14 delegates and lead by Orange County Mayor Teresa Jacobs, gave all parties involved the opportunity to network with key business owners on the island.
Ramón Ojeda
Immediately after the expo and conference, we prepared for the move to our new offices. We are now officially located in the Orlando Fashion Square Mall at the National Entrepreneur Center. The transition was a great deal of work, but well worth it because our facility is beautiful and spacious with free parking! If you have not visited us yet, just call and we will be happy to schedule a tour of the offices.
Enjoy the summer heat!
trustees
Ramon Ojeda
F o u n d i n g trustees
trustees
Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Metro Orlando
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www.LatinFoodandWine.com 6 Visi贸n Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Metro Orlando |
OCT 14-15
International PANAMA CANAL’S EXPANSION By Rafael Gerena
Instruxo LLC
T
he Panama Canal’s expansion could deliver a new generation of big ships and big opportunities to Florida’s economy. Florida has 14 ports, including the Port of Miami, which is considered the state’s leading candidate to host the mega ships that will cruise through the Panama Canal when it is widened in 2014. But Florida is competing for the shipping activity against rival ports in other states, including Georgia, Virginia and New York. The Panama Canal stakes are high: Larger ships passing through the canal will carry as many as 12,000 steel cargo containers, mostly from Asia. And each container will be loaded with prized consumer goods - such as cell phones, computers and video games - that will be delivered to stores and homes throughout the east coast. Along the way, the cargo will pass through a logistics chain that will unleash economic activity: The cargo will be unloaded from ships, reloaded on trucks, transported, electronically tracked and unpacked. Boosting international trade activity could generate as many as 143,000 new jobs in the Sunshine State, according to a recent Florida Chamber of Commerce study. That would make life even better for the state’s trade and logistics industry, which had 531,000 workers in 2009, according to the report. The industry’s average wage was $54,714 a year, roughly 30 percent higher than the state average. Promoting international trade is a smart move for Florida. It would help the state diversify its economy beyond the mainstays of tourism and housingindustries that have struggled in recent years amid a recession. Florida’s economy has also been hurt by the loss of thousands of high-paying jobs because of the ending of NASA’s space shuttle program. To improve the state’s fortunes, Florida Gov. Rick Scott is betting on international trade by investing in Florida’s ports. He directed $77 million to deepen Miami’s shipping channel. This is necessary because the large ships that will pass through the widened Panama Canal will require water that is at least 50 feet deep to enter a port. Miami’s port will be the only one in Florida at that depth. Gov. Scott has also pledged to support improvements at Jacksonville’s port. Modernizing Florida’s ports may become more important for the state’s economic health. The U.S. has pending trade agreements with Panama and Colombia that - if approved - would likely deliver more shipping traffic to Florida’s ports. Florida does nearly $10 billion worth of trade with Panama and Colombia combined. If the trade agreements are approved, the total value of imports and exports would grow by almost $700 million and create more than 8,000 jobs, according to an Enterprise Florida study. Either way, the Panama Canal’s expansion should deliver a boatload of new business to Florida.
OCT 14-15
Savor The Night Oct 14, 2011 • 6:30PM - 9:30PM
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Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Metro Orlando
Protecting Yourself From
IDENTITY THEFT By Ronnie Febles
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Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Metro Orlando
Pre-Paid Legal Services
Spotlight
W
hen we hear the words ”identity theft”, financial statements and credit cards are often what comes to mind -- nothing more. While the financial risks alone can be devastating, they are only part of the story. I have sometimes heard people say, “The way my finances are, I wish someone WOULD steal my identity.” To that I say: Be careful what you wish for. The troubling truth facing each and every one of us is that personal information – our name, birth date, birthplace and social security number – is now stored in too many places. Hospitals, courthouses, schools, job sites, the Division of Motor Vehicles, credit card companies, banks, tax preparation offices and more. Identity theft is widely considered to be the fastest growing crime in the world, with Florida ranking third in the nation for consumer complaints according to the Federal Trade Commission.
Why is this such a problem? This is problematic because with this information, thieves can steal your personal identity and commit all sorts of crimes. They can apply for credit, get official documents, start a business in your name, commit crimes in your name and in some cases, even become terrorists. All of the terrorists that attacked the US on 9/11 had false identities.
DON'T BE A VICTIM
Did you know that only 25% of Identity Theft cases are from credit card fraud?
Social Security Number (SSN) When someone uses your Social Security Number to obtain employment, you’ve been the victim of identity theft. The thief’s income is reported to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) under your number and you are expected to pay taxes on earnings. An attorney can work with the IRS on your behalf to get the matter corrected. Driver’s license When a thief using a fake ID with your driver’s license number is pulled over for DWI, it’s your record that’s put at risk. A lawyer can have your record corrected with the police and with your insurance company. Medical Your medical record lets hospitals and doctors know how to best treat you. It’s also used by insurance companies to determine whether to offer you coverage, and what rates you’ll pay for the coverage. Your medical history and records can be altered to reflect the thief’s health, and therein lies the life-threatening risk. Some thieves use stolen insurance information to receive free care, while others use hospital records to obtain illegal financial reimbursements or drugs. For the victims, the falsified health records – sometimes changing the patient’s blood type or adding medical conditions they don’t have – can result in dangerous mistakes in an emergency. Additionally, the changes can create issues with employment and life insurance. Without professional legal assistance, correcting medical records can range from extremely difficult to almost impossible. That’s because some states have laws that prohibit changes – even when the information is incorrect. Medical identity theft is serious. Instead of a thief demanding your money or your life, he may be demanding both. Criminal or character When someone commits a crime while impersonating you, you’ve been the victim of identity theft. If your name appears on a sexual crimes list in your county or state, you could lose or be denied employment. Not only will you need help getting your criminal record corrected to eliminate arrest warrants, you’ll also need help removing your name from watchdog lists.
Five Types of Identity Theft Financial or credit When existing credit card or bank accounts are taken over by thieves, loans are taken out, or new accounts are created in your name, you’ve been the victim of identity theft. You may need a lawyer’s help to stop collection calls and a credit restoration service to get your credit straightened out. A credit-monitoring service will watch your credit report and alert you of any new and possibly fraudulent activity.
Minimize your risk The first step is to be constantly aware that your private information or the personal information of other people you manage is at risk. Here are some examples of safe identity behavior: Don’t carry your Social Security card in your wallet or write your Social Security Number on a check. Give your Social Security Number only when absolutely necessary, and ask to use other types of identifiers. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Metro Orlando
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Spotlight If someone asks for this highly sensitive piece of information, ask:
• • • •
Why do you need my Social Security Number? How will it be used? How will you protect my Social Security Number from being stolen? What will happen if I don’t give it to you?
If you don’t provide your Social Security Number, some businesses may not provide you with the service or benefit you want. Getting satisfactory answers to these questions will help you decide whether you want to share this information with the business. The decision to share is yours. Treat your trash and mail carefully Do not throw away credit card records, old tax forms, charge receipts, copies of credit applications, insurance forms, physician statements, checks and bank statements, expired charge cards, credit offers you get in the mail, or anything that has sensitive information on it. Thieves can look through your trash and get information to commit crimes. Burn sensitive information in your fireplace if possible. If you shred this information, there is still a risk. There is now software that criminals can use to reassemble information shredded by inexpensive machines. To opt out of receiving pre-screened offers of credit in the mail, call 1-888-5-OPT-OUT (1-888-567-8688). Note: You will be asked to provide your Social Security Number, which the consumer reporting companies need to match you with your file. Deposit your outgoing mail containing personally identifying information in post office collection boxes or at your local post office, rather than in an unsecured mailbox. Promptly remove mail from your mailbox. If you’re planning to be away from home and can’t pick up your mail, contact the U.S. Postal Service at 1-800-275-8777 or online at www.usps.gov to request a vacation hold. Your local post office will hold your mail until you can pick it up or are home to receive it. Select intricate passwords Have a log-on password for your computer so that others cannot turn on and use it without knowing the password. Avoid using easily available information for your password, such as your mother’s maiden name, birth date, the last four digits of your Social Security Number, or your phone number, a series of consecutive numbers, or a single word that would appear in a dictionary. Combinations of letters, numbers, and special characters make the strongest passwords. When opening new accounts, you may find that many businesses still ask for your mother’s maiden name. Find out if you can use a password instead. Keep your computer virus software up to date and get a program that checks and updates it every day, if possible.
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Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Metro Orlando
Verify a source before sharing information Don’t give out personal information on the phone, through the mail, or on the Internet unless you’ve initiated the contact and are sure you know who you’re dealing with. Identity thieves are clever, and may pose as representatives of banks, Internet service providers (ISPs), and even government agencies to get people to reveal their Social Security Number, mother’s maiden name, account numbers, and other identifying information. Before you share any personal information, confirm that you are dealing with a legitimate organization. Check an organization’s Web site by typing its URL in the address line, rather than cutting and pasting it. Many companies post scam alerts when their name is used improperly. Or call customer service using the number listed on your account statement or in the telephone book. Store information in secure locations Keep your personal information in a secure place at home, especially if you have roommates, employ outside help, or are having work done in your house. Share your personal information only with those family members who have a legitimate need for it. Keep your purse or wallet in a safe place at work; do the same with copies of administrative forms that have your sensitive personal information. Ask about information security procedures in your workplace or at businesses, doctor’s offices or other institutions that collect your personally identifying information. Find out who has access to your personal information and verify that it is handled securely. Ask about the disposal procedures for those records as well. Find out if your information will be shared with anyone else. If so, ask how your information can be kept confidential. Consider purchasing identity theft insurance Although identity theft insurance won’t deter identity thieves, it can in certain circumstances minimize losses if an identity theft occurs. As with any product or service, as you consider whether to buy be sure you understand what you’d be getting. Be aware that one of the major “costs” of identity theft is the time you will spend to clear your name. Have an experienced and trustworthy identity theft service policy. The best of these programs monitor your financial records and notify you of any activity at the three credit reporting companies. The service alerts you and provides assistance, expenses and even professional legal services, if you have a breach of your credit or other identity. A SERIOUS ISSUE The bottom line is that identity theft is a serious issue that negatively impacts lives in more ways than one. It is important to always be aware of whom you might be sharing your unique identifying information with. Use as many of the above precautions as possible to minimize your risk.
Professional Development MANAGING YOUR CAREER By The Staff At Newland Associates, Executive, Business And Talent Management Experts
O
nly three months into 2011, reports indicate that there is and will be an increase in recruitment and hiring for this year. News of this trend should give those of you who are currently job searching some extra motivation to put your career management skills to work.
You may also want to consider enlisting a talent management professional to help navigate your career in the right direction. Learn more about managing your career by visiting www.careercrashcourse.com, where you will be able to access to additional tips and insight.
Don’t put off creating your 2011 career management and job search strategy; start TODAY! Here are some tips you can use to develop your career management skills and job search strategy. Write down your goals: The first step in managing a successful career is to write down and evaluate your goals and objectives for the upcoming year and determine how these pertain to your current career and/or job search. Articulating your goals and putting pen to paper will help you prioritize. Revamp your marketing collateral: Consider that your job search is a marketing campaign. You are marketing yourself to future employers, and your resume could be the most important marketing material you have. Continuously update it; if you acquired a new skill in the past year, add it to the resume! More companies than ever are also using social media to recruit. Make sure the content in your LinkedIn profile reflects the same message as your resume. Ditto for any other social media sites you use. Your online reputation is critical to your success. Rekindle past relationships: Through the years, many individuals have been influential in your career. Sometimes we lose touch with those key contacts. This is the year to rekindle those important relationships! Pick up the phone, send a text message or an email and invite your business acquaintances and mentors for coffee or tea. Remember, networking for job opportunities is about creating meaningful relationships for all parties involved. It is also one of the most important aspects in managing your career, whether you are employed or not. Refresh your skills and knowledge: What have you done in the past year to stay ahead of the competition? Since we expect to see an increase in recruiting in 2011, those candidates who demonstrate up-to-date knowledge in their areas of expertise are more likely to land the job. Many companies and Web sites offer free Web-based training, including everything from short webinars on current topics to continuing education courses. Take advantage of all the resources available to you. The more expertise and skills you possess, the more marketable you will be. High unemployment rates lead to fierce competition for jobs. To be competitive and land your dream job, move quickly, put these tips into action, and take charge of your career and your future.
Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Metro Orlando
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Business SHOW ME THE MONEY!… FINANCING SMALL BUSINESS IN 2011 By Robert J. Goetz
Seminole State College of Florida
The Situation: Oh how I miss the good old days of easy credit and lots of capital to fuel business. The recent financial crisis and anemic economic recovery have done their share of damage on numerous fronts. So many of our small to midsized companies seem to be scrambling to get through these tough times. The housing crash killed the home equity funding that so many business owners relied on as if they were personal ATMs. Some entrepreneurs and business owners seem more successful than others if for no other reason than embracing a financial strategy. Well, yes, they also have endless amounts adrenalin and testosterone – the kind that translates into drive, determination, discipline, and a “let’s just get it done” mentality. Way too many of our businesses remain undercapitalized at a time when expansion opportunities exist and they are the ones looked upon to lead economic recovery and new job creation. Successful ventures understand how to blend equity and debt to meet equipment, inventory, receivable, and working capital requirements. Taking Action: For any financial strategy to be effective, you’ll need to have your financial house in order. This is not the place for a shoebox filled with receipts, and scribbled notes. For startups and early stage ventures this means having a defined chart of accounts and all transactions recorded through QuickBooks, Peachtree, Microsoft Small Business Accounting, or some other software application. Anything less will cost you in credibility and integrity, ultimately leading to financial suicide. With economic recovery sputtering along, you’ve got to come to the realization that most bankers that are still around, including those that readily accepted TARP monies in 2009, are suffering from serious cases of lender fatigue. They’ve long forgotten that the principle role of banks in capitalistic, free market economics is to provide financial intermediation and generate reasonable profits based on interest rate point spread. Even with the promise of SBA guarantees that virtually eliminate lender risk, there remains hesitation to complete loans that these same bankers would have been chomping at the bit for just a few years ago. Admittedly, with interest rates at historically low rates, debt financing has enormous appeal. So if the bank is not willing to lend, go talk to another bank, and if that one too is not willing to lend, got to a third. Do not rule out a direct loan from your network of family and friends. I’ve facilitated numerous deals with clients in recent years where interest rates in the range of 4 percent - 10 percent were paid to a friend or family member that previously was yielding less than 1 percent with a bank. Once you gain a verbal understanding, you will want to seal the deal with a promissory note that clearly describes the parties, loan amount, purpose, rate of interest, length of loan, and terms for repayment of principle and interest. For those early stage ventures, particularly those primarily engaged in research and development and not in active revenue-
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Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Metro Orlando
generating mode, it’s difficult to commit to a monthly or quarterly principle and interest payment. Private equity capital is the more suitable financing option here. Reluctant to give up some ownership? It’s better to own a piece of a thriving, financially sound company than 100% of one struggling and going down. Below are some additional financing options that continue to see measurable results. Credit Card Financing: It’s a good standard practice to allocate at last one credit card strictly for the business. This tends to provide easy short term credit, provides a nice paper trail, and can be quickly uploaded or keyed into your accounting system. The free air miles or award dollars can be a nice perk as well. With introductory rates often at or below 6 percent, it’s even advisable to carry monthly balances. You just need to ensure making the minimum monthly payment and keeping an eye out for the end of that introductory rate. Credit card issuers have gotten very clever at sneaking a rate change in and eventually slamming you with a rate of 29.9 percent. Ouch! A painful situation for even the high margin venture. Technically known as revolving credit, credit card financing was never intended to be used for anything other than the short term. However, during difficult times, you finance however you can. I had a client several years ago with an automotive repair business that successfully juggled $220,000 in debt across 21 credit cards. He had a degree in finance and regularly would review and update his excel spreadsheet, paying minimum due on the low rate accounts and maximum he could afford on the higher rate accounts. He was, self admittedly overleveraged! Crowd Funding: Crowd funding has gained popularity and replacing some of the funding previously provided through the banking system. Also
known as crowd sourcing, social lending or peer-to-peer lending these social networking sites link entrepreneurs and small business owners with large pools of donors.
MOBILE PRODUCTIVITY
Business owners pitch their venture to prospective financiers across a site’s online network. Sites typically generate revenue by charging the small business a fee. Currently limited to donations and loans, the Securities and Exchange Commission is currently reviewing rules that may allow this funding to include equity stakes in a small company.
The days of being chained to a desk have come and gone. Whether running a brick and mortar or online operation, entrepreneurs have a variety of options when it comes to taking their business on the road.
Several sites that I like and are worthy of further review as funding options are: www.microventures.com targets companies that are creating technologies, products and services in core areas, such as business products, consumer products, electronics, online technology, and more. Submit your business plan and $100. If you are approved, your business will be listed on the website for investors to fund. MicroVentures charges 10 percent of the offering amount, if the offering is completed. www.kickstarter.com claims to be the largest funding platform for creative projects in the world. Projects must be fully funded before funding time expires or no money changes hands. Project creators are required to offer rewards, e.g. products, benefits, and experiences to project backers. Tightly integrates with Facebook, Twitter, and offers a widget for your website. Kickstarter charges a 5 percent fee, in addition to third party processing fees. www.indiegogo.com offers anyone with an idea — creative, cause-related, entrepreneurial — the tools to build a campaign and raise money. Project categories include gaming, film, design, education, mobile, and technology. Offers tight integration with Facebook, Twitter, and other social media platforms. There is a 4 percent fee on the money you raise when you meet your funding goal, in addition to third party processing fees. www.peerbackers.com is for business owners to raise capital from their peers — in small increments — in exchange for tangible rewards. Create a personal and venture profile. Share your story through social media share buttons on your project page. Once your campaign is launched, send updates on your progress. If you reach at least 80 percent of your funding goal by deadline, your funding is released to you. Peerbackers charges a 5 percent fee, in addition to third party processing fees. www.quirky.com offers product designers and inventors the chance to bring their products to market. Submit your idea for $10. If your idea is selected and brought to market, you’ll earn a share of the revenues. Influence the communal product development process and you’ll also earn a share of the revenue. www.profounder.com raises investment capital from their local communities. Profounder charges up to a 5 percent fee of the total funding. Since this program is not debt, your payments to your investors are not fixed, and depend only upon your success. This isn’t equity either; you give up no control or ownership of your company. Profounder charges up to a 5 percent fee of the total funding. Taking action and controlling your financial structure will have massive returns on your personal and business well being through 2011 and into 2012.
By Joshua Johnson
CourseMob
Let’s explore some of the technology available to stay connected while you are out of the office: Smartphone: Blackberry, iPhone, and Android powered devices are no longer a novelty. The current generation of smartphones allow you to check your email, edit documents, track expenses, review spreadsheets , etc. Although, if you plan on doing any of these tasks extensively, I would encourage to look into a tablet or netbook. Tablet: Apple led the charge into the tablet market with the iPad, but all of the major players are now in the game. Touch screen tablets come in varying sizes and are available with Apple, Android, and even Blackberry operating systems. If you already have a smartphone, it makes sense to get a tablet with the same operating system. The user experience should seem quite familiar and it should help to shorten the learning curve of the new device. For the most part, tablets are oversized iPhones (or EVOs for Android). Netbook: Netbooks are full-functioning mini-computers minus some features like an optical drive. Tthey are light, very mobile, and some of them boast up to 10 hours of battery life. If mobility is important to you, but you aren’t ready to move to a touch screen device – go with a netbook. MiFi: All of the types of devices discussed are most useful when they have full internet access. These days most coffee shops and cafés offer free WiFi, but it isn’t always convenient to hunt down a Starbucks to hop online. MiFi devices are a great option for ensuring that you have an internet connection wherever you go. The best feature of these devices is the ability to connect multiple devices to the internet simultaneously. They are available through most of the major cell phone providers and many of them work on the new 4G network for additional speed. (Note: Many smartphones are able to act as mobile hotspots. Generally, there is an additional $20-$30 per month fee for this feature.) Mobile Apps: Smart phones and tablet devices are great, but it’s the apps for these devices that turn them into real productivity devices. Some of the most popular and productivity-enhancing apps are: Box. net, which allows you to access, share, and manage business content on-the-go. Several major banks have apps that will allow you to handle your basic everyday needs, saving you a trip. For those of you braving the world of social media, apps such as TweetDeck go a long way in keeping you interacting with your social world. Sorry folks, Angry Birds didn’t make the list of productivity apps.
Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Metro Orlando
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When It Comes to Energy Efficiency . . . How Does Central Florida’s Largest Law Firm Measure Success?
In Volumes of Savings… At Lowndes, Drosdick, Doster, Kantor & Reed, P.A., becoming more sustainable means measuring what matters…energy savings. Thanks to OUC experts and a range of commercial efficiency incentives, they were able to save energy and save money. By partnering with OUC—The Reliable One, the firm will potentially save up to $67,000 annually.
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Visit www.ouc.com/saveyourway or email save@ouc.com 14 | Visión
Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Metro Orlando
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Partnering with OUC, our firm was able to realize bottom-line savings, beginning the day we installed the first energy-efficient light bulb.
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– Bill Dymond, President, CEO and Managing Partner of Lowndes, Drosdick, Doster, Kantor & Reed, P.A.
DOING BUSINESS WITH
CENTRAL FLORIDA by: Teresa Jacobs
Orange County Mayor
Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Metro Orlando
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Cover Story
As mayor of Orange County, one of my top priorities is to create jobs and promote our local economy. I recently led a delegation of local ambassadors to Puerto Rico to highlight our many assets to hundreds of the island’s business leaders. Our group, organized by the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Metro Orlando, took part in the Puerto Rico Chamber of Commerce’s Annual Conference. I was invited to give a seminar on doing business in Central Florida. Metro Orlando consistently ranks among the hottest markets in the nation for job growth. I told the group there are many reasons why I believe increasing trade between Puerto Rico and Central Florida should be a priority:
An economy based on innovation – From training systems that keep our soldiers and sailors out of harm’s way, to medical advances in the treatment of diabetes, to software that drives financial institutions worldwide – Central Florida is the fastest growing economy in Florida. Groundbreaking research at the University of Central Florida has earned a Top 10 ranking on IEEE’s Patent Scorecard that measures technology innovations from new patents. This culture of innovation flows through our region’s modeling, simulation and training industry as well as through the life sciences sector including the Sanford-Burnham Medical Research Institute and the M.D. Anderson Cancer Research Institute. In a global economy driven by innovation, our region nurtures the creative mindset and provides the connections to help business capitalize on new ideas and opportunities. Access, access, access – As the first destination in the U.S. to reach and surpass 50 million visitors a year in 2010, Metro Orlando has perfected the art of moving people from here to there and back! Our region boasts three major airports, including Orlando International, the third largest origin and destination airport in America, two deep water ports and extensive road and rail networks that serve the nation’s fourth most populous state. All of that connectivity is invaluable for business.
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Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Metro Orlando
Tech industry hub – Known around the globe as a world-class place to visit, many are surprised to discover that our region’s second largest industry is technology. In fact, our region boasts a high-tech ecosystem that has been growing since the 1960s, and that today, has 2,600 companies employing more than 42,000 people. Top sectors include digital media and film; modeling, simulation and training; optics and photonics; aviation and aerospace; and information technology. With the opening of the UCF College of Medicine and the emergence of our new ‘medical city’, we are also gaining a reputation as a thriving center for the life science/biotech industry. A deep rooted technology sector gives companies that are growing or looking to relocate immediate access to high-tech infrastructure that has been in place for decades. This includes a tech-savvy workforce, renowned university research and development, unique partnership opportunities and a wide variety of organizations and facilities dedicated to helping technology-driven companies flourish.
Top location for entrepreneurs – From Walt Disney to Glen L. Martin, Metro Orlando has long been blessed with entrepreneurial spirit. Unique resources such as the National Entrepreneur Center — one of only two such centers in the nation — and the University of Central Florida Technology Incubator – ranked as one of the top incubators in America – help keep our community among hot spots for innovative companies and entrepreneurs.
Real estate variety – This region’s robust real estate inventory includes over 175 million square feet of industrial space and over 90 million square feet of office space. And, unlike many other established business centers, Metro Orlando still has a variety of developable land parcels. The sheer quantity and diversity of commercial and industrial property in our region means growing or relocating companies are virtually assured existing space or developable land suitable to their specific needs. The amount of available space and current associated costs are very competitive with other regions around the country – making Central Florida an affordable and attractive business location.
Cover Story
TRADE MISSION TO PUERTO RICO
Young, diverse, educated workforce – Central Florida’s population diversity leads the rest of the nation by 35 years. Two-thirds of our residents are under the age of 44, and nearly a third has obtained a college degree. People from all backgrounds and walks of life call Orlando home. The diversity of this region’s workforce impacts its ability to nurture innovative thinking and offer companies a competitive advantage in the global marketplace. No matter what level of skill is needed, metro Orlando’s labor pool is well prepared. The region is home to the kind of highly-skilled employees that companies seek,and employers have access to state-sponsored workforce training grant programs that allow them to keep their talent sharp and on the cutting-edge in their respective fields.
Nation’s second largest university – The University of Central Florida, with more than 56,000 students, is now the second largest university in the United States. UCF is also home to one of the nation’s top tech incubators and receives more than $122 million in annual research, many of which are matched by company investment in joint research. And, the news gets even better; UCF is only one of more than 35 post-secondary educational institutions in the area. Also located in Central Florida are Rollins College — the #1 ranked regional university in the south and the top MBA program in the state; and three of the state’s best in the growing state college system -- Valencia College, Lake-Sumter Community College, and Seminole State College; as well as Embry Riddle Aeronautical University, the Florida Agricultural & Mechanical University School of Law, Barry University School of Law, and the first stateside campus of Puerto Rico-based Ana G. Mendez University, among others. Metro Orlando’s strong higher education system provides companies with a steady flow of trained employees and access to a variety of research and development opportunities. From technical to doctoral levels, the many post-secondary institutions provide educational programs in a wide variety of fields.
Partnership philosophy – Orlando is a young, welcoming community. Many newcomers are surprised at how fast they can “plug in” to what’s going on. Business leaders and elected officials have consistently proven they will work together whether the shared goal is commuter rail, a college of medicine, or a performing arts center. Companies that thrive on collaboration – whether it’s with other business leaders, academia, or local governments – find no better place to do so than here in metro Orlando. The “livability” factor – Year-round sunshine...what else do we need to say? How about outdoor recreation, close proximity to beaches, lakes, springs, parks, trails, and fields, world-class entertainment, distinctive neighborhoods and world-class shopping? Our region’s amenities-- natural and “man-made”-make Central Florida a great place to work, study, live and raise a family. Companies of all types and sizes find that our region’s unparalleled “livability” enhances employee recruitment and retention.
T
he Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Metro Orlando (HCCMO) and the Puerto Rico Chamber of Commerce have actively collaborated in promoting business opportunities between Puerto Rico and Central Florida. Both chambers signed a cooperation agreement with 9 other economic development organizations from different countries who participated in the Summit of the Americas held in Puerto Rico in 2006. In an effort to continue this collaboration, the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Metro Orlando organized a trade mission to Puerto Rico. Orange County Mayor Teresa Jacobs lead this important mission in June. The goal of the trade mission was to promote Metro Orlando as the premier U.S. business destination for international trade with companies in Puerto Rico. Mayor Jacobs and Emmanuel Tormes, Special Assistant to the Mayor and Liaison to the Legislative Delegation were invited to speak during the Puerto Rico Chamber of Commerce’s Annual Conference – Puerto Rico Eje Empresarial Convención 2011. She presented “Doing Business with Orlando Seminar” during one of the largest and most recognized business conferences hosted on the island. The participation of Mayor Jacobs in this mission was intended to stimulate additional trade from our region and the corresponding jobs that such trade activity supports. In a time of economic downturn, increased trade is a smart strategy to help bolster our local companies’ bottom lines and support existing and new jobs. The HCCMO delegation included Maritza Martinez, HCCMO Chair-Elect and Assistant Vice President, Community Relations for University of Central Florida; Jose Costa, Vice President/Construction Service Manager of Nodarse & Associates; Robert Newland, President of Newland Associates Group, Inc; Jose Fernandez, President of Florida Compass Group; Thomas Mestre, Outreach Director for Ana G. Mendez University System; Reynaldo Rodriguez, CEO of Blue Beettle Energy, Ruben and Laura Perez of ZaZa New Cuban Diner; Lou Carrion, Executive Consultant, Florida Hospital; Marvin Colon, of iServe Residential Lending, LLC; Diana Bolivar, Vice President of the HCCMO, and Marilen Marnett, HCCMO Events and Operations Manager.
So, next time you travel or meet with your out-of-town business clients, remind them why you do business in Central Florida and encourage them to bring their business to the center of sunshine, hospitality and innovation. For so many reasons, it’s a smart move! Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Metro Orlando
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Marketing PROTECTING YOUR INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY: TRADE SECRETS AND INFORMATION PROTECTION RESOURCES By Yasmin Tirado-Chiodini
Background
T
he term Intellectual Property refers to ideas, inventions and words or designs that are used to distinguish a product or business. The protection of intellectual property provides a competitive advantage that will differentiate a business from its competition and will help the business become a market leader. Some inventors or authors register their intellectual property and then license it or sell it for profit. The laws in the United States provide various ways to protect intellectual property. The three main kinds of legal tools provided are: Trademarks, Copyrights and Patents. There are other forms of protection, including the Trade Secret. Trademarks protect distinctive indicators (such as names or logos) used to identify products or services to consumers, Copyrights protect the expression of an idea (such as a song, a book or a painting), and Patents protect an idea (such as a process or design). What is a Trade Secret? Trade secrets have traditionally been protected under common law. In addition, the Uniform Trade Secrets Act (UTSA) adopted by the majority of the United States, including Florida, penalizes trade secret violations. The Economic Espionage Act of 1996 (EEA) (18 U.S.C. § 1832) also addresses misappropriation of trade secrets at a federal level. Chapter 688 of the Florida statutes, the Florida Uniform Trade Secrets Act (UTSA) (Fla. S. § 688.001 et seq.), defines trade secret as information, including a formula, pattern, compilation, program, device, method, technique, or process that:
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Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Metro Orlando
Attorney at Law, Tirado-Chiodini, PL
(a) Derives independent economic value, actual or potential, from not being generally known to, and not being readily ascertainable by proper means by, other persons who can obtain economic value from its disclosure or use; and (b) Is the subject of efforts that are reasonable under the circumstances to maintain its secrecy. The Economic Espionage Act (EEA) defines trade secrets consistent with generally accepted legal definitions such as those used in the UTSA, to refer broadly to information, whether in tangible or intangible form, that is subject to reasonable measures to preserve its secrecy; and derives independent economic value from its not being generally known to or ascertainable by the public. When does Trade Secret Protection Apply? Trade secret protection applies to all information that falls under the trade secret legal definitions. However, a person may intentionally select trade secret protection over other legal protection available, such as a patent, when they wish to protect a trade secret indefinitely. Specifically, when a patent’s legal protection expires, the invention falls in the public domain, and this may lower the commercial value of the invention. Competitors will likely offer the invention for sale in direct competition with the inventor, under generic or other labels. This often occurs in the pharmaceutical industry. A good example is the aspirin (initially owned by the company Bayer, although there is a history of ownership disputes), and other medicines, such as ibuprofen (generic ingredient sold under the trademark Advil).
Marketing The trade secret protection will last indefinitely as long as the secret is not revealed. This will require proper protection by the trade secret’s owner. Protection of an invention through a trade secret may be implemented through secrecy or confidentiality agreements, non-competition agreements, non-employee piracy agreements and security protocols geared to protect the information about the intellectual property, secret or invention. The goal is to protect the sensitive information such that those who have it do not reveal it, to prevent its accidental disclosure, and to ultimately keep the information from being exploited by competition or others. Businesses that use secret formulas to make their products are Coca-Cola and Kentucky Fried Chicken. To protect a company’s “secret formula,” these companies do not reveal their particular formula in its totality to any one person in particular. Instead, the information is broken into parts, and its distribution to employees is highly limited to what they “need to know” to effectively do their jobs. The formula is kept in a secret place and safeguarded with security protocols.
The Florida UTSA imposes civil liability for misappropriation of trade secrets and creates a private cause of action for the injured party at a state level. Remedies under the UTSA include damages addressing the actual loss caused by the misappropriation, unjust enrichment, injunctive relief, and, in cases of bad faith or willful and malicious misappropriation, punitive or “exemplary” damages, including reasonable attorney’s fees. The EEA makes the theft or misappropriation of a trade secret a federal crime. It criminalizes the misappropriation of trade secrets related to or included in a product that is produced for or placed in interstate commerce, with the knowledge or intent that the misappropriation will injure the owner of the trade secret. Penalties include imprisonment for up to 10 years for individuals and fines of up to US$5 million for organizations. The federal law also penalizes economic espionage acts geared to benefit foreign powers (governments, people or businesses), and levies much higher penalties in these cases. Defenses
If the trade secret information is released into the public, the trade secret protection is lost. The injured trade secret owner’s redress under the law depends greatly on what information protection the owner pursued prior to the disclosure and the circumstances under which the information was released. Remedies A person (company or individual) who has lost trade secret protection through misappropriation may seek remedies through common law, the UTSA and the EEA. Specifically, under the Florida UTSA, misappropriation of a trade secret means: (a) Acquisition of a trade secret of another by a person who knows or has reason to know that the trade secret was acquired by improper means; or (b) Disclosure or use of a trade secret of another without express or implied consent by a person who: 1. Used improper means to acquire knowledge of the trade secret; or 2. At the time of disclosure or use knew or had reason to know that her or his knowledge of the trade secret was: a. Derived from or through a person who had utilized improper means to acquire it; b. Acquired under circumstances giving rise to a duty to maintain its secrecy or limit its use; or c. Derived from or through a person who owed a duty to the person seeking relief to maintain its secrecy or limit its use; or 3. Before a material change of her or his position, knew or had reason to know that it was a trade secret and that knowledge of it had been acquired by accident or mistake. Under the Florida UTSA, the term “improper means” includes theft, bribery, misrepresentation, breach or inducement of a breach of a duty to maintain secrecy, or espionage through electronic or other means.
The UTSA or EEA do not codify defenses to trade secret misappropriation. Under common law, disclosure by the owner, reverse engineering, and independent development may be offered as defenses. Specifically, the accused may be able to present a valid defense if he can prove that the owner disclosed the protected information to the public, or the information was already in the public domain, he independently developed the trade secret with no information from the owner, or he was able to reverse engineer the trade secret. Reverse engineering is a process whereby the secret design or formula is discovered by using mechanical or chemical processes that break down the device or product in smaller components, which when carefully studied, reveal the secret. Information Protection using Confidentiality and NonCompetition Agreements Because trade secret protection is lost when the owner does not safeguard the secret using reasonable business measures, it is key that the owner is proactive in protecting the trade secret. There are various resources to help protect business information. These include non-disclosure or confidentiality agreements, noncompetition agreements, non-employee piracy agreements and information protection corporate policies, among others. When a person or business reveals confidential information to others such as employees or business associates, it is prudent to use a confidentiality or non-disclosure agreement to evidence that an exchange of privileged information has occurred. If the recipient of the information copies the trade secret or derives an unfair advantage from the information received, the owner of the information will need to prove the information had business value, and that he took steps to protect this information. Therefore, in an employment setting, a business should seriously consider having employees, contractors and business associates, sign agreements to protect all inventions, ideas, products and knowhow disclosed to them, among other sensitive information.
Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Metro Orlando
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Marketing stored electronically, or obtained from and distributed through the Internet. In addition, every business owner should audit its computer systems and information processing protocols to evaluate vulnerabilities and security breach incidents, which very often come from insiders to the company. An audit should include all processes and extend to actions of storage, dissemination and even deletion or disposition of information. All documents dealing with the collection or dissemination of the information through the Internet must make reference to the relevance of the security and privacy of this information. Also, the business must inform all employees about its information protection policy and enforce this policy properly to ensure effective implementation and risk mitigation. All security policy measures should also include the adoption of technologies and security protocols geared to protect and preserve information, such as the use of passwords, firewalls, virus protection and other security tools. Conclusion
Non-Competition and Employee Piracy Agreements offer added protection to intellectual property, especially in a situation where an employee leaves the business and takes its ideas and information to a competitor, which could actually be the employee himself. These types of contracts are very useful, but each state has rules about how they should be drafted and enforced. A confidentiality agreement may last indefinitely. In Florida, a non-competition agreement protects an employer during the relationship with the employee, and depending on the industry and circumstances of the restraint, it may prevent the employee from competing with the employer for up to 2 years after termination of such relationship. Such contracts must be very specific or else they may be voided. Therefore, an attorney experienced in business law must draft these documents. If a contract is not properly drafted, or if it is inconsistent with the law, it may be declared void. The Information Protection Policy In addition to information protection agreements, every business should strongly consider having an Information Protection Policy to (1) help minimize the risk of disclosing business sensitive information to unintended recipients and (2) protect the disclosed information to intended recipients. This policy should not only cover the information and documents physically located in the business premises, but it should also protect the information
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Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Metro Orlando
The protection of intellectual property provides a competitive advantage that differentiates the business from its competition and will help it become a market leader. At the same time, intellectual property protection safeguards the business assets and its owner’s investment. If the intellectual property is not protected, at any moment a copycat, employee or associate may “steal” the property, product or image of the company, potentially causing irreparable losses. In addition to intellectual property registration, confidentiality, non-compete and nonemployee piracy agreements, as well as information protection policies, are useful resources to safeguard a company’s intellectual property from loss. These practices are particularly critical to protect trade secrets. To avoid irreparable harm from intellectual property loss, companies should seek the assistance of a business attorney who can help them register their intellectual property and draft appropriate agreements and policies that will help protect their intellectual property assets. Copyright © 2008-2011 Yasmin Tirado-Chiodini. All Rights Reserved. Yasmin Tirado-Chiodini is a business attorney and entrepreneur practicing business law in Central Florida. This article is an excerpt from her book “Does Your Compass Work? Practical Guide for Florida Businesses.” For more information, contact her at Yasmin@Tirado-Chiodini.com or visit www. doesyourcompasswork.com. This article does not intend to provide legal advice. For legal advice, readers must consult an attorney of their preference.
OCT 14-15
www.LatinFoodandWine.com
Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Metro Orlando
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EB5 UPDATE
By Scot A. Silzer and Camila Pachon Attorneys at Law SilzerLaw Chartered 22 | Visi贸n
Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Metro Orlando
Immigrant Investor Program, more commonly known as T he“EB-5,” was created by Congress in 1990 to stimulate the U.S. economy through job creation for American citizens and permanent residents and capital investment by foreign investors. Successfully navigating the immigration rules and regulations applicable to the EB5 process will result in legal permanent residency (green card) for the foreign investor and his/her family. 0U [OPZ ZLYPLZ VM HY[PJSLZ [OL H\[OVY ^PSS ÄYZ[ KLZJYPIL [OL YLJLU[ changes in the EB5 program to bring readers up to date on the newest developments. Future articles will go into more detail YLNHYKPUN [OL ZWLJPÄJ YLX\PYLTLU[Z MVY [OL ,) WYVNYHT 0U VYKLY [V X\HSPM` MVY [OL ,) WYVNYHT [OL MVYLPNU PU]LZ[VY JYLH[LZ a business by investing either $500,000.00 or $1,000,000.00, and hiring 10 full-time American employees. The lower amount must be invested in areas with historically low employment, such as rural areas, where the successful operation of a business is TVYL WYVISLTH[PJ ;OL OPNOLY HTV\U[ PZ YLX\PYLK MVY I\ZPULZZLZ VWLYH[PUN PU TVYL HMÅ\LU[ VY TVYL WVW\SV\Z HYLHZ ^OLYL QVIZ are already more plentiful and incentives for creating a new business are greater. With today’s economy struggling to return to its former robust operations, and the current culture of “No” exhibited in other areas of job creation, such as the E-2 and L-1, as well as the recent restrictionist reinterpretations in the H regulations that limit the ability of United States companies to hire necessary talent and to begin startup operations, the EB5 is becoming an increasingly important avenue to stimulate our economy on both a local and national level. It will be no coincidence when our economy takes a strong upward trend after substantial immigration related legislation is implemented. The United States Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS) administers the EB5 program. Over the entire life of the program, many of the program’s operational, procedural, and policy determinations have been severely criticized as being contrary to the stated goals and objectives of the program. In conjunction with H YLJLU[ PUP[PH[P]L VM [OL <:*0: 6MÄJL VM 7\ISPJ ,UNHNLTLU[ [V hold regular “Stakeholder Teleconferences” for the purpose of facilitating a continuing dialogue between the USCIS and its Stakeholders, and as a direct result of these formal exchanges as well as individual dialogues on these same issues, the EB5 VMÄJPHSZ OH]L WYVWVZLK ZPNUPÄJHU[ JOHUNLZ PU [OL HKTPUPZ[YH[PVU of the EB5 program to align it more closely with its stated objectives and improve the adjudication process. The EB5 process can be a very complicated one once a project ILNPUZ [V LTWSV` ZVWOPZ[PJH[LK SLNHS HUK ÄUHUJPHS WSHUZ [V accomplish both the business purpose and the immigration goals of the investment. However, some investments are much more simple undertakings, involving a straight forward investment and H JSLHY JYLH[PVU VM [OL YLX\PYLK QVIZ ZVTL[PTLZ YLMLYYLK [V HZ “shovel ready.” These projects are fully developed and already begun and in a position to move forward once the immigration aspects of the undertaking are approved. For this type of investment, the USCIS will implement Premium Processing Service (for a substantial additional fee, of course) that will produce a decision (hopefully an approval, but the outcome is
clearly not guaranteed) within 15 calendar days. This is an added improvement that will bring more predictability and certainty to the process and permit foreign investors with this type of project to move forward on an expedited basis, to make the investment, hire the workers, and help the local economy expand. USCIS decisions in the EB5 context, as well as other adjudicatory areas, have been fraught with inconsistencies and uncertainties based upon an incomplete understanding of the rules and regulations pertaining to the subject matter, as well as a simple lack of experience in adjudicating the sometimes complex YLSH[PVUZOPWZ JYLH[LK I` ZVWOPZ[PJH[LK VWLYH[PVUHS HUK ÄUHUJPHS undertakings. The second change announced by USCIS is intended to add consistency to the adjudicatory process, thus increasing the reliability of one’s understanding of how the rules and regulations are implemented and viewed by USCIS. This change will create a Decision Board comprised of adjudicators who are considered by USCIS to have an expertise in the EB5 area and an economist. The Decision Board will also have immediate access to, and be supported by, legal counsel experienced in EB5 issues. 7YVIHIS` VM NYLH[LZ[ PTWVY[HUJL VM [OLZL [OYLL ZPNUPÄJHU[ changes, is the establishment of a new intake team to make an initial review of the EB5 project. Many of the projects submitted to the EB5 program are based upon a Business Plan and related documents intended to demonstrate the likelihood that the project will meet [OL ,) YLX\PYLTLU[Z PU [OL M\[\YL This permits the foreign investor to obtain approval of the project prior to committing substantial resources and relocating the entire family thousands of miles to a new culture and environment, a momentous and SPML JOHUNPUN KLJPZPVU ( ZPNUPÄJHU[ YLX\PYLTLU[ VM [OL ,) WYVNYHT PZ the economic analysis used in these plan documents to demonstrate that the project will result in at least 10 new jobs for American workers. This is a sophisticated and KPMÄJ\S[ \UKLY[HRPUN MVY ^OPJO [OL MVYLPNU PU]LZ[VY often will employ an economics and statistical expert to demonstrate how the project intends to accomplish this goal. Previously, this aspect has been subject to vast inconsistencies resulting in incongruent decisions and huge disappointments, and a tremendous waste of time, effort, and money, not only on the part of the foreign investor, but also on the part of United States partners and participants in the project. This USCIS enhancement will create a new team of experts to review the project submission. This is intended to both accelerate the review process and result in more consistent decisions. ( ]LY` ZPNUPÄJHU[ JVTWVULU[ VM [OPZ SHZ[ LUOHUJLTLU[ ^PSS HSSV^ the foreign investor and other project principals to contact this PU[HRL [LHT KPYLJ[S` [V MHJPSP[H[L HU PKLU[PÄJH[PVU HUK L_WSHUH[PVU VM ZWLJPÄJ HYLHZ VM JVUJLYU HUK WLYTP[ H MHZ[LY YLZVS\[PVU VM PZZ\LZ [O\Z YLZ\S[PUN PU H TVYL JVUZPZ[LU[ YLSPHISL HUK LMÄJPLU[ decision making process. So things are starting to improve in the EB5 area, and we are hopeful that this attitude and concern demonstrated by these EB5 improvements will spill over to other aspects of our national immigration policy so that we can get a jumpstart on improving our economy. Hispanic Hispanic Chamber Chamber of of Commerce Commerce of of Metro Metro Orlando Orlando
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Professional Development THE MYSTERY OF “STRESS” UNTANGLED AND A 5 STEP MODEL TO PROTECT YOURSELF Joseph Noecker, MA, LMHC
A
s you begin to explore the definitions of stress, (and there are many), you find some common denominators most agree upon who have tackled this quest.
• Physical, emotional, and/or mental strain • Negative feelings and emotions evoked • Very uncomfortable • Can lead to serious health issues • Interrupts the ability to experience joy and appreciation • Difficulties in relationships and effective communication Okay, okay, you get the point. Not so fun of an experience, huh? And, Hispanic Americans are reportedly experiencing more than their fair share of the phenomenon. That doesn’t help. Concerns over money, wellbeing of family, and the current unpredictable employment environment are at the top of the list for most Hispanics. So how about some help in dealing with this invisible monster we call stress? We have created a 5 Step Model for Identifying Stress Within Burnout. 1) Super Motivation Stage – Here one is beginning to overextend him/herself. Usually there are constant thoughts about what is being worried about. The solution in this stage is to re-evaluate expectations in order to begin a more healthy set of behaviors. 2) Stress Not Dealt With Stage – Here one has difficulty in taking any sort of criticism. Tendency is to work harder at expense of working smarter. During this stage, it’s as if the motor doesn’t stop running. The solution at this stage is to form and implement organizational skills while simultaneously finding some support. 3) Vicarious Trauma Stage – During this stage, miscommunications are common. The person is on the defensive and interprets many actions and gestures as hostile long before there is evidence to support the perception. The solution at this stage relies on garnering coping skills to address emotional and physical symptoms. The healthier the better but sometimes there is tendency to reach for unhealthy choices at this stage. This further complicates the matter. 4) Compassion Fatigue Stage – When one arrives here, he/she has usually become fatigued, tired, indifferent, and resigned. Energy is missing and motivation becomes absent in many areas of life. The solution at this stage is rest, relaxation, and a restoring of energy. Mindfulness meditation can be a great asset here.
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Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Metro Orlando
5) Burnout Stage – Here is the “crispy critter” phase of the Stress Cycle. Usually the person is so rigid and immovable here. The person has difficulty seeing “good” in any situation and bad feelings are projected out onto others he/she is close with or works with. The solution at this stage is to STOP. Because every move at this stage is damaging to others as well as him/ herself, stopping all activity is the crucial step for the damaged person here. Having a road map to burnout may be just the guide you need to keep you out of that nasty “state”. Pay attention to your own needs and feelings early on. When you hear yourself “blaming and complaining” about “others” often, check yourself. You have more power to control your feelings than you can imagine! Joseph Noecker, MA, LMHC is a Licensed Psychotherapist, Certified Life Coach, and Clinical Hypnotherapist. Joe offers psychotherapy, coaching, business consulting, psychological testing services, career counseling, and stress reduction for individuals and businesses.
Community DR. PHILLIPS CENTER: MORE THAN JUST A BUILDING The Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts will be more than just a building. As a mission-driven institution, the Center will have a significant impact on the community economically, socially and culturally. Center executives across the nation are realizing their work extends beyond performances only and includes unique arts integration initiatives such as field trips, community performances, workshops, long-term residencies and professional development. Last year, the LA Music Center hosted 13,000 activities in more than 600 schools. Tampa’s Straz Center reaches thousands of children and adults through 550 arts education classes offered each year. The New Jersey Performing Arts Center has morphed into a culturally diverse town square community, offering outdoor events that attract more than 100,000 attendees annually. Like its counterparts throughout the country, the Dr. Phillips Center will strive to enhance quality of life, focusing on the guest experience both on and off the stage. The Center’s economic impact on the community has already been realized with the implementation of a comprehensive M/WBE (Minority/WomenOwned Business Enterprise) program, the City of Orlando’s Blueprint Initiative. This supports the Center’s business objective to utilize minority and women-owned companies in the design and construction phases of the project, as well as other long-term business opportunities. To help achieve this goal, the Center hired Anderson & Associates, PA, an Orlando-based M/WBE firm which specializes in developing, managing and executing M/WBE programs, and serves as a resource to explore opportunities with the Center. To date, the Dr. Phillips Center has achieved 31.5 percent M/WBE participation, exceeding the 24 percent City of Orlando Blueprint goal. M/ WBE contracts total over $10 million, generating more than $16 million in economic impact to the M/WBE community alone. These figures represent participation from local Hispanic-owned companies, including: Baker Barrios Architects, DVS Imaginary, Rey Group, Carmen Dominguez Construction and Cornerstone Construction Services. “We look forward to not only making a cultural impact on the community, but also a significant economic one by working with local and M/WBE companies involved in the construction and design of the project,” said Kathy Ramsberger, center president. From arts enthusiasts and students to businesses and the local community, the Dr. Phillips Center will serve a catalyst for transforming the Central Florida community. On the heels of an exciting groundbreaking event, which drew vast community support, the focus continues on the project’s fundraising effort. “We are so grateful that this project has been strongly supported by the community. As we forge ahead with the fundraising effort, we continue to rely on the community to help us realize this project,” Ramsberger concluded.
OCT 14-15
Grand Tasting’s New Location
Crane’s Roost Park, Altamonte Springs Oct 15, 2011 • 4:00PM - 10:00PM
www.LatinFoodandWine.com Visión | 25
Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Metro Orlando
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Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Metro Orlando
Visi贸n | 27
OCT 14-15
28 | Visi贸n
Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Metro Orlando
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