winter2007

You will be hearing all about the Seattle Chapter’s professional achievements and community involvement throughout the year in forthcoming publications.

It is our hope that you will

make this forum a place

where you can find

information that you are

interested in, and that will

keep you up to date with

your Chapter. In order for

this to be a success, we need

you to provide us with your

feedback. We look forward to

hearing from you, and

meeting your expectations.

Stay connected in 2007 by

reading and contributing to

this newsletter!

ALPFA Seattle is pleased to announce the beginning of a new era with its first newsletter in 2007. It will be a quarterly publication and its members will be able to find a wide variety of topics such as: past and upcoming events; accounting and finance articles that will allow you to enhance your expertise in the field; members’ success stories; and opportunities related to professional growth, relationship building, as well as potential employment with a variety of companies and accounting firms in the Northwest. The Seattle Chapter (the Chapter) was initiated at the beginning of 2005 by young, talented professionals in Finance and Accounting with

the support and guidance of our national office. The Chapter’s mission aligns with ALPFA National’s, which is to create opportunities, add value, build relationships for its members, the community and its business partners while expanding Latino Leadership in the global workforce. In the last two years, the Chapter has efficiently and successfully grown into one of the most respected and well established Professional Minority Organization in the Northwest.

WELCOME TO THE NEW ERA!

A Message From Our President

La Nueva Era ALPFA Seattle’s News and Events Gateway

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I N T H I S I S S U E :

A Message From Our

President

Member Spotlight: Two

Success Stories

Who is ALPFA Seattle?

Our Annual Gala - An

Ongoing Celebration of

Latino Leadership in the

Northwest

The First Annual Student

Summit: A Success!

2007 Kick Off: A Perfect

Start!

Calendar of Events

Current Sponsors

Over 180 guests attended an evening filled with dynamic keynote speakers from top local companies, including Microsoft, Starbucks, and Weyerhaeuser, among others. Our student members also had the opportunity to attend our first Student Summit at the University of Washington in November 2006, with workshops ranging from, 'Selling Yourself in Today's Marketplace,' to 'Negotiations Skills,' as well as a career fair in the afternoon for full-time and internship opportunities.

As we begin an exciting new year for the ALPFA Seattle chapter, I'd like to take a moment and highlight several of our accomplishments from 2006. Throughout the past year,

we not only increased our membership to over 120 members, but we also hosted numerous successful events, including our first Annual Awards Gala, "Promoting Professional Latino Leadership in Business," at the W Hotel in April 2006.


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As we move into a new year, I encourage each of you to get involved as we have an exciting program of events this year built to enable you to broaden your professional network, strengthen your leadership skills, and enhance opportunities for your career! I look forward to seeing you soon!

Nerelys Cordero President

Our chapter was also actively involved in the Seattle-area community. We lead a financial literacy workshop for high school students in partnership with the Washington State Society of CPAs (WSCPA) and Accounting Career Awareness Program in August; participated in the Hispanic SeaFair, and assisted in the translation of financial literacy materials into Spanish for the WSCPA community service program.

Member Spotlight: Two Success Stories I quickly realized that I had met an excellent group of professionals with premier leadership skills that were driven by their goals and had the enthusiasm to help those that were still in the pipeline, pursuing a professional degree. I learned that ALPFA does not only provide a structure for networking and mentoring but also offers unique career opportunities. It was at one of these events that I was able to stand out from a pool of applicants and be selected for an interview with Morgan Stanley. From the inception of the Seattle Chapter, I used my leadership skills and my passion to increase opportunities for Latino students to work and was nominated to be the Director and Chair of the Student Outreach Committee. My dedication to ALPFA and my academic achievements made me eligible to be considered as Student of the Year of the West Region in 2006. Having been presented with this award allowed me to gain more exposure among recruiters during the 2006 Annual Convention. At the convention, I did not only attend the educational sessions for students, but also a couple of the ones that were geared to

The Importance Of Networking By Tatiana Deras

We always hear about the importance and the benefits of being part of an organization. It was not until my start at the University of Washington (UW) that I realized what those

benefits really were. I joined the UW Hispanic Business Student Association as a way to share experiences with other Latino students and expand my network in the Business School. It was through this network of individuals that I was introduced to ALPFA. Being only a freshman in college with an entrepreneurial spirit, my reasons for joining the organization were different than most. At the time, the Seattle Chapter was just being established. My passion and commitment to diversity, instead of wanting to build up my resume, drove me to join the group and make a contribution to their efforts of establishing the organization in the Northwest, as well as to learn from some of the brightest Latino professionals in the Seattle area.


A Message From Our

President


Success Stories





Northwest


Summit: A Success!


Start!

Calendar of Events

Current Sponsors


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professionals. I was, of course, intimidated to be one of the few students at these events but that did not stop me from networking with the professionals that were present. It was like this that I started a conversation with someone from Morgan Stanley who directed me in the appropriate path through the recruiting process and put me in contact with the right people. This ultimately resulted in a job offer that I had long desired with one of the most well-known banks globally.

I joined ALPFA with the desire and the passion to help the group in their efforts to pave the way for other Latino students to accomplish their career goals and open opportunities; in return, ALPFA opened endless opportunities for me. I truly thank the ALPFA family because it had me “Looking Beyond the Horizon” and provided me with the opportunity to secure my first job after graduation with the company that I desired.

The Power of Building Your ALPFA Network By Luis Pedro Martinez

Many of us join ALPFA for different reasons. Some of these reasons include professional development, career advice, training, and social identification with Latino

Professionals who share the same background. Regardless if you are student, a young, fresh out of college, professional, or an experienced one, there is a common motivation and benefit in joining such a great organization: a window of networking and career opportunities. As an active member and Public Relations Chair for the Seattle Chapter, I was able to leverage on such networking and professional opportunities to secure a job as a financial analyst for Microsoft, the company I dreamed working for. Securing a job with this software giant is a cumbersome, stressful, and a highly competitive task. It not only requires you to have the proper education, the proper professional experience, but also the perfect mix of professional and social networking

skills to stand out in the prospective candidate crowd

ALPFA, through its partnerships with LATPRO

and Microsoft’s diversity initiatives, enabled

me to get my foot in the door of the interview

process.

Everything started with a phone call from the

local LATPRO recruiter informing me of an

exclusive finance networking event hosted by

Microsoft in order to recruit local,

professional talent. This networking

invitation was only extended to a very select

group of individuals, either directly through

Microsoft or through recruiting agencies that

the software giant trusts. My selection

occurred with the latter, as LATPRO is

currently one of the recruiting agencies that

Microsoft trusts to find local Latino

candidates. The phone call later became a

formal invitation to attend the event. As I

expected, the networking event was more a

informal session of interviews, in order to pick

the most promising candidates for a formal

second round of interviews. It was during

this initial process that the ALPFA network

empowered me to stand out in the candidate

crowd. My leadership role with the Seattle


A Message From Our

President


Success Stories





Northwest


Summit: A Success!


Start!

Calendar of Events

Current Sponsors


W I N T E R 2 0 0 7 V O L U M E 1 , N 1

Chapter, as well my awareness of Microsoft’s commitment to diversity at the work place, and more specifically, its partnership with professional Latino Organization such as ALPFA, allowed me to present my professional profile as the right fit for Microsoft’s vision of a diverse, talent and leadership-driven, financial organization. This was the key difference that other candidates, minority ones included, could not bring to the table. The result: a phone call from two of Microsoft’s recruiting teams interested in pursuing the interview process. ALPFA’s help didn’t end on that informal networking event. During the interviews I had, I ensured to let the recruiters, potential co-workers, and potential-managers, know about my commitment to diversity and

leadership, which is ALPFA, as well as I did not forget to mention that there were ALPFA members working for Microsoft, whom I have worked with through the Seattle Chapter. The fact that my commitments aligned with the ones of Microsoft, and that I had internal references, gave me the competitive edge that, added to my professional experience and education, enabled me to achieve the ultimate goal: get the offer and land the job. I am proud to say that ALPFA helped me achieve my professional goals. Moreover, I am more committed than ever to this organization, as I have experienced the rewards of being an active member and being involved in promoting Latino leadership in the Northwest.

Who is ALPFA Seattle? ALPFA Seattle is a well-established chapter with a strong presence in the community and the professional world. 2006 was an excellent year for the ALPFA-Seattle chapter, as numerous events throughout the year were successfully completed. Events for 2006 included professional seminars on investing,

a Student Summit for career advancement, and a financial literacy efforts for Latino communities in the area. None of them would have been possible without the hard work of the board members and the guidance of the Advisory Board.


A Message From Our

President


Success Stories





Northwest


Summit: A Success!


Start!

Calendar of Events

Current Sponsors


W I N T E R 2 0 0 7 V O L U M E 1 , N 1

The only way we can continue last year’s success is by keeping members informed and involved in the different events the Chapter hosts. Make a difference by approaching the Board Members, staying connected, participating, and expressing your ideas.

For more information about leadership opportunities within our committees email us at [email protected]. New members are always welcome.

ALPFA Seattle would like to cordially invite you to participate in the 2007 Award Gala. This event will give you the opportunity to meet many talented professionals and students, interact with established individuals and leaders within the business community while enjoying our speakers and our entertainment for the evening. Last year we held our 1st Annual Seattle Chapter Awards Gala, "Promoting Professional Latino Leadership in Business," at the W Hotel in downtown Seattle from 6pm to Midnight.

There were various organizations, including Microsoft, Prudential, Weyerhaeuser, State Farm, and PricewaterhouseCoopers to name a few, as well as students from surrounding community colleges and universities! Featured guest speakers for the evening included: Ed Morales, Chief Diversity Officer - Prudential Financial; Effenus Henderson, Director Recruiting and Staffing - Weyerhaeuser, our local keynote speaker, Carmen Aguiar, CEO of The Aguiar Group, and Manny Espinoza, ALPFA National CEO.

Our Annual Gala - An Ongoing Celebration of Latino

Leadership in the Northwest


A Message From Our

President


Success Stories





Northwest


Summit: A Success!


Start!

Calendar of Events

Current Sponsors


W I N T E R 2 0 0 7 V O L U M E 1 , N 1

The evening began with authentic flamenco dancing by the Ana Montes' School of Flamenco Danzarte, continued with dynamic speakers from both a national and local perspective, and ended with live salsa dancers from the Rumba Brava Dance Academy and the best salsa band in Seattle, Tumbalibre!

This year, we expect to have 250+ guests and continue to have a successful event! Stay tuned for details!

For questions or sponsorship information

please contact email us at [email protected] !


A Message From Our

President


Success Stories





Northwest


Summit: A Success!


Start!

Calendar of Events

Current Sponsors


W I N T E R 2 0 0 7 V O L U M E N 1 , N 1

On November 18, 2006, the Association of Latino Professionals in Finance and Accounting (ALPFA), Seattle Chapter, in partnership with the University of Washington’s Hispanic Student Business Association (HBSA), hosted its first annual Student Summit entitled, “Bridging the Gap: From the Classroom To The Office.” The Summit was held at the University of Washington’s Business School in Seattle, WA with over 120 attendees! The Summit was an excellent opportunity for businesses and non-business students from the surrounding Seattle area, surrounding community colleges, and universities to discover, in a workshop setting, the tools to strengthen their skill-sets, extend their professional networks, and prepare themselves for the transition from the classroom to their future careers. The event kicked off with a dynamic keynote speaker, Mike Sotelo. Mike has a track record of leadership, diversity advocacy, and community involvement within Washington State. He is the President of the Washington State Chamber of Commerce, as well as the Co-Founder of Plaza Bank, and President of Approach Management Services. After the kick-off event, students chose from numerous key workshops led by business leaders from Local Fortune 500 Fortune Companies. The topics for the workshops included:

Selling Yourself in Today’s Marketplace ‐ presented by Alejandro Cabrera, Microsoft Corporation; • Top Ten Things A Student Things Every Student Should Know ‐ presented by

Brianne Belur, PricewaterhouseCoopers; • Negotiation Skills: Getting to Win‐Win ‐ presented by Dianne Brooks, Weyerhaeuser Corporation; • Business Etiquette: The Four Second Impression ‐ presented by Kimberly Scotz; Washington State Society of CPAs (WSCPA); and • You Have The Offer… Now What? ‐ presented by Arturo Campus and Wanda Ramos; Starbucks Corporation. The day of the Summit was a full one, as in addition to the workshops, a career fair was hosted in the afternoon. The career fair included recruiters from the Big Four accounting firms, including Deloitte, Ernst & Young, and PricewaterhouseCoopers, as well as other top companies, such as US Bank and Weyerhaeuser. Students were given one‐on ‐one exposure to apply for internships and full‐time job opportunities. Through a series of high‐quality events targeting students and professionals in the Seattle Area, ALPFA Seattle is exposing the Northwest to Latino leadership. As a young chapter, recently formed in March 2005, ALFPA Seattle is constantly building a portfolio of successful events, as well as leading membership recruitment among other professional Hispanic organizations in the area.

The First Annual Student Summit: A Success!


A Message From Our

President


Success Stories





Northwest


Summit: A Success!


Start!

Calendar of Events

Current Sponsors


W I N T E R 2 0 0 7 V O L U M E N 1 , N 1

The Chapter held its 2007 Annual Kick-Off event at Amber in Belltown on Thursday, February 8, 2007. Once again, Weyerhaeuser did a magnificent job sponsoring the event. The Chapter’s President, Nerelys Cordero, opened the night with a presentation of the Chapter’s accomplishments during the past year and a list of events for the upcoming year. The evening’s program was brief but full of music and color. Everyone was very impressed with the turn out for the night with more than 60 attendees from different backgrounds in the finance and accounting field. The evening concluded with the raffling of an iPod, which went to Vuen Pahn, EAC accountant with Weyerhaeuser. Seen among the audience members were Lourdes Sampera, Mortgage Advisor with

Charter Funding and Advisory Board member for the Chapter, and Roberta Valentine, Recruiting Officer, with Weyerhaeuser and former Board member with the Chapter. The Chapter would like to thank Weyerhaeuser and all those who attended for making ALPFA- Seattle’s first event in 2007 a huge success. For more information about ALPFA and future events please contact us at [email protected]

2007 Kick Off: A Perfect Start!


A Message From Our

President


Success Stories





Northwest


Summit: A Success!


Start!

Calendar of Events

Current Sponsors

mailto:mailto:[email protected]


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Our Current Sponsors

Calendar of Events


A Message From Our

President


Success Stories





Northwest


Summit: A Success!


Start!

Calendar of Events

Current Sponsors

Documents

winter2007