Latina to challenge Eggman in 13th Assembly District

Paderes stakes claim to Assembly race

by Jon Mendelson / Tracy Press 

Xochitl Paderes.  Glenn Moore/Tracy Press

TRACY, CA -- Challenges are nothing new for Xochitl Paderes. The Tracy native had her first child at the age of 15, earned top-secret clearance while in the Marine Corps and has a job streamlining the state’s bureaucracy.

Now, she’s taking on Stockton Democrat Susan Eggman for a seat in the state Assembly.

Paderes declared earlier this year that she seeks to represent Tracy, Mountain House and the rest of the 13th Assembly District. And the Democrat who’s volunteered with the Stockton Shelter for the Homeless, Tracy Interfaith Ministries and the Guadalupe Center in South Side Tracy says her roots are vital to giving the region the representation it deserves.

“(I hear) local leaders growing increasingly concerned about a growing distance between elected leaders and the Central Valley,” Paderes said, adding that while Stockton is the district’s largest city, it’s not the only one that matters.

“People need to know each issue that comes from the city (of Stockton) is just as important as those that come from others.”

The 36-year-old mother of three who calls Stockton home doesn’t have experience as an elected official. But Paderes says her experience with software and technology for the California Department of Fish and Game gives her insight into state government that few representatives have.

Paderes said that while many elected leaders have no idea about the state’s numerous commissions, boards and audit process, she has a firsthand look at the inefficiencies that can hold back government.

“(I have) a whole different level of experience … and perspective that a lot of people don’t have,” Paderes said.

Her work developing software to streamline the fiscal process for the fish and game department has its roots in her four years of active military service. At the Pentagon, she worked in communications and network engineering, including work on the World Wide Web when it was still in its infancy.

But, she said, her motivation for joining the military was her first child — and having someone tell her that she wouldn’t be able to cut it as a Marine.

“My decision to join the Marine Corps was because I wanted to be a responsible mother to my son,” she said, adding that her family was hugely supportive.

Now, the 36-year-old’s first child is 20 years old, and she is married and has two more children, ages 15 and 10.

And it’s her family, past and present, that have inspired her to serve, Paderes said, citing her World War II veteran grandfather’s remark that he was only fighting “to protect and serve.”

“My desire isn’t to be a politician,” Paderes said, “it’s to continue serving my community.”

Policy-wise, Paderes said she recognizes the importance of strong public schools, and that there need to be “strategic and achievable goals” with the state budget.

Though she supports a tax increase proposed by Gov. Jerry Brown, she called it a short-term fix to a wide-ranging problem, and suggested that raising taxes alone isn’t going to solve the problem.

“We’re putting duct tape on a bucket that’s filled with holes,” she said.

Paderes also rejects the idea of building a peripheral canal or tunnel to send water around, not through, the lower reaches of the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, an estuary that provides water for part of San Joaquin County’s $1 billion-a-year agriculture industry.

As of last week, the California Secretary of State’s website, Paderes, had no campaign contributions to report as of the most recent filing deadline.

However, the candidate’s website claims endorsements from the Tracy Police Officers Association, California Nurses’ Association and California Professional Firefighters.

Read more: Tracy Press - Paderes stakes claim to Assembly race

Latina Scout leader to be recognized by US Hispanic Chamber

Anna Maria Chávez To Be Honored by US Hispanic Chamber of Commerce

Hispanic Business reports that The U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce today announced it would honor Anna Maria Chávez with its 2012 Chairman's Award at an event titled "A Celebration of Women Entrepreneurship in America" during the Chamber's Legislative Summit gala. The Summit will take place in Washington, D.C., on March 21-23, 2012.

The annual gala honors and recognizes the affect that Hispanic businesswomen have in America.

The U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Board Chairman Nina Vaca said: "The annual Chairman's Award is presented to an individual who stands out as a leading advocate of Hispanic entrepreneurship in America. Through her work with the Girl Scouts, the nation's largest organization for girls, Anna Maria Chávez is a true inspiration for young women in America and continues to help shape tomorrow's leaders through innovative and supportive programs."

Chávez said that she is "deeply honored to accept the The U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce's 2012 Chairman's Award."

"I am especially honored because entrepreneurship and financial literacy skills are essential components of the Girl Scout experience," she added. "The Girl Scout Cookie Program alone is the largest girl-led business in the country providing immeasurable benefits to girls and their communities. We reach girls from every sector of society and empower them to realize their full potential as leaders—as young women who have the courage and confidence to make our world a better place. I look forward to a future in which our young girls will be standing in my place for their remarkable and meaningful achievements."

The Girl Scout Cookie Program generates more than $750 million in sales. It aims to teach the Girl Scouts five essential business skills: goal setting, decision-making, money management, people skills, and business ethics. The Girl Scouts organization says that it has nearly 325,000 Hispanic Girl Scouts and adult volunteers, an increase of more than 50% in the past decade.

An online place for Latina moms

CafeMom Announces Founding Corporate Sponsors for Mamas Latinas, Its New Bilingual Online Destination for Hispanic Moms
Top Hispanic Industry Veterans Hired for Key Leadership Positions

NEW YORK,NY --  CafeMom has announced the launch partners for Mamas Latinas (www.mamaslatinas.com), its web destination catering to Hispanic moms which will launch in January, 2012. Moms can now pre-register at mamaslatinas.com and view a series of "Soy Mama Latina" videos featuring Latina moms sharing their unique stories and perspectives on raising their children in the U.S.

Founding partners include Chevrolet, General Mills, Kmart, and Sears. To support the new website, CafeMom also announced several key hires for the Mamas Latinas executive team.

"We are thrilled to be launching Mamas Latinas in collaboration with these great brands that have been consistently committed to reaching and connecting with Hispanic consumers," said CafeMom CEO, Michael Sanchez. "With the support of these companies, we look forward to creating a groundbreaking destination that will add value to the lives of millions of Hispanic moms."

Founding partners will be fundamentally integrated into the site experience, adding value to moms' lives through the development of active communities, compelling content, and great deals. Word of mouth initiatives and private insights platforms add to the level of custom programs, unprecedented in Hispanic marketing.

"Both Kmart and Sears recognize how critical Hispanic moms are to the success of our businesses," said Andrew Stein, VP of Marketing Planning for Sears and Kmart. "By 2014, one in four moms online will be Hispanic - as an influential and underserved group of consumers we want to make sure we fill their specialized needs. We are delighted to partner with CafeMom and Mamas Latinas to deliver this compelling platform for this important consumer."

Leading the effort is Mamas Latinas Co-founder and EVP Lucia Ballas-Traynor, a 25-year Hispanic media veteran who has been at the helm of leading brands such as Univision's Galavision, MTV Tr3s and most recently People en Espanol, the top selling Hispanic magazine in the U.S. Three well-known industry leaders will join Ballas-Traynor on the executive team. -- Johanna Torres -- Editor-in-Chief -- is a leading multi-media editor, journalist and producer with deep experience in the U.S. Hispanic media market. Torres has served as Editor-in-Chief for national publications like Ser Padres and Lamaze, and as Founding Editor of Meredith's Siempre Mujer magazine, one of the top three leading Hispanic magazines in the U.S. Torres also founded Mi Blogazine, a lifestyle blog for Latinas. She also serves as Lifestyle Expert and Blogger for outlets such as AOL Latino, and regularly appears as a guest on CNN en Espanol's NotiMujer, Univision, Telemundo, and Yahoo's De Moda.

-- Stacey C. Rivera -- Managing Editor -- joins the team from Latina Media Ventures, where she worked as Digital Content Director, responsible for the day-to-day management of Latina.com, the website owned by Latina magazine, the leading English-language lifestyle magazine for Hispanic women. Rivera's work with top Latino celebrities to create original video and social media content lead to significant increases in traffic to Latina.com. During her career, Rivera has served as managing editor at Hallmark Magazine, Stuff magazine, and Hamptons Country.
-- Andrea Slodowicz -- VP, Marketing -- is a Hispanic industry leader in consumer communication and innovation. As VP Director of Strategy and Content Development for Starcom MediaVest Group Multicultural, Slodowicz was responsible for the development of award-winning, ownable ideas and custom implementation for top 500 advertisers, such as Kraft, Post, Avon, Comcast, Heineken, and Wendy's. During her 10 year tenure with the agency, she also directed strategic media planning across Tapestry and MV42's for an esteemed client roster. Slodowicz has been recognized for her innovative multicultural marketing with numerous prestigious awards including AdAgeMagazine's "25 Twenty Somethings" and Media Magazine's "The New Media DNA".

"I am delighted to lead a team of such seasoned and talented Hispanic market veterans," says Ballas-Traynor. "They all have a deep understanding of Hispanic moms as well as what kind of conversations, content and offerings that engage and moves them. Most importantly, they are all as passionate as I am about the opportunity to create a rich destination where Hispanic moms can connect over their common culture, heritage, and life experiences."

About Mamas Latinas: Launching in January 2012, Mamas Latinas is poised to become the leading and most trusted bilingual online destination dedicated to connecting, informing, entertaining and empowering Latina moms by super-serving their culturally unique interests and needs. At the core of Mamas Latinas will be a dynamic community offering, engaging and targeted editorial content, and entertaining diversions like games.

About CafeMom: Launched in late 2006, CafeMom is the number one site on the internet for moms and the premier strategic marketing partner to brands that want to reach moms in a rapidly changing digital environment. CafeMom reaches more than 9MM unique visitors per month on CafeMom.com and 23MM+ unique visitors per month on CafeMom Plus (comScore, Sept. 2011), a boutique network of sites that reach moms and parents. CafeMom is also the leader in developing custom programs for top brands that want to connect with and understand moms online. In May 2011, CafeMom extended its offering beyond community and content and into commerce by launching Mom.com, a local daily deals site targeted to moms and their families. CafeMom lead investors are Highland Capital Partners and Draper Fisher Jurvetson. The company was founded by Andrew Shue and Michael Sanchez.

SOURCE: CafeMom

Latina appointed to Education Board

Lockheed Martin Vice President Maria E. Ruess Confirmed to Barry Goldwater Foundation Board of Trustees

WASHINGTON, D.C.  -- Maria E. Ruess, a Lockheed Martin vice president of business development, will serve on the Barry Goldwater Scholarship and Excellence in Education Foundation Board of Trustees. She was nominated by President Barack Obama in May and recently confirmed by the Senate.

Since joining Lockheed Martin in 1999, Ruess has held various positions of increasing responsibility in business development, program management, engineering and finance. In May, Ruess was named vice president for international business development and strategy within the Mission Systems & Sensors business, headquartered in Washington, D.C.

The Barry Goldwater Scholarship and Excellence in Education Foundation was formed by Congress in 1986 to honor Senator Barry M. Goldwater. The organization encourages outstanding students to pursue careers in the fields of mathematics, the natural sciences and engineering and awards scholarships to undergraduate sophomores and juniors from the U.S.

Ruess has more than 20 years of experience supporting professional development with a focus on Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM). A former teacher at Saint Bernard's High School in Los Angeles and a Hands on Science Outreach volunteer at her local school, Ruess continues to mentor students through organizations such as the Hispanic College Fund and the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute, and is a board member of Great Minds in STEM(TM). She is also an active leader in many Lockheed Martin organizations including the Women's Success Forum, the Executive Diversity Council and the Hispanic Mentoring and Leadership Association, as well as the chair of the Hispanic Leadership council.

Ruess was honored as one of the Most Influential Hispanics in Technology and Business from Career Communications Group, Inc. at a ceremony this summer. In 2009, she received the Pioneer Award from Great Minds in STEM, a non-profit organization that focuses on STEM educational awareness programs for students from kindergarten to careers.

Ruess received her bachelor's degree in engineering from the Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Cali, Colombia, and earned her master's of business administration from George Washington University.

Lockheed Martin invests heavily in STEM education programs. In 2010 alone, the Corporation spent more than $12 million on K-12 and higher education programs and scholarships. Lockheed Martin employees also volunteered nearly 200,000 hours in education-related activities. Overall, Lockheed Martin delivered standards-based, STEM-related curriculum to 3.5 million students through direct classroom engagement of its employees and strategic education partnerships with NASA, National Geographic, and the National Science Foundation.

Headquartered in Bethesda, Md., Lockheed Martin is a global security company that employs about 126,000 people worldwide and is principally engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture, integration and sustainment of advanced technology systems, products and services. The Corporation's 2010 sales from continuing operations were $45.8 billion.

For additional information, visit our website: http://www.lockheedmartin.com/ms2

SOURCE Lockheed Martin

Latina serves as COO of the NTI Administration

With experience as an attorney and with the FCC, Anna Gomez is ideal for her position as Deputy Assistant Secretary for Communications and Information

Anna M. Gomez

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Anna Gomez is the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Communications and Information and the Deputy Administrator of the National Telecommunications and Information Administration.

As Deputy Administrator of the National Telecommunications and Information Administration, I serve essentially as the Chief Operating Officer of the agency. Though much of my time is spent on management, I also work on public policy, especially the challenges of expanding broadband Internet use in underserved communities and improving communications for the nation’s first responders. I am honored to play a role in addressing issues that are so vital to our nation’s safety and economic future.

My career path began early. I was born in the United States but spent most of my childhood in Bogota, Colombia, where my father’s family lives. I knew since childhood that I would one day become a lawyer because my mother always told me so. (I would like to think that she recognized in me a precocious talent for logic and deduction, but she was actually commenting on my willingness to argue a point!) I returned to the United States as a teen and did indeed go to law school. I am glad that I did because the law is a good foundation for a career in public service, though it is certainly not mandatory.

My first full-time job was in the litigation group of a law firm. I enjoyed it but wanted to practice communications law instead. While at the firm, I ran the D.C. Hispanic Bar Association’s mentoring program for Hispanic law students. It brought me to the attention of a partner at the firm, who soon went to work at the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). 

I joined her at the FCC, where my communications policy work began.

I worked at the FCC for 12 years, serving in various management positions, including Senior Legal Advisor to former FCC Chairman William Kennard. In between positions at the FCC, I served as a staffer on Capitol Hill and at the National Economic Council. Before returning to government in 2009, I also worked several years in the telecommunications industry.

The communications policy field is interesting because it is dynamic and it affects so many aspects of daily life. When I started at the FCC, I handled issues involving payphones, new area codes, and toll-free numbers. Now I deal with broadband and Internet policy. In another decade, we may be grappling with a new set of challenges.

One challenge that I am determined we overcome is the Internet adoption gap, which persists along historic demographic lines. It has been roughly 15 years since the term “digital divide” gained national attention, but more than 28 percent of people in the United States still do not use the Internet. The situation is even worse for Latinos, who significantly lag the national broadband adoption rate. NTIA is active on various fronts to address this problem, and that is one of the most rewarding aspects of working here. The Obama Administration is committed to increasing broadband access and adoption in the U.S., which is a key ingredient for job creation and sustainable economic growth.

My career advice to young Hispanics is to pursue your passion and work hard. Volunteer for assignments, and perform them well. Join professional associations where you can help others. If you roll up your sleeves and do a good job with a positive attitude, you will be noticed.

Last, when facing an obstacle at work, I often think of advice that former Attorney General Janet Reno gave in remarks before the D.C. Hispanic Bar Association. She told us, “Don't lose your idealism.” That is especially good advice for anyone in public service. What we do can be challenging, and we must remind ourselves of why we are here. But no matter what path you choose, I hope it is one that has meaning for you.

Cervical Cancer for Latinas is twice as high

Cuidate. Armate. Educate. Latinas for Cervical Cancer Prevention Campaign is launched.

NEW YORK, NY -- According to the American Cancer Society, there are approximately 10,000 cases and 3,700 deaths from cervical cancer in the U.S. per year.

The incidence of cervical cancer for Latina women in the United States is almost twice as high as non-Latina white women. Latina women have the 2nd highest mortality rate from cervical cancer (after black women).

Cervical cancer is very preventable. 85% of women who die from cervical cancer never had a pap smear.

In June 2006, the FDA approved the first vaccine, Gardasil®, manufactured by Merck & Company, developed to prevent cervical cancer caused by four strains of HPV; two of which are responsible for 70% of cervical cancer incidences and two strains which are responsible for 90% of genital warts caused by HPV. 

Campaign Wrap-Up!

Many Latina Advocacy Networks of the National Latina Institute for Reproductive Health and other affiliated organizations around the country have been hosting great events related to the Cuídate. Ármate. Edúcate. Latinas for Cervical Cancer Prevention Campaign. Read more.

WHAT CAN YOU DO? 

1. CUÍDATE

Take care of yourself and the women in your life. Make sure you get regular pap smears and screenings for sexually transmitted infections.

Help the women in your community access reproductive health care services. Create a resource guide to help women get pap smears and learn how to get the HPV vaccine. 

2. ÁRMATE

Ensure that you and others in your community are armed with the important tools needed to prevent cervical cancer. Support initiatives on the local and state level that expand public funding for cervical cancer screenings and access to the HPV vaccine.
Use the Cuídate. Ármate. Edúcate. Postcard and spread the word about cervical cancer prevention. Send the postcard to your friends, family and local decision makers (teachers, neighbors, local officials, community leaders) and start the discussion about cervical cancer and HPV. 

3. EDÚCATE

Educate yourself about cervical cancer and HPV, and share that information with the people in your life, family and community.

Host a cafecito and invite community members to talk about cervical cancer, HPV and the vaccine. See the Cafecito guide for more information and tips for your cafecito. 

Resources: Human Papillomavirus, Cervical Cancer and HPV Vaccine Frequently Asked Questions (Spanish)
Latinas and Cervical Cancer Fact Sheet (Spanish)
NLIRH Statement on the HPV vaccine (Spanish) 

Latina picked as CEO for Girl Scouts

Ana Maria Chavez, a Mexican-American from Arizona, will be taking over the national Girl Scout's organization.
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Ana Marian Chavez

NEW YORK, NY — As a young Mexican-American girl, Anna Maria Chavez was a member of the Girl Scouts in a small farming town in southern Arizona.

Now, she will lead the nonprofit as it experiences an increase in participation by Hispanic girls in the U.S., even as its overall membership has decreased.

The New York-based Girl Scouts of the USA announced Wednesday it had selected Chavez as its new chief executive officer — the first Hispanic woman to serve in the position.

"We wanted to find someone who had a strong leadership story of her own whose journey in life could serve as a shining example for all of our girls," said Connie Lindsay, the national president of the organization and a member of the search committee.

Chavez, 43, has been the chief executive of Girl Scouts of Southwest Texas since 2009. She will be taking over for CEO Kathy Cloninger, who is retiring after leading an overhaul of the leadership organization's programs and direction over the past eight years.

Chavez, born in Arizona, was raised in the small town of Eloy, about 50 miles northwest of Tucson, before the family moved to Phoenix. She said the experience of being a member of Girl Scout Troop 304 in Eloy was formative.

"One of my best friends came to school one day and said she was going to be a Girl Scout, and I decided that was for me, even though my family hadn't had a tradition of Girl Scouting," said Chavez, speaking by phone from San Antonio.

"The Girl Scout opportunity that went on from there really opened my eyes," she said.

Before working for the Girl Scouts, Chavez served as an urban affairs policy adviser to former Arizona governor and current U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano and for other state agencies involved in providing community services. She also worked for the federal government, including as chief of staff for the U.S. Small Business Administration's Office of Government Contracting and Minority Enterprise Development.

The Girl Scouts is increasingly seeing its future in the growth of the Hispanic community.

The organization, founded in 1912, said it had noted a 55 percent increase in the number of Hispanic girls who have joined its ranks over the past 10 years. They now account for about 12 percent — or 272,000 girls — of the nearly 2.3 million girls who were Scouts in 2010.

In response to the growth of Hispanics among its membership, the Girl Scouts of the USA has redoubled its outreach to the community, including with bilingual public campaigns.

Overall, membership has declined by 14 percent since 2006, when there were 2.7 million Scouts, the organization said. It attributed the decline to the economy and a decrease in funding for large nonprofits.