HispanicBusiness

Manuel "Manny" Rosales, Washington, D.C., director of The Latino Coalition, has been named Deputy Director of Coalitions for the Republican National Committee.

In announcing Rosales' appointment to the executive staff post, RNC Chairman Michael Steele recognized the leader's decades of public service and advocacy for small business owners and veterans as well as his work with Catholic communities across the nation.

"His experience will be exceptionally valuable as the RNC works to communicate our party's principles and expand the Republican Party to more Americans," Steele said.

Latino Coalition Chairman Hector V. Barreto praised Rosales' work in the Washington office, citing his efforts to broaden the nonprofit organization's outreach and, most recently, his relaunching of the coalition's annual Economic Summit and Business Matchmaking gathering. The event drew a record 30 federal agencies and more than 250 small business owners from across the nation.

"It's with mixed emotions that I thank my good friend Manny Rosales for his years of tireless work to The Latino Coalition, and congratulate him on his appointment to the RNC. Our great loss at TLC will be the RNC's great gain, as a more diverse outreach strategy strengthens the ties between the Republican Party and the U.S. Latino population," Barreto said.

Rosales, who was born in Managua, Nicaragua, and immigrated with his family to San Francisco, has a career spanning more than four decades working in the public and private sectors. Before joining the coalition, Rosales served as president and CEO of the Caribbean Central American Action, a Washington, D.C.-based non-governmental organization that focuses on the Caribbean Basin. Previously, Rosales operated his own financial services company, Inter-American Financial Services, in California.

CiCi Rojas, Executive Director of the Republican Party in Kansas, said of Rosales: "This is a crucial time for the Republican Party nationwide. Manny has the background and national experience necessary to help in the work of expanding our base and re-connecting our party and our ideals with Latinos across the country."

The Latino Coalition was founded in 1995 by a group Hispanic business owners to research and develop policies relevant to Latinos. Today its aim is to develop initiatives and partnerships that will enhance the business, economic and social development of Latinos.


Minority Business Council Honors 4 Firms For Diversity Programs

The National Minority Business Council honored four corporations for their outstanding diversity programs and their commitment to those programs despite the pressures of today's economic environment.

The four corporations -- the Bank of New York Mellon, General Electric Co., the McGraw-Hill Cos. and Sodexco Inc. -- were recognized at a Diversity Awards Reception in New York earlier this month during the council's 37th anniversary celebration.

"At a time when so many corporations are pulling back on their commitment to diversity, citing the harsh economic climate, we are pleased to be honoring these four that have stood by their programs, programs that are outstanding in and of themselves in any environment," said John F. Robinson, the council's president and CEO. "These corporations are shining examples to all that you do not have to trade off your commitment to corporate diversity for the sake of bottom-line profitability. They have found the middle ground to meet the goals of both."

The companies cited reasons for their commitment. GE said its growth in emerging markets has prompted a focus on retaining its diverse talents, and said it is committed to building culture and capability for global growth. The Bank of New York Mellon said its outstanding client service and innovation are directly connected to diversity. Sodexco CEO Michel Landel called diversity and inclusion "a moral obligation and a societal goal." And McGraw Hill CEO Harold W. McGraw III said: "An inclusive workplace that values each individual, recognizing the diverse characteristics, perspectives, ideas and backgrounds that our employees bring to the table, gives us a vital competitive edge in anticipating and exceeding our customers' needs."

Gregory L. Reid, chairman of the council's board of directors, said: "All of the companies we are honoring not only have outstanding workforce diversity programs, but they also have equally strong supplier diversity programs. They are successful because they have recognized that crucial link between diversity and inclusiveness in all aspects and the essential viability of their companies."