HispanicBusiness

Gilberto Cardenas Executive Director Institute for Latino Studies, University of Notre Dame Notre Dame, IN Mr. Cardenas is the executive director of Inter-University Program for Latino Research, a 13-university alliance that conducts in-depth analysis. His current Latino project covers economic empowerment, economic development strategies, and small-business entrepreneurs. In the last nine moths, he has been appointed to the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation Millenium board, to the first Smithsonian National Board for Latino Initiatives, and to the new Julian Samora Chair in Latino Studies at the University of Notre Dame.



Carlos Cardona Founder & Chief Technology Officer Yupi Internet Inc. Miami Beach, FL Mr. Cardona oversees product and technology development of a Hispanic portal. He ensures that the site maintains its vision of being the fastest and easiest way for Spanish-speaking people to use the Internet. Yupi has offices in Miami, Argentina, Colombia, Mexico, and Spain. The company announced in March that its revenue in the first fiscal quarter grew to $3.6 million, a 20 percent increase over the $3 million recorded in the fourth quarter of 1999. He also has helped create new communities with MujerFutura.com, a virtual community for Spanish-speaking women, and Amarillas.com, an online business community for Spain and the Americas.



Linda Chavez-Thompson Executive VP AFL-CIO Washington, DC Ms. Chavez-Thompson has been the leader in the new stance for the AFL-CIO’s advocating amnesty for undocumented workers, and she wants to eliminate sanctions for employers who hire them. She became the highest-ranking woman in the labor movement when she was elected to the new position of AFL-CIO executive vice president in 1995. Among her successes are: organizing a drive in Texas that brought in 5,000 new members; and the passage of a collective bargaining law for public employees in New Mexico.



Irene Chavira President Telephone Pioneers of America Denver, CO Ms. Chavira, who is vice president of Public Policy for US WEST, heads an international volunteer organization that is comprised of 84 chapters operating in the United States and Canada, with an increasing presence in Mexico. There are about 800,000 members, who are active and retired employees of large telecommunications companies. They volunteer to build healthy communities, with a major focus on education and youth outreach. Through partnerships with the U.S. Department of Education, Industry Canada, Library of Congress, and Junior Achievement, Pioneers have pledged more than 25 million hours of volunteer service from 1999-2000.



Diana Chibás CEO Diana Chibás Shapely Intimates New Rochelle, NY Mrs. Chibás launched her Web site, www.dianachibas.com, in September 1999. She is breaking the mold in advertising and Internet business. She is focusing on enhancing the image for the plus-size woman. As a full-figured size 12 model, Mrs. Chibás is proud of her new collection of plus-size loungewear. Her company employs full figured Hispanic models in their catalogs and on their Web site, attempting to present full-figured models resembling the women in Renaissance paintings.



Miguel Contreras Executive Secretary-Treasurer Los Angeles County Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO Los Angeles , CA Mr. Contreras is the first Hispanic to head the 800,000-member Los Angeles County chapter. He made a national splash in June when his group sponsored an amnesty and immigration reform rally in Los Angeles, which drew 20,000 supporters and wide media coverage. The union has been seeking to help undocumented immigrants. He is also serving on the boards of the L.A. Convention and Visitor’s Bureau and United Way.