Testimonials from the Latinas and Power Symposium

2007 - 2008

Responses from Sponsors…

• “You and your team did an outstanding job at planning, organizing and executing the Latinas in Power Symposium!  However, what stood out and left a memorable impression on me was your passion, honesty and conviction in living out your legacy. It was a long ride out to Hartford, but it was well worth the investment of my time and I'd do it all over again.  I'm glad to have made the connection with Powerful Latinas who are making a difference in Hartford and touching the four corners of the world while doing so….don't hesitate to reach out anytime throughout the year. I may just see you all in Boston in May!” Michelle K. Medina, IBM, Global Business Partners, Partner Development Executive

• “I would like to thank you on behalf of the organization for allowing Girls Inc. to participate in your symposium. Melanie and I were pleased with the turn out at the Young Latinas Forum and with the feedback we received. Hope to hear from you soon.” Damary Bonilla, Girls Inc.

• “My most sincere congratulations for being a passionate leader and a true entrepreneur, this Latinas and Power Symposium fits you perfectly! Good luck…I'm so proud of you!!!” Ana Alfaro, Northeast Utilities

• “I would just like to say what a great event this was....I really enjoyed it very much and the workshops were great, in fact very well informative.....thank you! Thank you!” Nancy Guzman, Implementation Consultant, Aetna

• “It was a great event. It was an exciting experience working and networking with so many successful Latina women altogether...Thank you!!” Katiria Arzuaga – The Hartford Financial

• The panel on credit was really well done!  I even learned about things I didn't know.  We had a packed room with lots of questions, especially from several of the students.  Thank you for taking the time in advance to prepare your presentations and provide the handouts. I appreciate the time you took to prepare given your responsibilities with work and family. Overall the symposium was one of the best I've attended, and believe me, I attend a lot.  The speakers and the program was high caliber and I walked away inspired.   Several of my colleagues from State Farm absolutely loved it, and I know they were inspired as well…..Diana Rael, Director Multicultural Markets, State Farm

• It was wonderful to meet you - your positive energy and enthusiasm certainly is contagious. I also have to say that your experience in high school almost exactly mirrored mine so every time you were up there talking about what you went through I kept saying "me too, me too!" -- it was very inspirational! The symposium was a great success, and I'm sure you know that. I know how much work goes into pulling together these conferences, and you did an amazing job! I'm so glad that we had a chance to participate in the Entrepreneurship workshop which also went very well. – Doris B. Gonzalez, Senior Program Manager Corporate Citizenship & Corporate Affairs IBM Corporation

Responses from Exhibitors…

• “What a marvelous event! I’m sure you’re still on Cloud 9 from the Latinas and Power Symposium…you should be because it was a wonderful event! We met more wonderful women at your seminar than at two full days at the Women’s Expo. They were warm, they loved our jewelry and many were interested in the business opportunity as well. Muchas gracias!” Ellen Ornato, President, Solutions PR & Event Marketing, LLC

• “What you are creating and generating in the Latina community is phenomenal! Your conference was a pure pleasure to attend. What you are up to in supporting people learning the skills to be successful in their lives is in complete alignment with the mission of the Road to Riches:  Wealth and prosperity in the lives of all willing people.” Denise Hambrick, Road to Riches

Responses from Presenters…

• “Congratulations on the accomplishment of doing a great job producing, talking and being part of the Symposium. You truly are an inspiration.” Karla Tovar, Anderson Productions

• “I truly had a wonderful time...You are doing a great job getting women empowered. Keep up the good work.” Rebecca Flores

Responses from Participants…

• “Wow!! This is powerful…most importantly the energy and electricity that all these ladies have brought to this event as I have seen it for three years. It is inspiring and I love it.” Nereida Perez, City of Harford

·         “I just wanted to say WOW!!! This year’s conference was "tremendo." It motivated me to work towards my career and passion but to also encourage and motivate Latinos and Latinas to accomplish what they want and to find themselves… what we heard today in the conference, it really persuaded me to persuade other Latinos to go into a higher education and that there is nothing impossible…Thank You!!!” Jessica Nieves – College Student

• “I had a great time at Latinas and Power this year. I love the communication among all the volunteers. Congratulations!!!” Marisol Monseratte, Spanish American Merchants Associations

• “I would like to congratulate you and share with you that I enjoy working with you tremendously…My students had a wonderful time.” Ivette Rivera-Dreyer, Director of Financial Aid, Manchester Community College

• “I wanted to take this opportunity to thank you for inviting me to attend the Latinas and Power Symposium. I must say I had a wonderful time there. I really enjoyed listening to you speak along with all the other speakers that were there and the workshops that I attended were very informative.” Lynette Espinosa, Assistant Branch Manager, Sovereign Bank

• This was my first year at the Latina Symposium and it was excellent!  Getting to meet Latina women in leadership roles was very exciting. The workshops on developing an executive presence and the value of contributing to my community were very inspiring!! I do encourage Latinas to join forces of women in leadership roles…Madeline Perez, Program Assistant, Connecticut Health Foundation

2006 Comments

What Sponsors and Participants had to say about
Latinas and Power Symposium.…

Sponsor Responses…

• “The decision to become involved with this year's Latinas and Power Symposium was not difficult because of the success of last year's symposium and because of the unique opportunity that participation offered. No event in Hartford that I'm aware of is designed to reach out to Latinas (or women in general) for the expressed purpose of defining, demonstrating and delivering the true meaning of power. The involvement of highly successful, passionate and caring Latina volunteers from the corporate, political, and educational communities from all over Connecticut in organizing, promoting and supporting this event made this a golden opportunity for any company or organization to demonstrate its commitment to the Latino community.

The exposure, visibility and recognition that MW Financial Group, LTD. and Guardian received as lead sponsors exceeded our expectations. My colleagues could not say enough about the quality of the speakers and attendees nor the energy and vitality that was consistent from beginning to end. We have already begun to reap the benefits from our participation and have put next year's symposium in our budget.

Thank you to Marilyn Alverio and her diligent staff at Ethnic Marketing Solutions for delivering on their promise to make the annual Latinas and Power Symposium the marquis event in Connecticut's Latino community.” Sylvia Perez Collins, Vice-President, MW Financial Group, LTD.

Panelists and Facilitator Responses…

• “Not only was our panel VERY well received, the entire program was a tribute to our ability to work together. As NAWBO-CT president, my motto was "Together, we can propel women business owners into economic, social and political power.” So ladies, what next? What common dreams can we work on next month? Next year? I look forward to exploring the possibilities with this excellent team.” Leila Fecho, Past President NAWBO-CT, President, Above & Beyond Communications LLC

• “I just wanted to take this opportunity to tell you all how much I enjoyed working with you on the Latinas and Power Entrepreneurial Workshop. Many participants came up to me afterwards and told me that they had learned so much useful information and had even gained insight into themselves. What more can you ask for? It was excellent! Job well done.” Rosaida Morales Rosario, Rosario & Associates, LLC, Hartford, CT

• “Thank you so much for including me in this wonderful event. I found the whole day inspiring and, was able to volunteer a solid business introduction to one of the participants in the mining your business section.” Alison Somers, Stamford, CT

Participant Responses…

• “I want to thank you so much, de todo corazon, for all the hard work you put into to the LatinaS & Power Event... I enjoyed it so much… I meet with so many beautiful women and more than anything I took a little power from every woman I shook my hands with that day. Mil Gracias.” Ivette Olmeda, Center for Women & Enterprise, Worcester, MA.

• “I just wanted to let you know that I thought the conference was wonderful. When I saw you speaking at the podium, it reminded me of when Anna Maria Arias from Latina Style presented the Latina & Empowerment series for the first time and I just knew that it would be successful.” Aida Velez, Connecticut Childrens Medical Center

• “I am writing you to congratulate you again for the excellent organization of Latinas and Power event of last Friday. It was very interesting and I really enjoy meeting new people from different backgrounds.” Elaine Connolly

• “You did a wonderful job with your symposium. The messages that were conveyed by your speakers were inspiring. It was great for not just your attendees to hear, but all of us. It was great to watch you in action. Your passion is infectious and you gave a fantastic introduction to the day. Your audience could not help but be inspired and spurred to make something great happen in their lives. Congratulations!” David Bauer, Canton Insurance Center

• “I had a great time at the event and I was glad to be part of it. I made some nice contacts and enjoyed the speakers very much. It was nice to have a lot of Spanish conversation with many people.” Mari Rodriguez, Babbalu.com

• “Thank you so much for giving us the opportunity to attend this event. We really enjoyed ourselves. It was very inspiring. You really did a great job in organizing this event. Congratulations to you. Hope to attend next year.” Maribel Velez

• “Congratulations on putting together a great event today. Nely Galán was superb.” Felicity Harley, World Affairs Council.