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2007

Nevada State College Commits to Diversity with Multicultural Heritage Programs

Nevada State College (NSC) is deeply and passionately committed to the advancement of diversity in Nevada's higher education system.  NSC's Heritage Center has led the way in advancing diversity through a series of Multicultural Heritage Month programs.  These programs have included multiple series of distinguished speakers, panel discussions, films, and concerts highlighting the unique and special values, as well as the diversity among Hispanics/Latinos, Asian/Pacific Islanders, persons of African descent, and women in America.

The programs are free to the general public and have been well-received by the NSC student/faculty community and City of Henderson residents.  To learn more about upcoming programs, please visit www.nsc.nevada.edu.

Salazar Communications provides Hispanic/Latino marketing and public relations services to Nevada State College.

Salazar Appointed to NLVCC Foundation Board of Directors

Maite Salazar has been appointed to the Board of Directors for the charitable Foundation of the North Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce (NLVCC).  

The North Las Vegas Chamber Foundation was formed in 1994 to contribute to the educational and charitable needs of the North Las Vegas and surrounding communities.  The mission of the North Las Vegas Chamber Foundation, a 501(c)(3) organization, is to provide educational opportunities through programs, funding, and mentorships that will improve the quality of education in our schools along with providing professional development opportunities to the business community.

Since its inception, the Foundation has contributed to several charitable and local programs throughout the city. In 2002, the Chamber - through its Foundation - adopted the Reynaldo Martinez Elementary School, an at-risk Focus Project School.  The Foundation has made contributions to support the Aviation Center project, volunteer uniform program, and the school’s general operating fund. In 2003, the Foundation contributed almost $2,000 in classroom school supplies.

In 2004, the Foundation focused on its educational efforts to the business and education community. Through its Business Resource Center (BRC), business owners can get the information and counseling necessary to run their businesses efficiently. Those just starting out are able to determine whether entrepreneurship is right for them and to get the necessary information on starting that business. Through the BRC, several workshops and seminars are scheduled annually to assist with the various aspects of starting and running a business.

In 2005-06 the Foundation introduced the Business Education Enterprise Program (BEEP), which brought local high-school students into North Las Vegas businesses to learn from key personnel about careers and workplaces.  For more information, please visit http://www.nlvchamber.org/chamber/foundation.asp. 

Salazar Receives Special Award From Toastmasters in Las Vegas

Maite Salazar has received a special award from Division D, District 33 (Las Vegas) of Toastmasters International.  The award, specially commissioned and presented by Area D-4 Governor Maria Boyd (ATM-B, CL), recognized Maite for making a difference through her dedication and support of her club and the overall Toastmasters mission.

Salazar Coordinates VITA/EITC Low-Income Tax Preparation at Latin Chamber

As part of her personal and ongoing commitment to the Las Vegas Hispanic/Latino community, Maite Salazar coordinated the only Spanish-language VITA/EITC low-income tax preparation site in the greater Las Vegas area this year.  This site was located at the headquarters of the Las Vegas Latin Chamber of Commerce.

NOVEMBER 1, 2006

Maite Salazar Appointed to Governor's Workforce Investment Board

Maite Salazar has been appointed to a three-year term on the Nevada Governor's State Workforce Investment Board (SWIB).  Part of the Department of Employment, Training and Rehabilitation (DETR), SWIB promotes workforce development; advises the Governor and the State Legislature on workforce development policy; encourages public-private partnerships and facilitates innovation in workforce development policy and practices; and ensures a quality workforce system by evaluating results and supporting high standards and continuous improvement.

Maite Salazar was appointed to the SWIB by virtue of her fifteen years of experience in business creation and the development of public-private partnerships and collaborations.  At the present time, Maite is the only Hispanic/Latina member of the board.

JULY 18, 2006

“Spanish Spoken Here:” Maite Salazar Provides Insights on Hispanic/Latino Market Trends to the Review-Journal

Maite Salazar, president of Salazar Communications, was interviewed, along with other Hispanic/Latino business owners and marketplace provider, for today’s Review-Journal top-of-the-Business section story about the growing power of the Hispanic/Latino market in the Las Vegas Valley.

“’As the Spanish-speaking population has grown here ... so has its purchasing power," said Maite Salazar, whose Salazar Communications has provided Spanish public relations services locally for nearly two years. ‘That has created areas for industries to move in, such as special products or services.’

"’Many of the new businesses are owned by Spanish speakers who need service and prefer service in their own language, only because sometimes if it's technical there's a certain comfort level’ in using a native tongue, said Salazar, whose clients include North Vista Hospital in North Las Vegas and Henderson's Nevada State College.”

Get the full story here.

JULY 14, 2006

Salazar Completes Volunteer-Recruitment PSA for Southern Nevada Health District

Salazar Communications has delivered the final cuts of a new public-service announcement (PSA) and internal video, in both English- and Spanish-language versions, to be used by the Southern Nevada Health District (SNHD) for the recruitment of volunteers to support the district’s array of public-health activities. 

Last July, Salazar produced a Spanish-language PSA to support SNHD’s West Nile Virus awareness campaign.  “We’re proud of this opportunity to support our Health District,” said Maria Teresa (Maite) Salazar, President of Salazar Communications.  “We’re honored that SNHD again called upon us to support their mission.  Salazar always stands ready, with our expertise in creating bilingual and bicultural messages for the Hispanic/Latino and mainstream markets, to be of service.”

The announcements have been produced in collaboration with Fooddance Films, Salazar’s strategic partner for film, video, and audio productions.  Fooddance’s president, Joseluis Partida, is a veteran producer of public-health informational-awareness campaigns for Hispanic/Latino audiences.  Partida also is president of Grupo Vida Media, dedicated to AIDS/HIV awareness education to Hispanics/Latinos.

JULY 2, 2006

Maite Salazar on Mexican Expatriate Voter Turnout: First Predictions, Now Reality

In August 2005, nearly a full year before the 2006 Mexican presidential election, Maite Salazar predicted (in a column published in the online journal www.mexidata.info, which covers trends in Mexican politics and commerce) that the liberalization of eligibility for Mexican expatriates living abroad would have only a miniscule impact on the election.  Mexicans living in the U.S., asserted Maite, had little faith or interest in the Mexican political process. 

By Election Day in Mexico, less than 28,000 U.S.-residing Mexicans (out of an estimated 4 million eligible to vote for Los Pinos’ next occupant) actually cast ballots – exceeding Maite’s predictions of low expat turnout.

Read Maite’s interview with Reuters reporter Mary Milliken here;

Read the original Mexidata.info article here.

JULY 2, 2006

Ebrard Elected Mayor of Mexico City; Salazar Partner Plays Key Role

The 2006 Mexican general election also saw Lic. Marcelo Ebrard Casaubón elected mayor of Mexico City on the PRD ticket.  Lic. Ebrard served as secretary of social development, then as secretary of public security, and finally as general secretary of the Distrito Federal's (Federal District's) government before his election to the mayoralty.

Lic. Julio Cal y Mayor Franco, Salazar’s government-affairs and business-development strategic partner for Mexico City, played an instrumental role in Lic. Ebrard’s victory.  Lic. Cal y Mayor, president of Cal y Mayor y Asociados, has extensive experience and achievement within Mexico’s public and private sectors.

JUNE 12, 2006

LUCES Coalition, Rafael Rivera Community Outreach Form Alliance

(LAS VEGAS, NV) - The LUCES Coalition (Latinos United Celebrating Health/Latinos Unidos Celebrando Salud), a community collaboration of the Southern Nevada Health District (SNHD), is proud to announce its alliance with the Rafael Rivera Community Outreach.  This alliance creates the largest, most value-filled, community-based free annual health fair in the Las Vegas Valley.

“We’re very pleased to join forces with the Rafael Rivera Community Outreach,” said Elisbaet Romero, 2006-07 president of LUCES.  “This alliance will enhance both organizations’ efforts to provide the best healthcare information and services to our communities, and improve the lives and health of Clark County residents.”

2006’s Rafael Rivera Community Outreach Health Fair included the participation of over 150 local and national organizations, including SNHD; Nevada Cancer Institute; Nathan Adelson Hospice; U.S. Department of Labor; the City of Las Vegas; Wal-Mart; Nevada Center for Ethics & Health Policy; Las Vegas Latin Chamber of Commerce; and Westcare.  Over 2,400 local residents attended the health fair. The new alliance will create a more inclusive health fair, with more participants, in 2007 and years to come.

The Rafael Rivera Community Outreach Committee has been a loose association of community-based organizations and stakeholders.  Its new alliance with LUCES will bring greater structure to its organization and operations, enhancing its capacity to deliver the best health fair in the Las Vegas Valley.

ABOUT LUCES

Latinos United Celebrating Health/Latinos Unidos Celebrando Salud (LUCES) is a community collaborative sponsored by the Southern Nevada Health District (SNHD).  LUCES was founded by Hispanic/Latino health professionals in 2001 as Latinos Together Against Disease.

LUCES is dedicated to empowering Hispanic/Latino communities to develop healthy lifestyles through information, education, and advocacy for the health of the Latino population in Clark County.

ABOUT RAFAEL RIVERA COMMUNITY OUTREACH

The Rafael Rivera Community Outreach is a partnership of primarily non-profit organizations promoting low-cost/free health services within the Hispanic/Latino community. Based at the Rafael Rivera Community Center, the Outreach meets monthly. 

The Rafael Rivera Community Outreach has also held the Rafael Rivera Health Fair since 2004.  Each year, the fair has attracted greater numbers of participants and attendees.

MAY 11, 2006

"Rediscover North Las Vegas" Media Tour A Resounding Success for Chamber

(NORTH LAS VEGAS, NV) - The May 11 "Rediscover North Las Vegas" media tour, hosted by the North Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce (NLVCC), was a resounding success in educating media members about the new employers and upscale developments, infrastructure upgrades, and quality of life improvements that are making North Las Vegas one of America's best places to do business and to live!

Salazar Communications, co-chair of the NLVCC Marketing Committee, was honored to have assisted with the media tour by getting media members "on the bus."  Local media represented on the tour included the Las Vegas Review-Journal; Las Vegas Sun; El Tiempo; InBusiness Las Vegas; Las Vegas Business Press; KVBC/Channel 3; KTNV/Channel 13; KLAS/Channel 8; Telemundo/T39; and Lovin' Life Las Vegas.  El Mundo Newspaper, Las Vegas' other Spanish-language weekly, also will be covering the North Las Vegas story.  The San Diego Daily Transcript also ran a story on the tour, and included reactions from Southern California business leaders on Nevada cities' marketing and awareness efforts.  (Needless to say, San Diego's business elites weren't happy.)

North Las Vegas is the third-fastest growing city in both Clark County and the United States!  Media members received a guided tour of CDW, the electronics catalog/online retail giant, which just opened up its new distribution center - the only distribution center outside CDW's Chicago headquarters; viewed North Las Vegas' Aliante master-planned community, upcoming Olympia development, the North Fifth Street industrial district and the Cheyenne Technology Corridor; and learned about other exciting developments in the works for North Las Vegas.  Those developments include a massive new research campus extension of UNLV, and a new homeland-security information-technology center, being built by wireless-technology leader Qualcomm, that will add 120 high-tech jobs to North Las Vegas when completed.

The tour was ably narrated by Mike Majewski, the economic-development director for the city of North Las Vegas; Brenda Johnson, public information officer and assistant city manager; and Sharon Powers, NLVCC's CEO.  Also on hand to answer media inquiries were NLVCC board members James York of the Bank of North Las Vegas, and Jill Flanzraich of Adventures in Advertising, as well as Carol Mayorga of Wells Fargo, on the board of the NLV Chamber Foundation.  Special thanks are in order for Terry Jenkins of Veolia Transportation (formerly ATC), who provided "The Deuce" double-decker bus for the tour, and his able driver/trainer, Herbert.

FEBRUARY 24, 2006

Maite Salazar Presents Executive Briefing on the Hispanic/Latino Market at UNLV Alumni Ass'n.

(LAS VEGAS, NV) - Maite Salazar presented an executive briefing on the Las Vegas Valley's burgeoning Hispanic/Latino market - over 500,000 consumers strong, and growing - to Feb. 24's meeting of the UNLV Alumni Association's Business-to-Business Breakfast Networking Club.  Attendees received an overview of the demographics that make this market a "must-win" for every local business, and took away key truths and fundamental tools for winning the loyalty of their Hispanic/Latino customers.

To book Maite Salazar for an informative executive briefing before your organization or company, please call 702.951.9454 or email tonyv@salacomm.com.

FEBRUARY 16, 2006

LUCES Elects New Leadership for 2006-2007

Latinos Unidos Celebrando Salud (LUCES—Latinos United Celebrating Health), a community collaborative of the Clark County Health District (CCHD), has elected its new officers and directors for 2006-2007.  Board members, elected by LUCES’ membership, serve a one-year term.

The membership elected Elisabet (Lizzie) Romero president, and Juan Zapata, vice president. Maria Castillo-Couch, immediate past president, will remain on the board in her emeritus capacity.

Ms. Romero is the multicultural health education coordinator for the Nevada Center for Ethics and Health Policy at UNR.  Juan Zapata is account manager for Primex Clinical Laboratories, Inc.  Maria Castillo-Couch is a senior management analyst for the Neighborhood Services Department of the City of Las Vegas.

"There is something incredibly special and moving to me in representing an organization of members genuinely committed to improving the Hispanic/Latino community in Clark County,” stated Elisabet Romero. “They are committed and devoted to their respective responsibilities to educate Latinos and be their voice whenever needed.

”We have a legacy to uphold and we thank the founding padres of LUCES.  They inspire the genuine passion of LUCES’ members in the work we do for our community.”

“I’m pleased to see a new and expanded board of professionals take the reins of LUCES and continue its progress,” added Maria Castillo-Couch.  “The Hispanic/Latino population of Las Vegas will continue to be Las Vegas’ fastest-growing demographic.  The need to educate and promote health among Hispanics/Latinos will only increase.”

Also elected as board members at large were Jose Bolaños (District Representative for Congressman Jon Porter); Rocio Flores (Area Health Education Center of Southern Nevada); Emilia Guenechea (Nevada Cancer Institute); Olga Mendoza (Goshen/LUZ Community Development Coalitions); Rev. Graciela Rivera (1^st Lutheran Church); Denisse Roldán-Newell (American Heart Association); and Maité Salazar (Salazar Communications).

Founded in 2001 by a group of Hispanic/Latino healthcare professionals.  LUCES is dedicated to empowering the Hispanic/Latino community of Clark County – a community over a half-million strong, and growing daily – to develop healthy lifestyles through education, awareness, and advocacy.

DECEMBER 27, 2005

Toastmasters en Español in the News

Toastmasters En Español received front-page coverage in the Dec. 27 edition of the Las Vegas Sun ("A toast to Espanol speakers".)  Sun reporter Timothy Pratt (himself a fluent Spanish-speaker!) wrote an informative, humorous story about the fun and learning that takes place in our thriving club each Monday night.  Many thanks to Timothy and the Sun for taking the time to visit Toastmasters En Español and run a terrific story.

If you haven't seen it yet, please read the story at:

http://www.lasvegassun.com/sunbin/stories/sun/2005/dec/27/519876008.html

DECEMBER 14, 2005

Salazar's President Named Co-Chair of NLVCC Marketing Committee

Maite Salazar, head of Salazar Communications, has been named co-chair of the Marketing Committee for the North Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce.  Maite will share the duties of the chair with Angela Thens, director of marketing for Carter & Burgess.

OCTOBER 24, 2005

Mexidata Publishes "A vicious circle of presidential politics in Mexico"

Mexidata.info, the authoritative online journal for information about Mexico’s socioeconomic, political and business trends, recently published the latest article by Salazar's team.  Written by Salazar Communications general counsel William J. Marvin  and partner Anthony Verduzco, "A vicious circle of presidential politics in Mexico" is a discerning examination of the leading candidates in Mexico's 2006 presidential elections.  This article is a must-read for those who appreciate the impact of political events in Mexico on the United States.  A second half to this analysis will be published in November.  

Read Messrs. Marvin's and Verduzco's analysis, "A vicious circle of presidential politics in Mexico," for free at http://www.mexidata.info/id653.html. 

Read Maite Salazar’s August article, “Will immigrants vote in Mexico’s 2006 election?”, at http://www.mexidata.info/id558.html.

OCTOBER 18, 2005

Salazar Helps Andrews Manpower Consulting Inc. (AMCI) Receive POEA Certification To Provide Solutions To U.S. Nursing Shortage

(MAKATI CITY, MANILA, REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES) - Andrews Manpower Consulting Inc. (AMCI), a Philippines-based international manpower recruitment firm, has been awarded a license by the Philippine Overseas Employment Agency (POEA), an agency of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), to begin recruiting and placing land-based professional workers worldwide.  As AMCI's U.S.-based business development consultant and strategic partner, Salazar Communications played an instrumental role in AMCI's certification.

In recent years, the Philippine government has instituted a very stringent certification process for Philippine-based recruiters.  Only the most professional and viable firms can meet the POEA's standards.  The Philippine government has tightened its standards to professionalize an industry that generates a large share of its revenue, but which has been threatened in recent years by haphazard, inexperienced individuals and profiteers. 

The stringency of the Philippine government's new standards means that AMCI's certification, although expected, is even more significant.  Louie Victor G. Lopez, AMCI's president, has a 20-year track record of leadership and achievement in the international recruitment industry.  Mr. Lopez, a graduate of De La Salle University (the Harvard of the Philippines) and a veteran executive of staffing leaders like Adecco, has expertly placed thousands of Filipino healthcare and other professionals across the United States, UK, Gulf-Middle East, and Asia.  

AMCI looks forward to focusing on recruiting and placing trained, experienced registered nurses in the U.S. to help alleviate the growing U.S. nursing shortage.  The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) estimates a national shortage of 800,000 registered nurses in the U.S. by 2020.  U.S. nursing programs will generate less than a third of the nurses required to fill these expected vacancies.  Aggressive foreign nurse recruitment is the only hope for solving this looming healthcare crisis.

To learn more about AMCI, visit its website at www.andrewsconsult.com.

JULY 12, 2005

Salazar Appointed U.S. Representative for Mexico's National Ballet Company

Salazar Communications has been appointed the U.S. representative for the Ballet Folclórico Nacional de México, Mexico’s official dance company and a cultural and entertainment treasure of the Americas.   The Ballet Folclórico, already scheduled for a 2008 U.S. tour, seeks a new permanent venue in the United States.

The Ballet Folclórico was founded in May 1960 by a young and talented ballerina, Silvia Lozano.  The Ballet Folclórico’s mission was to preserve and perform the authentic folk dances, music, and costumes of the individual regions of Mexico.  The Ballet has faithfully fulfilled this mission through close work with México’s most prominent researchers and regional experts in these fields. The Mexican government recognized the Ballet Folclórico in 1977 as the official dance troupe of México.  In its home venue at the Xcaret Ecological Park in Cancún, the Ballet Folclórico plays nightly to SRO dinner audiences of thousands; abroad, the ballet has represented México on five continents and in over 30 countries, including command performances before the royal families and presidents of numerous nations.  In 1980, the Ballet Folclórico performed with Liberace at the Las Vegas Hilton for a year before sold-out audiences. 

Silvia Lozano, the Ballet Folclórico’s director and founder, was trained in México’s leading school of dance, the Classic, Contemporary and Folcloric Mexican Dance Academy, continued her study of Mexican folk dance throughout the country, and began her professional career with México City’s Beaux Arts Ballet.  Her company, the Ballet Folclórico Nacional de México Aztlán, is recognized as the most authentic performance of Mexican traditional dance.  Director Lozano established the Artistic Unit of the Mexican Army, earning a commission as a Captain in the Mexican armed forces.  Director Lozano created the curriculum for a Mexican Folcloric Dance degree at the State of Hidalgo’s Real del Monte University, and teaches Mexican folk dance in annual workshops in Dallas, Texas, for American students.

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“Toastmasters en Español” Meets Every Monday

General meetings of “Toastmasters en Español” take place each Monday at 7:00 p.m.  Toastmasters en Español now meets at the Latin Chamber of Commerce. The Latin Chamber of Commerce is located at 300 North 13th Street, Las Vegas (corner of 13th & Stewart).  

For more information, please call Maite Salazar at 702.951.9454, or email to maites@salacomm.com.   

If you're still trying to fit Toastmasters en Español into your schedule - we welcome you when you are able to join us. Everyone who has expressed a desire to join us will make Toastmasters en Español achieve new levels and build a stronger, more vibrant club.

Why Toastmasters?

Why Toastmasters?”  Have you ever attended a Toastmasters meeting?  If you have, you already know that Toastmasters is a phenomenal way to improve your public speaking skills, off-the-cuff remarks and conversational abilities, and confidence for meeting and connecting with new people – and it all happens in a setting of mutual support, constructive feedback, and positive reinforcement.   Whether you are an accomplished public speaker or a novice, there is always room for improvement – and Toastmasters brings new and experienced speakers together to learn from each other.  Everyone has something to learn and to teach, and feedback is instant.

Toastmasters En Español improves not only our public-speaking skills, but also our Spanish-language skills.  It doesn’t matter if you’re a native Spanish speaker … or if you’ve forgotten most of the Spanish you studied in high school.  We all have something to teach each other, and we all have something to learn!  We’re having a lot of fun together!

"Toastmasters en Español" is a thriving club with dozens of full-fledged members.  While most Toastmasters clubs meet twice monthly, the intense demand for "Toastmasters en Español" means a packed room every Monday night.  And, as club president Maite Salazar notes with a smile, "there's always room at our meetings for one more!"

Let’s have a lot of fun together while improving our skills and meeting new friends.  Please join us!!!  It will be the best investment of time we make.