Latino Talent: Effective Strategies to Recruit, Retain and Develop Hispanic Professionals

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

The completion of this book would not have been possible without the support, encouragement, and inspiration of my family and friends. First, I express gratitude to my colleagues at Kaplan University, particularly Dr. Eric Goodman, for allowing me the time to research and write this book, and for trusting me to lead Kaplan's Latino-related initiatives. I thank my friends at the Hispanic Alliance for Career Enhancement (HACE), who provided the inspiration for writing this book by all that they are doing to build and nurture the careers of Latino professionals. Special thanks to Abe Tomás Hughes, HACE's former president and CEO, for providing an excellent example of organizational leadership and for pushing me to grow personally and professionally.

I'd also like to thank those who preceded me in writing about the Latino experience in the workplace, including Dr. Norma Carr-Ruffino whose book on managing diversity helped to show me the power of creating an inclusive work environment. To Nilda Chong and Francia Baez, authors of the book Latino Culture, goes my gratitude for helping me learn about what it means to be a Latino and for providing the foundation for my book.

I extend my utmost respect and appreciation to my fellow academics Drs. Marta Elvira and Bernardo Ferdman for helping me develop my scholarly voice and for teaching me about the importance of Latino identity. To Raymond Arroyo at Aetna, Rosie Saez at Wachovia, and Isaias Zamarripa at General Mills—thank ...