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Welcome 2009 ALPFA Seattle’s News and Events Gateway

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I N T H I S I S S U E :

ALPFA Seattle: Setting the

Latino Professional in the

Northwest

Member Spotlight: Mario

Villa

Sponsor Spotlight: KPMG

The 2008 Annual Student

Summit– Adding Value to

the Student Membership

From Our Sponsor’s Desk:

How to Pick a Pro for Your

Financial Game plan

2009 Upcoming Calendar

of Events

downtown Seattle! There will be numerous board members on hand to answer questions, embrace feedback, and be living examples of what we call the ALPFA familia! Yours truly, Nancy Ywnwen Vargas Treasurer, ALPFA Seattle

By Nancy Vargas, ALPFA Seattle Treasurer Dear ALPFA Seattle Members, Greetings ALPFA Seattle members! Now that we have officially kicked off the New Year, it is our hope that the winter edition of this newsletter finds you all in good health, great spirits, and a rejuvenated interest in the mission and vision of ALPFA both nationally and locally! As most of you know, the beginnings of your local chapter date back to March of 2005. It was then that ALPFA Seattle was established by Ed Ramos, Maria Villa, and Nerelys Ortiz. Now, approximately four years later, the chapter has grown both in size and complexity. Because of the continuity in our growth, the chapter continues to be recognized both formally and informally, but the success of this chapter can’t be attributed to the hard work, effort, or support of one, two, or three people. The fact that our Board of Directors is devoted, our members extremely committed, and our sponsors generous and supportive have enabled us to strive towards a continued path of success! With that said, I’d like to encourage you to get involved & expand your professional network by joining ALPFA Seattle for our annual New Year Kick Off on Thursday, January 22nd, 2009 @ 6:30 pm in

ALPFA Seattle: Setting The Latino

Professional Standard in the Northwest


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Member Spotlight: Mario Villa

There are many reasons why people join organizations such as ALPFA. Many seek the opportunity to serve their communities, network to improve their careers, develop their professional and social skills, while others seek interaction of like-minded individuals. In my four years of involvement with ALPFA, I have received all these invaluable benefits. In addition, I owe ALPFA thanks for some aspects of my life; including my career with The Boeing Company in operations and strategy. ALPFA has also provided me with a wonderful network of incredibly talented individuals, whom I consider close friends and a second family.

My ALPFA story began during my first year of graduate school at Seattle University in the spring of 2005. I received an email from my academic advisor with information about a new Latino organization that was being formed in Seattle. I attended the first informational meeting at a downtown Seattle skyscraper. I noticed that the room was filled with more Latino professionals than I had ever seen together in one room. I listened to Manny Espinoza give an inspiring speech about building Latino leadership for the global workforce. This was the first time that I heard this message delivered in such a credible manner. Perhaps it was because the room was filled with Latinos who were already global leaders. I signed up for membership immediately after Manny’s presentation

At the same meeting, I met the Seattle Chapter leadership, Maria Villa, Nerelys Cordero and Ed Ramos. They immediately welcomed me into ALPFA and spoke of the organization with an immense and infectious passion. Shortly after the first meeting, I was approached by Maria and was asked to lead the Partner Relations committee as a Co-Director. I was hesitant to take on this responsibility as I had no prior experience in fundraising. Nevertheless, the excitement of being part of a great new organization and to take on this rewarding challenge won over the hesitation.

My decision to be involved with ALPFA as a Partner Relations Co-Director has been one of the best decisions that I have made in my professional career. In my four years at this

position, I have learned skills that I did not have the opportunity to learn at my place of employment. I learned how to lead and manage a project, how to set projections and strategy, I practiced my public speaking and presentations skills and how to present myself to high level executives of any industry, among many other skills. Through the years the ALPFA team has always been there for me to celebrate when things go well or to lend a hand of support when they don’t. My experience as an ALPFA Board Member prepared me for the next stage of my career.

After I completed my MBA I set out in

search of new opportunities. Immediately I had an army of ALPFA members searching their contact list on my behalf. I felt incredibly blessed to have this kind of support during that particular time and I will always be thankful to my Seattle Chapter. Through their efforts, I had countless leads and interviews with top companies in the Seattle area. The breakthrough came at the ALPFA Convention in Phoenix where I was offered a position with The Boeing Company in Business Operations and Strategy in the Future Airplane Programs group. This opportunity was the result of the ALPFA connection with The Boeing Company. Looking ahead, I am excited to work with new board members at the Seattle Chapter and with the new leadership at National. I am very thankful to my fellow board members for their help throughout the last four years. I look forward to helping others have the same opportunities that I have received. Mario F. Villa Business Operations, Boeing Company

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AUDIT For KPMG, ALPFA Case Study Competition’s a Winner KPMG LLP Building an inclusive workplace with people of different backgrounds, genders, ethnicities, and experiences is part of KPMG’s commitment to being an Employer of Choice and a great place to build a career. And our strong affiliation with professional organizations such as the Association of Latino Professionals in Finance and Accounting (ALPFA) helps the firm achieve this ambition. KPMG has been a longtime corporate sponsor of ALPFA’s national convention, sponsoring KPMG professionals to attend each year. And for the past nine years, KPMG has sponsored the KPMG/ALPFA Case Study Competition, which provides finance and accounting students with the opportunity to solve complex, real-world accounting cases and present their findings to a panel of KPMG and ALPFA accounting professionals. Manny Fernandez, KPMG’s National Managing Partner for University Relations and Recruiting and Co-Chair of the firm’s national Hispanic/Latino Network, says the competition provides an excellent learning experience for Hispanic Latino students and helps them to enhance their business, research, presentation, and relationship-building skills. It also exposes the students to the possibilities of what it’s like to work at a Big Four firm like KPMG.

The most recent competition, held in August during ALPFA’s 2008 National Convention, included more than 120 students from 24 universities. Regional competitions were held on the first day, with eight finalists competing for the top prize on day two. In the end, the team from the University of Texas, Pan American, took top honors, with the University of Puerto Rico team being named runner-up. As sponsor, KPMG is responsible for virtually all aspects of the competition— including identifying the schools to be included in the competition, creating the cases, selecting judges and advisors, and managing all the logistics at the convention. The firm also assigns professionals to serve as team advisors. They work with the teams for several months to prepare for the competition, while at the same time building relationships with the students and their faculty advisors.

While it’s a big investment—in both time and resources—the firm receives just as much as it gives, says Jennifer Neal, KPMG’s National Manager for Diversity Recruiting, who oversees all aspects of the competition. “Aside from this being a great opportunity for us to provide students with real-life accounting experiences, the competition serves as a great pipeline of talent to recruit to the firm,” she says.

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The 2008 Annual Student Summit– Adding Value to the Student Membership

By Luis Pedro Martinez, Vice President On October 25th 2008, ALPFA Seattle in conjunction with the Hispanic Student Business Association – HBSA, hosted its third Annual Student Summit at the University of Washington’s Foster School of Business. The theme for this event was, “Emerging Leaders: Building Momentum toward Success.”

“The ALPFA Summit was a great

experience, like all ALPFA events. It was nice to

hear Kaplan talk about personal branding. It is

important not only as a student, but as a new

professional.”-Lovina Rodriguez, Deloitte”

During the day, students and supporting

professionals had the opportunity to learn about

best practices for success in corporate America, as

well as to sharpen their skills for successful

networking and career advancement through a

remarkable kick-off and value-adding seminars

provided by our corporate partners. Through a

fantastic opening provided by Kaplan Mobray on,

“The 10Ks of Personal Branding," the attending

crowd learned through his musical skills, as well as

by sharing his professional insight on, “knowing,

Growing, and Showing Oneself." The result of such

inner exploration allows people to create and

develop a personal brand that is present through

an individual's professional and personal actions.

Kaplan is the National Marketing Manager for

Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu, the lead sponsor for

the Student Summit, as well as a Corporate

Advisory Board member for ALPFA National. In

addition, Kaplan has been a key speaker during

ALPFA National Leadership Summits and the 2007

ALPFA National Convention.

“It was wonderful to see the different opportunities

we can create for ourselves.”-Melinda Lepe,

student

After the tremendous kick-off, the event followed with a series of seminar sessions provided by key local companies and sponsors, including Microsoft, State Farm, and KPMG. The subjects addressed during the session included: “Competitive Edge in Corporate America – Branding Yourself” by Microsoft; “Corporate Coaching: Essential Qualities of a Team Player” – by State Farm; and “Tips and Tools to Manager your Career” – by KPMG and ALPFA.

By sharing personal career experiences, as well as

by providing scenario-based situations, the

workshop presented provided students and

professional tips and tools to successfully navigate

through the first years of the corporate world, as

well as a wealth of tools to sharpen their

networking and leadership skills.

The event ended with a career fair in which on-site

interviews were conducted for internships and full-

time opportunities. Companies attending included

KPMG, Deloitte, PricewaterhouseCoopers,

INROADS, Target, State Farm, Boeing, and Moss

Adams, among others.

With over 180 attendees, and the participation of

large universities in the area, including the

University of Washington, Seattle University,

Pacific Lutheran University, and Portland State

University; the Annual Student Summit marks

another landmark event for ALPFA Seattle, which is

becoming the Professional Latino Organization of

the Pacific Northwest!

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From Our Sponsor’s Desk: How to Pick a Pro for Your Financial Game plan

By Benjamin Bear, Financial Planner Prudential Financial Choosing a personal financial planner can be similar to picking a good sports instructor. You want someone who’s knowledgeable, can make a thorough assessment of your strengths and weaknesses, and gives you a plan to help improve your game.

Of course, unless you're eyeing a spot on the pro tour, you'll have much more at stake tackling today's increasingly complex financial environment than playing your favorite sport. Working with a financial professional to develop a comprehensive, personalized financial game plan may be the best investment you ever make. Here are some thoughts to keep in mind when selecting a financial planning professional. Expect "Big Picture" – A licensed financial planner's primary responsibility is to provide you with a "big picture" perspective. A good planner should give you the framework to weigh each financial decision in relation to its short and long-term effects on your life goals. Set Measurable Goals – Specificity can help shape a successful, well-focused plan. Wherever possible, a planner should help you quantify your financial goals and set targets for when you'd like to achieve them. Demand Individual Treatment – Before making any recommendations, your planner should meet with you to review your personal situation, discuss your objectives, examine relevant

documents and establish the terms of your working relationship. The end result should be your plan, nobody else’s. Get Costs – A planner should be able to let you know the cost of his or her services within the first or second meeting. The price will depend upon the complexity of your situation. Separate the Plan from Other Purchases – Increasingly, consumers looking for unbiased, objective strategies are selecting fee-based planners, which means they are paid separately for the plans they develop, regardless of whether they play any other role in putting the plan into action. Check Credentials – Several educational designations, such as CFP™ (CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER) and ChFC (Chartered Financial Consultant), can help identify professionals who are committed to high standards and ethics. In addition, planners who are investment adviser representatives must produce a form disclosing compensation methods, conflicts of interest, and business affiliations. Retain Other Advisors – Continuous financial, tax and legal developments demand the expertise of more than just your financial planner to help complete your comprehensive plan. You should also consult with legal and tax advisors where appropriate and your planner should be willing and able to coordinate with the efforts of any other specialists you retain.

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From Our Sponsor’s Desk: New Year’s Money Resolutions

Keep Control, Be Involved – Hiring a professional planner doesn't equate to yielding control of your finances. Actually, a good planner should solicit and welcome your input. And a well-conceived plan should empower you to make better informed and more focused decisions going forward. Keep Tabs on Plan Performance – Make sure that you monitor the performance of your plan. A good planner will look to schedule an annual meeting after the plan has been implemented to help track results and make appropriate adjustments.

Even if you're comfortable with developing your own financial strategy, you may want to think about reviewing it periodically with a planner. Just as the finest athletes regularly consult with coaches to keep in top form, objective professional input may add the extra "winning edge" to your personal finances in the long run. Ben Bear Financial Planner, CLU, ChFC, CFP, who

offers investment advisory services through

Prudential Financial Planning Services, a division of

Pruco Securities, LLC. He can be reached at

[email protected] and (425) 641-

6148.

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2009 Upcoming Events

winter2009

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