Listen to podcast interview with Gail Mills, author, Quinceanera Connection about her book

Posted by Elena del Valle on October 6, 2008

Gail Mills, author, Quinceañera Connection

Photo: Gail Mills

A podcast interview with Gail Mills, author of Quinceañera Connection: Your Dream Celebration On A Budget, is available in the Podcast Section of Hispanic Marketing & Public Relations, HispanicMPR.com. During the podcast, Gail discusses her book with Elena del Valle, host of the HispanicMPR.com podcast.

In her career Gail has built a multimillion dollar inventory reorder business, and worked as a life coach, business consultant, web business owner and author. Seven years ago she offered life-coaching and consulting services for injured workers in the California Worker’s Compensation Program. At that time, 70 percent of her clients were from the Latino Community. Many shared their heart-felt stories of hardships and their desire to make sure their children had a better opportunity in life than they had had.

Click here to buy Quinceanera Connection

Relying on their positive feedback for inspiration she wrote Quinceañera Connection, her first book. Later she launched a companion website to offer additional products for Latino teenage girls, their family and friends.Gail is a graduate of Harvard Business School-OPM program where she focused on entrepreneurial operations.

She attended New York City College and University of California at Los Angeles. She was the founder and chief executive officer of a multi-state inventory management reorder company for over 15 years with offices in Los Angeles, California and Seattle, Washington. She built the business from zero to $25 million in volume.

Gail has served on the non-profit boards of Harvard Business School Alumni Association of Southern California, Harvard Business School Alumni Association Board of Directors, Singing Earth Foundation and the Organization of Bilingual Rehabilitation Associates.

To listen to the interview, scroll down until you see “Podcast” on the right hand side, then select “HMPR Gail Mills,” click on the play button below or download the MP3 file to your iPod or MP3 player to listen on the go, in your car or at home. To download it, click on the arrow of the recording you wish to copy and save it to disk. The podcast will remain listed in the October 2008 section of the podcast archive.

Listen to podcast interview with Julio Stieffel, director, BuscAbogados.com

Posted by Elena del Valle on September 29, 2008

Julio Stieffel, director, BuscAbogados.com

Photo: BuscAbogados.com

A podcast interview with Julio Stieffel, director, BuscAbogados.com is available in the Podcast Section of Hispanic Marketing & Public Relations, HispanicMPR.com. During the podcast, Julio discusses the new website with Elena del Valle, host of the HispanicMPR.com podcast.

Julio founded Americas Rep International, an international consulting firm specializing in the Latin American market. He graduated from the University of Miami with a degree in Inter-American Studies. Julio brings nearly 30 years of international sales and marketing intelligence and experience to the BuscAbogados.com team.

To listen to the interview, scroll down until you see “Podcast” on the right hand side, then select “HMPR Julio Stieffel,” click on the play button below or download the MP3 file to your iPod or MP3 player to listen on the go, in your car or at home. To download it, click on the arrow of the recording you wish to copy and save to disk. The podcast will remain listed in the September 2008 section of the podcast archive.

Listen to podcast interview with Dennis Spring, president, Spring Associates about PR salaries

Posted by Elena del Valle on September 22, 2008

Dennis Spring, president, Spring Associates, Inc.

Photo: Spring Associates, Inc.

A podcast interview with Dennis Spring, president, Spring Associates is available in the Podcast Section of Hispanic Marketing & Public Relations, HispanicMPR.com. During the podcast, Dennis discusses the state of public relations employment and salaries and the 2008 Official Public Relations Salary & Bonus Report with Elena del Valle, host of the HispanicMPR.com podcast.

Dennis began his business career at what was then the largest public relations marketing and service organization of its kind in the world with offices in eight United States cities and London. The company served over 2,000 corporate public relations departments and firms. He was promoted during his tenure and rose to become vice president of Marketing and Client Relations.

He founded Spring Executive Search, Inc. in 1980. Ten years later he changed the name of the firm to Spring Associates, Inc. In addition to executive search services, the company also handles communications audits, mergers and acquisitions, client/agency reviews and public relations agency selection searches.

Dennis has served on the management boards of the New York chapters of the International Association of Business Communicators (IABC), The Publicity Club, and the International Committee of the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA).

His articles have appeared in PR News, Public Relations Journal, PR Services Magazine, PR Business and PR Week. Dennis is a combat veteran who served 12 months with the 1st Cavalry Airmobile, from 1967-1968 in the Republic of Vietnam. His decorations include a Purple Heart and Bronze Stars for valor and service. After the military, Dennis returned to Brooklyn College where he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in literature. He and his wife Penny reside in Manhattan.

To listen to the interview, scroll down until you see “Podcast” on the right hand side, then select “HMPR Dennis Spring,” click on the play button below or download the MP3 file to your iPod or MP3 player to listen on the go, in your car or at home. To download it, click on the arrow of the recording you wish to copy and save to disk. The podcast will remain listed in the September 2008 section of the podcast archive.

Listen to podcast interview with Isabel Valdes, author, Hispanic Customers for Life, about her book and marketing to Latinos

Posted by Elena del Valle on September 15, 2008

Isabel Valdes, author, Hispanic Customers for Life

Photo: Isabel Valdes

A podcast interview with M. Isabel Valdés, author of Hispanic Customers for Life: A Fresh Look at Acculturation is available in the Podcast Section of Hispanic Marketing & Public Relations, HispanicMPR.com. During the podcast, she discusses her book and marketing to Latinos with Elena del Valle, host of the HispanicMPR.com podcast.

For more than 25 years, Isabel has consulted with corporations, government and non-for-profits corporations in the U.S. and abroad. In 1987, she founded Hispanic Market Connections, Inc., a marketing research firm. Currently, she heads Isabel Valdés Consulting, IVC, and advises clients on How to transform HeartShares into MarketShares.

Click here to buy Hispanic Customers for Life

Isabel is a member of PepsiCo/Frito-Lay’s Latino Advisory Board and the Advisory Board of Scholastic, Lee y Serás, a Trustee of, National Council of la Raza (NCLR) in Washington D.C. and the Latino Community Foundation in San Francisco.

In 2001, she was selected Fortune Small Business. In March 2000, she was named as the 21st Century Star of Multicultural Research by American Demographics magazine. Hispanic Consumers for Life, published in early 2008, is her fourth book. Isabel, who received two graduate degrees from Stanford University, resides in San Francisco and is the proud mother of Gabriel Aranovich, MD, and Clara Aranovich.

To listen to the interview, scroll down until you see “Podcast” on the right hand side, then select “HMPR Isabel Valdes,” click on the play button below or download the MP3 file to your iPod or MP3 player to listen on the go, in your car or at home. To download it, click on the arrow of the recording you wish to copy and save it to disk. The podcast will remain listed in the September 2008 section of the podcast archive.

Listen to podcast interview with Lucia Ballas Traynor, former SVP and GM, MTV Tr3ś

Posted by Elena del Valle on September 8, 2008

Lucia Ballas-Traynor, former senior vice president and general manager, MTV Tr3́s

Photo: MTV Tr3́s

A podcast interview with Lucia Ballas-Traynor, former senior vice president and general manager, MTV Tr3́s, is available in the Podcast Section of Hispanic Marketing & Public Relations, HispanicMPR.com. During the podcast, Lucia discusses MTV Tr3́s with Elena del Valle, host of the HispanicMPR.com podcast.

Prior to joining MTV Tr3́s, Lucia worked for IDT Corporation where was senior vice president of Hispanic Marketing and was responsible for formulating Hispanic marketing strategies for the company’s Telecom division. Lucia started her career in Hispanic television 18 years ago at Univision.

In 1989, she embarked on a new career path, working as advertising sales executive for Univision’s Más Magazine. In 1994, she joined Galavision as ad sales director and in 1999 was appointed general manager, assuming responsibility for all of the network’s operations.

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During Lucia’s tenure, Galavision’s distribution nearly doubled and the profile of the network’s audience grew amongst the coveted 18-34 year old demographic, making it one of the most popular Hispanic networks in the United States for teens and young adults. Under her leadership, the network pioneered original, U.S.-produced programming for the younger Hispanic demographic, which resulted in high ratings gains in those segments.

Born in Chile Lucia came to the U.S. with her parents in the mid 1970s. She and her husband Michael live in New Rochelle, New York with their two children, Carolina and Michael.

To listen to the interview, scroll down until you see “Podcast” on the right hand side, then select “HMPR Lucia Ballas-Traynor,” click on the play button below or download the MP3 file to your iPod or MP3 player to listen on the go, in your car or at home. To download it, click on the arrow of the recording you wish to copy and save to disk. The podcast will remain listed in the September 2008 section of the podcast archive.

Listen to podcast interview with Sandra Susino, former director of Business Development, Neighborhood America about business benefits of mobile marketing, online social networking

Posted by Elena del Valle on August 25, 2008

Sandra G. Susino, independent affiliate partner (former director of Business Development), Neighborhood America

Photo: Sandra G. Susino

A podcast interview with Sandra G. Susino, independent affiliate partner (former director of Business Development), Neighborhood America is available in the Podcast Section of Hispanic Marketing & Public Relations, HispanicMPR.com. During the podcast, she discusses business benefits of mobile marketing and online social networking with Elena del Valle, host of the HispanicMPR.com podcast.

Prior to joining Neighborhood America, Sandra was director of Business Development for a company that was acquired by Microsoft. She was also a consultant and manager at IBM, as well as at Deloitte’s Media and Entertainment Group.

A former Fulbright scholar, Sandra earned an undergraduate degree from Princeton, a Masters in Computer Science from Stanford, and business certifications from Harvard. Sandra is originally from New York City.

Neighborhood America is technology provider of online enterprise social networking and mobile phone marketing solutions. Neighborhood America clients include Adidas, HGTV/Scripps Network, Kodak, ABC, FoxNews, and Nexxus.

To listen to the interview, scroll down until you see “Podcast” on the right hand side, then select “HMPR Sandra Susino,” click on the play button below or download the MP3 file to your iPod or MP3 player to listen on the go, in your car or at home. To download it, click on the arrow of the recording you wish to copy and save it to disk. The podcast will remain listed in the August 2008 section of the podcast archive.

Listen to song – Monterey electro rockers release new album

Posted by Elena del Valle on August 18, 2008

All U Need is Mosh album cover

Photos, song: Nacional Records

Plastilina Mosh, a Monterrey, Mexico-based electro rocker band, just released a new Album. All U Need Is Mosh, the album released this early this month, follows the band’s 2006 Best Of’ Collection. Scroll down to listen to Pervert Pop Song from All U Need Is Mosh album.

“This was the first time we recorded an album without a major label breathing down our necks,” said Alejandro Rosso, who also produced the new album. “Which made for a much more relaxed recording environment. It was a truly independent work. We weren’t feeling the pressure of having to please some executive. The funny thing is that the end result is probably our most commercial album yet. Subconsciously, I’m sure we were thinking, ‘we have the freedom to really do what we want’.”

The first Plastilina Mosh album was Aquamosh, produced by Tom Rothrock, on Capitol Records. The single Mr. P-Mosh made Plastilina Mosh popular in Mexico. Following Latin Grammy-nominated Hola Chicuelos, the band’s last studio disc, All U Need Is Mosh took nearly two years to complete with recording sessions in California, Texas and Mexico.

Plastilina Mosh

For the new album founding members Rosso and Jonaz brought on guitarist Eddy Gonzalez, drummer and vocalist Natalia Slipak and bassist Milton Pacheco for the album as well as the band’s revamped live show. Special guests include vocalist Adrian Dargelos from Argentine rock stars Babasonicos, Monterrey-based rapper Niña Dios and Mexican buzz artist Ximena Sari ñ ana. A a Rosso-penned instrumental track, San Diego Chargers experiments with a drumline battery.

“It’s basically a testosterone song about football tackles. The arrangement is focused on the percussion. The song is a weird blend between two styles that I find original and fresh. To be honest, I don’t listen to much rock music,” said Rosso. “I’m always listening to jazz and classical. I sit down and consciously listen. When I get into a certain composer, I buy the sheet music and study it. On the flipside, Jonaz is always looking for the best new rock, punk or electronica album to inspire him. And he’s always trying to make compositions that are ‘hip’ to me. That’s the big twist. We really complement each other.”

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Jonaz is a punk rocker and Rosso is a classically trained concert pianist. They believe their contrasting styles are an essential element for the band’s creative process.

“It’s my escape from that intense listening and playing. It’s always had some humor and irony. We don’t take it too seriously. When the band started, we never really cared what happened and just focused on having fun. That’s when everything started to happen. That’s always been so important to us. Over the years, we have really learned to keep from rushing things and how to avoid time pressure from affecting the creative process,” said Rosso. “So for this new album, we wrote most of the songs more casually, while we were touring. Everything just felt more natural that way.” ‘

All U Need Is Mosh tracks include: Toll Free, Jonaz Goes To Hollywood, My Party, Let U Know, Cut The Crap, Arriba Dicembre, Danny Trejo (feat. Niña Dios), Going To Mars Bolton, Comeback Bitch, San Diego Chargers, Paso Fino (featuring Adrian Dargelos from Babasonicos), and Pervert Pop Song (feat. Ximena Sariñana and Patricia Lynn). Click on the play button to listen to Pervert Pop Song.

Listen to podcast interview with Rayroq Acosta, CEO, Wu-Tang Latino about urban Latin music

Posted by Elena del Valle on August 11, 2008

Rayroq Acosta, chief executive officer and president, Wu-Tang Latino

Photo: Wu-Tang Latino

A podcast featuring an interview with Rayroq Acosta, chief executive officer and president, Wu-Tang Latino is available in the Podcast Section of Hispanic Marketing & Public Relations, HispanicMPR.com. During the podcast, he discusses urban Latino music with Elena del Valle, host of the HispanicMPR.com podcast.

Rayroq strives to innovate the ways Urban Latinos do business, promote and market their products. He co-launched and marketed Latinflava, a television show which evolved into a website. He also helped establish and build a non-traditional distribution and marketing system at United Box Office (UBO).

A native of the Dominican Republic, Rayroq arrived in Washington Heights, New York City with his family when he was three years old. It was in his neighborhood that he was introduced to hip hop, the music that would change his life. After graduating with a masters degree in design and marketing from the New York Institute of Technology (NYIT), Rayroq started working in the music and fashion industry.

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Influenced by hip hop artists Run DMC, Kool Moe Dee and LL Cool J, Rayroq started a career in marketing and creative consulting. He co-owned Designey Inc., a design and marketing firm in New York City that provided logos, images and marketing for companies like Sony, Epic, Wu-tang, Rocawear, LL Cool J, Razorsharp Records, Wu-wear, Avirex, Disney, A&E, History Channel, Loud Records, SRC, Persaud Brothers, Sprite and Adidas.

As a result of the rapid growth of Latinflava, Rayroq was named senior vice president of Marketing and Latin Music at UBO; he also assisted in the building of the company’s non-traditional distribution and Freedom Girls marketing system. Rayroq and a long-time friend, Rza, member of the original Wu-Tang Clan, created Wu-Tang Latino, a new record label they hope will become the Def Jam of Latin hip hip and Reggaeton.He has served as liaison between rival Latino and African-American gangs to lessen gang violence and crimes. He is co-founder of the United AIDS Foundation, a non-profit organization that raises money for AIDS research.

To listen to the interview, scroll down until you see “Podcast” on the right hand side, then select “HMPR Rayroq Acosta,” click on the play button below or download the MP3 file to your iPod or MP3 player to listen on the go, in your car or at home. To download it, click on the arrow of the recording you wish to copy and save it to disk. The podcast will remain listed in the August 2008 section of the podcast archive.

Listen to song – Mexican singer releases new album

Posted by Elena del Valle on August 4, 2008

Haciendo Escándalo album cover

Photos, song: Gato Loco Music

Haciendo Escandalo! (Causing Scandal!) is Singer Diegodiego’s newest release and his second album. Scroll down to listen to Mi Castillo Azul (My Blue Castle), a single from the new album.

In Haciendo Escandalo! the singer and actor from Merida, Mexico focuses on positive messages and dance rhythms “to inspire peace and harmony.” Diegodiego composes and performs his music. His first CD was Quema Quema (Burn Burn), a dance music album. Haciendo Escandalo is dedicated to Raul Vale, his close friend and collaborator.

Diegodiego

“Raul Vale taught me a lot of things, but the most valuable advice he gave me was when he said: ‘Diego, you are nothing more or less than a scandal! Fight for what you want; you have my blessing,’” said Diegodiego. “The best thing that can happen to an artist is the pleasure of entertaining while at the same time enabling others to achieve their own aspirations.”

Diegodiego began his acting career with the television soap opera La Culpa directed by Pynkie Morris. He later competed, along with 5,000 applicants, for a much coveted role in a Disney Company production. In the end, he was one of three Latinos and one of only 60 candidates selected to perform at Disneyland in California. Click on the play button to listen to Mi Castillo Azul (My Blue Castle), a single from the new album.

Listen to podcast interview with Mark Potok, director, Intelligence Report, SPLC about anti Latino hate groups

Posted by Elena del Valle on July 28, 2008

Mark Potok, director, Intelligence Report of SPLC

Photo: Mark Potok

A podcast interview with Mark Potok, director, Intelligence Report, Southern Poverty Law Center is available in the Podcast Section of Hispanic Marketing & Public Relations, HispanicMPR.com. During the podcast, he discusses anti Latino hate groups with Elena del Valle, host of the HispanicMPR.com podcast.

As editor of the Southern Poverty Law Center’s Intelligence Report magazine, Mark leads an operation that monitors the extreme right in the world today. In addition to editing the magazine, Mark acts as a spokesman for the SPLC, a well-known civil rights organization based in Alabama. He has testified before the Senate and the United Nations High Commission on Human Rights.

Before joining the Southern Poverty Law Center in 1997, Mark spent almost 20 years as a reporter at newspapers including USA Today, the Dallas Times Herald and The Miami Herald. While at USA Today, he covered the 1993 siege in Waco, the rise of militias, the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing and the trial of Timothy McVeigh.

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In 1996, his editors nominated him for a Pulitzer Prize for a package of stories on racism in Texas public housing. The Intelligence Report he edits recently received the 2007 Investigative Award part of the Utne Independent Press Awards.

To listen to the interview, scroll down until you see “Podcast” on the right hand side, then select “HMPR Mark Potok,” click on the play button below or download the MP3 file to your iPod or MP3 player to listen on the go, in your car or at home. To download it, click on the arrow of the recording you wish to copy and save it to disk. The podcast will remain listed in the July 2008 section of the podcast archive.