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2007 BRILLANTE AWARDS FOR EXCELLENCE RECIPIENTS |
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The National Society
of Hispanic MBAs commends the 2007 Brillante Award for Excellence Recipients
for their dedication and excellent
example. The work and contributions of these outstanding leaders reflect the
Society's mission "to foster Hispanic leadership through graduate management
education and professional development in order to improve society." |
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CORPORATE EXCELLENCE AWARD |
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 The Procter & Gamble Company
Corporate Award Recipient
Procter & Gamble was one of the founding companies of NSHMBA in 1988, and has
remained a loyal partner and supporter ever since, culminating in P&G’s
commitment as Lead Sponsor of the 2006 Conference and Career Expo. Thanks to
partnership with NSHMBA, P&G has doubled their recruitment of Hispanic MBAs in
the last five years. Even more impressively, P&G has doubled the number of women
and U.S. minorities at the vice-president/general manager level. P&G’s
percentage of total minority hires is well above their representation in the
total candidate pool.
Under the leadership of CEO A.G. Lafley, Procter & Gamble has renewed the
company’s focus on the advancement of diversity as a business strategy platform.
Lafley stated: “Diversity is a business strategy for P&G. We simply cannot
create brands and products to improve the lives of the world’s consumers unless
we understand and value the diversity of our consumers, customers, suppliers,
and of course, employees around the world.”
Accordingly, P&G has established a Diversity Council to set direction and review
progress on diversity initiatives by each ethnic group and gender (including the
recruitment and advancement of Hispanics). Lafley is an active member of this
council, along with other senior executives. The council is integrated to
multiple Affinity Groups in all Functions and Business Units that are
responsible to drive the execution of diversity initiatives.
The P&G Fund, the company’s philanthropic foundation, provides over $6.5 million
for educational programs, institutions, and materials each year; these donations
(made to colleges and universities as well as organizations like NSHMBA) benefit
many women and minorities. Many of those programs are further enhanced by the
commitment of the P&G Volunteer Support Program (VSP), which encourages employee
and retiree participation in communities where they live and work.
Nominated by:
Katie Skeeters, Diversity
Recruiting Specialist, Procter & Gamble |
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CORPORATE EXECUTIVE EXCELLENCE AWARD |
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 David
B. Garcia, Ph.D.
CEO, CEDRA Corporation
Corporate Executive Award Recipient
Dr. David B. Garcia is a strong leader, philanthropist, and lifelong advocate of
higher education within the Hispanic community. Along with Mr. Christopher Buggé,
he founded CEDRA Corporation in 1990 to provide Good Laboratory
Practice-regulated bioanalytical services for the federal government,
pharmaceutical, and biotechnology industries. In addition to building a
successful company, Dr. Garcia has expressed his passion for education by
investing in future leaders and founding the Hispanic Scholarship Consortium, as
well as lending his educational and professional expertise to various boards and
commissions.
Under Dr. Garcia’s leadership, CEDRA posted an annual growth of 25% during its
first 10 years of operation, a 40% growth in 2004 and 2005, and an additional
20% growth in 2006. Initially a staff of 6 members, the organization has since
become a diversified workforce of over 300 employees with revenues surpassing
$37 million. The key factor to CEDRA’s success is Dr. Garcia’s investment in his
employees and creation of a solid corporate culture of caring. One concrete
example of this philosophy is CEDRA's Child Development Center (CCDC), which was
the first such program in Austin in 1994. Now a licensed facility with several
full-time caregivers, the CCDC is an innovative model of a program that
positively impacts recruiting, staff retention, and company loyalty.
In addition to his accomplishments as a business leader, Dr. Garcia has
committed himself to giving back to the community. He founded the Hispanic
Scholarship Consortium in 2004—a certified 501(c)(3) non-profit organization
dedicated to the educational advancement of Hispanic students by providing
scholastic services and opportunities. In 2007 alone, the Hispanic Scholarship
Consortium will award $200,000 in scholarship awards to Central Texas Hispanics.
Nominated by:
Jason Rivera, Communications Director, Hispanic Scholarship Consortium |
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MEMBER SERVICE EXCELLENCE AWARD |
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 Jesus
M. Maldonado Reyes
Member Service Award Recipient
In his 8+ years as a NSHMBA member, Jesus M. Maldonado Reyes has demonstrated amazing leadership, bringing a strong sense of ethics and executing actions that reflect his deep commitment to NSHMBA. His many accomplishments include mentoring chapters to help create future leaders within NSHMBA and the Hispanic community, as well as establishing enduring partnerships with numerous corporations, universities, and non-profits.
As Director of the Eastern and Northeast Regions from 2003-2006, Maldonado Reyes was instrumental in strengthening existing chapters and developing new chapters, as evidenced by the growth throughout the region. He has provided superior training to recruit and retain effective board members and assist chapters in succession planning, program outcomes, core sustenance and capacity building efforts. In addition to collaborating Board Retreats in 10 chapters in his region, Jesus also implemented regional conferences in 2004 and 2005 at Wharton and University of Miami Business Schools, respectively. In 2006, he implemented the first annual national officer training conference "Encuentro" at the MIT Sloan School of Management, which brought in 160 leaders from the 30 NSHMBA Chapters and 50 top Hispanic Pre-MBA students. Maldonado Reyes was also key in raising $90,000 in corporate sponsorships for the event. Jesus is also a President Emeritus of the NY chapter and a founding member and current board member of the NJ chapter.
One of his most impressive gifts is his extensive professional network, which he shares freely, and has been fundamental to the introduction of a multitude of speakers, seminars, workshops, out-of-the-box programs, creative concepts and ideas, and networking opportunities. More importantly, it has provided the tools for technical support, operations management and capacity building to chapters nationally.
Jesus earned a BS and MS in Chemical Engineering (focused on Environmental Engineering) from The University of Puerto Rico. He is currently part of the Goldman, Sachs & Co, experienced hire diversity team based in New York City. He presently serves on the Board of Directors of ASPIRA of NY.
Nominated by:
Samuel Berrios, Lisa Casiano, Michael Negron, & Raquel Santiago |
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EDUCATIONAL EXCELLENCE AWARD |
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 The University of Texas-Pan
American
Educational Institution Award Recipient
The University of Texas-Pan American (UTPA) educates more Hispanic students than
any other university in Texas, and the 2nd highest number in the nation. Of
approximately 18,000 students, 86% are Hispanic. Hispanics represent 88% of
undergraduate and 77% of graduate students, and 72% of entering freshmen are 1st
generation college students. The faculty members are 41% female and 37%
Hispanic, and 80% of the staff members are Hispanic.
Given the many first generation college students, UTPA has implemented numerous
programs to foster retention. One key initiative is the Early Warning System,
which targets freshman and sophomores taking core curriculum courses. The
program has resulted in a 73.3% pass rate among “at risk” students, a notable
improvement from the previous rate of 47%. Additional retention initiatives
include a Learning Framework Course for freshmen to acquaint them with college
expectations, University Writing Center, Supplemental Instruction Initiative,
expanded tutoring to the residence halls, and an Academic Advisement and
Mentoring Center. UTPA has also partnered with local community college South
Texas College to assist students in transferring to the UTPA campus to achieve a
four year degree. The outcome of such initiatives is reflected not only in
improving the graduation rate, but also in UTPA graduates’ high acceptance rate
to graduate and professional school.
One notable event hosted by UTPA is the Hispanic Engineering Science and
Technology Week (HESTEC), which has been held every year since 2002. This event
is a nationally-recognized effort to steer minorities into science, engineering,
math, and hi-tech jobs attracting 45,000 students, teachers, and families to
campus yearly.
UTPA and NSHMBA’s partnership began when the Rio Grande Valley chapter formed in
2002. Since then, UTPA has offered much support for NSHMBA in the form of
providing meeting locations, sponsoring the LEAD event, creating a video for
chapter presentations, and sending students to conference.
Nominated by: Rio Grande Valley
Chapter Board |
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ENTREPRENEUR EXCELLENCE |
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 Lt.
Col. (Ret.) Consuelo Castillo Kickbusch
President and Founder, Educational Achievement Services, Inc.
Entrepreneur Award Recipient
Lieutenant Colonel Consuelo Castillo Kickbusch, born of immigrant parents in a
Laredo, Texas barrio, overcame the challenges of poverty, discrimination, and
illiteracy to become a successful role model for her community. After graduating
from Hardin Simmons University, she entered the military and became the
highest-ranking Hispanic woman in the Combat Support Field of the U. S. Army. In
1996, she was selected out of 26,000 candidates to assume a command post, which
would put her on track for the rank of general officer. Kickbusch respectfully
declined the honor and retired as a 22-year veteran to fulfill a personal
mission of inspiring and empowering Latino families.
She then founded Educational Achievement Services, Inc., which features the
Family Leadership Institute and SLiCK (Student Leadership Inspired by Consuelo
Kickbusch). Emphasizing the organization’s mission of “Preparing tomorrow’s
leaders today!,” Kickbusch has worked with over 1 million students nationwide
and has graduated more than 1,500 families from her Family Leadership Institute
in five states.
The Family Leadership Institute, created in 1998, is a multi-faceted educational
program developed to provide immigrant and migrant Hispanic families with the
knowledge, tools, and inspiration needed to help their children succeed in
school and in life. Through the concepts of family leadership and educational
excellence, Kickbusch is determined to reverse rising drop-out rates and halt
the cycles of poverty plaguing many Latino communities. According to a study by
the Houston Independent School District, 83% of participants in the Institute
reported a positive impact on their children’s school performance after the
program.
A new educational initiative that Kickbusch has introduced is the SLiCK student
leadership program. SLiCK is a revolutionary, innovative, and interactive series
of student leadership workshops geared towards nurturing the leadership skills
within students to achieve personal growth, resulting in a desire to create
positive change in their lives and community, as well as pursue higher
education.
Nominated by:
Cynthia Rocha, Chief Operating Officer, Educational Achievement Services, Inc |
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NOT-FOR-PROFIT EXCELLENCE |
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 The Hispanic Heritage Foundation
Non-Profit Award Recipient
The Hispanic Heritage Foundation (HHF), a non-profit 501(c)(3), headquartered in
Washington DC and led by President and CEO José Antonio Tijerino, identifies,
inspires, promotes and prepares Latino leaders through national leadership,
cultural, educational, and workforce programs. Through high-profile and
year-round programs, like the Hispanic Heritage Awards, Hispanic Youth Awards,
Latinos On Fast Track (LOFT) Network, and Speakers Bureau, HHF reaches millions
of Americans.
The Hispanic Heritage Foundation and the Hispanic Heritage Awards Program
provides an important service to the community by recognizing and celebrating
the work of Hispanic Americans that make a positive impact on the United States.
HHF believes that Latinos, especially Latino youth, are in need of role models
and platforms from which to lead in classrooms, communities, and the workforce.
One youth-oriented program HHF operates is the Youth Awards (YA). The Youth
Awards, created in 1998, identifies and promotes the next generation of role
models by celebrating their accomplishments in the classroom and the community,
and provides a platform for the Youth Awardees to serve as role models for their
peers. Awardees receive educational grants ranging from $1,000 to $3,000. NSHMBA
has recently partnered with HHF to sponsor a Youth Award for Business in 13
major markets.
With the Youth Awards as a feeder program, the LOFT (Latinos on Fast Track)
initiative was launched in 2004 as a partnership with the Hispanic College Fund
(HCF) to systematically develop sustainable relationships between top Hispanic
young professionals who have been awarded and America’s workforce. The LOFT
program has enhanced its efforts to diversify the workforce through a
relationship-based, industry-tailored approach to internship and full-time job
placement focusing on preparation and retention.
Nominated by:
Justin Reyes, EVP, New York Chapter & Karla Garcia, VP Professional Development,
Washington DC Chapter |
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