Sandy Flores Baumann
Twenty years ago, Sandy was a teenager surrounded by illegal drugs and living in a gang-infested neighborhood in Chicago. As a teenage mother in an abusive relationship, she dropped out of high school losing hope of her dream to become a published writer, presenter and educator. Today, she is a consultant, freelance writer, Motivational Speaker and a Leadership Development Coach for a Fortune 500 company.

In working within the community, she was told, “You’re a story of success!” and was encouraged to share her story to help inspire others to achieve their goals. Her passion is in guiding others to see beyond life challenges, realize their own potential and to create their own “story of success”.

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Norm received his undergraduate degree with a dual major in business and economics in 1986. He also holds a master's degree in information- science, both from the University of Pittsburgh. His service to the community has been recognized by Inroads, Black Women in Publishing, Granville Academy National, and Lincoln University.

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Through his experience, Burr has become a professional speaker whose insight and analysis of music, journalism, culture and the arts has been sought by colleges and civic groups. His provocative talks cover the urgency of literacy, the importance of the arts, the purpose of music, the politics of modern journalism and the decay of American pop culture. His intriguing insider's view offers incisive, sometimes hard-hitting, but always amusing perspectives that challenge universal truths with philosophical questions.

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Martin is an outstanding speaker well versed in many subjects, especially those pertaining to Diversity, Business and Socio-Economic Issues. Mr. Burrell is well recognized for his accomplishments within the Community.

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Upon completing her master’s degree in business administration at SMU, Ellen Castro worked with Exxon Company, USA for the next eleven years in various marketing and management assignments. Ellen then chose to redirect her career. To accomplish this transition, she attended Harvard University where she earned a master of education degree. The following years have been devoted to designing and facilitating leadership development and communication workshops. She has assisted many national and international companies in individual and organizational effectiveness.

Ellen has devoted the following years to designing and facilitating leadership development and communication workshops. She has assisted many national and international companies in individual and organizational effectiveness. Ellen is the author of Spirited Leadership  and co-author of Tortilla Soup for the Spirit.

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Rafael Colón

Rafael Colón is an international keynote speaker – fluent in English and Spanish – an award winning author, inspirational speaker, web broadcast host, leadership effectiveness coach, business development consultant and peak performance coach to Major and Minor League Baseball players. He is the co-founder of two other companies, Diversity Broadband, LLC and Triple Threat Baseball, Inc.

He served 16 years in the Washington State government and resigned his last position as the statewide administrator of the Leadership and Management Development program to grow Voices Internacional.  He specializes in career revitalization helping executive leaders and managers maximize individual and team effectiveness in a multicultural workforce environment.  He speaks to government, corporate, association, and non-profit groups throughout the United States and Puerto Rico.  He holds a BA from Washington State University.  He completed several MBA courses in Managerial Leadership and began his doctorate studies in human and organizational development.  Mr. Colón is a Competent Toastmaster by Toastmasters International and member of the National Speakers Association. 

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Nora Comstock

Nora Comstock received her Ph.D. from the University of Texas at Austinin 1982 in Educational Administration with an emphasis on community college management and a B.A. in History with a specialty in Latin America.

She is credited with growing the organization known in Austin, Texas, as Las Comadres para Las Americas from about 100 members to approximately 1400 and growing. She has started these informal groups throughout the country. While Las Comadres is for Latinas or non-Latinas married to Latinos, she keeps compadres and friends lists, as well to keep interested parties informed about local, regional, and national events of interest to Latinas and friends. She also moderates and hosts other lists for the Latino community.  The purpose is to share information and to provide Latina/os more opportunities to further their careers and to build Latino communities.Nationally Las Comadres counts with approximately 6000 members in 43cities and 17 states. She expects to grow to 10 more states this year.

Sandra Contreras:
Ms. Contreras has worked within a variety of industries, including construction, manufacturing and health care. She has owned a successful tax service, held a real estate license, and has worked for companies of various sizes in accounting and personnel departments.

Her professional experiences, combined with wit and wisdom, have allowed her to work successfully with many people seeking self-improvement, higher education, careers enhancement and more.

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Yasmin Davidds:
Yasmin Davidds is an international author and empowerment specialist who uses the "whole persona" effect in teaching women how to live empowering lives. She teaches women, particularly Latinas how to take personal responsibility for their lives, happiness and self-esteem.

Recognized for her powerful speeches and ability to inspire women internationally. Yasmin's simple message is "People will only treat you the way you allow yourself to be treated. If you want others to respect you, you need to begin by respecting yourself. This means standing up for yourself and not allowing yourself to be mistreated by anyone." Yasmin has dedicated her book, seminars and many speeches to the empowerment of Latinas.

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Richard Dominguez

Richard Dominguez grew up along with his four brothers and two sisters in an area of Dallas known as “The Devil’s Back Porch,” a barrio which earned the name dating back to the 1920’s. Instead of being heavily influenced by street gangs, Young Richard was ‘drawn’ for the love of reading comic books and cartooning. Dominguez made an impact in the Comic Book industry with his creation of a Latino superhero, EL GATO NEGRO. Since it’s debut in 1993, Dominguez had opened the floodgates for other Latino creators and publishers. An accomplished commercial artist, storyboard illustrator, caricaturist and comic book creator, Richard wears many hats, but prefers his baseball cap. A sought after speaker and public reader, he is known for his ‘comic book charisma’ and ‘animated interactive’ style. Richard believes that Comic Arts is an essential part to improving the quality of social growth and will improve appreciation of the art. His mission: to use motivation with ‘ganas’ (desires), to advance involvement with diversity to individuals and expand opportunities for economics and social growth within any industry and communities we do business.

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Sylvia Fuentes
Dr. Fuentes is passionate about the plight of Latinos and education.  She has a Doctorate in Adult Education and is the Director of Planning and Research in the Division of Student Affairs at Northern Illinois University. 

Dr. Fuentes can talk about subjects such as adversity in the workplace, Mr. DIVA or DIVA co-workers, Latinos, Educational issues, Leadership development, diversity, and Relationships and Other Games People Play!

SaulSilas Fathi

Saul Silas Fathi was born to a prominent Jewish family in Baghdad, Iraq. At age 10, he and his younger brother were smuggled out of Baghdad through Iran and eventually reached the newly formed state of Israel. He began writing a diary at age 11 and had several stories published in Israeli youth magazines. Saul battled the immigration department while studying at the University of Virginia, finally earning a Bachelor of Science degree in electrical engineering. This launched
an impressive career as a high-level executive with several Fortune-500 companies. Later, he
founded and managed three high-tech companies of his own over a 20-year period. Saul retired in 2003 and began writing his memoirs, Full Circle: Escape from Baghdad and the Return. Today, he lives in Long Island, New York, with his wife Rachelle and has three U.S.-born daughters and two grandchildren. He is also a certified linguist, fluent in English,
Hebrew, Arabic, and Portuguese.

Sammi holds a B.A. in Communications from the University of Texas at El Paso and is a Certified Faith-based Counselor and Coach. These credentials and her personal and professional life experience have enabled her to write and produce seminars, lectures, and life-skills classes that offer "Consejos" on a variety of topics. She is also the founder of the "Sammi G. Hispanic Scholarship Fund" that was established in 1989 and has awarded many scholarships to Hispanics seeking higher education. Her mission: to inspire, motivate and help others, through education, counseling, coaching, and TRAINING FOR TODAY'S WORKFORCEthe development of both personal and professional goals.

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Ramiro "Ram" Herrera's unique style of power rancheras, catchy cumbias and heartfelt balads, set a new standard of excellence that was bound to cause the music industry to stand up and take notice. Ram has received some of the music industry's most prestigious accolades including the Tejano Music Award's "Male Entertainer of the Year" and the "Humanitarian of the Year". Moving into "that next level " has meant some very positive changes for Ram.

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Gregg began storytelling in 1995 at the insistence of Gayle Ross (noted Cherokee storyteller). Gregg was selected Storyteller of the Year in 1997 by the Wordcraft Circle of Native Writers and Storytellers. His stories are the traditional Cherokee stories that explain the mysteries of the world around us and teach us how to get along with each other, respect toward others and awareness of the dangers of nature.

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Jose Maria DeLeon Hernandez "Little Joe" was born to Salvador "La Cotorra" Hernandez and Amelia DeLeon Hernandez in a three wall dirt floor car garage in Temple, Texas on a cold stormy night on October 17,1940. He was the 7th child of 13.

In 1955,Joe would play his first musical performance in Cameron,Texas for $5.00 at a high school Sock Hop. He was so excited, he realized that picking guitars beat cotton picking and he could actually get paid for it.

Forty Years......and over 50 albums later, Joe is touring the world, trailblazing, looking forward to new challenges, breaking down cultural and musical barriers and innovating his musical style. As always, Joe strives to bring many people together to make a more peaceful and harmonious world.

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Cleo Glenn Johnson-McLaughlin

Cleo Glenn Johnson-McLaughlin writes, develops, organizes, trains, and speaks about radically new opportunities and ideas centered on change and self-help. She works to create organizations of all types where people are known as the gift and the blessing, not the problem. She is the Senior Vice President of Narconon Arrowhead the largest residential long term alcohol and substance abuse recovery facility in the world that provides the technology of vitamins and nutrients as the solution. At this time she is working with the Oklahoma Black Legislators to develop legislation to make wellness a mandate for addicts by assisting individuals on drugs to become drug-free and back to living again. Also, she is working in various capacities with legislators around the world to include funding for results in getting people off of drugs.

She is on leave as the President of Black United Fund of Texas, an institution of understanding and commitment that advocates for change and to promote self-help. She has been an organizational consultant and developer for over 19 years. She also serves as an at large member on the board of National Black United Fund.

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Consuelo Castillo Kickbusch:
Lt. Col. Kickbusch rose to be the highest-ranking Hispanic woman in the Combat Support Field in the U.S. Army. In 1996, she retired and established Educational Achievement Services Inc., a training/consulting firm. With her powerful messages and dynamic presenting style, Lt. Col. Kickbusch speaks nationwide on leadership and is one of the most influential Latina women in America.

Consuelo Castillo Kickbusch is known as a charismatic, passionate and influential speaker and carries her powerful message of what it takes to be an effective leader in today's global marketplace to hundreds of schools, colleges/universities, corporations, and government institutions, both in the U.S. and abroad. For the last ten years Consuelo has dedicated her life to empowering a new generation of Hispanic leaders and has worked with over one million children and their parents across the United States through Educational Achievement Services (EAS), a company she founded in 1994.

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Elliott Lewis
Elliott offers a lively, informative, thought-provoking diversity presentation known as CHICKEN GUMBO FOR THE MULTICULTURAL SOUL: HOT, SPICY, AND HEARTWARMING STORIES ON INTERRACIAL FAMILIES AND MULTI-ETHNIC IDENTITY. Elliott is a biracial television news reporter who's been mistaken for everything from Hispanic to Egyptian, and was once referred to as "that white boy" at a family gathering. In one case, a television viewer began to adjust the color on his TV set in an effort to determine Elliott's racial identity.

Off-camera, Elliott is an energetic, uplifting, thought-provoking, and surprisingly funny public speaker on being multiracial in America. Through his presentations, audiences gain a new awareness of the unique challenges facing multiracial Americans today, while reexamining their own assumptions about race and identity. Elliott has audience members learning and laughing through his "Seven Habits of Highly Multiracial People," "Racial Ink Blot Test," "Top Ten Signs You're Living the Multiracial Experience," and his "Integration Medication" for treating "diversity-related tension."

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Anita is committed to the elimination of sexism, racism, and cultural barriers and has actively promoted women's rights nationally and internationally. Her achievements are recognized from coast-to-coast, as well as in South America.

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Sushil has experience in working with International Business Development and creating liaisons with ethnic community organizations, businesses and chambers of commerce. Important functions include protocol and relationship building with foreign government officials, local businesses and local communities.

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Today, with multiple stab wounds, Alice stands stronger and encourages other people that there is a way out of an abusive relationship without having to lose their lives. She was one of the lucky ones.

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Claire T. Mestepey:

Claire holds a Bachelor Degree in Communications from the University of St. Thomas.  While working at Kaleidoscope Television Network, she produced several shows, promo clips and an infomercial. As a writer, her work work can be found in New Mobility Magazine, The Houston Press, The Houston Gazette, and she is the author of “My Walker and Other Glamorous Accessories.”

 Her blurred speech accompanied with slides makes her message crystal clear. In her seminars Claires intelligence will educate you about different types of disabilities. Her passion will motivate you to learn how to better interact with people with disabilities. And if all else fails, her wicked humor will keep you awake.

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Among Mr. Metzler’s most successful initiatives is the development and deployment of a training program entitled United in Diversity for The Ford Motor Company. This is a diversity training program to be deployed to all 110,000 Ford employees. He is a nationally recognized expert in Glass Ceiling removal initiatives from the legal and organizational perspectives.

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Nogales became a full-time producer at KCBS Television in 1978. His strengths in writing, production and management earned him three Emmy Awards for such shows as “Kid Quiz”, ‘At Issue” and TroubleShooter”. He has also received a host of other awards, including four Silver Angels, a Golden Halo and at least twenty other commendations for excellence in television production.

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Ana Nogales, Ph.D:
One of the most famous Latinas in the United States, Dr. Nogales’ reputation comes from her commitment to and the orientation of her practice: Los Latinos, their relationships, their problems, and their needs within this great web of cultures that is the United States of America.

Dr. Ana Nogales was the first psychologist in California to deal with people’s psychological problems and concerns through the media. The insight and advice she has offered via her television and radio talk shows, as well as her newspaper columns, has helped thousands of individuals and families to improve the quality of their lives. In  Dr. Nogales is the author of Dr. Ana Nogales’ Book of Love, Sex and Relationships: A Guide for Latino Couples and Latina Power! Using the Seven Strengths You Already Have to Create the Success you Deserve.

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He has published extensively, including his first book Voces de la Gente – published in 1972 by the pioneering Mictla Publications in El Paso. Since then, Olvera has published four other books, including: Chicanismo: A Culture Trip; The Saga of Jefitas y Vatos Locos; Drugs: Frankly Speaking, and Changing the Heart of America: Eliminating Stigma and Discrimination Against the Chemically Ill by Changing Attitudes.

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As a founding member of the Latino Theatre Company in Los Angeles, Lupe has dedicated her life towards affecting change in the negative image of Latinos in the entertainment industry. Lupe’s work has gained the respect of her peers, as well as her community, through recognition awards for her efforts as an actress, pioneer, activist and visionary who has sought to affect change while maintaining her dignity as a woman.

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Previously, Rosanne worked for a Fortune 500 company in a variety of positions within corporate communications, including project management, corporate donations, minority business development and minority affairs. She then successfully redirected her career into a position with a local media/broadcasting giant and gained expertise in advertising, promotions and publishing a bilingual magazine. She is committed to serving her community and vigorously pursues her passion for assisting women and Hispanic youth obtain higher education.

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She has written several articles that have appeared in; Today’s Black Woman, Black News Magazine, and The Forum. Specializing in relationships, Carmen is a well respected therapist and counselor. Carmen says, “A relationship is not 50/50, it’s 100/100. You get out of a relationship what you put into it.” Carmen is the author of “Gold Diggers” and “Recipes for a Sensual Bath.”

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Maria uses writing as a positive tool in empowering women with and without disabilities and has published The Female King, a collection of her poetry. Maria is involved in the disability rights movement assisted in the progress of the passage of the American's with Disabilities Act and Created the "Power and Control Wheel" for persons with disabilities which was adopted by the Texas Council on Family Violence.

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Sharon has wrote an autobiography, not yet published on the abuses during her experiences at the Boarding School, with the lose of identity, traditions and customs, she also write of her experiences with her struggle with childhood sexual abuse, she writes in detail her inner struggles to over come the loss of her language, and traditions, and the unity of her family. Sharon Is an enrolled member of the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians, she has attended and is a graduate of the Minot State University, North Dakota.

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Paula presents actual documented materials to discuss the life and times of this African American civil war freedom fighter, who grasped the American dream prior to his death in 1901. The genealogical tracking of her great-great grandfather can be dated to the 1700’s, Yorkville, South Carolina and the Huguenots in France. Currently, Paula is writing a book about her family’s slave-to-success story.

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Eduardo spent his early career working in corporate America in engineering and manufacturing environments. During eight years with a British NGO, he designed and implemented cross-cultural training programs for hundreds of staff members from over 60 countries.

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Throughout her four decades of community involvement, Ms. Robles has played an active role in ensuring that the culture, history, and economic conditions of her constituents are not overlooked in the corridors of power. As Immediate Past National President is a member of the LULAC National Board and the LULAC National Executive Committee.

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Ruben Ruiz:
Ruben Ruiz, Author of ‘The One Hour Hispanic Millionaire’, is the CEO of The Ruiz Financial Group, LLC, and Money Concepts Financial Planning Centre’s. Ruben has been a financial advisor and planner for over 25 years. Ruben’s passion is to educate & motivate Hispanics to create wealth and financial independence for themselves and their families, and actually to become ‘Millionaires’ because they have that right and freedom in the USA. He has done hundreds of seminars, workshops, and boot camps on financial planning & wealth creation for his clients, which approximately 98% are Hispanic. Ruben earned his Masters of Science in Financial Services, from the American College, Bryn Mawr, PA. He holds the designations of the Chartered Financial Consultant, Chartered Life Underwriter, Certified Senior Advisor and is a Registered Financial Consultant. Ruben holds a BBA degree from Southwest Texas State University (Texas State University). He was recently elected to the International Association of Registered Financial Consultants (IARFC) Board of Directors, and is the former Chairman of the Board for the San Antonio & South Texas Financial Planning Association (FPA).

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Marilou Martinez Stevens:
Marilou Martinez Stevens is an active member of numerous community and professional organizations, volunteering both her time and professional expertise. Ms. Martinez Stevens has served as Chair of the Texas Association of Mexican American Chambers of Commerce (TAMACC). The first female chair of TAMACC in its 23 year history.

In 1999 U. S. District Office 1999 Minority Small Business Advocate of the Year. In 1998 was named by Hispanic Magazine 100 Most Influential Hispanics in American. In 1997, Marilou Martinez Stevens was named Business Women of the Year by the Fort Worth Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and received the Minority Business Development Agency (BDA) Regional Director's Award for the years 1997 and 1998.

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Benita Reina Swinners

As a United States Army Sergeant, in the Bravo 5-5 Air Defense Artillery of the 2nd. Brigade 2nd Infantry Division, Sgt. Benita Reina Swinners completed a 21-month tour on Camp Hovey in South Korea and a 10–month Combat Tour in Iraq during Operation Iraqi Freedom II attached to the 1/9th  Infantry Division. Sgt. Swinners was one of three females attached to the infantry division at Camp Ramadi. While in Iraq, Sgt. Swinners had the honor of participating in a historic event by being in charge of one of the initial Iraqi Election Polling Sites where Iraqi women had the privilege of voting for the first time.  She participated in 5 Iraqi raids that resulted in the detaining of insurgents and was responsible for streamlining air and ground transportation for over 4,000 troops.

Among her honors, Sgt. Swinners earned 3 “Best in Battalion” ratings from the Battalion Inspection Team and won Battalion and Brigade Soldier of the Quarter Board. Her awards include 3 Army Commendation Medals, Army Achievement Medal, Army Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, the Korean Defense Service Medal, the Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Iraqi Campaign Medal and was chosen as part of the Advanced Party for the Brigade S4.      

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Betty Ramirez Swinners:
Betty Ramirez Swinners is the owner and CEO of Diversity Speakers and a motivational speaker who has dedicated her life to sharing her story of success and survival to encourage others to believe in themselves. A survivor of abuse, she was raised as a homeless child, living in an abandoned house. Education was not a priority to her family, so Betty only attended the second and the fifth grade of elementary school. But adversity did not stop Betty from becoming a success. Betty has been recognized as "One of Texas Most Influential Women" by Texas Hispanic Magazine, inducted into "The Hispanic Women's Hall of Fame" by Hispanic Women in Leadership, and recipient of the first US Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Ana Maria Arias Hispanic Business Woman of the Year Award.

Betty is passionated and delivers powerful keynote addresses at conferences, luncheons and vigils for Colleges / Universities, Domestics Violence Agencies, Rape Crisis Centers and Women's Organizations. She is the co-author of "Tortilla Soup for the Spirit" and will soon release two new books "Daily Affirmations for Latinos" and "A Story of Hope and Fried Chicken."

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Rudi is the founder of Full Spectrum Ministries, a women’s ministry based on the principle of leaving a legacy of sharing and caring. She focuses on liberating, uplifting, empowering and educating women. Know where you came from, look at where you have been, and then you can control where you are going.

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Mr. Turner shares his wonderful gift of communication to elementary schools, senior citizens residences, community centers, or government conferences leaving his audiences clamoring for his return.

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By sharing her story and speaking out against domestic violence and the effects that it has on the victim, children and our society, she hopes that no other child or woman will live what she lived through.

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Williams received a BA in physical education from Bishop College and a MA in human development and community affairs from American International College in Springfield, MA. He is a licensed professional counselor, licensed chemical dependency counselor, certified criminal justice specialist and certified teacher in Texas.

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