Latino Professionals Association of N.E.W.

Happy #HispanicHeritageMonth to all our members, partners and community. We continue to share our rich culture and successes throughout the year and highlight during this month. #LPA #LatinoProfessionals #SiSePuede

September means that kids have returned to school, football season has kicked off and we highlight another member. Today it's Alex Ysquierdo, MSc, learn more about him below. I am currently the State Director for the Wisconsin Supplier Diversity Program at the Wisconsin Department of Administration. I work with various businesses across the nation, certifying and supporting minority, women, and disabled veteran-owned enterprises and making them aware of state procurement opportunities. My focus is fostering inclusivity for all businesses throughout WI, leveraging over 25 years of experience in community development, outreach, and community banking. My family is originally from a small town in South Texas called Mercedes, in an area known as the Valley. There were seven of us, and we moved to WI as seasonal farm workers, spending long days picking cucumbers and all sorts of farm work—you name it, we did it. Eventually, we transitioned to working on a massive 10,000-acre potato farm in Nekoosa, WI. Growing up in a large family, I was no stranger to long days and hard work; these were lessons ingrained in me from a young age. I'm proud of my upbringing as it taught me the value of family, perseverance, & resilience. It fueled my commitment to showing other Latinos from similar backgrounds that they, too, can rewrite their narratives, change their lives, & that where we start doesn't dictate where we end up. I hold a Master of Science in Organizational Leadership & Change from Edgewood College and am pursuing my MBA, aiming to complete it by the fall of 2025. My guiding principle is, “I will persist until I succeed.” Those who know me recognize my relentless drive & constant momentum. I'm honored to serve on several distinguished boards: Executive Board of Goodwill Industries of Southeastern Wisconsin, Inc., Board of Directors for Downtown Madison Inc., and the Wisconsin Early Childhood Association (WECA). I rejoined the Executive Board of Directors for the Wisconsin Latino Chamber of Commerce, where I was elected as Vice President. To effectively advocate for the people of WI, I need to be involved in our communities. Serving on these boards allows me to better understand what's happening in our communities and allows me to connect with remarkable individuals who are driving efforts to move our communities forward. LPA plays a vital role in the Latino ecosystem by actively advancing the community through a unique blend of professional development, leadership programs, mentorship, and community engagement. LPA is more than just a networking group; it is a dynamic force fostering growth and leadership within the Latino community. More than maintaining and supporting the status quo, LPA is dedicated to moving and evolving the community forward. Combining cultural pride with professional excellence, LPA catalyzes meaningful, sustainable progress, empowering Latino professionals to achieve both personal and professional success.

There’s a strong entrepreneurial spirit within the Latino community and LPA. Several members are full-time entrepreneurs, providing real estate, skincare, counseling, insurance services and more. Other members are considering launching a “small side business” in the future. Therefore our first LPA Hybrid Workshop for Professional members delved into the reasons and mechanics involved in creating a business in Wisconsin. We want to express our appreciation to both Maria Padilla and Brian Cullen for sharing their insights and expertise in this informative and fun workshop; also to members who attended in-person or virtually. We’re looking forward to continuing to serve our members and the region.

We are thrilled to share our first Member Led Event (MLE) has been launched. MLEs?are initiated by members and further our mission. Many thanks to?Maleny Capetillo and?Cristina M., Professional members, for their leadership and commitment to launching our first Book Club and also to Jeanne Stangel and Curative Connections for hosting us. We look forward to future MLE that further our mission and reflect our member's invaluable contributions. #Latinaprofessional #Libros #LPAofNEW #bookclub

The summer is flying by, however let us take time to spotlight LPA member Cristina M. Hi everyone! My name is Cristina Montejano and I am a bilingual admissions counselor, proudly serving students at the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay. Every day, I get the opportunity to lead students through the admissions process and be a resource as they make important life decisions. I am incredibly grateful for the guidance I received from others as a first-generation student, and I am delighted that I can now be that support for future students. I was born in Coahuila, Mexico, and I immigrated with my family to Green Bay, WI when I was five years old. I remember being excited for my first day of school, ready to make friends in this new country, only to be struck by a language barrier. It made me realize how important communication is. Despite the struggles to adjust in a new environment, my family was always there for me. My parents instilled the importance of education and showed me that through hard work and dedication, came many opportunities. With their encouragement, I realized I could achieve anything through determination and perseverance. With my family’s support, I earned my bachelor’s degree in Spanish and Communications from the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point in 2020. Following that, I earned my master’s in Student Affairs Administration from the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse this past May 2024. Through my experience in college, I have come to love higher education and am incredibly proud to be the first person in my family to earn a master’s degree, as well as being part of the 8% of Latinas in America to obtain one. After learning about LPA, I knew in a heartbeat that it was an organization that I wanted to be a part of. Not only is it a space that welcomes experienced and new Latinx professionals, but there is a drive and purpose to give back to the community that I wholly support. I am so excited to see how Latinx professionals within this organization will continue to grow and make a difference within our community.?

Last week, we had an incredible experience of caving at the Ledge View Nature Center. This event brought together professionals from both Latino Professionals Association of N.E.W. and ACEL-Northeast Wisconsin Chapter (ACEL-NEW). Huge thanks to the Inclusion in the Outdoors program a part of Multicultural Coalition, Inc and Kyle Armstrong for coordination, and to New North, Inc. for their donation of flashlights to illuminate our tour. Special appreciation also goes out to the Fund for Lake Michigan for providing crucial funding support for the Inclusion in the Outdoors program. Together, these partnership events are crucial for building community. #Bettertogether #Buildingcommunity

Serving on a nonprofit board provides countless personal and professional benefits including the opportunity to: ? Further a mission near and dear to your heart ? Share your skills, talents and unique perspective ? Expand your network Members of Latino Professionals Association of N.E.W. met with Jeanne Stangel, President and CEO, Curative Connections to learn about the organization's mission, services and to discuss board involvement. Learn more about Curative Connections and Yesteryear Village, "an innovative, cutting-edge and proactive approach to care. Yesteryear Village is a leap forward in reminiscent care to support individuals with memory loss." Many thanks to Jeanne Stangel for her time and hospitality and to our members, Maleny Capetillo, Vicki Villarreal, Selene Alvarez, William L., Jess Arriaga, for their engagement and investment in Northeast Wisconsin.

Exciting events are lined up for the rest of the year with our Latino Professionals Association of N.E.W. Don't miss out—sign up now to stay informed and join us in making these events unforgettable!

?Es tiempo de celebrar! Let’s take a moment to celebrate ourselves and each other by sharing wins and giving shout-outs in the comments. ?? #OrgulloLatino #Wednesdaywins

We kick off July by spotlighting Robert Soto MA this month, read more about him below. Hello, my name is Robert Soto. I am the Director of Associate Relations for Schneider. I've just reached my 29th work anniversary and have worked in various roles, mostly within the operations functions. The last eight years have been aligned with HR, working in Associate Relations. My family and I are recent transplants to Green Bay. Two years ago, we moved from Los Angeles to WI. It was an adjustment for our two middle children, who knew nothing but life in Southern CA. I was born in Norwalk, CA, and am one of five siblings & my parents come from two very large families. My parents worked to instill independence and work ethic, encouraging us to pursue education. We did not grow up with a lot of extras, so I joined the Marine Corps after high school to “get college money”. I earned my bachelor’s degree in business management and a master’s in organizational leadership. I attribute a lot of my success in school to the love for reading that I inherited from my mother. Barbara and I have worked to pass on the importance of education to our children, with our middle child starting her master’s program next spring and our son starting his bachelor's this fall.? On both sides of my family, our relatives came from Chihuahua, Mexico. My paternal grandmother helped create a work ethic and accountability in her grandchildren, which my parents always emphasized and reinforced. I have an identical twin, so we were always together, particularly when Grandma and Grandpa needed help. Washing the car, mowing the lawn, weeding, raking the rocks and dirt. Yep, you heard that right, grandma would make my brother and I rake the gravel in the alley entrance to her backyard, so the rocks were uniform. We learned the value of doing a good job and doing it right (or start raking again….). I think back fondly on how that impacted my approach to work. My parents were focused on Respect. My father would take quick offense to us presenting anything but a respectful and positive picture of who we are as Mexican Americans. That stance was non-negotiable. His demand of being respectful is a big part of who I am. I’d like to share a story about my son. Shortly after we moved, we talked as he was not happy with the move. Despite him attending a very good high school, solid academics, resources, etc. he struggled for several months. Not with his studies or being a good student but connecting with his peers. It was not because he could not, it was because he would not. He kept saying to me, “dad, no one here looks like me”. He’d said, “they don’t know diversity”. I explained his (our) job is to help people experience diversity. Our role is to help them understand, we are just like them. Our job is to educate them and expose them to diversity through positive interactions and sharing our story. If we do that each day, we advance diversity where we live.??