SHPE - Conference 2008 - (Page 21)

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT ❚ By Patty Enrado ❚ Part 2 Grupos de Afinidad Sharing a Common Vision T he proliferation of and support for Hispanic affinity groups affirm the value of these networks, especially as the marketplace becomes more global. Many companies see affinity groups as beneficial not only to the employees, but also to the company itself in the form of recruitment and retention of top talent. Affinity groups have become an important platform that provides minority employees with professional development resources and support as well as social and cultural networking opportunities. At the same time, a vital affinity group can drive business results. In the following pages, several of the Society’s corporate supporters describe the vital role of their affinity groups. Texas Instruments: Enhancing Business Success The professional contributions of Hispanic employees are recognized as part of TI’s annual Hispanic Heritage Month celebration. opportunities for Hispanic TIers in placement, retention, career advancement and community outreach; enhance business success; and be recognized as the best-inclass diverse work force.” “The key phrase in this mission statement is ‘to enhance business success,’” he said. “Although all parts of the mission are important, the main reason for HEIF’s, and TI’s other affinity groups’, existence is to help TI succeed as a company.” UTC: Commitment to Company and Community United Technologies Corp. (UTC), based in Hartford, Connecticut, provides high-tech products and support services to global customers in the aerospace and building industries. UTC supports 26 employee network group chapters, and its Hispanic Leadership Forum (HLF) meets the needs of more than 300 members across UTC. The HLF provides members with a sense of community and social networking. “This is not to be underestimated, as it contributes to the retention of our Hispanic professional Grace Figueredo talent,” said Grace Figueredo, Director of Workforce Diversity. That said, equally important are the forum’s personal and professional development aspects. In addition to the speaker series and breakfast and lunch meetings with executives, HLF and the other network groups have their own infrastructures, and members can serve in leadership roles in support of their missions, including president and vice Texas Instruments (TI), which supports 20 diversity initiatives in its Dallas area alone and diversity initiatives at other major sites, started its affinity group for Hispanic employees in 1988. The Hispanic Employees Initiative Forum (HEIF) now has more than 400 employee members. TI’s Hispanic affinity group participates in community projects and mentoring programs, keeps employees connected with TI’s strategic direction as part of communication meetings, recognizes the professional contributions of Hispanic TIers as part of annual Hispanic Heritage Month events, provides professional development opportunities to TIers by partnering with the local SHPE-DFW chapter and assists TI’s staffing organization during recruiting conferences such as the annual SHPE Conference. HEIF’s community involvement activities, such as volunteering at lunchtime to read to preschool children for whom English is a second language, attract employees to the group, according to Ken Tarango, HEIF chairman. In the big picture, employees view TI’s support of all of its diversity initiatives as a quality of a good employer. Tarango said that HEIF reflects its mission statement: “identify and promote www.SHPE.org ❘ Conference 2008 president. Members can lead committees – career development, recruiting and retention, communications, and community relations – which further develop and hone their professional skills. Members also participate in community-building programs, including partnerships with local schools to boost students’ leadership and corresponding STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) learning skills. Also, in partnership with local chapters of the Society, the HLF has sponsored students to attend the annual SHPE Conference. Figueredo said the HLF’s website, strategy plans and advisory teams reflect the group’s high level of professionalism. “Their activities are not ad-hoc; activities are arranged around strategies that add value to the business,” she said. “They are incredibly engaged and involved as a community. You see their pride in working for UTC and a commitment to making UTC a much stronger company.” The HLF hosts an intern-executive dinner, an event that supports the group’s efforts to convert interns into full-time hires. According to Figueredo, these activities and the sense of community and social networking that is established within the group have led to a “pretty high” conversion rate and retention rate of talent. This demonstrates the members’ commitment to the forum and to UTC as a company. “The focus is to support the business objectives of recruitment, development and retention of Hispanic professional talent within UTC,” she said. GE: Delivering Value The GE Hispanic Forum, which was officially formed in 1998 to attract, develop, retain and promote the best Hispanic talent at GE, boasts more than 21 http://www.SHPE.org

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SHPE - Conference 2008 President’s Letter From the Vice President News of Particular Interest to Society Members Calendar Making the Most of the Career Fair Grupos de Afinidad Phoenix Rising Advancing Hispanic Excellence in Technology, Engineering, Math and Science (AHETEMS) 2008 SHPE Conference Program Guide Welcome Letters Highlights Conference Schedule STAR Awards Company of the Year Chapter of the Year Awards Speakers Entertainment Hospitality Suites Advisor Program Professional Program Quick Guide Business Proposal Competition Professional Workshop Descriptions Technical Paper and Poster Competitions AHETEMS Design Competition Extreme Engineering Challenge National Academic Olympiad AHETEMS Teacher Program AHETEMS Pre-College Symposia Corporate Tours AHETEMS Graduate Program AHETEMS Distinguished Lecture Series AHETEMS Deans’ Summit Undergraduate Workshops Quick Guide Undergraduate Workshops Descriptions MUST Scholars Symposium Career Fair Exhibitors Sponsors Hotel and Convention Center Maps Regional Roundup Inner Circle Employer Profiles Advertisers Index

SHPE - Conference 2008

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