SHPE - Fall 2007 - (Page 4) PRESIDENT’S LETTER NATIONAL BOARD OF DIRECTORS President Diana L. Gomez T California Department of Transportation (CALTRANS) Vice President Manuel Hernandez T Raytheon Secretary Dora Maria Abreu T Goldman Sachs Treasurer Annette Jimenez T IRS Headquarters (Retired) National Undergraduate Representative Allan Luis Morales T University of South Florida Vice National Undergraduate Representative Jorge R. Ortiz T University of California, San Diego W hat began with a brainstorming session at the recent national board of directors’s retreat concluded with an inspiring vision of SHPE 2012 and the strategic planning to make it a reality. Although much attention centered on incorporating a CEO into SHPE’s operational structure, the leaders also focused on several major initiatives in support of the Society’s mission to be The Source for Quality Hispanic Engineers and Technical Talent. Motivated by a deepseated passion for the Hispanic community, they used their previous board experience to turn the challenge of change into confidence for the future. Among our most important initiatives is SHPE Jr. – our best offense against the VICE PRESIDENTS Region I Vice President Kathleen Gonzales Region II Vice President Ricardo Carlos T IBM Region III Vice President Ismael Mendoza T Colorado Electronic Product Design Region IV Vice President Iliana Limon T INTECH Construction Inc. Region V Vice President Michael E. Gutierrez T Lockheed Martin Region VI Vice President Adriana S. Ocampo-Senior T Boeing Region VII Vice President Concepción Jiménez-González T GlaxoSmithKline alarming Hispanic drop out rate. If we are to reverse the trend, we must reach further into our communities, starting earlier in high school and middle school to heighten awareness of STEM education and career opportunities. As we mentor more students to excel in math and science and channel their interest into engineering disciplines, they will be equipped to succeed as college students and continue on the graduate level. They will enter the work force that is so famished for technical talent and drive the innovations that will keep the United States a brilliant leader on the world scene. Indeed, SHPE Jr. is a viable means for us to pull this talent through the pipeline. If each active chapter were to start a SHPE Jr. chapter, within five years, we would have 250 SHPE Jr. chapters across the nation – a tremendous head start, wouldn’t you agree? We also see the value of responding to globalization by expanding the Society’s influence to other Spanish-speaking countries in the Caribbean, Central and South America and Europe. Establishing SHPE chapters internationally will not only exponentially broaden the personal and professional network of our members, but it will also create direct access for them to study abroad or seek internship, co-op and job opportunities. Such experience will be to their advantage in any global corporation. Within the next five years, as we roll out our World Expansion Project, our goal will be to establish 25 international chapters in 10 countries, gradually integrating them into SHPE’s overall structure. Hundreds of ideas were generated, along with many ways of approaching them (see related article on page 30), yet there was always one constant. Without a doubt, the bridge between SHPE 2007 and SHPE 2012 is paved with your support. Together, we’re confident that SHPE can achieve its goals. Diana Gomez President SHPE NATIONAL STAFF Acting Director of Operations Rafael Rivera, CMP T Rafael.Rivera@shpe.org Corporate Affairs Manager Carmen Peralta T Carmen.Peralta@shpe.org Events Coordinator Alli Sadighpour T Alli.Sadighpour@shpe.org IT Administrator Frank Barragan T Frank.Barragan@shpe.org Membership Lead Valerie Valenzuela T Valerie.Valenzuela@shpe.org Professional Development Officer Fred Muñoz T Fred.Munoz@shpe.org Executive Assistant Lourdes Arce T Lourdes.Arce@shpe.org Receptionist Violeta Lopez T Receptionist@shpe.org Bookkeeper Marilyn Cruz T Bookkeeper@shpe.org AHETEMS Foundation Director of Programs Rafaela Schwan T Rafaela.Schwan@shpe.org Assistant Director of Programs Gary Cruz T Gary.Cruz@shpe.org Administrative Assistant Karina Jaime T Karina.Jaime@shpe.org SHPE, magazine of the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers, is published quarterly, four times per year. Annual subscription rates; SHPE members, included in dues; non-members, $20. Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers 5400 E. Olympic Blvd., Suite 210 Los Angeles, CA 90022 © Copyright 2007 by SHPE Magazine For information regarding the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers: (323) 725-3970 For subscription request, editorial inquiries and information: shpemag@shpe.org or telephone (973) 218-0742 For advertising rates and information: John Goodrich, telephone (434) 244-9776 john.goodrich@shpe.org Visit our website at http://www.shpe.org 4 SHPE R Fall 2007 http://www.shpe.org
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