With over 300 + attendees Latinos in Information Sciences and Technology Association (LISTA) held their 6th Annual National Emerging Technology Leadership Summit at the Melia Hotel in Atlanta, GA. The ETL Summit theme was a “Call to Action” and it concentrated on diversity and inclusion, and enabled leaders to develop core competencies in Employee Resource Groups, while discussing issues affecting Latinos in the technology industry. The ETL Summit began on Wednesday, May 23rd, 2012 with a Special VIP Welcome Reception, hosted by the LISTA Georgia Technology Council and the Georgia Black/Latino Council, featuring a special message from Dr. Bernice A. King, CEO of the Martin Luther King Center and Academy Acclaimed actor Pepe Serna. Dr. King spoke on the strength of her mother Coretta Scott King and Pepe Serna spoke on how to continue to reinvent yourself in your career in order to find work in a difficult job market.
The agenda for this year’s Summit included workshops on business growth and corporate success, strategic leadership in technology, cultural competence, and social media. Latina Style Magazine will announced Grace Lopez-Williams as the Georgia Entrepreneur of the Year at the LISTA – Latina Style luncheon on Thursday, May 24th, 2012.
Speakers included Atlanta’s Mayor Kasim Reed; House Minority Leader of the Georgia General Assembly & State Representative, Stacey Abrams; Terri L. Denison, District Director, U.S. Small Business Administration, Robert Alvarez, Vice President of Operations of HACEMOS AT&T Atlanta Chapter; Robert Bard, President and CEO of Latina Style Magazine; Lillian Rodriguez, Director of Latin Affairs, The Coca-Cola Company, Lance Rios, President of Being Latino; Dr Bernice King, Robert Abreu, Dr Walter Young Dr Romona Houston, Glenn Llopis, Dr. Walter Lowery among many others.
The full agenda, list of speakers and awardees can be found here.
The Summit culminated on Thursday, May 24th, 2012 with LISTA’s 12th Annual National TechLatino Achievers Awards Gala. Awardees include Norelie Garcia, Associate Vice President – Federal Public Affairs for AT&T, who received the 2012 Corporate Citizen Award; Jaime Dickinson, President and CEO of NewCom International, who will received the 2012 LISTA CEO of the Year Award; Jose Jimenez, Chief Diversity Officer of CSC, who will received the 2012 LISTA Chief Diversity Officer of the Year Award; David Cohen, Senior Vice President Comcast, Visionary of the year 2012, Javier Polit, CIO of Coca-Cola LISTA CIO of the year 2012; Daniel Rodriguez, CTO of UDT, LISTA CTO of the year 2012 and Alex Goldstein, CEO elwiri LISTA Rising Star Award 2012; Rev. Dr. Joseph E. Lowery was honored by LISTA with their National Lifetime Achievement Award.
The event was hosted by Acclaimed Writer/Director Rick Najera and internet sensation ZayZay.
Wrap Up Video— Highlights from LISTA Emerging Technology Leadership Summit