The Center for Hispanic Marketing Communication (HMC) at the Florida State University College of Communication & Information (FSU CCI) is the first of its kind in the United States devoted to educating students and professionals in the field of Hispanic marketing and advertising. Faculty and students working with the Center are conducting ground-breaking research and serving as an innovative resource for the U.S. Hispanic marketing industry.
The Center for HMC’s annual Advisory Board retreat was held Oct. 10-11. Board members who traveled to Tallahassee to attend in person include:
- Board Chair, Rochelle Newman-Carrasco, Walton Isaacson, Chief Hispanic Marketing Strategist
- Geoff Godwin, Emerson Climate Technologies, White-Rodgers Division, VP Marketing
- Mark Lopez, Google, Head of U.S Hispanic Audience
- César Melgoza, Geoscape, CEO & Founder
- Jorge Ortega, Newlink America, Managing Partner & Co-Founder
A series of events began on Oct. 10 with an all-day PR workshop led by industry expert and board member, Jorge Ortega. Key players and students most involved with the Center as well as a few others who work for the College were in attendance. Together they formulated a marketing strategy, future vision, goals and action plan for the Center to implement.
In the evening, the Center held its first Open House and a Professional Panel. Some of the board and faculty members discussed several aspects of their careers and shared advice. Current students asked questions and engaged in conversation pertinent to dealing with U.S. Hispanic and multicultural market demographics.
A dinner that also served as a networking event was held that night at Azu Restaurant. Attendees were the visiting board members, the Center’s most active students, alumni, the CCI Dean, Dr. Larry Dennis, and leading faculty (Drs. Sindy Chapa, Howard Rodriguez-Mori, Felipe Korzenny, Betty Ann Korzenny, an School of Communication Interim Director, Dr. Ulla Sypher) and staff members (Associate Director of Development, Mafé Brooks, and Creative Director, Natalie Kates).
At the restaurant, Dean Dennis and the Center’s co-founder/Director, Dr. Felipe Korzenny, awarded a plaque to his wife, Betty Ann in appreciation for her years of dedication. She is the Center’s co-founder and formerly served as the Associate Director. This semester marks her transition to become a Senior Advisor.
The dinner also allowed for recognition of the Center’s new Associate Director, Dr. Sindy Chapa. In August 2013, Chapa joined the School of Communication as an Assistant Professor. Previously she worked as an Assistant Professor and Associate Director of the Center for the Study of Latino Media & Markets at The School of Journalism & Mass Communication at Texas State University (TSU) since 2008.
On the following day, Oct. 11, the Center held its annual Advisory Board meeting. Presentations included overviews of its organizational structure, research currently being conducted, as well as ongoing and future initiatives. In addition, the Center’s plans for upcoming conferences were explained, such as a Spanish-language documentary film festival called Puntos de Vista.
The closing events included a mentorship luncheon and recognizing recent HMC scholarship recipients. Advisory board members were appreciated for their years of commitments and contributions towards scholarships, serving as mentors, and more. Students read aloud personal thank you letters to their mentors expressing gratitude and revealing how their support has contributed towards their professional development, knowledge and success.
