Emeline is our newest Board Member, already actively participating and organizing our busy Hype Events. Originally from Puerto Rico, she works as an Account Executive for Univision and Telefutura in Tampa. She is leading the PR and Membership Committe where she joins Hype's efforts in attracting and retaining Tampa Bay's most talented emerging candidates, in an effort to promote awareness of Latin American Professionals, Entrepeneurs and Culture. In her words:

"I joined Hype because I have seen what this organization is about and I not only believe in it, but love the concept. Young Professionals need to network. It is not a luxury but a need. Hype allows us to expand our horizon in our communities and our careers."

Welcome Aboard Emeline!! 

With three young children, operating several family-owned businesses, volunteering for different organizations & heavily involved in politics Angelette Aviles is always asked, “How do you do it all?”  Her answer is, “When you love what you do time flies quickly & you still have lots of energy.  It also helps when you have a supportive husband!”  Well put Angelette.

 Our HYPE member’s enthusiasm & accomplishments was recently recognized, as she was recently chosen for the Tillie Fowler Series a leadership-training program.  She is one of six highly qualified Florida women and the first Hispanic selected for the scholarship-based program supported by the RNC (Republican National Committee).  The nationwide and yearlong series objective is to encourage, mentor, and prepare selected women leaders to seek new levels of involvement in government and politics and to assume key roles in public service.  

 Over the years, Angelette has dedicated herself to community service activities (from Moffitt to the VA Hospital) and has spoken numerous times at local schools as a mentor.  She is a member of various organizations including: HYPE, The Hispanic Professional Women’s Association, The Small Business Advisory Council, The Republican Executive Committee, & The Republican Hispanic Club (among many others).  She is currently working on a collaborative effort bringing Hispanics & Blacks to join forces in order to show the economic impact & powerful voice these two groups have statewide & nationally.  Now she is ready to take the next level and continue serving the community and state from a different perspective.  In the near future when Aviles is elected to public office or appointed in a government position she aspires to take that honorable title and utilize it as a means to inspire and encourage other young women and Hispanics to continue with their education and see that it is possible to be successful and be in leadership positions whether in public or private since.  Also to teach about accountability & responsibility as her parents instilled in her.  Raised in Washington D.C., Angelette made Tampa home after graduating from the University of South Florida.  As a business professional, she operated her own salon in Temple Terrace selling it last spring then decided to dedicate herself full-time expanding the established family business as co-owner of C4 Enterprises.  Angelette is also V.P. of Operations for Americas Marketing and Graphics (a division of C4) and Business Development Director of the other three companies (private charter and travel services, medical IT services, and property development).   Her other titles include CEO of the Aviles household which consist of husband Carlos and 3 children.   At the ripe old age of 30, this is only the beginning for Angelette Aviles.  And, this is why HYPE is so honored and proud to be able to call Angelette our newest, “Spotlight Member.”  Thank you Angelett e!

Working with the City of Tampa’s neighborhood associations has been an extraordinary experience for Lorena.  We ask Lorena about some of the programs that she helps to develop, and the tells us the following, “I help create new neighborhood associations, and guide and assist those already formed so they can continue making this City great. As the liaison for the Hispanic community I make sure that important City information is given to our residents in Spanish. If you visit www.tampagov.net/en_espanol you can view our City services, and obtain up to date information about events and or city happenings in the “Noticias" box. I love our community, I get so many calls a day from Spanish speaking customers and when I am on the phone with them I always feel like I am speaking to family!”

As if that is not enough, HYPE member Lorena Rivas was last year honored with the Hispanic Woman in Public Service Award from Tampa Hispanic Heritage, Inc.  The honor is one rightly bestowed upon her having shown dedication and service in the numerous organizations that she participates in, including (but not limited to): Big Sister, Big Brothers Big Sisters program; Board member: Teaching Tools for Hillsborough Schools, Hands On Tampa Bay; Membership: Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, West Tampa Chamber of Commerce, West Tampa Economic Development.  Thank you Lorena for your service to the people if City of Tampa and for your support of HYPE.  We are proud to be supporters of you.

HYPE is happy to introduce you to our “Spotlight Member”, Jolie Gonzales.  If the name sounds familiar, it is because Jolie, along with yours truly, Co-Chaired HYPE’s Membership Committee.  Jolie’s experience, insight and vision were part of the driving force and the success from HYPE’s inception to present day..

Jolie is an entrepreneur in the truest sense of the word.  Years ago Jolie, young, with not much experience and not knowing many people, undertook a risky venture, one which she will described to you as “her dream,” …the publishing of her own magazine. CLUB Magazine (City of Latin Urban Beats) has grown over the years to be what many of you now know as Latin Times Magazine, a full size, color glossy, bi-lingual publication that combines Business, Culture and Entertainment, in an impressive presentation.  Latin Times offers local business owners a viable marketing and advertising tool by which to reach local Hispanic consumers.  Her magazine is now available to us all at over 800 locations throughout Tampa and Orlando.

Jolie, in 2006, was awarded the prestigious “Hispanic Business Woman of the Year” award by the Puerto Rico Cultural Parade Organization of Tampa Bay.  It is worth noting that Jolie recently was also nominated and chosen as a finalist for the 2007 Minority Businessperson of the Year Award by the Tampa Bay Business Journal.

Jolie, though still a member and staunch supporter of HYPE has had to recently resign her HYPE Board Membership as business and family beckon her back to our sister city of Orlando.  Jolie will be the first to tell you that though far, her heart remains with Tampa and with HYPE.  Keep an eye out and say, “Que pasa Jolie!” when you run into her at one of the many Networking “Socials” put together by her other business venture: “Latin ConneXions.”  Thanks Jolie for your support and your membership

HYPE is proud to introduce you to one of our friends…who will soon be one of yours.  For the past 25 years Fernando Perez has been helping clients all over the world, from large multinational companies to individuals, realize their immigration goals. Having come to the United States from Cuba, Fernando knows the importance of obtaining legal status in the United States.  One of the things Fernando likes best about his work as an immigration attorney is knowing that he is really changing his client’s lives for the better.  Fernando represents clients in all fifty states and before all U.S. Embassies and Consulates.

 A graduate of Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service and Law School, Fernando is Board Certified by the Florida Bar as a specialist in Immigration and Nationality Law.  He is listed in The Bar Register of Preeminent Lawyers and in An International Who's Who of Corporate Immigration Lawyers.  In addition to representing clients, Fernando is an internationally recognized writer and lecturer on matters of immigration law and international transactions and an on air commentator on immigration matters for FOX and UNIVISION.

 Professionally, Fernando has served on the National Board of Governors and as President of the Central Florida Chapter of the American Immigration Lawyers Association.  Always one to be involved in the Tampa Bay community, Fernando has been a Big Brother, a founding member of the Hillsborough County Bar Volunteer Farm Worker Program, on the Board of Directors of the Tampa YMCA, and a volunteer diver for the Florida Aquarium.

 Fernando loves to cook and is developing a show for The Food Network.  An avid scuba diver who has won awards for his underwater photography, Fernando is always looking for his next adventure which, in the recent past, has included attending some of the HYPE socials.  All kidding aside, Fernando is an outstanding Hispanic role model which is why HYPE is proud to include him as this week’s “Spotlight Member” .

In the four years since her 2002 graduation from USF, Evelyn Hale already has accomplished something it often takes others many years to achieve. “I really love my job,” says the 27-year-old, who works as a congressional assistant for Rep. Jim Davis of the 11^th Congressional District.

 In addition to loving her current job as a congressional assistant, Evelyn is also a board member of the Hispanic American Inter-Cultural Workshop (TICH) and (we’re happy to say) a founding member of  Hispanic Young Professionals and Entrepreneurs (HYPE).  Evelyn is also a member of the USF Alumni Association and the Hispanic Alliance of Tampa Bay.  On top of it all, Evelyn also makes time to mentor the youth through her involvement with the Youth Voice of Tampa Bay.   Evelyn has been featured in La Gaceta Newspaper, The USF Alumni Association, and in one of the most recognized magazines in Colombia, Carusel, for her dedication to the community.

On her free time, she continues to assist in raising funds for her parent’s mission in Colombia.  Evelyn’s hobbies are painting oil on canvas and public speaking.  However, Evelyn’s main goal is to see Tampa Bay become a city that can captivate others by the grand source of multicultural diversity that exists.  HYPE is proud to introduce you to another of our members making a difference in our community.