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Our History
Glendale Latino Association (GLA), formerly the Glendale Hispanic Business and Professional Organization, was formed in 1991 by a dedicated Latina professional, Isabel M. Ibarra.
Our mission for the organization is to bring together the business and professional Latinos of Glendale, to promote the betterment of our businesses and professions, and to improve access to education by awarding yearly scholarships to local Latino students seeking higher education.
We promote awareness of Latino cultures by hosting special events and monthly mixers in order for our members to network with each other, and we produce an annual Business Luncheon, where we honor outstanding Latino leaders for their contributions to our community and for their leadership in promoting the goals of the organization.
All our members are involved in the community. They participate in or are members of local boards and commissions, such as the Glendale Community College Board of Trustees, Glendale Commission on the Status of Women, and Los Angeles County Children's Committee. Others represent elected officials, and most participate in local events such as Unity Fest, César Chávez celebrations, and Cruise Night, to name a few.
We encourage you to join our membership, and pass information about us on to your colleagues and friends. Come and be part of this exciting group of people that is making a difference in our community.
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| About Us GLA - Board of Directors - 2011
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 President
Amy Navarrete Americas United Bank - Vice-President A banker with two decades of working experience in the financial services industry, currently works as a Vice President at Americas United Bank, the first Hispanic Bank opened in So Ca in the last 35 years. Previously she worked at First Commerce Bank as Vice President, and at US Bank as Assistant Vice President and Branch Manager, mentoring new branches in the 6th largest bank in the United States with over 55 thousand employees.
As a Director and Choreographer for the Ballet Folklorico Mexico Azteca, she organized the group in 1987 with only six members in celebration of traditional Mexican festivities. Currently the company is comprised of 65 dancers from ages 3 to young adults. Mexico Azteca is a multi-ethnic, multi-economic and the members city-wide are eligible. She received a "2010 Women Making a Difference Award" - Los Angeles Business Journal, "2009 Women Making a Difference Award" - Los Angeles Business Journal.
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 Past - President
Mercy Velazquez Sadd-Velazquez-Higashi-Shammaa, CPAs & Advisors Immediate Past President of GLA. She is the Marketing Director for Sadd Velazquez Higashi Shammaa, CPAs & Advisors and their new company US Wealth of California. She is very active and involved in the community: Past Vice President of Glendale Kiwanis, Glendale Police Citizens Advisory Board (CPPAC), Glendale Association for the Retarded (GAR), Past President of Montrose Verdugo Chamber of Commerce.
She has received numerous commendations for her services: "2010 Top Businesswomen Achievers"; “2009 Woman of the Year” from State Senator Carol Liu; “2009 Heart & Excellence Award” from Glendale YWCA; “2007 President’s Award” from Montrose Verdugo Chamber, among others. She is married to Michael Velazquez for 34 years and has 3 children: Michael, Gabriel & Tatiana.
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 Vice-President
Nancy Guillen True Integrity Insurance & Payroll Services Nancy is the CEO of True Integrity Insurance & Payroll Services, in Burbank, a full service insurance agency and payroll company serving the community for over 10 years. Before this, her career was in the medical field which expanded for 22 years. Nancy’s volunteer work started approximately 27 years ago, dating back to being a school Room Mom, Parents Teachers Association, Booster Clubs, Chaperoning and working closely with Athletics’ in many school and community programs.
She is also very involved with the American Cancer Society, Relay for Life as a Co-Team Captain for the past 6 years, raising funds for Cancer, Fiesta of the Spanish Horse (Cancer fundrasing) volunteer for the past 5 years and event chair for 2, Glendale Kiwanis 4 year, Zonta International Club of Burbank for 3 years, sit as a board of directors for the club & the Foundation, Co-chair for the Women of the Year Luncheon for 2 years, Family Services for 5 years, supporter of needy families and Burbank Temporary Aid Center for 5 years, supporter of the homeless & needy families. Her family is My daughter Cindy E. Guillen, my son Juan J. Guillen and my Angel of course mi "nieta linda" Natalia.
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 Secretary
Nasly Zelaya Manager Of Community Outreach Glendale Memorial Hospital A healthcare professional with over eighteen years experience in the clinical and business development area. Involved with Community organizations such as Los Angeles County Public Health Department and La Canada Community Center, providing health education and health resources to people in our community. Presently over-seeing community out-reach, Senior Services and call center department at Glendale Memorial Hospital and Health Center. Passionate about representing an organization such as the Glendale Latino Association, whose mission and values are to help and support youth in our community in pursuing a higher level of education.
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 Treasurer
Arlene Villarin Wells Fargo Bank Arlene has an expansive background in the Banking industry going back to 20 years. She is actually a Home Mortgage Consultant with Wells Fargo Home Mortgage where for the last 6 years has helped many of her customers achieve the dream of home ownership. She is a active board member of Glendale Latino Association and a volunteer with various organizations through Wells Fargo. Arlene is the proud loving mother of her 2 children and a resident of Glendale. She is passionate about helping her community and giving back to worthy causes.
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 Membership Chair
Mae Abou-Chakra Mae's Candles & Gifts Partylite
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 Marketing Director
Adriana Rebold A R Creative Concepts Born and raised in Bogota, Colombia, she studied Industrial Design at the University Jorge Tadeo Lozano where she focused on Ergonomic and Packaging Design. Years later, after a considerable amount of time working in the high demand world of advertisement, production, photography, and TV commercials, Adriana’s sole focus became Graphic Design. In 1988 she moved to the city of Los Angeles where she became extremely involved in the music industry. This became the essential key in Adriana’s path as she founded her first company. From creating CD covers, posters, and web designs for Hispanic Artists to directing photo shoots as an expansion of her services, she has worked with top-performing Grammy artists including Selena, Marco Antonio Solis, Jenni Rivera, Andy Garcia. Her experience has lead her to work exclusively with music labels such as EMI, BMG, SONY, DISNEY and UNIVERSAL.
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 Board Director
Carlos Carrillo C&C Healthcare Solutions, Inc. Mr. Carlos Carrillo is the president and CEO of C&C Healthcare Solutions with over 25 years of experience in managed care specifically in the Medicare, Medi-Cal, and Healthy Families programs. And under such programs he have directed and managed Community Outreach Teams in Fresno, Tulare, and Los Angeles County promoting these lines of services Health Net, LA Care & Care 1st Health Plans. He founded C&C Healthcare Solutions with the aim of advise individuals needing government health coverage and provide resources and guidance to agencies in the healthcare field. In brief, C&C Healthcare Solutions, Inc. is committed and passionate about helping people and their communities.
Mr. Carrillo is currently appointed with United Healthcare and is authorized to offer AARP Medicare Products from Secure Horizons.
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 Board Director
Alicia Widmaier Glendale Printer Center Native of Mexico City, born in a military and medical family, her father being a doctor in medicine and military Officer. The family moved at an early age to Guadalajara, Jalisco where she finished her education. Alicia followed her father’s footstep in the medical field as a register Nurse, working in Intensive Care and Emergency. The highlight of her medical education was to become a parachutist as a Paramedic. She moved to Los Angeles in 1989 where she married Karl Widmaier and joined the Family Publishing business. Alicia early on developed a flair for Graphic arts she mastered every equipment of fundamental designs such as the color separation Scanners and Scitex Image composer and trained new employees. Then she jumped into the Financial Management field. Alicia Co-founded Excalibur Digital Imaging DBA Design Print Mail and serves as President and Financial Officer to present. She also holds a position of Treasurer at the Glendale Printing Center. Alicia joined Glendale Latino Association in 2006, became a Board Member and served for the past year as Treasurer
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 Board Director
Martha Rivera Glendale Adventist Medical Center Ms. Rivera has over thirty years of non-profit, public and private sector experience in, labor, tobacco control, children’s health outreach, business development, career planning and economic development. As Director of Outreach and Tobacco Control Program for Glendale Adventist Medical Center, she has identified available community resources to make it possible to compete for contract opportunities for web design, children’s health outreach, tobacco prevention, policy and awareness, parenting, and healthy lifestyles to the community.
Her peer training workshop facilitation skills are remarkable, enabling her to conduct seminars for advocacy. Martha is an inspirational leader with great motivational strategies.
Ms. Rivera holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Interdisciplinary Studies, (minor: Sociology) from California State University Dominguez Hills. She is a Certified Mediator through Pepperdine University School of Law, Certified American Lung Association-Freedom From Smoking Facilitator, Certificate - Rx for Change: Clinician-Assisted Tobacco Cessation Program, Certified SCUBA Diver, Certificates for Court Interpreting from East Los Angeles Community College, Small Business Boot Camp, and Community Emergency Response Team (CERT). Her inspiration and most challenging and rewarding role has been as a mother to her two daughters.
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© 2012 GLENDALE LATINO ASSOCIATION. All rights reserved 
