SER National

Community Day
2021-05-21 11:00 - 15:00 (America/Chicago) | Online – WebEx, TX, United States
Community Day will be held on May 21, 2021 from 11:00am – 3:00pm CT over Webex.

This year’s Community Day will include inspiring and educational speakers!
SER National looks forward to welcoming partners from all across the country to this important gathering.

Click Here to Register!

Agenda

Friday – May 21, 2021

11:00 AM CT
STEM PresentationDr. Alicia Abella, Google

12:00 PM CT
Motivational SpeakerJosé Hernández, Astronaut (retired)

1:00 PM CT
STEM PresentationDr. Calvin Mackie, CEO/Founder of STEM NOLA

2:00 PM CT
STEM Activity and CompetitionSTEM NOLA Staff

Speakers

Dr. Alicia AbellaManaging Director, Telecom, Media & Entertainment Industry Solutions,Google

Dr. Alicia Abella is the Managing Director, Telecom, Media & Entertainment (TME) Industry Solutions, for Google Cloud leading the North America and Latin America regions. She has responsibility for building the go-to-market approach for TME, partnering with the Product, Engineering, and Sales teams to deliver end-to-end solutions for Telecom customers. Prior to joining Google Cloud, Dr. Abella was VP of the Integrated Systems Engineering and Realization organization of AT&T Labs driving the company’s network infrastructure deployments, SDN, Edge, and 5G programs. In her 25 year tenure with AT&T she also led multiple highly technical organizations specializing in cloud computing, software-defined networking, human-computer interaction, mobile services, big data analytics, and Internet of Things.

José HernándezAstronaut (Retired)
José M. Hernández is the first migrant farmworker to become a NASA astronaut. Born into a migrant farm working family from Mexico, José wanted to fly in space ever since he heard that the first Hispanic-American, Franklin Chang-Diaz, had been selected for the Astronaut Corps.
Hernandez attended the University of the Pacific in Stockton, where he earned a degree in electrical engineering. He was then awarded a full scholarship to the graduate program at the University of California in Santa Barbara, where he continued his engineering studies. In 1987, he accepted a full-time job with Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. While at Lawrence Livermore, Hernandez worked on signal and image processing applications in radar imaging, computed tomography, and acoustic imaging. Later in his career, Hernandez worked on developing quantitative x-ray film imaging analysis techniques for the x-ray laser program. Hernandez applied these techniques in the medical physics arena and co-developed the first full-field digital mammography imaging system. This system has proven useful for detecting breast cancer at an earlier stage than present film/screen mammography techniques. He has also worked in the international arena where he represented Lawrence Livermore and the U.S. Department of Energy on Russian nuclear non-proliferation issues.
After several applications to the astronaut program, José was selected as part of the 19th class of U.S. Astronauts in 2004. On August 28, 2009, José was assigned to the STSe128 Space Shuttle Discovery mission as the flight engineer. He realized his dream of reaching for the stars came true as he blasted off into space on a 14 day mission to the International Space Station.

Dr. Calvin MackieCEO,STEM NOLA
Dr. Calvin Mackie is an award-winning mentor, inventor, author, former engineering professor, internationally renowned speaker and successful entrepreneur. He is the founder of STEM NOLA, a non-profit organization founded to expose, inspire and engage communities about the opportunities in STEM.
Dr. Mackie struggled with his grades in high school and had to take remedial classes at Morehouse College prior to pursuing his bachelor’s degree. After completing those classes, he graduated from Morehouse College in 1990 and was simultaneously awarded a BS in Mechanical Engineering from Georgia Tech. After that, he earned his master’s degree and Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering in 1996 from Georgia Tech.

Sponsors

57th SER National Annual Conference
2021-05-20 11:00 - 15:00 (America/Chicago)
The 57th SER National Annual Conference will be held on May 20th over Webex.
This year’s conference will include inspiring speakers and entrepreneurship workshops.

SER National looks forward to welcoming partners from all across the country to this important gathering.

Click Here to Register

Agenda

Thursday – May 20, 2021

11:00 AM CT

Opening / Welcome Remarks
Ignacio SalazarPresident and CEO, SER Jobs for Progress National, Inc.
A Conversation about Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
Dr. Merary SimeonVice President, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, PepsiCo
Ignacio SalazarPresident and CEO, SER Jobs for Progress National, Inc.

12:00 PM CT

Motivational Speaker
Maria Marín

1:00 PM CT

A Conversation about Women and Empowerment
Anna Escobedo Cabral42nd Treasurer of the United States
Ignacio SalazarPresident and CEO, SER Jobs for Progress National, Inc.

2:00 PM CT

Entrepreneurship: Government Programs to Start or Grow a Business
Nancy AlvarezUS Small Business Administration

Speakers

Ignacio SalazarPresident and CEO, SER
Ignacio Salazar serves as President and Chief Executive Officer of SER Jobs for Progress National, Inc., a national network of employment and training providers comprised of affiliates in 24 States, Puerto Rico, and the District of Columbia, providing services to more than one million people annually. Unanimously selected by the SER National Board of Directors to lead the organization in 2001, Mr. Salazar is committed to SER’s mission of transforming lives through employment, education, and empowerment.

Dr. Merary SimeonVice President, Diversity Equity & Inclusion, PepsiCo
Dr. Merary Simeon is a proven and celebrated human resources executive who is community-minded and people-invested. She is a wife, mother, co-founder of Color Forward podcast, author, board member, and kingdom work advocate. Dr. Simeon’s diverse experiences have equipped her with a deep understanding of the needs and opportunities critical to leaders at all levels. Her leadership expertise includes Talent Management, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, Leadership Consulting, Culture Change, Executive Coaching, and Public Speaking.
Dr. Simeon holds a doctorate in Strategic Leadership from Regent University and a master’s degree in Human Resources from Fordham University. She is a native of Puerto Rico and currently resides in Frisco, Texas, with her family. She credits her success to Jesus Christ. “I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength,” Philippians 4:13.

Maria Marín
People en Espanol magazine selected Maria Marin as one of the 25 most powerful Latina women in 2012. Maria Marin is the leading motivational icon among Hispanics worldwide. Her message of motivation, personal growth and success reaches millions through her newspaper columns, best-selling books, international seminars and radio show. As a “life coach” she now reaches thousands of listeners with her national syndicated radio show, “El Show de Maria” on Univision Radio Network. The program covers relationships, family and personal growth topics. She has been dedicated to empowering “Latinos” for over ten years.

Anna Escobedo CabralSenior Advisor, External Relations Department, Inter-American Development Bank
Anna Escobedo Cabral currently serves as a Senior Advisor in the External Relations Department of the Inter-American Development Bank. Prior to joining the bank, Ms. Cabral served as the 42nd Treasurer of the United States. She became the highest-ranking Latina in the George W. Bush Administration.
From 1993 to 1999, Ms. Cabral served as Deputy Staff Director for the United States Senate Judiciary Committee under Chairman Orrin G. Hatch. The Committee’s jurisdiction ranges from oversight of the Department of Justice and our nation’s criminal and drug enforcement laws to approving federal judicial nominations, and it includes review of immigration, antitrust, patents and trademark, and technology-related legislation.
In addition, Ms. Cabral simultaneously served as Executive Director of the U.S. Senate Republican Conference Task Force on Hispanic Affairs, during which she managed a task force of 25 senators dedicated to ensuring that the concerns and needs of the Hispanic community were addressed by Congress through legislation.
From 1999 to 2003, Ms. Cabral served as President and CEO of the Hispanic Association on Corporate Responsibility, a non-profit organization headquartered in Washington, DC, which partners with Fortune 500 companies to increase Hispanic representation in employment, procurement, philanthropy and governance. Under her leadership, the organization published a best practices series, and instituted a partnership with Harvard Business School to provide executive training programs in Corporate Governance Best Practices to community leaders.
In 2003, Ms. Cabral was named as Director of the Smithsonian Institution’s Center for Latino Initiatives, where she led a pan-institutional effort to improve Latino representation in exhibits, and public programming among the Institution’s 19 museums, five research centers, and the National Zoo.
In 2002, she was appointed to the Council on the 21st Century Workplace, providing guidance to the White House and the Department of Labor on work-related issues. That same year, she was named to a two-year term on the Diversity Council of the Premier Automotive Group, an outreach effort of the Ford Motor Company. She has also served on the boards of the Sewall-Belmont House and Museum, a historic center commemorating women’s suffrage, Martha’s Table, a nonprofit that provides assistance to families in need, the American Red Cross, Naturebridge, a nonprofit dedicated to environmental education, and the foundation board of Providence Hospital, which provides quality healthcare to the Washington, DC community. Currently, she serves on the Diversity Advisory Group for Comcast/NBC Universal/Telemundo, and as a Member of the Board of Directors for Navient, the nation’s leading loan management, servicing and asset recovery company.
A California native, today, Ms. Cabral resides with her husband, Victor, in Arlington, VA. They have four adult children and are blessed with five grandchildren. Ms. Cabral received a B.A. in Political Science from the University of California, Davis, a Master’s degree in Public Administration with an emphasis in international trade and finance from the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University, and a Law Degree from George Mason University.

Nancy N. AlvarezSupervisor, 8(a) Business Development Program, Women Business Representative,Dallas Fort Worth District Office, U.S. Small Business Administration
Since 2011, Nancy N. Alvarez has served as the Head of the 8(a) Business Development Program and the Women Business Representative for the U.S. Small Business Administration, Dallas/Fort Worth District Office. She is instrumental in providing leadership, management, and oversight to optimize the deployment of SBA’s Federal Contracting programs to the small business communities within a 72-county geographical area in North Texas in Spanish and English.
She is a champion for women and disadvantage businesses in the federal marketplace; playing an important role in increasing participation of small businesses in Federal Contracting Programs and advocating strongly for the inclusion and participation of small businesses in government procurement.
Nancy graduated from Jacksonville University with a Bachelor Degree in Business Administration (Magna Cum Laude). She is a member of the Phi Beta Kappa Honor Society. She served on the Board of the City of Jacksonville, the Mayor’s Hispanic American Advisory Board, the Mayor’s Small & Emerging Business Advisory Council, and as an advisory board member in the Beaver Street Enterprise Center, City of Jacksonville’s first business incubator.
Nancy is currently an advisory board member of the Dallas/Fort Worth Federal Agency Small Business Advocacy Council (FASBAC), a small business professional’s forum where federal agencies share, gather, and create ideas that promote small businesses’ interest and participation in the federal marketplace.

Sponsors
A special thank you to our sponsors.

Protecting You from Fraud and Abuse with Lee Alviar of the SSA
2021-04-29 15:00 - 16:00 (America/Chicago)
Join us for the webinar, “Protecting You From Fraud and Abuse” with Lee Alviar of the Social Security Administration.
Date & Time: Thursday, Apr. 29, 2021 at 3:00pm CT

Click here to Register

STEM TALK with Humberto Barreda of Honeywell-UOP
2021-04-15 15:00 - 16:00 (America/Chicago)
Join us for a STEM TALK with Humberto Barreda of Honeywell-UOP!
Date & Time: April 15, 2021 at 3:00pm CT
Click here to Register

Humberto Barreda Bio
Honeywell/UOP
Sr Lead Project Manager
Company leader in technology for the treatment and refining in the gas, oil, and petrochemical sectors. Complete solutions covering planning, design, equipment supply and start-up.
Project Management execution for domestic large gas process technologies. Project coordination, support to the sales, business and execution teams for new capital equipment and turnkey projects including global engineering and design, equipment fabrication, installation and construction related activities.
Coordination of technical scope review, customer interphase with engineering disciplines, logistics, QA/QC, material supply chains, development of execution strategy. Review of schedules, scope and base lined cost, contract review, risk analysis including MonteCarlo and business analytics. During execution phase, main liaison with customer, engineering and manufacturing groups.
Project close-out and lessons learnt analysis.
Achievements

Coordination and implementation during planning phase of the several modular gas processing and CCR Projects.
Coordination of the Material Supply Chain for a large size project for a domestic customer.
Material supply chain management for a large modular gas processing plant.
Business development of several lump sum projects (LSTK) for gas processing plants in USA and abroad.
Successful coordination of virtual team across USA and in several parts of the world.

Employment Session: What You Need to Know About Social Security
2021-04-08 03:00 - 16:00 (America/New_York)
Join us for an Employment & Training Session with Lee Alviar of the Social Security Administration.
Topic: “What You Need to Know About Social Security”
Date & Time: April 8, 2021 at 3:00pm CT
Lee will provide an overview of SSA programs including Retirement, Disability, Survivors, and Medicare. Information will include eligibility, benefits, and alternative filing methods including online services.
Click here to Register

Lee Alviar Bio
Lee Alviar, a 30 year veteran with the Social Security Administration, first started as a claims clerk in Brownsville Texas and has worked through various levels of management. Lee was previously a Lead Training Instructor for 5 years training newly hired employees nationwide, and currently serves as a Regional Public Affairs Specialist over a 5 state area.
Lee has a Bachelor’s of Science in Computer Science, a Master’s degree in Business Administration, and a Doctorate of Management in Organizational Leadership. In addition to playing with computers, Lee enjoys working with the youth and has been a Board Member and trainer for TEDxYouth in Fort Worth for the past five years.

Entrepreneurship Session: SBA's Women-Owned Small Business Federal Contracting Program
2021-03-25 15:00 (America/Chicago)
Learn about the Women-Owned Small Business Federal Contracting Program now during Women’s History Month.
Join us for an Entrepreneurship Session: SBA’s Women-Owned Small Business Federal Contracting Program with Emma Maxey.
Date & Time: March 25, 2021 at 3:00pm CT
Click here to Register
Thank you to our sponsor, General Motors.

Education Session - Finding Money for College: Financial Aid Basics
2021-03-18 15:00 - 16:00 (America/New_York)
Learn about how to find money for college with Raul Hinojosa of The University of Texas at Dallas.
Date & Time: Mar. 18, 2021 at 3:00pm CT
Due to severe weather, the previously scheduled SER webinar for Thursday, February 18th, has been rescheduled to March 18th at 3:00pm CT.
If you have registered, your registration will be carried forward.
Thank you for your understanding. We look forward to your participation on Thursday, March 18th, 2021.
If you have been affected by this severe weather, please stay safe.
Click here to Register

Raul Hinojosa Bio
Raul Hinojosa Jr. joined The University of Texas at Dallas as Director of Community Engagement in 2008. He is the founding director of this office created to focus on college access initiatives to increase the number of underrepresented students enrolling in college. He also serves as a leader of diversity and inclusion initiatives at the University. Hinojosa serves on several national advisory councils including the College Board College Scholarship Service/Financial Assistance Council. He has a history of being engaged in a variety of community and service organizations. He is the Former President of the Richardson Adult Literacy Center and currently serves on the Richardson Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors. Hinojosa has also volunteered with the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) Council 4871 – Dallas Rainbow Council and the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers DFW Chapter Scholarship Committee. He is an alumnus of the Leadership Dallas Class of 2015 – the Dallas Regional Chamber’s (DRC) leadership development program, and currently serves on the DRC Leadership Council. Hinojosa has taught strategic communications and non-profit management courses as an adjunct professor at University of North Texas and Texas Christian University. He has also facilitated several diversity and inclusion training programs throughout the country. During his spare time, he enjoys reading, cooking, and eating at new restaurants.

STEM TALK - Dr. Virginia Counts of Medtronic
2021-03-11 15:00 - 16:00 (America/Chicago)
Join us for a STEM TALK with Dr. Virginia Counts, a Sr. Program Manager for Medtronic.
Time & Date: March 11, 2021 at 3:00pm CT
Click Here to Register

Dr. Virginia Counts Bio
Alchemist • Strategist • Coach • Program Manager • Process Improvement Expert • STEM Advocate
I get joy out of organizing and creating strategies from ether, transforming chaos into order, and synthesizing disparate information.
These days, I am a Sr. Program Manager for Medtronic, where I manage teams across Operations groups manufacturing pacemakers, defibrillators, and associated leads. I work on the large, cross functional, super-visible, hairy projects that most others shy away from. My early career provided challenging work as a Project Engineer building and testing gas turbine engines in the Aerospace industry. I then spent a decade in process improvement; certified as a Lean Manufacturing Expert, and Six Sigma Master Blackbelt, helping teams improve processes and provide significant savings.
Passionate about getting more women in engineering, I am a Fellow of the Society of Women Engineers and spent a decade on the SWE Board of Directors culminating with the role of President in 2009. Recognized as one of the most “48 Intriguing Women of Arizona” in a book celebrating Arizona’s 100th anniversary as a state. Based on MDT’s Tempe Campus, I live in Phoenix and enjoy hiking nearby with my slightly neurotic but energetic miniature schnauzer, Princess Sophia.
Education

BSE, Mechanical Engineering, Arizona State University
MSE, Industrial Engineering, Arizona State University
PhD, Sustainable Engineering, Arizona State University

Employment & Training Panel: Government Employment Opportunities
2021-03-04 15:00 - 16:00 (America/New_York)
Join us to learn about government employment opportunities with the Drug Enforcement Administration, Department of Labor, Department of Transportation, and the Department of the Treasury.
Date & Time: March 4, 2021 at 3:00pm CT
Click here to Register

Entrepreneurship Session: Q&A with an expert in promoting and positioning your business and yourself.
2021-02-25 15:00 - 16:00 (America/Chicago)
Join us for a Q&A with Crayton Webb, an expert in promoting and positioning your business and yourself.
Date & Time: February 25, 2021 at 3:00pm CT
Click here to register!

Thank you to our sponsor, General Motors.

Crayton Webb Bio
Crayton Webb is the owner and CEO of Sunwest Communications, a Dallas, Texas-based public relations and public affairs firm.
Previously, Webb was the vice president of corporate communications and corporate social responsibility for Mary Kay Inc. In his 12 years with Mary Kay, Webb launched the company’s CSR strategy, Pink Changing Lives, evolving its philanthropic efforts into a strategic, multi-platform program with a global reach. In addition to his CSR and sustainability work, Webb also led the company’s global media relations, reputation management, public relations and crisis communications efforts across nearly 40 markets around the world. Before joining Mary Kay, Webb served as chief of staff for Dallas Mayor Laura Miller and, prior to that, he was a broadcast journalist for nearly ten years.
Webb is active in his community, serving as chairman of the board of the YMCA of Metropolitan Dallas and is on the boards of the National Domestic Violence Hotline and the Arbor Day Foundation. He is immediate past chairman of the men’s auxiliary for Genesis Women’s Shelter in Dallas, HeROs (He Respects Others). Most recently, Webb was selected by D CEO magazine to be included in its 2020 and 2019 editions of The Dallas 500: The Most Powerful Business Leaders in Dallas. Webb received the Hugh O’Brian Youth Leadership Alumni Achievement Award in 2017 and the 2015 Leadership Dallas Distinguished Alumni Award.

STEM TALK with Joe Acaba, NASA Astronaut
2021-02-11 15:00 - 16:00 (America/New_York)
Join us for a STEM TALK with Joe Acaba, NASA Astronaut!

Date & Time: Feb. 11, 2021 at 3:00pm CT
Click here to register!

Joe Acaba Bio
Joseph M. Acaba was selected by NASA in 2004. The California native has logged a total of 306 days in space on three missions. In 2009, Acaba flew aboard STS-119 on the Space Shuttle Discovery to the International Space Station to deliver the final pair of power-generating solar array wings and a truss element. During this mission, he conducted two spacewalks. In 2012, Acaba flew aboard a Soyuz spacecraft to the space station where he worked as Flight Engineer for the Expedition 31/32. During this mission, the first commercial resupply spacecraft, SpaceX Dragon, arrived at the station. Acaba recently served as Director of Operations Russia in Star City supporting crew training in Soyuz and Russian Segment systems. Acaba most recently served as Flight Engineer on the International Space Station for Expedition 53/54.

Employment & Training Panel: "Communities Working Together"
2021-02-04 14:00 - 15:00 (America/New_York)
Join us for a panel with Goodwill – Houston, Catholic Charities – Dallas, and SER.
Date & Time: Feb. 4th at 2:00pm CT
Click here to register!

Entrepreneurship Session - Rick Ortiz of the GDHCC
2021-01-28 14:00 - 15:00 (America/New_York)
Join us for an online session with Rick Ortiz, the President & CEO of the Greater Dallas Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.
Topic: “Benefits of the GDHCC”
Date & Time: Jan. 28, 2021 at 2:00pm CT
Click here to register!

Rick Ortiz Bio
Rick Ortiz has been active with the GDHCC since 2005 and served as chairman of the board from June 2009 to December 2010. Prior to being elected chairman, he had served in the International and Bylaws committees and had occupied the position of vice chair on the board of directors.

Education Session - Dr. Robert Garza
2021-01-21 14:00 - 15:00 (America/New_York)
Join us for an virtual Q&A with Dr. Robert Garza, President of Alamo Colleges District – Palo Alto College.
Date & Time: Jan. 21, 2021 at 2:00pm CT
Click here to register!

Dr. Robert Garza Bio
Dr. Robert Garza was appointed as the seventh president of Alamo Colleges District-Palo Alto College on July 25, 2018, by the Alamo Colleges District Board of Trustees.
Originally joining the Alamo Colleges District in 1999, Dr. Garza held several positions during his tenure at Palo Alto College, including Dean of Community Development and Partnerships, Dean of Student Success, and Vice President of Student Success.
Dr. Garza served as president of Mountain View College in the Dallas County Community College District from 2015 to 2018. Under his leadership, Mountain View College achieved a 29 percent record enrollment growth for a total of 11,586 credit students enrolled.

STEM TALK - Dr. Richard Tapia of Rice University
2021-01-14 14:00 - 15:00 (America/New_York)
Join us for a STEM TALK with Dr. Richard Tapia of Rice University!
Date & Time: Jan. 14, 2021 at 2:00pm CT
Click here to register!

Dr. Richard Tapia Bio:

Richard Tapia was born in Los Angeles, California to parents who immigrated from Mexico. In 2011 he was awarded the National Medal of Science, the highest honor bestowed by the United States government on scientists and engineers. This award spotlighted the distinguished contributions he has made to the mathematical frontiers of optimization theory and numerical analysis, but it also brought attention to another achievement: his long-time work in inspiring underrepresented minority and female students in science and math. He is a mathematician in Rice University’s Computational and Applied Mathematics Department and holds the rank of University Professor, the university’s highest academic title awarded to only seven individuals in the university’s history. Among his numerous other honors is the National Science Board’s Vannevar Bush Award and election to the National Academy of Engineering, the first Hispanic to receive these honors. He holds seven honorary doctorates and has given commencement addresses at six major universities. Two professional conferences have been named in his honor: the Richard Tapia Celebration of Diversity in Computing Conference and the Blackwell-Tapia Mathematics Conference. Tapia served on the National Science Board from 1996-2002. Because of his leadership Rice University is recognized as a national leader in the preparation of women and underrepresented minority doctoral degree recipients in science, engineering, and mathematics.

Education Session - “Getting Started in Python Programming”
2020-12-16 14:00 - 15:00 (America/New_York)
Join us for an education session to learn how to program in Python with Joe Varnell!

Date & Time: Dec. 16, 2020 at 2:00pm CT
Click here to register!

Joe Varnell Bio:
A Software Engineer at Lockheed Martin; Joe Varnell has been an Engineer for almost 40 years. Over that time, he has been a Software Engineer, Hardware Engineer, Systems Engineer, and a Quality Engineer.
He is also a big volunteer with FIRST Robotics. He loves mentoring the students and teaches them programming and electrical.
Joe earned a Math Degree at the University of Texas at Arlington.
