Manny Hernandez SHPE President 2009/2011

As engineers, we are the first to celebrate technical innovation and scientific breakthroughs – hallmarks advanced human understanding. Within the STEM fields, as well as many others, Hispanics have moved to the pinnacle of success and along the way have garnered a number of “firsts.” Consider José Hernández, the first SHPE member in space. This year’s Jaime Oaxaca Award recipient, Hernández follows in the footsteps of two other Hispanic engineers Dr. Franklin Chang-Diaz, the first Hispanic to enter the U.S. Space Program (1986), with a Ph.D. in applied plasma physics; and electrical engineer Dr. Ellen Ochoa, who became the first Hispanic woman astronaut (1991) and is now Deputy Director of NASA’s Johnson Space Center.
Reaching back just a bit further, two notable scientific firsts include the 1968Nobel Prize in Physics won by Luis Walter Alvarez for discoveries about subatomic particles. Later, he and his son proposed the now-accepted theory that the mass dinosaur extinction was caused by a meteor impact. The first Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine won by a Hispanic went to Severo Ochoa in 1959, for the synthesis of ribonucleic acid (RNA).
As we now gather in Washington, D.C., for the 2009 SHPE Conference, Hispanics are making history in our nation’s capital as well. The first ever Hispanic Chief Justice Sonia Sotomayor sits on the Supreme Court. She is only the third woman in the history of the court. Last year, Governor Bill Richardson became the first Hispanic to run for the highest office in the nation. Though he eventually lost the democratic nomination to Barack Obama, Richardson made history by entering the race. Ten percent of this administration’s nominees have been Hispanic – a statistical presence that speaks to the level of achievement of professional Hispanics as well as a testament to the expanded outreach of this administration.
Our Society, too, has had memorable firsts. Today, 35 years after its founding, more than 10,000 SHPE members cherish a sense of pride for their personal role in fulfilling its mission and vision. Industry and government regard it as the premier Hispanic organization from which to recruit the best and brightest.
We are committed to working hand-in-hand with our corporate partners to create opportunities and careers for Hispanics in the STEM fields. We will empower our membership through education and training. Our members want to build bridges, power plants and contribute to over-the-horizon technologies like the International Space Station. SHPE is teeming with so much potential and talent that it won’t be long before we add to our growing list of significant firsts.

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The 2009 SHPE Conference in Washington, D.C. is looming on the horizon, and we have never been in a better position before a national conference. An estimated 6,000 of the United States top talent, brilliant minds and cutting-edge corporations will come together to advance professional and educational opportunities for Hispanics in the STEM fields.

Over the past two years, the SHPE Conference has continued to break records, attracting more attendees than ever before, inspiring more corporations to partner with us and providing more hands-on workshops and seminars. The great momentum and excitement that began with our move to the fall only continues to grow. In fact, our October 1 early registration deadline exceeded all expectations as packages that included hotel accommodations were sold out that night. We’ve reserved more rooms though, so hurry and register before we sell out again!

To all those attending and to those still considering attending our conference, let me remind you that we are the nation’s largest technical conference for Hispanics. The SHPE Conference offers numerous educational, technical, networking and career programs to support college students and professionals. Middle and high schools students will be inspired to pursue career in the STEM fields through a series of interactive seminars, career fair, Expo and science competitions.

Professional attending the SHPE Conference will have a wide-array of valuable resources at their finger tips including certification, skills development, networking, technology competitions and access to the US top corporations and governmental agencies seeking our brightest minds – remember there is still time left for attendees to sign up. Join all of your fellow members from across the nation at the SHPE Conference, October 28 to November 1, in Washington, D.C.

I wish to extend my sincere thanks to those who are making this conference possible – our sponsors, members, committee chairs and volunteers, staff and board. Our success in such a tumultuous year speaks to the passion and commitment you all have to truly making SHPE the source for quality Hispanic engineers and technical talent.
If you are not already actively involved in SHPE, now is a great time to get involved. There is a place and need for each of us. SHPE can help you reach personal, academic and professional goals, and in turn, you can help SHPE change the future of the Latino community and our nation for the better.
I look forward to seeing our SHPE membership come together like never before at the conference this year. We have an incredible mission before us, and as long as we continue our quest to make a difference in our community, industry and nation, it is an achievable mission.
See you in D.C.!

Manny Hernández
SHPE National President

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LOS ANGELES– The members of the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE) are proud to announce the addition of a new CEO, Pilar Montoya, effective September 28, 2009.
As CEO, Montoya will be leading SHPE, and she’ll manage the Los Angeles office and implement government relations efforts in Washington, D.C.
“Pilar has spent much of her life promoting both the Hispanic community and educational attainment, and we are excited about her addition to our organization,” said Manny Hernández, president of SHPE. “With Pilar’s expertise, we plan on expanding our presence nationally, build stronger partnerships and alliances, and increase brand awareness and membership to help ensure SHPE continues to uphold its mission to transform lives through technical education, academic development and professional growth for our members.”
With a strong background managing non- and for-profit organization’s operations and finances, Pilar Montoya will provide crucial marketing, business management, corporate relations and entrepreneurial skills to SHPE.
Comprised of 10,000 members, SHPE is the source for quality Hispanic engineers and technical talent. Its board of directors and staff offer programs to pre-college students, undergraduate and graduate students, educators and professionals in the engineering and technical fields.
Prior to joining SHPE, Montoya worked with several non-profits in the development of strategic plans to successfully increase fundraising efforts, operational success and financial growth. These positions included serving as the vice-president of regional outreach for The San Diego Foundation, where she expanded the $500 million granting foundation’s presence regionally, and acting as the director of community affairs for the Neighborhood House Association where she tripled fundraising revenues in one year.
Montoya also has extensive experience in the private sector. She was the president and owner of Montoya Communications, Inc., a nationally recognized and award winning public relations and advertising firm.
Outside of her professional achievements, Montoya has been recognized as both a community and business leader in the Latino and California community. For her civic contributions, she’s been recognized with an assembly resolution for efforts with Latino youth, has been awarded the Latino Political Action Committee, Business Woman of the Year Award, the Sacramento Urban League’s Community Service Award, American Cancer Society’s Rose Award and the Sacramento Child Abuse Prevention Council, Volunteer of the Year Recognition. Additionally, she was awarded the Sacramento Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce, Small Business Person of the Year. Montoya has also received advertising and public relations awards from Hispanic Business Magazine’s “Se Habla Espanol” and Association of Business Communicators.

About SHPE and AHETEMS
With 10,000 members, SHPE, Inc. is the source for quality Hispanic engineers and technical talent, committed to enhancing America’s position in math, science, engineering and technology with a strong and talented Hispanic workforce. For more information, please visit www.shpe.org.

The AHETEMS Foundation directs and develops informal science education, educational enrichment, college awareness initiatives and college prep programs for Hispanic pre-college, undergraduate and graduate students. Funding for AHETEMS initiatives is derived from various federal, state, local and private grants and private tax-deductible donations.
For more information, please visit www.ahetems.org.

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Tomorrow is the last day to choose a new SHPE President. Your vote will decide the destiny of SHPE, and therefore, the destiny of many Latinos in our country. Why am I so convinced of it?

Let me tell you my own story, not unlike that of many Hispanics. In fact, this is one that I hear time after time. Having been raised in a poor Puerto Rican family in NY, the school system had already decided that I would be a mechanic, a construction worker, or if lucky, a print shop operator, but no more. I did not know any better, my parents did not know any better, and we thought it was good. It must have been, right? It was the US school system!

Luckily, the chairman of the math department saw something in me and got me out of vocational shops and put me through all the math and science classes. With enthusiasm and in earnest I took all the courses I could and did not stop until graduating with a master’s degree. I have been a successful engineer for more than 30 years, have worked in many exciting projects, and have been trusted with national defense responsibilities. But just the same, I could have ended up very short of this, had it not been for the one person who made a difference in my life.

That was more than 30 years ago and you would have thought that our school system would have seen the light by now. Not really. Just a few years ago, my daughter was being steered towards home economic classes so that she would assume her rightful place in the kitchen. This did not sit well with me as you can imagine so of course I prevented this from happening. She went on to graduate third in her class and today she holds a masters degree. I was lucky, and that made my daughter lucky, but most Hispanic kids are not.

That is what SHPE is all about. We have a network of people that make a difference to each other and we make a difference to our kids. Each of us can change someone’s history and by it, everyone else around them.

You, with your vote, can change history, and you can choose to help SHPE change the history of many Latinos, by helping hundreds of thousands of Hispanic students and professionals to be the top engineers they deserve to be. That is my vision and my plan.

If you have not done it yet, please cast your vote.

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The last day for SHPE elections is around the corner.  Your vote counts- watch the video and passthis link around!

You have the swing vote - Vote for Manny!

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I was pleasantly surprised and delighted to be endorsed  by two very high-profile and long-time SHPE members, Oscar A. Herrera, SHPE Region 1 VP (2005-2007), and San Francisco Bay Area SHPE President (2002-2005), as well as Andres Martin, San Francisco Bay Area SHPE President (2006-2009), and West Coast Career Expo Char/Co-Chair (2003-2005).

Here’s an excerpt from the letter:

 Manny Hernandez  has  a  strong  resume  with  the  SHPE  organization  and  over  the  past  few  years  he  has  been  one  of  the  biggest  advoctes  for  bringing  more  opportunities  for  SHPE  Professionals.   He  has  headed  up  professional  development  programs  at  the  National  conference  and  implemented  training  seminars  such  as  the  Mnagement  Growth  Training  (MGT)  and  the  Engineering  Leadership  Institute  (ELI)  to  take  our  SHPE  Professionals  to  the  next  level  in  their  careers.   

You’ll find the endorsement letter below.  Thank you Oscar, and thank you Martin!

Click Here to view the Endorsement Letter

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By Manny Hernandez

As the conclusion of the SHPE elections approach, my stress level increases. Some of my friends try to help me but they do not seem to understand my worries and to be honest, it’s been hard to express them. On the surface, they think that my worries are about losing the election and they try to convince me that IF I were to lose this election I would win.

I would win more time and freedom to do the many things I have been postponing in my life, such as spending more time with my friends and family, riding my motorcycle, more skiing, playing more racquetball, and reading the pile of books I have not had a chance to.

Their words have no effect on me. So what is it then? Digging deeper I was able to find the right words. It was like finally finding a long sought piece in a difficult puzzle.

I am very worried about the future of SHPE. I realized that even after all the 20 plus years of work that I have put in to tryto  make it the great organization that it is, with all its faults, and all the great things that she offers us, there is a lot more to be done.

SHPE has done a lot for tens of thousands or people, but I know in my heart that it can do the same for hundreds of thousands of people. We can create the best Latino engineers and scientist in the nation. We ourselves can become the best engineers and scientists in the nation. But each of us cannot do it alone. We need SHPE. We need a stronger SHPE. We need her to be all that she can be.

My worry is that this bright future could be at risk.

Many of us have devoted a lifetime to this organization. We have carefully chosen the right strategies, the right governance models, the right problems to work on, and we have made the tough unpopular decisions, all with great results. Yet, a lot more remains to be done.

We have got momentum. Lots of changes are needed, yes but we cannot and should not go back to the dark days. I have lived through them and it would be a sin, even if unintentionally. While I respect the ideas and enthusiasm of my peer candidates, I am not convinced that they understand how easy it is to repeat the mistakes of our past.

Someone wise once said: “Those who do not know history are destined to repeat it”. I care too much for SHPE to see this happen.

Help me build the future of SHPE forward, not back.

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By Melissa Villegas Drake

Please VOTE for Manny Hernandez!

The position of National President is the most challenging and critical position within SHPE.  I know this from personal experience having served as national president myself, 1995-1997.  SHPE is a much more complex organization today than when I was president.  The challenges are greater. The issues are more intricate and the solutions more elusive.

Manny Hernandez is the best candidate for SHPE President.

I met Manny Hernandez when I was serving as a committee chair for SHPE in the 1990’s and was immediately impressed by his commitment to the organization.  Manny has served SHPE in many capacities and has made SHPE a part of his life.  He believes strongly in what the organization promotes:  “Better Opportunities for Hispanic engineers”.  I have seen first-hand Manny’s growth as a leader within the organization.  He is without a doubt the best candidate for SHPE National President.  He is ready to lead.

One of Manny’s major focus areas is the SHPE National conference which he has championed, and has chaired over the last 20 years, including the SHPE 2009 conference, the most successful SHPE conference to date.  The SHPE national conference is our premier event and has enjoyed great success under Manny’s leadership over these years.  The national conference has the most impact on our membership, new and existing, as well as our corporate partners in that it serves as a showcase for our best Hispanic technical talent.  With Manny as National President, I am certain our conference will continue to enjoy great success.

Manny’s other passion has been the establishment of professional development programs.  He has championed these efforts longer than any other director on the national board.  Several SHPE members have attributed their career advancement to skills acquired and honed in these programs.  SHPE’s offering of these types of professional development programs has resulted in increased professional membership.  SHPE must continue to offer these programs for our member’s future career growth.  Manny is the only candidate that will make this a priority for SHPE.

Melissa Villegas Drake
Past National SHPE President
Lifetime Member
Tolleson Union High School Junior SHPE Chapter Advisor

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This year’s SHPE elections are a fork in the road for the future of SHPE.  There is no doubt that SHPE has come a long way the past six years.  Our professional membership has grown from approximately 800 to nearly 1,800 currently, we have almost 10,000 total members, and we have the largest group of corporate sponsors ever at 55 companies.  This is the result of the efforts of many dedicated and committed people.

Our student leaders, our professional leaders, and our staff make the difference yet, a lot remains to be done.  Who will set the agenda and direction for our progress?

As in any organization, business or government, this is the responsibility of the President, so this means that YOU, with your vote will decide the future of SHPE. There are 3 candidates, with 3 different platforms but I believe I am the only one with the vision, the energy, and the experience to keep the momentum going and move SHPE forward.

Please vote, and when you do, vote for Manny Hernandez. Together, we will build the Future of SHPE.

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By Manny  Hernandez

Why does SHPE’s new management structure matter to the chapters?  Why do I feel that our new management structure is important to SHPE’s future?

There are four important elements in governing and operating a Membership Organization, or any business for that matter: Strategy, Policy, Management, and Operations. The reality is that today the National Board of Directors (NBOD) spends most of it’s time on management and operations. All changes, big and small, require discussion and approval by the NBOD.

This is a slow process given that we are elected volunteers with limited free time and we only meet 6 or 7 times a year. What this means is that even small improvements requiring investment or changes in operational priorities take a long time to approve and implement.

So how does this affect the chapters? Let me describe one example: We have very talented members, and they have great ideas which they try to implement at the local level, and sometimes they need national support. This support is usually slow in coming by today’s standards.

That is one serious problem, but it does not end there.

These great ideas would benefit the other chapters as well, yet to transfer these great ideas and programs to the rest of SHPE would again require the intervention of the NBOD. A rapid change process requires the right strategy and policies that protect our mission and the nature of the organization but yet frees up our chapters and staff  to act on behalf of our members and our community.

To accomplish this, the National Board of Directors needs to spend it’s limited and therefore precious time defining strategies and setting these policies, and  delegate the management and operations to a skilled and experienced professional staff.

We are a great organization but we have the potential to be a National Force for the betterment of the Hispanic community. I believe that under this new structure SHPE can become a 100,000 plus members organization with 10 times the operating budget within the next 10 years. One can only imagine the benefits this could bring to our members and our community. This will mean that more of our children will become engineers and scientists and more Latinos will occupy the corner office, which then, will use their position to further SHPE’s mission, the Hispanic cause, and as President Obama recently stated, drive America’s future.

We began the journey towards this governance structure three years ago. We all believed we were on the right path and we started the transition, but we are not done yet, it will take the right leader to keep us on course and complete the transformation.  Someonewho does not understand this will end up hurting the organization, our community, and our country.

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