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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