Manny Hernandez for SHPE President 2011/2013

In 2004, I led the team that created the Professional Development Strategy (PDS). This was rolled out for the first time at the following national conference. The following year, I lead a team that created the Executive Leadership Institute (ELI). Finally, one year later I created Management Growth Training (MGT). These three offerings, PDS, ELI, and MGT, were intended to benefit our professional members. While many felt these classes were duplication of what our members receive on the job, the reality was that many of our members were unable to attend company sponsored classes due to the many obstacles Hispanics must overcome in the workplace.

To further emphasize the concept that these were targeted to benefit our members, only paid regular members were able to participate in the classes. Over the subsequent years, numerous professional members participated in these offerings. Many of the participants reported that attending these classes accelerated their careers.

Since these beginning steps, our national conference committees have expanded the workshop offerings to our members to include hands on classes and certification classes.
During my term as National President we created the Professional Development Committee. The committee charter was to expand the offering of professional courses offered to our members.

I am committed to continuing these benefits for our professional members.

Elect me SHPE President, 2011-2013.

If you are a professional member who has benefited from one of these programs, please share the value of these programs here–and ensure that focused effort on professionals continues with my reelection as SHPE President.

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It’s hard to believe that two years have already passed since I was elected your president. These years have been filled with extraordinary memories and many lessons that will guide your national officers in fulfilling the mission of our organization.
As the 2010-2011 school year draws to a close, be assured that SHPE’s leaders have been working hard on your behalf. Currently a team of staff and volunteers are piloting OpenSHPE, primarily in regions 4 and 7, for a new open-source platform that provides a set of API and tools. This will enable developers to integrate with SHPE’s data and applications. Developers can write applications that run on shpe.org, chapter websites, Facebook, Android, iPhone, and many other external websites and devices. This pilot promises benefits in a streamlined technology interface and an open IT infrastructure, ultimately enabling members to connect and collaborate without borders and will allow regions and chapters to create applications to promote themselves and members.
Additionally, transitioning the SHPE Conference from being led by volunteers to being managed by professional staff has greatly improved efficiency as well as the overall quality of the event. This tremendous milestone in the development and maturing of our national staff allows the National Board of Directors to focus more on achieving SHPE’s vision. Still, there are plenty of opportunities for volunteers to become involved and gain valuable experience in managing teams, networking and mentoring.
All of this has contributed to firmly establishing SHPE as The Source for Quality Hispanic Professional Engineers and Technical Talent. Search for “Hispanic engineers” on Google and the number one hit is our Society. Not bad, considering that we started with a group of five Los Angeles Department of Water and Power engineers!
Doubtless, many of you have been affected by the financial uncertainty and tumultuous employment market that has our country in its grasp. In times such as these, it falls on organizations like SHPE to provide for its members. We have responded by offering targeted professional development programs such as Management Growth Training (MGT) and professional certification tracks at the SHPE Conference. By continually optimizing programs and services for our members, we ensure a solid base for their future growth.
As an organization, we must do our part in improving an educational system that has an alarmingly high dropout rate among Latino youths. Only 53 percent of Hispanic students graduate in four years. Furthermore, joblessness among Latinos has escalated to 13.0 percent – 3.6 points above the national average. To help bridge this gap and reduce the dropout rate, federal initiatives must be introduced and supported to provide significant additional resources to schools and support higher expectations for Latinos.
Prioritizing education is the antidote to the dropout poison and resulting high unemployment. To strengthen SHPE’s stand behind this cause, our presence in Washington, D.C., has enabled us to forge closer partnerships with likeminded organizations such as the National GEM Consortium, the National Society of Black Engineers and the National Society of Professional Engineers. As we demand broader access to quality education, we also must advocate for expanded infrastructure that boosts commerce and employment opportunities. True, no individual can determine these national goals, but much can be accomplished as we work together. SHPE is determined to use all available resources in order to reverse these trends within the Hispanic community.
As we move forward with increased staff and strong corporate support, the responsibility of providing America’s engineering innovations rests squarely on the shoulders of SHPE members. Professionals and students alike can rise to the challenge with full confidence that their SHPE familia will support them. I urge each member to maximize every opportunity that SHPE presents by demonstrating sincere personal interest and enthusiastic involvement. In so doing, SHPE will open doors that will advance their careers and make their personal lives more fulfilling.
Our sense of familia obliges us to give back and make a difference, individually and collectively. Please consider this a personal invitation to share your ideas and concerns about the Society with me. My in-box is always open. Find me on Facebook and let’s begin a dialog. This weekend I will be attending Regional Leadership Development Conferences (RLDC) in Regions 1and 2. Over the next two weeks I will be attending RLDCs in Regions 5 and 6. I look forward to meeting you or getting reacquainted.

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