Daily Archives: August 9, 2014

California Hispanic Chambers of Commerce Annual Convention (CHCC)

Posted on by NAWRB

Entrepreneurs, advocates for small businesses, community leaders, and government officials were all present at the California Hispanic Chambers of Commerce Annual Convention (CHCC) in Garden Grove, California. The convention celebrated the history and triumphs of the CHCC while establishing a strong dialogue between the Hispanic business community, business advocates, and government members.

From an author to a National Director of a government agency, panelists and speakers came from a diverse range of backgrounds. Some featured speakers included Nely Galán, Media Entrepreneur and Founder of the Adelante Movement; Antonio Gonzalez, President of SVREP and WCVI; and Maria Salinas, Chairwoman of the Board at ProAmerica Bank. All workshops and panels at the convention were free and open to the public. The main workshops were divided into two groups: Procurement and International Trade. Attendees filled the seats for both groups of presentations as the panelists presented their in-depth PowerPoint presentations.

To further promote business success, the convention featured a procurement matchmaking session with participation from top companies such as Southern California Edison, Wells Fargo, Verizon, and State Farm. Attendees had the opportunity to view the business profiles of the companies they were matched with before scheduling a meeting. The meetings established connections between attendees and their matched companies so that a future follow-up could be secured to pursue contracting opportunities.

With the strong advocacy for the Hispanic business community, it was fitting to highlight real life business success stories during the Business Success Stories Live Luncheon sponsored by Kaiser Permanente. Hosted by celebrities Liz Hernandez of Access Hollywood and actress Ana Ortiz, the luncheon was a motivational way to inspire attendees to maintain their determination no matter the circumstances.

The Annual Convention wasn’t completely relegated to business workshops and presentations though. The CHCC added elements of fun and excitement with the Latina Pavilion, and awards ceremonies followed by various forms of entertainment, which created a loud and lively atmosphere. The Latina Pavilion featured a panel of successful Latinas who provided their perspectives on life, careers, and accomplishments. The Pavilion also showcased a fashion show and Biz Expo, which featured over 70 exhibitors and opportunities for networking.

The final two days of the convention concluded with a White Party celebration, CHCC Awards Gala dinner, live entertainment from popular comedian Felipe Esparza, and the Abel Sanchez & Si Se Puede Band, which features musicians from legendary bands such as Malo, Tierra, and Tower of Power. The live entertainment pumped up the crowd as the CHCC Awards honored recipients of the Latina Hall of Fame Awards and Regional & Statewide Hispanic Business Awards. The CHCC Annual Convention was a success that empowered the Hispanic business community with its lively blend of educational and entertaining sessions.

2014 Florida Realtors Conference

Posted on by NAWRB

The focus of the 2014 Florida Realtors Conference was productivity, profitability, and professionalism for the more than 2,500 Realtors® that attended in Orlando. In addition to informative training sessions and countless networking opportunities, the conference included a lively Carnaval theme with a concert series that had bodies moving and hands clapping. Attendees had the opportunity to sit-in on more than 30 education sessions, some of which were attended by NAWRB Member Renee Marie Smith, Esq.

A Session Recap by NAWRB Member Renee Marie Smith, Esq.
When Dodd Frank passed, many of us were scratching our heads trying to understand its impact. The Education Session on Dodd-Frank—Why Washington Made Us Change, which included panelists Grant Simon, Dana R. Ward, Michael E. “Mickey” Godat, and Nashad Khan was very helpful. This law is over 1,500 pages of complex legalese. The panel selected isolated topics from those pages to summarize instead of trying to outline the entire law. I highlighted three of these topics.

One: Changes to Debt to Income Ratio in Lending
The crafters of the law saw it as the “answer” to the out of control lending problem; lowering the DTI limits the exposure for overleveraged primary lending. The law phases in the lowering of DTI for lending over the course of seven years so practitioners must revise their underwriting requirements each year to comply. At the end of the seven year phase, DTI will be limited to 43% of revolving debt and loans.

Two: The Power of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB)
This is now the most powerful agency in the U.S. It can investigate, enforce and initiate lawsuits with its own powers and eliminated the need to inter-bureau investigations. If the CFPB appears, you can have a civil and criminal case filed against you. It is funded by fines and imposes a fiduciary duty on all parties involved in consumer lending (including agents). There is no statute of limitations to prevent investigation either.

Three: Pitfalls of Affiliated Businesses
Marketing arrangements are subject to review and fines for failing to properly include disclosures. You can be held financially responsible for your partners’ actions even if you aren’t involved. If you have a joint venture and/or an appearance of an affiliated business, you must learn about the closing disclosure language. CFPB went to a company to investigate one report and stayed for years only to fine them for failure to properly include disclosures. Fines can range from $5,000 up to $1 million a day.

To summarize, when I walked out of the Dodd Frank education session, I agreed that lending in the U.S. was forever changed and not so sure for the better. However, it is the law and if you choose real estate as a profession, learning how to comply in your area is needed. When in doubt disclose, discuss, and decide on the most conservative method of handling consumer loans that come through your office.

Women’s Cancers: Basic research seeks new ways to attack cancer

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Advances in immunotherapy
Peter P. Lee, M.D., chair of cancer immunotherapeutics and tumor immunology at City of Hope, is pursuing several projects that are part of a what he calls integrated immunotherapy. This concept advances the idea that effective cancer treatment must address each phase or action of the body’s complex immune system.

In one project, Lee is studying the role of stromal cells, which make up connective tissue. He has found that stromal cells support cancer by attracting and modulating immune cells. His team is currently developing three-dimensional microculture systems to study the interactions among stroma, cancer and immune cells in tumors, with a goal of learning how to disrupt cancer’s support system and restore immune function.

Lee is also advancing the use of spectral imaging. Using powerful new technology, Lee is able to see two- and three-dimensional images of the location of cells, making it possible to understand how immune cells and cancer cells interact within the tumor and sentinel nodes (lymph nodes found under the arm, and often the first site of metastasis for breast cancer). One of the leaders in this sophisticated imaging technique, Lee recently led a worldwide webinar to teach other researchers about spectral imaging.

A novel way to target cancer
Yuan Yuan, M.D., Ph.D., assistant professor of medical oncology, is studying how tumor cells use nutrients to grow and proliferate, and how this process differs from normal cell metabolism, so that she can selectively target cancer cells. Yuan is collaborating with David Ann, Ph.D., professor of molecular pharmacology, who found that some types of breast cancer cells lack a specific enzyme and, as a result, need the amino acid arginine to grow.

Together, their research demonstrates how to deprive these cells of arginine and suppress tumor growth. Yuan seeks to translate this novel research to the clinic, where it will be the focus of a first-of-its-kind study for women with breast cancer.

How genes help cancer spread
Emily Wang, Ph.D., associate professor of cancer biology, focuses her research on understanding how microRNAs (miRNAs) regulate gene expression to promote or prevent cancer. She has found that breast cancer cells secrete specific miRNAs that dictate gene expression in healthy cells at potential metastatic sites for breast cancer.

Wang’s studies also showed that treatment with a miRNA inhibitor significantly delayed metastasis — suggesting a novel therapeutic strategy to prevent or treat metastatic breast cancer. Wang is collaborating with Yuan to translate these findings to the clinic.

Photo: City of Hope’s fight against breast cancer, shown here, includes immunotherapy and an exploration of gene silencing.

Molecular imaging and disease
Tijana Jovanovic-Talisman, Ph.D., assistant professor of molecular medicine, recently joined City of Hope to advance her research using super resolution microscopy. Jovanovic-Talisman is using this sophisticated imaging method to see and quantify proteins on the cell membrane and inside cells. On a biological level, this method allows Jovanovic-Talisman to better understand protein signaling, both in normal cells and in cells affected by disease. She is also collaborating with other researchers at City of Hope to design new compounds to target cancer cells.

In one effort, Jovanovic-Talisman is studying the tumor marker called nucleoporins 88, which is overexpressed in solid tumors, including breast and ovarian cancers. She is currently designing mimics, down to the nanometer scale, of the biological processes that are occurring in cancer and healthy cells. These models will be used to further understand how nucleoporins 88 causes cancer and to test drugs that target the molecule.

The quest for a novel therapeutic
Linda Malkas, Ph.D., associate chair and professor of molecular and cellular biology and the deputy director of basic research, is focused on identifying compounds that selectively target cancer. Previously, Malkas found a target in cancer cells, called cancer-associated proliferating cell nuclear antigen, that plays a role in DNA repair and helps cancer survive and proliferate.

Now, she is collaborating with City of Hope’s molecular chemists to modify small molecules that selectively block the antigen. Together, they have created a highly active synthetic compound called AOH1160. Recent animal studies have shown that AOH1160 is effective at inhibiting tumor growth. This exciting new compound could lead to a novel therapeutic for women fighting breast cancer.

Silencing genes to target cancer
Carlotta Glackin, Ph.D., associate professor of neurosciences, studies a protein called Twist1, which is overexpressed in many aggressive cancers, including breast and ovarian cancers. She is working to develop targeted therapeutics that inhibit Twist1 and stop cancer.

In collaboration with John Rossi, Ph.D., Lidow Family Research Chair and chair and professor of molecular and cellular biology, Glackin is exploring the use of small-interfering RNA (siRNA) bound to nanoparticles to deliver gene-silencing materials to tumors and block the expression of Twist1. Glackin studied this approach in cell lines and found that it was effective. Now, she is studying this therapeutic in animal models, and hopes to open a clinical trial at City of Hope. Glackin’s research provides another promising approach to therapy that could bring healing to so many women battling cancer.

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Next: Part 2: Studies of risk and prevention