Latino Mixer Brings Local Businesses Together

By Journalist Ms. Jones

BEACON – “I probably have been involved for over a year. It’s a great organization because it supports the Latino community and networking with Latinos. You get to meet and see what they do for a living and you get to network and help each other. I have done some of the people’s mortgages. I have utilized their services in different capacities,” said Ana Tranchina, a member of Latinos in Business.

The Latinos in Business Summer Nights Networking Mixer took place on Thursday, July 20th from 5:30-8:00 pm at the Vault on Main Street in Beacon.

The organization was founded by Gisela Gomez, a Mortgage Loan Officer with M&T Bank, Jennifer Echevarria, a Lawyer with Jacobowitz and Gubits, Sandra Salguero, a Mortgage Broker with Superior Mortgage Company, and Claudette Aldebot with Bard College.

The admission was free and included complimentary appetizers including: a Cheese and Charcuterie Plate, Hummus with Grilled Flatbread, Buttermilk Fried Calamari, and Seafood Linguini. The first ten guests to arrive to the venue also received a ticket for a free mixed drink or beer.

The event was sponsored by Jacobowitz and Gubits, Superior Mortgage, and M&T Bank.
After appetizers, the founders introduced themselves and discussed the purpose of the group and distributed gift bags. However, the bags did not contain gifts. Each bag contained an office supply to be used for the Ice Breaker Game. Participants had to find who had the same item they had and then paired up to ask and answer a set of questions getting to know each other. Once the game ended, each participant was tasked with introducing their partner to the group, sharing their partner’s job, challenges, motivations, and how the group could help them.

“We can’t refer each other’s businesses if we don’t know what each other does,” said Echevarria.

People were in attendance from all professions including education, healthcare, law, insurance, finance, banking, and non-profits.

Not just Latinos come to the mixers.

“You don’t have to be Latino, just have an interest in the Latino community and helping them.” said Gomez.

At the end of the mixer, the first ten people that signed up for a Defensive Driving course, to be held in September, received free registration. Five people were sponsored by Salguero and the other five were sponsored by Walter Sierra of Sierra Insurance Company.

“We like to give back,” said Sierra.

The next Latinos in Business Free Summer Networking Mixer will be held August 24th from 5:30-8:00 pm at Chapala Bar and Grill in New Windsor, and will be sponsored by Walden Savings Bank. Check out the Latinos in Business Succeeding Together Facebook page for more information about attending or sponsoring an upcoming event.