Success can be deceptive. A company can be profitable, a nonprofit can hit its metrics, a program can be funded, and a leader can keep delivering results – and still be out of alignment with the future they say they want to build.
The question is not simply, “Is this working?” The better question is,
“Is this working toward where we say we are going?”
That is where mission, vision, and values become more than statements. They become frameworks for decision-making. Your mission should clarify why the work matters. Your vision should shape what you are building toward. Your values should influence how decisions are made along the way. If those three things do not affect where you invest, what you measure, what you redesign, what you stop doing, and what you build next, they are not actually guiding the organization.
Success Can Hide Misalignment
Failure usually gets our attention quickly. Success can do the opposite.
A program may be well attended and still create barriers for the people it was intended to serve. A company may be growing while its systems, leadership structure, or financial infrastructure are no longer equipped for the next level. A nonprofit may continue funding an established program because it has always worked, even when the community, market, or mission has evolved.
The same thing happens personally. A leader can continue performing at a high level while quietly realizing that the future being built no longer matches the future they actually want.
Working and aligned are not the same thing.
Misalignment has a cost. It can show up in resources being invested in work that no longer advances the vision, teams carrying programs that have outlived their purpose, or leaders making decisions based on precedent instead of strategy. It can also show up when organizations measure what is easiest to report rather than what matters most.
Vision Should Change Today’s Decisions
A vision statement should not describe a future that has no influence on the present. It should force better questions.
Are our current programs moving us toward the future we say we want? Are our systems designed for the people we intend to serve? Are our resources aligned with our highest priorities? Are we continuing something because it is effective, or simply because it is familiar?
And perhaps the most important question is this:
If we keep operating exactly as we are today, will the organization we’ll have created five or ten years from now actually fulfill our mission?
That is strategic alignment: Alignment is the discipline of comparing today’s decisions with tomorrow’s vision.
The Alignment Test
Before continuing, expanding, funding, or scaling something, leaders should ask five questions:
Mission: Does this still serve why we exist? Is it actually working for the people it was designed to serve?
Values: Are we doing it in a way that reflects how we say we operate?
Vision: Does this move us toward where we want to go? If we continue this for the next five or ten years, are we building what we want to become?
These questions matter for organizations, but they also matter personally. The hardest thing to change is not always what failed. Sometimes it is what succeeded. Failure forces reflection. Success can postpone it. You do not have to wait until something is broken to decide that something needs to evolve.
Alignment Requires Courage Before Crisis
The goal is not constant change. The goal is intentional alignment.
That means keeping what still serves the vision, strengthening what needs to evolve, redesigning what creates barriers, and stopping the investment of time, money, or energy in work that no longer takes you where you intend to go.
The strongest leaders do not wait until circumstances force change. They are willing to examine what is working and still ask whether it deserves to continue.
That is not failure: It is leadership. It is strategy and it is alignment.
Are you willing to switch gears from what is working with what is aligned to the vision you have for tomorrow?
AI & Authenticity Disclaimer: The ideas, frameworks, lessons, lived experiences, and professional perspective reflected in this article are Bridget B Espinosa’s. AI may be used to research, organize, refine, finesse, or format outlines and outputs. Bridget personally performs the final edit and retains final authorship and approval.
I have decided to eliminate the word “busy” from my vocabulary. My life is full.I am never too busy to connect with people that bring value and meaning to my life.
One of the greatest benefits and goals of entrepreneurship – when it is planned correctly – is that you have more control over your time.
When you look to add or remove tasks from your calendar – ask yourself:
“What people and activities provide value and meaning to my life / my business?”
This is how I created a FULL life and not a busy one:
Be present wherever you are.* Make this a stated value of your company and your life.
Be intentional about how you manage your calendar and prioritize how you spend your time. (The word INTENTION was my annual theme in 2020.
Have a clear mission and vision, use those as your barometer. Our Puente and XPM missions are written, published and reviewed frequently. Understand your “WHY”. (I highly recommend the TedTalk and book, Start with Why by Simon Sinek.)
Accept that your to-do list will never be completed and that is okay. Your work day and work week must end and there will always be another day. Shut the computer, turn of the phone, if possible. Keep lists, but learn to put them away. Take time each day/week for yourself, for your family, friends, for non-work related activities. (See #1*)
Seek Harmony in your life. Reject the myth of work-life balance – it sets you up for a teeter-totter of failure. (Read my previous blog on Harmony here – it our 2023 Annual Theme.)
Sleep 7-8 hours at least six days a week! I protect my sleeping hours. If you are tired, you will always feel stressed and like you do not have enough time. If you are rested, you will be more productive! (I have been known to cancel or reschedule morning meetings in the middle of the night if I am struggling with insomnia or ended up going to bed way too late for whatever reason.)
Create a team. Surround yourself with good people – hire out your weaknesses, work in your strengths. If you can’t afford an employee yet, form partnerships or hire subcontractors and interns. (Hiring a good employee is the best investment you can make in your business!)
For those thatfollow me on social media, you know I always find time for the beach, my family, live music, happy hour, and networking events!
These activities bring me joy and they provide value and meaning to my life. For years, I rarely missed my boys’ soccer games, banquets, band concerts, or performances. My husband and I prioritized date nights and took vacations to visit friends and family. I live in both Michigan and Mexico – coming home for important family holidays and events: Thanksgiving, Christmas and NYE, Paco’s birthday, Diego’s farewell party, my mom’s birthday, and Mother’s Day. Spending time, especially holidays, with my family and friends is one of my core values.*
I hate it when people tell me I am “too busy”. I will always make time and prioritize people and opportunities to connect. It’s all about determining what you value.
If this resonated with you, you’ll also enjoy this video clip by Darria Long – I’m including both the clip and the full video down below.
Mi vida está llena – No estoy “demasiado ocupada”
He decidido eliminar la palabra “ocupada” de mi vocabulario. Mi vida está llena. Nunca estoy demasiado ocupada para conectarme con personas que aportan valor y significado a mi vida.
Uno de los mayores beneficios y objetivos del emprendimiento – cuando se planifica correctamente – es que tienes más control sobre tu tiempo.
Cuando busques agregar o eliminar tareas de tu calendario, pregúntate: “¿Qué personas y actividades aportan valor y significado a mi vida / mi negocio?” Así es como creé una vida LLENA y no una ocupada:
Sé presente dondequiera que estés.* Haz de esto un valor declarado de tu empresa y tu vida.
Sé intencional sobre cómo manejas tu calendario y prioriza cómo pasas tu tiempo. (La palabra INTENCIÓN fue mi tema anual en 2020. Leer más.
Tener una misión y visión claras, úsalas como tu barómetro. Nuestras misiones de Puente y XPM están escritas, publicadas y revisadas frecuentemente. Entiende tu “POR QUÉ”. (Recomiendo altamente el TedTalk y el libro, Comienza con el Por Qué de Simon Sinek.)
Acepta que tu lista de tareas nunca se completará y eso está bien. Tu día laboral y semana laboral deben terminar y siempre habrá otro día. Cierra la computadora, apaga el teléfono, si es posible. Mantén listas, pero aprende a guardarlas. Tómate un tiempo cada día/semana para ti, para tu familia, amigos, para actividades no relacionadas con el trabajo. (Ver #1*)
Busca la Armonía en tu vida. Rechaza el mito del equilibrio entre trabajo y vida personal – te prepara para un fracaso de sube y baja. (Lee mi blog anterior sobre Armonía aquí – es nuestro Tema Anual 2023.)
¡Duerme 7-8 horas al menos seis días a la semana! Protejo mis horas de sueño. Si estás cansada, siempre sentirás estrés y como si no tuvieras suficiente tiempo. Si estás descansada, ¡serás más productiva! (Se sabe que he cancelado o reprogramado reuniones matutinas en medio de la noche si estoy luchando con insomnio o terminé acostándome demasiado tarde por cualquier razón.)
Crea un equipo. Rodéate de buenas personas – externaliza tus debilidades, trabaja en tus fortalezas. Si aún no puedes permitirte una empleada, forma asociaciones o contrata subcontratistas y pasantes. (¡Contratar a una buena empleada es la mejor inversión que puedes hacer en tu negocio!)
Para aquellas que me siguen en redes sociales, saben que siempre encuentro tiempo para la playa, mi familia, música en vivo, happy hour y eventos de networking.
Estas actividades me brindan alegría y aportan valor y significado a mi vida. Durante años, rara vez me perdí los partidos de fútbol de mis hijos, banquetes, conciertos de banda o actuaciones. Mi esposo y yo priorizamos las noches de cita y tomamos vacaciones para visitar amigos y familiares. Vivo tanto en Michigan como en México – regresando a casa para importantes fiestas y eventos familiares: Acción de Gracias, Navidad y Año Nuevo, el cumpleaños de Paco, la fiesta de despedida de Diego, el cumpleaños de mi madre y el Día de la Madre. Pasar tiempo, especialmente las fiestas, con mi familia y amigos es uno de mis valores fundamentales.*
Odio cuando la gente me dice que estoy “demasiado ocupada”. Siempre haré tiempo y priorizaré a personas y oportunidades para conectar. Se trata de determinar lo que valoras.
Si esto te resonó, también disfrutarás de este videoclip de Darria Long. Estoy incluyendo el video completo a continuación.
Durante el año 2022 tuvimos un índice de participación en nuestros eventos que nos sorprendió. Nos gustaría agradecer a quienes nos invitaron a su(s) evento(s), nos acompañaron, a los dueños de negocios que nos permitieron ser anfitriones en sus locales, a los panelistas que participaron y, sobre todo, a nuestros patrocinadores. Esto no hubiera sido posible sin todos ustedes. A continuación se muestran imágenes y un pequeño resúmen de algunos de los eventos del año anterior.
¡Estamos emocionados por lo que vendrá en 2023!
During 2022 we had an outstanding participation rate in our events. We would like to thank those who invited us to their event(s), joined us, the business owners who allowed us to host at their establishments, the panelists who participated, and most of all our sponsors. This would not have been possible without all of you. Below are pictures and link recaps of a few of the events from this previous year.
We are excited for what is to come in 2023!
Chelas & Cheers con Contratistas
Empezó con la idea de reunir a los contratistas y celebrar a aquellos que reciben su certificación en reducción de plomo, junto con los empleados de la ciudad que pueden ayudarlos. Sin embargo, este evento lo organizamos para reunir a todo tipo de emprendedores para establecer contactos y forjar nuevas relaciones mientras disfrutan de una bebida y comparten ideas.
¡Felicitaciones a los participantes de la reducción de plomo que recibieron su certificado en 2022!
May 3rd, 2022 at Los Altos Restaurant
October 4th, 2022 at La Palapa del Parian
December 21st, 2022 at La Posada Mexican Restaurant
Initiated in an attempt to bring contractors together and to celebrate those who receive their certification in Lead Abatement as well as city employees who can assist them. We hosts these to bring together every kind of entrepreneur to network and forge new relationships while enjoying a drink and sharing ideas.
Congratulations to the Lead Abatement partcipants who received their certificate in 2022!
Cheers! with Business Alianzas
El propósito es reunir a los miembros de Business Alianzas, así como a otros empresarios, para conocer dónde se encuentra su negocio y cómo podemos ayudarlos. Este es un buen momento para tomar un descanso y pasar el rato con otros. A veces tenemos invitados especiales quienes comparten información valiosa para los emprendedores.
January 18, 2022 at La Posada
August 24, 2022 Cheers to 50 Years!
Is meant to bring together Business Alianzas members as well as other entrepreneurs to learn about where their business stands and how we can help. This is a great time to take a break and hangout with others. Some times we have guest speakers who share predominant information with the entrepreneurs.
Cafecito with Business Alianzas
Cafecito con Business Alianzas es un evento trimestral de networking en la mañana para dueños de pequeñas empresas y líderes comunitarios en el suroeste de Detroit. Los eventos de Cafecito han sido patrocinados por Alliance Catholic Credit Union desde 2021. Estamos agradecidos por su continua coperación. Los Cafecitos trimestrales ya están programados para 2023: el primero se realizará el 24 de enero.
Cafecito with Business Alianzas is a quarterly AM networking event for small business owners and community leaders in Southwest Detroit. Cafecito events have been sponsored by Alliance Catholic Credit Union since 2021. We are grateful for their continued partnership. Quarterly Cafecitos are scheduled for 2023 – the first one is coming up on January 24th.
Mercadito
A finales de 2021 iniciamos un evento en colaboración con El Artesano llamado Mercadito para promover las pequeñas empresas y ayudarlas a hacer crecer su negocio. En 2022 organizamos 2 Mercaditos y asistieron más de 30 vendedores. Planeamos continuar con estas ventanas para ayudar a otros proveedores.
Toward the end of 2021 we initiated a pop-up event in collaboration with El Artesano called Mercadito to promote small businesses and help them grow their business. In 2022 we hosted 2 Mercaditos & had more than 30 vendors who attended. We plan to continue these pop-ups to help other vendors.
Develop with Business Alianzas / Bilingual Bootcamp Credito Commercial
El propósito de este evento bilingüe es ayudar a los dueños de negocios a conocer las diferentes formas en que pueden aumentar su crédito comercial. Los panelistas, banqueros y prestamistas se unen a nosotros durante estos eventos para brindar más información sobre cómo pueden ayudar o cómo y por qué es importante el crédito comercial.
The purpose of the Bilingual Bootcamp & Develop with Business Alianzas is to help business owners learn about the different ways that they can grow their business credit. Panelists, bankers, and lenders join us during these events to provide more information about how they can help or how/why business credit is important.
Charlas
Estamos ofreciendo Charlas virtuales breves en español o bilingües de temas para emprendimiento durante todo el año. Se puede conectar por zoom a cualquier de las Charlas con este enlace de Zoom: bit.ly/micharla
We also offer short (bilingual or Spanish only) virtual presentations about entrepreneurial topics throughout the year. You can connect by zoom to any of the Charlas with this link: bit.ly/micharla
Durante el año tuvimos 70 participantes y ayudamos a certificar a 59 de ellos; esperamos ayudar a certificar más en 2023. Las clases fueron de forma gratuita para los residentes de Detroit y contratistas que trabajan o planean trabajar con la ciudad de Detroit. Aparte de completar todo el papeleo, nuestro equipo se comunicó con la ciudad y el estado para programar las fechas de clases y exámenes. Nos gustaría agradecer a todos los contratistas que participaron en estas clases, los inspectores estatales y los empleados estatales que nos ayudaron a hacer esto posible.
We had 70 participants and helped certify 59 of them and look forward to helping certify more in 2023. Classes were provided free of charge to Detroit residents and to other contractors who are working or planning to work with the city of Detroit. Our team helped fill out all of the paperwork and had communication with the city and state to schedule the class and exam dates. We would like to thank all the contractors who participated in these classes, state inspectors, and the state employees who helped us make this possible.
“The Small Business Ethnic and Minority Media Appreciation Dinner on Wednesday, September 7th, 2022 brought together micro-business owners, Black and Brown community leaders and our Metro Detroit ethnic press together to network and celebrate at one of the most prestigious locations in the midwest, the Detroit Institute of Arts. Our incredible team spent weeks inviting and confirming the guest list for this free event. Puente is so thrilled to have partnered with the Latino Press Foundation to host this celebration of our small businesses in Southeastern Michigan. I am so proud and grateful for my staff!”… Keep Reading
By Bridget B. Espinosa, Puente Cultural Integration
“Balance” is a misguided metaphor because it conveys the idea that we have to give up the prospect of success in one part of our lives in order to have it in another part—one or the other. ” Stewart Friedman
This perfectly explains why I reject this idea of “work life balance” and embrace the idea of HARMONY!
For years we have been told that we need to find a work-life balance. There is no such thing. This is a myth that does nothing but generate stress, and frustration. Having studied music in my youth, I have been drawn to the word harmony. Harmony is different from balance, it reflects the idea that there can be multiple layers working together in a pleasing way. There are many definitions of harmony, but the easiest to understand and achieve I found on yourdictionary.com “A combination of parts into a pleasing or orderly whole; congruity or agreement in feeling, action, ideas, interests, etc.; peaceable or friendly relations.”
We often use the word harmony to describe both the environment and our relationships – living in harmony is a common mantra. However, it is an uncommon description of our internal relationships with our responsibilities. Harmony is not difficult to achieve if you accept that different aspects of your life will be “singing the melody” while other factors provide the harmony. This metaphor shows that our family, work, social, health, and community lives can all live alongside one another – each one can take its turn providing the fundamental melody and our lives can be just as harmonious and beautiful regardless of which takes the lead.
Harmony represents the world I want to live in: people of many backgrounds, races, ethnicities, genders, sexual orientation, sizes, professions, abilities, languages, all connected – different voices, religions, cultures, perspectives, opiniones, ideas – all living in harmony.
Important to the analogy is when even one note is played or sung wrong the whole chord sound awful! When even one part of your life is out of whack, your whole life can feel like it’s falling apart. But the reality is that the adjustment to find harmony again is usually just a small tweak. When one person in the choir or one instrument in the band is out of tune, you have two choices:
In a rehearsal, you pause for a moment, address the issue and then start over making the correction.
In a live performance (aka real life), you just keep going. Normally the issue will work itself out, but if the problem continues you need to figure out what is causing the harmonies to go array and make the changes necessary so that it won’t happen again.
Based on a thorough review of the literature we introduce an integrated conceptualization of work-life balance involving two key dimensions: engagement in work life and nonwork life …
So F%^& this whole idea of “Work-Life Balance”, toss it out the window and just seek harmony.
I love listening to amazing vocal harmonies of diverse and talented singers. I sang for my entire youth and music continues to play an impactful role in my life. I searched for harmonies on youtube and found this incredible video. One of my former colleague’s sons is even featured in the best harmonies of 2021. This is soooo worth the time to take a listen and visualize these voices as the different elements of your life and how they can find harmony with one another.
The word ‘Harmony’ has been following me over the last year!
I was asked to sit on the advisory board of Detroit Harmony, an initiative led by the Detroit Symphony Orchestra to provide musical instruments and experiences to every child in the City of Detroit.
My friend Laura LaBrie rebranded her Mysterious Mexico platforms to Maya Harmony. I have been following the Maya calendar, The Sacred Tzolk’in, trying to learn how to align my life to find the harmony that often eludes us.
Sacred Maya Calendar – The Path to Life
“The Sacred Tzolk’in is the story of humankind wrapped in a calendar, reminding us daily of our journey from birth into the heart of the Divine. We cycle endlessly through the story, reliving each chapter every 20 days. And so, the wheel turns, its path reminding us of our own story. And if we come into alignment with it, we come into alignment with the Heart of Sky, the Great Spirit. And when we come into alignment, we find balance, we find center, our lives come into flow, things go well with us, and we find our place in the Universe. And when we find our place in the Universe, we discover our connection to the One Heart that is in all and is all. “
I love this question:
“And so, as the Maya greet each other, I ask you, “Bix a bel? How is YOUR path?”
Another one of my passion projects is a weekly summer strolling music festival called Corktown Sounds. I have the honor to work with small businesses, musicians, and my team provides the content creation for this very cool event in Detroit. Shameless plug: We are hosting a Corktown Sounds Benefit Concert on February 4th. Tickets are on sale now!
I believe that we can have some really interesting discussions regarding harmony in our lives. Join the discussion and give your experiences regarding how to embrace harmony in:
Relationships
Work
Business
Health
Travel
Finances
??
What areas of your life need more harmony?
Here are other articles and blogs that embrace Harmony vs. Balance:
Southwest Detroit Retail Icon, Danto Furniture, Moves Location;
Celebrating Four Generations of Service to Greater Detroit with Ribbon-Cutting
Saturday, November 12, 2022Special Community Event is Scheduled for 3:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
7741 Dix Street, Detroit, MI, 48209; Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan, City Officials, other Dignitaries Invited to Participate in 4:00 p.m. Ceremonies
DETROIT, Mich. – Wherewere you in 1940? Watching the Detroit Tigers win the American League Pennant? Keeping a close eye on Europe and Japan? Or, perhaps, going to the neighborhood theatre to plunk down $.15 to see Walt Disney’s animated masterpiece, “Fantasia”?
However, most likely, if you were young family man Julius Danto, you were at the kitchen table putting together plans to build a business that would – eventually – go far beyond your expectations. The Lithuanian-Jewish immigrant was determined to make it in America and help others along the way while doing so. Julius opened Danto Furniture in 1940 in Southwest Detroit and the Danto family has never looked back – only forward.
Danto Furniture employs a multi-lingual staff who are fluent in English, Arabic and Spanish and has satisfied customers throughout metro Detroit, including Allen Park, Dearborn, Dearborn Heights, Ecorse, Hamtramck, Inkster, Lincoln Park, Melvindale, Redford, River Rouge, Riverview, Romulus, Southgate, Trenton, Wayne, Wixom, Woodhaven, Wyandotte and Ypsilanti.
Current General Manager and 3rd generation Danto, Irwin Danto, said: “I think one of the most important reasons that Danto Furniture has thrived for more than 80 years is because of our dedication to serving others and doing the right thing. My grandfather Julius understood that he was not the only immigrant who had come to this country; nor he realized, was he the only immigrant who needed a hand-up. In many cases, Danto Furniture has been among the first stops for newly arriving immigrants; and we are proud of that.”
The celebration promises to be nothing less than a party. Danto Furniture will offer up to 40% discounts on furniture and appliances; children’s face painting, balloons, popcorn, piñatas, Delia’s Food Truck, cuisine from restaurant El Nacimiento, grocery store E & L Supermercado; and Postres y Delicias by Dianys Salinas.
Danto Furniture Re-Grand Opening
Ribbon Cutting
Ashley Danto, Irwin’s daughter, who works in Sales and Marketing, said: “I have been working in the business on and off for the past 8 years and I’m in awe of my grandfather Charles Danto, current owner and family patriarch. His work ethic and energy – even at 92 years old – is amazing. He has been in the store 6 days a week , pretty much every week, since he was 19 years old. He is the best salesperson we have; everyone is always looking to talk to “Charlie” and when he is not in the building you can feel the difference.”
This was one of our most successful events since we launched Business Alianzas (post-COVID).
Almost 60 attendees joined us for Cheers! and Chelas on October 4th, 2022 from 5-7:30pm + after party! The Puente Team registered 17 Immigrant contractors for our upcoming Bilingual Lead Abatement Training in November.
The Bilingual Panel: Resources & Opportunities (Recursos y Oportunidades) was very well received.
We broadcast the panel live on Puente Facebook. You can watch the video here:
Bridget Espinosa, Puente CEO was the moderator:
Steve Cato, City of Detroit HRD – Chief Compliance Inspector
Sonia Alvarado, City of Detroit HRD – Lead Inspector
Patrick Beal, Detroit Training Center – CEO
Melissa Rios, Detroit Land Bank – Procurement Manager
In addition, we were featured on the front page of El Central Hispanic News on Thursday October 6, 2022. Un artículo bilingüe fue publicado en la portada de El Central Hispanic News el jueves 6 de octubre, 2022.
El equipo de Puente actualmente está inscribiendo para sus próximos cursos bilingües que se llevarán a cabo del 7 al 11 de noviembre del 2022 y nuevamente en febrero. La fecha límite para inscribirse es el 17 de octubre. Todos los trabajadores de habla hispana en Metro Detroit son elegibles para presentar una solicitud.
o comunicándose con la Gerente General de Puente Yazmin Payan, al 313-349-0089 o por correo electrónico a team@puenteci.com.
Original Invitation:
Únase a nosotros con una merecida bebida después del trabajo el martes 4 de octubre. 🍻🍸🍹 Tendremos Cheers con Business Alianzas seguido por Chelas con Contratistas
Panel Bilingüe: “Recursos y oportunidades” Expertos hablarán sobre los recursos y oportunidades disponibles para aquellos que están certificados en reducción de plomo.
Registro para la reducción de plomo noviembre de 2022
—————————————————————————
Contractors, don’t miss out on this networking event!
Join us for a well-deserved drink after work on Tuesday, October 4th. 🍻🍸🍹 We will be hosting Cheers with Business Alianzas followed by Chelas con Contratistas (Beers with Builders)
6:30-7:15 pm Panel Bilingüe: “Recursos y Oportunidades” Experts will talk about the resources and opportunities available to those who are certified in Lead Abatement.
The Small Business Ethnic and Minority Media Appreciation Dinner on Wednesday, September 7th, 2022 brought together micro-business owners, Black and Brown community leaders and our Metro Detroit ethnic press together to network and celebrate at one of the most prestigious locations in the midwest, the Detroit Institute of Arts.
Our MC and one of our sponsors was the esteemed Mark Lee from The Lee Group, “It was an honor and privilege to MC and speak at this wonderful event honoring outstanding entrepreneurs. It was a celebration recognizing those truly making a difference.”
My favorite part of the evening was helping entrepreneurs to connect to one another and with media and government leaders. The cocktail hour in the Diego Rivera Court at the DIA was the perfect backdrop to weave relationships. It is not everyday that a taquero, a barber, a realtor, a contractor, and a cleaning company get to network with leaders in banking and government. Introducing some of our Business Alianzas clients to Lt. Governor Garlin Gilchrist II was the highlight of the night for me!
Rob and Daisy CoronadoLt. Governor Garlin Gilchrist congratulating Elias Gutierrez Elena Guardiola
We are thrilled that the Puente Team was able to support the Small Business Ethnic and Minority Media Appreciation Dinner. Our original role was to ensure that there would be a diverse group of entrepreneurs invited, once again providing equitable opportunities for our clients and our community. This gala was by invitation only and we carefully curated the guest list and speakers with leaders in government, education, banking, real estate, and of course small business. Typically these types of events are primarily attended by corporate and nonprofit leaders, we intentionally kept our focus on our mom and pop businesses.
Successful Entrepreneurs, Start-Ups, Great Friends, Incredible Memories!
see the photo gallery below
Grateful for the Latino-Puente Team for their incredible work in organizing every detail of this event.
Left to Right:
Cintia Alejandra Mora
Claudia Rivera
Bridget Espinosa
Yazmin Payan Sanchez
“I would like to thank the assistance of personalities such as Lt. Governor Garlin Gilchrist II, Mr. Roberto Nicolas Consul of Mexico, Bruce Morgan of WSU, Wafa Dinaro of Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan, Kevin Hardy editor of Detroit News, Gabriela Santiago Detroit City Council,This event would not have been possible without the support of these people or these companies.”
A note from our host, Elias Gutierrez, Publisher of Latino Press:
So far we’ve had two big events this year, Cheers with Business Alianzas and Chelas con Contratistas which took place on January 18th at La Posada restaurant. During both events, besides networking with everyone present, our priority was to register as many contractors as possible for Lead Abatement, a course that explains how to safely work with lead and asbestos. There’s still availability for those interested in this free program.
By the end of the event we registered approximately 10 contractors! Additionally, they were able to exchange contact information between each other. Huge thank you to La Posada Restaurant for allowing us to host this event at their business and to their employees for their attention with us.
Lastly, we want to thank each and every member of the 150 small businesses that form part of Business Alianzas. Our 1 year celebration would not have been possible without all of you! Thank you for allowing us to help you every step of the way. We look forward to continuing working with all of you this year. We enjoyed celebrating with all those who joined us at Los Altos Restaurant, via zoom, and in Puerto Morelos. Thank you to Los Altos for hosting this afternoon with many shared conversations and laughs. Here’s to many more years of assisting entrepreneurs.
Visit our Business Alianzas website to stay up to date with our upcoming events. We hope to see you at our next event!
