Kraft Advances Latino Talent in Chicagoland

In celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month, the Kraft Foods Latino Council last week hosted the first Chicago-area Consortium of Latino Employee Organizations at its Northfield, Ill., headquarters. The effort united Latino employee councils from 15 major companies to foster networking and the exchange of ideas in attracting and retaining Latino talent.

“Being open and inclusive is one of our core values,” said Jim Norman, VP of diversity for Kraft Foods. “Building relationships with external organizations is the key in connecting with diverse consumers, attracting and retaining talent. Hosting this meeting is an important step in continuing the growth and success of our Latino employees.”

During the event, representatives of Latino employee councils from several companies enjoyed an informative discussion led by Robert Rodriguez, founder and leader of the Consortium of Latino Employee Organizations and author of “Latino Talent,” for a taste of the essential ingredients in advancing Latino leadership.

“Diversity makes good business sense, and that is why corporations want Latino professionals -- to better serve the growing Latino market,” said Rodriguez.

Participant companies included Kraft, Abbott Laboratories, Allstate, Cafe Media, Diversity Best Practices, Hispanic Alliance for Career Enhancement, HispanicPro.com, Kaplan University, Motorola, National Latino Education Institute and Sears Holdings Corp.

To further enhance its commitment to providing Latino employees the necessary tools, mentoring and exposure to help them develop at every stage of their careers, the Kraft Foods Latino Council will host a number of networking and development events through Oct. 22, among them a career development fair, volunteer opportunities at nonprofit organizations, and career-building experiences.
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