Record-breaking numbers of Hispanic MBA students and professionals expected in Minneapolis

MINNEAPOLIS, March 13 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The National Society of Hispanic MBAs (NSHMBA) unveiled their 2009 Conference Theme, Think Ahead, Move Forward, during a special kickoff ceremony in downtown Minneapolis. NSHMBA's Conference and Career Expo will be held October 8-10 this year at the Minneapolis Convention Center.

The kick-off event united NSHMBA's Corporate Advisory Board, which represents 39 of the nation's leading corporations and education-focused organizations, Minneapolis city leaders, corporate VIPs, members of NSHMBA's Minneapolis/St. Paul Chapter and national office staff, as well as members of the organization's Board of Directors, all of whom left armed with the message of strength and confidence resulting from this year's conference theme -- Think Ahead, Move Forward.

The kickoff ceremony also included the announcements that Target will be this year's corporate lead sponsor, and the Carlson School of Management at the University of Minnesota will be the academic lead sponsor.

Despite the downturn in the economy, NSHMBA anticipates record-breaking attendees at the fall conference. "In difficult economic times, people go back to school and companies hire and retain only the best. NSHMBA offers the opportunity for talented Hispanics to pursue a graduate degree and provides businesses access to a high-performing talent pipeline of Hispanic MBAs," said NSHMBA's CEO, Ms. Lourdes Hassler.

"We continuously strive to attract, retain and develop the best talent for our stores, distribution centers and headquarters locations. In today's challenging economic environment, graduates want to work for a strong company with a great passion for ongoing development and training -- both of which they will find at Target. In addition, our strongly held commitment to community giving and sustainability further solidifies why many potential team members view Target as a great place to work," stated Tim Curoe, Vice President, Talent Acquisition, Target.

"Today, the Carlson School of Management's MBA program is the strongest it's been in the school's 90 year history," said Dean Alison Davis-Blake. "Important to our progress has been our commitment to develop and deepen the values for equity and diversity in every student who is enrolled in a Carlson School degree program. We are honored to have the opportunity to serve as the Academic Lead Sponsor of NSHMBA's 2009 National Conference."

The National Society of Hispanic MBAs' Annual Conference and Career Expo is the largest gathering of Hispanic MBAs in the country. An estimated 8,000 people are expected to attend including 300+ corporate and academic sponsors. Participating corporations will have the opportunity to recruit well-educated, diverse students and professionals and conference attendees will have numerous opportunities to attend professional development and networking sessions with top Hispanic leaders from across the nation.

About NSHMBA

The National Society of Hispanic MBAs (NSHMBA) was created in 1988 as a 501(C)(3) non-profit organization. Widely known as the "Premier Hispanic Organization," NSHMBA serves 32 chapters and 8,000 members in the U.S. and Puerto Rico. It exists to foster Hispanic leadership through graduate management education and professional development. NSHMBA works to prepare Hispanics for leadership positions throughout the U.S., so that they can provide the cultural awareness and sensitivity vital in the management of the nation's diverse workforce.

About Target

Target Corporation's retail segment includes large general merchandise and food discount stores and Target.com, a fully integrated online business. In addition, the company operates a credit card segment that offers branded proprietary and Visa credit card products. The company currently operates 1,682 stores in 48 states, 34 distribution centers and employs approximately 350,000 people worldwide.

About the Carlson School of Management

The Carlson School of Management at the University of Minnesota is a world-class educational institution located in the heart of the Minneapolis/St. Paul business community, which is home to 19 Fortune 500 companies whose leaders engage regularly with the school. The mission of the Carlson School is to discover transformative knowledge about the issues faced by organizations and managers in a dynamic global economy and to create exceptional learning and career opportunities by facilitating an engaged and integrated community of scholars, students and practitioners. The Carlson School has nearly 5,000 students, seven degree programs, 106 tenure- and tenure-track faculty, and more than 50,000 alumni in a network that spans the globe. For more information, visit carlsonschool.umn.edu.

SOURCE National Society of Hispanic MBAs

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