WASHINGTON, May 20, 2015 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — The Latino Coalition (TLC), one of the largest membership and advocacy organizations for Latino-owned small businesses, is celebrating 20 years of building communities for a stronger America with the 2015 Small Business Summit and Anniversary Gala Dinner on Wednesday, June 10^th, 2015 at the US Chamber of Commerce in Washington, DC.

TLC continues its commitment to develop meaningful initiatives and partnerships that foster economic equivalency and enhance the overall business, economic and social development of Latinos. To that end, The Latino Coalition will bring together a diverse group of business owners, executives and elected officials to network and advocate for small business growth. 

“Twenty years of impactful contributions and service is an important milestone!” said Hector Barreto, TLC’s Chairman and Former Administrator of the U.S. Small Business Administration.  “Focused on building partnerships and leading a new wave of American entrepreneurship, The Latino Coalition has diligently worked to provide a platform of opportunity for this nation’s economic future.  This year is a historic occasion for us to champion the engine of our economy and celebrate collective triumphs as an indispensible organization fostering continued business creation.”

The 2015 Small Business Summit will spotlight critical issues that hold the key to this nation’s future economic success. The day will include a leadership luncheon by keynote speaker New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, as well as high impact panels and informative breakout sessions filled with important resources essential to success in the entrepreneurial world today.  Other notable confirmed speakers include: Congressman Jeff Denham (CA-10), Congressman Joe Heck, D.O. (NV-03), Congressman Will Hurd (TX-23) and Congressman David G. Valadao (CA-21).

“The Latino Coalition is an important organization in the Latino community and throughout our nation,” said Governor Christie.  “I am honored to be invited by TLC to address its members and have a conversation about the critical issues confronting our nation today.”

The June 10th event will concentrate on a competitive America dealing with key imperatives such as healthcare and technology including the following panels: The Affordable Care Act – Pending Supreme Court Decisions and the Implications for Small Business and the Latino Community; Digital To-Do List: Industry Experts Discuss Online Strategies to Help Grow Your Small Business; and Cyber Security and Privacy Data: What Small and Mid-size Businesses Need to Know and Navigate Through.  Lastly, the day will feature an inspiring businesswoman discussing how to seize opportunity and their economic influence in a highly competitive workforce.

“Small business is vital to the success of America.  Not only do they create jobs and facilitate growth, small business is the key to true economic recovery for this nation. For two decades, we have worked to engage the entrepreneurial future of our nation through these summits. We have worked to empower them and emphasize how critical they are to America’s success and leadership. We look forward to another successful year and summit,” added Allen Gutierrez, TLC National Executive Director.

To register for the 2015 Small Business Summit, visit www.thelatinocoalition.com/sbs. To attend the 20^th Anniversary Gala Dinner, visit www.thelatinocoalition.com/tlcgala.

The Latino Coalition would like to thank the following Title Sponsors: Wal-Mart and Google.  In addition, TLC acknowledges: Sands Corp., Herbalife, Centene Corporation, Master Your Card, PG&E, U.S. Chamber Institute for Legal Reform, Honda, Master Card, Mywireless, Comcast Universal, Intuit, UnitedHealth Group, PhRMA, Coca-Cola, Tributo Tequila, The Latino Coalition Foundation, the Hispanic Business Roundtable, Travelers and DiversityInc.

ABOUT THE LATINO COALITION- The Latino Coalition (TLC) was founded in 1995 by a group of Hispanic business owners from across the country to research and develop policies solutions relevant to Latinos. TLC is a non-profit nationwide organization with offices in California, Washington, DC and Guadalajara, Mexico. Established to address and engage on key issues that that directly affect the well-being of Hispanics in the United States, TLC’s agenda is to create and promote initiatives and partnerships that will foster economic equivalency and enhance and empower overall business, economic and social development for Latinos. Visit www.thelatinocoalition.com.

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico, May 19, 2015 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — UBS Financial Services Inc. and UBS Financial Services of Puerto Rico (collectively “UBS”) have been ordered to pay an investor $200,000 by a FINRA arbitration panel for losses the investor incurred by investing in UBS’s Puerto Rico bond funds.  This is the first known decision from an arbitration panel concerning the collapse of UBS’s Puerto Rico bond funds from 2013. This result is important for the hundreds of other lawsuits filed by investors in the last few years over investments in the same or similar funds.

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Yolanda Bauza invested money she received from a settlement for a car accident.  She alleged that her broker was guilty of misrepresentation, securities fraud, and other wrongdoing which caused her to suffer losses to funds she entrusted to him.  In addition to awarding $200,000 to Ms. Bauza, the arbitrators denied UBS’s request to remove information about the dispute from the public records of the brokers who had advised Bauza, David Lugo and Carlos Gonzalez.

According to Sam Edwards, a partner with Shepherd, Smith, Edwards & Kantas, who is representing a number of Puerto Rico bond fund investors, “We are very pleased FINRA’s arbitrators recognized what those of us representing the many thousands of investors in Puerto Rico and abroad have known for almost two years: UBS’s Puerto Rico bond funds were highly conflicted, very risky and completely misrepresented to investors.  They were suitable for almost no investors.  As a result, those who invested in these bond funds, like Ms. Bauza, should be fairly compensated.”

The onslaught of Puerto Rico bond cases have come after many of these UBS funds lost up to two-thirds of their value, mostly in 2013.  Investors, including many who should never have been invested in municipal bonds, or should have had far less of their portfolios invested in this area, sustained huge losses as the funds plummeted and the markets dried up, leaving many investors with no way to get their money back out easily.  To make matters worse, many investors have claimed that UBS brokers recommended they borrow against their UBS accounts and use the money to buy even more of these municipal bond funds.  Those that did saw their losses increase substantially.

If you are or were a client of UBS, or suffered losses in any other municipal bond investments made at the recommendation of your broker, contact the law firm of Shepherd, Smith, Edwards & Kantas LLP for a free, confidential evaluation of your account.  We have a team of attorneys, consultants and staff with more than 100 years of combined experience in the securities industry and in securities law. More information can also be found on our blog at http://www.stockbrokerfraudblog.com/2013/10/puerto_rico_municipal_bonds.html.

Contact Info: 800-259-9010

713-580-8914 to speak to Spanish fluent staff

Sam Edwards [email protected]

Kirk Smith [email protected]

Luis Acevedo [email protected]