SPRINGFIELD, Mass., July 31, 2014 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — The increasingly expanding Latino population in the United States is poised to play a crucial role politically, economically and culturally. Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company (MassMutual) and ALPFA, the largest Latino professional development organization, are dedicated to helping as many within the country’s next minority-majority prepare to take on this influential role. The two organizations will be providing key opportunities for Latinos to develop into the U.S.’s future leaders of character at the 2014 Annual ALPFA Convention, Aug. 2 – 5, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla.

Over the past four years, MassMutual and ALPFA have worked together to help an exploding number of Latino small business owners and families make good financial decisions for a more secure future. The two organizations have taken to the road to raise awareness of the need for financial education and future planning, hosting information events and panel discussions in several locations across the country.

MassMutual will have a recognizable presence throughout the four-day 2014 ALPFA National Convention, with Marcela Aldaz-Matos, director of Diversity & Inclusion and national Chair of the Women of ALPFA’s Strategy Development Committee, being honored with a national individual award for Women of ALPFA at the Gala on Aug. 5, and company leaders involved in a number of high profile workshops and panel discussions.

“Our work with ALPFA is of critical importance now, as our country and the Latino population are rapidly changing both the workforce and customer demographics within financial services,” said Mike Rollings, Chief Financial Officer at MassMutual and member of ALPFA’s national Corporate Advisory Board. “We have an opportunity and an obligation to reach current and future Latino business leaders at the ALPFA Convention to help them better understand the need to develop their financial acumen to help our current and future policyowners secure their future and protect the ones they love.”

Lorie Valle-Yanez, Chief Diversity Officer at MassMutual and member of the national Women of ALPFA Corporate Advisory Board, added, “We recognize the rich talent in ALPFA’s membership and MassMutual looks forward to becoming an employer-of-choice for its members.” MassMutual will host Booth #309 at the Convention Career Fair & University Expo on Aug. 5, and invites ALPFA members to stop by and learn more about career opportunities.

“ALPFA’s 42-year mission is to create lifelong professional opportunities for its members and business partners,” said Charlie P. Garcia, who was named Chief Executive Officer of ALPFA just over two months ago. “Our work with MassMutual both at this convention and throughout the year helps ALPFA meet that mission to develop young Latino professionals into leaders of character, which is so closely linked to the strength of America’s future economy.”

MassMutual leaders who will participate in and be available for interviews at the Convention include:

Sunday, Aug. 3

• Betsy Ward, Chief Enterprise Risk Officer and executive sponsor of MassMutual’s Latino employee resource group, ALMMA, will share her experience and advice at the Women of ALPFA panel session.
• Lorie Valle-Yanez will moderate the Women of ALPFA panel session.
• Chris Mendoza, Vice President of Multicultural Market Development, will share learnings with direct impact to the Latino population of the future from MassMutual’s 2013 State of the American Family Study at a workshop and panel discussion.

Monday, Aug. 4

• Angel Diaz-Mangiafico, Director of New Business in MassMutual’s U.S. Insurance Group Service Center, will provide his personal experience as a participant on the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) panel discussion.

Tuesday, Aug. 5

• Mike Rollings will provide insight on managing communications and leadership style for multiple generations in the workplace at the Power Breakfast panel.
• Marcela Aldaz-Matos will share her considerable expertise on employee resource group (ERG) transformation as a panelist at a workshop.

To learn more about how Latinos can help secure their financial future, visit massmutual.com/espanol. To register for the 2014 ALPFA Annual Convention, logon to convention.alpfa.org/2014/.

About MassMutual

Founded in 1851, MassMutual is a leading mutual life insurance company that is run for the benefit of its members and participating policyowners. The company has a long history of financial strength and strong performance, and although dividends are not guaranteed, MassMutual has paid dividends to eligible participating policyowners consistently since the 1860s. With whole life insurance as its foundation, MassMutual provides products to help meet the financial needs of clients, such as life insurance, disability income insurance, long term care insurance, retirement/401(k) plan services, and annuities. In addition, the company’s strong and growing network of financial professionals helps clients make good financial decisions for the long-term.

MassMutual Financial Group is a marketing name for Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company (MassMutual) and its affiliated companies and sales representatives. MassMutual is headquartered in Springfield, Massachusetts and its major affiliates include: Babson Capital Management LLC; Baring Asset Management Limited; Cornerstone Real Estate Advisers LLC; The First Mercantile Trust Company; MassMutual International LLC; MML Investors Services, LLC, Member FINRA and SIPC; OppenheimerFunds, Inc.; and The MassMutual Trust Company, FSB.

For more information, visit www.massmutual.com or find MassMutual on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube, Google+ and Pinterest.