Name / Nombre : Thais Diana Rodriguez Title / Título : CPA ; Audit Manager for Ernst & Young LLP & Vice President of ALPFA Tampa Bay ( Association of Latino Professionals in Finance and Accounting ) What is your País ? Cuba ( Cuban American )
Jolie Gonzalez / LatinTimes : What is your profession ?
Thais Diana Rodriguez : I am an audit professional at one of the big four global public accounting firms , Ernst & Young LLP . As an auditor , I examine companies ’ financial statements and attest to their reasonableness , giving investors and regulators confidence in the information included in those financial statements . As part of my profession , I also have the opportunity to be a part of the Board of Directors for a great not-for-profit organization that focuses on the advancement and development of professional Latinos – ALPFA . I have been an active Board Member for this organization for about six years and currently serve as the Vice President for the Tampa Bay Chapter .
Jolie Gonzalez / LatinTimes : What Latino / a , living or deceased do you consider to be a role-model ? Why or how ? Thais Diana Rodriguez : Frances Garcia is the Inspector General of the U . S . Government Accountability Office ( GAO ), a powerful agency that monitors how Congress spends the public ’ s money . Frances is a Certified Public Accountant and a Certified Government Financial Manager . She has served on numerous committees for the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants , including the Governance and Structure Committee . It is not only the role she currently holds that makes Frances a great role model ; it ’ s the path she took to get there . Frances is a first generation Mexican-American . Her path to success included picking cotton and sugar beets , waiting tables at a diner , and working side by side with white men as the first woman and Hispanic at the accounting firm of Arthur Anderson in Dallas . She also survived a serious car accident that left her with broken bones and other major injuries . Frances was the first in her family to earn a high school diploma and was one of only seven Mexican-Americans to graduate from her class of 485 students . Later , she would be the first Hispanic women CPA in the state of Texas . Frances ’ leadership , achievements , and pioneering spirit captured the attention of Hispanic Business Magazine , which named her the 2009 Woman of the Year . Frances co-founded the
ALPFA in 1972 and continues to mentor Latinos through her ongoing role on the Corporate Advisory Board for this organization . Frances believes that education , a can-do attitude , and connecting to others are the keys to success .
Jolie Gonzalez / LatinTimes : Tell us about your family ? Thais Diana Rodriguez : My parents got divorced when I was very young . Growing up in a divorced family was very difficult , especially during the holidays when you have so many houses to visit . Most of my family lives in the Tampa Bay area , so I am able to keep in contact with them and visit them often . My closest family members include my father , my stepmother , my mother , my brother ( older than me by 15 years ), my three living grandparents , my aunt ( and her two children ), and my uncle . I try to reach out to them – either by phone or by passing by – at least once a week . I am very close to my brother and love him dearly . He was in an accident when he was 15 that brought us very close and helped me understand how much I really do care about him .
Name / Nombre : Simone Amaral Title / Título : Owner & Dance Teacher Company / Compañía ? Simone Salsa Dance School What is your País ? Brazil
Jolie Gonzalez / LatinTimes : How did you choose or get involved with your profession ? Simone Amaral : Actually , I think it chose me … and I embraced it freely !
Jolie Gonzalez / LatinTimes : What was your toughest moment or obstacle in being a Latina Business woman / or community leader ? Simone Amaral : No doubt it was when the Latino partner I had and I separated and I was on my own with the school . I will never forget this one particular evening when I had only a hand full of students for class . I was so upset and down that , I wanted to give up . But then , my best friend Maria shook me up , looked me straight in the eye , and said words that will be forever with me in my heart . Needless to say , not only she is my best friend , but also she is the reason why I am still here 11 years later doing what I love . My Maria and my family are the biggest strength in my live .
Jolie Gonzalez / LatinTimes : Tell us about your family ? Simone Amaral : Never enough words to express what my family means to me . There is a lot of love and unity in my family . They are my reason for happiness ! I am the proud mother of three beautiful daughters , Monique 22 , Camila 19 , and Gabriela 16 . They are all beautifully following their own path in life and that makes me very happy . I am a blessed woman who has encountered true love . Charlie , my heart , my love , and my companion to the ends of the earth … My family is 100 % proud of what I have achieved and they always support my decisions in life and business . They are always there for me .
Jolie Gonzalez / LatinTimes : What does being Latina mean to you ? Simone Amaral : More than anyone can imagine , especially because I am Brazilian . 20 years ago when I came to America I missed my family and my culture tremendously . Like it is for every foreigner it was very difficult , until I went for the first time to a salsa club . I was taken back , in awe ! I had finally found the closest to my own culture , the warmth , the happiness , the music and the dancing . I was home . I am proud to be called a Latina .
Name / Nombre : Esther Gonzalez , MD Title / Título : Doctora Pediatra Maestra What is your País ? Puerto Rico
Jolie Gonzalez / Latin Times : ¿ Cuál es su profesión ?
Esther Gonzalez , MD : Mi profesión es medico Pediatra . Me dedico a ver pediatría general y a ver los niños con ADHD y otros problemas de desarrollo y comportamiento en la escuela . Estoy también envuelta en el manejo de obesidad en niños y adultos , para prevenir las enfermedades como Diabetes , presión alta , ataques cardiacos y derrames cerebrales or strokes . Mi empeño es lograr que nuestros niños tengan la mas saludable larga vida posible , para esto tenemos que cambiar los estilos de vida : cocinar en casa , mas actividad al aire libre , y menos juegos de videos y computadoras .
Jolie Gonzalez / Latin Times : Cuéntanos sobre tu familia ? Esther Gonzalez , MD : Tengo una familia super numerosa , somos 18 , 9 hembras y 9 varones , y ya hay sobre 50 sobrinos . Natural de Cayey , Puerto Rico , mi madre , fallecida hace
2 años fue una maestra de doctorado criando sus hijos , pues todos nos hicimos profesionales y mi mami nunca fue a la escuela . Ella fue un ejemplo de santidad , cristiandad y bondad , nos enseño a todos a respetar al prójimo , a nosotros mismos y a lograr lo mayor de cada uno de nosotros . En mi familia hay 2 pediatras , un dentista , 3 maestros , un ingeniero eléctrico , un farmacéutico , un experto en computadoras y el resto lograron bachilleratos en otras areas . Mi padre es un canta autor de décimas y muy carismático , todavía vive , en su juventud trabajaba en fabricas , solo fue hasta cuarto grado de escuela elemental . Fue muy estricto cuando nos crió , pero hizo de nosotros 12 hombres y mujeres de bien . Tengo 3 hijos ; Vanelis quien se graduó de Fisiología de Ejercicio en USF y es además cantante , lanzando su primer disco ahoraen Enero 2010 próximo . Lisandra , mi segunda hija , actriz , esta radicada en LA , donde persigue su sueno de estar en mas películas , ya participo en Sidney White , hace dos anos .
Mi hijo Joel , el mas hermoso ser humano que he visto , es fisiculturista , y esta por entrar en la Universidad pronto .
Jolie Gonzalez / Latin Times : ¿ Qué mensaje le envías a las aspirantes jóvenes y de edad , acerca de labúsqueda de los sueños de una mujer ? Esther Gonzalez , MD : Yo exhorto a toda mujer independiente de su edad , que lo que la haga feliz en la vida lo persiga y lo traten , pues lo que nos da felicidad es levantarnos cada mañana y disfrutar lo que hacemos . Nosotras las mujeres tenemos que creer en nosotras mismas y luchar por lograr nuestros sueños . Nunca dejemos que un hombre nos coarte la libertad en realizarnos al máximo en nuestras capacidades . Estudiemos y demos lo mejor de nosotras , pues yo misma por experiencia he comprobado que una mujer professional puede salir adelante sola con unos hijos y desempeñarse profesionalmente también , con mucho éxito .