I'll be the judge of that!

Don't be surprised if you walk into Small Claims Court, otherwise known as the People's Court or la Corte del Pueblo, and the person to hear and decide your case is none other than our very own TORRES.

What does Torres have to say about this new position?

I'm going from working at 'Tu Abogado Del Pueblo' to working at la 'Corte del Pueblo'!

Puerto Rican Bar Association's GALA 2013

The PRBA 56th Annual Gala was a great success!

There was great food, drinking and dancing!  

oh yeah... and the honorees were...

• Justice Sallie Manzanet-Daniels
• Raul Russi, CEO 
• Borah, Goldstein, Altschuler, Nahins & Goidel, PC
• Kasowitz, Benson, Torres & Friedman, LLP
• Dr. Felix V. Matos Rodríguez
• Goya  Foods,  Inc.

Justice Sallie Manzanet-Daniels

• native New Yorker
• first Latina Justice in NYS Appellate Division, First Department

Raul Russi

• Chief Executive Officer of Acacia Network, Inc. 
• the largest Puerto Rican-founded organization in New York
• annual budget of more than 130 million in revenue and 200 million in asset dollars
• Buffalo’s first Hispanic police officer and ultimately awarded the department’s Purple Heart when he was shot in the line of duty

Borah, Goldstein, Altschuler, Nahins & Goidel, P.C.

• represents landlords in residential and commercial actions and proceedings related to all aspects of real estate law  

Kasowitz, Benson, Torres & Friedman LLP, 

• one of the largest litigation firms in the country, represents clients in high-stakes lawsuits involving antitrust, banking, class actions, complex financial products, creditors’ rights and bankruptcy, employment practices, and the list goes on...

Dr. Felix V. Matos Rodriguez

• President of Hostos Community College    
• former Secretary of the Department of the Family for the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico managing an annual budget of $2.2 billion
• Cum laude graduate of Yale University
• published extensively in the fields of migration, women's, Puerto Rican, Caribbean and Latino studies
• his expert commentary has appeared in leading publications including New York Times, Boston Globe, Chicago Tribune, Congressional Quarterly, Diario/La Prensa, list goes on...
• social scientist

GOYA

ahhh!  What can you say about GOYA?  Si es bueno, tiene que ser Goya!

Well, did you know that GOYA is

• the only company  to ever be honored by The President
• During Hispanic Heritage Month, President Barack Obama honored Goya  for its continued success and commitment  to  the Hispanic community
• The  following year, Goya collaborated with First Lady Michelle  Obama  and  the  USDA  to  launch MyPlate/ MiPlato  campaign,  a  national health initiative to help educate Americans on how to eat healthy. 
• America’s  largest  Hispanic‐owned  food company  and  the  premier  source  for  authentic  Latin  cuisine
•  over  2,200  high‐quality  and  affordable  food  products  from  the  Caribbean, Mexico, Spain, Central and South America
• over 15 facilities throughout the United  States,  Puerto  Rico,  Dominican  Republic  and  Spain

Some trivia, see if you can answer...

Who founded GOYA back in 1936?

Where, in what city, was the small storefront this family opened?

Click to see the answers:

Latinas Con Vision

A special discussion and network reception for professional women, honoring the achievements of latinas in our community.  

Come learn from their inspiring stories, including out very own, Jennese Torres, network with other area professionals, and learn about career opportunities at New York Life.

Wednesday, May 29, at 5:30pm

Westchester Ballroom 

at DoubleTree Hotel Tarrytown

455 South Broadway, Tarrytown, NY

Hors d'oeuvres will be served.

RSVP to Monica Martinez-Hess

914-373-1636 

monica_martinez@newyorklife.com

Seating is limited!  Call to reserve your spot today!

Our Very Own TORRES on the PRBA's Board

Congrats to our Founding Partner, Torres, for becoming part of the PRBA's Executive Board!

The PRBA, at the New York City Civil Court at 111 Centre Street, elected the Puerto Rican Bar Association's Officers and Directors for the 2013-2014 term. Together with current Board Members --  Catherine Torres, Neysa Alsina, Nilda Rivera, Frank Torres and Carmen Torrent -- will continue this past Board’s devotion to the PRBA and its mission through our hard work and commitment to you.

As highlighted by new President-Elect, Elba Galvan, she will work closely with our new President, Javier Vargas, in following in the steps of those who came before by acknowledging the challenges ahead  and accepting responsibility to reach out to more of our Latino colleagues throughout the state with a clear agenda for growth. The PRBA will work closer with other minority bar associations, will continue to work to obtain a permanent home for the PRBA and its members and our scholarship endowment. In addition, there will be new efforts to reach out to our youth by making a stronger commitment to current and future law students.

Please join me in congratulating them and to ensure the PRBA’s bright future!

Elena Goldberg Velazquez, Esq.

PRBA President 2012-2013

2013-2014 Election Results

President Elect

Elba Galvan, Esq.

Vice President

Carmen Pacheco, Esq.

Treasurer

Tara Zurheide, Esq.

Recording Secretary

Alexander Badillo, Esq.

Corresponding Secretary

Jennese Torres, Esq.

Board of Directors

Elena Goldberg Velazquez, Esq. (3 Year Term)

Carlos Perez-Hall, Esq. (3 Year Term)

Robinson Iglesias, Esq. (3 Year Term)