Former Investment Banker Turned Activist to Lead Latina Brunch at NAHREP Convention

Julissa Arce to lead session where NAHREP and Better Homes and Gardens Announce findings from National Latina Survey and discuss views as entrepreneurs

San Diego, CA – August 13, 2015 – The National Association of Hispanic Real Estate Professionals® (NAHREP®) has announced Julissa Acre, former Goldman Sachs star and current public affairs director at Define American, will keynote the Latina Brunch session at its 2015 National Convention & Latin Music Festival. This year’s Latina Brunch will also serve as a forum to discuss the results of a Latina survey conducted by NAHREP and Better Homes and Gardens® (BHGRE) in addition to addressing overcoming obstacles and empowering women in business. Main Street Organization of Realtors, New American Funding and Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate are jointly sponsoring the event which will take place Sunday, September 20, 2015 at 11 a.m. at the Chicago Hilton Downtown.

Julissa Arce was a former undocumented investment banker who excelled in Wall Street’s most profitable securities firms. She is now a naturalized U.S. citizen and has transitioned into working with a nonprofit in media and culture that uses -personal storytelling to rise above the highly polarized conversation regarding “immigrants, identity and citizenship” in the U.S. Arce will speak of her story as a woman who broke through barriers to achieve success in the finance industry.

“All the odds were stacked against me,” said Arce, “Believing in myself was the first step in breaking barriers, I am excited to join the Latina Brunch and meet all the women who have also believed in themselves.”

NAHREP partnered with BHGRE on a Latina-focused research study that fosters a cross-dimensional understanding of consumers and agents in the home buying market. The findings will provide powerful information on how Latinas approach homeownership and how women in the housing industry balance work and home life, and what efforts are made to accommodate a growing Latino market. This will be the first time these findings are shared publicly and will deliver valuable insights to the Latino market.

“Latinas are the most important segment of entrepreneurs in the industry today and NAHREP strives to guide and inspire its Latina members to be all that they can be,” said Teresa Palacios Smith. “Our Latina Brunch will be one of the highlights of our 2015 convention”.

With NAHREP chapter boards consisting of about 50 percent women, the Latina Brunch was launched at last year’s convention in order to add to the resources and education necessary to help all members succeed in the workplace. The event has become widely popular and acquired diverse media attention with coverage in RISMedia and other publications highlighting the business advantage of inclusion in professional arenas.

The Latina Brunch will feature a menu inspired by Doreen Colondres, the chef behind the popular health campaign on Univision network, “Retro 28” and the first Hispanic Celebrity Chef for the Bordeaux Wine Council, the most prestigious wine region in the world.

For more information on the Latina Brunch, visit www.nahrep.org/convention.