minegocio.com 3rd anniversary.

Building upon the success of the Mi Negocio site and recent El Visionario online reality business competition, AOL Latino and Ford Motor Company today announced the expansion of the website to incorporate a mentoring component called “Motivadores.” The site (www.ford.com/go/minegocio) is designed to provide Hispanic business entrepreneurs with the tools, resources and advice necessary to successfully run their own businesses. Through real-time conversations, newsletters, blogs and podcasts from Lionel Sosa, Louis Barajas and Mayrah Rocafort-Mercado, users will have access to some of the best leaders in entrepreneurial development, finance and marketing.

“We are thrilled to announce this new addition to the Mi Negocio area,” said Mark Lopez, Publisher, AOL Latino. “At AOL Latino, it is our mission to empower the growing number of Hispanics wishing to access key information about establishing economic success in the U.S. which is why we created this site.”

“Mi Negocio is part of Ford’s on-going commitment over the last two years to help inspire Hispanic entrepreneurs,” said David Rodriguez, Multicultural Marketing Communications Manager for Ford. “Through innovative programs like Mi Negocio and the Motivadores, we believe that Ford along with our partners at AOL Latino, are bringing valuable support to the aspiring Hispanic business community.”

Beyond the Motivadores portion, the site will also feature a new Small Business Directory. This directory will allow all registered users of the Mi Negocio site to submit a business profile. After submitting, visitors will be able to identify all Hispanic-owned companies quickly and easily.

Additionally, Mi Negocio will continue to offer a combination of online services and community outreach including feature key articles from Time Inc publications including from FORTUNE, Business 2.0 and FORTUNE Small Business and Money in Spanish original articles from business experts, a business tools section and an interactive community where users can discuss topics with fellow members.

Mi Negocio Motivadores:

Lionel Sosa is the founder of Sosa, Bromley, Aguilar & Associates, now Bromley Communications, the largest Hispanic advertising agency in the U.S. He was named “One of the 25 most influential Hispanics in America” by Time Magazine in 2005. A successful author of two finance books (“The Americano Dream: How Latinos Can Achieve Success in Business and in Life” and “Think and Grow Rich, a Latino Choice”), Sosa is a respected community leader and currently serves on the Board of Directors for many leading companies.

Louis Barajas is a nationally recognized expert in financial and business issues. Through his books, speeches, seminars, personal and business coaching, Barjas makes the world of finances and small business comprehensible with simple and practical financial/business strategies to achieve Financial Greatness™. Author of The Latino Journey to Financial Greatness and El Camino a la Grandeza Financiea, Barajas was the first Latino to be selected on the National Board of the Financial Planning Association (FPA). A recipient of multiple awards and recognitions, Barajas was awarded The 2006 Small Business Journalist of the Year Award by the Los Angeles District Office of the Small Business Administration.

Mayrah Rocafort-Mercado brings more than 25 years of experience in marketing communications encompassing advertising, direct marketing, public relations and event marketing for both the General market and the Hispanic market. She is Principal of San Antonio-based Hispanic DM Solutions, a firm that offers consultative MarCom services for the Hispanic market. A recipient of multiple awards including The Best of New York ADDY , Gold EFFIE awards and Mather Direct’s 1992 Andrew Kershaw award, among others, Rocafort-Mercado was also nominated to the DMA Hall of Fame in 2000. Her management experience in both the General and Hispanic markets includes a range of industry categories ranging from financial services and telecommunications to health services and packaged goods.

Additionally, the site will feature three sweepstakes giving business entrepreneurs the chance to win one-on-one consultation with the Mi Negocio Motivadores, an all expenses paid trip to the Motivador’s hometown with $1,000 in spending money; an office or home makeover; or $4,000 in cash.