Alex López Negrete To Lead AHAA.

The Association of Hispanic Advertising Agencies (AHAA) announced its new board of directors at AHAA’s recent conference in San Antonio. Alex López Negrete, president and CEO of López Negrete Communications will lead the dynamic organization as chairman and Carl Kravetz, chairman and CEO of Cruz/Kravetz:IDEAS will serve as the chairman-elect. Stepping down from this position is Manuel E. Machado, CEO of MGS Communications.

Other members elected to the executive committee of the board are:

Treasurer  José López-Varela, vice president and managing director, Hill Holliday Hispanic (Miami)

Secretary  Jackie Bird, president and CEO, Wing Latino Group (New York City)

In his inaugural speech as president of AHAA, López Negrete said, “We will make sure that we have an organization that never looses focus on its core mission to communicate the value of what we do and of the community we represent to the highest levels of the corporate board rooms.”

Newly elected members of the board include:

José Mollá, creative director, la comunidad (Miami)

Continuing to serve on the board are:

Manuel E. Machado, CEO, MGS Communications (Miami)
Victor Ornelas, president & CEO, Ornelas & Associates (Dallas)
Rochelle Newman-Carrasco, co-chair & president, Enlace Communications, Inc. (Los Angeles)
Daisy Expósito-Ulla, president, Consulta (New York City)
Gisela Girard, president & COO, Creative Civilization (San Antonio)
Laura Marella, senior vice president & chief growth officer, Casanova Pendrill (Irvine, Calif.)
Patricia Gaitan, COO, Chambers Lopez & Gaitan, LLC (Arlington, Va.)
Hector Orcí, co-chairman, La Agencia de Orcí & Associados (Los Angeles) (member emeritus)

The Association of Hispanic Advertising Agencies (http://www.ahaa.org) is the national organization of firms that specialize in marketing to the nation’s 43.5 million Hispanic consumers, the most rapidly growing segment of the American population. AHAA promotes the strength of the Hispanic marketing and advertising industry to the private and public sectors.

AHAA agencies offer a unique blend of cultural understanding, market intelligence, proven experience and professionalism that deliver Hispanic market success for clients. AHAA helps organizations gain market share, increase revenue and grow profits by building the bridges and delivering the messages to reach America’s Hispanic consumers, who together have an
estimated buying power of nearly $700 billion.