WASHINGTON, DC -The Cuban American National Council (CNC)will convene its 17th Biennial National Conference in the Nation’s

Capital on June 11-12, 2014, at the Mayflower Renaissance Hotel. The theme is “Latinos and the Americas: Engagement and

Opportunity.” Topics will explore the state of immigration reform, global medical tourism, U.S. policy and trade with the Americas,

and, the role and impact of women leaders. Register for the conference at www.cnc.org. 

Follow the conference on Twitter @ CNC2014.

“The topics at this year’s CNC conference are timely and relevantto the U.S. and international community,” said CNC President Sonia Lopez. “This is a critical time to draw attention to theseissues here and abroad.”

Keynote speakers during the conference will include: Senator Robert Menendez (D-NJ), Ambassador Neil Parsan,Congressman Joe Garcia (D-FL), U.S. Ambassador of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago and Mexico, and Permanent Representative of Trinidad and Tobago to the Organization of American States; Joxel Garcia, MD, Director, District of Columbia Department of Health; and Teresa Rodriguez, Co-Host, Aqui y Ahora, Univision. The full conference agenda is athttp://bit.ly/1oSRxwz.

CNC will acknowledge individuals with awards of recognition for their leadership, achievements, and contributions to the Hispanic community. The emcee for the awards ceremony will be NBC/Telemundo correspondent Vanessa Hauc. Women game changers from corporate America and the international community will give their perspectives about leadership andmaking a difference. The conference schedule is below:

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 11, 2014

9:45 am – 10:00 am, Promenade Level, Chinese Room

Opening Remarks by Sonia Lopez, CNC President and CEO

10:00 am – 11:45 am, Promenade Level, Chinese Room

Plenary I: Immigration Perspectives: Challenges & Opportunities

• Doris Meissner, Senior Fellow and Director, U.S. Immigration Policy Program, Migration Policy Institute

• Frank Sharry, Founder and Executive Director of America’s Voice

• Arturo Vargas, Executive Director, National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials (NALEO)Educational Fund

• Fernando Pizarro, Correspondent, Univision (moderator)

12:00 Noon – 2:00 pm, Corporate Luncheon, Promenade Level, Promenade Room

Keynote Speakers:

Teresa Rodriguez, Correspondent, Aqui y Ahora, Univision

Joxel Garcia, MD, Director, District of Columbia Department of Health

2:30 pm – 4:30 pm, Promenade Level, Promenade Room

Plenary II: The Impact of Women Leadership: Game Changers

• Gloria Rodriguez, President and CEO, Comunicad

• Monica Gil, , Senior Vice President and General Manager, Multicultural Growth and Strategy, Nielsen

• Carmen Weimer, Project Purchasing Director, Global Midsize/GMNA Compact Car Global Purchasing and Supply Chain, GM

• Laura Maristany, Director of Policy and Legislative Affairs, National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials (NALEO) Educational Fund

THURSDAY, JUNE 12, 2014

10:00 am – 11:45 am, Promenade Level, Chinese Room
Plenary III: The role of Hispanics in Shaping US Policy and Trade with The Americas

• Fernando Peña, International Trade Attorney, U.S. Customs and Border Protection

• Arturo Estopiñan, Chief of Staff, Office of Congresswomen Ileana Ros-Lehtinen

• Ambassador Neil Parsan, U.S. Ambassador of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago and Mexico, and Permanent Representative of Trinidad and Tobago to theOrganization of American States, United States Embassy

• Ambassador David D. Nelson, Former U.S. Ambassador to Uruguay, Senior Manager, Global Government Affairs & Policy for the Americas, General Electric

12:00 Noon – 2:00 pm, Corporate Luncheon, Promenade Level, Promenade Room

Keynote Speakers:

Senator Robert Menendez (D-NJ)

Congressman Joe Garcia (D-FL)

Ambassador Neil Parsan, U.S. Ambassador of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago and Mexico, and Permanent Representative of Trinidad and Tobago to the Organization of American States, United States Embassy

2:15 pm – 3:30 pm, Promenade Level, Chinese Room

Plenary IV: Global Medical Tourism: A Hispanic American Perspective

• Joxel Garcia, MD, Director, District of ColumbiaDepartment of Health

• Liana Patricia Padilla Muñoz, MD, Global Medical Compliance Officer, GMSA Medical, GM

• Mario A. Mendez, MD, Corporate Vice President, & Chief Medical Officer, Baptist Health International, Baptist HealthSouth Florida

• Eneida O. Roldan, MD, MPH, MBA, Associate Dean, International Affairs, Associate Professor, Department of Pathology, Course Director, Professional Strand, Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine, Florida International University

7:15 pm – 10:00 pm, Promenade Level, Grand Ballroom

Gala Awards Banquet – Emcee: Vanessa Hauc, Correspondent, NBC/Telemundo

• Café con Leche Award Recipient: Arturo Estopinan, Chief of Staff, Office of Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen

• Lifetime Achievement Award Recipient: Ron Blackburn Moreno, President/CEO, ASPIRA

• Public Service Award Recipient: Ana Colomar O’Brien, Chief of Protocol, Organization for the American States

• Community Service Award Recipient: Felice Gorordo, CEO, Clear Path Immigration

Conference sponsors include: Diamond Sponsors – Comcast NBCUniversal Telemundo and Ford Motor Company Fund; Platinum Sponsors – AARP, Baptist Health South Florida, MillerCoors LLC, The Coca-Cola Company, Univision Communications, Inc., and UPS; Gold Sponsors – General Motors LLC and Nielsen; Silver Sponsors – Bank of America, Darden, GE, and JPMorgan Chase; and Bronze Sponsors – Boehringer Ingelheim and DCI Group.