LatinX and Hispanic Recruitment and Retention in the QC (August 25, 2021)

All organizations benefit greatly from a diverse and varied workforce. While this is common knowledge, are businesses really taking action to remedy this deficit? In this event, we are fortunate to have the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce serve as the presenter in which they will share key strategies for targeting this valued and vital subset of our workforce.

During the event, we will discuss the importance of cultural awareness, candidate engagement and the networking and connecting that may apply to this area of your potential talent pool.

After this presentation, participants will be equipped to:

• Explore improvements that can be made to current recruitment and retention processes and practices when engaging with diverse populations

A BIG thank you to our sponsor for this event, St. Ambrose University!

About the Presenters: 

Janessa Calderon - Calderon has served several leadership roles for the Hispanic Chamber since 2018 beginning as the Programs and Events Manager and growing into the Membership Engagement Coordinator. As Executive Director, one of her priorities is to be the hub of resources for any level of the chambers business members. She strives to be the point of contact that you can trust with your business needs. Calderon will help your business market to the growing Latino community and beyond. One of her goals as Executive Director is to enhance the reach of the Hispanic Chamber in the community and begin different forms of partnerships that will aid in the Quad Cities efforts to work in unison.  She is also engaged with the chamber by leading committees such as their Membership Engagement Committee, Ambassador Committee, Marketing Committee, and annual Gala Committee. Calderon is a lifelong resident to the Midwest and graduated from the St. Ambrose University College of Business from their Master of Organizational Leadership program in 2019. 

Melissa Gesing - Melissa Gesing is the Talent Development and VITA Manager for United Way Quad Cities. She is a graduate of Simpson College in Indianola, Iowa.

Melissa worked for nearly two decades in politics, working on various campaigns ranging from U.S. House to Governor, as well as in consulting roles. Melissa has also consulted for various nonprofit organizations including 50-50 in 2020, the 19th Amendment Centennial Commemoration Committee, and League of Women Voters of Iowa.

Melissa has volunteered for the American Red Cross of the Quad Cities Area; Quad Cities Chamber; Junior League of the Quad Cities; Poweshiek County Economic Development Visioning Board; Relay for Life of Poweshiek County; and OneSight, a nonprofit organization dedicated to eradicating the global vision care crisis. She served as a faculty member in residence for Iowa N.E.W. Leadership at the University of Iowa in May 2016 and served on the Board of Directors of 50-50 in 2020 – a 501c3 non-profit, non-partisan, issue neutral organization dedicated to achieving political equity for women in Iowa – from November 2016 through September 2018. Most recently, Melissa served as Financial Vice President of the Junior League of Des Moines.

Melissa recently relocated from Des Moines back to Davenport, Iowa, with her two rescue dogs: puggle Percy and corgi/chihuahua Gemma. In her spare time, Melissa enjoys taking road trips, participating in multiple book clubs, spending time with her nephew and five nieces, and fundraising and advocating for Parkinson’s disease research.