JOANN WRIGHT

Joann Wright is a veteran of the business world, having spent 40 years in the executive business ranks. She has owned and operated several successful mid- sized business ventures, before turning her attention to National and International real estate.

Joann lived in Africa and was a Manager on a large construction project as well as on the Washington D.C. subway project. Joann has also worked and lived in Panama and continues to maintain a home in Panama. She is a veteran in International real estate sales, a career initiative stemming from her extensive experience living overseas, mostly in Central America. She has been awarded by the Chicago Association of Realtors for industry leading sales production in 2004, 2005 and 2006. Joann believes in putting her clients first and opening up the global marketplace to her extensive clientele.

Joann is a member of various national and international organizations, including: The World Trade Center, F.I.A.B.C.I. – World Real Estate Federation, Chicago International Real Estate Council, Transnational Referral Consultant, I.C.R.E.A – World Properties, the National Association of Realtors, the Illinois Association of Realtors, and the Chicago Association of Realtors. Joann also has important accreditatons through the National Association of Realtors - - CIPS - Certified International Property Specialist, RSPS - Resort and Second Home Property Specialist and TRC, Trasnational Referral Consultant. Joann is currently withSudler Sothebys International Realty, Chicago, Illinois.

Joann can be reached at 773-430-6228 email: joann@world-wide-properties.net

MARTIN KUBLER - Director of Operations Bonnington Jumeirah Lakes Towers, Dubai

Originally from Munich, Germany, Martin relocated to London, United Kingdom, after completing his apprenticeship at the Bayerischer Hof Hotel, one of Germany's finest, family owned luxury hotels.

In London, Martin completed his BA (Hons) in International Hospitality Management at London Metropolitan University and afterwards joined Thistle Hotels as Night Manager and later moving to Assistant Front Office Manager.

Following 3 years with Thistle Hotels, he joined the Bonnington Group as Front of House Manager at the Bonnington in Bloomsbury where he was actively involved in opening of the hotel's boutique-style extension (45 rooms & suites).

In 2004, Martin relocated to Dubai, United Arab Emirates and spent the following two years working as Front Office Manager at the Novotel World Trade Centre. During his time at the hotel, Martin successfully coached two of his team-members to win the prestigious “Hotelier Middle East - Hoteliers’ Hotelier of the Year Award 2005” and the “Discover Dubai – Concierge of the Month May 2006 Award”.

Following his time at the Novotel, Martin spent a year in Doha, Qatar, working for the Ramada Plaza Doha where he was involved in managing the construction & opening process of the hotel’s second wing (259 rooms & suites), which opened in June 2007 and in upgrading & re-branding the hotel from Ramada to Ramada Plaza.

In October 2007, Martin returned to Dubai as Director of Operations for the Bonnington Jumeirah Lakes Towers.

This 480 keys (208 hotel rooms and 272 serviced apartments) property is scheduled to open early 2009 and will be Dubai’s first 100% British owned and operated 5-star hotel.
A fellow hotelier once described Martin as “An interesting mixture of German commitment to quality and doing things correctly and properly – yet flavoured with the English ability to be flexible.”

Martin’s specialities are building and leading teams that perform outstandingly for the benefit of their customers and their employers, using social media solutions to attract & retain guests, visitors and employees, hotel pre-opening planning and change management.

In his spare time, Martin likes to play backgammon, ride motorcycles, read or enjoy a good meal.

LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/martinkubler
Plaxo: http://martinkubler.myplaxo.com
WIWIH: http://www.wiwih.com/profile/26021110.html

JEANNETTE KRAVITZ

Jeannette Kravitz, Executive Director sponsorKIDS® Charities 501c3: Mrs. Kravitz corporate experience is in Operations Management, Marketing and Public Relations as she served as Regional Operations Manager at Photography Corporation of America. Her Division ranked in the top 10% in profits globally, with the lowest employee turnover in the nation. In 2000, she founded sponsorKIDs Charities Peace Journey and began documenting stories of American teens helping kids on foreign soil in an effort to bring understanding of diverse cultures. She arranged music concerts with major artist to help raise funds and awareness. As a documentary director along with Viacom Division, BET TV (Black Entertainment TV) Jeannette co-produced a 30 minute special called Peace Journey, which won a coveted Telly Award for editing. She has gained major sponsor support and in her career, has helped raise hundreds of thousands of dollars for non-profits through charity events including celebrity golf tournaments, tennis events including World Team Tennis/Elton John/NBC Sports fundraiser to benefit Pediatric AIDS and more.

Jeannette serves to promote the Department of Peace and Nonviolence Bill HR 808 which would allow a Cabinet level position to be established. She is the Co Chair of the Chicago City Council Resolution Committee focused on getting city officials to support this Bill and to begin to work together as a nation towards a nonviolent future. In September 2007, she lead the team to Chicago City Council where the Resolution was accepted, allowing Chicago to be the 1st of the US Major Cities to come behind this bill. Jeannette is a member of the Chicago Council on Global Affairs President's Circle and serves on the Sister City Casablanca Committee in Chicago.

Jeannette is now the owner and CEO of JuvenesseSpa.com. She purchased this 23 year old skin care line and opened a spa in River North-Chicago, created a botanical skin care line called PEACE to distribute through spas, providing a revenue stream for her work at Peace Journey. She has added micro-lending to women around the globe as the platform for future Peace Journey trips and activities. These micro-loans to women help them to advance their economic standings, learn commerce and provide a platform for change for these women and children in regions around the globe. This, then forms the base for Peace Journey Trips by American youth to further support the efforts of these women and children. She is the mother of two wonderful grown children and has four adorable grandchildren. In her spare time she enjoys tennis, the arts, music, Tai Chi, travel, especially to her mom's homeland of Portugal, and being with her family.

JIM NEGRI

Jim Negri has recently relocated to Chicago from New York City. Most recently Jim was employed at Lifetime Television as the Post Production Scheduling Supervisor. Prior to that Jim was the Video Facilities Coordinator at American Express. During this time Jim also worked freelance for many award shows and large events such as The Tony Awards, The Daytime Emmys and a 4th of July Celebration at the U.S. Capital. For these events, Jim worked
with the talent department and the stage managers to ensure a smooth run for the programs. Jim is excited to be in Chicago and is currently seeking career opportunities in his new city.

Vicky Brago-Mitchell-Fractal Artist

Vicky Brago-Mitchell is an American fractal artist and a Stanford University coed elected student body president. She was born on September 30, 1946 in Yakima, Washington. Daughter of a Methodist minister, she grew up as Victoria Jane Bowles in small towns in Washington, Oregon and Montana. After graduating from high school she attended Stanford University as a scholarship student majoring in Spanish.

From 1970 to 1974 she toured the United States and Japan, then stayed in Japan for two years, working as a translator, photographer and English teacher. In 1977 she obtained a teaching credential from California State University, Fullerton, then worked as an elementary school teacher until 2005.

In 2002 she produced a CD of her husband composer John Mitchell’s chamber music for string instruments, recorded in Moscow, and in 2006 arranged the production of a double CD of his chamber music for woodwind instruments by MMC Recordings in Boston, featuring clarinetist Richard Stoltzman. In 2005 her fractal art appeared on the cover of Latin Finance magazine and was shown at the Biennale Internazionale dell’Arte Contemporanea in Florence, Italy.

We thank Vicky for allowing us to use this exciting view of Earth & Sky represented on our home page!

Carlos Slim Helú

Five Business Lessons from One the Richest People in the World Entrepreneurs are the great achievers of our society who have the courage, determination and belief in themselves to pursue a dream, to overcome obstacles, to nurture ideas to fruition. Carlos Slim, who controls phone companies and has major investments in retailing, construction, banking, insurance, railroads and mining, is one of these great achievers and has an estimated fortune of $60 billion.

Born in Mexico City in 1940, Carlos Slim Helú has been named the richest man in the world by Fortune Magazine in 2007 and the second richest by Forbes in 2008. The son of Lebanese parents, Carlos Slim Helú frequently surpasses Bill Gates and Warren Buffet in wealth. This year, Carlos Slim invested $250 million dollars in the venerable newspaper New York Times.

Lección #1: Don't Follow the Crowd or the Market “When there is a crisis, that's when some are interested in getting out,” says Slim, “and that's when we are interested in getting in.”
Lección #2: Understand the Future and Your Place in It “I’m a paper man, not electronic, ”says Slim. “My children gave me a laptop for Christmas, but all I know how to do so far is push the on button,” states Slim Helú, who studied engineering at the Universidad Autónoma de México. He can process numbers and formulas at a speed impossible for most. But, when it comes to using computers and the like, Slim is uninterested. He prefers to keep to himself in the drab basement of his two-story headquarters surrounded by the paper ledgers he has been using since he was a boy.
Lección #3: Make Your Company a Lean, Mean, Operating Machine Slim dislikes being compared to Warren Buffett, not because he does not admire the American investor's long list of shrewd business acquisitions, but rather because he feels it is an inadequate assessment. When Slim takes over control of a company, he does so in order to operate it. Buffett wants a good investment, but Slim wants to run a company. He wants to make his companies practical and lean operations, bringing efficiency to their every move. And, most importantly, he wants to do it himself.
Lección #4: You Can Control Your Own Destiny “Those who say that I am taking over the city [Mexico City], that I have already bought up everything, are not going to stop me from continuing my project,” says Slim. In the early 1980s, Slim began investing in real estate, construction, mining, tires, and paper goods. From there, he moved into telephones, computers, and even clothing. But, it was not so much what he was buying as the rate and scope at which he was buying them.
Lección #5: Everything Has a Bottom Line He is everything from a political advisor to the highest-ranking Mexican officials, to a devout family man, but Slim would be the first one to tell you that first and foremost, he is an entrepreneur. It is through those eyes that he approaches everything else. What does that mean exactly? That means that everything Slim does, he does with its own bottom line.

RUBIN RUIZ-Author

¡Sí, se puede! The Richest Latino in AmericaA Self-Help Financial ‘Novela’Award winning financial coach & author Ruben Ruiz says you have to become a millionaire mentally before becoming one physically, and gives you the tools to do it. This is a fascinating time to become a millionaire. ¡Sí se puede! (Yes, we can! Where have I hear this?) as the legendary leader César Chávez used to say. But becoming a millionaire may not be as easy as one would expect. “It can be done if you first believe and understand that you can achieve that goal,” says Rubén Ruiz says the author and CEO of The Ruiz Financial Group.
The author of One Hour Hispanic Millionaire is now offering Latinos and Latinas the opportunity to learn how to build an unlimited amount of wealth with his latest book: The Richest Latino in America.This novel follows one character’s journey from his middle class blues to economic stability and understanding.According to Mr. Ruiz, “Most of our parents haven’t acquired wealth, so they can’t even teach it…My mission is to teach & coach Hispanics on how to become wealthy or financially independent, because now is the perfect time to do it, and Latinos have every right as an American to take advantage of the opportunities available in the United States”, says Ruiz.“You have to become a millionaire mentally before you actually become one physically,” says Ruiz who received a bachelor of business administration (BBA) degree from Southwest Texas State University and went on to earn a master degree from The American College in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania.“I picked cotton for several summers, then construction, then bus-boy and finally waiter. My first investment was in a cash-investment life insurance policy,” stated Mr. Ruiz to Vista Magazine a while back. Mr. Ruiz brings his diversity of experiences into the pages of his new book. He provides essential financial tips and techniques to help you build the wealth you desire and become the richest Latino in the country.“Most people don’t spend one hour a month, let alone a week on their finances,” continued the Texas-based financial planner and entrepreneur. According to Ruiz, less than half of one percent of Latinos earns more than $100,000 a year.“Wealth is only for the “other” side, the “North” side, the Anglo side, per se,” says Mr. Ruiz about one of the false notions that Latinos have ant the reason for which real wealth keeps eluding them.“Everyone dreams of one day becoming a millionaire, but for most people the goal of building wealth is as unattainable as having a weekend picnic on the moon. Why? They’ve never learned how to do it!” writes the author who made his first investment at the age of 22. The Richest Latino in America is the only financial self-help novella currently in publication in the United States.

The Ruiz Financial Group, LLC, Ruben Ruiz, CEO311 Cheatham St, San Marcos, TX 78666Email: rruiz@grandecom.netTel: (512) 396-2487

http://onehourhispanicmillionaire.com/richest_latino.html