According to agency insiders, Quadrant Two Public Relations has been assigned the PR account of New York based event promoters, TV production and internet content house R. Paniagua, Inc.

“The fit with RPI is a good one, since their work is in both US Hispanic and general markets. RPI understands the need to hire an agency that has an impressive insight and track record of thought and tactical leadership in the Hispanic and Multicultural markets, in addition to strong general market capabilities,” said Jose Manuel De Jesus, President of Q2PR.

The assignment began with media relations for three major RPI events including the 21st Annual Hispanic Achievement Awards at Yankee Stadium, May 24; the DominoesStars.com National Puerto Rican Day Parade Celebrity Dominoes Party and tournament held at the cache LQ night Club in New York City on Wednesday, June 10; and McDonald’s FiestaTour Music Experience Tropical Night at the Seaport Concert Tribute to Eddie Palmieri’s 50th Anniversary in Latin Music, held June 11.

In addition, Q2PR will handle the 2009 Hispanic Heritage Day at the Ballpark and Latino Youth Baseball Initiative events produced by RPI with 10 pro-baseball teams in big league ballparks around the US.

RPI also produces events including Tropical Music Festivals at Orchard Beach, NY and North Miami Beach, FL, the World Domino Open at the Las Vegas Hilton, TV properties including the Latin Beat TV Show on BET Jazz, and internet properties including Latinobaseball.com, Latinoboxing.com, and VivaDomino.com among other exclusive media-leveraged event properties.

Quadrant Two PR (Q2PR) is a leading US Hispanic and Multicultural boutique PR agency. Q2PR was formed by J.M. De Jesus in 1994 and has a track record of services to companies throughout the Fortune 500 and beyond, including Ford Motor Company, Procter & Gamble, Colgate-Palmolive Company, Chase Home Finance, the FC Barcelona US Tour 2006, Pepsi, Anheuser Busch, CITGO/Petroleos de Venezuela, Main Events Boxing, and many others.

For further information about Quadrant Two Public Relations contact:
J.M. De Jesus or Leanne Drum at (646) 234-7196 or visit http://www.q2pr.com.

For further information about R. Paniagua, Inc. contact Ralph Paniagua at (212) 679-6755 or visit http://www.rpaniagua.com.

###

(New York, NY/Guttenberg, NJ) — April 29, 2009 – Influential boutique PR firm, QUADRANT TWO PR (Q2PR), announced the celebration of its fifteen years of doing business as one of the nation’s top Hispanic and multicultural marketing communications firms.
“We see it as an accomplishment to have even survived for a decade and a half,” says its President, José Manuel (“J.M”). De Jesús. “With global consolidation and the economic situation currently enveloping the nation it’s a true milestone for us.  This year-and for the next decade and a half-we look forward to continuing the expansion of our general market practice and a greater role in the U.S. Hispanic and multicultural markets by offering new services such as corporate media training, in addition to internet marketing capabilities.”

            Q2PR and its ownership and staff believe they have proven that its business model is sustainable, more viable, and better able to compete-and in some cases collaborate-with it’s much larger independent, holding company owned and affiliated agencies, top 25 Hispanic Advertising agency PR departments, and top 140 general market PR agency rivals, as listed by O’Dwyer PR Directories and publications. “We will continue to deliver our value proposition of personalized-‘turn on the dime’ PR services to our clients, in an even better fashion than we have for the past 15 years” De Jesús concluded.
            QUADRANT TWO PR (and its predecessor company Quadrant II Media Corp.) was formed by De Jesus in 1994. It first client was professional boxing promotion company Main Events Monitor, under the leadership of the late Dan Duva and the Duva family. Many other client projects from throughout and beyond the Fortune 500 followed as a result of the launch of this company.  Many firms and their agencies have utilized Q2PR’s proactive marketing and PR counsel.
            The firm has successfully completed work on behalf of companies including Team FC Barcelona, Ford Motor Company, Colgate-Palmolive, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Chase Home Finance, Pepsi, Anheuser Busch, Procter and Gamble, Perdue Farms, Kraft Foods, Welch’s Purple Grape Juice, Aveda, Wells Fargo, Banco Popular, and Fleet Bank, among many others.

Recent clients include the National Association of Hispanic MBA’s national leadership office in Irving, TX and its Denver, CO chapter; the National Society of School Nurses and the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases (through their AOR, the Cooney  Waters Group), Hispanic Heritage Day at the Ballpark in six MLB stadiums across the country, the CITGO Little League Baseball Equipment Giveaway Initiative in association with four big league baseball teams in dense Hispanic markets, Latinobaseball.com, Latinoboxing.com (through marketing agency and publishers, R. Paniagua, Inc.) 
            For further information about QUADRANT TWO PR or J.M. De Jesus, visit http://www.q2pr.com or contact us (646) 234-7196.
                                                                          ###

By J.M. De Jesus

By now I hope most or all of you have heard that we have a new President and not the least of the grandeur of it all is the fact that he is an African-American. 

Barack Obama has done something that I am completely awestruck over in winning this presidential election.  This is something that I had given up the thought of ever seeing in my lifetime, a “Black President.”  In my mind this country was still too racist and not ready for such a thing.

Today, I can proudly say that I am a Puerto Rican-American who believes in the true meaning of this country’s creed.  I find myself overcome with the joy that hope for change can bring.  Oh my God!  Has
America finally grown up, in my lifetime?  Finally, we Americans of all colors and races and our country are ‘walking the walk’ as well as ‘talking the talk’ of opportunity and diversity that it is known for.  

With his nearly flawless and Uber-consistent campaign, Obama has united America in an unprecedented manner for any Presidential candidate or commander in chief.  The total voter turnout as reported by WINS NY radio as of the writing of this column stands at the second highest level in the history of the United States political process, second only to the 65+% experienced in 1908 before women were allowed the right to vote.  That other red states such as Florida would go Democratic was a complete shock to me with its sometimes reactionary Cuban majority.  NBC reported that Orlando was a major victory for the Obama campaign.  Coincidentally, Orlando is a largely Puerto Rican community.  Never before has the vote of each community seemingly meant so much in a Presidential race.     

But this is only one of the incredible elements that made this election the most exciting and interesting in my entire life.  That educated white voters in Pennsylvania would vote Democratic and vote in large numbers for Obama, is one of the clearest indications of the sentiment and expression of desire for change that has overtaken this country in reaction to eight years of a failed Republican administration.

I know I’m not the only person who is surprised and happy with the outcome.  The Obama campaign has galvanized the good will and call to action for millions of Americans of all races and backgrounds. 

I for one, am proud of my country on this historic day; more so than about anything or anyone else.  At a ripe age of around 400, America has grown up to fulfill the promise created by its founding fathers then; “that this is a government by the people, for the people.”  These are not just words my friends:  The United States of America IS the greatest nation on earth and we have now proven it to the world.  This will no-doubt make the U.S. a shining example to the rest of the globe at a time when our policies around the world make us hated by even some citizens of our ally countries.  This is Democracy in action, and this is how it’s done.
JM De Jesus
Publisher, www.HispanicPRNow.blog.com
&
President
QUADRANT TWO PR
Guttenberg, NJ

By J.M. De Jesus

This week’s New Yorker cover page caricature depicting the Obamas as Muslim extremists and flag burners is over the top, in the opinion of this editor.

Is it a satirical view in its own right of how Republican war and fear mongers have characterized the Obamas?  Perhaps, but the cover is definitely in poor taste.  It’s bad enough that the conservatives are constantly at this man’s heels, but to have the press take way too much creative freedom is bad business and even worse satire. 

So in the opinion of HispanicPRNow, “Hey New Yorker, take a chill pill with the caricatures.” 

You guys ought to know better and while the satire IS cutting, we’re wondering whom it is you are trying to criticize, the conservatives for their portrayal, or the Obamas who just happen to have an African sounding name. 

We think you should print an apology and excuse yourselves for this kind of backhanded sleaze.

J.M. De Jesús

President

QUADRANT TWO PR

& Publisher, www.HispanicPRNow.blog.com

 

This entry in the HispanicPRNow blog is an open lettter to Tim Russert.  Yes, I know you’re gone now and will never read it.  But I have to tell you Tim, though I never knew you, I trusted your face and every word that came from your well informed mouth. 
There is no journalist in the history of political coverage in my lifetime about whom I can write this publicly that shares that distinction.  Politics holds a funny dichotomy in my life. I hate the dirty games and even dirtier back room deals.  The burden of being able to read through the lies of “official versions” and between the lines of the actual events and differentiating between the truth and that which the public is fed by our leaders is both a blessing and a curse for me.
Somehow Tim, you helped me make sense of the lies Menken referred to as “the bandages of soft illusion,” when he wrote about how much Americans love daring liars a century ago. 
No doubt, that some of America’s political leaders (and the rest of the world too) are truly some of the most daring liars in the history of mankind.  
You took these people on ‘mano a mano’ when and wherever you possibly could, and for this I admired and respected you  more deeply than even my most eloquent words can describe.  The information from Meet the Press was gospel to me and your trustworthy face and work made this possible.  I have suffered a loss by losing you even though we never met.  Every sunday, I knew where to go for the basis of my political education and news and you were there.
I think what bothers me more than anything else Tim, is that here we are in the most significant step in the political history of our nation.  This is a ‘corner turning’ event at the very least for America, which finally seems to be growing up.  Here we have the first woman and African American male to ever come this far in the history of electoral politics. YOU, the journalist who-in my opinion-has earned more of a right than anyone in our profession to be there to witness and report about this, is not going to be there in body. In spirit, I have no doubt that you will make your way to witness this somehow. 
I will miss your keen analysis and observation and hope that somewhere in some form, you will be watching this history in the making. 
My kindest memories and regards to you Tim, your family and colleagues, who I know will miss you, as will this fan and fellow journalist you never personally knew but whose trust you won over with your work.
J.M. De Jesus
President
QUADRANT TWO PR
Guttenberg, NJ

NSHMBA PUERTO RICO HOSTS
MEDIA TRAINING WORKSHOP

TO BE PRESENTED IN SPANISH
BY J.M. DE JESUS OF QUADRANT TWO PR

San Juan, PR – July 1, 2008 –J.M. De Jesus will lead a workshop on Media Interview Techniques hosted by the National Society of Hispanic MBA’s Puerto Rico chapter on Tuesday, July 1, 2008 at the Colegio de Abogados in Miramar, Puerto Rico from 7 pm to 9 pm.  

“It’s important that professionals understand the multifaceted media landscape and varying agenda of news organizations and journalists when presenting their own messages and viewpoints to the public via the use of the media as a vehicle,” said José Manuel De Jesús, President of QUADRANT TWO PUBLIC RELATIONS, a nationally recognized PR agency specialized in media training and the US Hispanic and multicultural markets.

“Often times the professional is so excited that they landed the interview that they lose site that although the journalist may be acting friendly, he or she is not their friend, and has a job to do. There is no such thing as an ‘off the record’ remark,” De Jesus added.

“We are very happy to have Jose Manuel train us on this important topic, especially as the national media in Puerto Rico grows in importance, complexity and numbers,” said Ricardo Torres-Rivera, president of the NSHMBA Puerto Rico chapter.

The Colegio de Abogados de Puerto Rico ( Law College ) is located at Avenida Ponce de Leon #808.  A $25 donation is requested from participants and organizers expect the venue to be filled to capacity. The funds will be donated to the NSHMBA Scholarship.

What is NSHMBA? The National Society of Hispanic MBAs (NSHMBA) was created in 1988 as a 501(C)(3) non-profit organization. Widely known as the “Premier Hispanic Organization,” NSHMBA serves 32 chapters and over 7000 members (includes 3 chapters in formation) in the U.S. and Puerto Rico . It exists to foster Hispanic leadership through graduate management education and professional development. NSHMBA works to prepare Hispanics for leadership positions throughout the U.S. , so that they can provide the cultural awareness and sensitivity vital in the management of the nation’s diverse workforce. (www.nshmba.org)

About QUADRANT TWO PR (Q2PR): Q2PR is nationally renowned boutique PR, Marketing Communications and Media Training agency based in Guttenberg, NJ and the NYC metro area, and resources in the Los Angeles, Ft. Lauderdale, and Boston areas.  Its work assignments have assisted entities within the Fortune 500 and beyond with professional, expert counsel on capturing market share and better serving the US Hispanic, Multicultural and General markets with customized marketing and PR campaigns, product launches, and artist/author/spokesperson tours. Q2PR has conducted new and traditional media relations initiatives for companies such as Procter & Gamble, Colgate Palmolive, Mead Johnson Laboratories, Bristol Myers-Squibb, FC Barcelona and Ford Motor Company among many others.  (www.q2pr.com)   

###

December 3, 2007 – Guttenberg, NJ – Reminding marketers that bigger does not mean better, QUADRANT TWO PR President, J.M. De Jesús made comments as to why his firm is considered the very best in the US Hispanic and multicultural market, at a press briefing held today at its Guttenberg, NJ headquarters.

Twenty years of track record and assignment after assignment from both Fortune 500 and the small business community should be a tell-tale sign for anyone seeking a top level US agency to oversee their PR outreach,” said Jose Manuel De Jesus, President & CEO of QUADRANT TWO PUBLIC RELATIONS.  

“The results cannot be refuted and they do not belong to anyone in Latin America .  Our agency is run and operated by U.S. Domestic Hispanic market experts.  Some may tell you that you should be quick to grab up all the talent that exists in some Latin American country, my argument is that there is a whole lot better talent who can speak directly to your audience right here in the US of A.  One cannot possibly expect someone whose culture and creativity are adequate for super polarized Latin countries and then apply that same creativity and knowledge to the U.S. domestic landscape without the risk of failure 99 out of 100 times.” De Jesus went on to say. 

“It is for this reason that we wouldn’t import a global agency veteran with 50 years of experience in the African markets to do African American market.  It simply wouldn’t work because this is a different market,” De Jesus added.

Since 1994 QUADRANT TWO PR has offered its clients expert counsel including US Hispanic, multicultural and general market work that is superb.  Its past clients include Ford Motor Company, Procter & Gamble, Warner Brothers Pictures, Lista-Latina.com, CITGO, Chase Home Finance, Banco Popular, Wells Fargo, Fleet Bank and Hennessey among others.

“Every day we prove that much larger agencies are following our lead on media relations and PR in general by copying our releases and our style of approach to the media.  One guy even copied our name until he saw the tthere was no way he could outmarket us,” De Jesus added confidently.  “The larger agencies copy what we do all the time and their clients don’t seem to mind.  This week we were being considered by a Presidential campaign, next week the stars are the limit.” 

For more information log on to: www.q2pr.com.

###

Contact:         J.M. De Jesús

                       (646) 234-7196

                        jm@q2pr.com

14th ANNUAL HISPANIC HERITAGE DAY AT THE BALLPARK

CELEBRATION IN SIX BIG LEAGUE U.S. STADIUMS

URBAN YOUTH BASEBALL EQUIPMENT GIVE-AWAY

New York, NY — August 21, 2007 – R. Paniagua Inc., the Latino media content provider and media-leveraged special events marketing firm, announced two unique urban baseball programs in celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month 2007. 

            RPI, publisher of Latinobaseball.com, will produce its signature big league baseball event, Hispanic Heritage Day at the Ballpark in six stadiums including Miami, New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, Dallas and Houston throughout the month of September.

Now in its 14^th year of celebrating the legacy of Latinos in big league baseball, RPI has enhanced the program by allowing fans to vote for their favorite local player online, and designing an Urban Youth initiative that will distribute much needed baseball equipment to 200 teams in the Top 4 US Hispanic markets.  

“RPI consistently delivers relevant cultural promotions that deliver results to corporate sponsors and value to the community,” said Ralph Paniagua, President of R. Paniagua Inc., publishers of Latinobaseball.com.  “Now that our events and media properties have come of age, and the Latino contribution to baseball has surpassed all expectations and still continues to grow, the timing to introduce this multifaceted program is right on schedule. And in 2008 we will add an educational component.” Paniagua concluded. 

RPI’s Latinobaseball.com brings the rich culture of Hispanic Heritage Month and Latinos in baseball to greater prominence with the Hispanic Heritage Day at the Ballpark events. This year the HHD will honor the #1 local Latino player in New York, Chicago . Houston, Dallas, Los Angeles and Miami . But the added feature is that fans will have the opportunity to vote for their favorite player online at Latinobaseball.com. And one lucky fan in each market will participate in the pre-game presentation. 

RPI has enlisted the support of Miami-based Hispanic marketing agency BVK/Meka to develop an Urban Youth Baseball Initiative in four top US Hispanic markets for one of this agency’s top clients.  The initiative will provide baseball equipment bags to 200 youth baseball teams (Ages 12-13), selected by their local big league franchise in each of four major U.S. Hispanic market cities.  Each bag will contain 3 wooden bats, 1 dozen baseballs and 15 gloves for 12-13 year olds. Teams not selected can log on at the site for their chance to receive the custom made equipment bag.    

 “At BVK we know that for Latinos, baseball is an important part of our lifestyles, our psyches, our dreams and motivation.  We are proud to help our client participate in a program that keeps the dreams in our youth flourishing and promotes team play in inner-city Latino USA ,” said Gonzalo Gonzalez, Managing Director of BVK/Meka. 

  The R. Paniagua name has become synonymous with Latinos in baseball, publishing Latinobaseball.com, a site dedicated to preserving the history of Latinos in professional baseball in the US and the Caribbean .  

            Latinobaseball.com documents all of the past and present statistics and keeps rankings of the top Latino baseball players in the big leagues, in addition to historical statistics on the Caribbean Winter League and Caribbean World Series. Latinobaseball.com even contains a searchable database of every Latino who has played in Professional baseball by Country of origin and a Photo gallery that presents a historical overview of Caribbean baseball dating back to 1878.

RPI’s track record of success contains highlights such as being the first company to produce and broadcast the Caribbean World Series on US Television, Latino-themed English language television properties such as Latin Beat and VIVA America on BET Jazz channel, and the World Domino Tournament on ESPN Deportes. The company also introduced VIVA NY Magazine, the first US bilingual publication distributed monthly in the NY Daily News, in addition to publishing Latinoboxing.com and Latinobaseball.com. RPI produces some of the top US Latino cultural, musical and educational events in the genre today.   

For more information visit www.Latinobaseball.com or www.rpaniagua.com. 

###