Leadership

David Molina
David Molina is one of the founders of BilingualHire, a consumer internet service in the business of advancing the careers of bilingual [Spanish+ English] talent. He founded the company with Oregon State University best friends, Ms. Rosa Edith Olivares and the former Edith Quiroz.

Mr. Molina’s leadership philosophy and professional experience stems from his background as an engaged citizen, patriot and social entrepreneur. His passion to solve problems and address talent development fuels BilingualHire’s mission partnering with clients to deliver cultural and linguistic solutions to solve their most pressing bilingual talent and leadership needs. He has led major assignments for Oregon’s only land, sea, sun and space grant university, OSU, and for the areas leading nursing-preparatory private college. He also served at the state capitol, where he was committee administrator for the House Committee on Veterans and Emergency Services for the Oregon State Legislature during the 2009 regular session.

An engaged citizen, Mr. Molina enlisted in the United States Army Reserve in 2000 beginning at the rank of Private and first serving in a civil-affairs unit. In 2004, he earned his Officer Commission from OSU Army ROTC and subsequently served in company level leadership positions in the 104th Division before becoming the Aide-de-Camp to the Assistant Division Commander, Brigadier General Eldon P. Regua. Mr. Molina served on active-duty for eighteen months where he was a Summary Court-Martial Officer and the S-3 Plans, Training and Operations Officer-in-Charge at the Joint Personal Effects Depot. Before starting BilingualHire, Mr. Molina was the Director of Fund Development and Special Projects for a leading Portland-based direct services not-for-profit organization focused on reducing Latino health disparities by educating, empowering and inspiring Latino children, young Latina women and parents.

Mr. Molina is active in civic-organizations and charitable organizations outside the company. As a former high school drop-out, he credits higher education for opening doors. He is a founding board member and President of the OSU Alumni Association Chicano/Latino Alumni Group, and past Board member of Oregon’s leading Chicano/Latino student advocacy group, Oregon MEChA Statewide. Mr. Molina also serves at the pleasure of Governor Ted Kulongoski on the Oregon Commission on Hispanic Affairs. At his alma mater, he was appointed by the university president, Dr. Ed Ray to the Board of Visitors for Minority Affairs.

Mr. Molina holds a B.A. degree in Political Science from Oregon State University, an A.A. degree from Skagit Valley College and is a graduate of the U.S. Army School of Infantry at Fort Benning, Georgia. Mr. Molina was born in Hood River, Oregon and was raised in Mount Vernon, Washington in the Skagit Valley where he lived, grew up and first attended college. He is married to Edith Molina and together they are raising one daughter.

profile updated January 2010

Speaking
David Molina educates businesses and organizations on how bilingual talent can add value, leverage growth and bridge American and Latino culture (sample presentations below). The first time I had to speak was before 150 people at Central Washington University for a student migrant conference (it was nerve wrecking). Subsequently following, I’ve spoken before small teams and large audiences ranging from high school students to college students; entrepreneurs to school administrators/faculty and civic-organizations. Each talk is customized for the audience and tailored accordingly during the discussion to ensure it is meeting expected standard, comprehension and understanding.

David covers 50,000 foot view and actual implementation on the ground, depending on the audience, objectives and expected outcomes.

Favorite Topics
I love to speak to people wanting to make a difference in their communities, so technically, I can speak on matters relating to bilingual talent, Latino entrepreneurship, or Chicano community-organizing. His vast experiences as a migrant farm worker (strawberries, apples, cucumbers to name a few) and warehouse forklift driver, from fish canneries and a smokehouse, to retail sales in computers and high-end men’s clothing, to a yacht boat wash/detail business and car salesman, to a U.S. Army veteran and legislature staffer, I can confidently speak to a wide range of audiences in English or Spanish, or both (believe it or not). Here are a few thoughts:

• Latino Trends. This speech explains how we got to the current demographics, the trends and its trajectory of U.S. Latinos and what it all means. I lay out a blueprint to create understanding of the magnitude of the responsibility, challenges and opportunities by calling on my experiences as a second generation. It inspires managers to unleash their organizations to build, sustain and grow enduring relationships.
• Bilingual Talent. This speech illustrates the benefits of hiring, retaining and cultivating bilingual talent for higher levels of responsibility. It features practical lessons to accelerate the recruitment of bilingual talent in the organization, and is based on my experience as a student activist, recruiter and entrepreneur.
• Leadership. This speech inspires and informs companies and organizations to lead by example. I lay out the strategic steps to creating leaders from the bottom-up, grooming leaders with character and training those skills necessary for innovating products and services.

To arrange for me to speak to your group, send me an email with details of your group, audience and objectives and we can go from there. I will require at the minimum, either one face-to-face meeting (preferable), or phone conversation. Thanks for your interest.