Cuban-American Latina Brand Manger and Executive Consultant

by Phyllis Cambria

Christina Perez McDowell, 2017 Hispanic Woman of Distinction, Solutions by CPM, LLC- Owner, Rodan & Fields- Level 5 Executive Consultant

 

“We need to do a better job of encouraging all women, including Hispanic women, to step into their best selves, work smart, and chase after their goals. I applaud and celebrate the successful women who ‘build a firm foundation with the bricks others have thrown at her.’”

If Christina Perez McDowell were a betting woman, she’d probably say that “two” was her lucky number.

Since giving birth to her twins in 2013, she has come to realize that the best things in her life have come in pairs and that includes running two businesses.

Christina Perez McDowellDuring her successful career as a Senior Brand Manager for nine years at Bacardi Global Brands and Bacardi USA, Inc., Christina managed several brands including DEWAR’SÒ, MARTINIÒ,NOILLY PRATÒ, BACARDIÒ, WILLIAM LAWSON’SÒ and SEVEN TIKIÒ. While she loved the responsibility of being a brand steward for global icons, her favorite work was in developing identities and growth for small up and coming brands.

Shortly after leaving Bacardi, in 2015, she founded her own consulting business, Solutions by CPM, LLC. Its focus is on brand development, strategy and management for her clients.  Her passion and expertise lies in the beverage world, but she has embraced challenges in other industries including insurance, consumer packaged goods and retail.

As she launched her consulting business, she was drawn to an opportunity that appealed to her from a brand standpoint and also because she saw so many leaders build lucrative businesses around their busy lives. Rodan +FieldsÒ is the brainchild of the two Stanford-trained dermatologists that started ProactivÒ.   

As a Level 5 Executive Consultant, Christina leads a growing team of other independent consultants who will expand their skincare businesses in the U.S., Canada & Australia.  Skincare was certainly a departure from Scotch, but she is proud to have bet on herself, and what today is the #1 premium skincare brand in the U.S.

When Christina isn’t working to develop brands she is working to develop recipes. She uses her love of cooking as a service to her community. 

As part of her church’s “Soul Food” ministry since 2015, she cooks and delivers weekly meals to those who are elderly or have an illness that makes home cooking nearly impossible. A few times a year since 2008, she and her husband have hosted “Chewing for Charity” dinners, which are essentially dinner parties with a purpose. 

A charity is  selected, a menu is created and a requested contribution is shared through social media and is filled on a first come, first served basis.   The best events are those with guests who don’t know each other but come together for a great meal and an even better cause. They believe that someone can’t do everything, but everyone can do something.

She realizes how blessed she is to have two businesses and felt compelled to get involved with His House Children’s Home in 2017.  She’s been inspired by great leaders thanks to everyone she’s met through Empowering a Billion Women by 2020, her family, her skincare business and as a delegate for the One Young World Leadership Summit in 2012. 

Christina is of Cuban descent and received two degrees from Florida State University; a B.A. in Spanish and a B.S. in Communications, both with honors. She received her M.A. with honors in Integrated Marketing Communication from Emerson College.

She and her husband of ten years, Nicolas McDowell, a property tax agent, are the proud parents of identical twin boys, Marcos Patrick and Michael Javier, age four. When not spending time at their Miami home, they enjoy vacationing as a couple in Aspen and as a family in Bonita Springs.

 

2017 Hispanic Women of Distinction honorees

2017 Hispanic Women of Distinction honorees

At PACE Center for Girls, girl-centered culture celebrates the power and potential of girls. With 19 non-residential centers throughout Florida, they provide a safe environment where middle and high school aged girls can thrive.

The balanced emphasis on academics and social services is combined with a program model to produce an experience that is nationally recognized as one of the most effective programs for helping at-risk girls realize brighter and more productive futures.  

The Jessica June Children’s Cancer Foundation (JJCCF) is a nonprofit public charity founded in 2004 by Sandra Muvdi shortly after the loss of her only child to cancer. Its mission is to provide emergency financial assistance for children fighting cancer to ensure access to basic human necessities. The Foundation also advocates for and raises awareness of childhood cancer.

Presented by Latina Style Magazine, the nation’s leading publication for Latina entrepreneursin partnership with Bank of America and AARP, the highly-promoted celebration brings to the forefront the contributions of Hispanic women from South Florida.  Co-sponsors include Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, Walmart, Latin Business Today and La Poderosa Radio.  What the women have in common and is a major part of the judging process, is their American entrepreneurship intertwined with their values and traditions.

“This year was truly a difficult decision for our judges. With more than 50 nominations submitted, selecting 12 became a week-long effort to cast votes for the “crème de la crème” stated, Elaine Vasquez, founder and producer of the annual event.  Nominations were solicited from past honorees and community leaders in south Florida. 

“We are delighted to continue our long-time partnership with Hispanic Women of Distinction and provide insight and support to the entrepreneurs and community leaders who are making a difference, “said Robert Bard, CEO and Publisher of Latina Style Magazine.  

The 2017 Hispanic Women of Distinction are:

GLORIA L.  DIAZ-DANIELS –Div Sales Mgr Sales-Pharmacy Walmart – Palm Beach Colombian Born Latina Shines As Mentor and Walmart Sales Exec

ADRIANA FAZZANO FICANO – Chief of Staff, Broward College – Broward County Colombian-American Latina Leads College PR and Community Organizations

BLANCA GUERRA -Broward County Schools-Curriculum Sup/Dual Languages –Dade Cuban Latina Excels at Education and Preserving Heritage Languages  

KARINA GOMEZ-HERRERA – Pres. CEO Karnna Fashion & Company – Broward:  Outstanding Venezuelan Latina Excels as a “Hispanic Fashion Advisor”

Dr IVERIS LUZ MARTINEZ- Assoc Prof. Herbert Werthein College/Medicine FIU-Dade Cuban-American Latina Is a Premier Healthcare Anthropologist 

LORENA MASTRARRIGO -Assistant Public Defender, Broward County – Broward  Argentinian-American Latina Attorney Helping Hispanic Community

CHRISTINA PEREZ McDOWELL – Founder, Solutions by CPM, LLC – Dade

JACQUELINE NUNEZ – Co-owner, SOMA Medical Centers PA – Palm Beach Colombian Latina Healthcare Financial Officer Supports Those In Need

Dr. JACQUELINE PENA – Dean Academic Affairs – Miami Dade College –  Dade Dominican Bronx Latina Secure Grants to Drive Student Success

MICHELLE MARTINEZ-REYES- CMO, Greenspoon Marder Law Firm – Broward  Latina Cuban-American Chief Marketing Officer Is Growing Brands

MARIELLE SOLOGUREN – Vice President. Pierson Grant Public Relations – Broward Latina of Ancestry Cuban-Peruvian Making Waves in PR

RACHEL TOURGEMAN –Community Relations Dir.- Florida National University-Dade Panamanian-American Latina Community Relations Professional Advocates for Victims

LATINA PIONEER of the YEAR:  

DAISY EXPOSITO-ULLA – Chairman, CEO of d exposito & Partnersa visionary creative leader in cross-cultural brand building for more than 30 years, Daisy has been recognized by numerous organizations and named as one of the most influential Latinas in the United States. 

Daisy joins past Latina Pioneers: Columba Bush, Ileana Ros Lehtinen, Maria San Juan, Caridad Asensio, Joyce Kaufman, Nelly Rubio, Aida Levitan, Maria Elena Torano, Helen Aguirre Ferre, Marielea Villamil and Millie Herrera.

Tickets to the luncheon are $95 per person.  Table sponsorships are $1500.  The luncheon includes a social hour with complimentary “mojitos”, a business expo, raffles, Latin entertainment, as well as a runway fashion show presented by the Las Olas fashion designer, Zola Keller. 

For more information visit www.hispanicwomenofdistinction.comwww.wedoevents.net or by calling (954) 709-1622.  Follow us on Facebook and Instagram. 

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