Cece & Melinda have worked on the development and branding of new products in their careers, from organizing product launches to developing marketing strategies in addition to managing complete productions from trade shows to international events. We realized the lack of professionalism and organization at some of the events attended and felt that with our skill sets we could organize meaningful events in order to bring the community together through education and by empowering women.

By reaching out to business professionals and organizing seminars for women we have the opportunity to give back to the community while creating marketing opportunities for our supporters.  Since most of the events around Chicagoland are centered around nightlife, we created our own signature events that attract business professionals in need of a professional level of networking.  Our events are carefully assembled and promoted to target the 30+ business professional audience.

“Raymi” actually means “Event” or “Festival” in Quechua which is an indigenous language of the Andean region, spoken today by over 13 million people in Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador, Northern Chile, Argentina and Southern Colombia. It was the official language of the Tawantinsuyu , the Incan Empire.

Our mission is to host unique, exclusive, and dynamic events around the City of Chicago bringing education and value to the local community by advertising, promoting and executing events as a marketing tool to gain exposure for sponsors, vendors, and other companies.

Our objective for 2010 is to continue reaching out to new Chicago business professionals interested in networking opportunities through our dynamic events as well as utilizing our sponsorship contributions to develop and produce exciting new events in addition to giving back to the community by empowering women through education.

Cecilia (Cece) Gonzales brings over 10 years of sales, marketing and business development experience to Raymi Productions. She also brings her passion, creativity and her Latino heritage to the company. Born and raised in Lima, Peru, Cece is bilingual in Spanish and English. She graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and Marketing from Pacific University in Lima. After first arriving in Chicago in 2001, she launched into a career as a Business Development Manager and Public Relations Manager for an international company headquartered in Chicago. Cece is detail-oriented with highly advanced organizational skills and enjoys meeting new people and working with others to achieve their goals. She is an active member of the Chicago Latino Community.

President
312.730.8262
cece@raymiproductions.com

A little bit more about Cece…
I love my family and am very close with them.  Most people see me out and about in Chicago or at different networking events  trying to meet new people and find new venues for Raymi Productions. No one would guess that I am an excellent cook ! I love to cook and have been told I’m quite good at it! I love to cook Peruvian food such us “papa a la huancaina” and “lomo saltado.” Also, I can pick up any recipe and cook absolutely anything. I enjoy eating great food too, so whenever we have the time, I explore and enjoy a variety of food from different Chicago restaurants.

I also enjoy traveling, during which I am able to learn about other cultures and countries. I have been all over the world in Europe, Central America, South America, and of course, the United States, and have had some amazing adventures.  I am a dog lover and have two dogs, Leo and Raymi, a Bishon Freeze and a Soft Coated Wheaton Terrier.  If I see a dog walking near me, I just have to stop to pet him.  I am a very romantic person, and a card or cooked meal can melt my heart. (Oh yes, and I love diamonds too.) My favorite movie is Scarface and my favorite book is The Art of War, written by Sun Tzu in the 6th century.

I hope to see you at our events!

And what Melinda has to say...

Cece has a huge heart. She is very passionate and hard working, thus when she sets her mind to something, she is unstoppable. Loyalty and honesty are the two things she respects most in people. (Hint, do not cross her!) Cece's creativity and energy are endless and she is full of new ideas every day.

Her presence in a room does not go unnoticed. Over the years, Cece and I have shared many laughs and have put together some wonderful events. Cece and I are quite opposites as you can see, however, we work very well together!
 

Melinda Joseph has a wide variety of marketing knowledge and experience ranging from business-to-business to the business-to-consumer market. She graduated as Valedictorian from Columbia College, Chicago with a degree in Marketing Communications with a specialization in branding and project management. A Chicago-native, Melinda enjoys connecting business professionals around the city through networking events and with a positive attitude. She enjoys finding creative solutions for clients and turning ideas into tactics. For three years she worked in a marketing department for a technologies company in Chicago. Melinda is a member of the Chicago Business Exchange and participates annually in the Columbia College American Advertising Federation (AAF) review panel.

Vice President
312.890.3028
melinda@raymiproductions.com

A little bit more about Melinda…
After traveling all over the country and to some international cities, I really enjoy the hustle and bustle of Chicago. One of the most amazing things about Chicago is how much opportunity exists to learn, grow, and meet new people. There are several things that I cannot live without in my hometown of Chicago, including my supportive and loving parents, little sister and my very close friends. I usually meet people out at networking events or when Raymi Productions hosts events when I'm all dressed up. Most people would never guess I spent ten years of my life horseback riding in the northern suburbs of Chicago. (Yes, I used to take care of my horses and clean up after them when riding and during competitions.)

Humor and sarcasm are very integrated into who I am and my outlook on life. Wherever I go, I somehow end up making a scene.  I'm guilty of enjoying the drama unfold on some reality TV shows and am also guilty of following One Life to Live on ABC. One of the most recent books that I read is The Four Agreements, which are: 1.Be impeccable with your word 2.Don't take anything personally 3.Don't make assumptions; and 4.Always do your best. These words of wisdom have stayed with me since I read the book and I highly recommend it.

Hope to see you at our events,

And what Cece has to say...

Melinda is the best partner I could ever imagine. She is an angel and as many people know, she forces me to sometimes think twice. I call her “Melinda linda” (pretty Melinda) and taught her how to say the motto I created for her, which is ”Las rubias no somos tontas.” This phrase translates to “Blondes are not dumb” and is perfect because she is both smart and funny. The two of us make a great team and I know that at the end of the day, Melinda will support me and can help us achieve anything; even though she only knows how to make in the kitchen is a PB & J sandwich.