As we're celebrating National Hispanic Heritage Month from September 15 to October 15, New Mexico's INFLUENCE Magazine would like to take part by celebrating the history, cultures, and contributions of notable figures whose ancestors came from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central and South America.

Today we're honored to remember Frida Kahlo. She is a Mexican artist remembered for her self-portraits, pain and passion, and bold, vibrant colors. She is celebrated in Mexico for her attention to Mexican and indigenous culture and by feminists for her depiction of the female experience and form.

Life experience is a common theme in Kahlo's approximately 200 paintings, sketches and drawings as she suffered from polio as a child, and nearly died in a bus accident as a teenager. She suffered multiple fractures of her spine, collarbone and ribs, had a shattered pelvis, along with a broken foot and a dislocated shoulder. She began to focus heavily on painting while recovering in a body cast. In her lifetime, she had 30 operations.

Today, her works sell for very high prices. In May 2006, Frida Kahlo's self-portrait, Roots, was sold for $5.62 million at a Sotheby's auction in New York, which set a record as the most expensive Latin American work ever purchased at auction, and also makes Frida Kahlo one of the highest-selling women in art.

#NationalHispanicHeritageMonth. #Newmexico #hispanicheritage #latina

Fred Reyna is the CEO and new owner of the legendary Nelson-Silvia Company: one of America's most dearest and valued brands for custom, quality, hand-made belt buckles.  As such, we are thrilled and honored to feature Fred as our guest on this 7th episode of the first season of New Mexico's INFLUENCE Magazine Show.

Fred is the son of Mexican immigrants who first arrived in America during the 1930s.  As a first generation Texan, he was born in Houston and became a law enforcement officer, where he spent most of his career serving his community and its people.

Eventually, fate, hard work, and a long standing passion for the hand tooled belt buckles of Nelson-Silvia led Fred to buying the company and becoming its new owner and CEO.  Continuing the Nelson-Silvia Company's rich traditions beginning in 1941, Fred has successfully been able to take the company to new heights well into the twenty first century.

In this tantalizing episode of the New Mexico's INFLUENCE Magazine Show, Fred takes us on an extended journey through the founding of the Nelson-Silvia Company, starting with William Nelson in 1941.  He then doubles down with a serious talk on what it takes to lead such a historic company as its new owner and CEO: sharing with us timeless insights and advice that would not be found in most business self-help books.  Last but not least, Fred shares what he's reading these days since, as the old adage goes: leaders are readers.
 
For more information about Fred and the Nelson-Silvia Company, please visit at https://nelsonsilviaco.com