As many of you know by now, we've had a few challenges here at Strumpette in the last few weeks. Suffice to say, we are going through a bit of a dark patch. A formal statement is forthcoming. Thank you all for your well wishes and support.

Anyway... with that said, here's a truism: it's always darkest before the dawn. Here's something that hints at an intensely bright future. Padma brings good karma.

Padma, the Sanskrit name for lotus flower, emerges fresh and clean from the dark waters in which it grows. A dear friend of Strumpette is launching a firm. Ana Lydia Ochoa, a public relations and marketing expert in the Hispanic market, today launched her full-service firm padma media & marketing in Los Angeles.

And how's this for promising? According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the nation’s Hispanic population reached 41.3 million in 2004. And according to a study by Growth Strategies, Hispanics under the age of 20 number more than 12 million, or 38% of the total US Hispanic population. They compose 58% of all youth in Los Angeles, today, and will account for 80% within a few years.

Ochoa said there's a whole area that remains untapped for Latinos in the more affluent, more holistic and more organic demographic. "Look at the number of Hispanics shopping at Whole Foods supermarkets and Jamba Juice stores," she said.

padma is not limited to reaching U.S. Hispanics with Spanish-only communications programs. The firm also will provide a variety of services to reach the younger, hipper, and bilingual urban market such as, music-driven events, print and broadcast product-placements and celebrity-driven initiatives. This fills a huge need in the present PR services market. The large traditional firms today are not reaching out to the bilingual, professional and affluent trendsetters.

Ochoa brings a ton of hands-on experience to the launch of padma. Previously with the firm RLPR + Marketing/Sportivo, she managed the national media campaigns for Telemundo and Sears. Ana Lydia also led the regional Verizon Wireless account and provided strategic counsel to Nike, the National Honey Board and The California Milk Processors Board. Prior to joining RLPR, Ochoa spearheaded the successful launch of IKEA North America’s Hispanic initiative, managing the regional spokesperson campaign for Foster Farms, the west-coasts largest poultry supplier. Ochoa also managed key national and regional accounts, including, AT&T, McDonald’s Lo McXimo de la Musica, Washington Mutual Bank, Mervyn's, General Mills Trix Circo Mundial, Jafra Cosmetics International and City of Hope.

More good news! There's already been a rush for padma's services. padma recently launched Americas United Bank, California’s first Hispanic-owned and operated bank to open its doors in California in over thirty years.

Bottom line: There's no PR pretension or flimflam with padma. It's just an honest careful service helping companies bridge to a burgeoning marketplace. Hope, new beginnings, good karma... Now THAT'S PADMA!

For more information, visit http://www.padma-media-marketing.com .