When Susan “Susie” Albin returned from a recent trip to Barcelona, she had more than travel memories. She was thinking about a wedding, because on that trip, her boyfriend, Rick Najera, proposed. A public relations specialist with Fleishman-Hillard Inc., Albin expects to marry next summer, possibly in Mexico. Her job for almost four years has been business development and Hispanic relations. She created the company’s first Hispanic marketing division to promote cultural awareness in the workplace and identify opportunities for companies to reach the Hispanic population.

In her off-work time as well, she is devoted to organizations and projects that improve U.S.-Mexico relations. “Right now I’m working on a celebrity benefit for Latino-logues,” says Albin, of Project Concern’s international children’s border health care program. She is working on that project with her fiance, a Hollywood writer and producer of television programs and feature films. That event on Oct. 26 will open a film festival to run through December at the San Diego Repertory Theatre in Horton Plaza.

Albin is active with the San Diego County Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and is a board member of the Media Arts Center San Diego. Although she is a member of many other Downtown and/or Hispanic organizations, she says she has curtailed some activities to concentrate on the film fund-raiser.

Combining her media skills and Hispanic interests, Albin also freelances for Sister Cities and Latin Style magazines.

— Sandy Pasqua