BUSINESS SECTION

Convention a boost for Latino business in California
Oakland rendezvous 'a success,' participants say
By Lupita Figueiredo 
Oakland Tribune
 
OAKLAND —  August 27, 2005 - At the California Hispanic Chambers of Commerce Convention, held the last few days in Oakland, more than 2,200 business owners had the opportunity to network and meet high-ranking politicians — who did not pass up the timely platform for their agendas.
"It was a success," said Julian Canete, president of CHCC. "Hispanic business owners got the recognition they deserve as a driving force in California's economy."
Oakland Mayor Jerry Brown hosted the welcome reception Wednesday night. Then came Thursday with Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger as keynote speaker at the Latina Recognition Luncheon. His visit, a surprise to some of the convention's organizers and to others present, is an indication he is courting the Latino community — at least the Latino business community, participants said.
Friday's highlights were speeches from California Sen. Gil Cedillo, D-Los Angeles, and U.S. Treasurer Anna Cabral. The nation's treasurer conveyed a message from President Bush.
"The President truly values the economic contributions of Hispanic businessmen and women, and acknowledges the efforts of small-business owners," Cabral said.
Cedillo, author — for the seventh time — of the controversial driver's license bill for undocumented immigrants, SB 60, had no problem asking for support again and criticizing the governor.
"You must support SB 60. You owe it to immigrants, and not only becausethey are an important work force for your businesses, and pay taxes, but because this is a matter of social justice," Cedillo said. "California is going through a leadership crisis," he said.
Insurance Commissioner John Garamendi; U.S. Small Business Administration official Manuel Rosales; legislators Liz Figueroa, D-Fremont; Abel Maldonado, R-Santa Maria; and Alberto Torrico, D-Newark, also attended.
"Events of this nature place Oakland as a dynamic city and port," said Bernardo Mendez, Mexican Trade Consul. "Visitors experienced Oakland as a safe and beautiful city."
Apart from business workshops and the Business Expo, procurement matchmaking sessions attracted entrepreneurs looking for new contracts or contracts with bigger companies.
"When you have an isolated five minutes one on one, you have the full attention of the right person. There is a wealth of information in front of you," said Archie Garcia, the Convention's Procurement Coordinator.
Local architects, construction suppliers and public relations companies participated in the meetings.
"Not enough business owners have gotten the right people to ask the right questions," said James Terrell, vice president of diversity sourcing and procurement for Wells Fargo Bank. He came with a list of contract opportunities.
According to Terrell, a company's growth and prosperity depends upon learning how to compete, and understanding that in order to win a contract one must prepare and have the patience to build business relationships.
"It could take one month or five years," Terrell said.
Representatives of Disney, SBC, MCI, PG&E, and Blue Shield, among others, met with business owners too.
Canete, who steps down after five years leading CHCC, said there are 420,000 Latino-owned business across the state.
Although CHCC's Annual Convention was open to and attended by business people from all ethnic groups, the need for gatherings focused on a particular ethnicity is vital, many agreed.
"We (Latinos) still need this type of space, because of our shared experiences, to talk about access to capital and to markets," said Gonzalo Martinez, program director for Anew America, a nonprofit organization that helps immigrant women to start a business.
However, local Latino merchants didn't have a strong presence at the conference.
"They have not understood the importance of being part of a chamber of commerce," said Joe Partida, the convention's chairperson. "The Hispanic market keeps growing. The opportunities are greater for those involved in commerce and business communities."
__________________________________________________________
Oakland Tribune at: http://www.oaklandtribune.com/
Lupita Figueiredo is a Mexican journalist that lives and works in the San Francisco Bay Area, she is former reporter with Telemundo 48, former manager editor of Spanish language weekly http://www.elmensajero.com/,  radio commentator for Spanish language radio programs at 1010 am based in San Francisco and also correspondant for Latino issues with The Oakland Tribune, leading English language daily in the Oakland Region.
 Posted by Bernardo Mendez, Trade Consul of Mexico in San Francisco Bay Area, more info at: consulmendez@yahoo.

 (In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, this material is distributed by HispanicVista.com (www.hispanicvista.com) without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for research and educational purposes.)