Hispanic Enterprise - October/November 2007 - (Page 63)

ner. Post-storm, many came from other areas such as Texas for rebuilding work, mostly in construction. Many have stayed. Big business has taken notice of the Hispanic inﬂux. “More big companies are coming to us wanting to help the Hispanic community; they realize a need to interface with them,” Kattan says. Companies such as Toyota, Shell Oil and Cox Communications have joined the chamber. In fact, Toyota has become a big sponsor of the chamber’s business center. Although there’s been a spike in corporations joining, the chamber still caters to small businesses and prides itself in its diverse membership. Through the business center, the chamber teaches small business owners how to write a business plan, and provides tax assistance and guidance on securing loans. “We help them understand what it takes to manage a business; those in business, we help them stay in business,” says Ed Francois, the chamber’s vice president. He explains that after Katrina, one-third of businesses with ﬁve or less employees ceased to exist, and that is “one of the biggest threats to [Louisiana’s] economic vitality.” Francois, who is African American, has been a chamber member since 2005. HISPANIC ENTERPRISE He ﬁrst joined, he says, because he saw a great opportunity in connecting with the growing Hispanic segment. “Being a minority myself, it’s very important to bridge the gap of resources I have access to, and service the Hispanic community,” he says. And he did, by convincing his employer, Cox Business Services, part of Cox Communications, to become active in the chamber. Fellow member Mel Pavon, who also motivated Delta Title Corporation, the company he works for, to join, shares the sentiment. “It’s not just Hispanic businesses that participate in the chamber,” he says. “We joined because we wanted to network with like-minded individuals marketing services to the Hispanic community.” Pavon, who is Hispanic but whose employer is not, says the company has increased its real estate transactions to Hispanics by 20 percent since joining the chamber. The company also taps into the chamber’s membership for prospective employees, especially bilingual workers. Pavon likes to take a handful of company clients to the chamber’s quarterly luncheons, which he sees as a great networking opportunity. In addition to quarterly luncheons featuring keynote speakers, the chamber also hosts monthly networking meetings and an annual gala. One of the chamber’s most successful programs to date is the Trade Capacity Building Institute’s Trade Certiﬁcate Program, which resulted in $3.3 million in new trade among four small and medium Guatemalan businesses, and their respective Louisiana trading partners. The TCB Institute partnered with the American Chamber of Commerce-Guatemala and the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Louisiana to offer the Trade Certiﬁcate Program, which ran from September to November last year and included a trade mission to New Orleans in April. As part of the program, more than 35 businesses in Guatemala received training, more than 50 Louisiana companies were matched for potential business, and more than 100 participants that assist small and medium businesses were also trained. The chamber also received a grant for workforce development, which will be used to expand programs at the business center. New Web-based software in English and Spanish will help train under- and unemployed workers . They can work with a teacher or remotely. “Success is once they’re placed in a job,” Ceballos says. Another initiative involves helping Hispanic businesses secure minority certiﬁcation so they have an opportunity to compete for contracts. “Hispanics stay away from government help,” says Kattan. The chamber is trying to motivate support by reminding them, “This is not a handout. You’ve worked hard. Go after your share.” Juan Barreto, co-owner of New Orleans-based Promo Ad, a promotional items company, has taken advantage of networking opportunities through the chamber. A member for more than 10 years, his company consists of six employees. He’s grateful for the chamber’s presence, and hopes it will generate attention from elected ofﬁcials. “There are so many Hispanics in the city, but politicians don’t take us into consideration too much,” he says. “It’s important to have a voice, and the chamber is one of our few voices. It’s not a strong voice yet, but it’s becoming one. It’s one way politicians will learn how important we are.” 63 October/November 2007

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Hispanic Enterprise - October/November 2007

Hispanic Enterprise - October/November 2007 Contents BIZBUZZ: Business Briefs Trendsetters BIZTECH: Personally Digital BizLife - Travel: The Mobile Meeting Motoring: Is What You Drive, Who You Are? Q&A - Fact Tank for the Hispanic Population Hispanic Commerce Cover Story: Tiles with Style Success & Motivation: Grammy Whammy Finance: Talking Code Event: Masterminds NCLR Report - Improving your Triple Bottom Line Politics & Government: Keep on Truckin' Managing: Avoiding an Identity Crisis Franchising: Beyond the Brand Finance & Investing - Talking Money Movers & Shakers Regional Report - Louisiana, Louisiana Chamber Focus - On the Island of Enchantment

Hispanic Enterprise - October/November 2007

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