Q: Why do businesses – even non-Hispanic ones – join your chamber?
A: In business, everybody wakes up every day and says, “How am I going to grow my business?” That’s why they’re coming to us and saying they need our support and guidance. In the United States, the number of Hispanic businesses increased by 1.5 million in the last three years. The average Hispanic household makes $60,000. We’re a niche marketplace, but a growing niche, and the market is just booming here.
Also, business owners come to us for help because they want workers who are bilingual. We want to be that conduit that puts businesses together with workers.
Q: What differentiates the Denver Hispanic Chamber of Commerce from other chambers in the state?
A: We all know the Hispanic community is the fastest growing market today. In Denver alone, Hispanics are 40 percent of the population. In the state, it’s up to 20 percent and growing. When people want to expand their businesses, the Hispanic community is growing and the population is young, so that’s what makes us stand out from the other chambers. Investment companies are lining up to invest in these businesses. They’re seeing the chances for big returns, so that’s what makes this chamber so exciting.
Q: You’ve led the chamber for nine months. What did you do prior to taking this job?
A: I grew up in Chicago, and worked for American Family Insurance, and they moved me out to Colorado to deal with emerging markets in 1997.
Q: There are 1,400 members in the Hispanic chamber. Who are the largest sponsors?
A: Our memberships start from $350 for a small business owner to $20,000 at the “padrino” (patron) level. Our biggest sponsors right now are Xcel Energy, Wells Fargo and Qwest Communications. Anheuser-
Busch is another supporter, as is First Data Corp. They support the chamber because they know it’s good business.
Q: There’s also a Latina chamber here. How do the two groups co-exist in their competition for members and sponsors?
A: I have such a great relationship with all of them, I don’t think there’s competitiveness. I want to make this organization thrive, so I don’t look at it as competition.
Q: What is your focus for 2006?
A: One of the things we want to focus on is increasing our membership. We have had great momentum. (Many) have left the chamber in the past, and they’re coming back. They’re seeing that we offer value in our membership, and we’re more program-driven, rather than event-driven. We’ve added a new leadership luncheon series. And we’ll be more proactive in our approach to workforce development.
We’re really excited and have some partners working on a college internship program and scholarships so students can be making money while they’re in school and learning a career.
Q: Is the chamber politically active?
A: We supported (referendums) C & D as an organization. We’ve supported the Downtown Denver Partnership on their issues. We have a public policy committee. Immigration is going to be an issue. It’s a tough situation that’s going to get momentum as the days go by, so we’re reviewing our policy. We’ll probably come out with a position soon.
Q: What is your biggest accomplishment at the chamber so far?
A: The biggest thing is our economic stability. We feel very comfortable moving forward. I’m proud to say that, and economically we are as stable as ever.
Q: Have you read any good books lately?
A: I recently read “The Leader of the Future,” by Peter Drucker. It talks about leadership and the role of being a leader and developing leaders. It seems everything I read is work-related.
Edited for space and clarity by staff writer Beth Potter.
