JOSE PONCE
JOMO CASTRO
SISI BELTRAN
GABRIEL CARDENAS
ALEJANDRA BERRA
CLAUDIO ABREU
NATALIA CORRAY
ROBERT CLARK
FERNANDA ESTRADA-RIDAURA
MIGUEL RINCAND
MARTHA GARCIA KAMPEN
2023 1st edition En Contacto
SUZANNE SIERRA
DANIELA VELAZQUEZ
ELIAS CORPAS
AINETTE MARTINEZ
CLAUDIA OCHOA-ESPEJO
NOLAN RUIZ
MARTHA MENDEZ-FISCHER
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The information and content of the articles are the responsibility of the authors. The information and data contained in this publication are for informational purposes only, being able to vary from time to time. The magazine should not be considered a fundamental, main, or single source of information. This publication may vary without notice, including between the time that the article was made and until the moment of the magazine publication.
The citations of opinions and/or comments of people contained in this publication, were made independently by themselves.
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60th Place Solutions Inc
ADP Inc
Alberto Toribio del Pilar
Allen Roofing & Siding
Antoine Eye Care, LLC
APEX Restaurant and Market Solutions
Atomy
BACKSTAGE LLC
BioSTL/Impetus Ag — Daniel Ramirez
Boeing Institute of International Business
CHARLES TURNELL
Cinema St. Louis
Coldwell Banker Realty Gundaker
CommunityAmerica Credit Union
Confluence Academies
Cristian Romero
Daniela Velasquez
David Naumann & Associates
Erika Valenzuela
Fathom Realty — Be the Reason Real Estate Group
Félix M Luna
Horstmann Brothers Landscape Services
Insperity
Janalyn Lugo
JPMorgan Chase
Keeley Construction
Kika’s Workshop by ECBrothers
Manuel J Menendez DDS is
MatchNP, LLC
Mindy Pluma
Orchestra Life Sciences Co., LLC
Peabody Energy
Reginald Dunn
Restaurant Su Casita LLC
Roanoke Construction
Royal Cleanup
RRT Restaurants LLC
Sherwin Williams
Skip’s Hauling
St. Louis Development Corporation — SLDC
STL Cleaning Services
Stratus Building Solutions of St. Louis
The Charity CFO, LLC
The One Provider LLC
Welcome to the 1st 2023 edition of ¡En Contacto! We are very excited to share with you stories about some of our members and the activities we have been busy providing over the first quarter of the 2023.
In this edition, you will read about our growing list of members, highlighting a new restaurant, LA Taco Cantino with their twist on Tex-Mexican cuisine, as well as a long-time member and community partner, Casa de Salud, providing healthcare access to the uninsured/under-insured. I’m sure you’ll enjoy reading about the Colombian Society, one of the many Latin organizations who make up the diverse tapestry of our STL Hispanic community.
One of our corporate members, USI Insurance Services is also featured in this publication. We appreciate and rely on the support of all our corporate partners to continue the many services provided to our members.
Speaking of services, our Business Counselor has written an article with practical advice in developing your Marketing Plan, and is hosting a series of Executive Breakfasts through the year. Don’t forget that as a member you can amplify your business news and brand messaging to the Hispanic community through HCC’s social media and promotional channels. Contact our Marketing team for details. This is one of the many benefits of membership.
Your Hispanic Chamber is working hard to deliver relevant value and benefits to grow your business and help you reach your goals. We are committed to the success of each and every member. As I continue my Listening Tour with members, stakeholders and community partners, I hope you will reach out to me directly, to share your story and to let me know how your Hispanic Chamber can better serve you. I look forward to it!
SiempreAdelante! Ever Forward,
Martha Garcia Kampen, President and CEO
Hello, my name is Miguel Rodriguez, and I am the owner of LA Taco Cantina and Lalo’s Grill and Pizza. LA Taco Cantina is located in 11429 Dorsett Road in Maryland Heights. I arrived in the United States 21 years ago and as time went by, I started to gain knowledge in the food industry, because that is where I worked most of the time.
For many years I have worked in restaurants with different types of cuisines like Mexican, American Style, Italian, and more. In 2021 my business partners and I had the opportunity to buy a restaurant that was already up and running “LA Taco Cantina”. This adventure happened with a group of friends who I had worked with for many years. And now, years later, we could do our own concept in our own place!
Together with Eduardo Rodriguez & Randall Mcdonald, Miguel is focusing on traditional and Tex-Mex cuisine at LA Taco Cantina. We have a variety of tacos, Mexican dishes and of course margaritas! During the weekends we offer charcoal grilled chicken and amazing smoked ribs with our unique style. Come visit us!
Miguel Rodriguez, Owner of LA Taco Cantina
Sunday-Thursday 11:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Friday-Saturday 11:00 a.m. – 10:30 p.m.
This product helped improve my mother’s high blood pressure, diabetes, poor circulation, and kidney function. The same product helped my child with her asthma.
Fast forward to June 2020, my entire family got infected with Covid-19. Only my mother and child, the two immunocompromised family members, had minimal symptoms.
After seeing such positive results for my family, I knew I had to share my story with others and so began my journey with Atomy. In addition to healthcare supplements, Atomy has natural skincare products that have made me look 10 years younger even though I am 50 years old.
Atomy products are made from natural ingredients that do what they say they are going to do. The beauty products give us the confidence of beautiful skin, the personal care line provides total hair and body care, and the natural toothpaste with propolis provides healthy teeth and gums.
You can also enjoy these amazing products with a free membership; email me at EsmeAtomyATuPuerta @gmail.com for more information. I look forward to hearing from you.
Esmeralda Aharon, Atomy Contractor
IN JULY 2019, MY MOTHER AND CHILD BEGAN TAKING A NATURAL HEALTH SUPPLEMENT FROM ATOMY.
Iam proud to say that I am a selftaught photographer who has been photographing people all over St. Louis and now, right across the bridge in the Riverbend area of Illinois.
Carol Lara Photography produces not only great photos, but also creates an environment where it feels safe to be yourself and empowered. I offer Business Headshots, Portraits for Families, Couples, Maternity, Beauty, Boudoir, Graduates, Elopements and more. I have a studio in Downtown Alton, IL or I can shoot on location. I also work with other talented artists to make the most of each session.
Hair and Makeup services are always available upon request.
I also offer a Digital Photography 101 class for those people who own a digital camera and just really aren’t sure what to do with it. My classes are in person in my Downtown Alton Studio and are 1 on 1 unless you’d like to sign up with a friend.
You can follow me on Facebook and Instagram by searching for Carol Lara Photography.
Carol Lara, Owner of Cara Lara Photography
By recycling and then refurbishing computers, PCs for People provides a valuable service to businesses, families, and the planet by keeping computers out of landfills and repurposing them to advance digital inclusion.
Since 1998, PCs for People has become a national leader in digital inclusion by serving over 825,000 individuals, providing 260,000 home computers, connecting 92,000 households to the internet, and responsibly recycling over 13 million pounds of electronic waste through the secure e-waste recycling service.
Locally, PCs for People Greater St. Louis is a proud member of the Hispanic Chamber and TechSTL. They are eager to connect with local businesses to learn more about how they can support your e-recycling and data destruction needs while also benefiting the community.
To learn more, please visit pcsforpeople.org/recycle
Loren Williams, Regional Account Manager,PCs for People
CAROL LARA PHOTOGRAPHY IS A ONE-WOMAN OPERATION. FROM THE SET DESIGN TO THE PHOTOGRAPHY, TO THE RETOUCHING.
PCs FOR PEOPLE IS A NATIONAL NONPROFIT AND E-WASTE RECYCLER WORKING TO GET LOW-COST QUALITY COMPUTERS AND INTERNET INTO THE HOMES OF INDIVIDUALS, FAMILIES, AND NONPROFITS WITH LOW INCOME.
This year our Workshop “Prepare to impress” was held the day before the Job Fair on Wednesday, February 15th at Montgomery Bank — Webster Groves. Job seekers had the opportunity to hear from Chelsea Musgrave, SVP Human Resources of MBC; and Gabriela E. Romero, Department Head — English, Languages of Lindenwood, recommendations on how to prepare for a job fair, answer interview questions, and create your resume.
We offered headshots available by Carol Lara Photography for those who didn’t have a professional photo for their LinkedIn profile. Also, Chelsea and Gabriela helped attendees review their resumes.
The next day, Thursday, February 16th, we hosted our annual Job Fair from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at Sheet Metal Workers’ Local 36. As every year, this event connected Metro organizations with job seekers from diverse backgrounds, engaging diverse talent in our thriving St. Louis workforce community.
This Job Fair was open to EVERYONE of any background looking for any type of employment (full/part time, freelance, internships, etc.).
For the second year in a row, we provided free childcare to make sure everyone could have access to this event. In addition, for the first time we provided:
Ŋ An interpreter on site, in case someone didn’t feel very confident with their English.
Ŋ Nametags for job seekers with a QR code for companies to access their LinkedIn profile.
Ŋ Goodie bags sponsored by Azteca Insurance with some giveaways from the sponsors.
This event garnered over 10K impressions of publicity in the STL market, including a LIVE interview on KMOV4, a mention on Fox2 News, two billboards placed throughout the St. Louis City, an email blast sent by the St. Louis Post Dispatch to a list of 5K job seekers, and numerous social media posts.
To make this event more attractive to attendees, we raffled 4 Amazon gift cards. Only registered people could participate. Congratulations to Guille, Himmer, Claudia, and Annabel for being the winners of the gift cards.
This year 58 companies participated, 98 active job seekers attended, and 93 resumes were received. The most popular industries of interest we had were:
Ŋ Healthcare
Ŋ Human resources
Ŋ Customer services
Ŋ Marketing
Ŋ Technology
Ŋ Financial services
Ŋ Legal
Ŋ Translation services
58 98 93 COMPANIES PARTICIPATED JOB SEEKERS RESUMES
I attended the job fair to learn about employment prospects in the St. Louis region. There were dozens of companies ranging from banking to food to higher education, which made the job fair a dynamic learning experience. It was easy to make connections with people because of their friendliness and warmth — and it was fun to participate in the raffle, as I walked away a winner in many ways!
I attended the job fair to learn about employment prospects in the St. Louis region. There were dozens of companies ranging from banking to food to higher education, which made the job fair a dynamic learning experience. It was easy to make connections with people because of their friendliness and warmth — and it was fun to participate in the raffle, as I walked away a winner in many ways!
Annabel Smith, Job seeker
Annabel Smith, job seeker.
Following his thought, the soul of the St. Louis region is waking up due to changing times and the rising of social consciousness. One of the organizations that is leading this stirring is the St. Louis Colombian Society.
The group, led by Sandra Liliana Henao, is a non-for-profit organization seeking to promote various art forms, family values and higher education, which are so intrinsic to the Colombian culture. The St. Louis Colombian Society also provides resources and information for families and individuals in need.
For the last few years, the Society has organized important social events and participated in advocacy groups that have united the growing Latin community in the St. Louis area.
The fact that the Latin community has been the fastest growing population segment in the US since 2010 makes the role of this organization that much more important.
For 2023, the group is coordinating many activities and sponsoring a membership breakfast (March 25th) and a Summer Picnic (July 16), as well as participating in some of the local Festivals in the Fall. Its annual fundraiser gala (December 9) has been a remarkable event in the area for a few years now. The funds raised by the Society provide scholarships for college students with the hope of encouraging future professionals to continue to invest in the development of our region.
The needs of the St. Louis community are great and by collaborating with other local organizations; the St. Louis Colombian Society seeks to awaken the soul of this region so it can perhaps become an example of progress in the Midwest and across the nation.
For more information or to become involved, follow their social media profiles or visit:
colombiansocietystl.com
THINGS HAVE A LIFE OF THEIR OWN... IT’S SIMPLY A MATTER OF WAKING UP THEIR SOULS.
Based on the success of our 2022 series, we have introduced our 2023 Breakfast series in a panel format, sponsored by BMO Bank. The series is designed to bring together executive peers for a networking breakfast, where they hear from four panels of top area thought leaders and change agents on topics relevant to their business.
SPONSORED BY BMO BANK
APRIL 4TH
Learn to attract and retain diverse talent. What is working? What are you missing?
Presenters:
Nalini S. Mahadevan JD, MBA, Principal Attorney - MLO LAW LLC.
Betsy Cohen Executive Director- STL Mosaic Project, World Trade Center
Marcelle Pires Head of Global Customer Success Center of Excellence COE
Unidos Business Resource Group (BRG) Co-Lead - Bayer.
Dawn Higgins PHR, SHRM-CP Director Diversity, Equity and Inclusion - Nestle Purina
JUNE 13TH
How geospatial technology can benefit your business. New technology available to help your business operations.
Presenters:
Andrew Dearing Lead - GeoFutures, President- Spatial STL Advisors
Matt Hebner P.E. Director of T&D Line Engineering - Luzco Technologies
Justin W. Bennett, MBA, CSA, CASP SVP of Strategic Programs, Strategic Geospatial Intelligence Solutions (SGIS), Freedom Consulting Group, LLC
AUGUST 8TH
Environmental Social and Governance. Practices with high impact.
Presenters:
Lauren Curran Business Development Outreach Manager -Ameren Missouri BizSavers Prog.
Virginia Covo Senior Director Sustainability - Anheuser Busch
Cassandra Brown Ray CFO -Saint Louis Zoo
OCTOBER 10TH
How to successfully navigate the logistic disruptions. New normal post- Covid logistic crisis.
Presenters:
Justin Woodard Region President, Midwest - Sysco
Dorian Boscan Regional Director -Tazmanian Freight Systems, Inc.
Dave Shogren President -US International Foods, LLC
Hear about lessons learned, best practices and tips from subject matter experts of well-known companies. The series is held at the MAC —The Missouri Athletic Club— on a Tuesday every other month, from 7:30 – 9:00am.
We kicked off the series with the topic “Learn to attract and retain diverse talent. What is working? What are you missing?” Presented by:
Ŋ Nalini S. Mahadevan JD, MBA, Principal Attorney — MLO LAW LLC.
Ŋ Betsy Cohen, Executive Director — STL Mosaic Project, World Trade Center
Ŋ Marcelle Pires, Head of Global Customer Success Center of Excellence COE. Unidos Business Resource Group (BRG) Co-Lead — Bayer
Ŋ Dawn Higgins PHR, SHRM-CP Director Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion — Nestle Purina
Please see the flyer for detailed information for the June, August, and October speakers and topics.
There is a discount if you register for the whole series. Scan the QR code on the flyer to register or contact Maria De Gregorio at mdegregorio@hccstl.com if you have questions.
Hope you can join us!
There is a lot of competition in this space with a heavy emphasis on attracting talent, but in a very narrow way. Organizations are lacking an important component which is fundamental to retaining talent: fostering an inclusive workplace. Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DE&I) strategies to recruit and retain talents are minimized or sometimes even neglected. Over my 20+ years of leadership experience in the U.S. as a Brazilian woman leader in corporate America, I have observed successes and failures around DE&I which gave me some learnings and opportunities to contribute more actively to this space.
BYOne such learning is the importance of employee/business resource groups (ERGs or BRGs), which are communities/ groups created by and comprised of employees focused on a specific commonality that group members share or support. These networks allowing employees to feel a sense of belonging is creating an environment where employees feel comfortable bringing their authentic selves to work. These groups are powerful resources for increasing awareness and retention. Keeping retention as a priority is an essential part of fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace.
Another learning is that if companies want diverse talents, they need to recruit where those talents are and use their internal diversity workforce to attract those talents. They also need
to improve selection processes to include measurements of candidate pool diversity for open positions. I am not suggesting that diversity is a replacement for qualification; however, if companies do not increase the candidate pool and train hiring managers in how to hire diverse talent (e.g., unconscious bias, cultural intelligence, etc.) increasing workforce diversity will be more difficult and companies will minimize their growth potential without the competitive advantage diversity provides.
Finally, leaders must take risks when hiring. Whenever possible it is very important focus on transferrable skills and future potential when selecting candidates. I have taken many chances in hiring by placing more emphasis on these characteristics, but the success rates of these candidates are very high.
By being intentional in recruiting for diversity, looking for talent with transferrable skills, and creating and supporting ERGs/BRGs, organizations will reap the known benefits of improving DE&I, thereby enriching everyone — people, businesses, and not-for-profits alike.
Marcelle Pires, panelist at the Executive Breakfast and Head of Global Customer Success Center of Excellence COE. Unidos Business Resource Group (BRG) Co-Lead — Bayer.
IN TODAY’S CORPORATE AND NOT-FOR-PROFIT ENVIRONMENTS, THE BIGGEST CHALLENGES ARE RELATED TO THE MOST IMPORTANT ASSET OF THESE ORGANIZATIONS: THE HUMAN CAPITAL.
RECAP
MARCELLE PIRESRECAP BY NALINI S MAHADEVAN
The discussion highlighted the readily available diverse talents for employment here in St. Louis — International students, spouses of immigrants, and the Ukraine and Afghani refugees.
It is not widely known, but international students can work under the OPT (optional practical training) visa for 12 months, plus if they are pursuing a STEM program, they can extend their OPT for an additional two years. Another pool that St. Louis has is the spouses of immigrants who left their jobs in their home countries. This group of spouses are mostly highly educated and some have previous work experience. Most of them (international talent) have a valid working authorization. So, what does this mean for an employer here in St. Louis?
They can hire these diverse talents immediately with no additional paperwork or cost. For those who need work authorization/valid visa, MLO Law, LLC can help guide employers navigate that process. MLO Law, LLC has been working in the immigration area for over 20 years helping corporations, educational institutions, individuals, and religious establishments with employee visas, green cards, and citizenship.
Word of advice — it is good to work with an immigration attorney at the start of the hiring process as they will be able to advise you on the type of visa that is relevant, options if any, processes, and timelines. If your hire is from Mexico or Canada for example, they may be eligible for a TN visa. There are other similar visas that might be applicable for an international talent depending on their citizenship.
MOSAIC shared success stories of Afghanis and Ukraine refugees who were successful in finding employment thanks to MOSAIC who is playing a big role in providing support and guidance to that community. Attracting diverse talent is only one side of the equation though, how do organizations retain this diverse talent? DEI, of course. Organizations have realized the importance of DEI and are investing heavily in this area.
They want their employees to feel welcomed and happy. The representatives from Bayer and Nestle talked about their employee programs that they have in place to support DEI efforts. We are all human, and as human beings, we want to be accepted, acknowledged, and appreciated for who we are. The biggest takeaway: St. Louis based companies need to start looking at all these potential diverse talents who are right here at our doorstep.
Her law practice has three locations — St. Louis, Chicago, and Atlanta. Her areas of practice include Immigration, Estate Planning, and Business Law.
WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT IS THE BUZZWORD IN TOWN (AND IN THE NATION!), THANKS TO THE PANDEMIC. BUSINESSES NOW NEED A WORKFORCE FROM ALL FACETS, ENTRY-LEVEL, SKILLED, AND PROFESSIONAL.
CASA DE SALUD IS A NON-PROFIT COMMUNITY HEALTH CLINIC DEDICATED TO PROVIDING HIGH-QUALITY CLINICAL AND MENTAL HEALTHCARE SERVICES TO UNDER AND UNINSURED IMMIGRANTS. THEIR SERVICES ARE MADE POSSIBLE THROUGH THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF DEDICATED VOLUNTEERS, GENEROUS DONORS, AND STRONG PARTNERSHIPS WITHIN THE REGION. PROGRAMS INCLUDE:
Ŋ Primary Health Clinic: Offers a range of medical services, including primary care and specialty care, treatment of short-term and long-lasting illnesses, preventative services, and health education programs.
Ŋ GUIA: The GUIA team helps patients access health services outside of Casa. GUIAs help patients schedule appointments, assist with financial aid applications, and coordinate care. This program is designed to empower patients to take control of their health and well-being.
Ŋ Mental Health Collaborative (MHC): The MHC is a partnership between Casa, counseling organizations, and individual therapists that provide lowcost mental health care to individuals, couples, and families of all backgrounds. MHC counseling is accessible, offering interpretation and flexible hours to accommodate busy schedules.
Ŋ Volunteers: The volunteer program is a crucial component of Casa’s ability to offer quality medical services at a low cost. Medically licensed healthcare providers offer in-person and telehealth
visits. Volunteers, who fill important roles such as medical interpreters, scribes, and administrative volunteers, help support Casa’s ability to facilitate access to care.
Ŋ Donors: Finally, donors are the backbone of Casa’s ability to provide accessible healthcare to those in need. As an individual or business, you can support Casa’s mission through one-time gifts, monthly giving, or participation in our annual Zocaloco Gala. Your gift makes a difference in the lives of those who are uninsured or underinsured.
For every patient we serve, two more are waiting to receive care. Please consider donating or getting involved with Casa de Salud to help them make a difference in the lives of vulnerable communities in the region.
Contact Casa de Salud for more information:
casadesaludstl.org
314-977-1250
info@casadesaludstl.org
From many great individuals USI has become one unique industry leader. USI began in 1994 with a single office of $6.5 million in revenue and 40 associates. Today, USI has over $2.5 billion in revenue with approximately 10,000 associates in nearly 200 offices across the country.
USI has served over 500,000 clients, meeting their property and casualty, employee benefit, personal risk and retirement needs nationwide. We have more than 150 years of consulting and brokerage experience through our acquired agencies, with local offices dating back in their communities as far as the late 1800s. USI provides industry leading national capabilities delivered through longstanding, passionate and committed local service teams. USI stands for Understand, Service and Innovate. At USI we work to Understand the specific needs of our clients, to provide an unparalleled local Service experience, and to Innovate with cutting edge solutions so our clients can continue to invest and grow.
The power of USI, and our ability to bring best-in-class solutions and services to our clients and our communities, is achieved through the collective knowledge and experience of our professionals coming together as ONE. What truly distinguishes USI as a premier insurance brokerage and consulting firm is the USI ONE Advantage®, a game-changing value proposition that delivers to clients a robust set of risk management and benefit solutions with bottom line financial impact. USI ONE® represents Omni, Network, Enterprise—the three key elements that set USI apart from the competition.
Through USI ONE®, we develop strategic, timely and effective risk management and benefit programs in terms that are easy to understand, and we demonstrate how the solutions can have positive economic impact.
In June 2020, USI restructured and rebranded our diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) program, forming our current “I’m With U” DEI program. I’m With U represents our collective, firmwide commitment to innovating and advancing our DEI efforts. I’m — for taking individual action. With — for bringing people together, not apart. U — for understanding, uncovering, uplifting, upholding, unblinking, and unifying.
Each day, our teams work to mitigate risks for a wide variety of clients, representing diverse demographics, backgrounds, and specialties. Through our I’m With U program, we aim to educate and equip our associates with the resources and tools to help them better understand and serve our clients, prospects, communities, and team members.
USI is committed to strengthening our corporate diversity metrics through: (1) education & training, (2) career progression & mentorship, (3) partnerships & networks, (4) service & philanthropy, and (5) diversity in hiring. Through our I’m With U program, USI is focused upon making an impact in three key areas: (1) our clients & prospective clients, (2) our people & culture, and (3) our communities.
USI is organized and focused through our proprietary OMNI platform to deploy our deep expertise matched to the diverse needs of our clients and prospective clients. All 10,000+ USI team members complete a foundational training and development curriculum to develop core relationship skillsets for best-serving clients.
USI is focused on expanding diversity in all its forms and having that reflected in our own team members. We have gathered informational baselines and are increasing diversity, including gender, ethnicity and age, across all roles in our organization. Diversity is included as a core focus in the areas of hiring, mentoring, promotion and development.
At USI, we perform hands-on service and strive to support and advance marginalized communities.
USI’s annual award-winning community service program, USI Gives Back, encourages local offices and employees to incorporate our I’m With U values when volunteering their time, talents, and resources to support underrepresented groups in the local communities we serve.
USI Insurance Services is building the insurance and benefits experts for today, tomorrow, and the future. To complement the tools and resources in our USI ONE® process, USI offers a full suite of industry training and sales support programs led by awardwinning experts. Our teams benefit from unparalleled training and support— helping both new and established professionals with foundational industry knowledge, technical skills, leadership development opportunities and a supportive sales culture.
We invest heavily in our early talent associates through one-of-a-kind personal and professional development programs, along with best-in-class rewards and recognition. Through our Early Talent Career Track Program, associates are immersed in an accelerated development curriculum. Upon completion of the program, associates join a business group where they will be further developed through mentorship by industry experts and increasing levels of responsibility.
USI Gives Back is our unique and thoughtful corporate social responsibility program that aligns with our core values and makes a positive difference in the neighborhoods where we live and work. USI Gives Back is an annual campaign where everyone comes together as ONE to invest their time, talent and treasure in local community service throughout the year — with a particular emphasis during the month of August. USI Gives Back is about saying thank you to the communities that have been so instrumental in helping us grow. Since the program’s inception in August 2014, more than 10,000 USI associates have come together as ONE to improve over 2.5 million lives!
Over the years, our local offices have worked with food banks and depositories, animal rescue shelters, senior centers, women’s crisis shelters, Title 1 schools, homeless rescue missions, beautification projects, local zoos, parks and beaches, Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, Habitat for Humanity, Salvation Army, Gilda’s Club and United Way — just to name a few. With over 200 local offices spread across the United States, we understand the local communities we serve have diverse needs.
Our 2022 Gives Back campaign yielded more than 300 associate-led volunteer events across the country — 79% of which supported one or more diverse groups. The combined impact of these community service events touched more than 250,000 lives and more than 5,400 animals, totaling over 13,000 hours of volunteerism. In 2022, USI Gives Back was honored with Business Insurance’s U.S. Insurance Award for Community Outreach Project of the Year (Pro Bono and Volunteer).
USI’s culture is based on client advocacy, strong team interactions, shared knowledge, innovation and a desire for continual improvement. Quality and results are paramount to delivering on our vision to create a different and better experience for our clients, communities and team members. We are honored to be recognized for our industry-leading workplace culture and the service and expertise we deliver to clients.
In 2023, USI was recognized as a Best Insurance Employer for Hispanics for the 2nd year in a row, Best of the Best Insurance Employer for African Americans for the 4th consecutive year, and Best of the Best Employer for Women In the Insurance Industry for the 5th year running.
This was especially true with many Hispanic entrepreneurs who lacked a clear understanding of commercial insurance and its importance for their business. I discovered a passion for educating my community on insurance and providing the right solutions to help them build and grow their companies.
My biggest professional accomplishment is being part of USI Insurance Services. I have always said my community deserves the very best and with USI and our amazing network, I can go above and beyond for my community and clients.
In my role as a Risk Advisor, I work within our Construction Practice Group to deliver industry-leading solutions and services to a wide range of clients including general contractors, trade contractors, project owners, and
investors. Our in-depth expertise aligns with all phases of the construction process so we can protect your business and your bottom line from start to finish. I advise clients in the construction industry managing business risks related to Workers Compensation, Property Coverage, General Liability, Umbrella/ Excess Liability, Automobile Liability, Contractor’s Equipment, Marine – Wet & Dry, Management & Professional Liability, Environmental Risks, Cyber Risks, International Exposures, Claims & Risk Control, Certificate Review & Tracking and more. In addition to my construction practice, I also leverage USI’s extensive network to provide solutions to Industrial and Hospitality clients.
I BEGAN MY CAREER IN THE INSURANCE INDUSTRY NEARLY SEVENTEEN YEARS AGO. I IMMEDIATELY NOTICED A NEED FOR BETTER INFORMATION WITHIN MY HISPANIC AND LATINO COMMUNITY.
I AM VERY PROUD TO BE ABLE TO HELP MY COMMUNITY ACHIEVE THEIR DREAMS.
MY ROLE AT USI IS EXACTLY WHAT I WAS LOOKING FOR! I AM ABLE TO HELP ALL TYPES OF BUSINESSES WITHOUT HAVING TO WORRY IF THEY FIT ANY ONE COMPANY’S “MOLD” OF AN IDEAL CLIENT! WHILE I CAN HELP ALL BUSINESSES, WITH A FULL-TIME EMPLOYEE HEAD COUNT OVER 50...
I have chosen to continue my focus on construction trades! My extensive knowledge of the construction industry rules, regulations, and all lines of the coverage they need... has only helped me in the process of making sure that the employee benefits my clients offer align with their business strategy and the coverages they carry on their liability policies!
While my first position in the employee benefits world was not at USI, I learned that if I wanted to excel in my newfound
passion for helping others, I needed to be where the best team and resources exist!! That is when I started to research the market for the best agency... and found USI! I was honored and humbled to be the only female to join the STL employee benefits sales team... and have never been prouder to represent a company... who’s business practices, morals, community evolvement and client dedication matches mine!
DOING WHAT I LOVE... WITH THE BACKING OF USI... DOESN’T FEEL LIKE WORK, AT ALL!
I’ve been able to consult on various business issues and offer solutions that help drive results for clients of all sizes and across many industry verticals. The experience I’ve obtained from working with a diverse group of people and organizations has given me insight and appreciation for the struggles of entrepreneurship, the excitement of growth and scaling, and the complexity of sustainability through rapidly evolving markets. I consider myself a student of business and the insurance industry is a great classroom for lifelong learning.
THE INSURANCE INDUSTRY HAS PROVIDED ME WITH MANY OPPORTUNITIES TO MEET WITH BUSINESS OWNERS, EXECUTIVES, STAKEHOLDERS, AND EMPLOYEES FROM VARIOUS INDUSTRIES AND ALL WALKS OF LIFE.
As a Practice Leader at USI, I ensure our people and our clients experience the exceptional platform that is the USI ONE Advantage. My role begins with our people. From recruiting and hiring to coaching and training, I’m passionate about building a team that can deliver on our best-in-class value proposition.
The focus on career development is one of the primary reasons I came to USI. I’m passionate about helping others succeed and that is exactly what I get to do in my position.
In addition to our people, I’m focused on our clients and prospects. We work with a wide variety of clients representing diverse industries, demographics, and backgrounds. It’s important for our team to be equipped with the tools and resources to better understand and serve our diverse client base. That may mean working in a native language, like Spanish, or celebrating customs and traditions of those we serve. When we come alongside our clients, meet them where they are, and help them achieve their goals, it’s a win-win.
IT IS A GREAT HONOR AND POINT OF PRIDE FOR ME TO BE WORKING TO ADVANCE THE FUTURE OF THE INSURANCE INDUSTRY.
Allen Roofing & Siding has been serving the broader St. Louis area for over 50 years, operating out of three locations, including Ellisville, MO, St. Peters, MO, and Caseyville, IL.
They have earned the BBB Torch Award for Ethics and have been named a Top 100 Roofing Contractor by the Roofing Contractor magazine. Their success in serving the community since 1972 is attributed to always putting their customers first.
They provide roofing, siding, gutter, and tuckpointing services to homeowners, commercial property owners, and homebuilders. Services include repairs, replacement, and new construction. Allen Roofing & Siding provides free estimates and has the ability and expertise to manage small and large projects.
They have a strong team of professionals committed to being the best in this industry and are proud of their team and the relationships they have built within the St. Louis community.
Please visit their website at aroofing.net or call 636-391-1117 to learn more, schedule a free estimate, or explore career opportunities.
industry redistributor in North America
—carrying 125,000 products from 1,020 food industry manufacturers.
Through Dot Transportation, Inc. (DTI), an affiliate of Dot Foods, the company distributes foodservice, convenience, retail, and vending products to distributors in all 50 states and more than 55 countries.
Dot operates 12 U.S. distribution centers (DC), with a thirteenth DC opening in Manchester, Tennessee, later this year. Dot Foods’ Canadian operations are located in Toronto, Ontario, and Calgary, Alberta.
A new Dot Foods Canada DC is currently under construction in Ingersoll, Canada.
Dot’s passion projects are the Alzheimer’s Association and United Way—donating $1.4M and $5.5M respectively since starting partnerships with those organizations. We also donated and delivered $405,000 of food products to 76 local food pantries in 2022 through our Neighbor to Neighbor program.
Between product and monetary donations, Dot’s charitable efforts surpassed $11.2M in total donations to our communities across North America in 2022.
To help ensure our charitable dollars are making the most impact, we support these five focus areas: Community development and engagement, diversity and inclusion, education, health and wellness, and public safety.
To learn more, please visit dotfoods.com
St. Louis Public Radio is an independent public radio station delivering award-winning local news, podcasts, music, and national news from NPR to over a half million people each month.
The STLPR mission is to inform and provide a deeper understanding and appreciation of events, ideas, and cultures for a more inspired and engaged public.
STLPR invites you to experience news that brings context and humanity to the stories in the headlines. You’ll meet people from all over our region and explore issues including culture, history, politics, faith and the arts through indepth news and original local podcasts produced right here in St. Louis.
Whether you prefer to listen, read, or swipe, we’re always within reach.
» Lock us in on your car radio dial at 90.7 KWMU-1
» Read us or stream us live on stlpr.org
» Download the STLPR app for iPhone or Android for FREE
» Play us on your smartspeaker with Siri, Hey Google or Alexa
Readers can access Spanish-language content from the stlpr.org home page in STLPR En Español. You can also find the latest season of our We Live Here podcast, WeLiveHere,Auténtico! , for story-based reflections from bilingual Latinos in St. Louis and the Metro East at welivehere.show
Have your daily dose of news delivered by email. STLPR’s TheGateway newsletter arrives each weekday around noon with the stories that directly impact your life in St. Louis, and a link to the day’s TheGateway podcast. Subscribe for free at stlpr.org/gateway.
As time changes and certain industries struggle with various factors, labor shortages have been and continue to be one of the top struggles in the construction industry. It is such a burden that it’s safe to say every large general contractor has some form of labor outreach program to try and inform today’s youth that a traditional 4 year university is not the only route to success. This is where my story begins.
My name is Gabriel Cardenas and I am the owner of Missouri Constructors. We are a small landscape construction company that does residential and commercial projects throughout
the St. Louis metro area. In 2011 I began working in the construction industry and had to learn the hard way when it came to this business. There were a lot of hard lessons but when I moved to St. Louis in 2019 I felt more prepared than ever for all the challenges to come. In our first year we did just over $500k and have grown to $4 million in 2022, with another strong start for additional growth in 2023.
I have taken all of the lessons I have learned and have tried to share my knowledge with other contractors who also have a dream of growing their business.
One of the ways I try to help is through the Skilled Trades Committee with the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. We just finished a two-year program called Contractor Connect where we brought in various experts on all sorts of topics to try and educate those who seek to better themselves and start doing things the correct way. Only through knowledge can someone grow their business the right way. So, if you find yourself looking for another path always remember the richest people in the world are not lawyers or doctors, they are business owners.
IN TODAY’S SOCIETY IT IS COMMON FOR PARENTS TO NOT ONLY ENCOURAGE BUT TO DEMAND THEIR CHILDREN ATTEND COLLEGE.
The purpose of having a marketing plan is to write down marketing strategies in an organized manner. Writing a marketing plan will help you think of each campaign’s mission, budget, tactics, and deliverables. It works as a roadmap, helping you to stay on track and to discover what works and what doesn’t by measuring the success of your strategy. True fact is that unplanned, uncoordinated efforts can produce sporadic results, but usually not sustained growth. If you want to get the most out of your marketing dollars, I recommend that you create a plan and stick to it. Here are a few sections you should consider incorporating in your marketing plan.
Start with some research
Perception of your company: It is important to know what other people besides you think about your product/ service, what “the outside world” thinks about your company. I recommend you spend some time talking to your employees, partners, customers, and any community members who are involved with your company. It is important to find out what they truly think and how they feel about your product/service.
Perception of your competitors
Also ask people who they think your competitors are, and how your company stacks up against them. Take some time to check out your competitors’ marketing efforts.
Write down SMART goals & how you will achieve them
Lay out what you want to achieve. Pay attention to list SMART goals — specific, measurable, attainable,
relevant and time-bound — so you’ll be able to clearly know whether or not they were met. A SMART goal example could be: “Increase current customer base by 15% by the end of the quarter.” In addition, write down the milestones you must hit in order to achieve your goals. For example the milestone could be: “To reach 5,000 sales prospects with an email campaign that has an open rate of at least 30% and a clickthrough rate of 5%.”
Define your target markets & buyer persona
Specify whom you intend to reach through your marketing efforts. Generally, this is your customers and prospective customers defined in a geographical area or demographics offers and thus the reason for doing business with you instead of your competitors.
Create a content strategy
Just as your business might have more than one type of customer, your content strategy can cater to more than one type of user. Using a variety of content types and channels will help you deliver content that’s tailored to each persona.
Your strategy should stipulate:
* Which types of content you’ll create. These can include for example blog posts, YouTube videos, infographics.
* How much of it you’ll create, for example in daily, weekly, monthly, or even quarterly intervals.
* The goals and Key Performance Indicators (KPI) you’ll use to track each type. KPIs can include organic traffic, social media traffic, email traffic, and referral traffic. Your goals should also include which pages you want to drive that traffic to, such as product pages, blog pages, or landing pages.
* The channels on which you’ll distribute this content: Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube, Pinterest, and Instagram for example.
Our marketing team at HCC can assist you with recommendations for your website, social media tips, and create a banner among other services. Additionally at HCC we can promote your business through our social media platforms, with an article in our en Contacto magazine, interview you in our Members on Air — An HCC Podcast or Cámara en Vivo and/or showcase your restaurant in Los Sabores de St. Louis. Additionally, let me list some members that provide marketing related services: Spry Digital, Success Brands, Cartel, Thomson Printing, PrintFlex graphics, among others.
As always, I am available if you have any questions or need assistance at mdegregorio@hccstl.com
MARIA DE GREGORIO Business Counselor, Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
OPPORTUNITIES FOR EVERYONE TO GROW, CONNECT AND DEVELOP THEIR ORGANIZATION.
BEING PART OF OUR CHAMBER FAMILY GIVES YOU MANY RESOURCES & TOOLS, WHETHER YOU ARE A SMALL BUSINESS, NONPROFIT, LARGE CORPORATION, OR AN INDIVIDUAL. HERE ARE SOME OF THE BENEFITS WE OFFER:
Job Fair: If your company is looking to hire, our Job Fair is a great place to search for talent. Each year, this Job Fair has been able to attract numerous qualified professionals.
Job Postings: We have a designated section on our website for amplifying job openings. We also feature them in our e-newsletter and social media platforms.
NETWORKING
Business After Hours: Networking is at the core of what we do. Therefore, we have our Business After Hour events every 3rd Thursday of every month in various locations across the metro. These events are meant to connect our members in a lively and friendly atmosphere. It’s a great way to make new friends and create partnerships.
Promoting your events, services, products, or accomplishments, are great ways to gain exposure to our members. Our marketing team will help you amplify your voice through our various platforms, including the HCC website, bi-weekly e-newsletter, social media and through “MIC” (Member Information Center), our member-only platform, among others. Sponsorship of our various events is also a great way to gain exposure to specific audiences.
Our Business Counselor can provide resources and guidance in growing your business or non-profit.
Educational events are provided throughout the year for every type of business. Special events such as our Annual Golf Tournament and Adelante Awards Gala provide additional opportunities to engage with our community.
Please reach out to us if you have any questions or would like to learn more.
Join our HCC family today!
GOLD SILVER BRONZE
Allen Roofing & Siding
American Family Insurance
Ameristar Casino Resort and Spa
Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield
Ben Hur Construction
BMO Bank
Breakthru Beverage Missouri LLC
Busey Bank
Carmody MacDonald
Carrollton Bank
Central Bank of St. Louis
CIBC
Commerce Bank
Dot Foods
First Bank
Four Seasons Hotel St. Louis
Frick’s Quality Meats Inc
Garcia Properties
Grey Eagle Distributors
Home Depot
Keeley Construction
Lindenwood University
Lodging Hospitality Management
Luxco, Inc.
Midland States Bank
Midwest BankCentre
Mississippi Lime Company
Missouri History Museum
Montgomery Bank
Mutual Of Omaha Advisors
Panera Bread LLC
Pangea Group
Precoat Metals
Re/Max Gold
Regions Bank
RSM US, LLP
Sherwin Williams
SIUE
Spire, Inc.
St. Louis Community College
STL Partnership
St. Louis Post-Dispatch
St. Louis-Kansas Council
Success Brands
Talisen Technologies
Tarlton Corporation
The Ritz-Carlton, St. Louis
Thompson Coburn LLP
University of Missouri — St. Louis
University of Missouri System
ValDivia Enterprises, Inc
Veterans United Home Loans
Washington University in St. Louis
World Wide Technology
