2017 Fall Magazine

FALL 2017

pg.

8

pg.

9

10

pg.

CELEBRATING

AMBASSADOR OF

CELEBRATION OF LIFE

THE HISPANIC LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE

MEXICO VISITS THE HISPANIC CHAMBER

AT THE MISSOURI HISTORY MUSEUM

LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT & CEO Dear members/ readers, Happy New Year! As we gear up for a new year, I like to reflect on the progress we have made in 2017 and the goals we plan to reach in 2018.

We closed out 2017 with many highlights and notable accomplishments. First and foremost, the Hispanic Chamber's Foundation celebrated the start of the Hispanic Leadership Institute’s (HLI) Class VII, composed of 20 talented professionals from various industries.

Additionally, the Foundation also reunited HLI Class I through Class VII at Anheuser-Busch to reinforce its purpose and celebrate the tremendous success of the program.

AS WE GEAR UP FOR A NEW YEAR, I LIKE TO REFLECT ON THE PROGRESS WE HAVE MADE IN 2017 AND THE GOALS WE PLAN TO REACH IN 2018.”

Aside from the Foundation’s efforts, the Hispanic Chamber was honored to host The Honorable Gerónimo Gutiérrez, ambassador of Mexico to the USA, and The Honorable Alfonso Navarro Bernachi, head consul of the Consulate of Mexico in Kansas City, Mo. for a luncheon to exchange ideas to increase USA, Missouri, and St. Louis–Mexico relations, economic initiatives and opportunities.

Efforts like these enables the Hispanic Chamber to expand our reach and impact. However, it is because of the support of our members that we continue to look for ways to improve so that we can strengthen our ability to meet and exceed their expectations.

We welcomed 140 new members in 2017 and we will continue to add value to all members through the programs and events that we are launching in 2018.

As always, we could not implement any of these efforts without your partnership. Thank you for being our champions and our advocates. We would not be the chamber we are today without the support and guidance from the positive people that make our city exceptional.

If you would like to learn more about the Hispanic Chamber, I encourage you to attend our free monthly networking events, Business After Hours, or come to one of our educational forums, Café with Business. These events, listed on our website www.hccstl.com, are a great way to meet our Hispanic Chamber members, hone your skills and connect with business leaders in the community.

Thank you for your continued support,

Karlos Ramirez President & CEO

WELCOME NEW MEMBERS!

By joining, the following individuals and companies have decided to make an investment in the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and our community at large. We encourage you to find out more about them and, whenever possible, to use their services. If you would like more information about any of these individuals or organizations, please contact us at 314.664.4432.

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FALL 2017 HISPANIC CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

¯ 4M Building Solutions

¯ El Coronel

¯ S TL Language Arts

¯ Alexa, Inc.

¯ Fairway Holdings

¯ S ysco St. Louis, LLC

¯ ALPLA, Inc.

¯ F orest Park Forever

¯ T amales Gerardo

¯ American Vending Machines

¯ G race Hill Settlement House

¯ T he Biome School

¯ H y E Cleaning Services

¯ AT Still University

¯ M aribel Cortes Conde

¯ V eterans Business Resource Center

¯ Beautiful Mexicana

addell & Reed Advisors ¯ M cLaughlin Funeral Home, Inc ¯ W ¯ Be-U ¯ X imena Vasquez– ¯ M utual of Omaha Keller Williams Realty ¯ Blandina Martinez– ¯ P rime Building & Construction Romero Mexican Cuisine ¯ Y emanja Brasil ¯ S t. Charles Community College ¯ Chef Akemy Ceballos ¯ S t. Clair County Advice Consulting

contributing authors: VANESSA GARCIA CARLOS RESTREPO

Enterprise Bank & Trust: Data Privacy pg. 4

Ambassador of Mexico Visits the Hispanic Chamber pg. 9

It’s Never Too Early to Start Preparing for the Next Plan Year pg. 6

Celebration of Life at the Missouri History Museum pg. 10

Southeast Launches New Courses Dedicated to Cultural Competence in the Health Professions pg. 7

How to Automate Your Cash Flow—and Get Paid Faster pg. 11

Celebrating the Hispanic Leadership Institute pg. 8

HCC Events Calendar pg. 12

FALL 2017

Data Privacy

IS KEY TO PROTECTING YOUR BUSINESS

When the average business owner hears the term cybercrime, one of two things are likely to happen: 1) they think about attacks happening to larger corporations or 2) they disregard it and go back to their work. Besides, hackers are only interested in big corporations, right?

According to Keeper’s “2017 State of Small and Medium-Sized Business Cybersecurity Report,” 61% of our country’s 28 million small and medium-sized businesses reported that they were either the victim of or experienced an attempted cyber-attack that year. This represents a seven percent increase from 2016. But despite this chilling statistic, a separate survey by Manta revealed few business owners are concerned about cybercrime, with 87% saying they felt they were not at risk.

Cybercrime is defined as criminal activities carried out by computers or using the internet. The most common types of cybercrime include Corporate Account Takeovers (CAT), intellectual property theft, identity theft, online predatory crimes and unauthorized computer access.

The Internet opened the global economy for business. Companies like yours can now connect and do business with people near and far. But this opportunity also increases the threats you face.

Now is the time to plan to reduce your risk of being attacked.

Each January, Data Privacy Day serves as an annual reminder for business owners like yourself, to take a pause and reflect on the actionable steps you can take. Following are 5 actions you can work on today and put into practice to better protect your business, your employees, your customers and your reputation.

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FALL 2017 HISPANIC CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

61% of our country’s 28 million small and medium-sized businesses reported that they were either the victim of or experienced an attempted cyber-attack [in 2017].”

UPGRADE YOUR PASSWORD PRACTICES

USE SECURE ONLINE PAYMENTS

Based on the risk posed, all passwords should be long, strong and unique for every account you have. Upgrade them by using the SNL (symbols, numbers and letters) Triad, enabling two-factor authentication and utilize a password manager.

If you are paying online, check that the website utilizes a secure payment platform. It's also smart to check with your payment card providers about what services they offer to protect your identity and guard against fraudulent activity.

UPDATE PRIVACY SETTINGS

For more tips and information, visit the United States Computer Emergency Readiness Team at https://www.us-cert.gov. You’ve worked hard to build your business and we want to see you achieve the financial success you’ve dreamed of. We encourage you to share this with fellow business owners, so they can protect themselves.

If you have any questions, let’s continue the conversation. This is a topic we as a bank monitor closely because it is always changing.

Staying current on the latest best practices and threats is key to protecting yourself and your business.

When was the last time you reviewed your social media websites’ privacy settings? Clean up unnecessary contacts “friends” and make sure you are sharing only what you intend to with your audience.

Protect your mobile devices: Use a strong passcode on your smartphones and tablets to ensure they are secure, physically secured and back them up just like your computer.

MIND YOUR INBOX

Be mindful of links, requests or attachments from outside sources. If a supplier or retailer is asking you to click on a link, you can usually access that information directly from their website. When in doubt, pick up the phone and inquire verbally about the request.

STEPHANIE SANCHEZ is an Assistant Branch Manager at Enterprise Bank & Trust. She assists with the daily management of the Brentwood location. Her primary responsibilities include supervising the activities of branch personnel and providing leadership and guidance throughout the organization to ensure conformance with bank policy and procedures.

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As an employer, your broker or insurance carrier should be a trusted resource for making benefit decisions and ensuring your plan meets all industry standards and regulations.”

It’s Never Too Early In today’s ever-changing health care market, it has never been more important for employers to plan early and shop around for their company’s health insurance. Too many employers simply pay their premiums without a full understanding of what they are purchasing, how well it meets the needs of their employees and how much it affects their bottom line.

If your 2018 plan just went into effect, it could be the perfect time to start thinking about next year. As an employer, your broker or insurance carrier should be a trusted resource for making benefit decisions and ensuring your plan meets all industry standards and regulations. Employers should start by working directly with these partners to examine the current plan and its performance.

Aspects such as claim history and spending trends should be evaluated. It may also be beneficial to compare the current plan to those of similar companies to determine if the benefits are competitive.

From there, employers can consider different solutions to make next year’s plan more effective. Typically, the more informed and involved the employer, the more successful the benefit plan.

Here are some of the top Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield products and services that employers in Missouri have implemented to make their benefit plan more successful: MEDICAL MANAGEMENT

Through a variety of different types of interventions, medical management addresses the use of services and their appropriateness according to medical standards, the quality of members' experiences, and ultimately, the cost of the medical care. It's not only about saving money, but also about helping employees avoid exposure to unnecessary services.

TO START PREPARING FOR THE NEXT PLAN YEAR

LIVEHEALTH ONLINE

The latest in telemedicine, LiveHealth Online features live, on-demand video doctor visits, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. When an employee consults with the telemedicine program, there can be significant cost savings for the employer as well as for the employee. And, telemedicine programs have been found to help reduce the amount of emergency room and urgent care visits.

BEHAVIORAL HEALTH & EMPLOYEE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (EAP)

Employees who don’t receive the appropriate help for mental health, substance abuse, or challenges in their personal life, are likely to experience higher medical claims, poor productivity and increased absenteeism. Expanded Behavioral Health and EAP services can help employees with the individualized support they need, leading to increased risk management and productivity for employers.

HEALTH & WELLNESS PROGRAMS

There are a variety of health and wellness programs that can be implemented to help employees manage their health. Disease management, 24-hour nurse line, maternity management and corporate discount programs are all great options to help employees take charge of their health —while also managing costs.

START PLANNING TODAY

No matter what changes you decide to make for the next plan year, it is important for employers to stay informed and engaged with their employee benefit offering. It’s not only one of the largest expenses of running a company, but also has the potential to make the biggest impact on what’s most important to your business – your employees.

If you would like to learn more about Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Missouri and how we can help you get on track for your next plan year, have your broker call us. If you don’t have a broker, give us a call at 844-733-1715 so we can help you find one.

STEPHANIE VOJICIC, Regional Vice President of Sales Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Missouri. Stephanie has been with Anthem for 18 years and has served in a number of roles whose focus is on leading multiple teams to exceed customer expectations. She brings solid leadership experience within the health insurance industry and throughout her career has promoted the health of our communities.

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FALL 2017 HISPANIC CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

Cultural competence is important in how well patients are treated and whether they benefit from medical interventions ...”

Southeast Launches

NEW COURSES DEDICATED TO CULTURAL COMPETENCE IN THE HEALTH PROFESSIONS

New Southeast Missouri State University interdisciplinary coursework is preparing future health care workers to be culturally competent care professionals.

Dr. Debra Lee-DiStefano, professor of foreign languages, Dr. Linda Garner, associate professor of nursing, and Dr. Doc Billingsley, instructor of anthropology, are bringing an interdisciplinary approach to healthcare while educating students on the importance of compassion in their work.

“My hope is that these courses make us much more empathetic towards people in the most vulnerable situations,” said Lee-DiStefano.

the department of modern languages, anthropology and geography; health communication and the pre-medical programs.

“We discuss the ways health and illness are understood very differently from one society to the next—even between countries that seem to have a lot in common, the ways people treat sickness can vary dramatically,” said Billingsley. “We also critically analyze the ways we understand and treat illness in the United States.”

Hispanic populations include a diverse array of people from many countries, including about 50 million U.S. citizens.

Cultural competence refers to the healthcare provider’s ability to understand their patient within their social context. We are not just patients on a doctor’s examination table. We are complete individuals with our own families, communities, traditions and challenges largely defined by culture and history, Billingsley said.

“Some health issues or beliefs prevalent in one group may not be applicable to another, so it is impossible to create a checklist that a doctor or nurse could use to treat patients who walk into their clinic based on their language or country of origin,” Billingsley said.

“However, it is possible to prepare yourself to offer better services to Spanish-speaking patients by developing skills, opening your eyes and paying attention to the wider community around you.”

Lee-DiStefano has developed three Spanish courses within the context of health, all providing a solid base in cultural competence.

The new courses dovetail with a new major and minor in health communication launched in 2015 at Southeast.

“We talk a lot about working with populations different from ourselves,” said Lee-DiStefano. “Even if students don’t use a lot of Spanish in their future careers, this discussion about how to feel empathy for others in vulnerable situations will be the most long-lasting.”

In addition, subject-matter experts are now visiting the campus to discuss culturally and linguistically competent healthcare. Jorge Riopedre, executive director of Casa de Salud, visited Southeast in October 2017 to discuss the mission and structure of the St. Louis health clinic serving as the premier healthcare resource for the foreign-born community of metropolitan St. Louis. Southeast students recently visited the clinic that welcomes people of all origins.

With bilingual nurses in demand, the courses will benefit future nurses, preparing them to care for patients whose primary language is Spanish, enabling them to offer better care. Lee-DiStefano and Garner also plan to co-teach a community health worker course in the spring for those serving as liaisons or navigators for people interacting with healthcare systems.

Another new course, “Medical Anthropology and Public Health,” will be piloted at Southeast in the future, bringing together students from

Creating a more equitable society is the ultimate goal of Southeast’s cultural competency coursework. A minor in Spanish for the Health Professions minor could be available next fall. For more information, contact dklee@semo.edu.

MAGDALEN PIKE is a student writer in the News Bureau at Southeast Missouri State University. She is a senior pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Mass Communication: public Relations option, and a Bachelor of Arts in Spanish. Her previous experience includes interning for the St. Louis Advertising Club, TEDxGatewayArch and the St. Louis Ambush. She has been a member of the Southeast women’s soccer team and is excited to embark on a new career when she graduates in May 2018.

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The Hispanic Leadership Institute strives to continue to develop a network of professionals in the area who can serve as a resource for each other in various capacities.”

Celebrating

THE HISPANIC LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE

HLI CLASS VII OPENING RECEPTION

Every October, the Hispanic Chamber’s charitable arm, the HCC STL Foundation, celebrates the start of a new class to participate in the Hispanic Leadership Institute, and this year was not any different.

On October 13, 2017, the seventh class of the Hispanic Leadership Institute (HLI) convened for their first class of the program. Twenty students attended this session where they learned about leadership through an HR lens and the importance of serving on nonprofit boards. Students walked away with a deeper understanding about the importance of leading oneself, leading others and leading the organization.

Once the session concluded, the opening reception commenced. HCC and Foundation board members, former HLI participants, friends and family of the HLI participants attended. This reception is held annually to welcome the new students and connect them with valuable resources as they continue to develop their professional goals.

HLI REUNION

Aside from the start of Class VII, the HCC STL Foundation also partnered with Anheuser-Busch to host the annual HLI reunion in November at the Biergarten. Almost 100 people attended this event and participants were encouraged to tweet, post and share all over social media highlights from the event and for a chance to win a Beermaster Tour certificate. With over 67 social media mentions, we were thrilled with the engagement from our guests!

This event allows the alumni from every class to reconnect and meet the students from other classes. The Hispanic Leadership Institute strives to continue to develop a network of professionals in the area who can serve as a resource for each other in various capacities. With over 90 HLI graduates, a reunion is beneficial because participants represent various industries such as nonprofit, corporate, small business owners and entrepreneurs. These professionals are able to expand their network and share in professional opportunities.

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FALL 2017 HISPANIC CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

This speaks volumes to our mission and helps put St. Louis on the map as a thriving city that is welcoming to all.”

Ambassador of Mexico

VISITS THE HISPANIC CHAMBER

The Honorable Gerónimo Gutiérrez, ambassador of Mexico to the U.S., and The Honorable Alfonso Navarro Bernachi, Head Consul of Mexico in Kansas City, visited the offices of the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce to exchange ideas that could advance our common interests.

The event, which took place Wednesday, October 25, served as an opportunity to highlight the growing Mexican and Hispanic population of the St. Louis metropolitan area and the economic ties between the city and Mexico.

Guests enjoyed an authentic Mexican meal by member restaurant Lucha and shared their vision for economic partnerships that would benefit the city of St. Louis and the country of Mexico.

“It is not every day that you have the opportunity to host a diplomat of such a high caliber and be able to boast about the city you live in, its hard-working population and its business opportunities,” said Karlos Ramirez, President and CEO of the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.

“This speaks volumes to our mission and helps put St. Louis on the map as a thriving city that is welcoming to all.”

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During Día de los Muertos, there is a sense that death is not something to be feared, but rather that life is something to be thoroughly enjoyed and cherished.”

Celebration of Life The Missouri History Museum came alive on November 4 and 5 for the fourth annual Día de los Muertos Celebration, hosted in collaboration with Hispanic Festival, Inc.

Yes, even though the event was honoring the dead, the Museum could not have been a more vibrant place. Live music, dance performances, colorful decorations, delicious foods, painted faces, art, meaningful conversations, and all-around excitement permeated the space.

More than a dozen altars celebrating loved ones who have passed were decked with brightly colored fabric, rosary beads, crucifixes, pictures of Our Lady of Guadalupe, incense, candles, sugar skulls, skeletons, photos, and dozens upon dozens of flowers.

Elisa Bender of Hispanic Festival, Inc. shared that flowers, especially marigolds, are placed on altars and sometimes trailed from cemeteries to families’ homes because the sweet scent helps the souls of the departed find their way back to visit for the holiday. Pan de muerto (bread for the dead), fruit, and other favorite foods were piled high on each altar as ofrendas (offerings) to feed the souls of the dead. The idea is that during this holiday those who have passed are encouraged to come back to celebrate with the living who still remember and appreciate them.

The traditions of this holiday are rooted in the customs of the indigenous peoples of Latin America and are also influenced by Spanish culture. During the festival, there was something for everyone.

St. Louis Club Atletico taught fútbol skills to children and handed out balls and jerseys. Taking swings at festive piñatas and scrambling for candy provided another fun physical activity for kids. Maria Yaksic, a local educator who grew up in La Paz, Bolivia, led special Día de los Muertos sessions of Cuentos en Español en el Museo, a Spanish-language storytelling program. Children also created paper flowers and sugar skull masks, and had their faces painted to look like calaveras (skulls) adorned with colorful flowers.

Performances of Homenage la Llorona and other dances accompanied by live singing, lit up the stage. Visitors enjoyed original Día de los Muertos-inspired paintings and sculptures created by artists throughout the St. Louis area. On Saturday afternoon hundreds of people participated in a procession led by the Matachines dancers of Our Lady of Guadalupe Church wearing bright red attire, followed

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FALL 2017 HISPANIC CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

AT THE MISSOURI HISTORY MUSEUM by giant handmade puppets, and musicians including Washington University’s student group Mariachi Cuicacalli. Several people carried photos of loved ones as the procession wound through Forest Park and ended with a ceremony back inside the Museum. On Sunday afternoon, dancers from Our Lady of Guadalupe and Matachines dancers of St. Anthony of Padua performed outdoors, and doves were released as a symbol of peace and hope. Many visitors, both Hispanic and non-Hispanic, expressed how much they valued the event. Many had conversations with people they’d never met before, talking about the meaning of the holiday or the traditions they personally practice. Children who had learned about Día de los Muertos in school showed their parents around, explaining the significance of each item on the altars. A woman visiting from Mexico said the festival made her feel at home. A young boy who had never heard of the holiday eagerly made a sugar skull mask for his granny who had passed.

The Missouri History Museum strives to tell the stories of everyone who calls St. Louis home and to provide a welcoming space where people can share their own stories. During the Día de los Muertos celebration, members of St. Louis’ Hispanic community shared their personal stories of loved ones as well as the unique traditions and heritage they bring with them from Mexico, Bolivia, Puerto Rico, Cuba, Venezuela, and Guatemala, among other Latin American countries.

The Missouri History Museum is extremely grateful and honored to collaborate with Hispanic Festival Inc. to host this meaningful event and is already excited for next year. In the meantime, the Museum is also looking forward to connecting with the Hispanic community in more ways, including expanding the monthly offerings of Cuentos en español en el museo, thanks to generous support from PNC Grow Up Great, and planning a summertime Latino Family Night.

LINDSAY NEWTON has worked at the Missouri History Museum for 12 years and currently serves as the Youth and Family Programs Manager. In 2009, Newton launched a full menu of early childhood and family programs, which continues to grow every year, due in great part to collaborating with countless community organizations throughout the St. Louis area. Lindsay has a bachelor’s degree in Art History from Washington University and a master’s degree in Child and Family Studies from Fontbonne University.

It can be hard to change your processes, but upgrading to new cash flow technology can help make your business more secure and efficient, and your customers will likely notice a difference.”

How to automate your cash flow

—AND GET PAID FASTER

Cash flow is the foundation of your business. You need your customers to pay you on time, so that you’re able to pay your bills. Unfortunately, from invoicing the customer to accepting their payment, there are many steps that influence –and hinder– cash flow. If you use paper checks or handle approvals manually, you could be due for some upgrades to make your payments process run more smoothly, which would improve cash flow and help you get paid faster.

ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE OR GETTING PAID BY OTHERS

t LOCKBOX AND REMOTE DEPOSIT

Start the process of invoicing a customer for the amount the owe either before or after the project has been completed. The timing in which invoices are sent can be based on the size of the company and or the size of the project. Nevertheless, if their only options for making payment are cash or check, they’ll likely take their time. As their check makes its way to you through the mail, you’re left waiting for your payment and hoping that it doesn’t get lost by the mail carrier. Instead, you can use any of the following options to handle receivables electronically, much faster and more securely:

Some businesses still need to accept paper checks and fortunately there are ways to make that process more secure and efficient as well. A lockbox will receive your customers’ checks, process them and send an electronic record of funds received to your bank on your behalf. That way you don’t have to keep track of dozens of checks and deliver them to the bank yourself. However, if you do prefer to manage the checks yourself, you can set up remote deposit to submit checks to your bank using your mobile device or a desktop scanner.

t AUTOMATED CLEARING HOUSE (ACH)

If you sell internationally, you might receive a check in foreign currency.

With incoming foreign currency wires, you can set up a secure wire transfer line for your customer to send a payment to. A bank with foreign exchange trading capabilities can then help turn those funds into American currency.

When you set up an ACH payments processer, typically through your bank or a third-party vendor, your customers can pay by check online using their account and routing numbers. If they need to make a recurring payment, they can set up automatic payments through your ACH account. That way they spend less time worrying about remembering and more time appreciating your business. The funds are available to you more readily than if they mail a check, and they are more secure. t ACCEPTING CREDIT OR DEBIT CARD PAYMENTS ONLINE

On Cyber Monday, you don’t want to miss out because you don’t accept online payments. In fact, customers prefer the flexibility of being able to pay at any time with their credit card online. Give them that freedom, and they’ll be more likely to pay you not only on time, but also increase their loyalty and satisfaction. Several providers offer an online payment portal that you can set up for your business. For instance, CollectPay Online <https://www.commercebank.com/ business/payables-and-receivables/receivables/collectpay-online> allows Commerce clients to accept payment online and over the phone, as well as let their customers schedule their payments.

t RECEIVE PAYMENT FROM FOREIGN BUYERS

t ACCOUNTS PAYABLE, OR PAYING OTHERS

When you receive an invoice from a vendor, it probably gets passed between multiple people for approval. Then a payment request is submitted, and you issue the payee a check. If that check goes through the mail, you don’t know when they’ll receive it, when the check will be deposited, and whether you’ll have available funds in your account. You can use ACH technology to set up one-time and recurring accounts payable payments. For a larger one-time payment, you may consider doing a wire transfer. With ACH or a wire, the time between cutting the check and seeing the funds taken out is as soon as the same day. You have a more real-time sense of how much in accounts payable is leaving your business. A wire transfer is also more secure than a physical check, and it’s possible to send them domestically or internationally. [continue to page 12]

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t LET TECHNOLOGY HANDLE ALL OF IT, FROM RECEIVABLES TO PAYABLES

That’s right, complete automation is possible. Everything from invoicing to approvals to paying bills can be handled electronically.

The customer receives an invoice by email and is invited to submit payment online (though you can also send a physical invoice if your client prefers). You can also set up reminders if they’re late to pay.

For payables, you can review bills, approve payments and even pay your bills within the system. By handling all of your cash flow management steps in one place, you can also get a real-time view of the money coming into and going out of your business. There are several programs that help with automation – ours is called CashFlow Complete [www.commercebank.com/business/payables-andreceivables/cashflow-complete]—and you should look for one that can work with the accounting software you use.

In addition to making it easier to get paid, tools like ACH, wire transfer and CashFlow Complete can make life easier for you and your team. Imagine what you could do with the time you usually spend on organizing invoices, tracking checks and updating spreadsheets.

It can be hard to change your processes, but upgrading to new cash flow technology can help make your business more secure and efficient, and your customers will likely notice a difference, too.

SONYA TANDY is Small Business Banking Specialist for Commerce Bank, which provides customized payment processing services to more than 10,000 businesses nationwide with annual credit card volume of more than $8 billion and processes over 96 million in transactions.

2018 HCC Event Calendar

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FALL 2017 HISPANIC CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

HELPING PEOPLE LIVE THEIR BEST POSSIBLE LIVES Problems.

The ones too big to tackle alone.

The ones that limit people and limit potential.

The ones that impact all of us.

We go looking for them.

In farm towns and river towns.

Suburbs and cities.

From South City to Swansea.

Overland to Highland.

We surround our communityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s most critical problems.

And we fight.

We are the hand-raisers.

The game-changers The never stop fighting, never back down, life transformers.

At United Way of Greater St. Louis, we fight for every person in our community.

We fight for the education of every child.

The basic needs of every family.

The self-sufficiency of every person.

Because what happens to one of us, happens to all of us.

United, we fight for those who canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t.

United, we fight for change.

United, we fight to help people live their best possible lives.

Unite with us.

HELPINGPEOPLE.ORG

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From the countless brews on tap in The Biergarten to the Signature Tours, the historic Anheuser-Busch Brewery offers a variety of experiences you won’t find anywhere else.

For more, call 314.577.2626 or visit BudweiserTours.com.

© 2015 Anheuser-Busch, Budweiser® Beer, St. Louis, MO

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FALL 2017 HISPANIC CHAMBER OF COMMERCE Brand: Bud Item #:

Closing Date:

Job/Order #: QC: rr

MUST INITIAL FOR APPROVAL

PO:

Trim: 8.5" x 11" Bleed: 8.75" x 11.25"

Pub: PM:

AM:

AD:

CD:

Live: 7.75" x 10.25"

CW:

QC:

Building a more diverse and inclusive region.

That’s our business.

We’re the Regional Business Council. We’re 100 of the area’s leading businesses, with over $60 billion in revenue, staffed by over 100,000 professional associates.

And we’re targeting those resources and that expertise directly at the St. Louis region. Improving the St. Louis region is a big job. But that’s our Business.

The Regional Business Council stands with the

THE HISPANIC CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

in its work empowering communities and changing lives.

F O C U S + C O L L A B O R AT I O N + I N V E S T M E N T + A C T I O N + R E S U LT S THE CEOS OF ST. LOUIS’ LEADING COMPANIES John P. Stupp, Jr., Chairman Tony Tersigni, Past-Chairman Carmen Jacob, Vice Chair Tony Thompson, Vice Chair Mike Zambrana, Co-Chair Diversity and Inclusion Kathy Osborn, President and CEO

7701 FORSYTH, SUITE 205 ST.

EDUCATION

LOUIS, MISSOURI 63105

GOVERNANCE

314.225.2100

QUALITY OF LIFE

KOSBORN@STLRBC.ORG WWW.STLRBC.ORG

BUSINESS DIVERSITY COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT

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C O R P O R AT E S P O N S O R S P L ATI N U M

DIAMOND

GOLD

SILVER

BRONZE

FRIEND Anthem ALPLA, Inc. Armstrong Teasdale LLP BMO Harris Bommarito Automotive Group Carrollton Bank Central Bank of St. Louis CIBC Citrus Springs Commerce Bank Country Financial CTS Group Dot Foods, Inc. Facilitec Corporate Furnishings Fairway Holdings First Bank Fontbonne University Fox 2 KTVI-TV Garcia Properties Graybar GSG Consultants, Inc. Guarantee Electrical Company Home Depot

LHM Scottrade Bank Lindenwood University Spire, Inc LUXCO, Inc. St. Charles Community College Madrina’s St. John’s Bank Magnolia Hotel St. Louis Community College Major Brands

St. Louis Economic Development Partnership McCormack Baron Salazar, Inc. St. Louis Post-Dispatch Midland Sates Bank Strategic Staffing Solutions Midwest BankCentre Success Promotions Mississippi Lime Company Talisen Technologies, Inc. Missouri History Museum TheBANK of Edwardsville Montgomery Bank Thompson Coburn LLP NextGen Information Services, Inc. UMB Bank Pangea Group UMSL People’s Health Centers University of Missouri System Pinnacle – St. Louis USA Mortgage PNC Bank ValDivia Enterprises Ponce Realty powered by ReMax Gold Volpi Foods, Inc. Regions Bank Washington University Reliance Bank Weber Chevrolet Creve Coeur Republic Services Webster University Risk Consulting Partners Western Illinois University Southern Illinois University—Edwardsville World Wide Technology

www.hccstl.com | 3611 South Grand Blvd., Ste 105 St. Louis, MO 63118 | 314.664.4432