en Contacto 2022 2nd edition

hccstl.com

2022 2ND EDITION

From left to right Chris Molina, Director, Purchasing; Bethany White, Manager, Theme Tickets; and Celina Allen, Account Services Executive and Spanish Broadcast Coordinator

BOARD OF

Directors FACUND O OYENA R D

R O B E RT C L A RK

J O SE PONCE

S UZ A N N E S IE RRA

SIS I B ELTRA N

D A N IE L A V E L A Z Q U E Z

J O MO CA STRO

E LIA S C O RPA S

BERTO GA RCI A

A I N E TTE M A RTIN E Z

C LA UDI O A BREU

C LA U D IA O C H O A - E S P E JO

GA B RI EL CA RDEN A S

N O L A N RU IZ

EDITORIAL

Team F ERNA ND A ESTR A D A -R I D A UR A KA RI NA A QUI NO 2022 2nd edition en Contacto The total or partial reproduction of the content, images, texts, designs, and photographs is prohibited without publisher authorization.

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 as 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.

Connect with us!

Send us your comments and suggestions at: festrada@hccstl.com

NEW MEMBERS

Welcome TO THE HCC FAMILY

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. m American Casino Resort and Spa m BioSTL m Club Atletico Saint Louis m Collinsville Daily News

m Mastercard m Mohr Partners m MPR Radio m Provident Behavioral Health m RAMZU

m Donald Danforth Plant Science Center

m Reap Solutions Inc

m Edgar Raya

m Reignite Music, LLC

m F&B Acquisition Group, LLC

m Ruben Santana

m Fastsigns

m SAVVY COSAS, LLC

m Fresh Thyme at The City Foundry

m Shelter Insurance

m Gazelle Clean LLC

m SITE Improvement Association

m Gulf Shores Restaurant & Gill

m Squint Productions, LLC

m Helical Foundation Solutions, LLC m St. Joseph Housing Initiative m John Shaw

m St. Paul’s Episcopal Church

m Joseph Hart

m The Ritz-Carlton St. Louis

m Juntos Adelante

m Viva Brasil Association in St. Louis

m LA Taco Cantina m Maria Dulcey m Mario Gasca

m Wise Staffing Group m Wolff Properties /Mary R. Wolf Real Estate Management Company

3

LETTER FROM THE

PRESIDENT & CEO Good afternoon, everyone!

Greetings in this beautiful Spring where life regains all its exuberance.

After the first months of the year, I had an intense schedule of meetings and external agendas, meeting the main leaders and organizations with community and economic impact in the St. Louis region.

In view of the high-quality connections and considering the Chamber’s victorious 40th anniversary celebration, HCC is positioned to start a new chapter in its history, maintaining the traditional programs successfully and initiating new programs to increase the engagement of our membership base and better serve our Latino and Hispanic community.

The Chamber continues to grow in terms of quality and the number of new members, and we will be improving our digital marketing and launching our new website soon. With the hiring of a new Membership and Engagement Manager, our staff is finally complete and able to meet the demands and services of our members, partners, and allies reorganizing the management of our Chamber’s database and membership levels.

With this accomplished, we are taking concrete steps to strengthen the presence of the Chamber in the civic and business community in St. Louis and beyond and structure our line of growth over the next 40 years.

Kindest regards, Edùardo Platon, President and CEO

2022 2ND EDITION 3 Welcome to the HCC Family 4 Letter from the President & CEO 5 Havana’s Cuisine LLC 6 Learn More about Our Members 8 Hispanic Working Women Event 10 Focus St. Louis 11 Executive Breakfasts Series 14 National Kidney Foundation 15 Golf Classic 2022 16 St. Louis Cardinals

4

20 21 22 24 26 28 29 30 31

Business Counselor Recommendations Commercial Language Solutions HCC 40th Anniversary Event HLI Class XI Graduation HS HLI Class VI Alma de México En St. Louis Everything We Can Offer 2022 Events Calendar & Social Media Soft Landing en St. Louis

2022 2nd Edition HISPANIC CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

TELL US ABOUT

LIKE MANY IMMIGRANTS, TAMARA LANDEIRO CAME TO THE U.S. (AND ST. LOUIS), FOR BETTER OPPORTUNITIES. AND WHILE THE MOVE WAS INITIALLY MADE TO SUPPORT HER DAUGHTER’S CHESS CAREER, TAMARA WAS ABLE TO START ACCOMPLISHING HER OWN DREAM; OWNING A RESTAURANT.

T

amara is the owner of Havana’s Cuisine, a Cuban sandwich shop now found in downtown St. Louis.

The journey to her restaurant started in Cuba, in her grandparent’s kitchen. Growing up, Tamara listened to stories of her grandmother’s restaurant and eating her grandmother’s food.

The memories of these stories, and the homesickness, is what led her in 2019 to start her first business, a food stall in St. Louis’ Soulard Farmers Market. But it wasn’t quite the restaurant she had always dreamed of. With the support from the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, she closed the stall and opened a food truck a year later, offering a wider menu of Cuban food.

The truck was a hit, roaming around the metropolitan area and attending other farmer markets and food truck spots. All the while, Tamara continued offering her catering services.

Today, Tamara is living her dream of having a restaurant. The brickand-mortar location can be found on Washington Ave in Downtown St. Louis. It pays homage to Cuban culture, with music and decorations reminiscent of Havana.

Not only that, but the menu has grown to include Cuban delicacies such as croquettes, medianoche sandwiches, flan, and more.

5

LEARN MORE

ABOUT OUR

MEMBERS

P R I N T I N G ,

I N C .

A divison of 1905 New Media

THOMSON PRINTING IS STILL A COMMERCIAL PRINTER BUT HAS EVOLVED INTO A MULTIFACETED MARKETING COMPANY THAT HELPS CLIENTS ON MANY DIFFERENT LEVELS.

W

e have formed a new company, “1905 New Media”, which reflects our new capabilities. Each of our divisions continues to provide clients with highly specialized services while leveraging collaborative strategy, talent and experience of industry experts.

1905 New Media is an integrated marketing communications firm in St. Louis, comprised of five specialties: branding, digital marketing, custom website and app development, public relations, and commercial printing. We use a proven approach to help guide aspiring brands through today’s marketing maze.

Everyone gets to be the hero of their own story. Maybe yours is a work in progress.

You face obstacles in attracting customers and building a following for your business.

You battle for revenue and profit — and struggle to find the time and expertise to build your brand.

Every hero needs help. That’s why you built a business: to help your customers.

And that’s why we exist: to guide you.

Arturo Latimer Owner, Thomson Printing

6

2022 2nd Edition HISPANIC CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

MEMBER SHOUT OUT

FOUNDED IN 1961 AND HEADQUARTERED IN ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, PRECOAT METALS IS THE LEADING INDEPENDENT PROVIDER OF METAL COIL COATING SOLUTIONS IN NORTH AMERICA, PROVIDING SPEEDY, DEPENDABLE SERVICE AND THE HIGHEST STANDARD OF QUALITY TO A BROAD RANGE OF INDUSTRIAL CUSTOMERS.

A

leader in the application of decorative and protective coatings to continuous coiled steel for use in commercial and residential construction projects, Precoat engages in the advanced application of protective and decorative coatings and related valueadded services for steel and aluminum coil primarily serving the construction; appliance; heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC); container; transportation and other end markets.

Precoat has approximately 1,100 employees and operates a network of 13 strategically located manufacturing facilities with 15 coating lines and 17 value-added processing lines.

BMO Harris is a leading bank driven by a single purpose: to Boldly Grow the Good in Business and Life.

Everywhere we do business, we’re focused on building, investing and transforming how we work to continue growing the good.

Since the beginning we’ve had a purpose beyond profit... l to be a champion for progress and a catalyst for change l to make bold moves that move things forward l doing the right thing for the best reasons l to be the change and grow the good that grows us all BMO Harris is investing in zero barriers to financial progress and fueling the good for Black, Latinx, and Women business owners in our St. Louis communities!

BMO Harris is proudly Growing the Good in Business and Life with comprehensive business programs specifically designed for Black, Latinx, and Women business owners available across our footprint. Our goal is to empower Black, Latinx, and Women business owners in our St Louis communities and equip them with capital, educational resources and partnerships to help make their businesses more resilient and scalable.

We’re proud to be fueling growth and expanding possibilities for these business owners with our BMO for Black and Latinx Businesses and Women in Business programs.

The programs are based on three critical pillars: Access to capital, Access to education, and Access to partnerships.

Robert W. OConnor St. Louis Market President Midwest Region, BMO Harris Bank

Terri Kreisman Recruiter, Precoat Metals

7

HISPANIC WORKING WOMEN EVENT

On May 9, 2022, our Hispanic Working Women event took place at the Missouri History Museum from 5:30 pm to 9:00 pm with the theme “Leading with Purpose” sponsored by Midwest BankCentre.

This event was open to all people who identify as women, independent of race, ethnicity, age, or birth gender. It had the aim to foster a space for growth and learning, bringing together speeches from Latina leaders, educational panels, and networking opportunities for its attendees, with the goal of elevating, highlighting, and strengthening the position of women in the labor market and in the society.

This year we had three amazing speakers:

8

Keynote Speaker

Guest Speaker

Activist, feminist, entrepreneur, and CEO of Women’s March Foundation which she founded in 2016. She is the driving force behind the 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021 officially Women’s March Los Angeles and most recently the March for Reproductive Rights.

Emiliana devotes much of her time to advocacy programs for women’s rights, Latino education, and gender equality and has served as the bridge between community organizations and coalition building that spans national levels.

Director of the Civil Rights Enforcement Agency for the City of St. Louis. Prior to joining the city, she worked for the American Civil Liberties Union of Missouri, as a legislative and policy associate evaluating, reviewing, drafting, and editing state and local legislation on issues including voting rights, criminal and juvenile justice reform, First Amendment protections, reproductive freedom, LBGTQ advocacy, and immigrants’ rights.

EMILIANA GUERECA

2022 2nd Edition HISPANIC CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

MO DEL VILLAR

EVENTS After their amazing presentations, we had a Q&A session with the three of them, so they could have an opportunity to interact with all our guests and answer any questions. Afterwards, we enjoyed a networking event with some heavy appetizers and drinks.

Guest Speaker

REBEKA GARCIA COOK Executive Coach that specializes in helping female business and organizational leaders create and navigate change in the systems that matter to them. Also, she helps change and transformation happen faster, fuller, and more sustainably by coming alongside them to clarify, listen, contain, propel, and encourage them as they create their desired future, so they also get to enjoy the amazing world they help create.

Something new that we did this year was to have a VIP luncheon with the 3 speakers and some members, with the aim of giving them the opportunity to meet and talk more personally with our speakers. We also had the presence of Mayor Jones, who joined the welcoming reception to greet us and wish us luck for our evening event.

These two events were very important for the HCC and for all the women who attended, without a doubt the messages and speeches of the speakers would remain in the memory of many women.

We look forward to next year so that we can once again organize this wonderful event that encourages women to take charge and find a purpose in their lives.

TESTIMONY I had the pleasure to attend a great event, where all women come together and give each other power and encouragement.

I was very inspired by all the speakers. I took to heart where Emiliana Guereca said, “it’s okay to want more!” As a Latina woman like most of us, I would always put other before myself and settle for less than what I should have!

Mary Cardenas, Business Development Officer-Mortgage, Montgomery Bank

9

MEMBERS

Announces the 2022-23 Leadership St. Louis® Class FOCUS ST. LOUIS HAS SELECTED 63 OUTSTANDING INDIVIDUALS FROM THE PRIVATE, PUBLIC AND NONPROFIT SECTORS FOR THE 47TH LEADERSHIP ST. LOUIS (LSL) CLASS. THESE PARTICIPANTS JOIN A PRESTIGIOUS GROUP OF MORE THAN 2,500 LEADERS WHO HAVE GRADUATED FROM THE LSL PROGRAM SINCE ITS INCEPTION IN 1976.

10

We are very proud to announce that Eduardo Platon, our President and CEO, is one of those 63 outstanding individuals who will have the opportunity to be part of the newest class of Leadership St. Louis for the 2022-2023 cohort.

Congratulations, Eduardo!

Leadership St. Louis is a highly respected program for experienced leaders who have demonstrated a deep commitment to improving the St. Louis region.

The immersive nine-month curriculum explores issues such as economic development, racial equity, education, criminal justice, poverty, immigration and arts and culture. Leadership St. Louis is designed to challenge participants’ thinking, expose them to new ideas and perspectives, and promote discussion, reflection and action.

Many graduates describe the

2022 2nd Edition HISPANIC CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

experience as “transformational,” arming them with the tools, resources and connections to lead more effectively in their personal, professional and civic roles.

“The need for collaborative leadership has never been greater in our region,” says Yemi Akande-Bartsch, Ph.D., President and CEO of FOCUS St. Louis and Director of the Leadership St. Louis program. “We’re excited to bring together this diverse group of leaders to gain a deeper understanding of St. Louis’ civic landscape by exploring the issues, institutions and systems shaping it.”

Leadership St. Louis is part of the continuum of six leadership programs offered by FOCUS St. Louis to further its mission of educating and connecting leaders to work cooperatively for a thriving St. Louis region. To learn more about FOCUS St. Louis and its other programs, visit www.focus-stl.org.

EVENTS

Keynote speakers and topics

KEYNOTE SPEAKERS AND TOPICS

April 12th : Steps to Understand and Implement A ResponsibilityBased Workplace Culture.

April 12th Steps to Understand Judy Ryan, CEO LifeWork and Implement A Responsibility-Based Systems Workplace Culture.

Executive Breakfast June 14th : The CURE Mindset: Judy Ryan, CEO LifeWork Systems

This April the HCC proudly Establishing Your June Baseline for 14th launched a new program, The The CURE Mindset: Inclusive Evolving Workplace executiveLeadership.

Establishing Your Baseline for Inclusive Leadership.

Allison Choi, and breakfast series, presented by the HR Consultant Allison Choi, HR Consultant and SLU Chaifetz School of Business.

Laura Scheidhauer, President, Laura Scheidhauer, President, LHS Consulting LLC The purpose of the series is to LHS Consulting LLC offer executives networking with peers, keynote presentations, and engaging table discussion.

The topics are designed to August 9th Developing andand Encouraging provide attendeesAugust with new 9th : Developing an Entrepreneurship Mentorship. ideas and resources for their Encouraging an Entrepreneurship R. Lewis Sheats, Director of the Chaifetz Center evolving business.Mentorship.

We kicked off for Entrepreneurship the series with Judy Ryan, CEO at St. Louis University R. Lewis Sheats, Director of the of LifeWork Systems presenting Chaifetz Center for “Steps to understand and implement a responsibility-based Entrepreneurship at Saint Louis workplace culture”. In June Allison University Choi, HR Consultant and Laura October 11th How to Leverage Enterprise Scheidhauer, President of LHS Agility for Competitive Advantage.

Consulting LLC spoke about Stella O’Brien, VP IconAgility and Doug Less, Agile Transformation “The CURE mindset: Establishing Consultant October 11th: How to Leverage your baseline for inclusive leadership”. PleaseEnterprise see below our Agility for Competitive August and October speakers Advantage. and topics. Hope you can join us!

The Evolving Workplace HISPANIC CHAMBER OF COMMERCE EXECUTIVE BREAKFAST SERIES

PRESENTED BY

CHAIFETZ SCHOOL OF BUSINESS

Register here

Stella O’Brien, VP IconAgility and Doug Less, Agile Transformation Consultant

11

EXECUTIVE BREAKFAST— FIRST TOPIC:

Steps to Understand

and Implement a Responsibility-Based

Culture

by Judy Ryan, CEO LifeWork Systems

I RARELY DO EXECUTIVE AND SENIOR LEADERS HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO NETWORK WITH THEIR PEERS AND RECEIVE AND DISCUSS INFORMATION RELEVANT TO THEIR ROLES AS WELL AS THE TRENDS IN WHICH THEY ARE ENGAGED.

12

n April 2022, as CEO of LifeWork Systems and a business owner for 20 years, I kicked off the first of a 4-part series The Evolving Workplace produced by the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, St. Louis to meet this gap. Each session is designed for Executive and Senior leaders grappling with today’s trends. These include diversity, equity, and inclusion, digital transformation, agile practices, or how and why to transform their workplace culture to meet today’s speed of change, complexity, globalization, pandemics, and more, all while engaging their people in the hard work and innovations needed to meet challenges and achieve business objectives. My topic: Steps to Understand and Implement a Responsibility-Based Culture was first in the lineup because people are your greatest asset and key to the success of any organization.

Executives generally know the importance of an engaged workforce.

They easily recognize an effective approach versus something that makes the situation worse. Here’s the daunting task... How do you assess, train, impart, and create an engaged

2022 2nd Edition HISPANIC CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

workforce process across groups of people? How do you manage, say tens, hundreds, or thousands of employees, across different shifts, in different locations, and get them all engaged in a standardized set of professional behaviors that impact how they treat each other and the clients they serve?

This requires more than a one-time training session or a campaign or a management mandate... it requires a way of life inside of organizations that becomes instilled into each and every person. This then naturally permeates the organization, and each employee is self-managing regardless of whether the CEO or senior team are present or not. Leaders cannot be everywhere at all times. To have engaged people takes a process and system that involves and supports the entire workforce. Only then does each person do the right thing even when no one else is looking. This can be a formidable task; cultivating responsible, fully engaged employees.

Leaders know the importance of this and how it impacts productivity and profitability yet often don’t know how to pull it off, well, consistently, and sustainably.

EVENTS

In delivering my topic Steps to Understand and Implement a Responsibility-Based Culture, all three areas were addressed. I began by focusing on understanding what kind of culture is needed — a responsibilitybased one, including how this differs from conventional culture models, and why it should matter to executives.

Many leaders do not know how to assess their current culture practices and what they should transform from, into —so that they create psychological safety, emotional intelligence, and leadership is developed in all, so that their people take initiative, act confidently, and with trust and accountability. Fortunately, due to thought leaders like Simon Sinek, Ken Wilbur, and John Kotter, many executives have been exposed to what kind of culture, but don’t know how to effectively implement a change process to migrate into one.

In the implementation portion of my topic, I emphasized the steps within an immersive process based on flipped classrooms, a best practice from education. Research and the

experiences of LifeWork Systems, have demonstrated that recurring and varied engagement with new content is crucial to understanding, retaining, applying, and integrating what’s learned. In my presentation, an emphasis was placed on the importance of mixing all levels so that executives, senior leaders, managers, and supervisors join shoulder to shoulder with each other and frontline staff in being trained, in leading small group sessions on a rotational basis, and engaging in monthly mentoring, including peer mentoring and reverse mentoring. In addition, I brought with me a client who has been using the LifeWork Systems culture model for six years so he could describe what this approach has meant to his team and his business profitability and performance. He was able to share their progress, discuss improvements, and how they own the process, even founding a culture committee. He answered questions from the audience and shared the importance of a consistent, sustainable implementation and system.

To conclude, the executives present were given table questions to discuss amongst one another at the end of the event for optimal value, retention of content, and peer connection.

The remaining three topics coming up on the second Tuesdays in June, August and October are equally relevant for executive and senior leaders. I urge you to take time and consider what’s needed so you stay current and get the support and positive experience of learning, growing, and conversing with your peers. You’ll be glad you did!

“ An organization’s ability to learn and translate that learning into action rapidly, is the ultimate competitive advantage.”

— Jack Welch

13

H E A LT H

National

Kidney Foundation OFTENTIMES PEOPLE WITH CHRONIC CONDITIONS, SUCH AS KIDNEY DISEASE, FACE MENTAL HEALTH STRUGGLES, BUT IT MAY GO OVERLOOKED OR UNDERTREATED WHILE FOCUSING ON PHYSICAL HEALTH NEEDS.

W

e all experience stress but too much stress can contribute to poor health, increasing our blood pressure, and damaging our kidneys. As the blood filtering units of your body, your kidneys are prone to problems with blood circulation and blood vessels. High blood pressure and high blood sugar can place an additional strain or burden on your kidneys. People with kidney disease are at higher risk for heart and blood vessel disease. Prioritizing your mental health to manage and reduce stress can help you feel better and live a healthier life.

It’s important to understand that your emotions and physical health are connected. A healthy emotional life will help you to live longer and feel better.

Your “emotional health” means many things—how you cope, how you live, what you do to stay involved in the world around you, and how you relate to others. It’s more than feelings or emotions. It means having a sense of purpose, experiencing laughter, having hope, keeping active, and so much more.

Studies show that 20 to 40% of people with kidney failure may have depression. A recent NKF survey of kidney health professionals noted that COVID-19 has exacerbated emotional stress for all people with kidney disease. COVID-19 has been a powerful reminder of the need for community and peer support. Asking for help is not a sign of weakness, but of your desire to do well. You do not need to suffer from it or be embarrassed about it. The National Kidney Foundation is here to support you. Visit www.kidney.org/treatmentsupport for additional resources.

Having kidney failure is a lot to handle.

It requires lifestyle changes—not only for you, but for your family, too.

It’s important to understand that the stresses and frustrations of kidney failure are real, and at times very difficult.

The following steps may help: m D iscuss your concerns with your healthcare team. Write down questions ahead of time. m S hare your feelings with family, close friends, fellow patients, and others you trust.

14

or personal problems need further attention. m S pend time with people who make you laugh. m F ollow an exercise program approved by your doctor.

m S eek help from a social worker at m T ry not to focus on your problems, the dialysis center or transplant clinic, but instead, on the good things or from an outside counselor if family that may be happening in your life.

2022 2nd Edition HISPANIC CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

SPONSORED BY

16 th Annual

GOLF CLASSIC HCC STL Foundation

SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES $3,000 EAGLE SPONSOR

$2,000 BIRDIE SPONSOR

Includes three foursomes, banner signage, event recognition at the tournament and one hole sponsor

Includes two foursomes, banner signage, event recognition at the tournament and one hole sponsor

Includes signage on one beverage cart, event recognition and one foursome (two available)

Includes one foursome, event recognition and one hole sponsor

$250 HOLE SPONSOR

TICKET PRICES $125 INDIVIDUAL

$800 $700 BEVERAGE CART SPONSOR PAR SPONSOR

Includes professional signage on one hole

SEP21,2022

$500 FOURSOME

SHOTGUN START

1:00 PM

FOREST PARK GOLF COURSE NORMAN K. PROBSTEIN 6141 Lagoon Drive, St. Louis, MO 63112

15

The St. Louis

Cardinals Most St. Louisans know the Cardinals as an 11-time World Champion baseball team with the “Sea of Red” filling Busch Stadium on those steamy St. Louis summer nights chanting “Yadi! Yadi! Yadi!”. But what most fans may not know is that behind the scenes there’s another team working hard to bring Cardinals baseball to our community. In recent years, the organization has become increasingly diligent and focused on making Cardinals baseball available and accessible to all members of our community, especially within our growing Hispanic fanbase. Here’s a peek inside some of those efforts.

16

2022 2nd Edition HISPANIC CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION

T

he St. Louis Cardinals are committed to cultivating an organization that embraces and respects all ethnic, cultural, and individual differences, and fosters mutual respect and open communication among all its members.

The Cardinals celebrate diversity on and off the field, in the front office, and the community.

Founded in late 2018, the employee led Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Committee is a group of diverse front office members, focused on leading internal and supporting external DEI efforts. The committee produces monthly and quarterly content including newsletters, podcasts, and Lunch & Learn presentations The focus of this educational content centers around various topics such as Black History Month, Juneteenth, Hispanic Heritage Month, Native American Heritage Month, gender equality, LGBTQIA+ community, and persons with disabilities. In addition to creating educational content, members of the DEI committee are challenged with fostering open, and sometimes difficult, conversations among the front office.

SPANISH LANGUAGE BROADCAST AND OUTREACH

C

ardinals Nation is represented in St. Louis, the United States, and across the world. In 2016, the organization began its commitment to reach our Spanish-speaking fans across all platforms with the creation of our Spanish language play-by-play broadcast. Cardinals fans can

MEET OUR MEMBERS The Cardinals continue to incorporate Bengie and Polo into more of their annual events and community outreach opportunities with the goal of building interest in the Hispanic community and bringing the Spanish language to the whole fanbase. Last year, Polo recorded a special virtual experience for all our Cardinals Kids Club members to teach them baseball terms in Spanish. As important as it is to make the Spanish-speaking community feel included in Cardinals baseball, it is equally important to bring the passion and joy of Hispanic culture to our English-speaking fan base to help promote and embrace the diversity throughout the Major Leagues with so many Latin countries represented. enjoy every home game in Spanish with announcers Polo Ascencio and Bengie Molina. Spanish broadcasts broadcast locally on La Tremenda 880AM and online via MLB Audio at cardinals.com or on the MLB app (subscription required).

When Bengie and Polo aren’t on air, they are regularly out serving as ambassadors to the Hispanic community. This season, Polo is sponsoring ‘Los Pajaritos de Polo’—a ticket program dedicated to bringing young Hispanic fans to the ballpark.

During each program, the group gets to stand on the field during Cardinals batting practice, interact with players, ask questions and receive autographs before watching the game.

Bengie and Polo have also been known to visit area Spanish-speaking schools where they provide a oneof-kind, memorable experience for students. Seeing Bengie and Polo at these events allows kids to picture themselves as part of the game—and reinforces the idea that representation matters.

Fans can follow and interact with @cardenales on all social platforms and Spanish pocket schedules are available as well.

FIESTA CARDENALES

T

he Cardinals Theme Tickets program is a unique ticket sales initiative targeted towards niche markets and groups while celebrating multiple community and heritage events each year. Fiesta Cardenales, a Hispanic Heritage event, has been a mainstay of the Theme Ticket Program since its inception in 2016. Through the years, Fiesta Cardenales has featured Latin dancers, performances

by Orquestra Chevere, Q&A sessions in Spanish with current Cardinals players, and autographs from Bengie Molina and Polo Ascencio, a festival of countries, and more. Each event features an exclusive promotional item and in the past years, we have seen Cardenales hats, t-shirts, and jerseys.

A portion of each ticket benefits the Hispanic Educational, Cultural, and Scholarship Fund, which has raised close to $5,000 since 2016.

The 6th annual Fiesta Cardenales is scheduled on August 28, 2022, and will feature a pregame heritage ceremony, plus a Sugar Skull Bobblehead for all Theme Ticket buyers! Fans can purchase Theme Tickets at cardinals.com/fiesta.

The Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (HCCSTL) has been integral in the Cardinals organization’s outreach to the Hispanic community in St. Louis. HCCSTL staff and members have provided essential support in growing the Spanish Broadcast by connecting community businesses and organizations with the Cardenales.

Together we’ve hosted the High School Hispanic Leadership Institute Class at Busch Stadium focused on promoting and developing student leadership and community involvement. Members of the HCCSTL have played an important role in making Fiesta Cardenales a community event with their volunteers and support. The partnership has also worked together in efforts to bring young Latino’s to their first Major League baseball games providing invaluable experiences and memories for these individuals. HCCSTL has been and continues to be an ambassador and a strategic partner of the Cardenales. Together we are making a difference in the Hispanic community of Metro St. Louis.

17

S

omeone once asked me what my biggest professional accomplishment was, and I can proudly say it is being part of the St. Louis Cardinals Spanish Broadcast.

I can only imagine how proud my abuelito, Miguel Luna, would have been. Papá Mike wasn’t much of a baseball fan; my abuelo was a hard-working, proud Mexican who you never saw sitting in front of a TV — that is, until Fernando Valenzuela took the mound. Miguel was so proud of his heritage that he made sure we always watched when El Mexicano, El Toro, took the spotlight and made Mexico proud. Today we see many Hispanic and Latino players on the field. The Cardinals want to see the Hispanic and Latino representation among the fans, as well; the Spanish Radio Broadcast is a growing Cardinals initiative that is bound to make that happen.

Melissa Tull and Anne Carroll began the broadcast in 2016. The idea was brought to them by the Garcia Family, who at the time owned a radio station in St. Louis. They broadcast the first two games in Spanish in 2016, on September 29 and 30. The two-night broadcast was part of our St. Louis Cardinals Hispanic Heritage Month.

The St. Louis Cardinals wanted to celebrate the Hispanic Community, and what better way than with a broadcast in our own Spanish language.

18

2022 2nd Edition HISPANIC CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

During the September 29 game, I remember that Yadier Molina hit a home run, and when he touched home plate he pointed up to the booth. When he was interviewed after the game, Yadier said he couldn’t wait to listen to the call by Polo and Bengie. That’s when I knew this was going to be greater than just a twoday broadcast.

Soon after those first two broadcasts, the St. Louis Cardinals also created a new twitter account, @cardenales, and a Los Cardenales website, followed by Cardenales de San Luis Facebook and @stlcardenales Instragram. Since then, the Spanish Broadcast has grown to all 81 home games and all post-season games.

I am thankful that the Cardinals organization listens to ideas like working with our retail partners to bring in more Hispanic-related merchandise. I’ve encouraged pregame announcements to be read in Spanish, as well as English. Plus, pre-recorded messages, such as “Bienvenidos a Busch Stadium” now play as fans enter the stadium.

With the Cardinals support, I hope to help cultivate a love for the Cardinals, and the game of baseball, among our local Hispanic youth by partnering with St. Louis Hispanic Organizations to bring kids to their first Cardenals beisbol game.

Baseball unites communities; I want to unite my baseball community and my Hispanic community, bringing over-all Hispanic pride to St. Louis and the St. Louis Cardinals.

CELINA ALLEN

Account Services Executive & Spanish Broadcast Coordinator

T E S T I MO N I E S

T

he St. Louis Cardinals recognize the importance, value, and contributions of companies owned by individuals from diverse communities. For the past several years, I have attended the annual Supplier Diversity Summit, hosted by Major League Baseball (MLB) during the Winter Meetings. This event allows team purchasing representatives like myself to meet with and learn about all the goods and services offered by diverse businesses.

It is always captivating when an owner shares their personal background with you, as well as their motivation to start a business. One of the regular attendees of the Supplier Diversity Summit is the St. Louis-based company Success Brands, Inc. They provide many of the wearable promotional items fans receive as they walk through the gates at Busch Stadium, and the business owner, Diana Castro-Everett, is a native of Colombia.

N

early ten years ago, I moved from the East Coast to take a job with the St. Louis Cardinals. I immediately learned how passionate Cardinals fans are and just how far across the Midwest, United States, and world Cardinals Nation spreads. I have since discovered what a uniquely wonderful and diverse city St. Louis is. The fabric of St. Louis has shaped our franchise since its founding in 1882.

In my time with the Cardinals, I’ve had the opportunity to learn from and celebrate St. Louis’ different communities through my full-time role as Manager, Theme Tickets, and my involvement as a member of the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion committee. My favorite Theme Nights to plan each year are community and heritage events like Fiesta Cardenales, Pride Night, and African American Heritage Day.

Through our partnership, the Cardinals and Success Brands managed the recent turbulent period involving limited fan attendance, supply chain logistics, and restructured promotional purchase orders. Their professionalism and positivity throughout the process resulted in the St. Louis Cardinals awarding Success Brands the 2022 MLB Jackie Robinson Most Valuable Diverse Business Partner Award.

These events bring groups together to celebrate and honor their cultures while cheering on the Cards at Busch Stadium!

The Cardinals commitment to the St. Louis community is unmatched—and seeing the growth of our connection with the Hispanic community over the last few years, through programs like the Spanish Radio Broadcast, Fiesta Cardenales, membership in the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, and more, has been special. It has been a privilege to play a small role in that!

CHRIS MOLINA

BETHANY WHITE

Director, Purchasing

Manager, Theme Tickets

19

TIPS

Business Counselor Recommendations HAVE YOU CONSIDERED EXPORTING? In 2018, Missouri exported a record $14.5 billion of Made-in-America goods to the world and your company could be part of that.

Exporting brings new profits for businesses of all sizes and for the region. Exports lead to increased investment, technological advance and import expansion, all of which contribute to economic growth.

HOW DO I KNOW IF MY BUSINESS IS EXPORT-READY? » You may want to start by asking if you already have an established and profitable domestic market for your product or service, your company is financially stable with at least 3 years of profitability and your product or service offers significant competitive advantages in terms of prices, features and/or benefits.

» There is export- ready online assessments available in the www.trade.gov website

» Once you know you are ready, you

WHY EXPORTING? » More than 95 percent of the world’s consumers are outside of the United States.

» On average, sales grow faster, more jobs are created, and employees earn more than in non-exporting firms.

» Most companies that export have an easier time riding out fluctuations in the USA economy and are more likely to stay in business.

» Many USA exporters are paid by wire transfer in advance or under letters of credit resulting in a drastically improved cash flow versus domestic sales.

» Your company can take advantage of the strong USA “brand” to win big in global markets.

» Exporting could lengthen the product’s lifecycle by developing new customers in emerging markets.

» Exporting allows you to sell to other markets that are complementary to your domestic customers’ seasons.

may also consider writing an export plan as you have a business plan.

There are also guidelines about how to plan your internationalization.

» What resources are available to learn more about exporting?

Contact me to learn more.

20

2022 2nd Edition HISPANIC CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

WHAT ARE THE QUALITIES OF AN EXPORT-READY BUSINESS? » Have commitment from ownership and are prepared to fund exporting activities.

» Understand the added demands international business can place on key resources.

» Have realistic expectations regarding return on investment from international activities.

» Are prepared to modify products and services by market as well as provide training and after-sales service.

» Be willing to work with government export promotion agencies.

MARIA DE GREGORIO

Business Counselor, Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Metropolitan St. Louis

MEMBERS

Commercial

Language

Solutions

I

was born in a bilingual home. My mother is Colombian and has always spoken to my brother and me in Spanish; my father is American and has always spoken to my brother and me in English. As an adult, my bilingualism has helped me in many of my jobs. While in college, in my customer service jobs, my bilingual skills were oftentimes used so we could communicate with Spanish-speaking customers. As a graduate student, I worked for a Psychology professor, oftentimes serving as a translator for her interactions with a Psychology professor in Ecuador. And later in life, I used my language skills to become a High School Spanish teacher. I am now using my bilingual language skills as a business owner.

However, the benefits of multilingualism aren’t just limited to the individual. Its impact is also felt in organizations, big and small.

In an increasingly interconnected business world, organizations are facing language barriers that can negatively affect their business. In a Forbes Insights survey, 65% of companies surveyed face language barriers that lead to ineffective collaboration in workgroups, low productive output, and increased inefficiency (Schecterle, 2011).

Fostering a linguistically and culturally pluralistic work environment can attract

John Wicks, owner of Commercial Language Solutions multilingual/multinational clients, helping businesses expand their client base and reach (Desgagné, 2016). Multilingualism also helps provide organizations with a workforce that is adaptable to the complexities of the global marketplace. Organizations that don’t adapt to a culturally and linguistically diverse economy can incur great economic costs.

Miscommunications due to linguistic and/ or cultural misunderstandings, according to government data, cost Great Britain’s economy almost £50 billion per year, and it costs the U.S. economy almost $2 billion per year (McCulloch, 2019).

At Commercial Language Solutions, we help businesses navigate a multilingual and multicultural business world through English and Spanish-language instruction and cultural consulting for businesses with large Hispanic workforces, those looking to expand to Latin America and/or Spain, and those in Hispanic communities.

To learn more about Commercial Language Solutions, you can visit our website at www.commerciallanguage.org or email us at commerciallanguage@google.com

21

HCC 40th

Anniversary W Celebration ON MAY 1, 2022, WE CELEBRATED OUR 40TH ANNIVERSARY WITH SOME SPECIAL MEMBERS, HCC STAFF, AND BOARD OF DIRECTORS. THE ST. LOUIS CARDINALS GAVE US A SUITE AS A BIRTHDAY PRESENT TO CELEBRATE THIS VERY SPECIAL DAY, WHICH TOOK PLACE AT THE BUSCH STADIUM.

e had a great evening watching the Cardinals vs. Arizona game as we celebrated our anniversary and enjoyed the delicious food, desserts and drinks that were part of the suite. Days before our celebration, we did a raffle to draw the people who were going to our celebration, since we had limited seats and many people interested in being part of this important event for us.

On the day of the event, our President and CEO had the opportunity to throw the first pitch of the game, also the HCC staff and our Chairman, Facundo Oyenard, were part of the ceremony that takes place at the beginning of each game.

Very special people join us on this important day, such as Karlos Ramirez, Diego Abente, Leslie Hernandez, Gabriela Ramirez-Arellano, Tamara Landeiro, Jacky Duty, Raffi Mikaelian, Gaby Cornelius, Antonio Maldanado, Gilberto Pinela, Sheila Burkett to name a few.

We will continue to work harder on our mission, vision and goals to support our members and the Hispanic and Latino community in St. Louis.

22

2022 2nd Edition HISPANIC CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

EVENTS

TESTIMONY The 40th-anniversary celebration was a success! We were able to celebrate with many of our members and key partners. It was an unprecedented event, but it didn’t surprise me because all the work that the Chamber has done in the last 40 years has impacted thousands of people in the community. The Chamber has been a strong partner to our STL community and that is why our members came to celebrate with us. I can’t wait to celebrate 50 years and see where the Chamber is positioned with our new leadership and team.

FACUNDO OYENARD Lead Broker, Azteca Insurance

Our Goals

Our Mission

To become the cornerstone for the Hispanic business community, and to participate in present and future business developments of metropolitan St. Louis.

To improve business opportunities for Hispanic firms and professionals thereby improving the economic development of the St. Louis region.

Our Vision

To enhance and increase the Hispanic business competitiveness in the local, state and international market.

23

Hispanic Leadership

Institute

Class XI Graduation

FRIDAY, JUNE 10, 2022, WAS A VERY SPECIAL DAY FOR US, AS THE CLASS XI OF THE HISPANIC LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE HAD ITS LAST SESSION AND GRADUATION CEREMONY AT BAYER.

The HLI program has celebrated over 175 graduates in a variety of industries across the region.

The students of Class XI began their training in October of 2021 and with 9 sessions long, their hard work and determination allowed them to conclude this program very successfully, but more importantly it brought them a lot of experience, knowledge and leadership skills.

The Hispanic Leadership Institute, sponsored by Centene Charitable Foundation, is a leadership program for Hispanics and Latinos professionals, it focuses on management skills and networking for both for-profit and non-profits within the St. Louis “business community.

24

2022 2nd Edition HISPANIC CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

The applications for our Class XII are now open, scan de QR code to apply.

DON’T MISS THIS OPPORTUNITY! DEADLINE: FRIDAY, AUGUST 5TH. For any questions, reach out to Fernanda Estrada-Ridaura at festrada@hccstl.com

P RO G R A M S CONGRATULATIONS

GRADUATES!

CLASS

XI

ADRIAN LEON

FATIMA ZAPATA

TESTIMONY

TESTIMONY

Participating in the Hispanic Latino Leadership Institute Class XI was a great experience! Not only did I learn new things that I can use to be a better leader at work and in the Saint Louis Hispanic community but also, I had the opportunity to meet experienced and passionate leaders in my class which made my experience even better. The topics covered during the classes were enriching and mind-opening.

I was blessed to be a part of the St. Louis Hispanic Chamber of Commerce HLI XI class this past year. It was such an enriching experience to meet other Hispanic leaders in the St. Louis area and be able to learn and discuss important topics that will help us become stronger leaders.

Global EHS Sr Programs Manager, Medtronic

WE WANT TO THANK ALL OUR 2021-2022 SPONSORS

All the instructors had a lot of experience and shared useful insights that were easy to apply in my day-to-day activities at work and even at home. I really like how some topics were even customized from the Hispanic point of view which was very useful. The Hispanic Latino Leader Institute is a mini-MBA that gives participants a good forum to learn and improve leadership skills and expand their professional network.

It helps to develop the new generation of Hispanic leaders.

Adverse Effects and Compliance Lead, Bayer

The program is so well thought out and starts with us diving into business acumen and ending with honing our personal brands.

I came out of that program being a stronger leader and with a desire to get more involved in the St. Louis Hispanic Chamber. This program was life changing and I am glad I got the opportunity to be in it.

25

CLASS VI HIGH SCHOOL

HISPANIC LEADERSHIP

INSTITUTE

S U M M E R 2 02 2

The Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of St. Louis Foundation has established the Hispanic Leadership Institute for high school (10th-12th grade) students as a select program for 15-20 individuals to develop leadership skills and give back to the St. Louis community. The purpose of this program is to: m I dentify Hispanic leaders and develop their leadership skills m C reate a network of Hispanic student leaders interested in giving back to the community m P rovide new networks and opportunities for Hispanic students

WE THANK OUR SPONSORS, WITHOUT THEM, OUR PROGRAM WOULD NOT HAVE RUN SUCCESSFULLY. TITLE SPONSOR

LEGACY BUILDER

LEADER

26

2022 2nd Edition HISPANIC CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

Class VI began on June 20 and concluded on June 25. This cohort had 21 students who were together for six days long and had the opportunity to take classes at the HCC, SIUE, Lindenwood University, Midland States Bank, and SLU; places where they were given a tour of their facilities and shared with them what their main goals were for this year, and some initiatives of the diversity and inclusion department.

WE HOPE YOU HAVE OBTAINED RESOURCES FOR YOUR PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT.

P RO G R A M S

WE ARE VERY HAPPY AND PROUD TO HAVE GRADUATED YOUNG LEADERS.

SALOMÉ AMAYA

ALEXANDER AVILA

NERY CIFUENTES

ELLIOT ENRIQUE CONCANNON

IONE ELIZABETH CORNELIUS

SHANNON LUZ CREGAN DOMINGUEZ

EVA JANSEN FERNANDEZ

ANGEL GABRIEL GARCIA

MARIA EMILIA GERVASONI

ALYSSA GUTIERREZ

JOHN HENRY HEIN

RAQUEL HERRERA

SOPHIA KUMMER

NATHALY ESTELA LAMAS-MARQUEZ

DAVID STEVEN NAVA

CANDELARIA PEREZ

GABRIEL PONCE

DANIELA RENDON

SARA RESTREPO

CAROLINA SANCHEZ

ALEXANDRA TSYGANKOV

27

MEMBERS

Mexicanos en St. Louis

MEXICANOS EN ST. LOUIS IS A 501(C)(3) NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION, LED BY PRESIDENT GABRIELA CORNELIUS. THE ORGANIZATION’S MAIN PURPOSE IS TO PROMOTE MEXICAN CULTURAL HERITAGE THROUGH ITS DANCE GROUP ALMA DE MEXICO.

A

lma de Mexico is a Mexican folklore dance group that has been active in St Louis for many years under the direction of Octavio Nieto.

Alma de Mexico participates and engages in different cultural events thought out St Louis. Last year, Mexicanos en St Louis collaborated with the History Museum of St. Louis by performing with the dance group for the Celebration of “Día de Muertos.” Also, the group performed at the 2021 Adelante Awards and has been performing at the International Festival for many years. Their most recent performance was on May 7th at the Cherokee Street Festival where they highlighted dances from the states of Puebla, Jalisco, Chiapas, Sinaloa, and Nuevo Leon.

Being a member of the HCC (Hispanic Chamber of Commerce) has opened some new doors for Mexicanos en St. Louis and has given the organization the opportunity to network with the members and develop long lasting relationships.

28

2022 2nd Edition HISPANIC CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

For more information on these classes reach out at: Alma_mexicostl@yahoo.com.

To participate with Mexicanos en St. Louis, contact Gabriela Cornelius at mexicanosstl@gmail.com.

If you are interested in learning Mexican folklore dancing, Alma de Mexico has classes year-round on Saturdays, at 10:00 am at the St. Cecilia Catholic Church.

WHY JOIN US

EVERYTHING WE CAN OFFER THE HISPANIC CHAMBER OFFERS 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, big corporation, or an individual. Here are some of the benefits we offer:

WORKFORCE JOB FAIR

NETWORKING BUSINESS AFTER HOURS

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.

Networking is at the core of what we do. Therefore, we have our Business After Hour events every third Thursday every month. These events are meant to reunite all our members to connect and get to know each other. Make friends and create partnerships!

AMPLIFYING JOB OPENINGS We have a designated section on our website for job openings. We also feature them in our e-newsletter and social media platforms.

EXPOSURE

Promoting your events, services, products, or accomplishments, is a great way to connect with the community.

We help in promoting all of those, using all our platforms. That is our website, e-newsletter, social media pages and your own member-only system called ChamberMaster.

Reach out to our Membership and Engagement Manager, Maria I. Rosario, at mrosario@hccstl.com

AND MORE!

There is so much more that we do!

We have a Business Counselor that can help you navigate the business world.

Educational events throughout the year for everyone, a great golf tournament and our incredible annual gala!

Please reach out to us if you have any questions or would like to learn more.

Join our HCC family today!

29

2 0 2 2 H C C E V E N T S C A L E N DA R Signature Events

Business After Hours

BAH

19

BAH

20

Signature Event

14

Signature Event

TBD Golf Clinic

Hispanic Leadership Institute Starts

BAH

20

BAH

16

Signature Event

Signature Event

24

Job Fair

28

BAH

Adelante Awards Gala

16 HCC Office

13

First Day of High School Hispanic Leadership Inst.

BAH

17

BAH

17 BAH

21 BAH

15

BAH

21

BAH

18 Signature Event

27

Hispanic Working Woman

BAH

15 Signature Event

21

HCC Foundation Golf Tournament

Signature Events questions, please email festrada@hccstl.com

SCAN ME

30

314-664-4432 | 3611 S. Grand Blvd

Business After Hours questions, please email kaquino@hccstl.com

CONNECT WITH US ON SOCIAL MEDIA!

2022 2nd Edition HISPANIC CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

EVENTS

The Soft-landing en St. Louis webinar series targets small and medium-size LATAM companies who are interested in coming to STL. We are offering free webinars in Spanish to gather a better understanding of the necessary steps to start operating in St. Louis. Topics include STL and its resources, visa options for entrepreneurs, how to register a business & trademarks, how to hire employees, accounting and taxes systems, banking and insurance, and how to budget the immersion to STL. All the speakers are bilingual members of HCC from different countries but based in the STL area.

We are also providing businesses with the opportunity to start creating their own network of local professionals.

It is organized jointly by HCC and the Rosario-St. Louis sister cities committee. The series runs once a month from May to November. We have already 66 participants registered from Argentina, Bolivia, Nicaragua, Ecuador, Colombia, and Guatemala.

31

2022 2ND EDITION FRIEND P L AT I N U M

DIAMOND

GOLD

S I LV E R

BRONZE

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

AAdvantage Insurance Agile Packaging Solutions Ameristar Casino Resort and Spa Ben Hur Corporation BMO Harris Bank Boone Center Inc., DBA BCI Breakthru Beverage Missouri LLC Busey Bank Carmody MacDonald Carrollton Bank Central Bank of St. Louis CIBC Commerce Bank CTS Group Dot Foods, Inc. Fedex Ground First Bank Four Seasons Hotel St. Louis Frick’s Quality Meats Garcia Properties Grey Eagle Distributors Guarantee Electrical Company Home Depot LHM Lindenwood University LUXCO, Inc. Midland States Bank Midwest BankCentre Mississippi Lime Company Missouri History Museum Montgomery Bank Mutual of Omaha NextGen Information Services Panera LLC Pangea Group Precoat Metals ReMax Gold Regions Bank RSM US, LLP SLCC, LLC SIUE Spire, Inc Stinson LLP St. Louis Community College STL Partnership St. Louis Post-Dispatch St. Louis-Kansas Council Stinson LLP Success Brands Talisen Technologies, Inc. Tarlton Corporation The Ritz-Carlton, St. Louis Thompson Coburn LLP TOTA Investments, LLC TWG Wealth Partners UMSL University of Missouri System ValDivia Enterprises Veterans United Home Loans Washington University World Wide Technology