en Contacto 2022 1st edition

hccstl.com

2022 1ST EDITION

Members of the Regional Business Council’s Young Professionals Network From left to right: Daniela Velázquez, Vice President, FleishmanHillard; SiSi Beltrán, Vice President, Marketing, Build-A-Bear Workshop, Inc.; and Ricky Vigil, Director Client Services, Twain Financial Partners.

Board of

DIRECTORS FACUNDO OYENARD

SUZANNE SIERRA

JOSE PONCE

DANIEL A VEL A ZQUEZ

S I S I B E LT R A N

E L I A S C O R PA S

JOMO CASTRO

CA R LO S R I VAS

BERTO GARCIA

AINETTE MARTINEZ

CL AUDIO ABREU

CL AUDIA OCHOA-ESPE JO

GABRIEL CARDENAS

NOLAN RUIZ

ROBERT CLARK

Editorial

TEAM

FERNANDA ESTRADA-RIDAURA K ARINA AQUINO SYDNI JACKSON

2022 1st 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

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2022 1st Edition HISPANIC CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

NEW MEMBERS

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.

A B B C O S E R V I C E C O R P O R AT I O N

MLO L AW LLC

BTS BOOKKEEPING & TRAINING SERVICES

PELLA WINDOWS AND DOORS

CAPULI CAKERY LLC CEMA X LLC CIPRIANO MEDINA DOTEC ENGINEERING

P L AY H O U S E O F T H E H O LY F A M I LY L L C .

P R E C O AT M E TA L S P R I E S T LY S TA F F I N G S O L U T I O N S L L C RJP ELECTRIC SYSTEMICO

ECUADORIAN SOCIE T Y OF M E T R O P O L I TA N S T. L O U I S

THE WOODSHACK SOUL ARD

E L S A LT O M E X I C A N R E S TA U R A N T

ZONE ENTERPRISES

LUIS MARTORELL CABRE

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Letter from the

PRESIDENT &CEO Hello, I would like to start by introducing myself.

My name is Edùardo Platon and I am the new President and CEO of the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Metropolitan St. Louis.

I am very excited to be here! I come originally from Brazil, with a background of 17 years living, studying, and working internationally, which includes St. Louis.

I dedicated the last 9-10 years of my life to politics and the previous chapter involved in the area of innovation, startups, venture building, and venture capital, mentoring young entrepreneurs having also worked for large companies.

More recently I started publishing books and my third book is about the pandemic. With experience in the public and private sector and experiences in different industries and countries, I feel that the position in the Chamber of Commerce is the perfect opportunity to serve our growing Latino and Hispanic Community in St. Louis.

In this new role, I will be dedicated to creating an innovative, inclusive, and vibrant environment, accelerating the Chamber’s digital transformation, developing high value-added relationships, programs, events, and certainly committed to our individual, business and corporate membership base with a focus on generating return on investment and quality engagement. I do look forward to working with our partners and allies for the betterment of our community and economic development of our region.

Kindest regards, Edùardo Platon President and CEO

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2022 1st Edition HISPANIC CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

2022 1ST EDITION 3 Welcome to the HCC family 4 Letter from the President & CEO 5 De mi Madre Aprendí 6 Learn more about our members 8 2021 Adelante Awards 10 Regional Business Council 14 Business Counselor recommendations 15 Health Awareness by AJ Wellness Pharmacy 16 Score 17 Coffee & Commerce 18 Welcome to our new President & CEO 20 2022 Job Fair 22 ArchGrants 24 Midwest BankCentre helping the Community 25 Everything we can offer 26 2022 events calendar 27 Follow our social media 28 Trivia

TELL US ABOUT

De mi

MADRE APRENDÍ

Authentic Puerto Rican Food Blending Spices for Latin Flavor.

I am originally from Puerto Rico and moved to the USA 38 years ago with my husband to obtain a postgraduate degree. I always enjoyed seeing my mom cook for our family and friends in my home country.

She taught me how to cook at an early age and care about others. Sunday meals in our family were an opportunity to celebrate a special time to gather and share time with loved ones while eating homemade fresh food.

The idea of starting my food business came to me in 2020, during the Pandemic, while I worked as a Special Instructor for the state of Missouri supporting families and their children with special needs. In addition to that, I work with families with low incomes.

of Commerce where I got advice on how to start a business. They provided me opportunities to receive For families with low incomes, I noticed there was a need training and information sessions via Zoom and at the to get access to computers/tablets for their children’s Chamber location, including resources and consultation distance learning. Therefore, I thought of starting to sell time. Following their guidance, I generated a network authentic Puerto Rican food to friends to raise money of people who supported me in my entrepreneurial to buy these computers/tablets and support children’s journey. In addition to the support from the Hispanic distance learning. Thanks to my friends that supported Chamber of Commerce Metropolitan St. Louis, last year these efforts, I was able to distribute 15 computers and I participated in various programs and training sessions tablets to families in need. from CET Square 1, Bootcamps, and other training The food I cooked for my loved ones was made with my sessions from other sources. I am a member of The own blended spices and fresh ingredients. That was highly Kitchen Hub, where I received coaching from them noticed by my customers; they always asked me about the and can manufacture my product in their certified name brand of the blended spices I used to make the food, facility. So far this year, I have been awarded two and my response was “I use fresh ingredients and also grants, the Next Level mentorship program from combine the spices just like my mother used to do for her the CET and the Balsa Grant. homemade foods”.

I can proudly say that “De Mi Madre Aprendi” is the Because of the great feedback I received, I started to plan result of the combination of my connection to my how I could start my food business with the mission of Latin roots and my passion for helping people. also contributing financial support to people in need within Leslie Hernandez, Owner of De Mi Madre Aprendí the community. First, I contacted the Hispanic Chamber 5

Learn more about

OUR MEMBERS

FamilyForward moves vulnerable children in the direction of hope by delivering comprehensive therapeutic and educational services to support biological, foster, and adoptive families.

Boasting four locations and 150-plus employees, FamilyForward serves children and families in St. Louis City, St. Charles, Jefferson, Washington, and St. Louis Counties.

We provide life-changing services through our Developmental Trauma Center, Foster Care services, Community Services programs, and Redevelopment Opportunities for Women, which offers support in English, Spanish, Vietnamese, and Bosnian.

Every day, children in Missouri are impacted by trauma, often in the form of abuse and neglect. We focus on strengthening families by offering early intervention services and supporting children and families who have survived — or maybe are still enduring — trauma.

Our dedicated and caring staff supported more than 5,000 children and families in 2021.From trauma assessment to therapy…from advocacy to coaching...

FamilyForward is committed to breaking the cycle of trauma by providing long-term, evidence-based support to children and families.

Join us at FamilyForwardmo.org to learn more and get involved. Together we can support children and families on their journey of hope and healing.

Karen Nolte CEO, FamilyForward

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2022 1st Edition HISPANIC CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

MEMBER SHOUT OUT

Garcia Properties is a real estate centric business started in 1999 with the purchase of a single piece of rental property.

Many years and adventures later, our family of businesses include: » » » » » » »

Garcia Properties (real estate brokerage) Garcia Property Management Garcia Mortgage Team Garcia Construction/Development Garcia Insurance Advisors The Golden Hoosier (neighborhood bar) a.companie/a.casa (event planning and venue management)

These businesses were started and have grown organically in response to specific needs and the idea of “doing right by people”. We are blessed to work with our immediate family members and insanely talented & hard-working individuals that chose to call Garcia Companies their work home. We’re located in the heart of South St. Louis City and are proponents of the entire St. Louis region. Ivan Garcia, Co-Owner/ Founder, put’s it best by saying, “we believe the health of the region depends on the health of the city. If we are to be proud of our region, we must first be proud of our city. When people support us, they empower us.

We feel a responsibility to give back to the community that empowers us. Therefore, we are not extracting resources; we are merely stewards of resources.”

We are proud members of the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. If we can be of service, let’s get to work!

Please visit https://garciastl.com or contact us at (314) 353-0336.

Berto Garcia Co-Owner, Garcia Companies

In 2010, we came together to leverage the founders’ creative, technical and business knowledge to help small businesses and nonprofits leverage digital technologies.

What started out as four people working part-time has evolved into a team of 29 strategists, analysts, designers and developers. In 2021, Spry Digital placed 16th on the list of Fastest-Growing Private Companies in the St. Louis Business Journal and was included in the Inc. Magazine 5000 Fastest-Growing Private Companies in America.

Spry Digital is a digital solutions agency built to enable our clients’ full potential. We do this by strengthening the connection between our clients, processes and people. Our unique combination of resources works together to strategize, design and develop web platforms, products and online revenue channels with the best possible user outcomes in mind. Our diverse team is committed to creating a friendlier digital experience for everyone. Each project we launch is another step toward a more inclusive, effective and usable digital landscape for all.

Over the years, we have worked to create talent pipelines that assist with finding the right people to join our company. We balance hiring team members with experience, along with growing individuals, through our internship program.

We would love to connect and learn more about your company. Follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram and Twitter, or check out our latest blog at sprydigital. com/blog.

Sheila Burkett CEO, Spry Digital

Contact Information: https://sprydigital.com holler@sprydigital.com 7

Making 2021

a difference

On Friday, October 29, at the “Four Seasons” hotel in downtown St. Louis, the “2021 Adelante Awards” awards ceremony was held.

This award ceremony was sponsored by several companies including AT&T, Enterprise Holdings, and Centene Charitable Foundation. The entertainment included the participation of Octavio Nieto’s “Almas de México” folk school; the master of ceremonies Carol Daniel from KMOX, and the guest of honor Claudia Romo Edelman, who eloquently spoke about the importance of the Latino Community in the United States, within the highlights of her talk

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2022 1st Edition HISPANIC CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

the lack of representation stands out in the public office, she said that now is our time. We owe it to our ancestors.

The event ended up with words from Ainette Martínez, Interim Director, and gave way to the music of DJ Fonzo.

Claudia Romo is a social entrepreneur, advocate and catalyst for change. A global mobilization expert, engaging public speaker, and media contributor, Claudia is an inclusion leader, focused on unifying the US Hispanic community and promoting sustainability and purpose-driven activities. Claudia is the founder of the “We Are All Human” Foundation, a new nonprofit Foundation based in New York, dedicated to promoting the agenda of diversity, inclusion and equity.

Thank you to the Planning Committee for their hard work on this event: Fernanda Estrada, Karina Aquino, Sydni Jackson, Claire Schenk, Suzanne Sierra and Ainette Martínez.

This year’s selection committee included the participation of: Robyn Heidger, Lus Haberberger, Sisi Beltrán, Vicente Quevedo and Alejandro Santiago.

Adelante 2021 Awards Winners

Hispanic Business Advocate of the Year: CentralJA

Civic Award of the Year: STL Juntos & Latino Roundtable

Hispanic Company of the Year: Missouri Constructors

Hispanic Emerging Leader: Ricardo Recci, Azteca Insurance

Hispanic Emerging Business of the Year: Asador del Sur

Hispanic Businessperson of the Year: Jose Ponce, Remax Gold

Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Member of the Year: Leslie Hernandez, De Mi Madre Aprendí

Hispanic Lifetime Achievement Award: Karlos Ramírez

Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Board Chair Recognition: Midwest BankCentre

TESTIMONY What a grand party. The Adelante Awards, hosted by the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, has a vibe very similar to the Academy Awards. Upon arrival, the guests are pampered with pre-party fun. When the doors open to the grand hall, everyone enters taking their seat at elegantly decorated tables. The entertainment is festive, and the food is not only delicious, but art masterpieces are displayed on the plates. We were nominated for the Civic Award of the Year, and it was a tie. I remember when the first winner was announced, and we sat waiting for the second winner’s name. The anticipation was killing us when we heard our name announced. All of us jumped up screaming as if we had won a million dollars. We began hugging each other and making our way to the stage. The award plaque is breathtaking, and the photo flashes made everything feel like a dream. Thank you, HCC, for recognizing our hard work in the community.

Katie Heaton, Latino Roundtable Chairman 9

The Regional Business Council

AND ITS YOUNG PROFESSIONALS NETWORK The RBC is a consortium of more than 100 CEOs of large companies in St. Louis, employing more than 120,000 people and generating more than $65 billion in annual revenue. Their work is essential to enhancing the well-being and vitality of the region because their members have a tremendous impact on the economic health of the region. Their mission is to unite and engage members to act on high-impact business, civic and philanthropic affairs for the betterment of the St. Louis region.

The RBC’s 2022 key areas of focus include Talent & Workforce Development, Racial Equity, Diversity & Inclusion, Public Policy, K-12 Education, and Quality of Life. Their strength, resources, and expertise allow them to act quickly to significantly impact areas of need as they arise.

RBC and its members have been committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion for over 20 years, and for over 15 of those years RBC has been a lead investor in the Hispanic Chamber. They value their relationship with the Chamber because they know it provides vital services to a vibrant and influential Hispanic community in St. Louis.

They share a common goal to enhance business opportunities and strengthen economic development for that community.

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2022 1st Edition HISPANIC CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

With the Hispanic Chamber, RBC has supported the growth of the Hispanic business community, particularly through their work in talent development and leadership coaching.

TALENT DEVELOPMENT The RBC’s Talent Development Initiatives were established in an effort to attract, retain and develop a highly skilled, diverse workforce in the St. Louis region. Two longstanding programs contribute to this mission by providing valuable networking, professional development, and community involvement opportunities.

In 2003, the RBC established the Mentor Network program thanks in large part to the leadership of a few driven RBC members. Through this program, every year 150 top

students from 13 of our region’s universities are selected to be mentored by RBC members and other executives from around the region. Mentors help their student mentees identify career paths in St. Louis, guide them on how to build a strong resume, coach them on how to interview, and connect them with other people and opportunities to develop their skills. In the 2021- 2022 program year, six percent (double the percentage of the Hispanic population in St. Louis) of mentees identify as Hispanic or Latino.

However, following a few successful years of the Mentor Network, the RBC realized that these students were graduating and entering the workplace for the first time without the same support they had as students. So in 2008, the RBC launched the Young Professionals

MEET OUR MEMBER

Network as a forum for building lasting connections, sharing big ideas and supporting the future of the St. Louis region. What started as an intimate network of 50 young professionals has since grown to include over 3,500 diverse professionals from hundreds of companies in the St. Louis region.

To accommodate for the growth and recognize those professionals who were distinguishing themselves as emerging leaders in St. Louis, the RBC developed Leadership 100, which is comprised of roughly 100 young professionals selected for their success and leadership in their company and their community.

Today, six percent of the broader network and Leadership 100 identify as Hispanic/Latino.

EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP PROGRAM In 2022, They are putting their goal of growing opportunities for Hispanic businesses into action with the expansion of our Executive Leadership Program. During the 2021 pilot year, RBC matched 20 black-owned companies with RBC executives. In 2022 this program is expanding to include Brown-owned companies to further cultivate a more inclusive and equitable business climate.

Through the coaching relationship, these minority business owners are able to maximize opportunities and company performance by identifying blind spots, gaining greater selfawareness, adjusting performance, and strengthening leadership skills.

The Regional Business Council look forward to partnering with the Hispanic Chamber to recruit and support Hispanic business leaders through their executive leadership program this year.

The program establishes a oneon-one relationship between Black and Brown entrepreneurs and RBC CEOs, who will coach them to help build the capacity of their companies and empower them as leaders.

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Ricky Vigil, Director Client Services, Twain Financial Partners & Former HCC Board President

As the son of two Cuban immigrants that only spoke Spanish to their children, diversity has always been a way of life for me. I have witnessed the challenges my parents faced and the appreciation they have for the people that helped them succeed. This has driven me to not only appreciate diversity but to support it in any way possible. As part of the Regional Business Council’s Young Professionals Network, I realized the organization strives to support people just like my parents and me. Leaders of the RBC’s member companies provide guidance, opportunities, and mentorship to St. Louis’ diverse young professionals. Through the YPN, I gained access to learn from St. Louis’ top executives and have been provided leadership opportunities such as serving as Board Chair for the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. These executives took time out of their busy lives to provide me with crucial insights that have guided my career over the last 15 years. I am very grateful to the RBC and its members for their continued support of St. Louis’ young professionals.”

SiSi Beltrán, Vice President, Marketing, Build-A-Bear Workshop, Inc. & current HCC Board Secretary 12

2022 1st Edition HISPANIC CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

MEET OUR MEMBER

I joined YPN shortly after returning to my hometown of St. Louis, in 2014.

The networking events provided a great opportunity to reconnect with people and develop new friendships with civic-minded professionals from different communities.

I believe that no one pulls themselves up by their own bootstraps. The relationships I’ve built with my fellow YPN alumni have certainly contributed to my success and remain an important part of my support system of professionals of color. It’s also affirming to see an organization committed to supporting the Latino community. I now serve as a board member for the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Metropolitan St. Louis (HCC), and I love seeing people from the HCC at YPN events and vice versa.

Connections like this, contribute to a thriving region where young, skilled, and diverse talent can start up, stand out, and stay!”

Daniela Velázquez, Vice President, FleishmanHillard & current HCC Board Member

I find it really special how being part of the YPN Leadership 100 can take on so many forms. For me, getting to know such great people as members or supporters of the group has allowed me to have a better awareness of happenings in the St Louis community, provide connections for people to better leverage those opportunities and personally, get connected to organizations that fit my interests. For example, I was recommended for board service with Forest Park Forever over a decade ago based on voicing my interest in the park and its special place as a treasure to this

community. I also remember the early days of YPN when the Hispanic Chamber was starting their Hispanic Leadership Institute (HLI) and the support the RBC was providing to get it off the ground. It makes me so happy to think that the Institute has already seen its 10th class graduate from the program! The exciting thing is that no journey with YPN is the same — making the importance of the group that much greater. The Steering Committee and different support committees are able to bring ideas to the table to advance the mission of the YPN, while also supporting organizations in the community as well.”

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Business Counselor Recommendations

SHOULD I HAVE A BUSINESS PLAN?

I know some of you may have been operating your business without a proper business plan. However, writing one could be very beneficial to help you make wise decisions and plan for uncertainties.

What is a business plan?

It may sound complicated but it’s just the plan for your business. That means, it describes where your business is now, where you would like it to be and the steps necessary to reach your destination. Creating it is a very helpful process to learn more about your business and its operation. It should be considered as an ongoing process and therefore adjustments should be made as you evaluate your progress. The business plan provides a roadmap from which to operate, and to look for direction in times of doubt. Without a business plan, you may shift your short-term strategies constantly without a view to your long-term milestones.

What are the key elements of a business plan?

There are different templates but generally these are the areas it should include: Executive Summary /The Business Description. The problem & the solution/ Organization and management/ The Industry. Trends/ The Market. The target customer. The competition/ Marketing & Sales Plan: positioning, pricing and promotion/Operations/ Milestones and metrics/ Financial Plan. Projections.

Why is it useful to have a business plan?

The main advantages of having a business plan are: » To assess the feasibility of your venture. How good is this opportunity? Which problem are you going to solve with your product or service? How are you going to do it? » To prove employees, investors, partners and yourself that you are committed to building the business and make it sustainable in the future. It will also help you attract investors and partners.

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2022 1st Edition HISPANIC CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

» To check and validate some assumptions you may have about the industry, target market and competition. It will force you to research and really know your market and customer. Get the answers to some questions like: What are the most important trends in your industry? » To position your brand and document your marketing plan. To define your company’s role in the marketplace to position the brand to customers, investors, and partners. » To document your revenue model and financial needs. How exactly will your business make money?

Documenting the revenue model helps to address challenges and assumptions associated with the model.

Where can I get help to write a business plan?

You can contact me at mdegregorio@hccstl.com and explore online resources at Score.org, Sba.org and Bplans.com.

Maria De Gregorio Business Counselor, Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Metropolitan St. Louis

H E A LT H

How to properly

STORE AND DISPOSE OF MEDICATION

by Christine Vukomanovic, PharmD*

Do you know how to properly store, and dispose of medications in your home? It is important that patients take their medication as prescribed by their doctor, and safely store and dispose of them to help reduce the risk of accidental exposure or misuse.

DON’T leave prescription, and over-the-counter medication in places that are accessible to children and pets. Also, try to avoid carrying medication in your purse, because children could mistake the pills with candies.

DO store medication in its original container with the pharmacy label. Prescription and manufacturer bottles are created to protect the medication from light and moisture and are childproof. Also, the pharmacy label provides important information about the medicine, such as directions and refills, and the phone number of the pharmacy if you have any questions.

DO check your medicine inventory regularly. Go through all your medications every 6 to 12 months and discard any that are no longer needed or expired.

DON’T store medicine in a bathroom cabinet, near the oven or stove, or in a car where humidity and temperature changes can cause damage.

DO store medication in a cool, dry place, preferably in a cabinet with a lock. Bedrooms or closets are good options for storage.

DON’T share prescription medication. Your doctor prescribes medication based on your personal medical history, and other health factors. A medication that works for one person may cause harm to someone else.

Another option for disposal is to bring the medication to a secure drop-off site. Twice a year the DEA hosts a National Take Back Day where you can drop off unwanted or expired medications.

For more information on how to properly dispose of medications, please visit the Food and Drug Administration website at www.fda.gov.

*Christine Vukomanovic, PharmD is pharmacist in charge at AJ Wellness Pharmacy (3535 South Jefferson Ave, St. Louis, MO 63118). The pharmacy staff can be contacted at (314) 875-9002, Monday through Friday, 7:30 am until 3:30 pm. AJ Wellness Pharmacy provides free delivery to patients, easy prescription transfer process, and they are always available to answer questions with a multilingual staff.

References: FDA | https://www.fda.gov/drugs/safe-disposal-medicines/disposal-unused-medicines-what-you-should-know DEA | https://www.dea.gov/takebackday.

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MEMBERS

Free Business Support for

HISPANIC ENTREPRENEURS FROM SCORE ST. LOUIS!

SCORE is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and a resource partner of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). They are the nation’s largest network of volunteers, expert business mentors and are dedicated to helping small businesses get off the ground, grow and achieve their business goals. Since 1964, SCORE has provided education and mentorship to more than 11 million entrepreneurs.

Hispanic-owned small businesses have grown 34% and contributed $500B to the U.S. economy over the last 10 years and show no signs of slowing down. The St. Louis Chapter of SCORE (https://stlouis.score.org) is teaming with the St. Louis Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and a commitment to supporting the development and growth of Hispanic entrepreneurs and businesses.

They have on-line national resources that are dedicated to the Hispanic Community (SCORE for Hispanic Entrepreneurs | SCORE) as well as a wide range of additional local and on-line services: • Mentoring: Entrepreneurs can access free, confidential business mentoring in person either face-to-face, remotely via email, phone and video.

SCORE mentors, all experts in entrepreneurship and related fields, meet with their small business clients on an ongoing basis to provide continued advice and support. For more information, visit: (https://stlouis. score.org/content/search-mentor) 16

2022 1st Edition HISPANIC CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

• Webinars, Courses and a Library of Online Resources: SCORE regularly offers free online and local workshops on topics ranging from startup strategies to marketing and finance. Attendees can watch webinars live, or view recordings online on their own time. They also offer interactive courses on demand, so you can walk through each module at your own pace. Local Workshops: (https://stlouis.score.org/ local-workshops-seminars) • Library of online resources: Browse the Small Business Resource Library | SCORE Hispanic Entrepreneurs and Business Leaders — Become a SCORE Mentor!

The SCORE St. Louis Chapter is looking to organically grow our ability to locally support Hispanic-speaking entrepreneurs. They are inviting Hispanic business leaders to join SCORE as a mentor and serve as an advocate to support the development and growth of Hispanic businesses using the vast resources that SCORE has to offer. See the link to learn more. (https://stlouis.score.org/become-scorevolunteer-6)

EVENTS

COFFEE & COMMERCE

New Member orientation

Coffee & Commerce is our newest program this year, and it is meant to help orient new members to the Chamber, teach them about who we are and how we can help them. The program is held every fourth Thursday morning of the month, at the Holiday Inn in Creve Coeur, and lasts about an hour. It gives new members a space to meet the Chamber Staff and themselves, giving them more one-on-one time with us that they might not get at a bigger event like our Business After Hours.

April, 28 May, 26 June, 23

Every new member that joins that month is invited to the event, and for the whole of 2022, we are also inviting members who joined in 2021. And they all get sent a copy of the presentation, which tells them everything they need to know from how to start using Chamber Master, to how to submit a job posting. We hope to see all our new members this year at our Coffee & Commerce!

Next dates

July, 28 October, 27 August, 25 November, 24 September, 22 December, 22

Holiday Inn Creve Coeur 1030 Woodcrest Terrace Dr. | St. Louis, Mo 63141

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Welcome to Our

NEW PRESIDENT AND CEO

After a months-long search, including interviews with local, national and international candidates, our Board of Directors welcomed our new President & CEO, Edùardo Platon, on Wednesday, February 16th at our monthly Business After Hour event at Spark Coworking St. Louis.

With about 70 in attendance, Eduardo had the opportunity to meet and greet some of our members and, in general, some people from the St. Louis region.

“Edùardo is going to be a tremendous addition to our Chamber,” said Facundo Oyenard, our HCC Chairman. “His vision, strategic thinking, and international experience, combined with his professional experience, will be key assets not only for this next chapter in HCC history, but great for the growing diverse and vibrant international community in St Louis.”

Edùardo is from Brazil and has held positions in both the public and private sectors, within his home country and stateside, with organizations including Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri State University, and the World Affairs Council of New Orleans. In addition, he has a strong background in entrepreneurship through past personal experience as well as several professional roles focused on developing young entrepreneurs and social entrepreneurship and innovation. Edùardo is also a published author.

“I’m honored to lead our talented team and start a new cycle of development and prosperity for Hispanic and Latino professionals 18

2022 1st Edition HISPANIC CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

and companies, of all sizes and industries, in the St. Louis region,” said Edùardo.

“Our organization values entrepreneurship, innovation, digital transformation, social media, advocacy, labor, and community service for individuals, businesses and corporate members. My aim is to create public and private partnerships and alliances to provide great value to our members while developing the region’s civic and business economy.”

We want to thank Ainette Martínez for her service as our Interim Director since September. We will continue to work to support our members, executing events with excellence, and driving the Chamber to another successful year!

EVENTS

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2022

JOB FAIR Along with Title Sponsor FF&G, LC — McDonald’s, we hosted our 2022 Job Fair on Thursday, March 3rd at Sheet Metal Workers Local 36.

This event aimed to connect Metro organizations with job seekers from diverse backgrounds.

The Job Fair was intended to engage diverse talent with our thriving St. Louis workforce community. The organizations represented a wide variety of industries seeking part-time and full-time employees, as well as interns. This event was free and open to the public, and to all kinds of backgrounds. For the first time, we provided free childcare.

Since our inaugural fair in 2012, it has been truly remarkable to witness the growth of this job fair and all the remarkable talent this event has attracted over the years. One of our ongoing goals for the fair is to attract bilingual Hispanic job seekers to assist participating vendors in their diversification efforts.

This year we had about 100 job seekers, of which a large percentage of the resumes received were from bilingual candidates in English and Spanish. The HCC believes this type of talent is beneficial to our members and needed by the St. Louis region.

Thanks to all the companies that participated.

We hope to see you next year!

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2022 1st Edition HISPANIC CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

TESTIMONY We appreciated the opportunity to be part of this year’s Hispanic Chamber of Commerce job fair. During the event, we had the opportunity to speak to a diverse pool of candidates interested in improving the lives of families impacted by Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia. The Alzheimer Association is committed to inclusivity and diversity in our operations and hiring practices. We encourage those interested in being part of our team to regularly check our website for open positions at jobs.alz.org Ben Molina, Program Manager. Alzheimer’s Association, Greater Missouri Chapter

JOB FAIR

EVENTS

Title SPONSOR:

Cardinal sponsors:

OTHER PARTICIPATING COMPANIES:

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MEMBERS

ATTRACTING AND RETAINING EXTRAORDINARY ENTREPRENEURS IN ST.LOUIS! Alejandro Lozdziejski, CEO of Customily, moved to St. Louis in 2019 after being awarded an Arch Grant, empowered to grow his business in a burgeoning entrepreneurial ecosystem. A software engineer from Uruguay, Alejandro has more than 15 years of experience designing and implementing information technology projects.

“Relocating to St. Louis had a great impact on our company. We were able to create close partnerships with important U.S. brands, raise our first round of investment, and double our team’s size,” said Alejandro.

His road in entrepreneurship started in 2013, and Customily, a SaaS that helps eCommerces maximize their personalized product sales while reducing their production costs and time, is his second profitable startup. He is also an MIT innovator under 35.

Alejandro’s story is one of many that demonstrates Arch Grants’ mission to help make a real economic impact by championing extraordinary entrepreneurs like him. Arch Grants funds innovative, diverse, earlystage companies with the potential to scale and make an impact in St. Louis, the country, and the world. This year, through their annual Startup Competition, they will be awarding $75,000 equity-free cash grants, plus an additional $25,000 for companies relocating to St. Louis* and pro bono support services to entrepreneurs who headquarter their companies in St. Louis.

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2022 1st Edition HISPANIC CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

A key part of their mission is to champion founders of startup companies from groups that are traditionally underrepresented in the startup sector, including women, people of color, people with disabilities, immigrants, and the LGBTQ+ community. One of their many initiatives to support their mission is to infuse capital into Black and Brown-led startups growing and scaling in St. Louis.

Arch Grants has been able to progress on this initiative after receiving a $1 million grant from Bank of America in 2021. Their organization recognizes that while there is immense potential in the solutions that underrepresented founders develop and bring to scale, systemic barriers make access to funding more difficult for individuals in these populations.

They see immense opportunity for St. Louis to welcome underrepresented founders to help build the rich and thriving economy they envision. Their partnership with Bank of America will also further build the pipeline of Black and Brown-led startups being formed, funded, and scaled in St. Louis, bolstering the region’s support system for Black and Brown entrepreneurs and helping to build the region’s national reputation as an inclusive and diverse ecosystem.

“Not only was the business impact huge,” continued Alejandro, “but the personal experience and growth we experienced were also incredible, and Arch Grants had a huge role in it — from choosing a neighborhood, getting an apartment, and guiding us through the crazy world of healthcare.”

As of March 18, 2022, applications for the 2022 Startup Competition are open through April 15, 2022 for all tech-enabled, for-profit companies with a vision to scale nationally and internationally and that are currently at the validated idea stage through pre-series A stage. For more information on Arch Grants’ 2022 Startup Competition, please visit www.archgrants.org/competition or contact Jess Bellomo, their Director of Entrepreneur Recruitment, at jess.bellomo@archgrants.org. *From outside of Missouri and/or 150 miles from St. Louis.

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MEMBERS

Karlos Ramirez

TRANSITIONS TO MIDWEST BANKCENTRE TO HELP THE COMMUNITY HAVE ACCESS TO CAPITAL.

Karlos Ramirez recently transitioned from serving as the President and CEO of the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (HCC), which he led for over a decade, to accept a job at Midwest BankCentre as Vice President of Community Engagement and Business Development. Some may be asking, “Why?” It is the same answer he gave in 2011 when he left the education field, where he holds an undergraduate and master’s degree, to lead the Hispanic Chamber.

“To help people. To help my community.”

Ramirez joined the Board of Directors at Midwest BankCentre in 2018, and through his seat on the Board saw firsthand the impact of access to reasonably priced capital. Karlos believes he can have an even greater impact helping people achieve their dreams by using his new platform to push for more diversity and inclusion through the issuance of credit and access to financial services.

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2022 1st Edition HISPANIC CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

He joins a team that believes in helping everyone in our region access reasonably priced capital — to buy homes, start or scale businesses, or fund education. At the beginning of 2021, Midwest BankCentre announced its commitment to lend $200 million over a 5-year period to nonprofits, faith-based institutions, community development projects, and small businesses in or benefitting historically divested communities. In his new role, Ramirez will be working to help everyone live a selfdetermined life through access to financial capital and services, with a key focus on the Hispanic community.

In part he sees his job as providing education. “I can help Hispanic business owners learn more about how to work with a banking partner, how to manage cash flow and how to secure lines of credit to pursue bigger contracts,” he explains. “We are going to work with people to help them get to yes.” Ramirez’s efforts extend to people who only have an ITIN number. He explains that Midwest BankCentre offers ITIN products and is building their team of Spanish speakers to help these customers feel more comfortable in establishing a banking relationship.

“In the end, this makes for stronger communities all the way around. Hispanics are adding to the economy, paying taxes, and adding to the vibrancy of our neighborhoods,” he says.

Ramirez will continue to do what he has done his entire career; to help people and our community thrive. His move to Midwest BankCentre gives him powerful tools to continue that path.

To get in touch with Karlos, please email him at kramirez@midwestbankcentre.com

Why join us?

EVERYTHING WE CAN OFFER.

The Hispanic Chamber offers opportunities for everyone to grow, connect and develop your organization. Being part of our Chamber family gives you many resources and tools, whether you are a small business, nonprofit, big corporation, or an individual. Here are some of the benefits we offer: Workforce 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.

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.

Networking Business After Hours: Networking is at the core of what we do.

Therefore, we have our Business After Hour events every 3rd 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!

Please reach out to us if you have any questions or would like to learn more. Join our HCC family today!

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 memberonly system called ChamberMaster.

Reach out to our President and CEO, Eduardo Platon at eplaton@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!

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2022 1st Edition HISPANIC CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

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2022 1ST EDITION The Official Magazine of the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Metropolitan St. Louis P L AT I N U M

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

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