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A MOMENT WITH THE PRESIDENT
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From the Desk of John Hernandez, President of the FWHCC
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The month of May is a huge month for the Hispanic Chamber. We have been feverishly preparing for our upcoming American Salute Gala on May 20th at the Omni Fort Worth. As many of you know, this is our largest signature event of year. There is a lot of work and preparation involved with the planing of this event, but I can't tell you how rewarding it has been to meet and work with some of our local heroes.
I have never had the opportunity to serve in our military, but I have many veteran family members, friends and colleagues. And even though I've heard many stories, nothing humbles you more than hearing the personal sacrifices that these great people and their families have made and lived through. Each interaction includes awesome counts of bravery, honor and selflessness. They never ask for repayment or recognition, but in fact, they all seem to have a similar answer: they did what they needed to do for their country.
So please join me in taking the opportunity to honor, thank and help our veterans at our upcoming Gala. But please keep in mind that it should not and must not stop there. We should all keep our armed forces in our hearts and prayers as they are the reason we have the freedom to do what we do every day. Moreover, if you want a highly trained, dedicated, hardworking and proven leader in your organization, hire a veteran.
See below in the chamber calendar and chamber news sections for more information about our Gala and benefitting community partner.
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EVENTS CALENDAR
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Five Pillar Lecture Series: Economy
The Five Pillar Lecture Series addresses each of the areas that we believe are the cornerstones of a productive, thriving business environment. To facilitate a conversation about our economic activity, the FWHCC has invited the Consul General of Mexico in Dallas, Francisco de la Torre Galindo, to speak to participants about the impact of Mexico on business in North Texas and specifically Tarrant County. Join us on May 3rd for lunch, networking and an insightful conversation about the state of our economy. Please register online.
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The FWHCC holds quarterly "Maximize Your Membership" meetings for all members to attend. Our next meeting will be on May 11th at the Fort Worth Intermodal Transportation Center. Whether you're new to the Chamber family or have been a member for many years, join us to network with other members, learn about the Chamber's history and new initiatives, upcoming programs and events and how to best take advantage of your new or existing membership with the FWHCC. Free to attend, please register online.
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44th Annual Gala
The FWHCC's Annual Awards Gala showcases successes of the previous year. At the 44th Annual American Salute Gala on May 20th, we will recognize and celebrate those who volunteer their time for the success of our organization, pay tribute to the past and current military servicemen and women of our communities and recognize an outstanding community partner, BrothersKeepers. Proceeds from the evening will benefit the FWHCC Scholarship Program as well as BrothersKeepers. Please register online.
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Senior Synergy Expo
Tarrant County Judge Glen Whitley and Cigna invite you to the 2017 Senior Synergy Expo on
May 4th
. Come learn about the services available in Tarrant County that will empower boomers, seniors and caregivers to live a healthier lifestyle.
Those 50+ will leave the expo feeling more empowered to live a healthier lifestyle.
Free admission, free health screenings, and free workshops. To attend the Expo, register online or by calling
(817) 884-1234.
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AMEP Ribbon Cutting
Join us on
May 18th as we welcome Asociacion de Mujeres Empresarias y Profesionales Fort Worth Chapter to our Chamber and community. Come out to support President Mary Dominguez and her entire team at a ribbon cutting ceremony celebrating their passion and commitment to helping empower women with educational tools and resources to ensure they receive opportunities for growth and expansion.
Free to attend, but please register
online
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Movies that Matter
Movies That Matter Latino
is a quarterly film series that celebrates the diversity that exists within the Latino culture. Each event features a film screening, followed by a moderated discussion with local subject matter experts. Join us on June 4th at Rose Marine Theater for a free screening of "Las Marthas", a film following two young women as they prepare for the annual debutante ball in Laredo, Texas. Free to attend, please register online.
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CHAMBER
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Gala Community Partner: BrothersKeepers
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The FWHCC is honored to benefit a local 501(c)3 veteran-focused initiative each year at our Annual Awards Gala. At this year's upcoming Gala, we will highlight the efforts of BrothersKeepers, an organization committed to empowering and honoring veterans, first responders and others called to serve.
It all began with a group of young men meeting for a "guys night out" dinner club every month and chipping into a pot to do something good for someone. That h
oliday season, the group bought a wheel chair for someone in need. Nearly 20 years later, they've taken their efforts public in honor of their friend and brother, Jack Fanning, who was seriously injured in service to our country.
BrothersKeepers
was founded in 2012 and represents a brotherhood of men raising funds, awareness, and assistance to efforts that support and empower wounded warriors, their families, and others in the community who are in need, while having fun and enjoying life's blessings along the way.
Join us at the 44th Annual American Salute Gala on May 20th at the Omni Fort Worth Hotel to hear from some of the incredible people who founded this organization as well as those who benefit from their passion, mission and work in our community.
Learn more about BrothersKeepers here.
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The FWHCC celebrates and supports women in leadership roles who are trailblazers in their industries. This year, the FWHCC implemented a mini-series consisting of two panel events for our entire membership and community to offer insight to this fast-growing leadership demographic. Both of these events are designed to afford participants (both male and female) a closer, more personal opportunity to learn from accomplished women in our community.
The FWHCC hosted the first of the two panel events in April at the Petroleum Club. Our panel was comprised of women who are called to be public servants and are in the running for Fort Worth City Council and the Fort Worth ISD Board of Trustees. Our panelists were Jennifer TreviƱo, Ann Zadeh, Pilar Candia, and Ashley Paz, moderated by Rachel Vogel Marker. These women openly shared their experiences as community leaders and candidly discussed the risks and rewards associated with their experiences.
We thank each of these women for their time and participation on our panel. We also extend a special thanks to Coca-Cola Southwest Beverages for making this event possible.
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COMMUNITY
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Who Runs the World? Robots!
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About one year ago, the FWHCC embarked on a minor project aimed at helping a local high school robotics team fundraise for supplies and competition costs. Today, that robotics team ("Adamas" at Diamond Hill Jarvis High) is known as the pilot for a multi-school robotics framework. Still in its infancy phase, this framework, designed by representatives of FWISD, BNSF Railway and our own Chamber, aims to support local high school robotics teams by providing them with mentors, financial support and direction. At its most basic, the framework lays down a step-by-step strategy for the creation and management of a 501(c)(3) booster club. In its broader context, the framework aims to bring together businesses, parents, community leaders, students and school officials as a united front and cohesive investors in our community's future leaders.
For progress to be truly evident within our community, we all must acknowledge that whether we like it or not, robots WILL continue to encompass all aspects of our day-to-day lives. In fact, according to a recent article published by Nasdaq, "
it does not take any imagination to see robotics/automation /AI wiping out 50,000 jobs a month." How we respond to this broadly shared sentiment will determine our community's long-term stability and sustainability.
Our call to action is as follows: lean in, join in and think big. We, as adults, MUST serve by example. We must not be tethered to our acquired knowledge of impossibilities or remain in denial of change and the creative power of our younger generations.
"Failure is an option here. If things are not failing, you are not innovating enough."
- Elon Musk, investor, engineer and inventor
Ready to get involved or simply want to learn more about our projects? Contact Cintya Segoviano for more information.
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TCC Names LeBlanc Executive Vice Chancellor and Provost
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Tarrant County College Northwest Campus President Dr. Elva Concha LeBlanc will serve the college as Executive Vice Chancellor and Provost, responsibility for the institution's core areas of academic affairs and student services. She will provide leadership to the six campus presidents and district student services in support of the Chancellor's vision to ensure the college is student ready. What makes Dr. LeBlanc the right candidate for this position is her ability to create partnerships and collaboration programs to meet the community needs.
Dr. LeBlanc has provided leadership in creating the first early college high school in Tarrant County, increasing collaboration with the public schools, expanding strategic partnerships with business and industry, developing workforce programs in response to the community needs, and adding a satellite campus at Alliance airport, Center of Excellence for Aviation, Transportation, and Logistics (CEATL).
Previously, she was President of Galveston College and Executive Vice President for Instructional Affairs at Austin Community College. As a community college administrator in three different community colleges, she has taken the institutions to new levels of excellence by working closely with partners from business and industry, the public schools, other colleges and universities, and community organizations and internal stakeholders increasing the effectiveness in meeting the educational and workforce training needs of the community.
Read the Fort Worth Business Press article here.
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El Fuerte - 2nd Annual Fort Worth Taco Fest
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The Fort Worth Taco Festival is a celebration of Cinco De Mayo, Mexican Culture, and the kaleidoscopic Latin influence on Fort Worth. For many, Mexican cuisine was our first connection to the culture. And there's not a more identifiable and enduring symbol of that bond than the taco.
Taco Fest will feature grub from dozens of area
restaurants and food trucks in a celebrity judged competition, in addition to live music, theatrical performances, vendors, DJs, and enough beer to drown the Western hemisphere.
The goal of the Fort Worth Taco Festival is to bring people of different backgrounds and ethnicities closer together by promoting, celebrating, and honoring the cross-section of our cultures.
The taco is more than just a tasty treat -- it's a way to remind us of the many things we have in common. After all, the town that parties together stays together. Read more info
here.
Call for Volunteers:
We are seeking volunteers for Taco Fest on Saturday, May 6th from 11am-6pm. Volunteers will receive a free ticket and free parking. Duties include: d
irecting traffic at the front gate for any bi-lingual needs, a
ssisting with general public vote (counting chips), p
assing out taco boats to attendees and answering general questions. Please email Nicole Antonini if you are interested in volunteering or would
like more information.
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ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
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by Cintya Segoviano
From a policy perspective, economic development can be defined as efforts that seek to improve the economic well-being and quality of life for a community. In this article, I would like to recognize two amazing businesswomen in our community who do just that. The recognition I would like to give them is not because of their ability to run successful businesses or pioneer in their respective industries. Instead, I would like to speak about the quality of their character, their passion for giving back, their humility and their willingness to teach: Rosa Navejar and Wintress Ware, two outstanding business leaders as reflected by their many awards and recognitions. Both have set high standards for their own work and have opened doors for many members of our community, contributing to the nationally-recognized vibrancy of our city.
From the day I joined the Chamber, I heard all about Rosa Navejar, who served as the Chamber's president for many years: how outstandingly she led this organization and how many successful start-up businesses she helped. It wasn't until recently that I had the opportunity to sit with Rosa, speak to her and learn from her. I was not only impressed by her wealth of knowledge and gift of strategy, but I was also overwhelmed by her kindness, humility and humanity. I realized that Rosa Navejar deserves to be recognized as one of the best leaders to have been produced by our community.
Existing with equal prestige, stands Wintress Ware of Ware and Associates. I remember first meeting Ms. Ware and feeling comfortable to share my ideas with her; she was polite and willing to listen. Little did I realize what an admirable woman I had been speaking to at the time. Last week, I was honored to be part of the 30-year anniversary celebration for her company, where I learned of the enormous extent of her work which has catapulted our community forward. I also witnessed a rare glimpse of the human behind the awards and success and I learned of her courage, perseverance and determination to succeed, despite facing immeasurable losses.
The most important point I would like to make with the sharing of my honest admiration for these two community leaders, who happen to be women, is that they exemplify quality leadership. They understand that economic success for one person is not sufficient for the entire community's progress and success. They understand that responsible, helpful, patient and humble leadership can transform neighborhoods, cities, communities and nations. Without desire for recognition, Rosa and Wintress have left their mark on this community and we should not be surprised to keep hearing of their work. They are here to stay and they are leading the right way.
"If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you ARE a leader."
-John Quincy Adams
With sincere gratitude and regard,
Cintya Segoviano
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MEMBERS
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Raymond Bonilla,
Liberty Mutual Insurance
Liberty Mutual Insurance helps people preserve and protect what they earn, build, own, and cherish. Liberty Mutual has been in business for over 100 years. They have many operations throughout Fort Worth and Dallas. The company is currently building a large, two story campus in the Plano area that will bring 5,000 jobs to the area, so they are very committed to Texas.
Raymond Bonilla has been in the insurance business for more than 15 years. He started out as an agency owner in Odessa, transferred back to DFW in various sales and management roles, finally selecting Liberty Mutual insurance as him home base back in 2010.
Raymond is very involved with the Firefighters in Fort Worth and Mansfield, most recently helping a local Fort Worth Firefighter win $10,000 for charity. Raymond and his wife Waleska, enjoy traveling, spending time with their two children, Marynes and William, and participating in their children's sports and extracurricular activities.
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Joel Dominguez,
Omni Fort Worth Hotel
Joel Dominguez is a proud husband and soon-to-be father. He currently works at Omni Fort Worth Hotel as the Accounts Payable Specialist and is well advanced in his skills. He graduated with a hospitality management degree at TCC. Joel enjoys working for Omni because of the company's values. Each Omni showcases the local flavor of the destination while featuring four-diamond services, signature restaurants and unique wellness options. Quite specifically, Joel admires "The Power of One" value which, in essence, is simply where each associate is empowered to go the extra mile for the betterment of the guest. Prior to stepping into accounting, Joel was passionate about working in several roles within the hospitality industry. Joel is excited for his new role and involvement with the Hispanic Chamber and looks forward to serving the Hispanic community in various ways. Joel and his wife enjoy serving/volunteering at their local church in Keller, TX. Joel's hobbies include photography, working out and home improvement projects.
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Interested in a Ribbon Cutting?
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A great benefit of your FWHCC membership is that we offer ribbon cuttings for members who have started a new business, moved to a new location, or
have remodeled/
expanded an existing business. Please let us know if you are interested in scheduling a ribbon cutting by contacting Sandra Garcia at (817) 625-5411 or
sandra.garcia@fwhcc.org
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A Special Thanks to Our Corporate Members
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