FEBRUARY 2017
EMPRESARIO
  Presented by:

 THIS COULD BE YOUR COMPANY!
  www.yourcompany.com

 Your company's name, logo and website can reach our        members and community at the top of our monthly newsletter!  Please email Nicole Antonini for more information.
A MOMENT WITH THE PRESIDENT
From the Desk of John Hernandez, President of the FWHCC
February is a month that comes with a lot of questions. Financials and numbers are in for the past year and new goals have been set for the upcoming year. So, we find ourselves asking: Are we where we want to be? Are we pursuing the right things? Are we using the right resources? Are we doing all we can do?
 
Everybody has their own line of questioning when comes to making decisions. But to get started, you must actually get started! Some are quick to decide, others research before deciding and even some go into a paralysis through analysis phase. While I was an investment banker, that was a very eye opening fact: doing nothing is a strategy!
 
For me, I think owning my own business was my best learning experience. Decisions had to be made quickly and sometimes with very little information or certainty. When you're an entrepreneur, it seems like every decision could either make or break your business. Yet, somehow, someway, whether your decision was right or not, you find a way to make things work.
 
In the end, I ultimately learned that decisions are hard to make, but recoverable. I had to become very comfortable with making quick decisions and trusting my instincts. In fact, I tell business owners all the time that the quicker you accept the fact that you will make mistakes, that not everything is guaranteed and that you can survive through almost anything, the easier things will be.
 
So here is my bit of advice for February: don't let the fear of failure or mistakes keep you from making timely decisions. Believe it or not, even the bad ones will teach you invaluable lessons.
 
"You win by working hard, making tough decisions and building coalitions."
- John Engler
EVENTS CALENDAR Calendar
Chamber Calendar
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Business After Hours Mixer
Join Chamber members and prospective members alike at our Business After Hours Mixer on February 16th at Taco Diner's beautiful new location in the new Waterside developmentEnjoy refreshments, door prizes, and don't forget to bring your business cards for networking! Free to attend but RSVP required. Please RSVP here.

State of the Hispanic Chamber
The FWHCC's annual State of the Hispanic Chamber provides an update on the efforts of the past year and offers insights on the Chamber's strategic plan for the year ahead. On February 23rd, join the leadership of the Hispanic Chamber for an insider's look at what was accomplished in 2016 and what is in store for 2017. Register online.
44th Annual American Salute Gala

Community Calendar
For the Love of Our Community
Please join the North Texas Area Community Health Centers, Inc. for their 3rd annual "For the Love of Our Community" Gala on February 3rdAll of the proceeds will benefit the Capital Campaign which is dedicated to building a new Northside Community Health Center located in the Northside area of Fort Worth. Learn more.
Heroes Race
Sign up for the Heroes Race to get some exercise and benefit a great cause. Join us on February 11th for a one-mile Fun Run and chipped 5K followed by live entertainment at Martin House Brewing Company. All Military, Veterans, Big Brother Big Sisters, and Students receive $5 off 5K registration. Learn more.

CHAMBER Chamber
Fiesta Night at the Rodeo Event Recap
We would like to express our sincerest appreciation and gratitude to our sponsors, donors, committee members and volunteers who made the 34th Annual Fiesta Night at the Rodeo a success! A special thanks to our El Jefe sponsor, Coca-Cola, as well as our board members, Ambassadors and staff members.  It is only  through  these partnerships and dedicated efforts that we were able to have another successful Fiesta Night.  We also want to thank everyone who attended for their support of the Chamber's non-profit business initiatives and FWHCC Scholarship Fund!
Young Professionals of Fort Worth
Young Professionals of Fort Worth is a group of young individuals that meets monthly to strengthen the skill sets of recent graduates. Each meeting consists of a topic that focuses on community involvement, professional development and networking. Members range from the age of 21 to 25 years old and have graduated with at least a Bachelor's degree. Members are either employed or seeking employment.
 
YPFW believes that young professionals should be informed of local events and issues in order to be an active member of the community. This is achieved by bringing in a variety of speakers to present and discuss current events within the greater Fort Worth area.
 
Professional development  consists of many  aspects from resume structure to business attire. YPFW is dedicated to providing young professionals with guidance on how to continue their success and grow their careers. Several meetings throughout the year will focus on resume writing, preparing for interviews, business attire, performance evaluations, and other topics vital to a successful career.
 
YPFW is a group under the Fort Worth Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. As a result, young professional members will have the opportunity to network with Chamber members and companies throughout the area. YPFW members will be able to develop relationships with individuals from different industries and learn how these relationships are key in the world of business.
 
YPFW is intended to be a stepping stone for young professionals. Members will be introduced to other organizations within the Fort Worth community so that they may continue their growth and give back to the community. Members will not only have the skills necessary to become successful individuals, but will also have a networking base to help catapult them to the next level. 
 
We are currently accepting applications for young professionals to join this program. Please reach out to Nicole Antonini at (817) 625-5411 or nicole.antonini@fwhcc.org to apply or to receive more information.
COMMUNITY Community
Community Partner - Taco Diner
It is not sufficient that we only speak about the issues facing our community, it is critical that we act to resolve those issues. For this reason, we would like to highlight one of our members who has provided immense support to our community efforts: Taco Diner. Since joining just a few months ago, Taco Diner has quickly stepped up without hesitation to support the Chamber's initiatives including our board retreat and Noche de Ciencias

For this reason, we highlight this socially engaged and forward-thinking company, who encourages their team members to pursue a higher education and use Taco Diner as a launching pad rather than a career. You can thank and support Taco Diner by visiting one of their two Fort Worth locations. Let them know that you are a member of the Chamber and are grateful for what they do to support our community.
STEM Initiatives - Robotics
In this time of immense change, unknown future and social issues, it is difficult to not be brought down by all we hear and see. However, we ask that you please remember that we must not be dissuaded from what should be our primary focus: our own community. This is where our thoughts, energy and dedication should be. For this reason, we would like to share with you one of our most recent efforts worthy of celebration!
 
Last Saturday, two of the high school robotic teams we have been supporting in the past few months  (SteErminatorz & Adamas), won the FIRST®  Robotics Competition in Allen, Texas! That is right Chamber supporters, their work and ours has paid off. Not only did the teams directly compete with one another, but most importantly, they collaborated and supported each other along the way. This would not have been possible without the support of the following individuals: Eddy Finegan, Walter Parada, Oscar Vazquez and Garrett Smitley. It has been an honor for us to serve alongside these exemplary humans, whom embody true compassion & intelligence. Additionally, these individuals are making the dreams of our community's next generation of Engineers feasible and within reach. Stay tuned as our teams go to the next level of competition or find out how you can get involved by contacting cintya.segoviano@fwhcc.org.
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ED
by Cintya Segoviano

As 2017 is now upon us, the time has come to implement some economic strategies. I would like to highlight some of our internal updates which have the primary focus of benefiting our members. This year, you will notice some things have been updated, including our database, website and the addition of quarterly Maximize your Membership meetings for our entire membership. These changes bring you additional tools to help serve you and your business better. For example, note that all external submissions can be made directly through our online portal, found here. Furthermore, please note that all corporate and upgraded members have the opportunity to build a heavy presence on our website, just as this member did. Furthermore, know that our database will now allow us to send out targeted information which can truly have value to serve you and your industry. I would also like to encourage you to use the member-to-member discount section of your member-only portal. This is where we can all truly come together to help build up each other's businesses. Please don't forget to take advantage of these added features.
 
We are very excited to provide you with these updates, but we also want to know if there is anything that we are missing. There will be a survey coming out to you soon, aimed at helping us better understand what you and your company's needs are. Please take a moment to fill this out as it is the only way in which we can truly understand the areas in which we can improve.
 
Lastly, if you have not been attending the Chamber's events, I would like to personally encourage you to do so. This is not only a great way to market your business, but it is also a way to be productive outside the walls of your office, learning more about the Chamber's initiatives and community. Please remember that together, we can all make a difference.  
 
"We're all working together. That's the secret."
-  Sam Walton
MEMBERS Members
Member Spotlight
David Montoya, Paychex, Inc.

David moved to the United States from South America 15 years ago. He received a master's degree in Management Information Systems and proceeded to work as an information technology district lead for one of the largest Fortune 500 contractors in the world. Passionate about leadership, David moved to the DFW area to spearhead a multicultural sales initiative for Paychex, an American provider of payroll, HR and benefits outsourcing services for small to medium sized businesses.
 
In his free time, David loves skiing, dancing, helping others and connecting people.
 
Why Paychex?
  • Preferred payroll provider of AICPA
  • 45 years in business
  • Awards including: Top Training Organizations, Best Places to Work and Most Ethical Companies
For more than 40 years, Paychex has helped small-business owners succeed by taking care of the details that go into running a business. With us working beside you, you'll have more time to spend on your customers, employees, and yourself - while having peace of mind that your employees will be paid on time, every time, and that your payroll tax payment and filing obligations are in expert hands.

Proven and Trusted:
  • Number-one full-service payroll provider for small businesses in America
  • 600,000 payroll clients
  • Pays 1 in 15 U.S. private-sector workers
Paychex is proud to partner with organizations that share our passion for helping businesses succeed and thrive. Members of the Fort Worth Hispanic Chamber of Commerce are eligible for exclusive benefits. To learn more about membership offers, request more information by clicking here.
Interested in a Ribbon Cutting?
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 Nicole Antonini at (817) 625-5411 or nicole.antonini@fwhcc.org
A Special Thanks to Our Corporate Members