MARCH 2017
EMPRESARIO
Presented by:




A MOMENT WITH THE PRESIDENT
From the Desk of John Hernandez, President of the FWHCC
The Chamber is starting this month on a high note. Just last week, we hosted the State of the Hispanic Chamber. My goal for this event was for our members and community to better understand our mission and vision. If you were not able to attend, I have written a brief synopsis of the event.
 
Our mission is to foster a vibrant economic environment for our members, individuals and the greater Fort Worth area. Our vision is to participate and contribute in building a better Fort Worth through inclusion and strategic partnerships.
 
We encourage all individuals and entities to become members and to get involved. This not only helps promote the purpose of the Chamber but allows us to better represent our community. In addition to our vision of inclusivity within the Chamber, we encourage individuals and companies to use this concept as they develop their businesses. At the State of the Hispanic Chamber, we heard from our very own past chairwoman, Sandra McGlothlin, Co-Founder of Empire Roofing, on how her business has flourished as she diversified her employees, clientele and community outreach. I believe in this concept because it has truly shaped my life. I would not be where I am today without it.
 
My personal story is not known by many but I hope it helps explain why I'm so committed to this strategy. To many, I am the person described in my current bio. Only a select few know that I should have been a statistic. I am a first generation Mexican-American male and an 8th grade dropout. But as I reflect on my past experiences, I found something they all have in common: people from all walks of life have mentored, motivated and helped me when I needed it most. I am the true product of a giving and collaborative community. Unfortunately, my story is not very uncommon. We can and we must come together to face the challenges of today and tomorrow.
 
In closing, The Fort Worth Hispanic Chamber will initiate and promote our newly formed Foundation to further advance our mission and overall vision. We are very fortunate to have current and past Chamber and community leaders advise us in running a 501c(3) in tandem with our current 501c(6) and how this strategy can greatly enhance our efforts moving forward. The Chamber will continue our mission towards a vibrant economic environment while our Foundation will concentrate on Community Development initiatives. We need to engage now in issues including education, healthcare, workforce development and maintaining a vibrant business environment for our members, individuals and the greater Fort Worth area.
 
Together we can.  Together we must!
EVENTS CALENDAR Calendar
Chamber Calendar
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Five Pillar Lecture Series: Civics
The FWHCC's annual Five Pillar lecture series addresses each of the areas that we believe are the cornerstones of a productive, thriving business environment: civic engagement, economic activity, a thriving education system, quality business development, and diversity in leadership. On March 23rd, we have invited Tarrant County Judge Glen Whitley to discuss the role that county government plays in our lives and the many services that it provides. Judge Whitley will also update the Chamber on the state of Tarrant County and the great future of North Texas. Register online.
Women in Leadership
The FWHCC celebrates and supports women in leadership roles who are trailblazers in their industries. On April 13th, the FWHCC invites our entire membership and community to a panel event that will provide insight to this fast-growing leadership demographic. The panel will consist of several women who have successfully started and run their own enterprises and will share their experiences growing a business and candidly discuss the risks and failures associated with their experiences. Register online.
Community Calendar
Movies that Matter Latino
Visually stunning and beautifully crafted, Ella es el Matador (showing on March 5th) reveals the surprising history of the women who made such a law necessary, and offers fascinating profiles of two female matadors currently in the arena. These women are gender pioneers by necessity, confronting both bull and social code. But what emerges through this mesmerizing film is their truest motivation -- a sheer passion for bullfighting, in the pursuit of a dream. Learn more.
Know & Grow
The  Empire Development Group's  "Know & Grow" is an open networking event held every Wednesday at 9:30am. The next meeting will be hosted on March 8th at  Buttons Restaurant  in Fort Worth, Texas.  EDG's "Know & Grow" is the perfect opportunity for entrepreneurs and business enthusiasts alike to interact, collaborate, and glean from one another. FWHCC President John Hernandez will be March 8th's special guest and keynote speaker. Learn more.
CHAMBER Chamber
Larry Anfin Day
The Chamber was honored to partake in the planning and proclamation of "Larry Anfin Day" on February 16th. Along with JPS Foundation, The Capital Grille of Fort Worth's Managing Partner, Gloria Starling, Arcturis' Principal, Rachel Marker, Downtown Fort Worth, Councilman Zim Zimmerman and Mayor Betsy Price, we were able to surprise Larry at General Worth Square with a well-deserved proclamation ceremony and the presentation of his own key to the city. Congratulations, Larry. Thank you for the countless hours you have dedicated to making our city a better place!
COMMUNITY Community
Tarrant County College - Million Dollar Club
Congratulations to Tarrant County College District (TCCD) for their induction into the United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (USHCC) Million Dollar Club along with 49 other fortune 500 companies and the City of Houston . This award was based on TCCD achieving a 2016 total certified minority vendor spend of $17 million including a total certified Hispanic vendor spend of $2.4 million. This is the second consecutive year that TCCD has received this USHCC Million Dollar Club award. Last year, the total certified minority spend was $ $24 Million including a total certified Hispanic vendor spend of $7.7 Million.

The TCCD Board Supplier Diversity Program was approved in 2004 with a minority- and women-owned business enterprise (MWBE) goal of 20% which is directly administered by the Supplier Diversity Manager, Andre McEwing, along with the entire purchasing department. The positive results of the TCCD Supplier Diversity Program is primarily due to the effective collaboration between the Fort Worth Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and the Fort Worth Metropolitan Black Chamber of Commerce in addition to the various DFW minority business advocacy organizations. TCCD is a member of the North Central Texas Regional Certification Agency from which 45% of the minority certified vendors are certified.

Mark McClendon, Vice Chancellor of Finance, attended the USHCC Annual Conference in Washington, DC where TCCD was inducted at the 2016 Million Dollar Club Breakfast for the second consecutive year.  The FWHCC recognized this great achievement  of TCCD at an intimate reception at the Trinity River Campus earlier this month.
Focus on the Positive
We are incredibly proud to share the inspirational stories of two incredibly bright, talented and driven young minds from our own community: Chris Espinoza and Joel Ramirez. The fact that these two young men have been accepted into highly-regarded Harvard University and Stanford University, respectively, is not the impressive part of their stories. What is impressive is the way they have molded these unexpected paths for themselves, regardless of the many obstacles they faced.
 
Both these young men were born to Mexican immigrants, faced financial, linguistic and other accompanying challenges as so many other immigrants do. What makes these two young men stand out from others with similar backgrounds is simplicity and brilliance entwined into one. Both write of their gratitude, respect and admiration for their parents coupled with a strong desire to help others. Clearly, these young minds are being led by the same fundamental characteristics which nearly always accompany those who change the status quo. They include a sound heart and a strong mind. These young men dared to believe in the power of their dreams and appreciated what they have instead of focusing on what they lack. Let these two young men serve as reminders to us all of what is possible when we allow ourselves to believe in the power of our own dreams.
 
Please consider joining us in support of Joel and Chris as they embark on this very significant journey.
 
Donate to Joel Ramirez here.
Donate to Chris Espinoza here.
                                                                                                                                            
"Some of the world's greatest feats where accomplished by people not smart enough to know they were impossible." -Doug Larson
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ED
by Cintya Segoviano

"Culture makes people understand each other better. And if they understand each other better in their soul, it is easier to overcome the economic and political barriers. But first, they have to understand that their neighbor is, in the end, just like them, with the same problems, the same questions." -Paulo Coelho
 
As the words of Mr. Coelho clearly express, the importance of compassion and respect for every single member of our community is critical for true progress. For this reason, we write of the urgent need to increase our collaborative efforts across our city and to also decrease barriers, whether they are tangible or perceived. Economically speaking, our poverty rate is rising, our educational rating is decreasing, homelessness continues to be an evident problem and our capable workforce is mostly an anomaly. We can no longer stand idly as new businesses pass us by or existing businesses move or dismantle. We cannot, in good conscience, stand by as more young minds enter the prison or welfare system instead of higher education. Our interconnectedness is very much corroborated by scientific evidence and to ignore this truth is not only illogical but a true mistake. For this reason, we believe everyone should actively invest in increasing literature, health, safety and so many other essential factors which directly contribute to a thriving community.
 
This is not to say that there are not many wonderful initiatives occurring across our community; there are more than I can write of here. The true problem is the disconnection between all these great initiatives. Can you imagine if we could organize ourselves in such a way which left no ignored or neglected sector of our community? I have no doubt that we would build the exemplary city, which I perceived when I moved here many years ago. Since it is not within our principles to present problems without solutions, we have also considered the undertaking of our stance here. For this reason, our specific suggestion is as follows: that we all step out of our own comfort zones, connect with similar initiatives, focus on the tasks at hand and charge forward. Furthermore, our call to action should be that every single kind, passionate and driven mind come together in support of advancement. Now is the time for progress; the future may never come and the past has gone and left us with valuable lessons. These lessons are not to be forgotten but they are also not to be dwelled upon. As our very own president recently stated at our State of the Hispanic Chamber luncheon, "Together we can and together we MUST".
 
Find out how you can make a true difference by contacting any of your local chambers, including ours.
MEMBERS Members
Member Spotlight
Tony Prenger, Pinnacle Bank

It didn't take Tony Prenger long to find himself in Texas. The Windsor, CO native moved to Fort Worth in 2010 after graduating from the University of Wyoming with a degree in Accounting and an emphasis in Biology and Spanish.
 
He began working as a credit analyst at Pinnacle Bank in Fort Worth. In 2012, he was asked by the CEO to work beside him as a credit analyst. Through hard work and determination, he was soon appointed Brank Manager for the West 7th Street location, followed by being named Assistant Vice President.
 
When asked about his roots, Tony speaks fondly about his tight-knit family, who still reside in Windsor. His mother is an elementary school principal and his father works as a market president for Pinnacle Bank.
 
His association with Lena pope began when his good friend, Robin Greenhaw invited him to join the planning committee for Rock the Fort, an annual fundraising event produced by the Young Professional Advocates (YPAs) and benefiting Lena Pope. He said yes and became the entertainment chair the following year, then co-chaired the event in 2015. He is now the Chair of the YPAs and says he loves it.
 
"I come from a family that believes actions speak louder than words, and a major part of how you create home is making your hometown what you want it to be," Tony said. "Giving back to the community and showing compassion for others as a foundation I've been taught since I was a small child. Education in any form is vital to the growth of a community. Just as Lena Pope's mission states, when you can create hope, success and happiness within youth, you create an unshakable foundation for the community."
 
One reason Tony feels so strongly about Lena Pope is because its programs and services set the gold standard. "I am so honored to be chair of the YPAs. Connecting people with a common vision in order to create an even brighter tomorrow for Lena Pope is very satisfying. I see my role as one of stewardship instead of membership - it's all about giving back my time, talent and treasure - not a social organization."

When people ask Tony about Lena Pope, he says it reminds him of home. "Both of my parents are excellent examples of community stewards. We volunteered as a family to help a variety of non-profit organizations during school breaks, such as the local food bank, church, community foundations and more. Lena Pope has always felt welcoming and offers the kind of educational services a successful community needs," he added.
 
When Tony isn't busy at work or volunteering his time, he enjoys being part of a thriving yoga community.
 
"Yoga is a very important part of my life and helps me have a foundation for thought. It helps open my eyes to my surroundings and allows me to recognize a need that I can fulfill with what I have."
 
Article adapted from Tony Prenger's Volunteer Profile, published in Lena Pope's Legacy magazine, Fall 2016.
Ambassador Spotlight
Frank Valtierra, Compact Power Equipment Rental

The Chamber would like to welcome new member and Ambassador, Frank Valtierra. Frank served as the Chamber's Business Development Manager from March 2010- March 2013. Now, Frank serves as a Sales Representative for Compact Power Equipment Rental.  Compact Power Equipment Rental, in partnership with The Home Depot, is one of the largest rental equipment companies in North America with more than 1,100 locations. Our rental customers range from weekend do-it-yourselfers to commercial, residential and specialized industries. Compact Power's extensive equipment rental inventory includes skid steers, scissor & boom lifts, excavators, backhoes, trenchers, wood chippers just to name a few.

Compact Power Offers:
  • Convenient locations within The Home Depot 
  • Convenient hours - open late and on weekends
  • Competitive pricing and incentives for long-term rentals 
  • Wide range of landscape and construction equipment
  • Top-of-the-line, name-brand rental equipment
Compact Power is currently running a free delivery promo in our VIP Delivery Markets. Must use promo code (FVFREE). Call Frank Valtierra, Sales Representative for more information at 803-616-2434. You can also visit www.compactpowerrents.com to learn more.

Compact Power Equipment, Inc. ® is headquartered in Fort Mill, SC just outside of Charlotte NC. Put simply, we are managers and marketers of commercial and light construction equipment.  
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 Sandra Garcia at (817) 625-5411 or
sandra.garcia@fwhcc.org
A Special Thanks to Our Corporate Members