JUNE 2017
EMPRESARIO
Presented by:
A MOMENT WITH THE PRESIDENT
From the Desk of John Hernandez, President of the FWHCC
Just off the heels of our Annual President's Scholar Dinner, I have found myself thinking of my own graduation. I can't believe it's been 13 years since walking the stage at SMU's Moody Coliseum. I received my MBA in Finance & Strategy and I was ready to take over the world. 
 
That chapter of my life was all about starting my career and making money. Come to think about it, not once did I think about diversity. I just set out to do my best and to ultimately be the best. A large national bank recruited me and I was off and running. I started my career as a P&E banker. My clients consisted of doctors, attorneys and CEOs. The next few promotions were quick and exciting. Again, I focused on being the best and surrounding myself only with top performers. By the end of my banking career, I had made it to what I considered the pinnacle position. I was a client advisor with the private bank in the private wealth management division.
 
The point of my story is although diversity is of the upmost importance, we must encourage our youth, young professionals and entrepreneurs to concentrate on being their best. Focusing on ethnicity and diversity did not make my career. Hard work and dedication to excellence made the difference. I had a mentor once tell me that financials, production reports and transcripts are color blind. It's you, your attributes and your hard work that sets you apart.
 
Please let me be clear: I am very proud of my heritage, my blue-collar upbringing and the many Hispanic leaders that have paved the way. I also acknowledge that being multi-cultural, bilingual and having a diverse background certainly adds to my effectiveness but that alone is not enough. As the saying goes, "In order to be the best, you have to beat the best."
 
So as I welcomed our 22 scholarship recipients to our dinner, I spoke to them about the mental aspect of the journey, my experiences and I shared a little advice. Being the first to attend college is a blessing and a big responsibility. You become the new standard in your family but sometimes your family and friends do not understand the path you are taking. I also shared a few of my bank experiences. But at the end of the day, I hope this message was loud and clear. You must appreciate and honor all those who have created opportunities for you, but make it count. Don't concentrate on the struggles of the past, but rather look to the future and be the best. Let your hard work, dedication and your unique background set you up for success.
EVENTS CALENDAR Calendar
Imports & Exports Workshop
The FWHCC will host a workshop focused on the import and export industry on June 7th at the Chamber offices from 5:30-6:30pm. Join us for this free session full of imperative information on importing and exporting merchandise to help start or further your business. Please note that the workshop will be conducted in Spanish. Free to attend, but please confirm your attendance by calling (817) 625-5411 or emailing maria.gonzalez@fwhcc.org.
Business After Hours Mixer
Join us for bowling and networking at the Cowtown Bowling Palace on June 8th! Enjoy drinks, appetizers and door prizes. Don't forget to bring your business cards for networking with Chamber members and prospective members. Leave your suits at home and come causal for a night of fun! Free to attend but please register online
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.
CHAMBER Chamber
44th Annual American Salute Gala
On behalf of the Fort Worth Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, we would like to extend our sincerest thanks to all those who helped make the 44th Annual American Salute Gala a complete success. 
Our program made a special effort to highlight the work and dedication of our service men and women who diligently and selflessly serve our country and the organizations who support their transition back into civilian life after service. We were honored to host a veteran panel and to share the work of an outstanding community partner: BrothersKeepers.
 
The 44th Annual American Salute Gala also allowed us to acknowledge and recognize some of the great business leaders in our community who contribute to making Fort Worth a vibrant economic environment for all: Sandra McGlothlin, Businesswoman of the Year; Don Marable, Businessman of the Year; Emily McLaughlin, Community Advocate of the Year; Deborah Connor, the Chairman's Award recipient; and Victor Puente, Sr., the John V. McMillan Hall of Fame legacy recipient. These individuals have not only been successful in their respective industries, they have also been instrumental in supporting our organization and the City of Fort Worth.
 
Everything we do is made possible through the financial support of all our donors and sponsors. We owe special thanks to Bell Helicopter, our presenting sponsor, without whom our celebration would have not be possible. Bell Helicopter has been part of the American Serviceman's experience since 1935 and part of our community for decades. We thank you and look forward to your continued success. 
 
Additionally, we would like to extend a heartfelt thanks to the Gala's volunteer committee, as well as our ambassadors and board members. All of these dedicated individuals donate their time and talents so generously in support of our mission. And l ast, but not least, we thank everyone who was in attendance for your support. Your presence signified your commitment to our mission and your investment in the future of Fort Worth. 
President's Scholar Dinner
The 2017 President's Scholar Dinner brought together the Chamber Board of Directors, members, scholarship donors and supporters in celebration of some impressively bright young minds. While this was a night of celebration for us, it was more than that for many of our awardees. Many of these students will be the first in their families to attend a higher education institution and are the only ones to speak English in their families among other obstacles which we can only imagine. These young adults are impressive in more ways than academically, and for this reason we are honored to be a part of the beginning of each of their journeys.
 
Have no doubt that our society's destiny hinges on how we treat our children. 
 
Please find out how you can support the FWHCC Scholarship Program by calling (817) 625-5411 or emailing maria.gonzalez@fwhcc.org.
COMMUNITY Community
The Urgent Need for Positive Progress
by Cintya Segoviano

I recently heard a comment about how someone who teleported from the 1950's to today's world would feel about our technological evolution. The shocking factor for them was not what you would expect. The general idea is that they would arrive and in our welcoming speech, we would declare the following, "You must see a current cellular telephone, it allows us to have the world at our fingertips. However, we mostly use it to view cute videos of animals and other humans doing dumb things." 

While a little silly, the point I took away from this comment reminded me of a more serious point I heard from an economics professor, Thomas Sowell. I paraphrase, "In America there is no poverty, not like the kind that exists in many other nations. What there is in America is a growing poverty of mind." This was followed by a very insightful and eloquent elaboration, which I will not consume space with here. 

The point is clear: the reality is that there is a problem in our society and our very own community. The more I work in the underbelly of our community, the more I realize that there are fundamental American qualities which are dissipating overall. These qualities include but are not limited to: gratitude, motivation, personal responsibility and selflessness. Many children are not inspired or excited about school, many parents spend their lives consumed by things outside their families, and perhaps worst of all is those who can do something for others choose to dwell in materialism driven selfishness. 

At this moment, unfortunately, our county ranks as one of the highest in instances of child abuse, our city carries a low education reputation and there are neighborhoods filled with children which we wouldn't dare walk through alone at night. The difference is that I have walked them, and I have lived in every one of those instances. I made it through but there are many who will not. My call to action today is for individual reflection, for we cannot change others. The urgent need is for our entire community to unite for progress. Change is inevitable and therefore the only thing that will matter in the end will be how many stood up to ensure the change is positive.
 
"He who accepts evil without protesting against it is really cooperating with it." - Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Tarrant County College: A College for the Community
FWHCC Ambassador and Corporate Member, Frank Valtierra, and I had the pleasure of attending a TCC Trinity River Campus staff picnic. While we were there for official business, the casual picnic was very interesting to me for other reasons.

TCC is an organization which
many of us are extremely familiar with; I myself was a TCC student at one time. It is where my post-drop-out educational journey began as a lost teenager searching for a GED. While to many I may have seemed like a lost cause, there was a woman at TCC South Campus who went the extra step to guide me through the system and, in turn, contributed to my ultimate graduation with not only a GED but also an Associate's Degree. 

Truthfully, I experienced similar untethered acts of kindness throughout my two years at TCC and across several campuses. Little did I know then how admirable, compassionate and humble the leadership was until I met individuals such as Dr. Robert Munoz. Since my first days at the Chamber, Dr. Munoz has treated me just as patiently and respectfully as the woman who had first introduced me to TCC. 

As Frank and I ate lunch with Dr. Munoz at this picnic, I realized that at its core, this institution truly values every individual who is a part of it. As I watched staff members walk by, eat, laugh and enjoy the beautiful day, I also noticed that Chancellor Eugene Giovannini was present. I asked him for a picture, knowing that I wanted to share it with all of you, because it reminds me of the type of leadership that I admire: leaders who are wise and also humble. 

Today, I want to share the sincere admiration I have for the leadership at TCC. I would also like to share that aside from being a staple of our community, TCC fundamentally does change lives and I am living proof of that. I ask that we all support this organization and appreciate what it can and does do to solve issues across communities, industries, demographics and workforce.
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ED
Yunnan, China Department of Commerce Visits Fort Worth
The FWHCC recently coordinated a welcome and brief visit for a delegation from the Department of Commerce of Yunnan Province, China. It was an honor for our organization to welcome these visitors and provide them with valuable and key insights into our community,  including our priority for education, transportation, business opportunity, diversity and overall quality of life. We emphasized our desire to collaborate with local, national and international communities, believing firmly that there is immense value in the ability to appreciate the richness of other cultures. 

Yes, we are the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, but that does not mean we close our doors to non-Hispanic visitors or businesses. This would be a disservice to our own members and community. At this time of growth, we have chosen to rise and loudly state that the Hispanic community is also a talented, capable, compassionate and a collaborative group. Fort Worth is open for business and the Hispanic business community stands alongside, prepared to play an equally diverse and active role, just as much as any other local business group.
MEMBERS Members
Member Spotlight
Laura Kinkade, 
Thomas Kinkade Gallery

Laura Sanchez Kinkade opened the Thomas Kinkade Gallery in the heart of Sundance Square in April of 1996, featuring the work of her late brother-in-law, Thomas Kinkade. Since his passing in 2012, the gallery continues to carry his paintings but has added works by the Thomas Kinkade Studios featuring artists who create new images in his trademark style. In recent years, Laura is proud to showcase the work of her oldest son, Zachary Thomas Kinkade, who was born and raised in Fort Worth. At 26 years of age, this Cornell University graduate is making a name for himself with his artistic talent.
 
In addition to managing the gallery, Laura has a passion for the arts and her community.  Proving that it is never too late to pursue a higher education, she is currently enrolled at Texas Christian University majoring in studio art with a minor in Arts Administration. Her passion for ceramics focuses on Mexican Folk Art with a modern twist. She volunteers for and supports the Texas Center for Arts + Academics and is a member of the Fort Worth Chapter of the Hispanic Women's Network of Texas. 
Ambassador Spotlight
Camilo Rodriguez, 
Jacobs Engineering

I am Camilo Rodriguez, Electrical Designer for Jacobs Engineering.

At Jacobs, our focus on building long-term client relationships has helped us become one of the largest and most diverse providers of technical, professional and construction services, including all aspects of architecture, engineering and construction, operations and maintenance, as well as scientific and specialty consulting. Our 54,000 employees in 230+ locations around the world serve a broad range of companies and organizations, including industrial, commercial, and government clients across multiple markets and geographies.

More than 95 percent of our work is repeat business. We get to know our customers' businesses intimately, and partner with them to help them achieve their objectives. That commitment to our clients produces consistent cost advantages, profits and growth, allowing us to attract and retain the industry's top talent. Our strict dedication to safety and uncompromising ethics create a work environment that promotes employee progress and helps generate nearly $11 billion in annual revenue.

We measure the value we bring to clients every day - wherever in the world they may be, in any industry or technical discipline. In fact in 2016 we produced $7.79 billion in client savings through our JacobsValue program, a major accomplishment.

Jacobs is always looking for new, diverse, and innovative partners to enhance our project teams and strengthen our capabilities for clients' projects. We search for suppliers in every part of our business, in all our industries and service offerings around the globe. Jacobs is committed to supplier diversity across the world and support other organizations that also promote business diversity and inclusion.
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