2003 - A Year In Review

• Provided on-going and extensive business assistance to 76 start-up and expansions; assisted the minority certification and access to capital processes; responded to an average of 3 daily inquiries relating to small business development offering direction, guidance and resources.
   
• Maintained an official plan/spec review site for pending construction projects. Advocated the involvement of 51 Hispanic-owned contracting and service provider firms in major construction projects including We Energies Power the Future, Marquette Interchange and MPS Neighborhood Schools.
   
• Continued collaboration with the Hispanic Professionals of Greater Milwaukee (HPGM), founded by the HCCW.
   
• Selected for the EIGHTH consecutive year, United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (USHCC) Region IV (IA, IL, IN, KY, MI, MN, OH & WI) Large Hispanic Chamber of the year "Best in the Midwest".
   
• Led a 21 member Wisconsin delegation to the USHCC National Convention & Business Expo held in Phoenix, AZ. Successfully elected our endorsed Region IV candidate to the USHCC Board of Directors. Hosted a well-attended Hospitality event promoting Milwaukee as the 2005 convention site.
   
• Held the "Kick-off" of the 2005 USHCC / Milwaukee National Convention $2 million dollar campaign.
   
• Extensive marketing of HCCWJOBS.com linking the best and brightest Hispanic professionals with employment opportunities.
   
• Coordinated the Annual Wisconsin State Fair excursion for 325 Hispanic youth: transportation, lunch and seven hours of unlimited midway rides.
   
• Awarded three $10k and three $1k scholarships under the auspices of the HCCW Education Fund/Phillip Arreola Scholarship Program (est.1993). To date, a significant $286,500.00 invested in area young adults entering or completing undergraduate studies.
   
• Welcomed visiting distinguished dignitaries, among them Governor Juan Carlos Romero-Hicks from Guanajuato, Mexico
   
• Adhering to funding criteria assisted the City in the allocation of a $650,000 grant to improve the National Avenue commercial district.
   
• Hosted five well-attended and profitable fund raising events that raised $126,555 augmenting a sole public subsidy of $60,000.
   
• Continued our established partnership with MATC in the Milwaukee Enterprise Center-South (MEC-So), a small business incubator and current headquarters of the HCCW.
   
• Recognizing the important role the HCCW plays as a community anchor while meeting our urgent need for expansion launched our $2 million dollar building campaign.
   
• Assisted in the creation and promotion of U.S. Bank's ¡CAPITAL!, an access to capital business loan program.
   
• Announced with the Milwaukee Brewers Baseball organization and Telemundo, the Spanish language transmission of 13 Brewer home games.
   
• Raised positive consciousness of Hispanics; the HCCW and business members regularly profiled in local and national media.
   
• Produced a full-color HCCW newspaper insert distributed to 100,000 Milwaukee Journal Sentinel subscribers.
   
• Proactively diffused public perception of negative events occurring in Hispanic community.
   
• Intolerant of mediocrity, assertively advanced a network for political issues, community affairs and enhanced opportunities.
   
• Creating awareness of Hispanic needs, issues and concerns through the HCCW representation on numerous influential boards, commissions and committees.
   
• Identified as a respected voice of the Hispanic community. Actively pursued as speaker, panelist, advisor and media commentator.
   
• Consistently recognized as a determined leader for connecting Hispanics with opportunity in commerce, education and employment.