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Hispanic Chamber to honor Latino business accomplishments with event

Starting their own business is for many Hispanics is the equivalent of the American Dream of buying their own house.

But often, these new entrepreneurs lack the management and accounting skills needed to make their businesses succeed and grow. In fact, a great number of those new businesses do not survive more than two or three years, said Lou Gomez, president and CEO of the Kern County Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.

Yet, the rapid population growth, unemployment and immigration from Latin American countries that Kern County has experienced over the years continues to fuel the increase of Hispanic-owned businesses in the area. For that reason, the work that the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce has done to help local Latino business owners for the past two decades is not only important, but necessary for the future success and expansion of the Hispanic business sector.

Early next month, the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce will kick-off 21 years of service with its 2007  Installation Dinner, “Building on Success.”

The event, scheduled for Feb. 3 at the Doubletree Hotel starting at 6 p.m., will unveil the new board members and award business leaders who made a difference either through community service or financial success in 2006.

More than 300 people are expected to attend the annual event.

State Sen. Roy Ashburn, R-Bakersfield, is scheduled to conduct the installation of the new board officers, while news anchor Gaylen Young of KGET Channel 17 will be the emcee for the evening.

The new officers include, Jan Bans, chairperson; Fernando Aguirre, chair-elect; Hilary Baird, vice-chair; Ann Cervantes, secretary; Jesse Bonales, treasurer; Frank Dominguez, past chair.

The Kern County Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, which is considered one of the largest in the state, has also benefited from the Latino businesses’ growth and non-Latino businesses that cater to Hispanics. The chamber, which has also become the fastest growing civic organizations in Kern, currently has 450 members.

Gomez said the chamber’s goal is to support and promote Latino businesses and those who cater and employ Latinos.

According to the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, there are approximately 5,000 Hispanic businesses in Kern County.

“The Hispanics are expanding and having much more affluence, but the majority are still very small businesses,” Gomez said.

He said the majority of those businesses are very small and family-owned, including panaderias, carnicerias, tortillerias and restaurants.

But in recent years, Hispanic businesses have expanded to include other types of industries, such as health centers and moving and storage companies.

“The unfortunate part of Latino businesses is that a lot of Latinos are starting businesses, but a large number of them fail within two or three years,” Gomez said.

“They don’t have enough experience or don’t have enough money to start with.”
Gomez said there aren’t many resources available, especially for immigrants who haven’t established a record here in the country. He said that a lot of the immigrants who come here don’t believe in banks, so they don’t have bank accounts.

A lot of them don’t have credit because they pay with cash, he added.

The Hispanic Chamber of Commerce offers a variety of services to help the new entrepreneurs with marketing planning, business referral programs and inexpensive advertising. Gomez said the chamber also grants loans to people who can’t get financing somewhere else, up to $25,000.

“The majority of our members have 10 employees or less. They need to know how to manage their business, how to manage their expenses and how to reinvest their revenues. Too many of our people are used to open the cash register and go buy whatever they need, you just can’t do that,” he said.

The chamber will announce their annual awards at the dinner. Gomez said the awards have a great significance for local Latino business owners.

“It’s a prestigious award that they can post at their place of business ... it’s a recognition for a job well done in the community.”

EVENT INFORMATION AND 2007 AWARD WINNERS

Feb. 3; Doubletree Hotel, 3100 Camino Del Rio Court
Reservations will be taken until Friday, Feb. 2. Cost is $60 per person, $500 for a table of 10.

No host cocktails will begin at 6 p.m. with dinner and program at 7 p.m. Dancing and music will follow from 9 p.m. to 12 midnight with Al Garcia and the Rhythm Kings.

For more information or to purchase tickets, call the Hispanic Chamber office, 633-5495.

2007 Hispanic Chamber award winners are:

Business Man of the Year — Omar Ramirez, owner of Omar’s Custom Designs

Business Woman of the Year — Cecelia Carrasco-Sebesta, sales representative at
Fidelity National Title

Small Business of the Year — Agustin Ortiz, owner of Los Molcajetes Mexican Restaurant

Large Business of the Year — Golden West Casino

Corporation of the Year — Three-Way Automotive Group

Community Service Award — Steve Sanchez

2006 Chairperson’s Recognition Award — Jay Tamsi