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news archives
01/05/2006
HCCET Achievements during 2005 and Plans for 2006
As we enter 2006, we have the opportunity to share with everyone some of our major accomplishments during the past year--our first year of activity. It is also an appropriate time to share some of our plans and expectations for the new year. So here is a summary of HCCET activities:
MAJOR ACCOMPLISHMENTS:
• We began the year with the signing of an Inter-Chamber Agreement with the Knoxville Area Chamber Partnership (KACP) and this enabled us to establish an office at their facilities in Market Square. This office has become our center of operation, where the planning and preparation of our activities has taken place. This partnership has been a major contributing factor for the progress made during the year by:
- Making available to us the infrastructure needed by our new organization in order to develop and grow;
- Serving as a role model as we learn the chamber business;
- Being part of a partnership that includes various organizations who have provided us valuable assistance;
- Providing us a central location where we meet with individuals and organizations interested in the Hispanic Chamber;
- Enabling us to reach more effectively our share of the business community.
• The main activity of the year was our launching event on April 5 where top government officials and the President/CEO of the KACP welcomed HCCET to Knoxville. Over 200 people participated. Hors d’oeuvres and drinks from various Latin American countries were served and the Knoxville Latin Jazz group (a Hispanic Chamber member) played Latin music.
• Two other program activities held this year included:
- Networking Event at El Charro Mexican Restaurant
- Educational Workshop in Spanish: STARTING AND GROWING A SUCCESSFUL BUSINESS
(Training conducted by Conexión Américas, a Hispanic non-profit organization from Nashville based on their “Negocio Próspero” Seminar).
• Another recent activity in which HCCET participated as a partner with SunTrust Bank, Knox County Purchasing Division, 21st Century Success-Net Development was SunTrust’s SMALL BUSINESS WORKSHOP FOR HISPANIC ENTREPRENEURS. This activity was possible because of the initiative of Mr. Roberto Crichlow, VP and Community Business Banker for SunTrust and a new member of HCCET board.
• HCCET is currently an organization of 78 members which includes:
- 26 Hispanic-owned businesses or organizations
- 16 Hispanics representing local businesses or organizations.
- 37 local businesses or organizations.
- Many others have expressed interest and have indicated their intention to join HCCET during this year.
• HCCET Sponsors have provided most of the financial and in-kind resources for our operations. Their investment in our chamber has been one of the main reasons for our achievements during the year. The following organizations have been our sponsors:
- SunTrust Bank – Platinum
- DesignSensory – Platinum
- First Tennessee Bank – Gold
- Legal Aid of East Tennessee – Gold
- Pro2Serve – Silver
• One of our sponsors, DesignSensory, designed and donated a website to us. Now it is possible to find out more about our organization, our activities and to contact us by going to www.hccet.org. This is becoming HCCET’s main center of information and communication. It also serves other organizations and businesses interested in reaching the Hispanic community. The website includes a job bank service where businesses or organizations can post job opportunities to reach bilingual staff, as well as other members of the Hispanic workforce. Also it is possible to join HCCET online by clicking to JOIN ONLINE in the upper right hand side of each web page and follow the instructions provided there.
• We joined the U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and are beginning to develop relationships with other Hispanic Chambers.
• Members of our board under the leadership of Patricia Robledo provided support in translating to Spanish some of the web pages useful to the Hispanic community in the Knox County government website.
• Members of HCCET worked and participated in various community activities, including:
- the Cinco de Mayo celebration
- the HoLa Hispanic Heritage Festival
- Fiesta de Las Américas at Market Square
- Hispanic Festival at the TN Valley Fair
- The Blount County Public Library Festival to celebrate Hispanic Culture
- Hispanic Culture Celebration at Knoxville Zoo
- Hispanic Artists Exhibit at the Knoxville Museum of Art (KMA)
• Carlos Calzadilla, owner of Fiesta Food Brokerage and a member of the HCCET board, served as one of the sponsors in many of these activities, as well as our own activities, by providing many of the of products that he represents.
• We referred 45 names to be considered as candidates for the first Leadership Plenty, a training program for emerging Hispanic leaders in the community. This program is being conducted for the first time here in Knoxville by the City and Knox County governments and the University of Tennessee. About 12 HCCET members have been participating in this training.
• Various HCCET members, have participated in TV and Radio interviews in regard to the growth of the Hispanic population in this region. More recently, many of our members were interviewed for a number of articles, including the series of articles published in the Knoxville News Sentinel and another series published by the Metro Pulse.
• We have been instrumental for interviews of various Hispanic businesses owners (members of the Chamber), that have been featured in articles published in the Knoxville News Sentinel, e.g. Southeast Construction, El Charro, Dos Amigas, International Flair, Built Right Surfaces, Robledo Translations, and Fiesta Food Brokerage.
• HCCET members are actively participating in various community organizations boards and two members of our board, Dr. Loida Velázquez and Dr. Angela Masini have graduated from Leadership Knoxville 2004 and 2005 respectively, and our Director, Luis Velázquez is participating in Leadership Knoxville 2006.
• The HCCET conducted their program activities through the work of the
following committees:
- Programs/Services (Ms. Renata Soto and Ms. Patricia Robledo)
- Membership (Dr. Angela Masini and Ms. Margaret Farmer)
- Communications/Public Relations (Dr. Loida Velázquez and Mr. Ore Pumariega)
- Resource Development (Mr. Rio Valeriano and Mr. Carlos Calzadilla)
HCCET PLANS FOR 2006
Our goals for 2006 are :
- to achieve our initial goal of having 100 members during the first quarter, and to continue growing the chamber to at least 150 members by the end of the year.
- to conduct 6 educational seminars and 6 networking events (for more information on these activities, please refer to the Event Calendar page of this website).
- to improve and continue offering other services such as the following:
• technical assistance to businesses owners and entrepreneurs;
• assist businesses and other organizations in the recruitment of bilingual candidates and other qualified candidates from the Hispanic community;
• establish new partnerships and participate in activities that may benefit our members, the Hispanic Community, and the East Tennessee region as whole.
• continue working with other organizations in support of educational, cultural, health and social needs of the Hispanic community in the region.
- Since all work conducted during the year is based on volunteer activity, one major HCCET goal is to have paid staff during 2006.
- to continue working on improving our resource development efforts by increasing the number of our sponsors, and developing other strategies that will allow HCCET to become a self-sustaining organization.
If you find meaningful the work the Hispanic Chamber is conducting to benefit the Hispanic businesses, the Hispanic community, and its effective integration within the Knoxville and East Tennessee communities we welcome your participation. Simply call us at (865) 246-2628 or (865)604-0049 or send us a message through this website.
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