An Open Invitation

By Cynthia A. Roby

All are welcome as the Utah Hispanic Chamber
of Commerce strives to increase the profile
of Latino businesses

When people think of Salt Lake City, they usually do not think, “Hispanic.”
The Utah Hispanic Chamber of Commerce is trying to change that, says Carlos Linares, the chamber’s executive director.
“As a state, we want the governor and the mayors of our cities to recognize the mounting diversity within our cities, within our state,” Linares says.
Hispanics represent the fastest growing segment of Utah’s population, increasing by more than 33 percent to 270,000 people since 2000, according to U.S. Census figures. The state’s Hispanic business community, which generates $4 billion-$5 billion in annual revenue, is making a dramatic impact on the state’s economic future.
According to studies performed by the chamber through the Department of Commerce website, there are an estimated 5,500 Hispanic businesses throughout the state, Linares says.
“These businesses include independent business owners, self-employed, representatives of pharmaceutical or nutritional types of businesses,” Linares says. “We know there could be even more.”
The Utah Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, through its leadership, professional development and economic growth, lends support to these developing enterprises.
The chamber was established in 1991 by a small group with a big mission: to increase diversity in commerce. But it has only been in the last few years that the organization has truly taken off.
“For quite some time, we had been one of Utah’s little secrets,” Linares says. “Now we have become a more influential organization. People are beginning to see who we are and become excited about what we are doing.”
The chamber functions as a network for Latino businesses, professional associations and corporations working to expand business opportunities through exchanges between members that are in the private and public sectors, in government and nongovernment, profit and nonprofit, and community-based organizations. It boasts a membership of 250, with representation by more than 500.
The chamber also functions as a legislative advocate on Latino business issues and is actively promoting trade between the Hispanic American and international business communities. According to Joe Reyna, the chamber’s chairman of the Board and Zions Bank’s regional president, the annual commerce trade from Utah to Mexico is $122 million; $300 million from Mexico into Utah. This includes industrial equipment and machinery, the export of zinc, copper and other minerals, jewelry and precious metals, and technology.
What that trade has done for the Hispanic community is to promote the current relationship with Mexico and Utah, not just Mexico and the U.S., Linares says. “There is quite a bit of trade that takes place here, not just franchise but direct investment. Many entrepreneurs and business people are going to Mexico to set up businesses there and expanding the opportunities they have already set up here. That is why the chamber has become involved.”
In May, the chamber hosted a luncheon with Mexican President Vicente Fox during a visit to promote the importance of the trade relationship between Utah and Mexico.
“We have people on our board of directors that are very involved with the trading efforts in the state of Utah,” Linares says. “We also have individuals that serve in high-level cabinet types of positions within the Mexican government, as well. The Mexican Consulate is one of our honorary board members, having close ties to President Fox. Our chair, Joe Reyna, serves on the Interior Department of the Mexican government. Gov. [Jon] Huntsman is one of our dear friends. We were able to utilize all of these channels to make this visit possible.”
Entrepreneurs and businesspersons alike are drawn to the chamber because they want to experience membership in a chamber that is nontraditional, innovative and progressive in their practices, according to Linares.
“There are certainly other benefits, but they see we are a chamber that puts its money where its mouth is. We do what we say we are going to do,” he says. “We are not fluffy or full of red tape; we are an organization here to serve our membership. When people see that, they want to be a part of it.”
David Solorzano, publisher of Nuestra Gente Utah Magazine, has been a chamber member since January. “The chamber extended their hand to us, helped us in many ways including meeting the right people and steering us in the right direction,” he says. “We needed that, it was important for advertising.”
Solorzano says the chamber’s meet-and-greet events, which he describes as not only fun, but productive, “have been instrumental in our growth. Many decision-makers attend these events. That has helped us succeed.”
Solorzano noted that chamber events attract many participants who are non-Hispanic. “They want to do business in the Hispanic market and are serious about those that enter the market,” he says. “That is why they are there.”
Linares says between 20 and 25 percent of the chamber’s membership is non-Hispanic. Many do not speak Spanish, but want to be a part of it.
“They want to be a part of the trend that is taking over the country, target and market to this audience,” Linares says. “We have the vehicle that can help them fulfill their purpose.
“It is rewarding when people come to me and say, ‘I want to join but I’m not Hispanic.’ That does not matter. If they believe in diversity in commerce, then that is what we are looking for, open-minded individuals.”
The U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce’s recently awarded the chamber with the 2006 Hispanic Leadership and Business Excellence Award as the small Hispanic chamber of the year, Region II. “We were honored and privileged to get that,” Linares says.
The chamber has created a never-before held annual convention for Utah’s Hispanic business owners. It also sponsors the Quixote Business Awards, an honor recognizing businesses and individuals who have made a mark within Utah’s communities.
With Utah ranked as the 10th fastest growing state in the U.S., “We are just booming,” says Linares, who left a career in banking to become a part of the chamber. “I love the diversity we are experiencing; our influence on the community has proven very rewarding.”