Chamber News: The Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of the Lehigh Valley

Every now and then, we're going to try and bring you Chamber news from our various Chamber partners.  Today's news comes from our newest partner: the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of the Lehigh Valley.  The article comes to us courtesy of Alvaro Diaz, the Director of the HCCLV.  Enjoy!
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2012 promises to be another great year for the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of the Lehigh Valley (HCCLV). Capitalizing on our successes of 2011, we are kicking off the New Year with a partnership with the Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce that will allow us to tap on the resources of The Chamber while maintaining our own identity as an independent and autonomous chamber of commerce. The partnership agreement was approved unanimously by the boards of both Chambers in December 2011 and validates the informal relationship that two chambers have enjoyed in the recent past. Through this association, HCCLV will have access to support and logistical expertise from The Chamber, in particular for the organization of events through Marta Anglade, The Chamber’s VP of Multi-cultural Initiatives.

In 2011 we held a record number of events and networking mixers. Our signature seminars “Marketing to Hispanics” and “Multi-cultural Women in the Professions and Business”, along with our and “Cinco de Mayo” Family Fiesta were all well attended and remain high in the list of “must attend” events by our members, sponsors and Latino business community. Our 2011 Annual Gala in October as part of the Hispanic Heritage Month festivities honored Dr. Debbie Salas-Lopez, Director of the Medicine at Lehigh Valley Hospital Network as 2011 Hispanic Professional of the Year. The gala featured Philadelphia’s Flamenco Olé!, one of the best flamenco performing groups in the nation. HCCLV’s Annual Gala is regarded as the premier Latino social event in the region.

In 2011 we also launched the Fé Foundation, a 501(C)3 non-profit organization created to administer our “Futuros Empresarios” (FE) Program. The FE Program, now entering its fourth year, provides life-skills and entrepreneurial training and internships to mostly Latino high school students in the valley. This pat year 34 students organizations and De Sales University and Penn State-LV.

We embrace the challenges of 2012 with a lot of optimism, and with new tools, such as new website, a new office location in Bethlehem and an ambitious calendar of events. We look forward to continuing to provide our members, sponsors and partners with an effective vehicle to advance their industrial, commercial and professional interests. Feliz Ańo Nuevo!

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