Hispanic Chamber Names Exec Of The Year

WASHINGTON -- The United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (USHCC) recently honored the recipients of its National Small, Medium and Large Hispanic Chamber of the Year Awards, as well as the 2010 Chamber Executive of the Year, at its national convention in Dallas, Texas. Recipients of the Chamber Awards were selected from among nominations received from local, state and regional Hispanic chambers of commerce.

"On behalf of the USHCC, I congratulate this year's chamber awards recipients and our Chamber Executive of the Year," said Nina Vaca-Humrichouse, USHCC Chairman of the Board. "We were also honored to recognize the small, medium and large chambers of commerce whose partnership and support have been vital to the continued empowerment of Hispanic business across the country."

Latino Entrepreneurial Network (LEN) of Southeast Wisconsin was named National Small Hispanic Chamber of Year. LEN was founded in 2005 by nine entrepreneurs who recognized the need for minority businesses to have a structured networking group in the Milwaukee metro area. The Small Hispanic Chamber of the Year Award honors an accomplished Hispanic chamber of commerce that serves fewer than 249 members. Today, LEN serves over 200 members within southeastern Wisconsin, as the organization continues to grow into a racially diverse group of entrepreneurs who are dedicated to their business and success. LEN is recognized in the greater Milwaukee community as an organization that provides services to the underserved using a multicultural and inclusive model. LEN connects individuals, entrepreneurs and micro-enterprises, facilitating strategic alliance formation, networking and sharing of business and financial practices.

The Utah Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (UHCC) was named National Medium Hispanic Chamber of the Year. The UHCC is Utah's leading Hispanic business association, representing the region's Hispanic business community. The UHCC was founded as a not-for-profit organization in 1991, by a group of four business owners who felt the Hispanic business community had little influence on Utah's political, cultural and social issues. They were motivated by the need to have an organization to assist and promote the interests of Hispanic entrepreneurs in the state of Utah. The Medium Hispanic Chamber of the Year Award honors an accomplished Hispanic chamber of commerce that serves between 250 and 499 members. Since 2007, the UHCC has grown exponentially, elevating itself as the leading Hispanic organization in Utah, advocating for the Hispanic business community. Today, UHCC provides leadership, opportunities for economic growth, professional development and community involvement for over 300 members.

El Paso Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (EPHCC) was named National Large Hispanic Chamber of the Year. The EPHCC was founded in 1990 with a dream of empowering Hispanic entrepreneurs to be the owners of their destiny. Since its inception, the EPHCC has opened doors of opportunity for Hispanics in the largest border region in the world. The EPHCC also houses the Women's Business Border Center, which is operated with the support of the SBA's Office of Women's Business Ownership. It is one of only 98 Centers in the nation, and the only one housed in a Hispanic Chamber. The Large Hispanic Chamber of the Year Award honors an outstanding Hispanic chamber of commerce that serves over 500 members. Today, EPHCC serves 1,100 members and over 3,500 clients.

In addition, Cindy Ramos-Davidson, El Paso Hispanic Chamber of Commerce CEO was named Chamber Executive of the Year. Ramos-Davidson has served as chief executive officer of the El Paso Hispanic Chamber of Commerce for the past eleven years and has more than 25 years in chamber of commerce experience, primarily in small business and entrepreneurial development.

Ramos-Davidson was appointed to the El Paso Branch board of the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas in 2008 by the Federal Reserve Board of Governors. That year she was also elected as chairman pro tem of the El Paso Branch for 2008 and has been re-elected as chairman pro-tem in 2010.

Javier Palomarez, President and CEO of the USHCC said: "I congratulate these outstanding chambers on their accomplishments and leadership. They are the backbone of our organization and of their regions. As for Ms. Ramos-Davidson, Cindy is a valued counselor and a respected leader in our community. I'm fortunate to have had the opportunity to work closely with her over the past year. Her enthusiasm for bettering our community, through economic development, is boundless. She is a woman of action who sets an outstanding example for us all."

About the United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
Founded in 1979, the USHCC actively promotes the economic growth and development of Hispanic entrepreneurs and represents the interests of nearly 3 million Hispanic-owned businesses in the United States that generate nearly $400 billion annually. It also serves as the umbrella organization for more than 200 local Hispanic chambers in the United States and Puerto Rico.