Women Tapped To Lead Hispanic Chamber
WASHINGTON -- Nina Vaca, a nationally recognized business leader and Founder, Chairman and CEO of Dallas-based Pinnacle Technical Resources, has been named Chair of the Board of Directors of the United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (USHCC). The USHCC also appointed Jeanette Prenger, Founder and President of ECCO Select Corporation, as Vice Chair. For the first time in the history of the USHCC, these two critical, leadership positions will be held by two women.
"This new leadership team marks an evolutionary era for USHCC, setting a tone of innovative, strategic and proven talent," saidJavier Palomarez, President and CEO of the USHCC. "We are confident that Nina and Jeannette will make a significant impact in strengthening our value to our primary constituents, including Hispanic Business Enterprises (HBEs), local chambers of commerce and corporate partners who support the growth of Hispanic business." For the past 3 years, Vaca has served as Region III Chair and Member of the Board of the USHCC and served as Chair of the Greater Dallas Hispanic Chamber of Commerce in 2005. "I am honored to serve as Chair of the USHCC," said Vaca. "Our organization has great momentum as we approach our National Convention and Business Expo and I look forward to a robust exchange of ideas and sharing our vision for the future." Vaca added: "What is critical to the USHCC going forward is a continued focus on our 200 member chambers of commerce in communities across the country, while expanding the organization's strategic partnerships with major corporations, government agencies and business organizations to increase opportunities for Hispanic Business Enterprises (HBEs)." Vaca is the founder, Chair and CEO of Pinnacle Technical Resources, an award-winning provider of information technology services. Pinnacle's offerings include IT staffing and professional services, managed staffing services, vendor management solutions, and payrolling/independent contractor compliance. Under Vaca's leadership, Pinnacle has been ranked among the ten fastest growing staffing firms nationwide in each of the past six years, and now includes approximately 3,000 consultants across all 50 states. Pinnacle is also the 4th largest diversity-owned IT staffing firm nationally and the largest outside the NY/NJ area. A former Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year and two-time winner of the USHCC's Business Woman of the Year Award, Vaca has also been featured in Fortune, Elle, Kiplinger's, Fast Company, Latino Leaders, and various other publications. She is a graduate of Texas State University with a B.A. in Speech Communications and Business Administration where she was honored as the youngest Distinguished Alumna in university history. Vaca has also completed executive programs at theHarvard, Kellogg, and Tuck Schools of Business, holds an honorary Doctor of Laws degree from Northwood University, and was recently named one of the 100 most influential Hispanics in America for the third consecutive year. Jeanette Prenger is Owner and President of ECCO Select, a Kansas City-based high performance, award-winning corporation that specializes in Information Technology consulting, project management, supplemental staffing, and workforce solutions. She provides a unique blend of work experience and accomplishments, which have resulted in the company's continued growth. "As Vice Chair of the USHCC, I look forward to supporting our key stakeholders, as we continue to redefine the landscape for Hispanic Business Enterprises, made up of millions of diverse business organizations and individuals around the country," said Prenger. "It is a time to unite in our vision, goals and actions, as we deliver value to these important constituents that will truly make a difference." Since its inception in 1995, ECCO has posted steadily climbing revenues and employs over 100 individuals in Fortune 500 companies across the United States. ECCO is recognized as one of the top 500 Hispanic-owned companies in the United States by Hispanic Business Magazine and is consistently listed as a top 25 Kansas City Business by the KC Business Magazine. Ms. Prenger is a graduate of Park University with a BS in Management and Computer Information Systems, additionally, she has completed executive programs at the Kellogg School of business. She has been featured in BusinessWeek, and has been named CEO of the Year in 2009 by the Latinos in Information and Science Technology Association (LISTA), as well as one of the Top 20 Most Influential Latinas in the United States in 2006 by Hispanic Trends. She has won multiple awards from the Small Business Administration, (SBA) and is a commissioner for the Missouri Workforce Investment Board. About the United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Founded in 1979, the USHCC actively promotes the economic growth and development of Hispanic Business Enterprises that together 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.
The USHCC makes this announcement just weeks before its 31st Annual National Convention & Business Expo, slated forSeptember 22-25 in Dallas, Texas. Vaca and Prenger will assume their new leadership roles at the upcoming convention.
