hispanic-american chamber of commerce -...

December 2006 Hispanic-American Chamber of Commerce Visión Vol. II No. 4 page 1

Hispanic-American Chamber of Commerce406 S. Huntington Avenue • Boston, MA. 02130 • Tel. 617 261 4222 • Fax 617 522 1104 • www.hacc.com

Issue No. 4 Volume II December 2006ä SPECIAL SECTION:

EXCLUSIVE PHOTOS FROM THE HACC BUSINESS

FORUM.……………………..2

ä THE HACC AND VERIZON

WIRELESS DEMYSTIFY WIRE-LESS TECHNOLOGIES…...4

ä HISPANICS TOPS IN

PURCHASING POWER BY 2007……….………….……...9

HACC 2006 Score CardBy Nader Acevedo

It is with great pleasure that I share with you another successful year for the Hispanic-AmericanChamber of Commerce of Greater Boston (HACC). We have a very solid and professional groupof individuals on the Chamber’s Board of Directors, and under this leadership and direction we contin-ue our excellent relationships with our current supporters and have been able to develop new ones.

Our supporters and sponsors include corporations, educational institutions, government and commu-nity-based organizations, and of course, our valued members. In 2006, we are proud to report thatthe Chamber increased its membership base by 30%. We thank all members for their supportand commitment to the Latino business community of Massachusetts.

Here is a summary of our main activities in 2006:

ä In April 2006, the HACC in partnership with Hispanic News Press (HNP) - publisher of EL PLANETA Newspaper, and the National Society

of Hispanic MBAs (NSHMBA) launched the book “Conociendo Boston”. This is the first book published in Spanish about the history of Boston.

ä On May 11, 2006, KeySpan Energy Delivery, the largest natural gas distributor in the Northeast partnered with the HACC and hosted a

The Chamber and Partners HelpJumpstart Latino BusinessesBy El Mundo

On Friday October 20th, the Hispanic-American Chamberof Commerce of Greater Boston joined forces with theSmall Business Administration and Blue Cross BlueShield of Massachusetts in presenting an all morningaffair that culminated with a business forum luncheonand a special awards presentation.

The event was primarily directed to helping Latino-ownedbusinesses grow to the next level. It included severalworkshops featuring seasoned business experts whooffered their expertise on a number of different topicssuch as joint ventures, technical assistance resources,and financing strategies. The MC for the luncheon wasEmmy award-winning television reporter Jorge Quirogaof WCVB-TV Boston.

Accountants Maria Santiago (left), and Carol Sanchez (right) receive aspecial national recognition at the annual HACC Business Forum. MCJorge Quiroga of WCVB-Channel 5 stands in between the winners.

Continued on page 7

Diciembre 2006 Cámara de Comercío Hispano-Americana Visión Vol. II No. 4 página 2

Scenes from the Chamber’s Business ForumScenes from the Chamber’s Business Forum

L

Photos by El Mundo

Left - Award Presentation: Charlotte GolarRichie, The City’s Chief of Housing andDirector of Department of NeighborhoodDevelopment; MC Jorge Quiroga of WCVB-Channel 5 and Ariel E. Schmidt, Chairman ofthe HACC is presented by Charles E.Summers, Jr., SBA Regional AdministratorNew England with the SBA’s New EnglandMinority Small Business Person of the Year.

Bottom Right - Important Panelists: AttorneyFerdinand J. Alvaro, Jr. Partner Adorno, Yoss,Fitzhugh, Parker & Alvaro LLP; André M.Porter, Deputy Director, Office of BusinessDevelopment; Carol Sanchez of Sanchez andSantiago CPA’s; Armando Fernandez of the

SBA; Brenda Jovenich, Vice President Commercial Lending at Citizens Bank; DavidPodbielski, Select Markets Sales Executive Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts andMC Jorge Quiroga Reporter of WCVB-Channel 5 during the Hispanic-American Chamber ofCommerce of Greater Boston “Business Forum” at Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts.

Bottom Left - Patricia Acevedo, a formerexecutive for El Planeta Newspaperreceived a formal farewell by Jorge Quirogaof WCVB-Channel 5 and her proud fatherNader Acevedo, Executive Director HACC.Patricia is off to Houston, Texas.

Please remember to use your Staples coupon provided on the last page.


Somos un empleador de igualdad de oportunidad, m/f/d/r.

Perteneces a nuestro equipo.Eres el mejor en lo que haces, y eso es algo que puede entender Verizon Wireless. En Verizon Wireless, la confi abilidad de nuestra red es el resultado directo de la fiabilidad y desempeño de nuestro equipo talentoso. Estamos comprometidos a desarrollar una fuerza laboral tan diversa como nuestra base de clientes y apoyamos la ambición, las metas y el empeño de nuestros empleados con diversos programas y recompensas. Después de todo, nuestros empleados son nuestra mayor inversión… y nuestro mayor capital.

Ahora mismo, existen oportunidades de carrera dinámicas para:

Representantes de Venta Minorista

Representantes de Asistencia al Cliente Minorista

cobertura médica/dental/de la visión desde el primer día

plan 401(k) y reparto de benefi cios

asistencia para educación

beneficios de atención familiar

descuentos de telefonía para empleados

oportunidades internas de progreso

capacitación galardonada

¡y mucho más!

Por favor presenta tu CV en línea en:

verizonwireless.com/careers

Aduéñate de tu carrera.

Carrera and Alvarez Join the HACC’s Board of DirectorsBy Staff

In October, Patrick Jacinto Carrera and Alba Alvarez were elected directors of the Hispanic-American Chamber of Commerce’s board. Carrera is an electrical engineer andthe laboratory manager for Pollak, a manufacturer of switches, actuators and sensors forthe automotive industry.

Prior to Pollak, Patrick had several positions in Polaroid from 1979 to 2005, such asSystems Quality and Reliability, Hardware Product Safety & Compliance, Motor Laboratorysupervisor, Reverse Engineering, Licensing support for Branded Products Business,Product Design Engineer, Research and Development Engineer, and ElectromechanicalEngineer. He holds several patents and disclosures.

Continued on page 11

Patrick Carrera joins the HACCBoard of Directors


The HACC and Verizon Wireless Demystify The HACC and Verizon Wireless Demystify Wireless TechnologiesWireless Technologies

T

Photos by Jay Velez

The New England Region partnered with the Hispanic AmericanChamber of Commerce of Greater Boston to host a "Business AfterHours" networking event at the Wang Theater in Boston. Themed"Demystifying Wireless Technology," the night included a multimediapresentation of our Hispanic outreach through recruiting and marketing; a panel discussion; wireless data product demonstrations and exhibits.

Representing Verizon Wireless (pictured left to right) Oscar Madrid,associate director, Multi-Cultural Marketing; Alan Carpenter, director,Business Sales; Howard Lerner, associate director, Wireless Data;and Bob Stott, Regional President.


KeySpan Promotes Energy Efficiency at Fenway Park’s EMC Club By Staff

Following a tour of Fenway Park and a chance to collect for-mer Red Sox Bob “Monty” Montgomery’s autograph, the talkturned “green” at the “Business after Hours” reception for theHispanic-American Chamber of Commerce (HACC). The net-working event hosted by KeySpan Energy Delivery, thelargest distributor of natural gas in the Northeast, and the offi-cial energy and energy service provider of the Boston RedSox and Fenway Park, found nearly 75 community partnersgiving rapt attention to a discussion on energy conservation.

“We’re reaching out to our community partners interested inlearning how to use less energy more efficiently,” said, RickMurphy, Vice President of Marketing and EnergyManagement, KeySpan Energy Delivery. “With the use ofnew technology, we are able to enhance energy efficiencyand reduce costs with benefits to owners, tenants and theenvironment.” The nationally recognized energy manage-ment program highlights the creative ways in which KeySpanhelps business, non profits and individuals increase the valueof their home or business by using an environmentally friend-ly approach toward energy consumption.

Bruce Johnson, Director of Energy Management, KeySpan; KarlaWinter, Energy Management Specialist, KeySpan; RaymondSantos, Vice Chair Hispanic-American Chamber of Commerce ofGreater Boston (HACC); Andres Lopez, Treasurer, (HACC);Brenda Jovenich, Board Member, HACC; Richard Murphy, VicePresident of Marketing, KeySpan; Victoria-Alicia Lopez, ViceChairwoman HACC; Ariel E. Schmidt, Chairman, HACC; NaderAcevedo, Executive Director, HACC; and Ingrid Seroppian, Market Planner, KeySpan.


Meet Children’s HospitalBoston’s MulticulturalCommunication SpecialistBy Staff

BOSTON - Children's Hospital Boston,New England's largest pediatric hospitaland a worldwide leader in pediatricresearch and healthcare, has namedJaime Crespo as its MulticulturalCommunication Specialist in the Officeof Public Affairs.

Mr. Crespo will be responsible fordeveloping and implementing marketingcommunication strategies to increaseawareness in Massachusetts’ multicul-tural communities about Children'simportant role as a major employer,economic engine and award-winninghealth care provider. For the past 17years, U.S. News & World Report hasranked Children’s in the top 2 pediatrichospitals in the U.S.

"Children's has always been proud toserve as a safety net for children livingin our neighborhoods and throughoutthe world," Mr. Crespo says. "Whatcontinues to amaze me about Children’sis the diversity among our patients andthe growing diversity within our work-force. So as our communities continueto become ethnically diverse, so is ourcommunication approach."

Mr. Crespo has joined Children’s duringa time when the state’s Latino childrencontinue to face health disparities andsteep health challenges. Latino childrenface higher rates of asthma, obesity,injury, depression and behavioral disor-ders compared to non-Latino children.Asthma is the most common chronicdisease among Latino children and isthe leading cause of hospitalization atChildren’s.

“Our minority communities will always bea central focus of Children’s,” Mr.Crespo says. “We are proud to serve asthe state’s largest provider of medicalcare to low-income children, with an esti-mated 65-percent of our 11,000 primarycare patients living in Mission Hill,Roxbury, Dorchester or Jamaica Plain.”

Since joining Children’s, one of Mr.Crespo’s major communication endeav-ors was launching Latinos Making ADifference, a six-week advertising/PRcampaign that recognized six exemplaryLatino employees who are making apositive difference within the hospital,among its patients and throughout thecommunity.

“During this campaign, I have had theprivilege of meeting fellow Latinos andLatinas – from entry-level housekeepers

Children’s Hospital Boston is the state’s largest provider of medical care to low-incomechildren, with an estimated 65-percent of its 11,000 primary care patients living in

Mission Hill, Roxbury, Dorchester, or Jamaica Plain.

all the way up to the chief of cardiacsurgery,” he says. Each of our manyexemplary Latino employees plays animportant role in helping the hospitaldeliver its services in a culturally-competent manner.”

Prior to joining Children’s, Mr. Cresposerved as Marketing Manager forEvercare, a subsidiary of United HealthCare, the second largest health insur-ance provider in the U.S. At Evercare,he launched integrated campaignsaimed at the multicultural marketplacein Massachusetts. Previously, heserved as managing partner forDiverso, a multicultural marketing shop,where he played a key role in launchingwinning campaigns for GreaterLawrence Family Health Center,UPS/Northeast, Merrimack ValleyRegional Transit Authority, andNorthern Essex Community College.Prior to Diverso, he served as a staffreporter for the Eagle-Tribune, aPulitzer-prize winning newspaper basedin North Andover.

Mr. Crespo holds a B.A. in Commu-nications Studies from BradfordCollege. He resides in West Roxburywith his wife Gisele Soares and hasthree children.


Visión NewsletterVisión is a quarterly bilingualnewsletter of the Hispanic-American Chamber of Commerceof Greater Boston, a non-profitorganization serving the communityof New England

Ariel SchmidtChairman

Andres LopezTreasurer

Vicki LopezVice Chairwoman

Raymond SantosVice Chairman, Newsletter Editor

Alba AlvarezBoard Member

Patrick Jacinto CarreraBoard Member

Juana HortonBoard Member

Brenda JovenichBoard Member

Nader AcevedoExecutive Director

Ferdinand Alvaro, Jr.Legal Advisor

Hispanic-AmericanChamber of Commerce

of Greater Boston406 S. Huntington Avenue

Boston, MA 02130Telephone (617) 261-4222

Fax (617) 522-2693www.hacc.com

[email protected]

“Business after Hours” Networking Reception at the Omni Parker House in Boston. Thepurpose of this event was to get small business owners, corporations and Latino professionalstogether to share an evening of information on tax credits and energy conservation.

ä Verizon Wireless, the largest wireless provider in the country, joined the HACC to share an

evening of technology with the Chamber’s members and friends. On June 29, 2006 a“Business after Hours” Networking Reception – Demystifying Wireless Technologies washeld at the Wang Center for Performing Arts in Boston.

ä Immigration Reform is a very important issue to the Chamber and on July 20, 2006 a

“Business Morning” was held with Senator Jarrett Barrios entitled the “Impact of Latinos andNew Immigrants in Massachusetts”. This event was sponsored and hosted by GenzymeCorporation with the purpose of having Senator Barrios educate the Hispanic businesscommunity on the impact of the new Immigration Reform on our businesses.

ä Again, KeySpan Energy Delivery treated the Chamber’s members to an evening of information

and enjoyment. On September 7, 2006, a “Business after Hours” Networking Receptionwas sponsored by KeySpan Energy Delivery and hosted at the EMC Club at Fenway Park.This event provided members of the Chamber with information on energy conservation and atour of Fenway Park.

ä On September 28, 2006, Citizens Bank and the Greenville Real Estate Group of Jamaica

Plain presented a “Business after Hours” Networking Reception – Buying Real Estate inToday’s Market. This seminar was sponsored and hosted by Citizens Bank and the GreenvilleReal Estate Group covering the many important decisions made in today’s market with regardto any real estate purchase. This was a very educational program that addressed real estatetransactions. Topics included different loan programs, 1031 exchanges, closing considerationsand tax savings.

ä On Friday, October 20, 2006 the Chamber held its annual signature event - the 3rd

“Jumpstart Your Business” – Helping Latino-Owned Businesses grow to the next level. Thisevent was sponsored/hosted by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts, Citizens Bank, theU.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) and the City of Boston, Department ofNeighborhood Development. HACC presented an all morning affair including business semi-nars that culminated with a business forum luncheon and a special awards presentation. Theevent was primarily directed toward helping Latino-owned businesses grow to the next level. Itincluded several workshops featuring seasoned business experts who offered their expertiseon a number of different topics, such as joint ventures, technical assistance resources andfinancing strategies. The Master of Ceremonies for the luncheon was Emmy award-winningtelevision reporter Jorge Quiroga of WCVB-TV Boston.

ä The HACC partnered with the Association of Latino Professionals in Finance and

Accounting (ALPFA) on November 2, 2006 for its “4th Annual Boston Summit” –Leadership in New America: An Agenda for Shaping the Future Together. This is a very suc-cessful event that always benefits our members.

ä On Wednesday, November 08, 2006 two members of the Board of Directors and the

Executive Director of the HACC collaborated with Fisher College on this year’s theme for itsConvocation on Citizenship. The HACC representatives presented personal histories of howthey came to become community and business leaders, and how HACC assisted them to stayconnected and give back to the community. The program was attended by 21 students, thePresident of the college, Dr. Charles C. Perkins, and members of the administration.

ä As in previous years the HACC partnered with the Association of Latino Professionals in

Finance and Accounting (ALPFA) and hosted our joint holiday party on Wednesday,December 13, 2006 at the Harvard Club of Boston. This is a way for both organizations tothank our members, supporters and sponsors.

This is a very exciting time for the Chamber and I would like to thank you for giving me theopportunity to represent and serve you one more year. I wish Happy Holidays to theChamber’s supporters, sponsors, friends and their families.

Continued from page 1

United States HispanicChamber of Commerce and ExxonMobil to Identify and Attract MoreMinority RetailersBy Staff

The U.S. Hispanic Chamber ofCommerce (USHCC) and Exxon MobilCorporation announced a new collabora-tive effort to help identify and attractminority entrepreneurs who want tobecome Exxon and Mobil retailers.

"A key objective of the U.S. HispanicChamber of Commerce is to expandbusiness opportunities and economicempowerment for our members," saidMichael L. Barrera, President & CEO,U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce."This new collaborative effort meets thatobjective through a focused commitmentto assist our growing Hispanic businesscommunity in pursuing entrepreneurialopportunities with ExxonMobil. We arevery pleased with the level of commit-ment ExxonMobil is making to thiseffort."

"We see this new effort with the U.S.Hispanic Chamber of Commerce as agreat opportunity to help create aware-ness and interest in retail businessopportunities at ExxonMobil amongminority candidates," said Mark Shores,Director, Retail Sales, ExxonMobil FuelsMarketing. "With the help of the U.S.Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, weseek qualified minority candidates whowant to be involved in all aspects ofgasoline and convenience store retailmarketing, from operating a single retail

UPCOMING EVENT!The Hispanic-American Chamber of Commerce of Greater Boston

is pleased to announce its first "Morning Business" in 2007- An Update and forecast of the economy in 2007

- Update of Community development activities by the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston in 2007

Thursday, February 22, 2007Federal Reserve Bank of Boston 600 Atlantic Avenue

- 8:30 - 9:00 a.m. - Registration/Continental Breakfast- 9:00 - 9:45 a.m. - Presentations - 9:45 - 10:00 a.m. - Q & A

outlet, to investing and becoming theprincipal operator of a multiple locationdistributorship. We are looking for entre-preneurs who want to grow withExxonMobil."

Central to the new initiative is a plan forthe Chamber to serve as a resource forExxonMobil in searching out and screen-ing qualified candidates nationwide.



lion this year and I expect it to be almost$1.2 trillion five years from now,” saidJeff Humphreys, director of the SeligCenter. “That’s more than 450 percentgrowth from 1990 to 2011. Non-Hispanicbuying power is growing closer to a rateof 176 percent over the same period.

“Still, even as Hispanic buying powerovertakes African-American buyingpower at the national level, it is importantto recognize that in the majority of statesthe African-American market will contin-ue to be much larger than the Hispanicmarket,” Humphreys said. “This insightreflects the fact that Hispanics and theirbuying power are much more geograph-ically concentrated than non-Hispanicsor African Americans. For example,California alone accounts for 27 percentof all Hispanic buying power in the U.S.”

The Selig Center’s annual reportincludes state-by-state projections ofbuying power for the nation’s three mostpopulous racial groups, as well asHispanics, who are categorized by theU.S. Census as an ethnic minority andnot a racial minority. Buying power, alsoreferred to as disposable income, is thetotal personal income available forspending on goods and services aftertaxes.

Hispanics Will Top All U.S.Minority Groups forPurchasing Power by 2007By Staff

Hispanic buying power in the UnitedStates will draw even with African-American buying power in 2006 – at justunder $800 billion – and is projected toexceed it in 2007, according to a reporton minority buying power released by theSelig Center for Economic Growth at theUniversity of Georgia’s Terry College ofBusiness.

Hispanics actually surpassed blacks asthe nation’s largest minority group fiveyears ago, based on population counts.But, in terms of spending power, 2007will mark the first year that Hispanicscontrol more disposable personalincome than any other U.S. minoritygroup.

The Selig Center estimated Hispanicbuying power will be $863.1 billion in2007, an 8.1 percent increase over 2006,while black buying power will reach $847billion in 2007, a 6 percent increase.

“The economic clout of Hispanics hasrisen from $212 billion in 1990, when Ifirst started doing this study, to $798 bil-

The Right Business LoanBy Staff

For those thinking about starting a busi-

ness or making improvements to an

existing one, the foremost topics to con-

sider are start-up capital and how to gen-

erate capital to make improvements.

This typically involves taking out a loan.

Before venturing into the unknown with

respect to business financing, it is impor-

tant to get the facts about the types of

loans available to small businesses in

respect to the type of business or situa-

tion. The United States Small Business

Administration can be a good place to

research special loan programs and find

loans beyond traditional lending institu-

tions.

Microloans: When there is a need for a

very small loan (maximum of $35,000), a

microloan can be an option. The

Microloan Program provides small loans

to newly established or growing small

businesses. Under this program, The

United States Small Business

Administration (SBA) makes funds avail-

able to nonprofit community-based

lenders (intermediaries) which, in turn,

make loans to eligible borrowers. The

average microloan size is about

$13,000. Applications can be submitted

to the local intermediary and all credit

decisions are made on the local level.

While each intermediary has its lending

and credit regulations, most will require

collateral on the part of the borrower. A

state-by-state listing of intermedi-

aries can be found by typing the

following link into your Web browser:

h t t p : / / w w w . s b a . g o v / f i n a n c i n g

/microparticipants.pdf

Continued on page 10


Basic 7(a) Loan Guaranty: This is the

SBA's primary small business loan. It

is a good route for potential business

owners to take when they may not be

eligible for loans through other routes.

It is a very flexible business loan,

where funds can be used for a number

of reasons, including working capital,

machinery and equipment, furniture

and fixtures, land and building (includ-

ing purchase, renovation and new con-

struction), leasehold improvements,

and debt refinancing (under special

conditions). Unlike microloans, these

loans are offered through commercial

lending institutions. Loan maturity is up

to 10 years for working capital and

generally up to 25 years for fixed

assets.

Certified Development Company (CDC),

a 504 Loan Program: These loans pro-

vide long-term, fixed-rate financing to

small businesses looking to purchase

real estate, make improvements to roads

or property, or acquire machinery to

expand upon an existing business.

Funds cannot be used for working capi-

tal or inventory. These loans are deliv-

ered through Certified Development

Companies, also known as CDCs (pri-

vate, nonprofit corporations set up to

contribute to the economic development

of their communities or regions).

Programs include a loan from a private-

sector lender that covers 50 percent of

the project and a secondary loan for up

to 40 percent of the project cost from the

CDC that is 100 percent SBA-

guaranteed.

Franchise Financing: These are loans

reserved for well-recognized or national

franchises. Apart from a local bank,

these loans are broken down into three

main categories:

1. Franchisor-supplied funds - A fran-

chise company can offer a list of

reputable, and preferred lending institu-

tions. They may also provide financial

assistance themselves.

2. SBA assistance - Franchises are also

eligible for the popular 7(a) loan previ-

ously discussed.

3. Other avenues - Some commercial

lenders specialize in franchise financing

through equipment leases and struc-

tured term loans. Another option is the

ERSOP program, which uses a 401(k) or

IRA as start-up capital without penalties,

taxes or distributions.


Chamber TreasurerAndres López appointedPresident of CDFCBy Staff

Andres J. López was recently namedPresident of the MassachusettsCommunity Development FinanceCorporation (CDFC), a state affiliatedfinancial assistance agency that assistssmall businesses become sustainableand grow.

López, 56, comes to CDFC with more than20 years of experience consulting forsmall businesses like the ones CDFC ischartered to help. During the time he oper-ated Wellesley Square Associates, a con-sulting firm he started to assist troubledsmall businesses turn their fortunesaround, López worked with his client busi-nesses to develop long range, strategicplans, and helped companies restructuredebt to move to profitability. Also, he actedas a liaison between small companies andlenders, and other service professionals.

“I am truly excited to lead a great organ-ization that has helped hundreds of smalland minority businesses become sus-tainable and grow for more than 30years,” López said. “Small businesses inMassachusetts provide about half of thepermanent jobs in our economy, so tar-

geted investments in this sector give usresults that make a real difference inpeople’s lives.”

López earned a BBA in accounting fromthe University of Puerto Rico in 1973,then worked at Arthur Andersen & Co.prior to holding various financial posi-tions at ITT, Bank of Boston and DataGeneral Corporation. While working as afinancial professional, López earned anMBA at Boston College in1982.

He founded Wellesley Square Associates,Ltd., in 1986 with the intent of helpingsmall businesses become stable, integralparts of the New England economy. Overthe last decade, López shifted his focus toassist small companies in urban areascloser to the Greater Boston area.

“I saw the opportunity to bring my expe-rience to CDFC as something my con-sulting business prepared me for and aonce in a lifetime opportunity,” saidLópez. “So I’m extremely happy to con-tinue the work with our executive andlegislative leaders to help build onCDFC’s many successes.”

CDFC, which celebrated its 30thanniversary last year, is a quasi-publiccorporation created by the Legislature in1975 to help small businesses accesscapital that might not be available fromtraditional lenders. It is one of thenation’s first state-wide communitydevelopment finance institutions.

CDFC, governed by a board of directorsappointed by the Governor, providesbusinesses with lines of credit, termloans and surety bond financing support.To date, CDFC has invested more than$70 million in the Massachusetts economy.

López replaces Milton J. Benjamin, Jr.,who left CDFC to head the Boston basedInitiative for a New Economy, a minoritybusiness economic development agency.

Carrera, born in Guayaquil, Ecuador,holds an MBA from WorcesterPolytechnic Institute as well as an MSand BS in electrical engineering fromNortheastern University. He currentlyresides in Newton.

Alba Alvarez is a franchise owner ofMetropolitan West Real Estate whereshe specializes in sales and rentals ofresidential and corporate properties.Alvarez is also an Independent Life SpanPlanner and Consultant Specializing inthe insurance and financial servicesindustry.

Alvarez is very active with philanthropicand charitable organizations in theBoston area. She is the treasurer of theGreater Hispanic Lions Club of Boston,and serves on the boards of Casa NuevaVida, a shelter for homeless mothers andchildren; Devon & Nicole House, a non-profit foundation dedicated to providing ahome-away-from-home for families thathave children receiving care atChildren's Hospital Boston; and LittleHeart, a support group for families ofchildren with heart disease.

HACC Board Elects Alba Alvarezto Board of Directors

Continued from page 3


Hispanic-American Chamber of Commerce

406 S. Huntington Avenue • Boston, Massachusetts 02130

F

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