International Business Center hosts News Conference on NextDooring

J u l y 1 , 2 00 8
In This Issue
Special Feature…..…….…………………..………...….1
Member Highlight....……………..………....…….….2
New Member Spotlight…..……...….……..….…….3
Economic Development……………..…...…………5
Education…………………………………………………….….8
Upcoming Events…………………………...…...…….10
Community Updates………………………...…….…11
Member Recognition……………………...…...……12
Corporate Members……….……..………...………13
Staff……………………………………………….……………...13
Board of Directors
Robert Franco, Jr. - Chair
Bank of America
Blanca Zamora-García - Chair-Elect
Casa Blanca Realty
Larry Graham - Treasurer
Texas Gas Service
George Gutierrez - Secretary
Austin American Statesman-Ahora Si!
James W. Rash II - At Large
Wal-Mart Supercenter #1253
Pilar Sanchez - At Large
Housing Authority of the City of Austin
Paul M. Saldaña - Immediate Past Chair
Adelánte Solutions, Inc.
Al Beavers
Lower Colorado River Authority
Bryan Cady
urbanspace Realtors, LLP
Paul Cruz, Ph.D
Austin Independent School District
Susan Franzen
LifeU, Inc.
Myndi Garrett
VMware
Sam Guzman
SGJ Essential Services
Jose Marrero
JAM Latino
Anna Marie Martinez
IBM
Tim McCoy
Univision Radio
Dianne T. Mendoza, Ph.D.
Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority
Eva Muñoz
AT&T
Flynn Nogueira
del Fuego Companies, LLC
Sebastian Puente
Eko Communications
Audra Terrazas Launey
XO Communications, Inc.
Vo lum e 7 , I s su e 1
International Business Center hosts
News Conference on NextDooring
On June 5th, our
International
Business
Center hosted a News
Conference at the Mexican American Cultural
Center
to
outline
NextDooring, our unique
new program to develop
high tech partnerships
between businesses in
Austin and Mexico.
Consul General of
Mexico Rosalba Ojeda
joined GAHCC President
Andy Martinez, GAHCC
Chair-Elect
Blanca
Zamora-Garcia
and
Consul General of Mexico Rosalba Ojeda and
Aportia
Inc
President
GAHCC President/CEO Andy Martinez
Amado Espinosa in announcing this program
Through NextDooring, we are
that will encourage businesses to
introducing Aportia, an Information
look to Mexico for assistance with
Technology Consortium in Guadalatheir high tech needs.
jara, Mexico, as an innovative alternative for companies with IT sourcing
We also had the participation at
needs.
the podium of Mr. Andrew Bailey Vice
President of Sales of Iuxta America
Working with Aportia, the InterCorporation, a GAHCC member that
national Business Center’s goal is to
has seen the benefits of doing busihelp build the wealth of Hispanic
ness with Mexican partners. In fact,
Chamber members by providing
they have already started a working
unique alternatives to enhance busipartnership with Aportia.
ness efficiency and to reduce cost of
operations.
This program is aimed at US
companies that are already outsourcYou can have access to the news
ing overseas to introduce our “next
clips regarding this program by
door neighbor” Mexico as a smart,
visiting www.gahcc.org
economical alternative to offshore
outsourcing. Rather than outsourcing
For more information regarding
IT services overseas, some US busiNextDooring and Aportia, please connesses have found that working with
tact Nayeli Gallegos, Director of Inhigh tech companies in Mexico is
ternational Business Development at
saving from 20% to 40% of the cost
ngallegos@gahcc.org or 512-462of outsourcing to countries on the
4302.
other side of the globe.
Copyright © 2008 Greater Austin Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
Agreement could produce $100 billion in contracts for
Texas Hispanic businesses
Source: Austin Business Journal, Thursday, June 19, 2008 - 2:35 PM CDT
The Texas Association of Mexican American Chambers of Commerce will ink an agreement next week with
state agencies and universities that could lead to as
much as $100 billion in procurement opportunities for
Texas Hispanic-owned businesses in the years ahead.
The parties will sign the memorandum at an event
at the Texas Capitol on June 24. The agreement calls
for a number of state agencies and universities to earmark procurement work for Hispanic-owned businesses
statewide. According to those involved, the total value
of the procurements over the next several years could
reach $100 billion.
"This is a historic moment for TAMACC and Texas
state agencies and universities," says Arcilia Acosta,
chairman of TAMACC. "It is historic because of the cooperation between TAMACC and these state entities,
and the amount of money that will be available to qualified Texas...firms."
State agencies participating in the initiative include
the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, Texas Department of Transportation and the Texas Health & Human Services Commission. Texas Tech University in
Frank Cortez, TAMACC President & CEO
Lubbock and The University of Texas at Austin are
among the universities involved.
The procurement work will run the gamut, ranging
from audio/visual to legal and construction to video production. More details on the exact types of procurement
opportunities will be available after the signing on June
24. For additional information visit www.tamacc.org.
You are cordially invited to attend the
Greater Austin Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
Welcoming Reception
for the TAMACC
33rd Annual Convention and Expo
July 31st 7pm—10pm at the
Long Center for the Performing Arts
Tickets:
$20 in advance
$25 at the door
Noticias 2
To pay in advance, visit
www.gahcc.org or
call (512) 475-7502
Copyright © 2008 Greater Austin Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
New Member Spotlight: Austin 3-1-1
Whether you need information on City of Austin
events or need to request a new sign or file a
non-emergency police report, Austin 3-1-1 is always
available 24 hours a day, seven days week, and 365
days a year. Kind, courteous customer service ambassadors are ready to answer your questions and assist
you with your City of Austin service needs.
In 1997, the 3-1-1 number was standardized for
nationwide use by the Federal Communications
Commission as a way of immediate access to nonemergency police and other government services. The
Austin Police Department successfully launched 3-1-1 for
police in 2001 as a way to off load the non-emergency
police-related
calls
that
were
going
to
9-1-1.
In 2004, the City of Austin expanded the
3-1-1 services to include other City service requests
including Public Works, Animal Control and Parks and
Recreation.
The call center continued growing and
adding more departments and now takes over 150
different kinds of service requests.
Austin Police
3-1-1 and Citywide Information eventually merged to
create Austin 3-1-1 in August 2007.
As part of the City’s initiative to provide uncomplicated access to City’s services, Austin 3-1-1 uses
bilingual agents as well as a translation service to assist
citizens from all backgrounds. “Austin 3-1-1 is moving
toward having a more personal experience with our
Hispanic community,” said Joe Calabrese, Process
Manager for Austin 3-1-1.
“As we began this experience we had a contract with
a translation service company to assist with Spanish
calls that our bilingual ambassadors were unable to take
if they were all on other calls. Now, we want to focus on
providing citizens of Austin a real customer service
experience and in order to do that we need to move
toward having more bilingual ambassadors available at
3-1-1 to assist our Hispanic community” states
Calabrese.
Austin 3-1-1 also gets involved in the community by
attending outreach events such as the Getting
Connected Business Resource Fair and the “A Tu Lado”
campaign with APD and Univision. More outreach is
planned for the next year including neighborhood
association meetings and continuing efforts with the
GAHCC.
Whether over the phone using 3-1-1 or (512) 9742000 for those out of area calls or on the web at
www.austin311.org, Austin 3-1-1 is truly your all day,
any day resource for City of Austin information or issues.
City of Georgetown Launches Texas Home Repair Program
The Greater Austin Hispanic Chamber of Commerce is reaching out to all Construction
and Home Repair Contractors located in Georgetown, Texas and Williamson County to
invite Minority and Women-Owned Business Enterprise participation for the City of
Georgetown, Texas Home Repair Program.
Contractors located in Travis, Hays, Caldwell and Bastrop Counties that have offices in
the Williamson county area will also be considered for participation in this program.
Contractors in business for a minimum of three (3) years who are interested in being
added to the City’s approved Contractors list can contact: Mary Martinez, Vice-President of
Economic Development for the Greater Austin Hispanic Chamber of Commerce at (512)
462-4307 or Jennifer C. Bills, Housing Coordinator at (512) 930-8477, (512) 930-5892 fax,
or via email at jbills(at)georgetowntx.org.
Noticias 3
Copyright © 2008 Greater Austin Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
Financial Author, Ruben Ruiz, Sweeps International Latino
Book Awards in Los Angeles with ‘Six’ Awards
Ruben Ruiz, author of “The Richest Latino in America,” has been
recognized on an international level,
and the book hasn’t even been released yet.
Ruiz topped the list in
six categories at the 10th
annual International Latino
Book Awards in Los Angeles, California, for two
books, and was the only
Author that won multiple
book awards. Ruiz competed against Latino authors from the U.S., Mexico, Canada, and Spain,
South America and other
countries
around
the
world, including authors
that have landed on the
New York Times Best
Seller list.
The newest English book of “The
Richest Latino in America,” won first
place for Best New Age self-help
book; second place for Best Reference Book; and third place for Best
Business Book, and the book has not
been released yet.
room. Many of the financial self-help
texts currently on the market are so
complex and uninspiring that Latinos
find themselves struggling to read
from one cover to another, and they
lose interest long before they’ve
been able to successfully implement the
techniques they teach.
Readers will have
the
opportunity
to
follow the path of
“John Doe” Ricardo
Barrera Vasquez as he
goes from being a
nameless,
faceless
member of middle
class America to a
self-directive,
educated Latino that is on
the way to becoming
one of the ‘Richest Latinos in America’.
The novella uses clever dialogue
and memorable characters to teach
readers the Seven Miracles of
Wealth Creation, a wealth building
plan so simple that anyone can implement it, regardless of their level
of education, and so effective that
they will begin to generate results
wi thi n a matter of weeksguaranteed.
“The drafted copy of the book
was sent in back in January to the
Latino Book Awards Offices in LA.
I’m glad it won so many different
categories because it really tells
about the diversity of the book,”
Ruiz said. In fact, the book is considered the first financial self-help;
Novella; or a story or a parable in
America, which changes the look of
self-help books for Latinos around
the Globe, by wrapping entertainment and education into one.
“Another very important characteristic of a truly successful individual is that they recognize that all
men are only men.” Roland Serna,
the first Mentor of seven compadres
characters in the book, says,” While
all men are only men, there’s
no reason that all men
shouldn’t be wealthy men”!
The award winning book puts
dry, boring texts firmly in the past
where they belong and offers Latinos the opportunity to learn how to
build net worth & financial independence without having to thumb
through pages of facts and statistics
better suited for a college class-
“It’s a really great
story of a family that travels through America looking for the principles or
secrets of wealth,” Ruiz
said. A “miracle” happens
in each of the seven cities
that the family visits, like
Noticias 4
San Antonio, Los Angeles, Miami and
other large cities with heavy Latino
influence, he said.
“The America of today is a far
cry from the America of our ancestors, and the biggest obstacle standing between Latinos and the realization of their dreams is themselves,”
Ruiz said. “It is time for Latinos from
coast to coast to throw this obstacle
aside and take the steps forward
that will lead them into a bright new
future.”
Additionally, Ruiz won three
awards for the Spanish Translation
of his first book, ‘El Millonario Hispano En Una Hora’ (The One Hour
Hispanic Millionaire) 1st place Best
Business Book; 2nd place for Best
Self-Help Book, and 3rd place for
Best Reference Book. The Books will
not be in stores until November,
2008, but are available on the
Author’s website, www.rubenruiz.net
Copyright © 2008 Greater Austin Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
Austin Absolute Realty Recognized by State of Texas as a
Historically Underutilized Business (HUB)
Austin Absolute Realty has been recognized by the
State of Texas as a Historically Underutilized Business
(HUB). Austin Absolute Realty is 1 of 15 in the Austin
Metro Area.
As a minority or woman-owned business, only certified HUBs are listed in the online Texas HUB Directory.
For purchases of $5,000 or less, state entities can directly
contact a business to buy goods and services. More than
$41 million of these small-dollar purchases were made in
2007.
The Texas HUB Directory is also searched by vendors
looking for certified HUBs to include in their subcontracting plans for projects of $100,000 or more. “We are
please to hold this certificate and we look forward to
continued success.” states Rodney Bustamante, founder
of Austin Absolute Realty.
Rodney Bustamante is a HUD Foreclosure Registered
Broker, an Ambassador for Greater Austin Hispanic
Chamber of Commerce and serves on the Government
Affairs Committee with Austin Board of Realtors.
For more information, please visit http://
www.window.state.tx.us/procurement/prog/hub/hubcertification/.
Founded in 2000, Austin Absolute Realty has successfully assisted hundreds of first-time home-buyers to
reach the American dream of home ownership. As the
market continuously brought change, so has Austin
Absolute Realty, opening their list of services and
offerings for investors, commercial tenants, land deals,
assisting first-time home-buyers and providing guidance
through real estate transactions.
Austin Absolute Realty re-located to their new office
in North Central Austin and are currently hiring licensed
agents.
For more information, contact Rodney Bustamante at
512-535-1134 or at info@txaar.com. Austin Absolute
Realty is located at 1005 West 41 Street, Austin, Texas
78756. Learn more by visiting www.txaar.com.
Central Texas Regional Health Coverage Project
Texas ranks number one in the
nation for uninsured with one-in-four
Texans having no healthcare coverage.
Among the reasons for our high uninsured rates are the numbers of Texas business that are
unable to offer coverage to their employees.
deductibles, co-pays and coinsurance
Governance: Locally-based, locally run non-profit
corporation; regional Board of Directors
Adds to Insured Pool: Small employers who have not
offered insurance for specified time
Market Target: Minimum 10,000 employees by 3rd year
The Central Texas Regional Health Coverage Project’s
mission is to offer, on a multi-county basis, a basic, lowcost health plan(s) for small employers and their
employees that:
• Improves the health and access to healthcare of
those insured by the program
• Helps small businesses remain competitive with a
healthy workforce
• Expands the size of the insured pool in Central Texas
• Adds more revenue to the region’s healthcare system
•
Encourages patient responsibility in their health
How can you keep the costs lower than a commercial
insurance product?
• Small Business price barriers removed - No health
status, industry type, or size underwriting
• Basic plan(s) covering major medical service catego
ries
• Prevention and disease management – healthier
population will keep costs down.
• 3-Share – only for lower income individuals, offer
some level of subsidy
• Large pool of employees – target of at least 10,000
by the 3rd year of operations
• Nonprofit approach – avoids business need to pay
shareholders, executive salaries
•
Technology – innovative use of health information
technology to streamline overhead costs.
Product Description:
Target Launch Date: Fall 2008
Services: Includes major services (physician, hospital,
medications, mental health)
Providers: Reasonable payment rates, regional provider
network
Premium Payments: From $70 to $228/mo/employee
depending on age/gender and plan
Limitations: Coverage limitations, annual maximums,
Noticias 5
To learn more, please contact Ann Kitchen at
512.804.2090 ext 201 or akitchen@icc-centex.org.
For more information, please visit
www.healthcarecentraltexas.com.
Copyright © 2008 Greater Austin Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
Do You Need The Critical Update?
The Critical Update provides peace of mind and affordable technology
solutions to business owners and managers by implementing simple preventive steps that save time and increase productivity. Their goal is to
build long term relationships with clients, partners and staff to become a
trusted resource for all technology needs.
The Critical Update began in response to a number of complaints from
friends who had several bad experiences with technicians that charged too much and never really resolved the problems. By implementing simple preventive steps and focusing on proactive support, since then, they have been able
to grow to support hundreds of users all over the United States. They provide IT consulting and support services to
companies from one to two hundred users.
Their services are customized to fit each individual client such as technical consulting, network administration and
support. They can also can handle all IT operations or serve as additional support to in-house staff. In addition,
they sell licensing software and hardware to small and medium size businesses, Government and Charities in Texas.
They evaluate the needs of their clients, develop a plan, implement and manage the solution and help our clients get
the most value for their technology dollars.
For more information on the services provided, please contact Luis Delgado at 512.336.2970 or
LuisDelgado@TheCriticalUpdate.com.
On June 18th, The Critical Update sponsored a Microsoft
Across America truck event in conjunction with GAHCC,
HTIA and WorkSource.
Visitors tested new products launched by Microsoft.
Elizabeth S. Gonzales, CLTC
Financial Services Professional*
New York Life Insurance Company
6200 Bridgepoint Parkway, Suite 300
Austin, TX 78730
Bus. 512 329 4264 Fax 512 314 6926
Cel. 512 947 4263 Res. 512 282 1499
esgonzales@ft.newyorklife.com
www.elizabethsgonzales.nylagents.com
Se habla español
The Company You Keep®
Noticias 6
Copyright © 2008 Greater Austin Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
About The Weekend Pro
The Weekend Pro is a small company, located in Austin Texas, with a vision to take an excellent putter and
hole the greatest number of putts. The Weekend Pro was
formed to deliver such an instrument.
make it better. Having identified the Railgun as a scientifically developed putter that was rated Best Overall by
The mission of the Weekend Pro is to provide an inno-
Golf Test USA, including #1 in Accuracy, #1 in Feel, #1
vative scientific alternative to the current existing putters
one in Control and not so good in Appearance, the Week-
that are high on promise but low on delivery. Their mis-
end Pro set out to take the “ugly” out of the Railgun. The
sion is to be acknowledged as the national leader in the
Weekend Pro is a small giant killer -- a start-up company
production of putters that golf lovers can incorporate into
that has dared to improve upon the work of the original
their game to yield enhanced pleasure in each round of
inventor to develop the new and improved Railgun II. The golf and lower handicaps. To accomplish their mission,
they commit to deliver top-notch personal service as we
improved putter builds on the attributes of the Railgun
putter (patent number #5993324), under whose patent
place our precision instrument in the hands of our valued
license the Railgun II is now offered.
customers.
The purpose of the Weekend
Pro is to elevate the golf flat
stick to a level of prominence
that is commensurate with its
contribution to the total score
on a given round of golf. Since
the putter is the most used club in the bag and the ultimate determinant of the score of each round of golf, it is
only logical that its selection be scientifically and logically
made to bring the maximum pleasure to the golfer and
Noticias 7
Their business philosophy is to deliver value at a reasonable price with no dissatisfied customers. It is also to
know that users will feel they got their money’s worth
when they purchased a Railgun II . Specifically, they are
looking for the golfer who aspires to be a “weekend pro”
and does not mind spending a few dollars to improve his/
her game. They plan to appeal to intelligent golfers that
will readily appreciate the engineering for success inherent in the Railgun II.
For more information, please visit www.railgun.com.
Copyright © 2008 Greater Austin Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
Campus to Be a ‘School of Choice’ for Students Districtwide
— TEA Approves AISD’s Repurposing Proposal
Texas Education Commissioner Robert Scott informed Austin School officials on Wednesday June 18th, that he has
approved the District’s Repurposing Proposal that will open a new high school for the Eastside, serving Grades 9 –
12, to be housed at the former Johnston High School campus.
The new school will open on Monday, August 25, as a “school of choice” for students from throughout the Austin
School District. In August 2009-2010, AISD will open a second new school at the campus. Both schools will provide
rigorous college and career focus, and incorporate an innovative instructional model.
Superintendent Pat Forgione said the Commissioner’s decision allows AISD to continue planning for a New Vision
with parents, students, and the community to ensure that the new high school
for the Eastside will move beyond the limits of a traditional high school.
AISD has been conducting parent/community forums, focus groups, and
surveying students and parents to identify students’ needs and community
values. This intensive community engagement will continue throughout the
summer months.
Earlier this month, Austin School Trustees submitted to TEA a proposal to
repurpose the campus, after Commissioner Scott ordered Johnston closed due to
five successive years of low ratings in the State Accountability System.
Sam Guzman, District 2 Trustee, said, “We have
been through many changes over the last few years. But I believe we’re on the right path
to a school that will endure and build a new legacy of hope and educational opportunity for
the Eastside.” Instrumental in working with the state to achieve this goal has been State
Senator Kirk Watson.
With the Commissioner’s approval to open a new Eastside high school, the District will
proceed immediately to recruit students for the first day of class. No one will be automatically enrolled. Students living in the attendance zone for the former Johnston High School
will receive a “choice application” in the mail that they will return to AISD indicating their
choice of high school. They will have the option to attend any high school in the District,
with transportation provided, but must complete the application.
Community participation to name the new school will also begin. Based on community input, the AISD Board of
Trustees is scheduled to name the new high school campus on Monday, August 11.
In the first year, AISD will create a new high school that will implement strong new academic programs new to
the campus, and some new to the district, hire new teachers with strong experience, and begin to prepare students
for the rigorous college and career focus of the two new schools:
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Hire eight new master teachers.
Provide incentive pay to recruit experienced teachers.
Create an intensive ninth grade experience to change the culture for new students.
Open a College and Career Support Center.
Expand dual credit offerings for college credit.
Initiate a Personal Education Plan for every student that sets academic and non-academic goals, with monitoring
against the goals on a monthly basis.
Teach “learning to learn” skills such as study skills, organizational skills.
Provide extensive tutoring support.
Focus on gaps in skill levels in core areas.
Provide individualized and self-paced instruction.
In 2009-2010, AISD will open the second new school, and at that time, the two schools will launch new instructional models that will be innovative and targeted to the specific needs of the campus. Final selection of the models
will be made by the AISD Board of Trustees after the extensive community engagement process.
Noticias 8
Copyright © 2008 Greater Austin Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
Acclaimed Billboard Recording Artist Chingo Bling
Addressed Local Students at Summer Hillside Concert
This summer the Greater Austin
Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
Education Foundation (GAHCC
EF), in partnership with the City
of Austin Parks and Recreation
Department, deliver the hottest
recording artists and local celebrities at the 2008 Summer Hillside Concert Series.
Targeted toward high schools
with large Hispanic populations,
this one-of-a-kind summer music series is designed to
embrace the Hispanic culture and promote the importance of education and staying in school.
On Tuesday, June 24th, over 500 Austinites packed the
Oswaldo A.B. Cantu Pan-American Recreation Center in
East Austin as top Billboard recording artist Chingo Bling
shared his inspirational story. Michelle Valles, KXAN
News anchorwoman/local celebrity welcomed the audience and introduced “Chingo Bling”.
from Trinity University in San Antonio, Texas in 2002 with
a BS in business administration. He is CEO and founder
of the record label Big Chile Enterprises.
In early 2006, Chingo Bling made headlines when he
drew the attention of major record labels eager to sign
him, including Bad Boy Latino, Universal Records, Asylum
(owned by Warner Music Group), Capitol Records, and
Atlantic Records. On April 1, 2006, he made the announcement on Chicano Radio Network that he has
signed a distribution deal Asylum Records. While he still
maintains his independent status from the label, his $80
million distribution deal will manage to give him major
financial backing for his up coming projects.
This free concert event is one of three Hispanic Chamber
Education Foundation initiatives to promote its High
School Redesign efforts in partnership with the Austin
The GAHCC EF also invited the
“ACC Mobile Go Center” that
brings college-related information, motivation, and assistance
directly to students and their
families. Mobile Go Centers are
part of the College for Texans
Campaign to support state Closing the Gaps efforts to draw an
additional 630,000 Texans into
colleges and universities by
2015.
About Chingo Bling:
Chingo Bling was born Pedro Herrera III. He graduated
HAL Deadline is quickly approaching! Monday July, 7th 5:00 p.m.
The Hispanic Austin Leadership Program will engage the participants in
hands-on leadership experiences that will allow them to be mentored
by Hispanic businesses leaders, educators, and corporate professionals.
If you have a person in your organization who exemplifies the characteristics of an up and coming leader, please have that person complete
a formal application.
Individuals selected for the Hispanic Austin Leadership Program must
commit to an opening retreat, five sessions, a closing retreat, and a
graduation luncheon. Their time commitment will be one day per
month for the next seven months. Classes are held every second Tuesday of the month from 8:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. at various locations.
If you have further questions regarding this program, please contact
me or Linda Medina at lmedina@gahcc.org or 512.462.4313.
Noticias 9
Copyright © 2008 Greater Austin Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
Save the Date: Community Service Awards Luncheon
The Greater Austin Hispanic Chamber of
Commerce (GAHCC) announces the 10th Annual
Community Service Awards. This is your opportunity to nominate an outstanding individual or
organization from your community.
The GAHCC is recognizing the people who
dedicate their time, energy and resources to
making Austin a better place to live by educating
the community on health initiatives. Additionally,
this year the GAHCC is announcing its Lifetime
Achievement Award to the individual or organization that has consistently (minimum of 25 years)
distinguished themselves by contributing to the
community.
In keeping with the theme “Your Health Matters”,
this year we are recognizing the Lifetime Achievement in the area of healthcare. The GAHCC understands and embraces the importance of community service and how that service is vital to our
growing community. On Thursday, September
25th, 2008, we will pay tribute to the Community
Service Award recipients at a luncheon from 11:30
a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
In submitting a nomination, you must fill out
the online form as completely as possible. Entries
will be evaluated by a panel of judges based on
the information provided on the form. You may
nominate more than one person or organization, but you may only include one nomination per form.
Nominees are those who:
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Are current residents of the Greater Austin Area;
Have had a direct and powerful impact on those with whom they have served;
Have made significant contributions to their communities over and beyond their professional duties;
For Lifetime Achievement, have distinguished themselves consistently for a minimum of 25 years in serving the
Community;
Exhibit support of the Greater Austin Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Mission and Vision as they affect the
quality of life in the Greater Austin Area;
Must be present at the Awards luncheon on September 25, 2008.
Five key practices of exemplary leaders or visionaries are: challenging the PROCESS; inspiring a SHARED
VISION; empowering others to ACT; modeling the WAY; and encouraging the HEART. (By Communities in Schools)
The GAHCC seeks to honor the individuals and organizations in the community that show leadership in educating the Hispanic community for a healthy future. In the following areas: Youth Leadership, Community Leadership,
Volunteer Leadership, Professional Leadership, Non-Profit Organization Leadership, and the Lifetime Achievement
Award. For a description of each category, please visit www.gahcc.org.
Forms are available on-line on our website at www.GAHCC.org , at the GAHCC office at 2800 South IH-35,
Suite 260 or by calling the chamber at (512) 476-7502. They may also be requested via e-mail at
CSA@GAHCC.org.
Nominations must be submitted to the Greater Austin Hispanic Chamber of Commerce no later than
5:00pm on Friday, July 18, 2008.
Noticias 10
Copyright © 2008 Greater Austin Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
Community Updates—Liz Lopez
Austin Classical Guitar Society offers Summer Concert Series
The Austin Classical Guitar Society’s (ACGS) unique and
exciting concerts this summer are ones you do not want
to miss. The series is in support of the organization’s
educational outreach program. In June, Jorge Caballero
and the Axis String Quartet presented two evenings of
South American music at the Mexican American Cultural
Center (MACC). The concerts were well attended and
very enriching, with Caballero’s performance accompanied by some of New York City’s finest strings, violinists
María Conti, Alissa Smith, Krzysztof Kuznik and cellist
Jameson Platt. Caballero is a winner of the 1996 Walter
Namburg award and has performed as a soloist with the
Los Angeles Philharmonic among many others.
program began in 2001 at McCallum High School with
just over 20 guitar students, and has grown to currently
serve around 300 students in six locations.
ACGS provides free instruments, now nearing 75, and 8
hours per week in free lessons taught by expert classically trained, degreed guitarists to economically disadvantaged students who show interest in advancing their
study in classical guitar. ACGS is involved in six schools
that are provided with substantial classroom and curricular support for class activities in varying degrees. Complimenting these services, ACGS brings two
guest performers per year through its community concert
series to contextualize learning, offers free tickets for
The concert included the premiere performance of a new educational outreach students to attend International
Concert Series events, provides appropriate performance
ACGS-commissioned quintet by Argentine Maestro Jorge
Morel who was in attendance at the MACC from New York opportunities for all students, and assists in building community support for guitar programs.
City where he now lives and works. Since his debut at
Carnegie Hall in 1961, he has performed in many counThe results of our program have been substantial. ACGStries around the world.
affiliated program participants that have competed at the
UT Brownsville National Guitar Ensemble Competition win
The series closes with
top prize in their division. Also, the majority of Austin
one of the premiere
classical guitarists in UIL and solo and ensemble festivals
guitar quartets in the
world, the Brazilian Gui- receive top ratings. ACGS was nominated by Johnston
High School in 2006 as AISD Partners in Education Parttar Quartet, on Friday,
July 25th, at 7:30 p.m. ner of the Year. A McCallum High School guitarist won a
The concert will be held recent Texas Young Masters Award and has since pursued
college study of classical guitar with a scholarship to the
at the Northwest Hills
Oberlin Conservatory of Music. Students from both
United Methodist
McCallum High School and Martin Middle School have
Church, 7050 Village
been featured on television programming on several local
Center Drive. ACGS
teams up with the Austin Chamber Music Center (ACMC) stations. In 2007, the ACGS "Music First" Curriculum was
to present a pre-concert performance at 7p.m. from stu- employed in Austin’s Lamar, McCallum, Martin, Crocket,
Johnston, Austin, San Juan Diego Middle and High
dents of the ACMC’s Summer Festival.
schools, as well as in Brownsville and Houston, Texas,
The ACGS Educational Outreach goal is to provide the
Oklahoma and Georgia.
best possible instruction on the classical guitar in Austin’s
public schools through a combination of curriculum devel- For information regarding ticket information and the Educational Outreach Program, contact Travis Marcum at
opment, classroom instruction, and individual support
(512) 300-2247 and www.austinclassicalguitar.org
(lessons & instruments) for low-income students. The
Austin Tejano Music Coalition debuts new electronic newsletter
The Austin Tejano Music Coalition has a new electronic newsletter that
made it’s debut in June 2008. This new source of information enables
the public to stay connected with Tejano music news and events in the
Austin and Central Texas area.
Serving as officers for the Austin Tejano Music Coalition are Leonard Davila, President; Liz Hernandez, VicePresident; Ross Gomez, Treasurer and Mary Ann Gomez, Secretary.
The Austin Tejano Music Coalition welcomes your comments, questions or suggestions. To request the newsletter
and provide information, write to dontmesswithtejanomusic@yahoo.com
Noticias 11
Copyright © 2008 Greater Austin Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
Member Recognition
NEW MEMBERS
RENEWAL MEMBERS
Small Business
Individuals
Ponce Landscaping
(512) 272-5450
Dr. Charles Roeckle
(512) 471-2306
Discover Hope Fund
(512) 351-9938
Martha Cantu
(512) 970-1777
Franklin Bank
(512) 280-3805
3 cosas
(512) 576-4750
Taqueria Rodriguez
(512) 835-7673
KVUE - TV
(512) 459-6521
Breakthrough Promotional Solutions
(512) 464-1200
Doubletree Guest Suites Hotel
(512) 478-7000
Small Business
Casabella Architects
(512) 458-5700
WorkForce Solutions
(512) 597-7264
Global Equations
(512) 310-8544
Kelly Services
(512) 383-9320
Farm Credit Bank of Texas
(512) 483-9204
Just Be & Co
(512) 905-9900
Non-Profit/Gov. Agency
UBS Financial Services - Williamson
(512) 330-8025
Economic Growth Redevelopment Services
(512) 974-7756
Verizon Wireless
(512) 241-2622
Easter Seals - Central Texas
(512) 478-2581
Intercultural Business Consulting
(512) 306-7367
Literacy Council of Williamson County
(512) 244-8445
The Junior League of Austin
Non-Profit/Gov. Agency
American YouthWorks
(512) 472-8220
Serie Project
(512) 385-3591
City of Austin - Ass. to the City Manager
(512) 974-7789
Girl Scouts-Lone Star Council
(512) 453-7391
American Diabetes Association
(512) 472-9838
Corporate Level
Noticias 12
Coldwell Banker United, Realtors
(512) 691-1960
Seton HealthCare Network
(512) 324-7326
US Food Service Inc
(512) 927-3400
Harutunian Engineering, Inc.
Austin Coca-Cola Bottling Co.
(512) 454-2788
(512) 832-2615
Copyright © 2008 Greater Austin Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
C o r p o r a t e M e m b e r Contact Us
Recognition
Premier Investor
Power Investor
Applied Materials
AT&T
Bank of America
BMP Radio
H.E.B.
Univision Radio & Univision TV
Wells Fargo Bank Texas, N.A.
Prestigious Investor
Austin American-Statesman / Ahora Si!
Austin Coca-Cola Bottling Co.
Austin Energy
DELL Inc.
Harutunian Engineering, Inc.
IBM
International Bank of Commerce
Mac Haik Ford Lincoln Mercury
Seton Family of Hospitals
State Farm Insurance Companies
Texas Gas Service
University of Texas at Austin
Contributing Investor
3M
Access IT
AeroMexico
AMERIGROUP Community Care
Amplify Federal Credit Union
APORTIA
Between Amigas
Capital Metropolitan
Transportation Authority
Charles Maund Toyota/Scion
Coldwell Banker United Realtors
Compass Bank
El Mundo Newspaper
Faulkner USA
Frito-Lay
Frost National Bank
Grande Communications
Guaranty Bank
Hilton Hotel
Noticias 13
Hispanic Today
IKEA
iTalent Corporation
MarketPlace Austin
Nationwide Insurance
Pepsi Bottling Group
Prime Outlets San Marcos
Radisson Hotel & Suites Austin
Sam’s Club
Southwest Airlines
Sprint Nextel Corporation
Time Warner Cable
Titus Electrical Contracting, Inc.
University Federal Credit Union
US Foodservice, Inc.
Velocity Credit Union
Wachovia Bank, N.A.
Washington Mutual
XO Communications, Inc.
President/CEO
Andy Martinez
(512) 476-7502, amartinez@gahcc.org
Executive Assistant
Aricella Navarro
(512) 462-4316, anavarro@gahcc.org
Economic Development
Mary Martinez
(512) 462-4307, mmartinez@gahcc.org
Finance & Human Resources
Mari Perez
(512) 462-4303, mperez@gahcc.org
International Business
Nayeli Gallegos
(512) 462-4302, ngallegos@gahcc.org
Events & Tourism
Cary Duval
(512) 462-4318, cduval@gahcc.org
Website & Communications
Alicia Maldonado
(512) 462-4310, amaldonado@gahcc.org
Marketing & Corporate Recruitment
Raquel Jaimez
(512) 462-4305, rjaimez@gahcc.org
Membership
Gabriela Castillo
(512) 462-4306, gcastillo@gahcc.org
Education Foundation
Linda Medina
(512) 462-4313, lmedina@gahcc.org
Selina Aguirre
(512) 462-4314, saguirre@gahcc.org
Hispanic Technology Institute of Austin
Heberto Ochoa
(512) 462-4311, hochoa@gahcc.org
Nidia Ramirez
(512) 462-4300, nramirez@gahcc.org
Visit Us
2800 South IH-35, Suite 260
Austin, Texas 78704
P:(512) 476-7502 F: (512) 476-6417
GAHCC.org
Copyright © 2008 Greater Austin Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
Greater Austin Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
2800 South IH 35, Suite 260