High-Profile Hispanic Leaders Headline The Latino Coalition's Economic Opportunity Summit
Featured Speakers Included gubernatorial candidate Antonio Villaraigosa, White House official Jennifer S. Korn and acclaimed actor Eduardo Verástegui
WASHINGTON, July 5, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- On June 29, The Latino Coalition (TLC), the leading national non-partisan advocacy organization representing Hispanic businesses and consumers, in conjunction with the California Hispanic Chambers of Commerce (CHCC), hosted the Economic Opportunity Summit in Los Angeles, CA to examine opportunities for the fastest growing sector of the economy— Latino-owned businesses, which currently generate more than $700 billion in annual revenue.
Attracting high-profile speakers and honoring some of the most accomplished leaders in the Hispanic community, the summit convened over 350 prominent executives, small business owners and government officials. The one-day event provided entrepreneurs with a series of informative panels, key breakout sessions and an opportunity to expand personal and professional networks and partnerships.
"This is the ideal time to look at economic opportunities for our community," said Hector Barreto, The Latino Coalition Chairman and former U.S. Small Business Administration Administrator. "According to The Latino Donor Collaborative, the Hispanics in the U.S. – about 55 million people – have an economic output that would form the 7th largest economy in the world."
"It is no wonder that the TLC Economic Opportunity Summit was our most successful event on the West Coast to date," said Barreto. "Speakers and attendees engaged in a forward-leaning discussion about economic opportunities for our community, particularly through small business ownership. Latino-owned businesses have an important role as this nation's fastest growing business sector, and we believe this summit proved the best is yet to come for Latino businesses!"
The Economic Opportunity Summit attracted top government leaders and business executives from across the globe, including speeches from Antonio Villaraigosa, Candidate for California Governor; Jennifer S. Korn, Special Assistant to the President and Deputy Director for the Office of Public Liaison White House; Carlos García de Alba Zepeda, Consul General of Mexico in Los Angeles and Livier Ramirez, President of the National Latina Business Women Association in Los Angeles, to name a few.
Summit guests explored the current small business environment, the common challenges entrepreneurs are facing and the tools that are available for their success. Panels on energy, technology and healthcare brought together successful business owners to discuss specific issues and solutions for growing the economy and implementing pragmatic policies that can help expand and promote small businesses.
During the Summit luncheon, The Latino Coalition Leadership Award was given to international star and acclaimed Mexican actor, Eduardo Verástegui for his successful career trajectory and significant contributions to the Latino community. Verástegui joins key figures such as the President of the Cultural Foundation Isidro Fabela Arturo Peña del Mazo, the President of Litografía Magnograf Armando Prida-Huerta, Puebla Mexico's Secretary of State Luis Maldonado-Venegas, Actor and Education Advocate Tony Plana and founding TLC Member Dr. Tirso del Junco as a TLC Leadership Award recipient.
The Latino Coalition also presented the prestigious "Ganas Award" to Jennifer S. Korn, Special Assistant to the President and Deputy Director for the Office of Public Liaison White House, for her leadership and patronage to the Latino business community. Previous TLC "Ganas Award" winners include: U.S. Senator Marco Rubio, U.S. Congressman Xavier Becerra, AltaMed President and CEO Cástulo de la Rocha, U.S. Attorney General Alberto R. Gonzales and Director of Supplier Diversity for Southern California Edison Joe Alderete.
Chairman Barreto also announced new partnerships through Memoranda of Understanding with several leading groups: the California Hispanic Chambers of Commerce (CHCC), the U.S. Department of Commerce Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA), and The National Latina Business Women Association of Los Angeles (NLBWA-LA). These organizations join TLC's network of 100+ partners working to enhance the overall business, economic and social objectives of the Hispanic community.
"This Summit harnessed the idea that if small business is strong, the American economy is strong. I look forward to continuing a successful year and seeing new entrepreneurs at TLC's Capturing the Momentum Summit on September 14 in Washington, D.C. and our Upward Mobility Summit on October 2 in Kansas City, MO," Barreto added.
The Latino Coalition would like to thank the following Title Sponsors: Wal-Mart and Google. TLC also acknowledges and is grateful for all its partners: 1800 Contacts, Act Wireless, AltaMed Health Services Corporation, Altria Client Services, Alvarado Smith, American Express Open, AT&T, Bank of America, California Resource Corporation, Centene Corporation, Coca-Cola, Comcast/ Universal, CTIA, Direct Selling Association, Dun & Bradstreet, East West Bank, Edison Electric Institute, Herbalife, Hispanic Business Roundtable Institute, Honda, International Franchise Association, Intuit, JP Morgan, Master Your Card, MasterCard, National Association of Broadcasters, National Cable & Telecommunications Association, NV Energy , Paychex, PG&E, PhRMA, Quicken Loans , Reset Public Affairs , Southern California Edison, The Latino Coalition Foundation, The Libre Initiative, T-Mobile, Tributo Tequila, U.S. Chamber Institute for Legal Reform, Univision, Verizon. Media Partners: Conexión, Finding Productions, Tico Sports Productions, LLC.
ABOUT THE LATINO COALITION- The Latino Coalition (TLC) was founded in 1995 by a group of Hispanic business owners from across the country to research and develop policies and solutions relevant to Latinos. TLC is a non-profit nationwide organization with offices in California, Washington, DC and Guadalajara, Mexico. Established to address and engage on key issues that that directly affect the well-being of Hispanics in the United States, TLC's agenda is to create and promote initiatives and partnerships that will foster economic equivalency and enhance and empower overall business, economic and social development for Latinos. Visit www.thelatinocoalition.com.
SOURCE The Latino Coalition
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