(EMAILWIRE.COM, August 02, 2008 ) Hispanic chambers, businesses, entrepreneurs, and corporate partners across California are gearing up for the California Hispanic Chambers of Commerce's (CHCC) 29th Annual Convention & Business Expo. This year, the event is being held in San Francisco--a short drive or plane ride from any major metropolitan center throughout the state. Here are five reasons that you should consider attending:

A Focus on Businesses
With Hispanic businesses serving as the common denominator at this event and corporate companies the key demographic, activities will include general sessions, best practice discussions, matchmaking events, and informational workshops.

"The convention is geared for Hispanic businesses and companies that want to reach out to the Hispanic entrepreneur and community," said Ken Macias, chairperson of the CHCC and partner and chairman of the board of Macias, Gini and O'Connell LLP, a public accounting and consulting firm. "It has evolved into a convention for all folks to gather at one time to network, train, learn, and share ideas about Hispanic business."
Not only is the convention an opportunity for relationship building with chambers, businesses, and corporate partners, it is also an opportunity for novice entrepreneurs to learn from business veterans. One event, the "Latina luncheon," even caters specifically to the concerns of entrepreneurial Hispanic women.
"When you get into business, everything is so frustrating," said Joel Ayala, president and CEO of the CHCC. "This is one opportunity to meet people who have faced common obstacles and gotten past them. It can be one of the most inspirational activities for a small business."

Recognize Your Peers
The event will have several opportunities to join the CHCC in congratulating outstanding members of the Hispanic business community. These include a Thursday luncheon recognizing the CHCC's top 30 Hispanic-owned business in the state.

On Saturday, various awards will be given to high-performing businesses and executives. This year's lifetime achievement award will go to John Aguilar, a member of CHCC's board of directors who passed away this month. The CHCC also named a new procurement award after Mr. Aguilar, who was the founder, president and CEO of Vernon Transportation Company.

"He epitomized the small business owner that utilized access points through procurement and matchmaking opportunities to grow his business," said Joel Ayala, president and CEO of the CHCC.

Political Influence
Along with corporate sponsors, such as Wells Fargo, State Farm, and AT&T, there will be a political presence. A large one.

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger will address the convention on Friday through a satellite feed from Los Angeles. This year Gov. Schwarzenegger, who has attended the conference for the past three years, has a commitment (a board of governors' conference) on the same day as the expo, but he wanted to participate nonetheless. Mr. Macias points to the governor's efforts to address the convention as a symbol of CHCC's political importance.
"It shows the state chambers' strong relationship with big capital, not only the governor's office, but the legislature," Mr. Macias explained. "One of the tenets of chamber business is to make sure that we as Hispanic businesses are heard at the capital."

A Beautiful Venue
The four-day event, which is expected to attract nearly 1,000 attendees this year, will be held August 13-16 at the Mark Hopkins InterContinental Hotel in San Francisco.

The Mark Hopkins is perched at the top of Nob Hill, adjacent to the famed, walkable Barbary Coast Trail and the historic Powell-Hyde cable car line. The Top of The Mark, the bar/lounge at the Mark Hopkins' highest level, is one of the best places in town to drink, and the views are spectacular. Attendees will enjoy views of San Francisco's downtown and the bay as they reconnect with colleagues and establish new relationships. And, if you're up for a little in-city travel, there's golfing at the Presidio, a former military base. If you're up for getting out the city, the world-famous Sonoma and Nappa valleys are a short drive away.

Help the Evolution Continue
The CHCC is a network that represents 50 official Hispanic chambers throughout California. When united, an organization that size can have a significant influence. However, when Mr. Macias started taking an active role in 1999, he was disheartened with the state of the CHCC because of its lack of cohesiveness.

"Hispanic businesses still aren't getting their share of the economic pie and we needed something in the state to work collaboratively in bringing Hispanic businesses together," he explained.
When Mr. Macias became chairman in 2007, he emphasized the importance of a relationship between California's Hispanic chambers. He believes that in that short time, the group's cohesion has shown improvement.

"Business is about relationships," he said. "If in some way, those leaders in all of these chambers are able to see the results of their help, it really does inspire and jazz them. That's what's difference about the CHCC, we're a network and it's our strength."

Contact Information:
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Manny Fernandez
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