DAVENPORT — Diversity’s all about green, not black, white or other colors.
Gerald “Gerry” A. Fernandez took three $20 bills out of his pocket and asked audience members at a Friday Greater Quad Cities Hispanic Chamber of Commerce program if they could tell the difference between bills given by a Hispanic, black and Asian person.
Not accepting the money, wherever it came from, “would be a case of leaving money on the table,” he said, instead of getting people to take more “cabbage out of their pocket and putting it into yours.”
Mr. Fernandez, president and founder of a Multicultural Foodservice and Hospitality Alliance. a Rhode Island-based nonprofit, delivered an “Engaging Diverse Groups for Better Business Results” presentation, as part of the chamber’s “Multicultural Speaker Series.”
About 45 people attended the 50-minute presentation at St. Ambrose University’s, Rogalski Center, in Davenport.
Mr. Fernandez urged audience members to consider diversity and cultural intelligence issues from a business standpoint. “Approach it from the perspective of what’s good for the company and what’s good for the bottom line,” he said.
Diversity deals with delivering the best business results in the workplace and market place, he said.
He used a power-point “dinner-table” illustration showing seats for the workforce, customers, community and suppliers, saying it’s the approach his organization takes to approach diversity and inclusion.
He also said there’s never been a better time to be “culturally intelligent. Did you know that salsa beats out catsup and that tortillas outsell bread,” Mr. Fernandez asked the crowd. “And who’s more popular — Dora the Explorer or Barbie?
“Dora’s kicking Barbie’s butt,” he said.
He also played videos of McDonald’s, Red Lobster and Kentucky Fried Chicken commercials that were designed to attract minorities. “Yet diversity’s not just about counting heads, it’s about making those heads count,” Mr. Fernandez said.
Use diversity as a business case and a competitive advantage, and do it intentionally, he said.
Mr. Fernandez has more than 35 years of experience in the restaurant industry, including stops at The Waldorf-Astoria Hotel, Hemenway’s Seafood Grill & Oyster Bar, The Capital Grilled and General Mills.
He recently was on a National Restaurants News “Power List” of the 50 most powerful people leading and shaping today’s restaurant industry.
The Hispanic chamber is the only Quad-Cities organization created to address specific needs of the Latino business community. For information and event schedule, visit gqchcc.com or call 309-797-8650.
Upcoming programs include a candidates forum from 4 to 6 p.m. Oct. 5 at Black Hawk College in Moline.
“The Hispanic Chamber here,” Mr. Fernandez said, “has the opportunity to be a beacon of light.”
“Hispanic Chamber to host their first Mixer in Iowa City”
Join the Hispanic Chamber for this unique opportunity to mix & mingle with area professionals of diverse backgrounds. Invite a friend and join us for a night of fun, live mariachi music & networking with the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. New and future members are encouraged to attend this free event.
The networking event will be held 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept 18th, at Billion Auto of Iowa City, 2733 Mormon Trek Blvd, Iowa City, IA 52240. The event includes a free hors d’oeurves and a cash bar will be available. To find out more or to register for the event, visit www.gqchcc.com or call (309) 797-8650.
Facebook Comments