A gathering of over 30 people will be remembered as the first official meeting of the Greater Quad Cities Hispanic Chamber of Commerce on Tuesday, Oct. 14. Construction companies, a staffing agency, an insurance agent, a business consultant, a candy shop owner, a barber shop owner and many more Hispanic owned businesses were represented, as were businesses reaching out to this segment, all at Stern Beverage, Inc. in Milan, Ill. for a special luncheon that outlined some of the initiatives the chamber will create.
Chamber organizer Bob Ontiveros, founder and Chairman of Group O, welcomed the guests and shared examples of how he benefited and succeeded in business by working with some of the members he met when he joined the United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and the Illinois Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. Guests were encouraged to take an active role by becoming board members and start getting involved. Some had their membership applications completed before he was even done addressing them, others wanted more membership application to give to people they knew but could not attend.
The Greater Quad Cities Hispanic Chamber of Commerce will not only serve the Quad Cities area, but also surrounding communities in Illinois and Iowa including Sterling, Rock Falls, Muscatine, and West Liberty. Future plans include organizing seminars and workshops dealing with the needs of many Hispanic business owners in the region. The GQCHCC also plans on getting politically involved so that city governments will do business with Hispanic owned businesses. A possible location in Moline’s Floreciente Neighborhood was mentioned and plans for hiring staff are also in place.
For more information about the GQCHCC or to become a member please call (563) 505-1013.
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