Photos from September's Networking Event at
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Florida
Also, look for the video that we'll post on our website at www.fchcc.com in the next couple of weeks! Thank you to BCBS for such a wonderful successful event!
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If you want to keep up with the FCHCC, sign up to receive our monthly eNewsletter below!
If you're interested in how the FCHCC does business, download our Members Guide. To download a copy, visit the FCHCC website here.
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President's Message - Giselle Carson
 This is Hispanic Heritage Month! and we are celebrating Hispanics' family values, rich traditions and strong work ethics. The FCHCC started this year's celebration of Hispanics' hard work and values by participating in a first class affair, the Fourth Multicultural Chambers Alliance Networking Event, hosted by BCBS of Florida.
This event will be followed by our "Achieving the Dream" Scholarship Lunch at which we are honored to have Gustavo Perez Firmat, a poet, fiction writer and scholar, as the keynote speaker. Mr. Perez Firmat has been called "a Master of
linguistic play". Born in Cuba and raised in Miami, he has been named one of New York's thirty "Outstanding Latinos" by El Diario La Prensa. He is an inspiration and a great example of our Hispanic energy and drive.
Please join me in continuing to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month!
Giselle
Board Member's Message -
Diane Brunet-Garcia
As my board term comes to a close, I've grown
a bit nostalgic. I've been thinking about the treasured relationships forged
over the past seven years and the many accomplishments of our Chamber. Good old
friends and mentors fondly come to mind - those who ignited for me the promise
of what our Chamber might become, particularly Clark Vargas, Willie Gonzalez,
Rebecca Perez, and Dick Morales.
I reflect on all those I've met and enjoyed
working with along the way. Dynamos like Yadira & Byron Estrada, Giselle
Carson, Erin Foster, Leon Carrero, Nelson Estepa, Alida Lupari and Betzy
Santiago. I relish the wisdom and insight of Medardo Monzon, who had a way of
challenging his fellow board members to think beyond the immediate and to fully
consider every implication of our words, decisions and actions.
Then, there are those who have become involved
more recently who will expertly guide our Chamber into the future: Jose Rodriguez, Carmen Rosa-Brooks, Ed
Perez, Becky Vasko, Kim McDougal, Annie Grogan, Idania Lizano, Zsuzsanna Rivera...the
list goes on and on. I am grateful that the Chamber introduced me to all of
these people, and to so many more.
These relationships are at the very core of why Chamber membership
matters - the Chamber matters because it connects people. My Chamber connections
have fostered some of my most fruitful business relationships.
Because I grew to respect Giselle Carson's command of immigration
issues, she and her team at Marks Gray became our trusted immigration attorneys.
Because Alida Lupari gained my confidence during our Chamber dealings, she was
tapped as Brunet-García's financial advisor, structuring our company's 401(k)
investment plan through Merrill Lynch. Having admired Medardo's attention to
detail, we invited his former small business to bid on the many printing jobs
that run through our ad agency.
Conversely, BlueCross BlueShield of Florida recently awarded us the bid
to produce their diversity video - an assignment we might not have known about
had it not been for our Chamber connections.
It's undeniable. The First Coast Hispanic Chamber of Commerce connects
people and forges strong relationships. If you're new to the Chamber, don't
wait to get involved. You'll see - just as I have - the FCHCC means business!
Since Diane founded
Brunet-García Multicultural Advertising & PR in 2003, it has grown from a
2-person shop to a staff of 15. Brunet-García serves both public and private
sector clients throughout the U.S. and Latin America with multilingual
marketing, advertising, PR and web-based campaigns to reach diverse cultural
audiences.
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Membership Spotlight - Sylvester Thomas Prudential Insurance
 Meet Sylvester Thomas of Prudential. He graduated from Springfield College with a Bachelor of Science in Physical Education and Health and has worked with The Prudential Insurance Company of America for more than 23 years, of which 3 years were spent in personal production, 18 years as a Sales Manager, and 2 years as an Associate Managing Director in Connecticut. He recently joined the Gulf Atlantic Agency as the Managing Director in October 2005.
During his career with Prudential Sylvester has qualified for a number of distinguished honors such as: Citation, 11 Regional Business Conferences, 4 Academies of Honor, 1 Gold Record, and a P&C Silver Award. He also became a graduate of the Life Underwriting Training Council and is currently completing CLU/ChFC studies and CLF studies. Sylvester has been married to his wife, Tanya, for 19 years and they
have three children, two daughters ages 16 and 14 and one son age 12.
Prudential offers investment advisory services as a Registered Principal of Prudential Financial Planning Services (PFPS), a division of Pruco Securities, LLC (Pruco) and securities products and services as a Registered Principal of Pruco. The Prudential Insurance Company of America, Newark, NJ and Pruco are Prudential Financial Companies.
Prudential and its affiliates, Newark, NJ are Equal Opportunity/ Affirmative Action employers. For more information, please call 1-800-201-6690 or visit www.prudential.com.
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October 2009 Calendar of Events
FCHCC "Achieving the Dream" Scholarship Luncheon
Date: Friday, October 23, 2009
Presenting Sponsor: Winn-Dixie Stores, Inc.
Location: Hyatt Regency Jacksonville Riverfront
Keynote Speaker: Gustavo Perez Firmat
Time: 11:30 AM - 1:30 PM
Address: 225 E. Coastline Dr., Jacksonville, FL 32202
Additional information: individual tickets are $25, please look for your official invitation soon! You can register NOW by visiting our website!
Please be sure to join us as this year, the FCHCC has joined with Mayor John Peyton's Hispanic American Advisory Board (MHAAB) to award scholarships to the First Coast's top Hispanic students.
Indous Chamber of Commerce, Jacksonville proudly presents Malik J. Fernando, Global Operations Chief of Dilmah Tea and Director of the MJF Group to speak on "How to Manage a Sustainable Business"
Date: October 6, 2009
Time: 6 - 8 PM
Location: Jacksonville Marriott
Address: 4670 Salisbury Road; Jacksonville, Florida 32256
Registration: RSVP is a must. For the event flyer and RSVP, go to the INDOUS web page: Way of Tea with Dilmah! 
Visit www.fchcc.com for future meeting dates.
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Donate to the "Achieving the Dream" College Scholarship Fund
It's not too late to make a donation to the Scholarship Fund! Your contribution will help the most talented Hispanic students on Florida's First Coast pay for and graduate from college. Do it today!
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For Members Only
Within in the next few weeks, we will be updating our online members directory, so if you're a current active member and your contact information has changed within the past year, please send an email to our Executive Assistant, Kim McDougal at kmcdougal@fchcc.com, with your new address, phone number, email information. If you're not a member, why wait? Join today by clicking here. To learn more about the benefits of membership, visit here.
Need to renew your membership? Click here!
Also, as an current active member, you can have your job postings listed on our website! Again, send any postings (preferably in a text file or Word document) to Kim McDougal and we'll get your listing up within 48 hours. |
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Diversity Elite 60, CSX Ranks 34th
 Hispanic Business Magazine contacts the top Fortune 1,000 companies, the American subsidiaries of the Global 500, and large U.S. public and private companies annually to select the Diversity Elite top 60. The selection process is very complex as it requires more than 32 variables. We are proud to share with you that CSX was the only rail system selected to the list and the highest noted transportation company. CSX was ranked 34th.
Issues addressed by the survey include:
Board & Leadership: Hispanic and other minority representation on the board of directors and at the executive level.
Recruitment: Efforts to hire from minority groups, including Hispanics, and outreach efforts at colleges and university.
Retention & Promotion: Efforts to support, retain, and promote Hispanic and other minority employees through incentives, employee support groups, executive training, and diversity awareness and sensitivity training.
Marketing & Community Outreach: Marketing and advertising to reach Hispanic consumers, as well as involvement in and expenditures on philanthropic or community services that benefit minority groups.
Supplier Diversity: Support or sponsorship of supplier-development programs, executives involved wit supplier diversity, incentives tied to supplier diversity, and procurement goals. |
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Current Job Opportunities
Position: Port Captain
Employer: Crowley Maritime Corp.
Position: Manager, Contract Operations
Employer: Crowley Maritime
Position: Manager, Government Business Development
Employer: Crowley Technical Services
Position: Freight Broker
Employer: Crowley Maritime
Position: Sr. Analyst, Pricing
Employer: Crowley Logistics, Inc.
Position: Inside Sales Representative
Employer: Crowley Liner Services, Inc.
For more details of these positions and to apply, please visit our website here.
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Become our Fan on Facebook
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Click here to become a fan today!
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Become a FCHCC Trustee!
The
FCHCC recognizes the leadership and support of these leading
organizations which are also our trustees.
If you would like additional information
about this important program, please click here to learn more. |
FCHCC Accepts Credit Card Payments for New Memberships and Renewals
You can now pay to join FCHCC or renew your membership with any of these credit cards.
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The First Coast Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (FCHCC) strives to establish and encourage better business practices among Hispanic-owned and -operated businesses in northeast Florida and south Georgia. All business professionals, both Hispanic and non-Hispanic, are welcome to become involved with our Chamber. The FCHCC also strives to foster understanding of Hispanic heritage through educational endeavors, business opportunities and social interaction.
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To learn more about the FCHCC, please visit us on the web at www.fchcc.com. Or send us e-mail at: fchcc@fchcc.com.
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