Photos from April's Networking Event at
Florida Times-Union |
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President's Message - Betzy Santiago
 I know the price of success: dedication, hard work, and an unremitting devotion to the things you want to see happen.
- Frank Lloyd Wright
Do you have what it takes to succeed? See this clip: www.212-degrees.com. I hope it inspires you to try, to change your perspective and focus on the opportunities that lie in front of you. Perseverance is what will get us through.
This past month was filled with many opportunities. The current FCHCC Board started the month by meeting with some of our founding fathers. Ideas flowed, history lessons were shared, and a strong foundation was re-established as we learned of their perseverance. We would like to thank: Ricardo Morales Jr., Sergio Arnaiz, Clark Vargas and Wilfredo Gonzalez for their dedication to the FCHCC. We hope to get all the interviews on a video clip to share with you on our website very soon.
Our Professional Networking Event in April proved to host a full house. A big thank you to Eco Latino Media Group and Florida Times-Union for hosting us. Our panel discussion was lead by: Tim Kinney, Kedgar Volta, and Brandon Ball from Brunet-García Multicultural Advertising & PR and Maria D'Adamo from Eco Latino Magazine on social media was both relevant and informative. Thank you all.
We would be remiss if we didn't also thank the Small Business Development Center at UNF for hosting our Coffee & Learn. This is a resource you need to explore further as they offer many training sessions to help your business succeed. With technology now affecting every area of our lives, learn from this and other FCHCC members how to be more productive and efficient. Your Board is constantly looking for ways to improve your experience. If we persevere, we can affect change and see things happen.
Board Member's Message - Annie Grogan
 Three years ago my husband, Ray and I, were unpacking boxes from our relocation from Charlotte, NC.
Little did I realize then, that within a year, I would become a member of
Jacksonville's premier Latino Chamber; The First Coast Hispanic Chamber of
Commerce. It was not just the mission and vision of the Chamber but also the
highly dedicated group of professionals that are part of the Chamber that
attracted me to the organization from day one.
My name is Annie Grogan. I am one
of your Board members and the Director for the Programs Committee. I was born
in Puerto Rico and grew up in Spanish Harlem in New York City, where my parents
worked hard raising my sister and I. By age 16, my family went back to Puerto
Rico where I finished high school and college. While in college, I joined the
Army ROTC program and got a commission as a 2LT and became a logistics officer.
While on active duty, I performed demanding roles and took on overseas
assignments. After 9-1/2 years I resigned my commission and began my career in
Human Resources. My 18-year career in HR has allowed me to work for agencies
like the Texas Employment Commission and companies like Sallie Mae, Pepsi Cola,
and now Best Buy for the last 12 years.
My husband Ray and I have a blended family of four children. With the exception
of our youngest son, all of our children currently serve or have served in the
Armed Forces. My current role is managing diversity recruiting programs for
Best Buy corporate and retail operations.
As an active member in the chamber, everything we do is with "YOU",
our member, in mind. Whether you are a small business owner or work in a
large corporation, we want you to leverage the FCHCC to help you grow your
business or grow professionally, to network, and to get involved for important
causes that impact our business community. I hope the programs and events we
bring to our members are useful, relevant, and a testimony to what we hope
brings value to you. We couldn't
do our work without the support of our members, trustees, and sponsors. For that, we are truly grateful. |
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Membership Spotlight - Medardo Monson,
Stop at Nothing
 Hi, I'm Medardo Monson and I am a senior consultant at Stop at Nothing with extensive professional experience that spans 30 years in the chemicals, plastics, and paper industries. My leadership experience includes roles as general manager, business manager and functional leader of research, technical service, sales and marketing departments, mainly in international environments.
I began my career as an entrepreneur in my native country, Colombia, and moved to the United States in 1981. I've worked for Dow Chemical, Equistar, and International Paper. I graduated with a chemistry degree from Universidad Nacional de Colombia and hold a masters degree in chemistry from Central Michigan University. In addition, I'm also a graduate of the Mahler Advanced Management Skills Program.
During my professional life, I developed an acute interest in cultural diversity through extensive travel around the globe. My passion for helping people to grow and achieve their full potential began while attending a leadership seminar, where I was asked what I wanted my epitaph to read. My personal philosophy around leadership is heavily influenced by R.E. Quinn's book, " Deep Change - Discovering the Leader Within." I am personally involved and deliver the following programs for Stop at Nothing: - Self-Leadership Seminars
- Team Building Programs
- Trust and Relationship Selling Seminars
- Executive Coaching
I've been involved with FCHCC for many years and I have really enjoyed my experiences with the chamber. I've gotten to meet and network with many wonderful people and I relish those relationships. Finally, I am an avid soccer fan and enjoy sailing, chess, and tennis. My wife and I have four children and one grandchild. |
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May 2010 Calendar of Events
FCHCC Professional Networking Event
Date: Thursday, May 13, 2010
Time: 6 - 8 PM
Hosted by: Jacksonville Aviation Authority
Location: JAA HQ Building
Address: 14201 Pecan Park Drive, Jacksonville, FL 32218
Time: 6 - 8 PM
Topics: Community Involvement with JAA & JAXPORT Small Emerging Business Program
Guest Speakers: Steven Grossman, Julio Fuentes, and Yetunde Oyewole
Be sure to register for this event from your email invitation by May 10th before Noon!
FOR MEMBERS ONLY: Chamber Chats Turns
"Tapas Night" this Month
Date: Last week of May
(look for your upcoming email invitation for the exact date)
Location: Cantina Laredo at St. Johns Town Center
Address: 10282 Bistro Drive, Jacksonville, FL 32246 Time: 7:00pm - 8:30pm
Visit our website calendar for future meeting dates. |
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Welcome New and Renewing Members
The FCHCC is proud to announce our new and renewing members for April!
Large Corporations and Trustees:
Medtronic ENT
Jacksonville Aviation Authority
Bank of America/Merrill-Lynch
Small Business Members:
David R. Fletcher PA Law Office
Eco Latino Media Group
HOLA Noticias Newspaper
Metro PCS
Southern Career College
Individual Members:
Alvin Brown
Jenny Suastegui
Non-profit Organizations:
Jacksonville Urban League
Students:
Lidia Andonie
We could not be where we are without our members so thank you so much for your partnership.
If you'd like to become a member, please visit our website for more information!
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Awards and Accomplishments
Congratulations to Crowley Maritime and Joanne Kazmierski! Jacksonville-based Crowley Maritime Corporation, one of the area's largest employers, will be holding a ribbon cutting ceremony May 4 commemorating the completion of their $8.5 million office building renovation and LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Silver Award designation. The Crowley headquarters at 9487 Regency Square Blvd., is only the second building in Jacksonville to achieve this level of LEED certification for commercial interiors. To read more about the building and LEED, click here for the entire story on our Facebook fan page!
Joanne Kazmierski, JAXPORT Manager of Community Outreach and Environmental Advocacy has been named Regional Minority Small Business Champion of the Year by the U.S. Small Business Administration. This regional recognition includes the States of Florida, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Kentucky. Joanne will be honored at the 18th Annual Small Business Week Celebration at UNF held in May.
Also, Congratulations to Sanford-Brown Institute on their recent Open House April 12th! FCHCC Achieving the Dream Scholarship Committee Members, Angelica Guardia and Idania Lizano were in attendance. It was a huge success. Three students have enrolled who came to visit from the open house and have currently started their academics at Sanford-Brown. There was about 30 attendees. Donations were received from the American Heart Association and attendees all got first-aid bags. The event was covered by radio broadcasts and Eco Latino/HOLA Noticias Newspaper did excellent write-ups on the event.
Also for our members, share your story with us so that we can celebrate with you! Send to fchcc@fchcc.com.
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Committee Happenings! Our members play an integral role in this organization. Enhance your experience and get involved.
Education/Scholarship: We just finished our Achieving the Dream Scholarship Packet and it is now on our website. If you would like to be a sponsor for this year's luncheon, please click here!
Also, the date the event is set for September 17, 2010. We are looking for members to join our committee to help recruit sponsors for our event! Please email Idania or Angelica for meeting information.
Community Outreach: The World of Nations event was a huge success. We want to thank all our volunteers and everyone who helped - we couldn't have done it without you!
Creative/Information Technology: We are happy to announce that soon all our members will have the ability to update their own contact information directly from our website! Our creative team is hard working to make this new technology available soon. It will be a new feature for all active members of the FCHCC.
Communications/PR: We are working on media agreements and an marketing campaign and are very excited about the upcoming promotions for the Chamber.
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Become an FCHCC Trustee
The
FCHCC recognizes the leadership and support of these leading
organizations, which are also our trustees.
Gold Trustees:
Prudential Insurance
Brunet-García Multicultural Advertising & PR
CSX
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Florida
Silver Trustees:
Coastline Federal Credit Union
Citi
Publix Supermarkets
Hola Noticias Newspaper
Eco Latino Magazine
Learn more about this important program and about all the trustee-level benefits.
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Current Job Opportunities
Position: Sales Representative
Employer: Prudential Insurance
Position: Buyer, Jacksonville FL
Employer: Crowley Maritime
Position: Manager, Corporate Travel, and Meetings
Employer: Crowley Maritime Corporation
For more details about these positions and to apply, please visit our website here.
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Become our Fan on Facebook
Keep up with the latest news about the FCHCC on Facebook!
Click here to become a fan today!
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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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