CHCC Chairman Ken Macias

Dear CHCC Members:

CHCC Legislative Day Conference was a success!

On June 17, CHCC held its annual Legislative Day Conference in Sacramento.  More than 70 participants attended and heard presentations from Assembly Speaker Karen Bass (D-Los Angeles), Assembly Minority Leader Mike Villines (R-Clovis) and Senator Ron Calderon (D-Montebello).  There were presentations from the National Latina Business Women Association and by sponsors, including Wells Fargo, State Farm, Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers Association (PhRMA), Community Financial Services Association and ConocoPhillips.  Kevin Johnson, former National Basketball Association player with the Phoenix Suns, stopped by and gave an update on his race for Mayor of Sacramento. 

Members of the CHCC Board of Directors and Legislative Affairs Committee met with Governor Schwarzenegger and discussed issues facing CHCC and the State of California, including: the budget deficit, workers’ compensation, business taxes, increasing mandates on business owners, redistricting and water.  The Governor agreed to meet again to continue discussions on these and other issues that affect Hispanic business owners. 

CHCC participants visited more than 20 Senators and Assemblymembers in their Capitol offices and discussed economic development, education, employment, health care and workplace issues.  The evening reception was well attended with 12 elected officials joining us.  Please click here for the Legislative Day Conference agenda and materials.

The message from legislators was constant — CHCC needs to become more actively involved in order for our voice to be heard.  We need to continue to take positions on legislation, communicate with our legislators and increase contributions to our political action committee (CHCCPAC) so we can support business-friendly candidates. 

I hope you will join me in expressing our appreciation to Paul Gladfelty, President of Gladfelty Government Relations, who is CHCC’s Chief Legislative Advocate and political advisor.  Paul has volunteered his time to CHCC for the last four years.  I also wish to thank James Duran, President of Duran HCP Inc., for assuming the role of Legislative Affairs Committee Chairman.  Under James’ leadership and Paul’s guidance, CHCC is becoming the premier Hispanic legislative business advisory group in the nation.  I also wish to thank the CHCC staff for their hard work in making this year’s Legislative Day Conference a success. 

CHCC Convention is fast approaching!

CHCC’s 29th Annual Convention & Business Expo is just around the corner — August 13-16, at the Mark Hopkins Hotel, San Francisco.  We are excited about this year’s convention which will present matchmaking and procurement opportunities, business seminars and much more.  Please click here for convention information and register today! 

CHCC committees are actively engaged: 

• The Legislative Affairs Committee is tracking more than 50 bills that address issues ranging from small business development centers to mandating that employers provide sick leave.  The Committee has sent letters of support or opposition on nine bills, and made recommendations to the Governor in support of two appointees. 

• The ABC Committee has focused its efforts upon improving the opportunities for minority and women-owned firms to acquire venture capital, and is working with the California Legislature to create a program to deploy funds to the state’s emerging markets.

• The Bylaws Committee is updating the CHCC bylaws and will present its recommendations to the CHCC Board of Directors at its July meeting and at the CHCC Convention.   

• The Latina Business Development Committee is making plans for the Latina Luncheon which will be held during the CHCC Convention, and for future proactive initiatives.   

Remember, our vision — “To promote and lead the empowerment of the Hispanic business.”  By getting involved, we can all participate in realizing our vision.