The U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Region V, will host first ever HB2B event to be held in New York, New York, February 27, 2008

New York, NY--(HISPANIC PR WIRE - PRNewswire)--February 25, 2008--Hundreds of Hispanic owned businessmen and women as well as corporate, city, state and federal procurement representatives will attend the inaugural Hispanic Business to Business (HB2B) Trade Fair. The event will provide all participating Latino companies a unique forum designed to promote and facilitate business relationships with one another while showcasing the selected exhibitors, all Hispanic owned companies. There are no corporate exhibitors permitted at this event, which is focused on promoting self sufficiency within the Hispanic business community. Region V of the The United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (USHCC), the leading advocate for 2.5 million Hispanic-owned businesses in the United States, its local Region V board delegation, and the host HB2B committee is proud to host this year’s event at the City University of New York Graduate Center in New York, New York on February 27, 2008.

“Our HB2BTrade Fair is a unique event driven on the principle of partnerships, business growth, and procurement and provides an opportunity for the Hispanic business community to network and do more business with each other,” said HB2B Trade Fair Chair Ed Diaz. “It is something other ethnic groups in the business sector do to a much greater degree than Hispanics, circulating their revenues within their own communities. We are last on the totem pole in that regard,” he added.

This unique, evening event will include buyers from the public and private sectors who will be there to explore mutually beneficial business relationships with the showcased Latino exhibitors and others.

“Our HB2B Trade Fair provides an opportunity for Hispanic businesses to connect with one another while at the same time taking advantage of the presence of procurement officers from Fortune 500 companies and regional government purchasing officials,” said Mr. Diaz.

Hispanic business owners comprise the largest and fastest-growing business segment in the U.S. Many of them are pursuing business opportunities in non-traditional industries like computer sciences and engineering. A chemicals distribution company owner, Ernesto Gonzalez, is among the highlighted exhibitors. He owns CPS Chemicals & Supply Company based in Hauppauge, N.Y. They work with more than 500 manufacturers and distribution partners and can source over 600,000 products. Their focus is on janitorial, chemical, laboratory and safety supplies.

“As a Hispanic entrepreneur, there were many challenges to gain a solid foothold in your industry,” says Gonzalez. When he had the opportunity to break into Elizabeth Arden and Avon, he had to penetrate the “old boys’ network.” He applauds the first Hispanic B2B Trade Fair as a solid opportunity to create an environment that makes it possible for Hispanic small businesses to develop relationships for mutual benefit.

“We can help each other across industries,” says Gonzalez. “Everyone has to bring their talents to the collaboration and work together to create opportunities,” says Gonzalez.

Noreen Carro, co-owner of LMN Printing in Valley Stream, NY, and another of the HB2B showcased exhibitors, recalls the giant leap of faith her Puerto Rican parents took when they moved from the city projects to suburban Long Island. Her father started their successful business “with a nickel to his name” and a dream in a community that was anything but a supportive environment for Hispanics. LMN found its own market niche: building a strong presence printing specialty raffle booklets.

“It is still difficult at times to be taken seriously enough to get a ‘foot in the door’ when companies still have old-time prejudices about Hispanics and women,” said Noreen. Sisters Nanette and Nora eventually moved the raffle book printing plant to Florida, where it continues to thrive with approximately 12% of the national market and a track record sustained over 35 years. Noreen remained in New York, focusing on procurement opportunities to expand the company.

Additional information about the event can be found online at http://www.ushcc.com/hb2b or by calling 917-692-1318.

About the United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
Founded in 1979, the USHCC actively promotes the economic growth and development of Hispanic entrepreneurs and represents the interests of more than 2.5 million Hispanic-owned businesses in the United States that generate more than $388 billion annually. It also serves as the umbrella organization for 200 local Hispanic chambers in the United States, Puerto Rico, Canada, Mexico, Bolivia and Uruguay.

Note to editors: If you are interested in viewing additional information about the U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, please visit the USHCC Web page at http://www.ushcc.com/about on USHCC’s information pages. Web links, telephone numbers and titles were correct at time of release, but may since have changed. For additional assistance, journalists and analysts may contact USHCC’s Communications Team or other appropriate contacts listed at http://www.ushcc.com.