WASHINGTON, March 13, 2014 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- According to Nielsen, if it were a standalone country, the US Hispanic market's buying power would be a top-20 world economy. Ranked the nation's fourth fastest growing market, the Washington metro area Hispanic community greatly influences this standing.
In its 38 years of existence, the Greater Washington Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (GWHCC) has experienced the high demand for Hispanic small businesses to have access to resources and connections to start or grow a business. In response to this need, the Chamber created the Business Expo, the premier event for Washington, DC's Hispanic business community.
Brand new in 2014 will be a Health and Wellness section for information and enrollment opportunities in the District's health exchange with DC Health Link for individuals and families to enroll before the March 31st deadline. Additionally, the Expo will also host an International Row, for connecting with Latin American embassies, and a Workforce Development Row, to connect with organizations providing staffing services.
The Expo has successfully increased participation from 500 attendees and 70 exhibitors in 2010 to 1,400 attendees and 120 exhibitors in 2013. This year we anticipate more than 1,600 attendees and 130 exhibitors. To register click here!
| What | GWHCC 5th Annual Business Expo: Connections Opportunities and Growth |
| Who | Congressman Robert Garcia |
| Mayor of the District of Columbia Vincent Gray | |
| DC Deputy Mayor for Health and Human Services, Beatriz Otero | |
| DC Deputy Mayor of Planning and Economic Development, Victor Hoskins | |
| Councilmember At- Large Vincent Orange | |
| Councilmember At- Large David Grosso | |
| Ward 4 Councilmember Muriel Bowser | |
| Ward 2 Councilmember Jack Evans | |
| Prince George's County Councilman, District 2, Will Campos | |
| VA Delegate Mark Sickles | |
| Chairman of Arlington County Board, Walter Tejada | |
| Acting National Director of MBDA, Alejandra Castillo | |
| Executive Director of the DC Health Benefit Exchange Authority, Mila Kofman | |
| Director of the D.C. Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs, Nicholas Majett | |
| Director of the Mayor's Office of Neighborhood Engagement, Francisco Fimbres | |
| Director of DC Department of Small and Local Business Development, Robert Summers | |
| Director of DC Department of Housing and Community Development, Michael Kelly | |
| Deputy Director of DC Mayor's Office on Latino Affairs, Didier Sinisterra | |
| Sr. Policy Advisor, Holland & Knight, Neil Albert | |
| President & CEO of United Way National Capital Area, Rosie Allen-Herring | |
| President & CEO of Destination DC, Elliott Ferguson | |
| President of Events DC, Greg O'Dell | |
| President and CEO of the Greater Washington Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Angela Franco | |
| Board Chairman of the Greater Washington Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Mario Acosta-Velez | |
| Master of Ceremonies – Erika Gonzalez, Reporter and Anchor at NBC4 | |
| Master of Ceremonies – Pedro Biaggi, Radio Host at El ZOL 107.9 | |
| When | Wednesday, March 19th | |
| 8:00am | Media Registration | |
| 9:00am | Ribbon Cutting Ceremony | |
| 10:00am | How to get Certified to do Business with Governments of DC, VA and MD | |
| 11:35am | Government Contracting and Procurement Opportunities | |
| 2:00pm | Certification Opportunities within Corporate America | |
| 3:35pm | International Investment Opportunities | |
| 3:35pm | Online Tools to Market Your Business | |
| 3:00pm | Business Matchmaking Sessions | |
| 5:00pm | Networking Reception | |
| Where | Walter E. Washington Convention Center – Hall D |
| 801 Mt Vernon Place NW, Washington, DC 20001 | |
| Located between 7th and 9th Streets and N Street and Mt. Vernon Place. | |
| Metro Access via Green/Yellow Line to Mount Vernon Square – 7th Street Convention Center. | |
| Cost | FREE |
| RSVP | www.gwhcc.org/expo |
| Contact | Pamela Nieto pnieto@gwhcc.org, C: (202)340-5157; W: (202)728-0352 |
Sponsors supporting the Expo include: Presenting Sponsors – Erie Insurance and PwC; Presenting Partners - DC Health Link and DSLBD; Presenting Media Sponsors – Latina Style, El Zol 107.9FM, and Telemundo; Digital Media Sponsor – Univision Washington; Gold Sponsor – Events DC; VIP Reception Sponsor -SunTrust; Internet Café Sponsor – Verizon Wireless; Silver Sponsor – American Airlines; Matchmaking Sponsor – My Business Matches, Dixon Hughes Goodman, LLP, John Marshall Bank and Capital One Bank; International Row Sponsor – Citibank; Workforce Development Sponsor – National Children's Center and WMATA; Business Reception Sponsor – Walmart; Signage Sponsor – Gelberg Signs; Registration Sponsor – DCBC Event Productions; Coffee Sponsor – Mayorga Coffee; Lunch Sponsor – Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission; Corporate Sponsor – Wells Fargo, Newmark Grubb Knight Frank, Pepco Holdings, and B-Thrifty; Media Sponsors – Washington Business Journal, Washington Hispanic, Latin Opinion, El Tiempo Latino, El Pregonero, Vega Pages, La Nueva 87.7FM, Asi es mi Gente, and Eventos VIP Pass; Government Contracting and Procurement Opportunities Workshop Sponsor – BB&T.
About the Greater Washington Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
The Greater Washington Hispanic Chamber of Commerce is a 501(C) 6 membership driven organization, founded in 1976, that supports the economic development of the greater Washington metropolitan area. The Chamber facilitates the success of Latino and other minority-owned businesses and the communities they serve through networking, advocacy, education and access to capital. For additional information visit our website www.gwhcc.org.