2nd Annual Hispanic Heritage Celebration: Spotlight on Mega Million Dollar Diversity & Procurement Program Champions

New York, NY, September 25, 2013 --(PR.com)-- Ricoh USA, the New York State Coalition Of Hispanic Chambers Of Commerce (NYSCHCC) and the New York State Latino Restaurant Association (NYSLRA) come together on Wednesday September 25, 2013 to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month as well as give thanks to diversity and procurement programs and community leaders who can potentially help generate lucrative contracts for local minority owned businesses.

The event to be held at the Ricoh Portal located at 144 E. 44th Street near Grand Central Station and hosted by Ricoh USA's Christina Morrow, Johnson & Johnson's Ruben Taborda and New York State Latino Restaurant Association's Juan Esteban, marks a shift in strategy set by Frank Garcia, Chairman of the Coalition of Hispanic Chambers of Commerce. ”Millions of dollars worth of contracts that should have gone to certified minority and women owned businesses (MWBE) have been lost by attempts from political enemies to eliminate diversity programs by changing laws to negatively impact on Latino business owners and we aim to reverse that,” said Mr. Garcia.

The keynote speakers will be Lynda Ireland of the NY-NJ Minority Supplier Development Council and Pauline Gebon of Adecco USA, two of the North East’s most visible and successful proponents of these programs.

Receiving awards in recognition of their support are:

Dr. Elsa Gladys Cifuentes Aranzazu - Consul General of Colombia
Jorge W. Lopez Amaya, Consul General of Ecuador
Elizabeth Berman, President Continental Food & Beverage, Inc. & Chair Region V Committee (USHCC)
Herberth Flores, Nassau County Office Of The County Executive
Roberto Perez, Founder, Publisher and Host of The Perez Notes
Mike Waters, VP Government Affairs QC Holdings
Jose Nino, Board Member of US Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (USHCC)
Diana Domenech, AIG, Director Supplier Diversity & Environmental Sustainability

Special invited guest is the Honorable Judge Carmen R. Velasquez, Civil Court Of The City Of New York.

Juan Esteban, Executive Director of the New York State Latino Restaurant Association said, "Last year this event drew nearly 500 supporters which was a reflection of not only the diversity of the 20 Latin countries members identify with such as that of our association President and Colombian, Rafael Anaya, and myself of Puerto Rican heritage, but also a reflection of the diverse businesses and industries Latinos participate in."

About Ricoh USA (Supplier Diversity)
Ricoh’s Supplier Diversity Program is recognized both internally and externally as a strategic imperative and competitive advantage, reflecting our corporate citizenship and actively contributing to our company’s and customers overall success.

Our Supplier Diversity Program promotes the use and encourages partnerships with minority-owned, small, small-disadvantaged, woman-owned, veteran-owned, service-disabled-veteran-owned and HUB Zone small businesses. As a result of these mutually beneficial relationships, Ricoh will be able to exceed its customers’ expectations, add value to its products, meet its business goals and provide economic benefits throughout the U.S.

Through our Corporate Diversity and Social Responsibility council we ensure that our leadership and purchasing community understand the importance of engaging diverse suppliers. We are committed to building relationships with this business by inclusion of the diverse suppliers in the Ricoh USA Supply Chain Process.

About NYSCHCC
The New York State Coalition of Hispanic Chambers of Commerce is an effective business membership organization with a track record of unifying and representing businesses throughout the State of New York. We are a coalition of members ranging from 26 other chambers of commerce, sole proprietors, partnerships, multi-national corporations and the small mom and pop businesses that drive this great nations economy. We are here to help you unite with entrepreneurs like yourself, industry leaders and executives to provide you with information, tools, business exposures and the connections needed to establish and grow your business, but more importantly, we are here to reach out to the local Hispanic community and to strengthen the coalition of Hispanic business owners around the state. We believe that through exposure to a network of knowledgeable business professionals and structured training, businesses and chambers can enhance their skills in running a successful organization. Some programs offered through The New York State Coalition of Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, provides members the opportunity to enhance their skills in running a successful business. Ranging from workshops and seminars, Procurement sessions and matchmaking, NYSCHCC newsletters, quarterly board meetings and more. The New York State Coalition of Hispanic Chambers of Commerce is the leading advocate of Hispanic Businesses in New York State who commits to ensuring the growth of its members and the chambers.

About NYSLRA
Our mission is to bring cutting edge business and operation management strategies to New York’s fast growing Latino owned and themed restaurants while providing unique services plus advocacy that serve to showcase its diversity, support market growth and deepen its cultural values.

Contact:
nyslra1@gmail.com
347-668-7614 or
917-500-3969
Contact
New York State Latino Restaurant Association
Juan Esteban
917-500-3969
www.nyslra.org
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