En Contact Spring'18 by Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Metro St. Louis

S P R IN G 2018

WITH

with CaféBusi ness

pg.

A NEW WAY TO COMMUNICATE:

ADELANTE AWARDS 2018:

Café with Business 2018 Our Time to Shine

12 MARKET OF IDEAS

pg.

LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT & CEO

WELCOME

2018 is Our Time to Shine! We started with the Adelante Awards, which was celebrated at the Four Seasons Hotel for the first time. We welcomed over 550 guests and celebrated the achievements of leaders in our community who are making a difference. Additionally, we applauded the inspiring words our keynote, Richard Montañez, shared during our gala.

N E W

Next, we celebrated the kickoff of our first small business pitch competition, Market of Ideas. With 4 businesses competing in the competition, we could not be prouder of their growth over the last few months as they perfected their business pitch and gained valuable insight to better support their businesses.

By joining, the following individuals and companies have decided to make an investment in the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and our community at large. We encourage you to find out more about them and, whenever possible, to use their services. If you would like more information about any of these individuals or organizations, please contact us at 314.664.4432.

During the month of June, the HCC Foundation had the annual HLI Class VII graduation at Washington University. We had 20 professionals complete the program and covered topics such as Emotional Intelligence, Effective Communication and Understanding Criticism.

AS WE HAVE BEEN EVOLVING, OUR MAIN GOAL IS TO EXPAND OUR EDUCATIONAL FORUMS AND FUND-RAISING PROGRAMS TO SUPPORT EMERGING LEADERS, SMALL BUSINESSES AND ORGANIZATIONS.

Next, we celebrated High School HLI, a program that brought 19 students together from all over the St. Louis area with the main purpose of creating a new vision for our young leaders and encouraging them to keep helping the community.

M E M B E R S !

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As we have been evolving, our main goal is to expand our educational forums and fund-raising programs to support emerging leaders, small businesses and organizations. We are overjoyed with the contributions our members, supporters and sponsors provide us day by day. We are inspired by our growth as an organization and strive to continue helping the Hispanic community. Programs such as Cámara en Vivo, Business After Hours and Mercado de Ideas have been emerging and we are very excited to share all of our accomplishments with you. We invite you to learn more about our events. Contact us at www.hccstl.com and send us your ideas. Thank you for your continued support,

Abrolope Studio

LIAM

AJ Legal Services, LLC

Majestic Home Healthcare

Araceli Escalante

Manhal

Arberdeen Heights

Marcus Theatres Corporation

Banducci Enterprises, Inc.

Mariachi Loco Cantina

Contemporary Art Museum

Midwest Nonwovens, LLC

Deaconess Foundation

Minas Coffee

Elevada LLC

Monica Higgins

Emerald Cuts Landscaping

Valadez

Four Seasons Hotel St. Louis

Western & Southern Life

Gray Design Group

WJL Companies

Hispanic ECS Fund

Karlos Ramirez President & CEO Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Metropolitan St. Louis

Enterprise Bank & Trust pg. 4

Adelante Awards 2018: Our Time to Shine pg. 8

Market of Ideas pg. 12

The importance of Mindfulness in Business pg. 15

6 Great Reasons Why You Should Start Accepting Credit Cards pg. 6

Guiding Leaders to a Path of Success pg. 10

Window into Human Nature pg. 13

Top Five Reasons to Offer an EPO Health Plan pg. 16

Café with Business 2018 pg. 7

Creating a New Vision for Our Youth pg. 11

Introducing Small Business Majority pg. 14

Cover: ELENA SOLIS Contributing author: NERISHKA CRUZ

S P R I N G 2 0 18

BY MAKING A FEW SMALL ADJUSTMENTS AND BEING PROACTIVE, YOU CAN COPE WITH — AND EVEN THRIVE IN — THE EVOLVING AND UNCERTAIN BUSINESS PARADIGM OF EXTENDED PAYMENT TERMS. The problem can quickly compound from there as your ability to make capital investments diminishes because you have a lower influx of cash. Ultimately, this is a pattern that affects your ability to grow your business. I’ve certainly seen that unfavorable payment terms hurt some niche industries more than others. That said, savvy leaders in all industries should prepare in advance for how to address extended payment terms when they occur. Time will tell just how much impact they have moving forward. In the interim, these alternatives provide a solution to help you deal with them effectively: 1. ADJUST YOUR ACCOUNTS PAYABLE AND CREDIT LINES

Tips for Small Businesses FEELING THE SQUEEZE OF EXTENDED PAYMENT TERMS

I recently had lunch with a client who owns a thriving local company but was frustrated that his company’s accounts receivables were being extended by several clients. This prevailing frustration is partly due to a recurring trend in the business world: extended payment terms. It began as a systemic problem during the recession and is becoming more frequent in our local market. THE RISE OF EXTENDED PAYMENT TERM

Originally, extended payment terms were a hallmark of a business’s cash flow problems. Today, these payment terms have become a normalized part of the payments landscape. Over the past few years, large companies in the area have increasingly insisted on a 90-day payment window. Now, even 180-day payment terms are becoming more prevalent, and they are putting pressure on small businesses in St. Louis. Enterprise Bank & Trust’s survey of nearly 100 local businesses found that two-thirds of businesses were affected by extended payment terms. That number is enough to warrant concern — especially because these payment terms pose serious challenges to businesses that find themselves unprepared to deal with them. For example, if you’re expecting a payment of $500,000 in 30 days but aren’t paid until day 120, you have only 90 days to finance. Add in a 5 percent interest rate on borrowed capital, and this could potentially cost you an extra $6,000. 4

Many businesses are proud to say they pay their bills within 15 to 30 days. If you pay your bills early, it might be an option to negotiate a discount or another benefit as a result of your prompt payment. That can help to offset some of the squeeze from any extended payments you may be facing. By paying on time (as opposed to early), you can increase working capital and reduce borrowing expense. Determining the cost of capital and quantifying all the benefits is a complicated formula, but it is crucial to evaluate your payment approach on this metric. Even a minor shift on your payables schedule can have an impact on your fiscal fluidity, depending on your margins. Another option that offers you flexibility is a purchasing card, which often comes with additional cash rebate benefits, not to mention a longer payment window. This can free up cash flow and allow you to invest in your business. You should also adjust your credit lines to fit your specific circumstances, especially when you have several clients imposing extended payment terms. You will want to have access to funds and the ability to make purchases while you wait for a payment. Credit lines are an important tool in allowing you to manage this type of situation.

extra scrutiny. Do not let a client’s influential name determine your decision to work with it. Instead, base your decisions on whether a client matches your business strategy. Diversity in your client base is the most effective protective measure. Enterprise recommends having no more than 20 percent of your business with any one client. This way, it’s easier to mitigate risk and ensure any single change in payment terms doesn’t affect your ability to cover your expenses. 3. CONSIDER YOUR ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE APPROACH

A related tactic is variable discounting. Just as you might ask for a discount for your own prompt payment, you can also offer discounted pricing to clients that pay promptly and add premiums for clients that insist on extending their payment terms. This may compensate for any reduced cash flow — especially if you have a large roster of clients that each pay slightly more for your product or service. Finally, strengthening your collection efforts can accelerate your cash flow and help account for any cash shortfalls due to extended payment terms. Through strong client relationships, it’s possible to speed up the collections process in a way that’s favorable to everyone involved. Even a few days can help improve your cash flow — particularly at critical times when you suddenly find you need those funds. By making a few small adjustments and being proactive, you can cope with — and even thrive in — the evolving and uncertain business paradigm of extended payment terms. It’s never too early to start preparing for how to address cash flow deficiencies that result from changes to payment terms, and the sooner you’re prepared, the less risk they pose to your business. For a more detailed look at the issue of extended payment terms and how Saint Louis businesses like yours can cope with them effectively, download Enterprise Bank & Trust’s new whitepaper on this topic.

2. DIVERSIFY YOUR CLIENT ROSTER

Business owners need to regularly assess their clients to make sure the relationships are still profitable and consistent with their business strategy. Those clients who extend payment terms require

STEVE ALBART is the president for Enterprise Bank & Trust‘s South region. He has been with Enterprise since 1998, after spending four years in the public finance sector. He is active in the civic community and serves on several boards and associations.

SPRING 2018 HISPANIC CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

Six Great Reasons

WHY YOU SHOULD START ACCEPTING CREDIT CARDS It’s a question almost every business owner eventually encounters: Do I need merchant services? Decades ago, you probably would have been advised to consider the specifics of your industry, your target market, your company’s size and other factors. But these days, in almost every case, the answer is a resounding yes.

• IT IS CRUCIAL FOR ONLINE BUSINESS. If you sell products or services

online, being able to accept credit card payments is far from optional. It’s downright essential. • IT’S CONVENIENT FOR CONSUMERS. Nobody likes to fumble with cash

at the checkout counter. By making it easier for people to pay, you may be able to increase your chances of obtaining repeat customers. • IT REDUCES RISKS. Don’t fall prey to accepting bad checks. Credit

card payments are more reliable — and may even help improve your cash flow!

Here are six great reasons why you should start accepting credit cards immediately – no matter your business type or whether your For all the benefits merchant services provide, the cost is relatively company is small, large or somewhere in between: inexpensive and the setup is quick and easy. To learn more, contact • IT LEGITIMIZES YOUR BUSINESS . Credit card acceptance has Midwest BankCentre, Sr. Vice President, Jennifer Kulich today. become so widespread that consumers may actually feel skepticism (314) 544-8555 or jkulich@midwestbankcentre.com. toward companies that are not yet equipped with this capability. MidwestBankCentre.com | Member FDIC • IT CAN BOOST SALES. Being able to accept credit card payments

enables sales among consumers who only carry plastic – and also prevents those would-be customers from turning to your credit-cardaccepting competitors instead.

DO I NEED MERCHANT SERVICES?

A NEW WAY TO COMMUNICATE

Café with Business 2018 As technology evolves, we continue to think of ways in which we can better meet our members’ needs, by making it easier for them to connect with us. With that in mind, we moved Café with Business from a live platform to a social media format. Coffee is more than a drink. It connects us to family, friends and colleagues. Our morning “café” is our symbolic way to help you connect with us every first Tuesday of the month through the Facebook app or a link that can be found on the HCC website.

In addition, we offer a safe and effective channel to follow us and learn about our events in an easy way, such as Facebook. It is also a method to connect with our audience and share with them important tools they can use for their personal and professional lives.

With over 500 viewers per session, this strategy gives our community flexibility since now they can watch these videos when it is most convenient for them. At the same time, participants now have access to a platform that maximizes their knowledge, while still being part of a larger group that shares a common interest.

This year we had the participation of:

How to find videos:

• Maximillianah Zales, Missouri Outreach Manager (May)

• Go to hccstl.com

We invite different presenters to be part of this new social media event with the mission of connecting their companies with hundreds of viewers.

• Click on the “Events” tab JENNIFER KULICH is the Senior Vice President of Treasury Management Services. Ms. Kulich, a native of St. Louis, has been part of the local banking arena for over twenty years. During her banking career, she has focused on bank management, commercial, retail, community and government relations. 6

COFFEE IS MORE THAN A DRINK.

• Find “Educational Forums” • Click the on the month you would like to watch. • Once you click the link will automatically send you to the video page.

• Lia Glynias, clothing and accessories owner (February) • Junior Lara, Enterprise Fleet Management (March) • Marcello Pesce, Financial Representative (April)

“Each of these topics are beneficial to our community and our organization,” says Karlos Ramirez, HCC president. “We are very grateful to each member that contributes to our organization and brings us new topics and ideas every month.”

SPRING 2018 HISPANIC CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

“ I HAVE A PHD IN BEING POOR, HUNGRY AND DETERMINED,” SAID MONTAÑEZ, MAKING THE AUDIENCE LAUGH WITH HIM, WHILE ADDING “YOU DON’T NEED ANYONE’S PERMISSION TO BE GREAT.”

Adelante Awards 2018 The Hispanic Chamber of Commerce held its Annual Adelante Awards Gala “Our Time to Shine” this past Friday, April 27 at the Four Seasons Hotel in Downtown, St. Louis. The event attracted more than 550 people, who gathered to celebrate the achievements of individuals and companies from the area.

SPRING 2018 HISPANIC CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

The Hispanic Chamber received the generous support of Anheuser Busch, Anthem, Centene Corporation, Edwards Jones, Gonzales Companies, Pangea Group, Pepsi North America, Regional Business Council, St. Louis Children’s Hospital, St. Louis Economic Development Partnership and United Way. With the generous support of our members, sponsors and community leaders, we continued the night with keynote speaker, Richard Montañez, a humble Mexican janitor who became one of PepsiCo’s top executives after inventing the recipe for the famous Flamin’ Hot Cheetos. As the son of Mexican immigrants, he grew up in a migrant labor camp in Southern California, where he struggled with his identity while trying to fit in the American culture. “I have a PHD in being poor, hungry and determined,” said Montañez, making the audience laugh with him, while adding “you don’t need anyone’s permission to be great.” The story of Montañez, a combination of perseverance and hope, is similar to the story of many Latinos that work at making their communities a better place to live for the people that need it the most. The evening concluded with the Adelante Awards ceremony, which recognized people and companies that have made a positive impact in the St. Louis region.

OUR TIME TO SHINE

THE EVENT ATTRACTED MORE THAN 550 PEOPLE, WHO GATHERED TO CELEBRATE THE ACHIEVEMENTS OF INDIVIDUALS AND COMPANIES FROM THE AREA.

The 2018 Adelante Awards Winners are:

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Hispanic Business Advocate of the Year | Veronica Walton, Ameren Civic Award of the Year | Claudia Smith, Monsanto Hispanic Company of the Year | Niehaus, Building Services Hispanic Businessperson of the Year | Héctor Vega, VEBE Media Consulting Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Member of the Year | Elizabeth Marengo, Nestlé Purina Hispanic Emerging Business of the Year | Luznail Harberberger, LUZCO Technologies Hispanic Emerging Leader | Angel Recci, Emerson Electric Hispanic Lifetime Achievement | Tola Spuhl, Coldwell Banker Gundaker Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Board Chair Recognition | Jim Watson, Midwest BankCentre The Hispanic Chamber is grateful for the support it received from all of the event sponsors as well as for the members of the organization, who represent a rich diversity of cultures and backgrounds. Airport Legal Services of Eastern MO, Asian American Chamber of Commerce, Bob Fox and Maxine Clark Foundation, Facilitec Corporate Furnishings, Mosaic Project, Ponce Realty, St. Louis Community College, St. Louis Development Airport, and St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Photo Credits: Carol Lara and Joe Bommarito

Guiding Leaders

TO A PATH OF SUCCESS

The HCC STL foundation and title sponsor, Centene Corporation, hosted the Hispanic Leadership Institute (HLI) Class VII graduation on Friday, June 8 at Washington University.

HLI IS AN ANNUAL PROGRAM THAT STARTED IN 2011 WITH THE MAIN GOAL OF PREPARING AND GUIDING LEADERS FROM ALL OVER ST. LOUIS TO REACH THE PEAK OF SUCCESS AS A PROFESSIONAL. 10

René Vences | Carrollton Bank Sandra Arango-Caro | Donald Danforth Plant Science Center Stephanie Calero | Enterprise Bank & Trust Susan Gobbo | St. Louis Mosaic Project Suzanne Lino Camacho | St. Louis Integrated Health Network A special thank you goes to our session sponsors Anheuser– Busch, Monsanto and Washington University for contributing to the success of this event.

HISPANIC CH

ER C

CLUSIVENESS IN

S T.

L O UIS

UNDATION

Alicia Hernandez | Hispanic Chamber of Commerce

INNOVATION

COMM

The program consists of nine classes, each one tailored to improve management skills and network development. Three essential competencies were covered in this program: leading oneself, leading others and leading an organization. Through this process, participants were encouraged to participate more actively in their communities through volunteerism, fundraising, and boardopportunities. The graduates of the Hispanic Leadership Institute Class VII are:

F RO BE M

During the graduation ceremony, each participant received their diplomas awarded by Karlos Ramirez, HCC president and CEO, and by Gilbert Bailon, HCC STL Foundation president.

HLI an annual Hispanic leadership program that started in 2011 with the goal of providing professionals the tools and insights they need to reach their full potential. These trainings not only help the participants at a professional level, but also offer the opportunity to meet different professionals, cultures and personal experiences.

INTEGRITY

Creating a New Vision As the week of June 11 began, the participants of the 2nd High School Hispanic Leadership Institute (HLI) class could not imagine the great experience they were going to have during this program. Sponsored by the HCC STL Foundation, they had the opportunity to visit different universities around the St. Louis area, such as Maryville University, Fontbonne University, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, the University of Missouri–St. Louis and Southeast Missouri State University. They were also privileged to hear from great professional educators, such as Martha Garcia Kamtpen—Maximizing Your Cultural Diversity, Alejandro Cornejo—Goal Setting, Effective Communication, Cheryl Walker—Financial Literacy, Cileia Miranda-Yuen—Emotional Intelligence/The Brand Called You, Rick Skinner—The importance of Volunteering, Mike Shaner—Self-mastery, Joyce Del Vecchio —DiSC Assessment, Maricela Alvarado—Professionalism and Angel Jimenez Gutierrez—The Importance of Self-awareness. Each speaker focused on discussing specific topics and skills that would help participants develop and succeed as leaders.

FOR OUR YOUTH

this program,” stated Nerishka Cruz, HCC program assistant. The graduates of the High School HLI Class II are as follows: Victor Castellanos | Francis Howell North Carissa Castro | Webster Groves High School Maria Cerda | Pattonville High School Lizeth DeJesus Monroy | Ritenour High School Victor Escobar | Francis Howell North Gabriela Garcia-Figueroa | Ritenour High School Salvador Gaspar | Collinsville High School Eric Holtmeyer | Rockwood Summit High School Vanessa Holtmeyer | Rockwood Summit High School Julianna Jackson | Metro Academic and Classical High School Isai Karanja-Ramos | Fort Zumwalt West High Carlos Mendoza | Christian Brothers College High School Brisa Pintor | Gateway STEM Marco Pluma | University City High School Rocio Romero | Francis Howell North

After a week of visits and tours, they celebrated their graduation on Saturday, June 16. The event was hosted at the HCC and sponsored by Centene Corporation. Each participant received a certificate awarded by Vanessa Garcia, HCC Program Manager and Gilbert Bailon, HCC STL Foundation President.

Rafael Sanchez | Francis Howell North

As each student was announced, Vanessa Garcia, Program Manager for the Hispanic Chamber, acknowledged each student and shared a unique anecdote with the audience, composed of past HLI graduates, board members, family and friends.

IT WAS AN HONOR TO HAVE THESE STUDENTS, NOT ONLY FOR THEIR INTELLIGENCE, BUT ALSO FOR THE RESPECT AND PERFORMANCE...

“It was an honor to have these students, not only for their intelligence, but also for the respect and performance that each of them put into

Neil Tomala | Parkway West High School Martin Trujillo Carrazco | Ritenour High School Angelica Vigil | Metro Academic and Classical High School

SPRING 2018 HISPANIC CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

Window

INTO HUMAN NATURE

The inherent vulnerability of life is essential to the human experience; from jealousy and loss to the struggle for power, Southeast Missouri State University student artist Elena Nunez clouds this susceptibility in her artwork through surreal drama that explores the nature of this contest. Nunez a senior double majoring in biology, biomedical sciences option, and fine art, painting option was recently featured as the Catapult Creative House Student Studios Artist of the Month with her exhibition titled “Fight Me! The battle of sins.”

Market of Ideas The St. Louis business ecosystem is getting noticed as more small businesses decide to call St. Louis home, and the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce is doing its part to support and encourage our member growth through access to capital. On Friday, May 4th, local businesses presented their business idea and value proposition to a panel of judges in the hopes of raising support and capital for their small business. As we went through the various rounds, we went from 15 interested businesses to 4 finalists who presented their business ideas to the investors and audience present. The 4 finalists were: • Del Carmen Foods • Gateway Legacy Christian Academy • MakersValley • The Croquetterie The Hispanic Chamber of Commerce established the Mercado de Ideas (Market of Ideas) event to provide HCC members and entrepreneurs with the opportunity to compete for funding for their small business ventures. Participants put together business plans and financials, made a pitch to promote their product or business and presented their business idea at the event held at the CIC. The investors were a group of Monsanto executives who saw a need in the Hispanic business community.

OUR HOPE IS TO PROVIDE LONG-TERM VALUE TO OUR SMALL BUSINESSES AND FOR THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY TO CONTINUE TO MOVE FORWARD TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OF THE REGION. They approached the Hispanic Chamber last fall about putting a pitch competition together to provide access to capital for its members. No easy task, staff met with other local service providers to understand the ins and outs of such a competition and put together contracts, business plan development sessions, pitch planning sessions and encouraged small businesses to participate. Our hope is to provide long-term value to our small businesses and for the business community to move forward to contribute to the economic development of the region. With business plans now complete and financials well understood, finalists are better positioned to go after more opportunities.

“Two of my paintings, including ‘In the Time of the Butterflies,’ is about my family in the Dominican Republic,” Nunez said. “They are inspired by the infamous Mirabel Sisters, who were political activists who rebelled against the evil dictator Trujillo and ultimately were martyred for their actions. “The title ‘In the Time of the Butterflies,’ is based off the book by Julia Alverez and the movie with Salma Hayek,” Nunez continued. “The Mirabel sisters, or ‘Las Mariposas,’ are my grandmother’s cousins. It is fascinating to be related to such impactful women that are literally honored worldwide every year by the UN!”

WHETHER IT’S IN A COFFEE SHOP, OR SMALL GALLERIES, HER DREAM IS TO MAKE AN IMPACT WITH ART.

We are grateful for the investors who made this event possible and the many partners who helped us prepare the finalists, especially Aimee Dunne of Brazen Global who helped finalists prepare and practice their pitches and Jessica Mendez who created the nondisclosure agreements.

GABRIELA RAMÍREZ-ARELLANO, Business Counselor, Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. Business leader and entrepreneur has been helping small business owners start and grow their business since 2011. Recently named by the St Louis Business Journal as One of the Top 100 people to know to succeed in business, Gabriela and her husband own Don Emiliano's Restaurante Mexicano in O'Fallon, MO. Her own experience and lessons learned help her relate and understand the needs of St. Louis business owners.

Belied by saturated hues and the wide-eyed participants, each of her paintings is a window into human nature, or rather a pseudodream sequence buoyed by uplifting color and relatable emotions. And yet Nunez confronts the viewer with bold, volatile mark-making and graphic imagery that reinforces the intensity of conflict and the myriad iterations of its role in our lives.

This was her first solo, professional exhibit, and the experience was very rewarding, Nunez said. During a reception she had the opportunity to interact with the audience. “I tried to give the visitors a general idea of what I was going for in each piece, but I didn’t want my description to limit their imagination,” she said. “I wanted them to insert a small part of them in each piece, and tell me what they thought. “Having fresh eyes give you an honest review of your work is truly humbling.” “When I set up my exhibit, it was a surreal feeling seeing that all my paintings can fill up a room and stand alone independently with their narratives, but at the same time are cohesive in style and motifs,” Nunez said. Whether it’s in a coffee shop, or small galleries, her dream is to make an impact with art.

MICHELLE QUEISER is a communications specialist with University Communications at Southeast Missouri State University. She joined the University in 2015. Previously, she was a unit public affairs representative for the Missouri National Guard for six years. She has a Bachelor of Journalism from the University of Missouri-Columbia.

“My biggest wish is that they take away some part of the story I attempt to visually demonstrate,” she said. She is looking forward to creating a new show for her “Graduating Seniors Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) Exhibition,” which will be presented at Southeast’s River Campus Art Gallery.

SPRING 2018 HISPANIC CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

The Importance OF MINDFULNESS IN BUSINESS

I learned that during all of those attempts to control and secure, I was abandoning myself, tormenting my mind with the memories of mistakes I have made in the past and projecting the possibilities of the future. I was constantly visiting all my shameful mistakes from the past and abandoning myself. Then I invited myself to come back home, to live in the present and to come back to me. Mindfulness was a new concept to me, but I was ready for something different. Being mindful is to be aware of our present moment, is noticing our thoughts and the emotions that come with them.

Introducing Small Business Majority

That is the first step, pure awareness.

A LOCAL RESOURCE TO HELP YOU GROW YOUR SMALL BUSINESS

Missouri is home to more than 523,000 small businesses —including almost 9,000 Hispanic-owned enterprises— that are crucial to our state’s economy, diversity and innovative success. Indeed, a 2015 study from the U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and Geoscape found that Missouri was in the U.S. Census region with the fastest growth in Hispanic-owned businesses, and in 2016, the SBA reported that Hispanic-owned businesses in Missouri grew by 42.5%. It’s clear that Missouri’s Hispanic entrepreneurs are creating jobs every day and are important contributors to our state’s economy. They represent all walks of life, industry and business size but they have one thing in common–all businesses need resources and financing when launching and growing their businesses. A recent survey by Bank of America found 77 percent of Hispanic business owners plan to grow their business in the next five years and 54 percent plan to hire more employees in the next 12 months, statistics that highlight the optimism and strength of the Hispanic business community. Most of these business owners will need additional capital to expand, which is why it’s important they know how to navigate the small business lending landscape and learn about resources available to the Latino community. Luckily, there are great local and national resources to help Hispanic business owners navigate the lending landscape with confidence. Small Business Majority, a national nonprofit small business advocacy organization with an office here in St. Louis, offers free education and

We tend to avoid our internal conversation and in Dr. Pedro Cortina’s book, Curflexion, he explains how we refer to this experience as normal, natural.

ALL BUSINESSES NEED RESOURCES AND FINANCING WHEN LAUNCHING AND GROWING THEIR BUSINESSES. resources to promote small business growth, including information on how to seek funding for your business. As Missouri Outreach Manager for Small Business Majority, I manage the organization’s outreach and education efforts in the St. Louis area. I also support the organization’s national Hispanic small business outreach. These efforts include a monthly national Spanish-language webinar, “Negocio Exitoso: El Secreto Para Obtener Capital,” which will next be held on Tuesday, August 7. I also host free local events to help small business owners start or grow their business, including an “Access to Capital 101” series and other events that educate small businesses about how to grow their wealth and become financially fit. Small Business Majority also offers tools and information through Venturize.org, a free online resource hub for small businesses and aspiring entrepreneurs who need help accessing responsible capital and becoming loan ready. Venturize offers unbiased education and resources to small business owners seeking loans to empower them to make the best financing decision for their business. You can use the site to find information on how to get started, how to identify a responsible lender, what you need to apply for loan and a map that lets you search for assistance in your area. It also offers resources on general business planning, financial tools, marketing guides and other topics crucial to small business success. Find out more about our resources or register for an upcoming event by visiting: smallbusinessmajority.org

MAXIMILIANAH ZALES manages Small Business Majority’s efforts from our St. Louis office by building partnerships with state and local partners, as well as small business owners and business groups across Missouri. She is fluent in Spanish and supports Small Business Majority’s national Hispanic small business outreach work. Maximilianah was recently selected to the 2018 FOCUS Leadership St. Louis program, one of the most highly-respected leadership development programs in the country.

It is paramount to understand that thoughts come randomly and are uncontrollable.

As we start paying close attention to our thoughts and start questioning them, we can realize that behind every thought there is an emotion that usually impacts our life. In the business world, corporations are starting to notice the importance of Mindfulness. Even though IQ is important when it comes to filling a position, EQ (Emotional Quotient) seems to be what can make the difference when promoting a candidate.

A few years ago, in the middle of financial success, a lovely family and wonderful vacations, I found myself unhappy, worried, constantly triggered and living in fear. My Accounting background promoted a “squared” and “result base” lifestyle. As the founder of a couple small family businesses, people would refer to me as an example of the American Dream. Internally, it was more like a nightmare masquerade with a lot of distractions such as golfing 5 times a week, but only to come back to the anxiety of running our businesses. I was a control freak, constantly trying to fix things, having to get better at this or that, feeling the pressure of promoting perfection. I would have thoughts such as “my employees should be like this” and “my managers should be like that”. I was always working for the next recognition and trying to secure success! After a few books and attempts to understand why was I feeling so empty and so unhappy, I finally got it! I was never open to the experience of life.

I invite you to do a little research. You will be surprised by how many researchers and geniuses of neuroscience are providing hard benefits of the practice of Mindfulness. Universities across the world are starting to add Mindfulness courses as they believe it improves attention and promotes changes on the brain to be less reactive. Corporations are investing in Mindful training for their workforce and understand the human condition of their human resources. They train their employees on how to be professional when, anger, shame, sadness, envy, temptation, insecurity, embarrassment get in the way. Understanding the impact of our emotions in our everyday life is key. Mindfulness is the first step because it invites us to notice our thoughts. This article is an invitation to start creating awareness of our internal conversation and how often we are reflecting on the past or thinking about the future. Therefore, I invite you to consider the practice mindfulness, a powerful tool to be present with ourselves.

BEING MINDFUL IS BEING AWARE OF OUR PRESENT MOMENT AND NOTICING OUR THOUGHTS AND EMOTIONS THAT COME WITH THEM.

ANGEL JIMENEZ-GUTIERREZ is Founder of Profundiza. He is a highly successful entrepreneur in the areas of Finance, Consulting, Hospitality and Service. Angel is a Certified Coach by the Innerland Institute in Canada and a Certified Facilitator Candidate of The Institute for The Work of Byron Katie. Additionally, Angel has emerged in several human development initiatives with the aim to support his self-growth and as well as the personal and professional growth of others. Angel champions supportive initiatives for college graduates, entrepreneurs, leaders and recent immigrants.

SPRING 2018 HISPANIC CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

Top Five Reasons An exclusive provider organization, or EPO, is an innovative type of health plan that features a focused network of doctors, hospitals and other health care facilities, typically under one provider system. “While this type of access to care may seem more restrictive than a broad network, we find the overall care continuum is better coordinated resulting in higher member satisfaction, better outcomes for employees and may result in improved costs for the employer,” says Stephanie Vojicic, RVP Sales, Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Missouri (Anthem). “As these type of plan configurations grow in popularity, more employers are being educated and beginning to understand the value of an EPO.” Not sure if an EPO is right for your company? Here are the top five advantages that employers have discovered when offering an EPO health plan: COST SAVINGS: EPOs offer access to a focused network of doctors,

hospitals and other health care facilities at significant discounts. This may lead to cost of care savings for employers and lower outof-pocket costs for employees. Anthem’s local EPO solution, the Anthem Alliance EPO focuses on the right amount of care in the right setting, which can enhance cost containment strategies – allowing employers to manage their health care costs the same as any other business expense. TOTAL CONNECTIVITY: when members receive all of their care under

one provider system, their entire library of patient records are housed together. This means doctors have total connectivity to their patients’ medical records. They can get a complete view of a person’s medical STEPHANIE has been with Anthem for more than 20 years and has served in a number of roles whose focus is on leading multiple teams to exceed customer expectations. She brings solid leadership experience within the health insurance industry and throughout her career has promoted the health of our communities. 16

TO OFFER AN EPO HEALTH PLAN

NOT SURE IF AN EPO IS RIGHT FOR YOUR COMPANY? HERE ARE THE TOP FIVE ADVANTAGES THAT EMPLOYERS HAVE DISCOVERED WHEN OFFERING AN EPO HEALTH PLAN. history as well as updated information about any current issues, procedures and medications. This connectivity gives employees with the Anthem Alliance EPO the most seamless patient experience possible. COMPLETE CARE MANAGEMENT: through a focused EPO network,

all of the available medical management and health and wellness programs work together, usually through the provider system. That means employees receive a full continuum of health management, allowing doctors to identify gaps in care and risk factors that may otherwise be overlooked. Because of this, the Anthem Alliance EPO can result in more proactive, cost effective medical outcomes, which may help control spending for employers, and their employees. NO PCP/REFERR AL REQUIREMENTS : since it’s a common misconception that EPO configurations are restrictive, many employers are surprised to learn that there are usually no PCP or referral requirements with an EPO health plan. As long as they stay in-network, employees have the flexibility to select the doctor, hospital or other health care facility that best fits their unique needs, and they are free to switch medical providers when they choose. INDUSTRY EXPERTS WORKING TOGETHER: in an EPO arrangement,

the insurance carrier and provider system come together to develop an innovative health plan solution. Who better to confront the rising cost of health care than the experts who are at the forefront of the industry? With the Anthem Alliance EPO, employers benefit from the superior products and services from Anthem while also ensuring their employees receive the quality medical services they deserve, at a price they can afford. It’s the best of both worlds. Ready to learn how the Anthem Alliance EPO can transform your employee health plan? Contact your broker or visit Anthem.com/MO today.

HELPING PEOPLE LIVE THEIR BEST POSSIBLE LIVES Problems. The ones too big to tackle alone. The ones that limit people and limit potential. The ones that impact all of us. We go looking for them. In farm towns and river towns. Suburbs and cities. From South City to Swansea. Overland to Highland. We surround our community’s most critical problems. And we fight. We are the hand-raisers. The game-changers The never stop fighting, never back down, life transformers. At United Way of Greater St. Louis, we fight for every person in our community. We fight for the education of every child. The basic needs of every family. The self-sufficiency of every person. Because what happens to one of us, happens to all of us. United, we fight for those who can’t. United, we fight for change. United, we fight to help people live their best possible lives. Unite with us. HELPINGPEOPLE.ORG

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