Vision Magazine #10 - April-May-June 2012 by Vision Magazine

Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Metro Orlando

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EPCOT®

I NT E R N AT I O N A L

Flower & Garden Festival Now–May 20

As a Florida Resident, you can enjoy the Epcot® International Flower & Garden Festival presented by HGTV, plus the other Walt Disney World® Theme Parks with the Wild for 3 Pass*. 3 days for $99, plus tax.

Visit disneyworld.com/festival for details.

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*Pass valid now–3/31/12 and 4/14–5/24/12. One Theme Park per day. Proof of Florida residency required. Pass is nontransferable and excludes activities/events separately priced. Purchase by 5/21/12. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Metro Orlando

A Word From The President

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Found Money

The Lost Treasure Map to Finding Money in Your Budget

By Ramon Ojeda

By Jerry Ross

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Expo Shows

2012 Updates

Five Tips on How to be Successful

Economic Gardening By Jack Roth & Fran Korosec

By Ricardo Vasquez

Financial Literacy

Enhancing Employee Productivity

Now Hiring

How To Find The Right Employee By Robert Newland

By J. Clay Singleton

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From Work to Play

The Transformation of Employee Resource Groups

By Nelson Camargo

Diversity

By Lindsay Graham

Sports for Everyone

Issue #10

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Apr-May-June 2012

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content

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Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Metro Orlando

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editorial team Diana Bolivar

Tony Lagos

Giorgina Pinedo-Rolon

Pam Ledford

Editor in Chief

Rollins College

Gio Communications Inc.

Seminole State College of Florida

Angel Aviles

Rosalina Stober

George Fournier

Iancarlo Suárez Creative & Art Director

Hispanic Business Initiative Fund Conrad Santiago, CFP, MSFS/Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc.

Robert Newland Newland Associates Group, Inc

Writer

Rafael Gerena

Nelson Camargo

Instruxo

Joshua Johnson

Jonathan Aponte

Baüza & Associates

CourseMob

Cover Photo/Photographer

HCCMO staff Ramón Ojeda

Diana Bolivar

President

Vice President

Iancarlo Suárez Graphic Design & Social Media Coordinator

Marilen Marnett

Christine Peña

Events & Operations Manager

Tiffany Madrid

Luisa Garcia

Business Development Specialist

Administrative Assistant

Marketing & Sales Coordinator

Yuitxa Ramírez Veintidós Office Coordinator

HCCMO board members Executive Board Maritza Martínez

José Cerda

Chair University of Central Florida

Vice-Chair State Farm Insurance

Albert Hurtado

Janet E. Martinez

Treasurer Albert Hurtado, CPA, PLLC

Legal Advisor Janet E. Martinez, P.A.

Giorgina Pinedo-Rolón Vice-Chair Elect Gio Communications, Inc.

Tanya Easterling Secretary Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida Central Region

Board of Directors Chad Brandt

Antonio L. Caravia

Orlando Alancastro

Lucas Boyce

Ex-Officio Exterior Walls, Inc.

Director OUC: The Reliable One

Director Orlando Magic

HBIF Representative The Law Office of Chad M. Brandt

Carlos Castro

José G. Costa

Leticia M. Diaz

Evelyn Martínez

Director Walt Disney World Co.

Director Nodarse, A Terracon Company

Director Barry University School of Law

David J. Maxon

Karla Muñiz

David Ruíz

Director Progress Energy

Director Florida Hospital

Director UPS

Director Osceola Heritage Park

Irma E. Stenman EDC Representative Metro Orlando EDC

Scott Skidelsky Director Turner Construction Fashion Square Mall 3201 E. Colonial Dr. Suite A-20 Orlando, FL 32803 407.428.5870

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Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Metro Orlando

www.hispanicchamber.net

A WORD FROM THE PRESIDENT

The chamber has experienced the leadership of many great individuals throughout the years and I am fortunate enough to serve as president of this organization, providing leadership and supporting the economic development of the Hispanic business community for nearly a decade. With that said, plans have been set for the succession of leadership within the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce in order to guarantee the ongoing success of the organization. I will be stepping down from my post as president of the HCCMO to embark on an entrepreneurial venture locally in 2013. As part of the succession plan current HCCMO Vice President, Diana Bolivar, will take on the leadership role of president of the organization.

President Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Metro Orlando ramon@hispanicchamber.net

As a Hispanic business professional in Central Florida, I pride myself in being a great leader for the chamber by upholding a reputable image of myself and my organization and by diversifying my networks. In order to represent your business effectively, one must remember to portray a positive attitude which will reflect back on your companies’ impression to the public. Creating a diverse work environment is just as significant to the success of your organization, because it provides your staff with a great atmosphere where they can perform at their maximum potential. The chamber recently launched an institutional campaign tilted “I Am the Hispanic Chamber,” emphasizing the fact that HCCMO is a plural and diverse organization comprised of multiple stakeholders that are critical in maximizing the value delivered to the business community. To learn more about the “I Am the Hispanic Chamber” campaign, visit our website www.hispanicchamber.net.

Ramón Ojeda

2012 began a short three months ago and it has already proven to be an economically stimulating year for Orlando. According to the Orlando Business Journal, “Orlando had the third-largest job growth of the 50 top metro areas in the U.S. with a 6.5 percent growth in job openings.” The economic growth of Orlando has been able to stabilize unemployment and provide countless job opportunities to Central Floridians. Through the work of the chamber we have been able to see first-hand how businesses have been able to continue developing despite the ongoing recession. It is refreshing to hear that the work of our business leaders and business owners has contributed to the economic enrichment of this country. It is important to continue focusing on the development of your organization through excellent leadership, maintaining a positive image, and emphasizing diversity.

Remember, your success is our success. We are the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce!

trustees

Ramon Ojeda

F o u n d i n g trustees

trustees

Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Metro Orlando

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Trade Shows

FIVE TIPS FOR BEING SUCCESSFUL AT THE HISPANIC BUSINESS & CONSUMER EXPO 2012 by Ricardo Vazquez

The Hispanic Business and Consumer Expo is an excellent opportunity for your business to grow and reach out to the Hispanic community of Central Florida. The mission of the Hispanic Business & Consumer Expo is to provide an environment to strengthen the economic development and community integration between businesses and the Hispanic community in the region. The Expo Week begins Wednesday, June 6th, 2012 and ends Sunday, June 10th, 2012.

Wednesday June 6

Job Development Training for Prospective Employees & Job Fair

Thursday June 7

Minority Business Opportunities & HBIF Seminar Sessions

Friday June 8

8:00am-3:00pm Hispanic Business Conference 3:30-5:00pm Expo Floor Opens to Conference Participants & Business Professionals for B2B Networking

Saturday June 9

10:00am-5:00pm Expo Floor Opens to the Public

Sunday June 10

10:00am-5:00pm Expo Floor Opens to the Public

The Expo will consist of a Health Fair, Kids World, a stage with local and international artists, domino tournaments and so much more. Last year, attendance reached 20,000 with over 300 businesses making it the largest consumer expo in the nation targeted to the Hispanic community. Therefore, it is important that you seize this opportunity to promote your business. The following five tips can help you be successful at the Expo: 1. Promote your presence at Expo, before it happens. The Expo will attract a large crowd so if you can steer a portion of the crowd in your direction before the event, then you’ll generate more interested consumers. This is better than consumers passing by just because they saw your booth. Promote your attendance to the expo from your website, social media, advertisements in a local newspaper, or mail invitations. Giving consumers an incentive to go to your 6 | Visión

Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Metro Orlando

booth through contests and giveways can be very effective. Promoting these giveways or contests before the Expo will entice consumers to stop-by at your booth, which will give you a nice opportunity to sell your product or service. 2. Be Inviting Creating a memorable environment in your booth can make a significant experience for your consumers. Make your booth clean, colorful and inviting. Too much information and materials can be overwhelming to consumers so be cautious of the amount of information and materials you give. Be empathetic to your visitors. Over 90% of the total visitors are Hispanic so take time to understand the culture of this Hispanic community. It can help to have a bilingual speaker at your booth so your Hispanic consumers feel more comfortable. Lastly, smile to anyone passing by to make them feel welcome. 3. Trade an Incentive for Contact Info In a perfect world, consumers that visit your booth will automatically give you their contact information. However, that won’t be the case all the time and it’s important to get a lead on every consumer who’s interested in your goods or services. It can be useful to use an incentive in exchange for the consumer’s contact information. An example could be giving the consumer a raffle ticket for a big prize in exchange for their contact information. This appeals to consumers because you are engaging them. 4. Be Fun and Engaging, then Sell Businesses might deter consumers from their booth if they are too forward in their selling, so it’s helpful to be friendly, fun and engaging. Having attractions such as prize wheels, cash boxes, treasure chests and giveaways can grab consumers’ attention in a fun way. Once you’ve got the consumers engaged, its the perfect moment to sell. 5. Improve Your Business While Helping a Cause There have been several marketing studies that confirm helping worthy causes stimulates more contributions and a higher profile. By affiliating with a charity through your marketing at the expo, your company will be seen as a concerned and responsible member of the global community. Showing consumers that your business is green or a portion of profits go to a valuable cause will strengthen your role in the Central Florida community. Sources: http://www.trade-show-marketing-blog.com/ http://www.tradeshowmarketing.com/

ENHANCING EMPLOYEE PRODUCTIVITY WITH FINANCIAL LITERACY

Finances

by J. Clay Singleton Rollins College

mployees who are financially literate can be more productive. The Crummer Graduate School of Business at Rollins College and the Orange County Library System recently partnered to design and deliver a financial literacy program to local businesses. This program was supported by a grant and focused on basic financial survival skills for employees of modest income. Feedback from employers and employees alike has been positive. Gaston Correa, General Manager of Cypress Pointe Resorts said: “This program filled an important gap for many of our employees. As they learn to better manage their money, they are happier and more productive in their work.” This program, titled “Get More for Your Money” (“Alcance más con su dinero” in Spanish), was presented to employees at five area hotels and resorts in February. Professor J. Clay Singleton of the Crummer School said: “The Crummer finance faculty designed the curriculum and our students made the presentations. I think the workshops were so well received because the students were knowledgeable and they had nothing to sell. They provided unbiased information.”

The one hour workshops covered basic topics like the need to save, strategies for saving on a limited income, building a budget, securing your savings at a bank, and planning for major expenses like transportation and housing. The Orange County Public Library participated in the workshop by encouraging the employees to use their local library to find out more about personal finances, savings strategies, and budgeting. The Library also maintains a web site: http://www.ocls.info/moneytips that has links to financial resources. According to Professor Susan Bach of the Crummer School, these workshops can help businesses make their employees more productive in several ways. First, Dr. Bach says, employees with financial difficulties may be distracted. “The recession has been hard on everyone. When people run out of money before payday, they can’t be focused on their job—especially when their families rely on them.” Second, Dr. Bach adds, the workshops were designed to get employees to think long term. “Everyone has financial

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Finances emergencies, regardless of the economy. Employees who have some savings can weather the storm.” Dr. Bach says that turnover should go down when employees can use some of their savings to tide them over in an emergency. The professors mentioned other advantages of helping employees improve their financial literacy. Professor Robert Prescott said: “We all want our employees to be safe and secure. Employees who are not financially literate are prime targets for criminals. Using banks to secure your savings means you are that much less likely to lose money through fraud and deceit.” Dr. Prescott adds: “When employees run into money trouble because they lack financial discipline, they may be drawn to unscrupulous lenders. That can’t be good for the employer or the employee.” When asked to summarize the important elements to consider when designing programs like “Get More for Your Money”, Professor Singleton identified five core elements. First, use a workshop format that allows for plenty of interaction with the participants. Second, keep it simple and focus on savings strategies that provide tangible short-term results. Third, present the workshops in the employees’ native language. “We used bilingual students to present the workshops in Spanish. That was a big hit with our Spanish-speaking audiences,” Professor Singleton said. Fourth, use presenters that are unbiased and do not have anything to sell. Finally, keep the workshops short—an hour or less—and cover just a few topics in depth rather than skimming a lot of areas. Paolo Melillo of the Orange County Public Library suggests, “We have recorded these workshops and put them on our website (www.ocls.info/moneytips). We encourage everyone to take advantage of these resources.” The Orange County Library System was one of only twelve libraries in the US selected to receive a Smart Investing @ Your Library® grant from the Finance Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) Foundation in 2008. The purpose of the grant was to enhance financial literacy among target populations: Hispanics and African-Americans. The Library then invited the Crummer Graduate School of Business at Rollins College to design basic financial literacy workshops, titled “Get More for Your Money” (“Alcance más con su dinero”), in Spanish and English. From 2009 to 2011, these workshops have been presented to library patrons in Orange County. The grant was renewed in 2011 and under the title of “MoneyTips—Make it Work”, the program was offered to area hotels in cooperation with the Central Florida Hotel & Lodging Association in the Orlando, Florida area.

“BE PRO-ACTIVE…WORK SMARTER…GET MORE DONE” By Louis Schiess

VP Mktg. Virtual Roof

Have you recently felt like you had a million things to do, but not enough time to do them? Almost everyone that attends our webinars expresses their frustration with the mountain of work that needs to be done and the stress that accompanies the inability to get to it all. There is a solution to this conundrum however. It starts with becoming pro-active, working smarter, and applying the principles of prioritizing activities. Let’s start with the idea of becoming proactive. It is human nature to be more reactive than pro-active. From childhood we are taught to react to our parents and teachers’ demands. When we enter the business world we’re expected to react to our supervisor’s demands and the needs of customers. These of course are important, but they can lead us to a place of emotional exhaustion as we try to meet everyone’s demands. The difficulty in changing this paradigm lies in figuring out how to shift these expectations in a way that allows us to still meet the demands placed on us, but to do so through the lens of being proactive. Chief among the tools needed to accomplish this is the creation of a “Daily Action Plan” that embodies a pro-active mind set and built-in methodology for working smarter. So how does a “Daily Action Plan” differ from a simple “to-do list?” It boils down to taking 5 minutes to prioritize your day. Peter Drucker, the great management expert, proved years ago that at any given time most employees were working on medium and lower priority tasks, and this was occurring at even the largest, well managed companies in America. His concern was that “lower priority activities never have to be done; and they often go away all by themselves”. Those that take the time to prioritize their day eliminate wasted effort because they focus on the most important things that need to be done; they become proactive. Even if you only complete 5 items on your “Daily Action Plan” you can walk away from the work day with the confidence that you were working smart and accomplishing the tasks that will make the most difference. This will greatly reduce stress. Want to learn more? Come to one of our free webinars! (www.virtualroof.com/webinars).

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Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Metro Orlando

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Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Metro Orlando

by Lindsay Graham Wyndham Vacation Ownership

The Transformation of

EMPLOYEE RESOURCE

GROUPS

ith diversity and inclusion initiatives being incorporated more closely into business strategies at corporations around the globe, it’s refreshing to see large companies in Central Florida not just “talking the talk” when it comes to their diversity efforts. As a central hub of diverse cultures, companies in Orlando are taking proactive measures to get their employees involved and engaged. Disney, Lockheed Martin, SunTrust Bank, Darden Restaurants and Wyndham Vacation Ownership are among the largest companies in Central Florida leading the way in diversity initiatives. One “best practice” shared by these organizations is the development of Employee Resource Groups (ERGs). These specialized groups were initially created internally to develop and retain employees. But ERGs are now undergoing a transformation — these once employee-focused groups are now utilizing their diverse talent to take business to the next level.

Associate Business Groups At Wyndham Vacation Ownership, a member of the Wyndham Worldwide family of companies, they use the term ABG – or Associate Business Group – because it’s more than just a resource for employees. Whereas ERGs were previously focused on connecting colleagues with similar interests and backgrounds, ABGs allow associates to have a voice in the organization, contributing to business goals while leveraging the wide-range of experience, perspectives, and talents of a diverse culture. ABGs promote cross-functional teams, supporting multiperspective thinking and have the ability to impact the bottom line of an organization.

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What About Inclusion? While diversity is one part of the equation — inclusion is the other. Creating a company culture that truly embraces inclusion from all groups is critical because even the bestintentioned diversity plans can create silos within the organization. It’s critical that ABGs are inclusive; allowing all employees within the organization to benefit from the insights shared and learn more how they can impact the success of a business. “During the launch of ¡Fuerte! we wanted to make sure everyone in the organization felt welcome and included, with the group not restricted to just Latinos or Hispanics,” said Ruiz Margenot. “That’s because everyone can benefit from participating in this ABG. By creating strategic partnerships across all levels of the business we have the opportunity to positively shape the future of the company.” But how do you make everyone feel included? — Educate them about the importance of diversity in the workplace. “We held a ¡Fuerte! event at our corporate office and invited all associates to attend. Members of our Senior Leadership Team participated in a panel discussion; talking about the importance of diversity in our company and the variety of programs we have available within the organization,” explained Ruiz Margenot. “It was a huge hit. People really enjoy hearing directly from the executive leadership and learning how they can get involved in diversity initiatives.” Sarah King, executive vice president of human resources for Wyndham Vacation Ownership, couldn’t agree more. “Last year we hosted an inaugural Diversity Week at several of our locations, including the corporate office and it was great to see our associates getting involved, learning about one another and the importance of diversity and inclusion in the workplace. We really tried to educate our people that diversity is not just about race and gender, but about so much more, including the diversity of thought.” The face of companies and consumers are changing, and the insights offered by Hispanics in the workforce will give organizations an advantage as they continue to develop new programs, attract high quality customers and market to this growing population. “As global business practices continue to increase, companies must utilize the unique insights of these business groups,” said Maria Ruiz Margenot, senior vice president of sales development, recruiting and training for Wyndham Vacation Ownership and executive sponsor of ¡Fuerte!, the company’s Hispanic and Latino ABG. “It’s important to recognize the positive effect that ABGs can have on a company. By engaging these associates and incorporating their ideas, not only does an organization develop a talent pipeline of diverse leaders, they have an innovative way to keep ahead of the competition.”

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It’s crystal clear that the globalization of business is changing the face of the American workforce, making it critical for corporations to value the different perspectives and talents of each employee. Central Florida continues to lead the way in this arena, and with companies such as Disney, SunTrust Bank Lockheed Martin, Darden Restaurants and Wyndham Vacation Ownership integrating diversity initiatives into their core values, it’s an exciting time to be a Hispanic in Corporate America!

The Hispanic Association on Corporate Responsibility Announces its 2012 Young Hispanic Corporate Achievers On April 15, the Hispanic Association on Corporate Responsibility (HACR) will announce the 2012 Young Hispanic Corporate Achievers recipients (YHCA) at a summit in Chicago, IL. This national organization is focused on the advancement and inclusion of Hispanics in Corporate America. The YHCA was launched in 2007 to recognize Hispanics and Latinos who have shown leadership qualities within their organization and have demonstrated a proven commitment to the Hispanic community. “Today, Corporate America must make a strong commitment to the nation’s fastest growing consumer, voter, taxpayer and workforce population — the Hispanic community,” said HACR president and CEO Carlos Orta. “In order for corporations to have great success, they must identify, develop and retain highpotential Hispanic employees.” Founded in 1986, HACR is one of the most influential advocacy organizations in the nation representing 16 national Hispanic organizations in the United States and Puerto Rico. Their mission is to advance the inclusion of Hispanics in Corporate America. Collectively, the coalition members reflect the voice of more than 46.6 million Hispanics living in the United States and Puerto Rico, serving those diverse communities through advocacy, education, representation, assistance, capacity building, public policy support, resource development, and the exertion of political influence. The HACR focuses on four areas of corporate responsibility and community reciprocity: employment, procurement, philanthropy, and governance. If you’re interested in learning about HACR, visit their website at www.hacr.org.

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FOUND MONEY by Jerry Ross

Business

Executive Director, National Entrepreneur Center

ash flow is critical for a small business and yet most companies operate by taking whatever money happens to come in today, and then paying the next bill in line to be paid. I have done that myself many times (at home and in business) because when money gets tight, it is hard to plan too far ahead but it doesn’t have to always be that way. Sometimes just by reviewing and re-evaluating your expenses, you can reduce your outflow of cash to take the pressure off, improve your cash flow, and allow for some pre-planning when it comes to budgeting. I call this exercise of reviewing all my expenses, “finding money.” When cash is scarce, some businesses immediately focus on selling more products and services in an effort to create more revenue. While selling more is usually a good idea at any time, in order to create $100 more in profit, you may have to sell $1,000 more in products, which will take some time to accomplish, depending on your sales cycle, and it may

not always net out the $100 that you intended. However, when you cut $1 in expenses, it drops right to your bottom line! One dollar in cuts, one additional dollar to spend, and in no-time you could have $100 more to spend without making a single new sale. It is an eye opening adventure to review each of your true expense categories to see where all the money goes, and it is even more amazing to realize how much you could actually save! There are a variety of places you could start your treasure hunt for savings but I have listed a few of my targeted categories listed below. Finding ways to trim your expenses will not change your overall ability to do business, but it will allow you to update your offerings to match your needs, identify some things that need to be deleted, and you might find enough savings to purchase what you have been delaying, or maybe just pay a bill or two in advance.

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Business Communications: Phones (Office and Mobile) My experience has shown that when I review my phone bills I can always find something that is either “on the wrong plan” or appeared for some reason on my bill and needs to be removed and credited. Phone bills have become much more detailed and complicated over the last decade and it is very easy to miss an erroneous charge or to identify a service that you should have cancelled long ago, like that fax machine that you got rid of weeks ago, but you are still paying for the fax line that is no longer needed! Remember to review your cell phone account too! Some companies provide cell phones for employees however when the employee leaves, we forget to disconnect the line and we end up paying for cell phone service that is sitting on the shelf. Again, the confusing bills, and the detailed

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charges make them difficult to read sometimes, but call your service provider and have them explain each of your current charges and I think you might… find some money! Information Technology: Internet Services/ Computers/ Software & Printers We recently moved our offices to a new location and found that we could upgrade our internet service and actually save money too! With the rapid changes in technology, hardware, and software, many times you will find a faster, better, and cheaper alternative that was not available even a few months ago which will improve your efficiency and reduce your expenses. For me it was identifying a printer that used an unbelievable amount of toner which was really expensive. Converting it to a new printer paid for itself in just a matter of months!

Insurance: Business/ Auto/ Liability/ Health Depending on the size of your business, insurance costs and coverage can vary widely. I suggest an annual review of all of your insurance policies to explore what has changed in your business that need to be added to your insurance coverage, and also those things that might result in some savings on your insurance bill. A larger deductable can substantially reduce your premiums, or investigating an umbrella policy can sometimes offer coverage you need at a more affordable rate. Engaging an insurance professional for a quote can be very helpful and insure that you are insured at the best possible coverage at the best possible price. Utilities Being environmentally “green” can mean a reduction in a variety of your utility costs which will keep more green money in your wallet! Water usage can be reduced with a minimal amount of advanced planning and some of the water saving devices that can be installed at your business. Additionally, utility companies offer a variety of inspection options to identify energy savings options at your facility. Recycling efforts can reduce your trash hauling & dumpster costs if you do it effectively and you are helping the environment too. Professional Services A regular review of your outsourced services should be thoroughly conducted to insure that you are receiving the services that you are paying to receive. Cleaning companies, answering services, printers, bookkeeping services, and other services can be vital to maintaining a professional appearance, however many times as we get busy and distracted, the service may fail to meet our original goals and we fail to notice. Making a focused and regular review of the service will insure that you get served well, and make good use of that expenditure. Sometimes as these services increase in price a review many discover that you could do the service more timely and cost effectively inside the company, although be sure to evaluate all the costs associated with doing it internally before you make a change. Other areas that I consistently review for potential cost savings are: memberships and subscriptions, automatic payment accounts, (because you forget what is in there to be paid automatically) and all travel expenses. As you can see, there are a multitude of areas to explore where you might be able to “find a few dollars” without making one more sale. The beauty of this is that your cash flow will improve immediately with every dollar in expense that you cut. Cutting expenses is always the fastest way to generate a few extra dollars particularly when the budget is tight, however, just like putting on your jacket and finding money left in the pocket, “found money” is a welcome surprise at any time! Good luck in your search!

MOBILE IS NO LONGER A “NICE-TO-HAVE” by Joshua Johnson

Co-Founder, CourseMob.com

I’m willing to bet that you have visited your website from a few computers to see how it looks, maybe even from a few different browsers, but today that isn’t enough. It’s estimated that by 2013 more people will connect to the Internet through mobile devices than through their computers. In other words, if your site isn’t mobilefriendly, you could be losing out big time! Here are a few ways that you can make your site ready for today’s mobile world:

Call to Action What is the primary goal of your website? For some it is to educate, but for most the goal is to generate leads or solicit some kind of a sign up process – usually for a newsletter or request for a quote. Whatever the goal, it is imperative that the call to action be visible when your homepage is first pulled up on a mobile device. Don’t make it a challenge for a current or potential new costumer to get to where you want them to go or they are likely to not make it there.

Images and Flash Image heavy sites can be pleasing to the eye, but they also require the transfer of much more data which can cause them to load slowly on mobile devices as well as use up more of the user’s data plan. Consider using slightly lower resolution images that will help to illustrate your point without bogging down mobile browsers.

Offer a Choice Having a mobile site is great, but some mobile users may still want to view your full site. Make it easy for users to switch to the full site if they would like. This tends to be the case for users on tablet devices, but even cell phone users may opt for this.

Mobile Optimization It might be hard to believe, but some people use their mobile devices for things like GPS, and yes, even making phone calls! Be sure to include click to call links as well as map links. These small steps make it that much more likely those users will call you with that burning question or maybe even just drop in.

Using WordPress WordPress is a very popular platform for small businesses to build their websites. Great news! There are tons of plugins for WordPress that will help you to be mobile friendly in just minutes! Remember, the key to mobile is simplicity and intelligent design. A little thought up front can make for a lot of traffic down the road! Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Metro Orlando

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“At Lake Nona, sustainability isn’t a word we take lightly. That’s why it is so important to have a partner like OUC – who not only offers us a variety of energy-saving solutions, but who also believes in caring for the environment as much as we do.” – Jim Zboril, President/Lake Nona

OUC and Lake Nona: Giving Sustainability a “Green” Light Laureate Park at Lake Nona features six showcase homes that are models of energyefficient living.

chieving the right balance between environment and lifestyle is a cornerstone of community development for Laureate Park at Lake Nona. Located in the heart of Lake Nona Medical City, its homes are “built green”

and feature the latest in forward-thinking energy-saving technology. So when it came to finding a partner who shared the same commitment and could also provide the infrastructure to support growth, Lake Nona knew they could count on OUC — The Reliable One. With a long history of environmental stewardship and a full array of efficiency and conservation programs that empower homeowners to save real energy and real dollars,

To learn more about sustainability, visit 18 | Visión

www.OUC.com

Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Metro Orlando

OUC is now illuminating the night sky at Laureate Park with safe, energy-efficient light-emitting diode (LED) lighting, which helps the neighborhood as a whole save electricity. From street lights to electric-vehicle charging stations to rebates that reward energy-smart choices, OUC is helping customers make their mark. Conveniently. Affordably. And reliably green.

UPDATE ON ECONOMIC GARDENING AND THE GROWFL PROGRAM by Jack Roth & Fran Korosec

Economy

University of Central Florida

Florida Takes the Lead In the summer of 2009 the Florida Legislature approved funding for a statewide economic gardening program to create new jobs and build a stronger economy for current and future generations of Floridians. A total $3.5 million over 2 years was set aside by the State of Florida for an economic gardening technical assistance pilot. They believed that by supporting homegrown growth businesses, community leaders could create an environment where entrepreneurs can successfully deal with front-end, strategic issues including core strategy, market dynamics, marketing and finance. For these high-growth companies — categorized in Florida as having between 10 and 50 employees and $1 million to $25 million in revenues — developing infrastructure and standardizing operational systems is critical to their continued growth and ultimate success. (The national standards for second-stage growth companies are 10 to 99 employees and $1 million to $50 million in revenues.)

Although these growing companies face many challenges, their economic impact can’t be ignored. Research shows that from 1993 to 2008, second-stage entities represented about 11 percent of U.S. establishments but generated 36 percent of the nation’s jobs. During this same time period, these companies represented 9.8 percent of Florida businesses and 34.7 percent of the state’s workforce. And because they often introduce new products, services and technologies to both national and global markets, they can bring significant outside dollars into the community. With funding approval, the Governor’s Office of Tourism, Trade and Economic Development (OTTED) selected the University of Central Florida (UCF) to lead the development of the Economic Gardening Technical Assistance Pilot Program immediately following the approval of state funding. In November 2009, and under the direction of Associate VP of Research and Commercialization Dr. Tom O’Neal, UCF initiated activities for the program with the formation of the Florida Economic Gardening Institute (FEGI). As FEGI programs developed, GrowFL became the official brand Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Metro Orlando

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Economy name of the initiative from which these services are now delivered to entrepreneurs. “Business owners who have advanced beyond the start-up phase have important choices to make,” explains O’Neal. “Do they grow their companies to the next stage, stand back or sell? Providing the tools they need in order to take that next step can be a critical factor in their decision-making process.” No stranger to helping entrepreneurs, O’Neal was part of a collaborative effort in 1999 that resulted in the establishment of UCF’s Technology Incubator, now known as the UCF Business Incubation Program. “In order to achieve sustainable economic growth, a region must develop a variety of industry clusters, and attract and retain the most qualified people in those disciplines,” he stresses. “By doing so, you create an entrepreneurial ecosystem that feeds off of innovation and inspiration. This is what we’re trying to accomplish in both Central Florida and the entire state.”

Paying Dividends The state’s economic gardening technical assistance pilot program ran from November 2009 through September 2011. Since September 2011, UCF has partnered with the Florida High Tech Corridor Council, The Tampa Bay Partnership, and Orange, Brevard, Marion, Volusia and Seminole Counties to continue the GrowFL Technical Assistance service for qualified 2nd stage companies in Central Florida. Many other communities in Florida are anticipated to fund “local” economic gardening initiatives utilizing the services of FEGI in order to serve their local businesses. Furthermore, the state legislature has included funding in both the Florida House and Senate appropriations bills for a re-invigorated state-wide economic gardening program. This funding could be in place as early as July 2012. From the beginning, the biggest challenge was delivering services across the entire state of Florida. The Florida pilot was the first state wide initiative in economic gardening. Previous initiatives, including the early Economic Gardening initiatives in Littleton, CO, where geographically focused in small communities. In doing so, it was also imperative that all services maintain a personal, one-onone interaction and continue to focus on the unique needs of each entrepreneur. In May 2011 FEGI was designated as a Certified Economic Gardening Program by the National Center for Economic Gardening, which is affiliated with the Edward Lowe Foundation, a Michigan-based entity created to enhance entrepreneurship and economic growth across the country. In fact, FEGI is the first organization in the United States to receive Level Three Program Certification, which represents the highest engagement of economic gardening principles and practices that are attainable. The results speak for itself. GrowFL helped to create more than 3,285 jobs (1,400+ were direct jobs) and contribute 20 | Visión

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Legislative Update The state legislature has included funding in both the Florida House and Senate appropriations bills for a reinvigorated state-wide economic gardening program. This funding could be in place as early as July 2012 pending completion of the legislative session and Gov. Scott’s signature. The house and senate appropriation bills include $2 million for Economic Gardening Technical Assistance at the University of Central Florida.

Does My Company Qualify? The GrowFL program provides services for Stage 2 companies. Eligibility guidelines to participate in GrowFL programs state that a company must have its headquarters in Florida, be a for-profit business, be growth oriented, have between 7 and 100 employees, and generally provides product(s) and/or services within and beyond its current location to regional and/ or international markets. For more information about eligibility, go to www.GrowFL.com. more than $510.4 million (direct and indirect) to Florida’s economy. To achieve this type of job growth, client companies had the opportunity to participate in technical assistance sessions, monthly CEO roundtables, quarterly forums, and annual referral and recognition events, all held on a regional basis through local economic development partners.

Lasting Benefits The intrinsic value that economic gardening brings to high-growth companies across the state has already been realized. In fact, many business owners — regardless of the industry in which they operate — are beginning to rethink how they approach growth. Often very prideful and selfreliant, some entrepreneurs are realizing that you can’t grow a company in a vacuum. It turns out that tracking down the appropriate resources and conversing with peers in order to achieve corporate goals is not only entirely acceptable, but simply good business. “Thanks to the willingness of regional leaders and organizations to engage in dialogue and foster the appropriate partnerships, Florida is well on its way to cultivating a business ecosystem that supports entrepreneurship,” says O’Neal. “People need to realize that it takes time to develop such an infrastructure. By continuing to work towards this goal, however, we can create a culture where entrepreneurship and innovation can flourish indefinitely, thereby creating a better quality of life for everyone.”

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HUMAN RESOURCES

How to Find the Right Employee by Robert Newland

ere’s some interesting data…studies show that as the economy begins to turn around, more than 50% of employees will begin the process of looking for a new job. As we discuss the “how to find the right employee”, it is important to understand that the right employees are not found, they find you. One of the main reasons job seekers approach prospective employers is their reputation within industry and community, as well as the desire to learn from and be mentored by the talent that works there. So, the first thing you need to do is understand how your organization is perceived by your current employees. Conducting an employee engagement survey is a great and simple way to understand those issues that are most critical to your employees and should be addressed first. Some potential issues are easy to resolve. It may be as simple as changing your vacation policy or making sure your management is more attentive to employee needs. Once you have a clear understanding of your internal employee perception, you can use that information to attract and find new employees – the right employees. Here are a couple of ideas on how to do just that:

1-Employee Referrals – Happy employees are one of the better sources for recruiting the right people. If you have good caliber employees it is safe to assume they have either worked with or know someone that meets your standards, those relationships can originate invaluable leads. By establishing a formal communication process that lets employees know you want their input and help in finding new talent, you open up that 22 | Visión

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Newland Associates Group, Inc

referral pool and your chances of coming across the perfect candidate increase exponentially. Some companies even offer a bonus for employee referrals that turn into new hires.

2-Social Media – In this technology savvy business

environment, using social media to connect with prospective employees is simply a must. LinkedIn, for example, is a great platform to use when you are looking for professionals and executives. I recently recruited over 12 consultants for a project and only used LinkedIn. Having a Facebook fan page is a great strategy too, especially if you have a retail establishment or a consumer product. If someone loves what you do/sell, they will probably not only enjoy working for you, but also become great employees. Some employers increase their internet exposure by having links to their company career site on their Facebook page.

3-Competition – Is important to remain aware of who your

competition is and, most importantly, who works for them. Remember the study – it is likely that 50% of those employees want to leave. Imagine what you could do if you had a chance to recruit your competition’s top employees. You can do this by conducting “mystery shopper” activities or going to trade shows. Sometimes your employees know who works for a competitor and can arrange an introduction. Most indicators show a slowly growing economy. It is a great time to invest in the future of your company by finding and hiring the right people. Best of luck!

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Gallery

January - March 2012

BAH: Atlantis Flowers

B3 Series: Leadership

BAH: Chase Bank

Installation Luncheon

Café with the President

HCCMO Chair Maritza Martinez

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Luncheons, Business After Hours, Seminars & more...

Ambassadors Meeting

Doing Business with GOAA

Doing Business with Colombia

EspressoTalk

Member Appreciation Night Orlando Magic

Motivational Seminar: J.R. Roman

BAH: Crews & Pesquera

B3 Series Seminar: Selling to the Subconscious

Colombia Delegation

2012 Orlando Mayoral Debate

Orange County District 3 Commissioner John Martinez

Bo Outlaw

Orlando Mayor Theresa Jacobs

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FROM WORK TO PLAY

There is a Sport for Everyone to Enjoy This Year by Nelson Camargo

Photograph by Ben Tanner

Bauza & Associates

Outdoor sports

In a state known as the sunshine state, you need to take advantage of that sunshine. So why not check on your favorite MLB team as they start their spring training right here in Florida. Just a few miles outside of Orlando are the Atlanta Braves in Champions Stadium and the Houston Astros in Osceola County Stadium. The Spring Training season only runs from March to the beginning of April, so it is a small window. Check to see when your favorite team will play at MLB.com, or wait until next year before their back in town.

rlando is not just about tourism and theme parks, it’s also a city that offers a wide range of live sporting events. And as any sports fan will tell you, there’s nothing like watching the game live.

The Amway Center

There are several events and concerts that are housed at the Amway Center. Still, the best kinds of events are their sporting events. That’s why one of the best known teams in the NBA, the Orlando Magic calls the Amway home. And you still have until April 25, 2012 to catch a home game. If you happen to miss their games, there’s always next year’s season, starting in December. You can view the schedule, and stay up to date with news and information for your Orlando Magic at NBA.com/Magic. The two time AFL Champions, Orlando Predators, are also residents at the Amway Center. The best part about their games is that, rain or shine, there will still be a football game every season. Their season started in March and their last home game will be July 22 against Milwaukee. They also play at different hours of the day, so there is always a chance to watch a game. For tickets, schedules, game photos and more, visit Orlandopredators.com. After 10 years of hibernation, the Orlando Solar Bears will be coming back to the Amway. With the support of the City of Orlando, the hockey team (that’s right, hockey in Florida) will once again hit the ice for fans October 2012. Since this is a new team to Orlando, visit OrlandoSolarbearshockey.com to stay in the loop and the find out when their first game will be.

What about America’s next up and coming sport, soccer. It wasn’t until recent years that soccer has started to gain popularity across the country, but soccer has always been an international sport. As it stands, Orlando already has a great team, the Orlando City Soccer, and they play right here at the Citrus Bowl from their first game in February to their last on August 17, 2012. Recognizing the importance of youth sports, this team is also very involved with Orlando’s youth leagues and academies for boys and girls soccer. If you’re a fan of the sport, or are interested in their youth academy, then you can visit OrlandoCitySoccer.com for more information.

College sports

Part of the best thing about watching college sports, is that these are college athletes who have no million dollar contracts, so they play for the love of the game. And UCF has a team for every sport imaginable. Catch a game at the UCF campus this year, and let the UCF Knights ignite that team spirit in you. Visit UCFAthletics. com for tickets and schedules to your favorite college sports. Although you can watch some of these teams on TV, there is nothing like watching them play live.

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