San Antonio Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Recognized for Excellence by the United States Chamber of Commerce

SAN ANTONIO - (BUSINESS WIRE) - The San Antonio Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (SAHCC) has been selected as one of the best-run chambers in America. A strong advocate for Hispanic business and Hispanics in business for 80 years, the Hispanic Chamber has been officially notified of its designation as a 4-Star Accredited Chamber from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. It is the first Hispanic Chamber in the United States to be accredited by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.

"We are excited about the accreditation because this is the 'Good Housekeeping Seal of Approval' for chambers, and it reaffirms that we are meeting our member's needs while continuing to be fiscally strong and operationally efficient. We are a solid organization, and have been 'weighed and measured' among our peers and have been found to be a leader among them," said Ramiro A. Cavazos, President & CEO of the Hispanic Chamber.

In addition, the San Antonio Hispanic Chamber of Commerce is the first Chamber in San Antonio to ever be accredited by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. The Hispanic Chamber ranks in the top 1.3% of all 7,700 Chambers of Commerce in the United States. It is rare for chambers to receive a 4-star accreditation on their first application for accreditation, and this honor will last for five years.

"Accreditation validates a chamber as having programs that benefit their local economy and for positively influencing action in their community," said Raymond P. Towle, IOM, CAE, U.S. Chamber Executive Director of Political Affairs and Federation Relations. "We applaud these organizations for advancing the principles of free enterprise."

Accreditation is granted based on a thorough review of a Chamber's day-to-day operations, including governance, member services, finance and revenue generation, human resources, government affairs, program development, communication, technology, facilities, advocacy, networking opportunities, and benchmarking.

"This significant milestone is yet another testament of our great Chamber's commitment to our membership and to our business community," said Rolando B. Pablos, 2009 Chair.

In 2010, Norma Martinez Lozano, of AT&T, will serve as Chair, and in 2011, Eddie Aldrete, of IBC Bank, will lead the Hispanic Chamber's Board of Directors. Aldrete was instrumental in the Chamber's accreditation and is recognized as a pivotal leader in Immigration Reform at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.

The Hispanic Chamber's President & CEO, Ramiro A. Cavazos, is the former Economic Development Director for the City of San Antonio and with more than 1,000 members, he leads the only chamber in San Antonio with an economist on staff. Chief Economist Steve Nivin, PhD, directs the SABER Research Institute, which provides economic impact studies and research. SABER is a collaboration with St. Mary's University, who is a partner in the think tank, housed at the Hispanic Chamber.

A news conference will be held in San Antonio next week where an official presentation by a United States Chamber of Commerce representative will take place. For more information on the new conference, contact Adriana R. Garcia, Vice President of Communications, at adrianag@sahcc.org, or at 210-286-2775.

About the San Antonio Hispanic Chamber of Commerce

Founded in 1929, it is the first and one of the largest Hispanic Chambers in the country. The SAHCC is the principle resource and advocate for Hispanic businesses and Hispanics in business. The SAHCC's objective is to inspire and foster Hispanic leadership and entrepreneurship in the San Antonio community. For more information, visit www.sahcc.org.

San Antonio Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
Adriana R. García, 210-225-0462 ext. 208 or 210-286-2775
adrianag@sahcc.org