LBR

Latino Business Roundtable

The LBR was born out of a need to highlight our Latino businesses in Hayward. They are important to the economy of our city. Most often, they set up shop in Hayward, and concern themselves with their business, without participating in civic affairs, in the local schools, in their community, and without considering becoming members of our Hayward Chamber of Commerce. I understand this. Their needs are different, their philosophy is different. I thought, then, let's go to them, find out about them, about their needs, their problems, their successes, their history. I want to be proactive with them, approach them about how to become part of their community.

I approached the Hayward Chamber of Commerce about this idea. Scott Raty thought it was a good one and decided to get behind the project. His vision and courage on this needs to be recognized.

The Latino Business Roundtable was organized for businesses who would like assistance with their existing business or entrepreneurs who are interested in starting a buisness in Hayward. We have numerous opportunities to network and grow your buisness.

Our first meeting in June of 2004 was attended by attended by six Latino small business owners. By the Sept. 2004 meeting there were 35 attendees, with Latino and non-Latino small business owners.

Our first Tardeada /Mixer was Tuesday, October 12, 2004 at Morelia on B Restaurant, which now is the Shark Shack, and run by Mariano Orozco and family.

Our second LBRTardeada was Monday, September 15, 2008. Did we see each other there? All our Tardeadas will now be on or near the 15th of September, when we celebrate the independence of México and the Central American republics.

Instrumental in the promotion of our LBR in the beginning were Samuel Fuenzalida, Joel Peña, Alejandro Gamarra, Ricardo Pérez, Shelly Horwitz, Ramón Parada, and Mark Salinas, all key people in the development of a healthy Latino business community. All of us agree that the LBR is an important part of our economic community. That is why we used to meet, every Friday, at 4 pm. in different businesses, especially taquerías.

Now, 2009, we meet, with attendance sometimes at 80 business owners (!), every fourth Friday of the month at the Sherman L. Balch Pavillion of St. Rose Hospital, our partner in the promotion of a healthy local economy.

Now It's become a 4th Friday morning tradition...meet, mingle, network....sprinkle in some lighthearted humor...and you've got the successful formula for the popular Latino Business Roundtable Meeting!

Come join us the 4th Friday each month, January through October and on the 2nd Friday on November and December.

If you have any ideas and/or suggestions, please contact me at 510.732.2746.