PROVIDENCE – The Hispanic American Chamber of Commerce is celebrating the region’s business community once again at its ninth annual gala to be held at the R.I. Convention Center during the Greater Providence Chamber of Commerce 2009 Business Expo.
The event, to be held Tuesday, May 5, at 5:30 p.m., will make five award presentations, recognizing “corporations and individuals that are going above and beyond promoting diversity among our businesses and advocating on behalf of the Hispanic community,” said Juana Horton, chairwoman of the Hispanic Chamber.
Awardees were chosen from among business and community leaders within and doing business in the Latino community, and they include:
• Emilio Gonzalez, executive director of external affairs, public affairs, policy and communications at Verizon, who will receive the Hispanic Business Vision and Leadership Award (he also will be the keynote speaker at the event).
• William F. Hatfield, Rhode Island market president for Bank of America, Corporate Leader of the Year award on behalf of the bank.
• Ramon Martinez, president and chief executive officer of Progreso Latino, Hispanic Community Leader of the Year.
• Melissa Sanchez, Youth Excellence Award.
• El Paisa Restaurant, owned by Cesar and Donatila Zuleta, 2009 Hispanic Business of the Year.
Awards winners from last year included: CVS Caremark Corp. (Corporate Leader of the Year); Vicente A. Urrutia (Hispanic Vision and Leadership); Tony Mendez, owner/president of Video Mundo (Hispanic Community Leader); La Paz Food Distributor, owned by Ronan, Byron and Densil Lurssen (Hispanic Business of the Year).
Those interested in attending – tickets are $75 per person, $1,000 for a corporate table of 10 – should contact Priscilla Gonzalez at (401) 785-0333 or e-mail at pgonzalez@visionstrat.com.
