Articles
9 February 2012

Minority Business Leaders See Hope for Growth

by Candace Little

09 February 2012—

Minority-owned business leaders committed to help lessen the gap between Utah minorities experiencing economic growth and business success and those who are starting their business or just seeking for a place in the community, at a Utah Business round table discussion Wednesday.

 

The individuals in the group spoke of their own successes, but they also spoke of those, who, like themselves starting out, face great challenges. They spoke of language and cultural differences, a lack of prominent role models, stereotyping, unavailability of capital and at times governmental decisions making it difficult for minorities to grow into business professionals.

 

David Utrilla, CEO of U.S. Translation Co. said he has experienced stereotyping since moving to Utah, but he also said “we categorize ourselves too,” and that too many times minorities let their surroundings define their destiny.

 

Discussion of challenges spurred a conversation among minority business leaders addressing issues regarding minority education and mentoring, traditional business training as well as non-traditional grassroots efforts to help individual minorities succeed.

 

Luz Robles, from Zions Bank Resource Center addressed the Hispanic population growth of 256 percent from 1990 to 2000, but with slow Hispanic business growth.  Robles believes that in order to fix this ratio unbalance, in addition to traditional education, minorities need to be given proper training in trends and up-and-coming business ventures to tap into. For right now, that means energy and green technology.  “As a business community we need to push for the ‘green’ education to be available to our communities,” Robles said.

 

Sean Reyes, president of Utah Hispanic Business Leadership Foundation said they are trying to solve these problems by offering scholarships and setting up mentorship programs that last not only through college, but into recipients’ careers.  “Lots of times we talk about changing and doing our part to mentor,” Reyes said, “but it’s another thing to actually do it.”

 

Ozwald Balfour literally danced his way to the United States and is now CEO of OmniMedia,LLC.  He reminded the group that while there are challenges, “there is still hope, because we are here.” And that their success stories need to be communicated to minorities struggling to make a difference. “The hope is there,” Duvan Botero, CEO of Club Karamba agreed. He mentioned resources like Utah Microenterprise Loan Fund, financial institutions making an effort to reach out to minorities, and organizations built to support minority business owners and entrepreneurs. But, he and others at the table said hopeful minorities don’t know those resources are available.

 

Juan Manuel Ruiz, vice president of the Latin America Chamber of Commerce said there is a need for an integrated system and a tighter knit group of minority organizations. “We are duplicating efforts and services in a few areas,” Ruiz said. He suggested creating a committee and cooperating together to be a better resource for minority business owners.

 

Stanley Ellington, Director of Black Chamber of Commerce ended the discussion by asking which members of the round table would commit to meet again and do what Ruiz suggested. Hands of hope were raised all around the table.


Built by Crowell