| "The
Hispanic population has grown
tremendously, and a lot more
Hispanics are starting up their
own businesses, said Millie
Maldonado, president of the
Hispanic Merchants Association
of Bridgeport and owner of Stylistics
Hair Salon in Bridgeport . The
HMA organized the expo "so
everybody knows who everybody
is, said Maldonado. In addition
to attracting more exhibitors,
Maldonado and the HMA also hired
a professional to organize the
event. Vincencia
Adusei, president of VASE
Management LLC, has, for example,
placed banners advertising
the event on some city buses.
The city's Hispanic population
has ventured into every business
avenue, thanks in part to
a growth in the number of
Hispanics working in banks,
Maldonado said. "We have
a lot more advisers out there
I think it's a lot easier
now for the Hispanics to get
into their own business, said
Maldonado, who started her
hair salon in 1980.
HMA has attracted a variety
of sponsors for this event.
Mel Riley, area manager of
an 11-restaurant Burger King
franchise, said his company
is sponsoring the expo again
because Bridgeport has a large
Hispanic population, and he
want to meet that demographics'
needs. Bridgeport-based People's
Bank also has its eye on the
growing Hispanic population.
"The national Hispanic
market is growing and Connecticut
is following suit, said Barbara
Johnson, a senior vice president.
The bank is a corporate sponsor
of the expo and will have
staff on hand to talk about
its various products and take
part in a seminar about lending
to small businesses.
"They have really planned
a great event this year, said
Johnson.
Ed
Rodriguez, an HMA member and
the executive vice president
of the management consulting
company Sandoval Associates,
said he wants expo visitors
- individuals and companies
- to see the quality and competitive
pricing of the Hispanic merchants'
goods. Both Maldonado and
Rodriguez said the vision
of a bodega as emblematic
of Hispanic business ownership
is out of date. "It's
so hard to bring a new vision
of what it's all about, said
Rodriguez. "We're also
attorneys. We're also accountants.
We're also general managers
Rodriguez also sees the expo
as a chance for Hispanic entrepreneurs
to create new alliances. One
of the biggest problems for
any minority business owner,
he said, is getting access
to capital and decision-makers.
"It's who knows me and
what I do, he said. "That
is one of the key issues for
minority business enterprises.
"I'd
like to see a lot more people
walking out with a different
idea in their minds, about
starting their own business,
said Maldonado. The Hispanic
Business Expo takes place
Wednesday from 3 to 7 p.m.
at the University of Bridgeport,
Wheeler Recreation Center,
400 University Ave. Call 332-7366.
Pam
Dawkins, YourMoney editor,
can be reached at 330-6351
or by e-mail at
pdawkins@ctpost.com
|
