Hispanic Association on Corporate Responsibility

The Power of Hispanic Inclusion in San Antonio

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Published on May 27, 2004

On Tuesday, May 11, the Hispanic Association on Corporate Responsibility (HACR) concluded its 12th annual Symposium: The Power of Hispanic Inclusion, and according to more than 300 participants it was one of the most successful events ever.

The first day featured Mayor Edward Garza giving the official welcoming remarks to the beautiful city of San Antonio the site for this year's event. The HACR board directors represented by Antonio Flores, HACR chairman of the board and president and CEO of the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities hosted the opening reception. Anheuser-Busch, Inc. and McDonald's Corporation sponsored this event. "Our 25 corporate partners have made aggressive commitments of greater Hispanic inclusion in their business models. Our opening reception is a celebration of their success," said Alfonso E. Martinez, president and CEO of HACR.

The Symposium breakfast titled, "Preparing for Board Opportunities" featured National Association of Corporate Directors president and CEO Roger W. Raber and Congressman Charles A. Gonzalez (20th - TX). A. Shuanise Washington, vice president of Government Affairs Policy and Outreach of Altria Corporate Services gave the welcome remarks on behalf of the diamond sponsor, Altria Group, Inc. MANA, A National Latina Organization president and CEO Alma Morales Riojas hosted the event on behalf of the HACR board.

The Corporate Executive Luncheon titled, "Breaking Through: A Road to the Boardroom" featured George Herrera founder, president and CEO of Herrera-Cristina Group LTD., and Cendant Corporation board member. Albert J. De Veer, strategic project manager Corporate Diversity Office gave remarks on behalf of platinum sponsor, DaimlerChrysler Corporation. ASPIRA Association president and CEO Ron Blackburn-Moreno and National Council of La Raza board member Irma Flores Gonzales hosted the event on behalf of the HACR board.

Additionally, the Symposium featured four business sessions: 1) Hispanic Market Analysis, 2) The Corporate Responsibility Imperative, 3) Corporate Responsibility and Accountability: Case Study, and 4) Corporate Governance: Insights for Board Preparation. Each session presented three to five nationally recognized experts in the fields of Hispanic market analysis, corporate governance, and corporate responsibility. "The attendee experience was designed to explore the intersection of Hispanic inclusion and corporate responsibility and take away actionable and practical business strategies," said Alfonso E. Martinez, president and CEO of HACR.

Of course the highlight of the event was honoring seven Hispanic Fortune 1000 directors, which included Louis Caldera (Belo Corporation and Southwest Airlines Co.), Nelson Diaz (Exelon Corporation), Patricia Diaz Dennis (Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company and UST Inc.), George Herrera (Cendant Corporation), and Vilma S. Martinez (Anheuser-Busch Companies, Inc., Burlington Northern Santa Fe Corporation, and Flour Corporation), and featured Herman E. Gallegos (SBC Communications Inc.) as special board honoree, and Henry G. Cisneros (Countrywide Financial Corporation) as board honoree and keynote speaker.

"The evening was a magical one - being honored and surrounded by one's peers and 'familia' is a rare and treasured event," said Patricia Diaz Dennis, senior vice president, general counsel and secretary for SBC Communications and board member for Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company and UST Inc.

"The Symposium was a tremendous success," said Alfonso E. Martinez. "We succeeded in reinforcing our message of Hispanic inclusion and corporate responsibility and governance to all participants. The symposium will only grow in stature as more corporations pursue the consumer and talent base offered by the Hispanic community."

Sponsors' included Altria Group, Inc. (Diamond), Cendant Corporation, DaimlerChrysler Corporation, Ford Motor Company, General Motors (Platinum), IBM Corporation, Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. (Gold), Anheuser-Busch, Inc., Fannie Mae, Guzman & Company, McDonald's Corporation, Time Warner, Univision Communications, Inc. (Silver), SBC Communications Inc. and Sterling Financial Investment Group (Bronze), BellSouth Corporation, Herrera-Cristina Group, Ltd., MGM MIRAGE, Scholastic, Southwest Airlines (Presenting).

The four business sessions featured Frank Guerra, founder and CEO, Guerra DeBerry Coody; Adrienne Pulido, consultant, Gut of a Mouse; and Carlos Santiago, president and CEO, Santiago Solutions Group (Hispanic Market Analysis); Stephen C. Jordan, vice president and executive director, Center for Corporate Citizenship, The U.S. Chamber of Commerce; Steven A. Rochlin, director, Research and Policy Development, The Center for Corporate Citizenship at Boston College; and E. Diane White, head, Board Diversity Initiative, Calvert Group (The Corporate Responsibility Imperative); Rebecca M. Barrera, president and founder, National Latino Children's Institute and Patricia L. Garza, manager, Corporate Contributions, Kraft Foods (Corporate Responsibility and Accountability: Case Study); and Gilbert F. Casellas, president, Casellas & Associates, LLC; Theodore L Dysart, partner, Heidrick & Struggles, Inc.; and Robert R. Halperin, senior vice president, Executive Education/HBS Interactive, Harvard Business School (Corporate Governance: Insights for Board Preparation).