Hispanic Chamber of Columbus names first Executive Director
Tom Lianez was named the first executive director in the 5-year history of the Hispanic Chamber of Columbus.
“I’m looking forward to the challenge to grow the organization and to see how we can improve our services - not just to the Latino community but also to Columbus business community,” he said.
Lianez’s new position speaks to the growing strength of the Hispanic business community in central Ohio and its influence on the economy. The HCC has grown from a small group of less than five members to an active organization with more than 70 corporate and individual members.
The HCC plans to end 2008 with 125 members and be 190 strong by 2009.
“My goal is to build a strong slate of benefits for all of our members, including educational and networking opportunities and to generally build a stronger organization that can provide services to the businesses and reach out into the community in general,” said Lianez, 51.
Lianez’s experience as a manager, consultant and community advocate will help him increase HCC membership and implement training programs for Hispanic entrepreneurs and businesses eager to reach the growing Latino community, he said.
According to a recent Census report, Latinos are projected to be the country’s largest minority group - 132.8 million – in 2050.
That growth is already impacting central Ohio said the Zanesville resident.
“We're seeing more and more Latino youth in the schools, the growing class of Latino entrepreneurs and incredible increases in Latino buying power,” he said. “A stronger business class in the Latino community will certainly benefit everyone.”
Central Ohio was home to 1,166 Hispanic-owned businesses in 2002, according to Census numbers.
In Franklin County between 2000 and 2007, Latinos had the fastest growth rate of any racial or ethnic group: 7.46 percent. In the same period, their growth rate in the under-5-years-old category, 11.43 percent, was also the largest.
Their total population in the county is estimated at 40,000 to 60,000.
The Selig Center for Economic Growth reported that Hispanics had a buying power of $4.4 billion in Ohio in 2004, up from $1.4 billion in 1990*.
Lianez’s role will become increasingly important to all central Ohioans as the Latino community grows. He is charged with working to assist the economic development of Hispanic firms, increasing relationships between the corporate and public sectors and Latino-owned businesses and monitoring legislation that will affect the Hispanic business community. Responsibilities, he said, he’s happy to take on.
HCC mission: Our mission is to promote and facilitate the success of Hispanic businesses in central Ohio.