Henry Cisneros, former Secretary of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), believes that diversity in business is more important than ever, and will share a call to action with the broad community as keynote speaker at the 2012 Annual Meeting Banquet of the Greater Quad Cities Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.

“Businesses owned by Hispanics and other minorities, as well as women, veterans, and individuals with disabilities, play an important role in society and need the support of the entire community,” said Alfred Ramirez, first president of the Greater Quad Cities Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. “Mr. Cisneros will discuss these concerns as part of his overall message of partnership and collaboration.”

The 2012 Annual Meeting Banquet of the Greater Quad Cities Hispanic Chamber of Commerce will be held 6-9 p.m. January 27, at the Waterfront Convention Center, 2021 State Street, Bettendorf, Iowa. The fundraising event includes a reception, dinner, silent auction, and music.

A Place in History
In 1981, Mr. Cisneros became the first Hispanic mayor of a major U.S. city. He served as mayor of San Antonio, Texas, from 1981 to 1989 and was instrumental in creating jobs, increasing tourism, and attracting new businesses to the area.

After serving as the Secretary of HUD from 1992 to 1997, Mr. Cisneros became the Chief Operating Officer of Univision Communications, the leading media company serving Hispanic America. The Univision Network is the most-watched Spanish-language broadcast television network in the country, reaching 97 percent of America’s Hispanic households.

He is currently the executive chairman of CityView, an institutional investment firm in Los Angeles, which he founded in 2000. The corporation works with urban homebuilders to build affordable housing for families, and has built more than 7,000 homes in 13 states. The combined value of these homes exceeds $2 billion. In 2007, he was inducted into Builders Hall of Fame of the National Association of Homebuilders. “Mr. Cisneros has brought great visibility to the vital importance of affordable housing,” Mr. Ramirez said.

Earlier this year, Cisneros was awarded the Urban Leadership Award from the Penn Institute for Urban Research. The award recognizes individuals who have made outstanding contributions to urban scholarship and to building today’s cities.

A Role Model in the Hispanic Community
“In working with Mr. Cisneros, I have witnessed his dedication to encouraging diversity in business,” Mr. Ramirez said. “Not only does it enrich people’s lives, but it also impacts economic development and the growth of the community. He is an important role model in the Hispanic community, and we are proud to have him as the keynote speaker at our annual meeting.”

The cost for the 2012 Annual Meeting Banquet before January 17 is $35 for members, $50 for non-members and $25 for students. After the deadline, cost will be $45 for members and $60 for non-members. Sponsorships are available for tables.

For more information on the 2012 Annual Meeting Banquet, or the Greater Quad Cities Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, visit http://www.gqchcc.com/2012_Annual.html or call (309) 797-8650.