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Hispanic chamber expands

By WAVENEY ANN MOORE
Published September 21, 2005

ST. PETERSBURG - The Tampa Bay Hispanic Chamber of Commerce is forming a Pinellas County chapter to meet the growth of Hispanic businesses in the area.

"We listened to the demands of our membership," said Jackie Rojas-Quinones, president of the organization.

It has been difficult for Pinellas County members to attend the chamber's sessions in Tampa, she said.

The organization, which has members in Pinellas, Pasco and Hillsborough counties, started a Plant City chapter in August. About 60 new members joined, Rojas-Quinones said.

The Pinellas County chapter will be launched with a party at 5:30 p.m. Thursday at Lokey Motor Co., 19820 U.S. 19 N, Clearwater. A salsa band will play for the gathering and Latin food and drinks will be served. The chapter will hold its first general membership meeting at 11:30 a.m. Oct. 4 in the Columbia Restaurant at the Pier.

Rojas-Quinones said the goal is for the Pinellas and Plant City groups to develop into independent chapters of the U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. Until then, a committee of board members and staff from Tampa will oversee day-to-day operations.

The Tampa Bay area is one of the fastest growing Hispanic business centers in the South, said Rojas-Quinones, who runs Accounting & Beyond, an accounting and paralegal business.

The Tampa Bay Hispanic Chamber, which was established in 1976, has more than 450 members. This month it was named Medium Hispanic Chapter of the Year for Region 6.

The Tampa Bay Hispanic organization, which is not part of the Greater Tampa Chamber of Commerce, conducts its business in English. The organization is open to non-Hispanics, Rojas-Quinones said.

[Last modified September 21, 2005, 00:24:18]