Tag Archives: West Michigan Hispanic Chamber of Commerce

Two WMHCC board members recognized as GRBJ’s ’40 Under 40′

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Luis Avila (photo supplied)

By West Michigan Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (WMHCC)

 

WMHCC’s Luis Avila, Board President, and Amy Marshall, Board Secretary have been recognized as two of this year’s Grand Rapids Business Journal’s ’40 Under 40′ for their professional acumen, servant leadership, and community advocacy.
Since 2002 the GRBJ has recognized over 300 progressive young professionals who have achieved personal success and made noteworthy civic contributions to the community. This year’s honorees will be feted at GRBJ’s 2018 40 Under 40 Party on Wednesday, Oct. 17 at 20 Monroe Live.
After working in Geneva, Switzerland for the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Avila joined Varnum in 2011. Avila focuses his practice on labor, employment and immigration matters.
In addition to his work as an attorney, Avila currently serves as the President of the Board of Directors for the West Michigan Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, and as a board member at the Grand Rapids Ballet, Grand Rapids Symphony and Grand Rapids Art Museum. In 2014, Governor Rick Snyder appointed Avila to serve on the Board of Medicine for the State of Michigan.
Avila has been named to the GRBJ’s ’40 under 40′ on four separate occasions. In addition, he has been named a Rising Star by Michigan Super Lawyers and to the Lawyers of Color ‘Hot List’.
Amy Marshall (photo supplied)

Marshall is a Managing Partner at Management Business Solutions (MBS). Marshall started her journey at MBS in February 2009. As of February 2014, she achieved her goal of officially becoming a part-owner of MBS.

She is also currently serving on three Executive Boards of Directors in Grand Rapids: The West Michigan Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (Secretary), the YMCA Spartan Stores (Board Chair) and The Maria Lida Foundation (Secretary). She also volunteers with many local organizations including our Communities Children to help develop youth for employment opportunities.
In 2010 and 2012, Marshall received the ​GRBJ’s ​’40 Under 40′ Award and was a nominee for the ATHENA Young Professional Award. Amy has also received the ’50 Most Influential Women in West Michigan’ Award through the ​GRBJ.

5 Local Things You Need to Know: Headlines for the Week

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By WKTV Staff

joanne@wktv.org

 

Wyoming/Kentwood: Transformando West Michigan

Shawn Kohlhaas, owner of Culinary Cultivations, talks to participants in the Transformando West Michigan program.

 

The West Michigan Hispanic Chamber of Commerce launched its newest intiative Transformando West Michigan, “Feeding Minds, Mouths, and Pockets.” The goal of this program is to provide Hispanic business owners currently working or with the desire to work in the food industry with the necessary financial tools and food safety knowledge to become successful. 

 

The inaugural class kicked off at Gordon Food Service. The class is six sessions over three months with those who complete the program receiving food safety certification required by the health department of any restaurant operator.

 

For more on the story, click here. 

 

Kentwood: The Vibe gala is coming up

Garrett Bazany in Kentwood’s adapted water ski clinic.

 

Got your tickets to the Kentwood Parks and Recreation’s The Vibe yet? The event is set for Friday, May 18. The third annual fundraiser benefits the Kentwood’s Adaptive Sports programs, which provide recreation opportunities for individual with disabilities.

 

Tickets for the semi-formal event are $100 per person and can be purchased online at kentwoodvibe.com or by call 616-656-5270.

 

For more on this story, click here.

 

Wyoming: Buck Matthews makes last appearance

Buck Matthews

Once known as the voice of West Michigan, Buck Matthews is on his farewell tour offering one last piece of advice: write down and share your stories.

 

Matthews will be at First & Main of Metro Health Village, 6812 Village Dr. SW, Wednesday, May 9, to talk about his latest book, “The Book in Each of Us.” The program is at 2 p.m. In the book, Matthews discuss the experience of writing and encourages others to do the same to share their stories.

 

For on this story, click here.

 

Wyoming: Concerts in the Park schedule announced

The Wyoming Community Enrichment Commission has released its 2018 Concerts in the Park line-up. The series runs from June 5 to Aug. 7. All concert are at 7 p.m. at Lamar Park.

 

To see the schedule, click here.

 

West Michigan: Local African-American music scene

A student-produced film on the history of black musicians in Grand Rapids will be shown Thursday, May 10 at Celebration Cinema North, as well as on Xfinity On Demand cable TV beginning the same day.

 

A student-produced film,  “Rhythm and Race: A History of African American Music in Grand Rapids,” on the history of black musicians in Grand Rapids will be shown Thursday, May 10, at Celebration Cinema North, as well as on Xfinity On Demand cable TV beginning the same day. The screening is at 6:30 p.m. followed by a panel discussion.

 

For more on the story, click here.

WM Hispanic Chamber of Commerce launches new initiative to reduce barriers in food industry

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Shawn Kohlhaas, owner of Culinary Cultivations, talks to participants in the Transformando West Michigan program.

By Joanne Bailey-Boorsma

joanne@wktv.org

 

A new initiative designed to reduce barriers in the food industry for Hispanic business owners and those interested in the industry was well received by business leaders and members of the Hispanic community.

 

The group gathered at the Gordon Food Service Distribution Center on Monday, May 7, for the inaugural Transformando West Michigan initiative, “Feeding Minds, Mouths, and Pockets.” The goal of this program is to provide Hispanic business owners currently working or with the desire to work in the food industry with the necessary financial tools and food safety knowledge to become successful. 

 

“This is a bridge that really needed to be built,” said Shawn Kohlhaas, owner of Culinary Cultivations, which provides food safety certification, event staffing and hospitality consulting in Michigan. 

 

West Michigan Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Guillermo Cisneros greets guests and participants.

Guillermo Cisneros, executive director for the West Michigan Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, the driving force behind the new initiative, said he has spent the last year working on developing the program and was thrilled to see it launch. 

 

The first phase of Transformando West Michigan is six sessions that will take place over the next three months. Through these sessions, which are lead by Principal Financial and Culinary Cultivations, participants will receive financial and food safety certification classes that will allow their business to have increased knowledge in areas like cashflow, wealth creation, bookkeeping/accounting, customer service, and food safety. Those who complete the program will receive food safety certification required by the health department of any restaurant operator. A graduation ceremony is planned for August. 

 

Much of the materials and the final exam to obtain certification will be in Spanish, which will help to break down some of the barriers many in the Hispanic community have faced when trying to open or operate food-based businesses. Even the opening program was mostly in Spanish to connect with the participants.

 

As part of the program’s efforts to reduce barriers and provide accessible professional services, program participants will be eligible to receive free legal services from the Varnum law firm through its MiSpringboard program. In addition, the program will provide participants access to financial institutions, certified public accountants (CPAs), attorneys, insurance experts and other consultants. Such access will allow these business owners to increase their support network and access resources within the West Michigan community. The Hispanic Chamber will also provide program participants with mentors who will work one on one with them on specific areas of their businesses, thereby offering personalized answers and targeted assistance. 

 

Cisneros said the West Michigan Hispanic Chamber of Commerce received a multi-year grant from The Wege Foundation, which totaled $167,000. This allowed the Hispanic Chamber to secure the resources needed to create the program and hire a program manager.

 

The Chamber also was able to partner with a number of local businesses that include Culinary Cultivations, Principal Financial, Gordon Food Services, Varnum, Grand Valley State University and the West Michigan Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Foundation.