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Briefcase
February 2006

Business center changes name: U.S. Treasurer visits ASU: AZHCC news.

BUSINESS CENTER GETS NEW NAME
Don't call it the Arizona Minority Business Development Center anymore.

Effective the first of the year, the center is now called the Arizona Minority Business Enterprise Center (AMBEC).

"None ofour services will change," said Roy Laos, project director for the AMBEC. He says the name changeis being made across the country by the Washington, D.C.-based U.S. Departmentof Commerce Minority Business Development Agency.

The AMBEC provides professional business consulting services and technical assistance tominority business owners in order to manage and grow their businesses. Thecenter primarily concentrates on those businesses that generate $500,000 ormore in annual revenues and have operated as a business for a minimum of oneyear. Services provided by the AMBEC include management counseling; businessstrategy; construction bonding assistance; procurement packaging assistance;minority certification and business plan development among other services.

For moreinformation, contact the AMBEC at (602) 248-0007 or via their Web site at www.azmbdc.org.


DEADLINEFOR CHAMBER AWARDS NOMINATIONS
The Arizona HispanicChamber of Commerce(AZHCC) has made it possible to download the nomination form for Entrepreneur,Man, Woman and Corporation of the Year as part of the third annual businessawards to be presented at the Black and White Ball in April 2006. The deadlinefor consideration of recipients is Feb. 10.

The recipients will behonored as part of the 48th Annual Black and White Ball to be held April 22 atthe Westin Kierland Resort and Spa, 6902 E. Greenway Parkway, Scottsdale.

Last year's recipients were: Daniel Villa Jr., Entrepreneur of theYear; Southwest Ambulance, Corporation of the Year; Gary Trujillo, Man of the Year; and Gov. Janet Napolitano,Woman of the Year.

CHAMBER,COX CREATE TV RECRUITMENT SPOT
In other AZHCC news, the chamber and Cox Communications haveteamed up to produce a membership recruitment television spot that will airover several Cox cable channels approximately 900 times in few months. The30-second spot began airing in December and is scheduled to run thro ugh Feb.15.

"This is a greatexample of one of our corporate partners stepping up to the plate to help us with our goal of recruiting and growing our membership base," said Harry Garewal, president and CEO ofthe AZHCC. "To my knowledge, we are the only local chamber of commerce doingrecruitment via the television airwaves."

The spot touts thebenefits of joining, while also letting local businesses know that you don't have to be Hispanic to become a member.

Cox and the Chamberexpect to release a Spanish-language version of the TV spot this year.Information: Joseph Ortiz, director of communications, AZHCC, (602) 279-1800 or Josepho@azhcc.com

U.S. TREASURER AT ASU
Anna Escobedo Cabral,Treasurer of the United States, gathered with Arizona business leaders, students andW.P. Carey School Faculty recently at the Arizona State campus for a discussionon "The Power of Education and Economic Growth on Jobs/ Financial Opportunitiesin the Latino Community."

Cabral addressedissues concerning U.S. economic growth and financial education issues affecting the Latino community. Financial planning was also on the agenda, addressing the importance of maximizing 401 K / pension contributions and saving for thefuture.

Cabral was nominatedby President Bush in December 2004 to serve as Treasurer of the United States. Prior to joining the Treasury Department, Cabral was the Director of theSmithsonian Institution's Center for Latino Initiatives where she championed Latino representation in exhibits and public programming.

CPLC JOINS AIRPORT SHUTTLE PROJECT
Shuttleport Arizona, Chicanos Por La Causa Inc., and Torrez International have entered into a joint employment venture to help the City of Phoenix to enhance Sky Harbor International's position as a leading airport and regional economic engine. Thejoint venture will provide rental-car center shuttle bus operations at theairport.

Shuttleport operates at the new centralized rental car center, 1805 E. Sky Harbor Circle South. The center opened in early January. The facility houses 13 companies and 5,600 rental cars, providing passengers a one-stop shop for dropping off or picking up a rental. Buses now shuttle customers back and forth from the $175 million center to the airport terminals.

Currently Shuttleport has employment opportunities for individuals to fill the positions of customer service representatives and bus operators. All shifts are available, full and part time; if applicants don't have a commercial driver's license, Shuttleport will provide paid training.

Applications are now being accepted at Chicanos Por La Causa's main office, 1112 E. Buckeye Road, Phoenix. Information: (602) 257-0700.


KID & RUBEN OUT, JOHNJAY & RICH IN
Tucson's high ratedmorning radio show hosts can now be heard on Phoenix airwaves. Clear Channel Radio's Tucson morning teamof Johnjay and Rich have taken over the morning slot at 104.7 KISS FM in Phoenix with a mixof entertainment, music, information and celebrity guests.

In what Clear Channel executivesare calling a unique arrangement, the duo will work in both markets, together, physically splitting their time between Phoenix and Tucson (93.7 KRQ). The live Arizona's Morning Show will air in both markets simultaneously from 5:30 to 10 a.m. daily. The pair replaces the Krazy Kid and Ruben Sin the Morning show. The former duo wrote a column for Latino Perspectives Magazine for several months.

Earlier this year,Johnjay and Rich were nominated as the top morning show of the year by Radio & Records magazine.Information: www.johnjayandrich.com


RUBIO'S OPENS IN SOUTH PHOENIX
Valley Mexican food fans got a holiday culinary gift of sorts when a new Rubio's Fresh Mexican Grill opened on Christmas Eve at the Legacy Village Shopping Center at the corner of24th Street and Baseline Road.

Rubio's Restaurants Inc., which began with a single restaurant in San Diego in 1983, now has 154 across California, Arizona, Nevada, Utah and Colorado. There are 18 Rubio's locations in the Valley and four in Tucson.

Rubio's features fish tacos and Mexican seafood, as well as carnitas, charbroiled chicken and carne asada. Information: www.rubios.com.


NATIVE AMERICAN HEALTH MANAGEMENT
Dr. Donald Warne recently foundedAmerican Indian Health Management & Policy, a consulting company in theValley that bridges the gap between Native American patients and health services.

"Our company's mission is to improve the lives and health of our Native people, while still embracing cultural beliefs and community needs," says Warne, who also serves as presidentand CEO of AIHMP.

David Tonemah is vice president andchief of Operations. He says the company provides tribal communities with abusiness model to better design effective healthcare programs.

In addition, the groupprovides program assessments and education programs to government agencieswhile helping health care service providers understand the beliefs, values, andcommunication styles of Natives. Information: David Tonemah at (602) 424-5011.


HISPANIC TALENT CATCH A BREAK
Liz Topete-Stonefield, owner ofmulticultural ad firm Topete-Stonefield, Inc., recently conducted a talentsearch in Phoenix to find Spanish-speaking men, women and children to serve asradio voices for her advertising and marketing clients.

More than 400 applicants showed up. Seventy-five of those were selected and many already have been used in commercials produced at Phoenix-based Big-U Music Sound Design,Inc.
Topete-Stonefieldsays, "Many of these voices would have never been discovered without the opentalent call."

Topete-Stonefield alsohas an office in Mexico City. Information: www.topete-stonefield.com

RIOSALADO FILLS EMPTY CLASSROOMS
Rio Salado College and Phoenix Elementary School District recently celebrated the December opening of Rio SaladoCollege/AnnOttAdult Learning Center Grand Opening.

The elementary schoolwas closed this past summer due to low enrollments. Phoenix Elementary School District No.1 was looking for alternative ways to make use of the facility. RioSalado College, one of the largest providers of adult basic education programs, was in need of more space for these programs. The college forged a partnership with the Phoenix Elementary School District for a win/win situation.

By acquiring 25percent of the Ann Ott facility, Rio Salado has tripled its adult learningcenter space from about 4,000 feet to more than 13,000 square feet andincreased the number of classrooms from four to seven. This expansion alsoallows Rio Salado to serve more students and provide them with instructionspecific to their level.

Currently, 14,000students are participating in Rio Salado CollegeÕs Adult Basic Education Programs. Information: Contact: Maribeth All, marketing coordinator, (480) 517-8468, or visit http://www.rio.maricopa.edu/ci/programs/abe.shtml.


CUNARDLINE BOOKS MARKETER
Cunard Line Ltd, has taken a new crewmember aboard.

Discover the World Marketing will now handle the British cruise line's sales and marketing in Panama.

Cunard, known forships such as the Queen Mary 2, had already employed Scottsdale-based Discoverthe World to handle its sales and marketing in Argentina, Brazil, Chile and Uruguay.

"We have successfullydemonstrated that our offices in Latin America have been an asset to CunardLine in marketing their product," said Jenny Adams, chief executive of Discover the World.

Discover the WorldMarketing has 83 offices in 54 countries, representing more than 50 majortravel companies. Information: www.discovertheworld.com