USHCC Foundation announces Honorary Convention Co-Chairs.

The USHCC Foundation is pleased to announce that Mr. Alberto E. de la Cruz, President and CEO of Coca-Cola Puerto Rico Bottlers and Coca-Cola St. Marteen, Trinidad and Tobago and Ms. Kimberly Casiano, President and COO of Casiano Communication have been named Honorary Co-Chairs for the USHCC Foundations and its activities at the 2007 Annual Convention and International Pavilion. The USHCC 2007 Annual Convention and International Pavilion will take place September 19-22, 2007 in San Juan, Puerto Rico. The USHCC Foundation selection of its Convention Honorary Co-Chairs is done, as in this case with dynamic and extremely successful entrepreneurs such as Mr. de la Cruz and Ms. Casiano, to highlight prominent Latino and Latina entrepreneurs that best represent the philanthropic mission of the USHCC Foundation. The designation of Honorary Co-Chairs is also intended to serve as further illustration and expression of the wide ranging interest and involvement of corporate and philanthropic partners for this convention in Puerto Rico.

“On behalf of the USHCC Foundation Board of Directors, I would like to thank Mr. de la Cruz and Ms. Casiano for their acceptance of our invitation to serve as USHCC Foundation Honorary Co-Chairs for the 2007 convention,” said USHCC Foundation Chair Massey Villarreal. “We are privileged to have individuals of their caliber and entrepreneurial success agreeing to lend their full support to the USHCC Foundation, support that will ensure that this upcoming Annual Convention and International Pavilion will draw participants to Puerto Rico from throughout the Americas.”

“The 2007 USHCC Convention provides an excellent environment for business executives, entrepreneurs and corporate America to come together and Puerto Rico is a phenomenal venue for an international convention,” said Luis Torres Llompart Convention Chair. “I am honored to serve as USHCC Foundation and USHCC Convention Chair for this extraordinary business gathering of the USHCC National and International Network.”

“We are pleased to bring this year’s convention to the island of Puerto Rico and honored to have Mr. de la Cruz and Ms. Casiano serve in their respective honorary philanthropic roles,” said Frank Lopez USHCC Foundation President and CEO. “This convention will be unique and with this uniqueness we look to offer a variety of timely and practical sessions and workshops that will benefit entrepreneurs from Puerto Rico, the Caribbean and throughout the Americas.”

During the convention the USHCC Foundation will host a series of events which include the 7th Annual Golf Classic, a wealth-building policy and procurement focused plenary session, the National Leadership & Chamber Excellence Training Institute, the Small Business and Workforce Development Pavilion and the National Latino Youth Entrepreneurship BizFest. In addition to these events, the USHCC Foundation will also scholarship a series Chamber executives from across the United States, who on their own may not be able to afford the costs associated with participating in the Convention (travel, lodging and registration fees). Through these scholarships, Hispanic chamber executives will have the opportunity to participate in the convention activities and take the acquired tools and resources back home chambers to put to use to the benefit of their respective members.

On March 14, 2007 the USHCC officially announced that Mr. Luis Torres Llompart will serve as USHCC Foundation and USHCC 2007 Convention Chair. At that time the USHCC also announced that Mr. Richard L. Carrion, Chairman, President and CEO of Popular, Inc. and Mr. Luis Miranda, Chairman and CEO, Universal Insurance Group will serve as USHCC Honorary Chairs of the 2007 Convention.

The 28th National Convention and International Pavilion will take place in San Juan, Puerto Rico, September 19-22, 2007.