Hbif Plays Pivotal Role in Hispanic Business Success
Sweet Success for Tampa Chocolatier
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Tampa , FL -- Of businesses that fail , 85 % do so in the first five years . It ’ s all the more reason that the owners of Schakolad Chocolate Factory in south Tampa are happy to celebrate their 5th anniversary this year . Their success is due in large part to assistance from the Hispanic Business Fund Initiative West Coast , Inc . ( HBIF ). Created in Hillsborough County in 1991 to provide bilingual and bicultural technical assistance to budding Hispanic entrepreneurs and businesses , HBIF is considered the leading Hispanic business development organization in Florida , and a model for other cities across the state and
the country .
In the case of the owners of Schakolad
Chocolate Factory , the economic downturn in months following September 11 , 2001 led cousins Jacqueline Salcedo and Valentina Ludert to lose their jobs early in 2002 . Salcedo ’ s employer moved to California , and Ludert ’ s employer downsized . Salcedo , with twenty years ’ experience in customer service , and Ludert , adept at computers and finance , faced uncertain times , but they were certain about two things : they were convinced that Tampa would remain their home , and they knew that they never again wanted someone else to be their boss .
“ I was not going to move to California ,” says Salcedo . “ My mother always made us feel comfortable around the kitchen , ever since we were children in Venezuela , and when Valentina and I found out about the franchise ‘ Schakolad ,’ we thought the name was beautiful . We knew we ’ d found the business we wanted to do .”
The road to success was not without challenges . “ The first year of our business was horrible , and the second year we started wondering whether to stay open or close .” That ’ s when the Hispanic Business Initiative Fund stepped in . HBIF offers management training programs , professional services , and specialized technical assistance for the Hispanic entrepreneur to improve opportunities for Hispanic businesses .
“ The economic development concept of HBIF has been so successful in the Tampa Bay Area that it is being expanded to other cities in Florida ,” says Yanina Rosario , President , HBIF West Coast , Inc .
“ The look of satisfaction on customers ’ faces when they try Schakolad chocolates the first time is the greatest reward ,” says Salcedo . “ We don ’ t aim to make millions ,” says Salcedo . “ We just want to live comfortable and be our own boss . We want to be a part of the world , not own the world .”
“ For us success comes in many different ways ,” says Rosario . “ Some of the HBIF clients we have today include a one-man manufacturing business that we are helping with financing , a small restaurant we helped with licenses and now with insurance , and a client who , after evaluating the business plan we helped to prepare , discovered that the business she wanted to buy was not a good investment . Success for us indeed comes in many different ways .”
The mission of the Hispanic Business Initiative Fund , West Coast is to strengthen the economy of the Tampa Bay Region through quality business technical assistance and training for small businesses in the Hispanic Community . The Hispanic Business Initiative Fund ( HBIF ) accomplishes its mission with a variety of management training programs , professional services , and specialized technical assistance for the Hispanic entrepreneur . The implementation of this initiative enhances opportunities for Hispanic businesses to make a valuable contribution to the regional economy by providing them the necessary tools to build successful enterprises . HBIF is a community based 501 ( c ) 3 non-profit organization . All earnings from operations funds , donations , and charitable contributions shall only benefit clients of HBIF . HBIF is located at 7402 N . 56th St ., Bldg . 400 , Suite 425 , Tampa , FL 33617 .
Creating a Professional Business Image
By : Ivette Mayo
etting dressed for the office doesn ’ t mean leaving your personal style behind . Your goal to getting dressed for
Gwork is to project a professional , competent image , regardless of
your employment level or career path . The styles , colors , lengths and fit of your fashion choices will speak volumes about your ability to do your job . If you are concerned about your career , you ’ ll be more concerned with looking professional than looking cute or trendy . Don ’ t let your choices make a fashion victim out of you .
Career Killers
Unlike a fashion faux pas , a career killer outfit can do your professional image permanent damage .
Looks to avoid in the workplace :
Too sexy
see-through lace , miniskirts , spaghetti straps , sheer sundresses , strappy
stiletto sandals . Too casual
jeans , shorts , T-shirts , hats , sneakers . Too sloppy
wrinkled clothing , too many layers , baggy-fit clothing .
Don ’ t know where to start working on your career image ? You ’ re not alone because most companies don ’ t have specific guidelines about what to wear to work . Keep this information in mind when getting dress for work or work related event .
Business Dress Codes
Formal Business Attire
For women this constitutes business suits ( a matched skirt and jackets ) and , in most workplaces , pantsuits ( matched pants and blazer ). Closedtoe shoes ( no sandals ), blouses , hose and conservative hair , jewelry and
makeup are expected . Corporate Casual Looks
Working women have interpreted this to mean everything from shorts to sundresses , but in its most literal sense it means “ smart business .” Dressy pants and a blouse , sleek jersey knits and skirts and tops are all examples of corporate casual . Denim , T-shirts and flip-flops are only
acceptable in the most casual of work environments . Casual Friday
Depending on the business , this can mean anything from corporate casual instead of formal looks or “ Wear your company logo polo and jeans .” If in doubt , ask a superior or manager .
When selecting items for your professional wardrobe , keep in mind the significant of color and fit . Traditional career colors include red ( aggressive ), navy ( trustworthy ), gray ( conservative ) and black ( chic ). Most of these colors work well in pantsuits , skirts and shoes and mix back with softer feminine colors that are appropriate like ice blue , lilac , soft pink and ivory . Loud colors like hot pink and wild prints are much riskier in the office , but some creative types can still pull them off . So use caution when selecting them . Fit is everything when you are talking about tailored work clothes . Pants should be fitted . Skirts , especially straight styles like pencil skirts , should be loose enough to sit down in comfortably . Jackets should be able to be buttoned . And blouses shouldn ’ t gap between buttonholes .
Someone once told me “ Dress for the job that you want not the job that you have .” That thought is always with me when I am getting ready for my day in the office or meeting clients . Keep this in mind ; you only have five seconds to make a first impression . Don ’ t let your cloths do all the talking ! Make good choices when it comes to your professional image .
October - December 2007 | LATIN TIMES MAGAZINE 11