Leader works to empower Hispanics

Joe Aldaz Jr.’s life is, in many ways, about leadership.

Aldaz was hired last summer as executive director of the Colorado Springs Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, to lead the chamber in a new, more professional direction.

As founder and owner of the nonprofit Colorado Springs Stars B-Ball Academy, he seeks to mold the leaders of the future.

“We pride ourselves on having a program where we’re developing leadership and character through the platform of basketball,” he said.

He also challenges more Hispanic business owners to step forward as community leaders.

“I think we owe that to our youth here, because we still have a significant dropout rate with minorities, and especially Hispanics. So they need to see those role models and those successful Hispanic leaders so they can see you need an education to get to this point in your life.”

It was Aldaz’s leadership qualities and character that helped net him the job as executive director of the Hispanic chamber. His formal title has evolved into chamber president and chief executive officer.

“What we were looking for was somebody who had the professionalism, the organizational skills, the understanding of what needed to take place to take the chamber to its next level in terms of growth and sophistication,” said Ken Barela, chairman of the chamber’s board of directors.

Aldaz, who grew up in Raton, N.M., is an Air Force Academy graduate who served 21 years in the Air Force, retiring as a lieutenant colonel. He is married to Tami, his high school sweetheart, and they have two children, Alyssa, 18, and Steven, 14.

QUESTION: What help can the Hispanic chamber provide new or struggling businesses?

ANSWER: We’ve developed a new Web site that has a lot of businesses resources on there. We have a partnership with the Small Business Development Center, where our members can go and receive training at discounted prices. As we grow our membership, we will be able to provide more services.

Q: The chamber board of directors held a retreat in February. What was accomplished there?

A: We wanted to get the commitment to support our mission and vision and make sure that all our directors understand that. Our board is a true working board. They are not a governing and guidance type board yet. I am a staff of one performing all the functions of the Greater Colorado Springs Chamber of Commerce: membership recruitment, networking, building resources, going out to civic events and being that face of the Hispanic chamber.

Q: Is the Hispanic chamber pretty wellknown to the business and Hispanic communities here, or does it need to raise its profile?

A: I think we have significantly raised our profile. You can always improve it and brand your product better. We wanted to make sure we had a marquee annual dinner, which I think we successfully pulled off. We had Esai Morales as our keynote speaker and had the largest event ever for the chamber. We seated over 650 people that evening.

Q: What is your relationship with the other chambers in town?

A: We are trying to strive for a very closeknit partnership with the Greater Chamber, along with the Black Chamber of Commerce. We are investigating what a partnership would look like. If there would be another chamber that would want to get involved in that dialogue, we would welcome them. I think a lot of your success is built on relationships and partnerships. You can’t do it alone. I think there are things we can provide to the Greater Chamber that they may not have, even though we are smaller.

Q: What kind of business climate does Colorado Springs offer small businesses, especially Hispanic-owned businesses?

A: Our Hispanic population continues to grow. There are huge opportunities, especially with the influx of troops to Fort Carson over the next three years. There are going to be a lot of opportunities, especially in the services industry.

CONTACT THE WRITER: 636-0272 or bill.radford@gazette.com. Answers are edited for space and clarity. Send suggestions for a Q&A subject to joanna.bean@gazette.com.

MISSION STATEMENT

The mission of the Colorado Springs Hispanic Chamber of Commerce is to be “a vibrant organization dedicated to providing opportunities and resources to all businesses and individuals, with a focus on the Hispanic community and its culture.”

The word “all” is a recent addition to the mission statement — and a critical one, said Joe Aldaz Jr., chamber president and chief executive officer. “A lot of business owners are under the impression that the Hispanic chamber is just for Hispanic-owned businesses. We want to be all-inclusive.”

The chamber’s connections to the Hispanic community can be a valuable resource for non-Hispanicowned businesses, said Ken Barela, chairman of the chamber’s board of directors.

“We have access to and understanding of the fastestgrowing market segment in the country,” he said. The local Hispanic population has increased by 20 percent since 2000, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.