Washington, DC–(HISPANIC PR WIRE)–August 24, 2007–The United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (USHCC) Board of Directors recently appointed six new Board Members. The new members represent a distinguished and diverse group of business leaders.

“These appointments enhance the strength of the USHCC Board of Directors,” said Board Chair David C. Lizárraga. “Each region is now represented on the Board by at least one Hispanic Business 500 entrepreneur. These accomplished professionals bring a wealth of experience and expertise that make our Board more effective in fulfilling USHCC’s mission to empower Hispanic business.”

This year’s appointees are:

Elizabeth Vasquez Gallagher, President and CEO of SAVI Construction and of Gallagher Group, Inc and Gallagher Group International will represent Region 1. As an entrepreneur, she has served in various women’s organizations and philanthropic groups including the National Association of Minority Contractors, National Association of Women in Construction, the Boy Scouts of America, and the USHCC Board of Directors. Ms. Gallagher, a native of Mexico was raised in Las Vegas, Nevada where she has been an entrepreneur since 1979 when she founded Air Nevada, a commercial airline that provided Grand Canyon tours and private charters. Her current business, SAVI Construction, specializes in commercial building, healthcare, public works, and industrial construction.

Sally Fernandez, representing Region 2, is the President and CEO of various Tucson-based technology and marketing companies that collectively earn over $20 million per year. The companies include The Fernandez Group, Technology Development and Research Institute, and Safety Dynamics, Inc. She also serves as the managing member of Unmanned Vehicle Technologies, LLC, a company that focuses on the development and commercialization of small unmanned vehicles for the support of national security and other commercial applications. Ms. Fernandez’ extensive work in corporate marketing, and the manufacture of medical and aircraft equipment has placed her among the 2007 “Top 500” Hispanic-owned businesses published by Hispanic Business Magazine. She currently serves on the United Way of America Board of Trustees.

The new Region 3 representative, Nina Vaca is the CEO of Pinnacle Technical Resources, Inc., which earned over $42 million in revenues in 2006, and is listed as number 130 in the 2007 Hispanic Business Magazine “Top 500” list. Ms. Vaca founded Pinnacle Technical Resources, Inc. in 1996 as an information technology services provider to Fortune 500 enterprises. The company is one of the fastest growing firms in the nation and is on track to earn over $200 million per year. Ms. Vaca has been honored by several prestigious national awards including the Hispanic Business Magazine “Entrepreneur of the Year Award,” and the coveted Ernst & Young 2005 Entrepreneur of the Year award for Technology and Communications for the Southwest Region. Her philanthropic endeavors include serving as the Chair of the Greater Dallas Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, and the Board of Governors for Dallas Symphony Association.

Juventino Cano, the new Region 4 representative, is the CEO of Cano Container Corporation, which is listed at number 284 in the 2007 Hispanic Business Magazine “Top 500” list. The Cano Container Corporation was founded in 1986 to provide goods and services to leading food and beverage corporations, and earned close to $17 million in revenues in 2006. Mr. Cano is a former member of the USHCC board an currently a member of the General Mills and Kraft Foods Supplier Diversity Minority Supplier Advisory Councils, and past President of the Board of Directors for the Aurora Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. He has also served on the Mercy Service Foundation and the Urban League, and has received numerous accolades including the “Minority Manufacturer of the Year” award by the State of Illinois.

Alex Garcia represents region 5 and is CEO of El Taller Colaborativo, which was listed 453 in the 2007 Hispanic Business Magazine “Top 500” list with revenues of over $7 million in 2006. He is a founding member of the United States Hispanic Advocacy Association and the Hispanic Hotel Owners Association, and serves on those national boards of directors. He also served on the Board of Directors for the USHCC and the Habitat for Humanity. He has been active with the Essex County Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, the New York State Federation of Hispanic Chambers of Commerce, and the Hispanic Business Council of Commerce and Industry Association of New Jersey.

David Hernandez is CEO of Liberty Power Corporation ranked number 63 in the 2007 Hispanic Business Magazine “Top 500” list. The company is an energy retailer serving more than 25,000 businesses throughout the U.S., and had revenues close to $120 million in 2006. Mr. Hernandez received the Entrepreneur of the Year award from the National Hispanic Professional Organization in 2006 and from Hispanic Business Magazine in 2005, and was named “Businessman of the Year” for Region 6 by the USHCC. Mr. Hernandez is a native of Cuba, and represents Region 6.

“Our new Board Members bring a wealth of experience to the USHCC,” said USHCC CEO and President Michael L. Barrera. “Their perspectives and expertise will further support our mission of enhancing business opportunities for Latino entrepreneurs so that they can continue to compete in a global economy.”

About the United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce

Founded in 1979, the USHCC actively promotes the economic growth and development of Hispanic entrepreneurs and represents the interests of more than two million Hispanic-owned businesses in the United States, which earn more than $350 billion annually. It also serves as the umbrella organization for 200 local Hispanic chambers in the United States, Canada, Puerto Rico and Mexico.

Note to editors: If you are interested in viewing additional information about the U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, please visit the USHCC Web page at http://www.ushcc.com/about on USHCC’s information pages. Web links, telephone numbers and titles were correct at time of release, but may since have changed. For additional assistance, journalists and analysts may contact USHCC’s Communications Team or other appropriate contacts listed at http://www.ushcc.com/contact.html.