Washington, DC--(HISPANIC PR WIRE - PRNewswire)--March 11, 2008--The United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (USHCC) Board of Directors announced today the appointment of two new board members. The new board members are distinguished and accomplished business professionals with expertise to enhance the strength of the USHCC Board of Directors.

“Our new board members bring significant skills in human resources, corporate board development, procurement and manufacturing which enhance and strengthen the USHCC Board of Directors,” said Board Chairman David C. Lizárraga. “Additionally, they give voice to the needs of small businesses in Michigan, Illinois and their entire region. Their significant achievements in their respective industries, along with their community contributions, add a wealth of experience and expertise that make our Board more effective in fulfilling its mission.”

The new board members are:

David Gomez, Founder, CEO and President of David Gomez & Associates, Inc, one of the nation’s largest Hispanic-owned search firms specializing in executive search and corporate board placement. He has built strategic relationships to help lead the nation’s leading companies meet their human capital needs, including GMAC Mortgage, Exelon, Motorola, General Mills, Sodexho, and Wellpoint. Mr. Gomez is a committed community leader with significant community involvement. He is a former member of the Illinois State Board of Education. He is also a founding member of the New America Alliance and has served as the Co-Chair for Corporate Board Initiatives to increase the presence of Latinos on corporate boards. Mr. Gomez has served as a director of Scholarship Chicago, Chicago United, and Children’s Memorial Hospital. He is also a founding member of the United Community Bank of Lisle. He has received numerous awards for his contributions, including the “Entrepreneurial Spirit Award” from Minorities in Business magazine and the “Corporate Elite” award from Hispanic Business magazine.

Steven Gutierrez, President of Gutierrez Industries, Inc. and Gutierrez Enterprises, Inc. and an owner of Thorton’s Auto Salvage from Ann Arbor, Michigan. Gutierrez Industries, Inc. is an international supplier of industrial cutting tools, abrasives, hand power tools, engineering services, machining services, and design/building construction services in the United States and Mexico to multiple industrial sectors. Thorton’s is a full-service auto salvage company that also specializes in the supply of headlights and tail lights nationally. Mr. Gutierrez previously served as CEO/Chairman of Regal Industries, Inc, and Vice President for 12 years of Global Aluminum Wheels for Reynolds International Service Company, a subsidiary of Reynolds Metals Company where he managed all product development, engineering, sales and marketing and plant operations for all Reynolds Aluminum Wheel facilities throughout Italy, Venezuela, Canada and the United States. He also served as a Product Design Engineer and later in Purchasing in the area of Procurement and Strategic Supplier Planning for Ford Motor Company. Mr. Gutierrez is a Veteran of the United States’ Armed Forces and has significant community involvement as a board member of OCHN Nursing Home ministries, Nursing Home Visitation Ministry Program, the Calvary Baptist Church, and a member of the Elder Board of Directors for Calvary Baptist Church and the First Latin American Baptist Church.

“These new Board Members bring a wealth of experiences to the USHCC,” said USHCC Interim President and CEO Augustine Martinez. “Their perspectives and expertise will further support our mission of enhancing business opportunities for Hispanic entrepreneurs, and we are excited to have them among our leadership at the USHCC.”

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 2.5 million Hispanic-owned businesses in the United States that generate more than $388 billion annually. It also serves as the umbrella organization for 200 local Hispanic chambers in the United States, Puerto Rico, Canada, Mexico, Bolivia and Uruguay.

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