Awards banquet 2002, an evening with Edward James Olmos
For
Louis, Rick and Ron Cervantes it an honor to be nominated but an even bigger deal
to make their dad proud.
The brothers and co-owners of Classic Printing started their business 22 years
ago at the urging of their parents. For years they had watched their father work
hard in the printing business for other people and then later as a partner in
his own shop but he wanted more for his boys. In September the Cervantes brothers
were nominated as one of the Corpus Christi Hispanic Chamber of Commerce’s Small
Business’s of the Year.
"It kind of goes back to when we were kids... we were always striving to make
our parents proud," Rick said. "I think now we have really done that."
What started as a small shop in a 900-square-foot office has exploded into a full
service establishment complete with four-color presses and conference rooms set
in a 10,000 square-foot building.
The banquet itself was a grand success, with more than 500 people in attendance
to hear famed actor, producer, director and humanitarian Edward James Olmos speak
and to cheer on the year’s top members.
Olmos, said chairman Eloy Salazar, brought a strong message.
"He said that unless we educate our children we are going to have real problems,"
Salazar said.
He said members are committed to doing just that and work hard to provide yearly
scholarships to area students. The benefit, Salazar said, is not only to provide
assistance for students wanting to go on to college but to ensure they are helping
to build a solid workforce for the future.
Other 2002 Winners Include:
- Small Business of the Year: Cigars International -Amy Olvera began her business
career at 25 with Casa del Sol and Amy’s Botanica & Cigar Co. After a trip to
Miami with husband Humberto the two decided that cigars and cigar bars were the
way to go. Cigars International has been incorporated to Olvera Inc. and boasts
a Southside location, downtown location and is distributing to major bars restaurants
and country clubs throughout the city. The family is currently working on their
own cigar line.
- Small Business of the Year: Beauty & the Bistro- Michelle Roddel’s dream of
a full service party center came true in early 2002 when she opened the doors
to her beauty salon/boutique/restaurant/catering service. After six short months
in business Roddel hit her break-even point and expects this year’s revenue to
top $100,000.
- Business Person of the Year: Steve D. Cervantes- Cervantes vision and insight
have propelled his industrial supply company S&D; Sales Co. to the top. It is currently
one of the fastest growing Hispanic owned businesses in the nation. S&D; Sales
carries a wide variety of hart to find items and specialty products making jobs
easier for smaller companies and in turn helping their businesses to grow as well.
- Business Person of the Year: Frank Schwing - Frank Schwing, owner of Schwing
Diesel Company, has been recognized by the United State Chamber of Commerce for
having secured the largest sale in history by a private company, $65 million in
refurbished equipment, to the Peoples Republic of China. The equipment is being
used in the construction of the world’s largest hydroelectric dam at the Three
Gores on the Yangtze River. Over the years Schwing has been a noted businessman,
entrepreneur and economic developer who continues to support growth and productivity
for both Corpus Christi and Nueces County.
- Corporation of the Year: Wells Fargo - Wells Fargo understands the importance
of Hispanic businesses and has supported the Corpus Christi Hispanic Chamber of
Commerce for over 15 years. In 1997 they help to establish the Latino Business
Services Program, which includes credit cards and lines of credit, cash flow and
payroll management services and employee benefits. Wells Fargo was one of the
first businesses to establish a program geared specifically to minority owned
businesses and to date has lent more than $1.5 billion to help get them off the
ground.
- Community Advocate of the Year: Port of Corpus Christi Authority- The Port of
Corpus Christi is committed to helping the community flourish and understands
that one of the ways they can to that is by supporting the many efforts of the
Corpus Christi Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. This year they helped to make Americas
Unidas, the first ever international trade summit to be hosted in Corpus Christi,
a reality. The event opened the doors to the possibility of trade and long-term
businesses relationships with south Texas, Mexico and Central and South America.
- Community Advocate of the Year: CITGO Petroleum Corporation- Since its inception
in 1937 as Pontiac Refining Co. CITGO Petroleum Corporation has matured into one
of the most sophisticated and efficient fuel and petrochemical refineries in the
nation. The company has an economic impact of $500 million a year on the Corpus
Christi economy and an even greater impact on local organizations. Over the years
they have sponsored a number of events and support the American G.I. Forum, Corpus
Christi Minority Business Development Center and the National Hispanic Institute,
just to name a few.
- Chairman’s Award: Robert Tamez- Since joining the CITGO team in 1976 Tamez has
devoted the past 26 years to corporate citizenship. Encouraged by the corporation
to get involved he has served diligently to improve the community. For six years
Tamez has served the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce as a director, executive officer
and fundraising committee chairman.
For
Louis, Rick and Ron Cervantes it an honor to be nominated but an even bigger deal
to make their dad proud.