USHCC Elects New Chair and Vice Chair of The Board.

WASHINGTON -- The United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (USHCC) Board of Directors elected businessmen David Lizarraga Chair-Elect and Frank Rivera, Vice-Chair-Elect. The elections were held at a recent board meeting in Austin, Texas, site of the USHCC's 25th Annual National Convention.

"Mr. Lizarraga and Mr. Rivera are both well-known and respected business and community leaders at the local, state and national levels," said USHCC Acting President and CEO, J.R. Gonzales. "Combined their experience, vision and in depth understanding of small business will be integral to the continued growth of the USHCC and to the successful execution of its mission."

From the state of California, Lizarraga is recognized as one of the country's top Hispanic business leaders. He was elected to the USHCC Board of Directors in August of 2003 representing Region I, which is comprised of seven western states. Lizarraga is sought after as a resource for his guidance on issues involving the Hispanic community, business and civic affairs, inner-city lending and real estate development. For more than 28 years, Lizarraga has overseen the growth and expansion of The East Los Angeles Community Union (TELACU), a non-profit community development corporation founded in 1968, which is now the largest Hispanic business in Los Angeles County. He is a Managing Partner in TELACU Millennium and Millennium III as well as a partner in Millennium LMI.

From the state of Arizona, Rivera represents the mid-western states that make up Region II. He is President, CEO and majority owner of ATL, Inc., a construction management and construction company with offices in Phoenix, Tucson, Flagstaff and Globe, Arizona. ATL, Inc. currently employs over 55 individuals including professional engineers, engineers in training, certified construction inspectors, certified materials technicians, certified welding inspectors, geologists and environmental engineers. For over 35 years, ATL has provided construction inspection such as mass excavation, formwork, reinforcing steel placement, and concrete batching and placement. As ATL's CEO, Rivera manages and controls all financial decisions on behalf of the corporation.

Lizarraga and Rivera will assume their new roles as Chair and Vice Chair, respectively, after the USHCC Annual National Convention, which will be held September 15-18, 2004, in Austin, Texas.

The USHCC represents the interests of more than 1.2 million Hispanic-owned businesses in the United States and Puerto Rico, which earn more than $200 billion annually. It serves as the umbrella organization for more than 130 local Hispanic chambers nationwide, and it actively promotes the economic growth and development of Hispanic entrepreneurs. For more information visit www.ushcc.com.