Small business owners work hard, but even the hardest working owners need help to succeed. Latino business owners in Hayward have a unique helping partner in the Latino Business Roundtable (LBR), which connects business owners with each other and the community while providing all kinds
of information and support.Formed in 2004 by Francisco Zermeño and other Hayward business people, LBR has evolved into a unique force among business groups. Its success is likely due to a singular focus expressed by Zermeño: “How can we help the small business owner succeed?“ Back in 2004, Latino business owners were telling Zermeño that they wanted help with many things such as dealing with city government in getting business permits. As a small business owner in Hayward, Zermeño understood their needs. His recent election to Hayward City Council was based on a message of having a city government that serves local businesses in a way that allows them to grow and ultimately benefit the whole community.
LBR’s monthly meetings are lively gatherings that are part networking event, business seminar and community meeting. Led by Zermeño, the meetings bring together about fifty business owners. The educational part of the meeting is a, “presentation with something that you can use to grow your business,” says Zermeño. “We want a productive meeting with information that people can use,” he adds. The strong connection between members is visible in the way they promote, praise and patronize each other’s businesses.
Manada Roofing in Hayward is a great example of how LBR has helped businesses grow. Owned and operated by the Perez brothers, the company does all kinds of residential roofing and repairs throughout the Bay Area. Like many good businesses, they had most things necessary for a successful business: job expertise and a focus on quality work and customer satisfaction. Yet they needed other resources and skills to really build their business.
“Being involved with LBR has brought me connections with people - connections that help me to grow my business,” says Ricardo Perez, president of Manada Roofing. Ricardo also says that LBR events and meetings also helped him learn how to communicate better with people and to participate in group sessions. “Joining LBR was an opportunity to let people know about my business and to learn about other business and through this bring lots of clients,” he says.
Ricardo says that he also appreciates how LBR is trying to get Hispanic small business owners involved in the activities of the city and the Hayward Chamber of Commerce, of which LBR is an extension.
“LBR is about bringing Latino business owners into the mainstream of politics and education,” says Chamber of Commerce and LBR board member Alejandro Gamarra. He says that the importance of the Latino business community has been recognized by the city government
and key people in the larger business community, many of whom come to LBR events and meetings. “There’s a big connection that has been established,” he says. As owner of the Acapulco restaurants in Hayward, Gamarra sees the bigger opportunity for the whole business community to connect. “LBR started out being focused on Latino businesses and it is now truly a Hayward business roundtable where other people feel comfortable as well,” he says.
Jim Wieder, President and CEO of the Hayward Chamber of Commerce says that business groups like the chamber and LBR give people opportunities to open up about what they do and speak to a large crowd about their business and to sell yourself. He recognizes the size and growth of Latino businesses, which he says represent about 36 percent of all businesses in Hayward. “We recognize the need to serve the Hispanic business community and we’re meeting that need and looking to offer additional programs in the future,” he says.
Zermeño offers encouragement to prospective business owners: “You can open a business – all you need is a little effort, a little capital – you don’t need thousands and thousands of dollars,” he asserts. “And now there is an organization that can work closely with you to help you find a place for their business, to find a loan or connections with other business people,” he adds.
Ricardo Perez has a bigger vision of business today. “I believe that every business is part of the community so we have to give back,” he says. “Without your clients and the community you can’t survive.”
For more information about Latino Business Roundtable, contact the Hayward Chamber of Commerce at 510-537-2424 or Francisco Zermeño at 510-732-2746.