Adelante! Hispanic business growing by leaps and bounds - includes related article

New Mexico Business Journal, Dec, 1992 by Arlene Cinelli Odenwald

"People with good business sense understand the growing strength of the Hispanic consumer market," says Pacheco.

Not only are Hispanics interested in this growing sector of the economy, says Pacheco, but non-Hispanics are just as interested.

"About 40 percent of the Hispano chamber's membership, incidentally is non-Hispanic, non-minority," says Pacheco.

The Hispano chamber also has its own tourism and convention division directed by Cathy Gonzales.

The tourism division helps sponsor major citywide events, such as Albuquerque Founders' Day, the Mariachi Spectacular and Hispanic Heritage at the New Mexico State Fair.

Gonzales travels throughout the United States and Mexico to promote New Mexico.

Two major conventions are already slated for '93, including the Association of Internacional Ballet Folklorico and the Hispanics of Internal Revenue Employees.

The Hispano chamber also sponsored a conference last year for businessmen from Albuquerque, Chihuahua, Guadalajara and Juarez.

That, too, had its spinoff.

"It resulted in the opening of three Wellborn Paint distributorships in Chihuahua last October," says Pacheco.