“I now have a different vision about what it means to have a successful business, and even though it won’t be easy, I’m very motivated to be an entrepreneur…”

This great quote is one of several we received from participants during the Arlington Economic Development BizLaunch Bootcamp, a two-day, intensive business training done in partnership with the Northern Virginia Community College and the Ibero Chamber of Commerce.  All of the participants raved about the Bootcamp for many reasons, but most of all because it was in Spanish. Even though our participants spoke both English and Spanish, they said that having events in their native language made a difference.

A special thanks goes to our sponsor Chevy Chase Bank and media partners NBC4 and radio station El Zol 99.1FM for their continued support of this and countless other events.

If you would like to participate in future events or become a member, please visit our website or call us. We have exciting new events scheduled for this month and a variety of upcoming events next year that you don’t want to miss out on!  One of the Bootcamp attendees said it best:  “The Bootcamp has been one of the best trainings I have ever received.  Thank you so much for this opportunity.”

Daniel Flores
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________

● It is Official- the Puerto Rican Figure Skating Federation (PRFSF) has been accepted as a full member, pursuant to an International Skating Union Council meeting held in Switzerland, mid October. After two years and a long list of achievements as a provisional member this communication was met with great enthusiasm. PRFSF seeks to ‘inspire the lives of young Latinos and foster the development of competitive athletes in the world of figure skating’. To learn more log on to www.prfsf.com
 

New Members, Welcome!
● Soluciones Contables & Financieras. www.scfamerica.com
● The Oliver Group. www.theolivergroup.com
● Demeo PLLC, CPA. www.demeocpa.com
 

Thank you for you Renewal!
● Syntaxis, LLC. www.syntaxisllc.com

 

Workshops
 

● SAVE THE DATE! Jueves, Noviembre 16 de 2006. Seminario: Financiación para su Pequeno Negocio. ¿Es usted propietario de un pequeño negocio y está buscando financiación o información empresarial? ¿Le gustaría conocer más acerca de los beneficios y servicios que el Small Business Administration (SBA)  ofrece en el área metropolitana de Washington?  ¡Este seminario está diseñado para usted! – únase a nosotros en este seminario y descubra nuevas estrategias que puede poner en práctica para desarrollar su negocio.
Hora: 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Lugar: Arlington Central Library. 1015 N Quincy Street. Arlington, VA 22201
Regístrese llamando a Adam Beebe al 202 728 0352 o abeebe@iberochamber.org

Business Events

Wednesday, November 8th, 2006 and Saturday, November 18th, 2006

● ABCs of Starting a Business. Sponsored by Women's Business Center of Northern Virginia (WBCNOVA).This is the place to start. Our orientation workshop takes your business idea from start to finish. Get the tools to successfully start and grow your small business including topics such as: What does it take to be an entrepreneur? Where do you get licensed and registered? How do you select the right legal form for your business? Where can you get money for start up? What's a business plan and why do you need one? How do our classes and free counseling work?
Time: 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
Where: 7001 Loisdale Road, 2nd Floor, Springfield, VA
Fee: free- Registration required
For more information phone 703-778-9922 or visit the WBCNOVA Web page

Wednesday, November 8th, 2006
● 3rd Annual Small Business Network Dinner. Sponsored by Greater Washington Board of Trade. The 3rd Annual Small Business Network Dinner celebrates building strong business links between up-and-coming small businesses and well-established Board of Trade member firms. The November 8th event will recognize Small Business Academy participants and instructors, Workshops that Work participants and their facilitators, small business mentors, companies who have excelled in growing their firms and larger companies who know that small business is good business. Awards to be presented at the 3rd Annual SBN Dinner include: Guiding Small Business Growth, Most Engaged Small Business and Most Expanded Company. The winner of the Most Expanded Company will automatically be nominated for the Small Business Administration's Metropolitan Washington Small Business Person of the Year. To support a small business owner or advocate download an awards nomination form and submit by Wednesday, October 4, 2006
Time: 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.
Where: Marriott Wardman Park Hotel, 2660 Woodley Road, NW, Washington, D.C.
Fee: $125 for members and non-members; $1250 for tables
For more information phone 202-857-5934, email Lindsay Godwin , or visit the Greater Washington Board of Trade Web page

Wednesday, November 8th, 2006
● Accepting Credit Cards: You Don't Know What You Don't Know Sponsored by National Women’s Business Center.The business world is moving toward electronic commerce. Whether or not you currently accept credit or debit cards from your customers now, you absolutely must be prepared for significant changes in the way money is transferred in the future. Being able to process VISA/MasterCard charges is just one step of the process. What about American Express? What about Discover? What are check (debit) cards? What equipment is needed for electronic commerce? Learn everything you need to know about accepting credit/debit cards and how to get the best possible deal on your per transaction fees. This workshop is designed to provide answers to those nagging questions about how to increase profits on credit card transactions. Bring your questions and you'll leave with answers - and maybe a whole new way to add ++ signs to your bottom line.
Time: 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Where: 1001 Connecticut Avenue, NW, suite 919, Washington, D.C.
Fee: $50 for members; $65 for non-members
For more information phone 202-785-4922 or visit the National Women's Business Center Web page

Thursday, November 9th, 2006
● Advanced QuickBooks Training. Sponsored by National Women's Business Center. A workshop especially tailored for entrepreneurs who understand the basics of the powerful QuickBooks software, but know there's a lot more power they aren't utilizing. This workshop will help you customize reports, produce cash flow projections, financial statements, billings and financial analyses. Bring your questions and you'll get the answers along with a lot of information you didn't know you didn't know. You must already be familiar with QuickBooks and using the software in your business. You must bring your laptop computer with you that has your version of QuickBooks installed.
Time: 10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Where: 1001 Connecticut Avenue, NW, suite 919, Washington, D.C.
Fee: $150 for members, $195 for non- members.
For more information phone 202-785-4922 or visit the National Women's Business Center Web page

Thursday, November 9th, 2006
● New Media Technologies - Monetizing Media to Assets. Sponsored by NVTC. YouTube, MySpace, GoogleVideo, AOL and others have quickly captured the imagination and creativity of consumers when it comes to hosting personal music, video and multimedia. Moving beyond "the goofy video of the day," businesses -large and small - are quickly realizing that the movement to better online and mobile delivery of content can profoundly impact their business operations. The NVTC New Media Committee will take a close look at how local enterprises are employing or enabling new technologies such as blogging, podcasting, on-demand streaming, and Internet video advertising in ways that grow revenue, enhance market research, track and sculpt opinion, and retain customers. These strategies to monetize new media are the focal points of discussion for the November 9 event. To learn more about the speakers, visit the NVTC's web page.
Time: 8:00 a.m. to 9:30 a.m.
Where: Booz Allen Hamilton - John C Newman Auditorium, 8283 Greensboro Drive, McLean, VA
Fee: $35 for members/ $70 non-members
For more information visit the NVTC Web page

Thursday, November 9th, 2006
● Second Annual Tech Showcase. Disaster Survival in the Digital Age. Features a showcase of products and services as well as information sessions to help businesses prepare for surviving a natural or manmade disaster, such as the predicted Avian (Bird) Flu pandemic, an attack by terrorists or a virulent computer virus. Congressman Tom Davis (R-Va-11th District) will deliver the keynote presentation at 9 am about the importance of setting up an alternative office.  Jay Aceto, OMNIPLEX World Services, will present on identity theft and recovery, and Microsoft’s G. Andrew Duthie will present Atlas, a new tool to address Web 2.0 technologies. Attendees at this showcase have a chance to win valuable prizes, among which are:  two business class MAXjet Airways tickets to London, a small business or home office software package from Results Software worth between one and two thousand dollars (specifically SMB Bundle or SOHO Bundle, both of which include an option pack, basic training and customer care for a year), and a certificate for Microsoft Office 2007.
Time: 8:30 am to 12:45 pm
Where: Microsoft, 12012 Sunset Hills Road, Reston
Fee: to attend is $10 for Dulles Regional Chamber of Commerce members, $15 nonmembers. Fee includes continental breakfast from 8:30 a.m. - 9 a.m
Register online at www.DullesRegionalChamber.org (Events page) or by calling 571-323-5300 or e-mail info@DullesRegionalChamber.org

Wednesday, November 15th, 2006

● How to Cut Costs, Increase Profits and Create Wealth Using Business Financial Statements and Ratio Analysis.Sponsored by Enhanced Business Information Center & are you an Entrepreneur, LLC. Do you know what a P & L statement is? Do you know how to use it to save your company money while increasing your bottom line? In this class, not only will you learn what a P & L statement is and how to use it to make money, but you will learn other financial statements that can pump money in your business and create wealth!
Time: 6:30 PM - 9:00 PM
Where: e-BIC Video Conference Room in the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library. 901 G Street, NW. Washington, DC 20001
For more information contact Katina Bolden at (202) 727-2241 or e-mail katina.bolden@dc.gov

Saturday, November 18th, 2006
● ABCs of Starting a BusinessSponsored by Women’s Business Center of Northern Virginia (WBCNOVA) This is the place to start. Our orientation workshop takes your business idea from start to finish. Get the tools to successfully start and grow your small business including topics such as: What does it take to be an entrepreneur? Where do you get licensed and registered? How do you select the right legal form for your business? Where can you get money for start up? What's a business plan and why do you need one? How do our classes and free counseling work?
Time: 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
Where: 7001 Loisdale Road, Suite C, Springfield, VA
Fee: Free - Registration required
For more information phone 703-778-9922 or visit the Women's Business Center of Northern Virginia Web page

Thursday, November 30th, 2006
● Writing a Winning Business Plan. Sponsored by SCORE D.C. A well-developed business plan is the key to establishing and running a successful business. It is also essential to have when applying for funds from a lender. This workshop prepares you to develop your own business plan which you should have to start a business and which you must have to obtain a loan. Full-day workshops go from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Topics Include Purpose of the Business Plan, Format, Contents, and Financial Statements.
Time: 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Where: 740 15th Street, NW 3rd Floor, Washington, D.C.
Fee: $50
For more information phone 202-272-0390 or visit the SCORE DC

Business Opportunities
● The following contracts will be available for pick up beginning September 26, 2006.
SC4568a07 site specific water & sewer house connection construction for various locations in Montgomery County, MD
RC4557a07 site specific water & sewer house connection renewals for various locations in Prince George's County, MD
AS3107a01 sewer extension at belle Terre Way, Falcon Hurst, Potomac election district no. 10, Montgomery County, MD
BLAS4232a05 water & sewer main extension, Marlboro meadows, Prince George's County, MD
http://www.wsscwater.com/business/contracts/construction.cfm

Cultural Events

Wednesday, November 8th, 2006
● Lecture - La Quinceanera: A Coming of Age Ritual in Latino Communities. The Quinceañera, the traditional coming-of-age celebration for Latinas, is an elegant and on the girl's fifteenth birthday, highlighting God, family, friends, music, food, and dance. Many questions emerge as one looks at this fascinating and complex rite of passage: what are its essential elements? What are its origins in indigenous Mexican tradition and in European tradition? How does the performance of the feminine play out in the celebration? How do "border theory" and "mestizaje theory" apply to this particular event? In answering these and the more critical question--why would a family spend thousands of dollars to celebrate a birthday?--we can gain insight into the cultural practices of Latino communities.
Time: 6:30 PM - 7:30 PM
Where: Library of Congress. Montpelier Room, 6th Floor, James Madison Building, 101 Independence Avenue, SE.
Admission: Free
For more information call 202-707-5510

Thursday, November 9th, 2006
● Theatre: Homage to Mario Lavista Featuring the Post-Classical Ensemble. Presented by: The Cultural Institute of Mexico and GALA Theatre.  Stay after the show for a discussion with the composer.
Time: 8 p.m.
Where: Gala Theatre 3333 14th Street. NW. Washington, DC 20010
Regular Tickets are $25 – Gala Members: $20
For more information call 202 234 7104 or visit www.galatheatre.org

Employment Corner
Position Announcements!
● The Government Printing Office has published the latest vacancy announcements for the following positions:
06-542 Planning & Development Specialist
06-552 Visual Information Specialist
06-563 Occupational Health Nurse
06-570 Controller - Systems
Full descriptions of the positions (PDF format) as well as any additional vacancies are available by visiting the website http://www.gpo.gov/careers/jobs.htm
For more information contact David A. Ware, Hispanic Employment Program Manager at the Government Printing Office at 202 512 1749 or e-mail dware@gpo.gov

● WSSC seeks to retain an Architect/Engineer firm to perform site selection, planning, design and construction of an elevated water storage facility. Project is located in Olney, Maryland. Solicitation No. BE4473A06. Estimated value: $300,000 to $400,000 If your firm is interested in participating in the process, please visit our website and review the detail advertisement. www.wsscwater.com/Business

● WSSC seeks a firm to retain an Architect/Engineer firm to design the Anacostia Storage Facility Project. Project is located at the existing site of the Anacostia Wastewater Pumping Station in Capital Height, MD. 20781. Solicitation No. CS4441A06. If your firm is interested in participating in the process, please visit our website and review the detail advertisement. www.wsscwater.com/Business/

● Big Brothers, Big Sisters/Hermanos y Hermanas Mayores seeks mission driven high-performing bilingual (spanish) Healt Educator/Program Coordinator to deliver Teen Pregnancy Prevention Program in several DC Schools and support one to one school based mentoring relationships, $30 to 35,000=., BA and transportation requerired. Resume & CL to Denise Williams, VP of Programs, Big Brothers Big Sisters, 10210 Greenbelt Rd., Lanham, MD 20706 or e-mail dwilliams@bbbsnca.org

Procurement
The Greater Washington Ibero American Chamber of Commerce invites you to visit the following web sites offering Local, Regional, National and International procurement opportunities

● Federal Procurement: http://www2.eps.gov/
● District of Columbia Procurement: http://app.ocp.dc.gov/
● State of Virginia Procurement: http://www.eva.state.va.us/
● State of Maryland Procurement: http://www.choosemaryland.org/
● Maryland Procurement: http://www.dgs.maryland.gov/

The Greater Washington Ibero American Chamber of Commerce is a 501 ( c ) (6) organization established in Washington, DC in 1976. The Chamber’s mission is to assist, advocate and develop Hispanic businesses, promote them internationally thus creating value for the community