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Hispanic group creates network Association serves small businesses By Shari Downhill A passion for small business and a belief in the power of networking and education are driving Susana Montalvo�s vision for Southern Oregon Hispanic business owners. "They need each other," Montalvo said. "They learn from coming together." Montalvo came to the United States from Mexico two years ago for graduate study at Southern Oregon University. A former banker in Mexico, Montalvo selected as her thesis the topic of small business in her hometown of Guanajuato � Ashland�s sister city. During her stay, Montalvo has worked through the Small Business Development Center and Southern Oregon Women�s Access to Credit mentoring Hispanic small business owners and entrepreneurs. Montalvo and key Hispanic business owners have started an informal Hispanic Business Association of Southern Oregon. About 25 business owners have met monthly since July, Montalvo said. Guest speakers have addressed issues faced by all business owners, such as tax laws and accounting. "What I really want is for the Hispanic Business Association to be serving the Hispanic businesses in the area," she said. "I think they are going to benefit from seeing each other and meeting one another. They also need more education and information." Helping launch the association were Clayton and Pia Cathcart, who operate Hispanic Tax Service in Medford. While Clayton Cathcart is not Hispanic, Pia is. The couple serve as tax accountants for the Hispanic community and have served in an advisory capacity to the association�s participants. The meetings have "helped all of us to understand the problems we�re facing," Clayton Cathcart said. "A lot of Hispanic business owners are not fully educated (about business operation)," he said. "They�re hard workers. They have a plan. They�re just not sure how to do it. Education is our main concern." The Hispanic Chamber of Commerce has been operating since 1987 under the direction of founder, former president and current director Manuela Marney. The Hispanic Business Association of Southern Oregon was formed, Montalvo and Cathcart said, because the educational and networking needs of business owners were not being met by the Hispanic Chamber. "The (Hispanic) Chamber has been trying to help the community and that�s good," Cathcart said. "Our point is, we need to help the Hispanic business owners, which will, in turn, help the community." Representing the association, Montalvo approached the Medford/Jackson County Chamber of Commerce for help and advice, exploring the possibility of operating as an arm or division under the same organizational umbrella. "The chamber would like to make sure, whether it�s our organization or a separate organization, that the needs of the Hispanic business community are being met," chamber Executive Vice President Brad Hicks said. Neither the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce nor Manuela Marney could be reached by telephone this week. In addition to the Southern Oregon group, two Hispanic business associations serve the communities of Portland and Eugene. "I�m passionate about small and micro business," Montalvo said. "I feel this is the mission of my life." Reach reporter Shari Downhill at 776-4463, or e-mail [email protected] . Mail Tribune Home | Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. | Dow Jones & Co., Inc. | Privacy | Contact Us Copyright � 2001 Mail Tribune, Inc.