Hispanic Chamber celebrates success stories, looks forward

The Greater Quad Cities Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Gala on Friday night, April 5, was a celebration of business success stories and planning for the future. But the gala also was a time to give thanks and remember loved ones who have helped pave the way for those successes. Mariela Treviño gave an example of […]

The Greater Quad Cities Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Gala on Friday night, April 5, was a celebration of business success stories and planning for the future. But the gala also was a time to give thanks and remember loved ones who have helped pave the way for those successes. Mariela Treviño gave an example of that before the crowd of more than 400 people at the Rhythm City Casino Resort in Davenport.

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Her business, Rosarios QC, which sells beaded rosaries and gift items as a vendor at many local events, was presented with the Small Business of the Year Award. Ms. Treviño thanked friends, family members and the community for supporting the business. She also thanked her late father, Guillermo Treviño, for helping her get interested in running a business. “He owned a small Mexican food restaurant on Seventh Street in the Floreciente neighborhood in the (1990s) and with him I saw for the first time how business is supposed to run when I was a child,” she said. The themes of helping small businesses grow and paving the way for more business success stories surrounded much of Friday night’s events. “We are here for our community and we are in our community,” said Janessa Calderon, executive director of the GQCHCC. Ms. Calderon used part of gala’s program to review successes from last year and look forward to the chamber’s vision for the future.  Some of those success stories included growth in the Hispanic business community, more members of the GQCHCC, and more people attending the annual gala. She said that an additional 100 people attended this year’s event compared to last year. Ms. Calderon added that the gala has three main functions: highlight business success stories from last year; offer a chance for area business people to network; and it is the GQCHCC’s largest fundraiser of the year. The event’s proceeds will help with the chamber’s activities, such as educational roundtables, network mixers, and a multicultural speaker series that focuses on diversity, equity and inclusion topics. Friday’s gala also was used as a call to action for the chamber members. Ms. Calderon and others asked chamber members and the business community to become more involved in  GQCHCC events and help each other. “Together, let’s see what we can accomplish,” she added. However, perhaps the gala’s main event was the presentation of four awards. They included:

• Small Business of the Year: Rosarios QC. This business was started by Ms. Treviño in June 2021 after she had many requests for orders for her rosaries. Rosarios QC sells beaded rosaries not found anywhere else in the Quad Cities. She also sells Mexican flags, knotted bracelets and offers a variety of Chicano stickers. More on the business can be found here. “This is her fourth year in business and her business keeps booming because she continues to be the only seller of these unique and different styled rosaries,” said Ms. Calderon.
• Advocate of the Year: Martha Garcia-Tappa. Ms. Garcia-Tappa is a first-generation college student, diverse professional, cancer survivor, and advocate for the Latino community. “Whatever the challenge –  education, health, workforce –  Martha has continued to be an influential part of the Quad Cities landscape throughout her career. Her uniqueness lies in her dedication to doing what is best and what is truly needed in the local community, and in using her unique skill set to drive action, results, and impact,” said Ms. Calderon.
• Nonprofit of the Year: The Project of the Quad Cities. The award was accepted by Caitlin Wells, CEO of The Project of the Quad Cities. Ms. Calderon told the audience that since 1986, The Project of the Quad Cities has been transforming lives through remarkable care. Founded in response to the AIDS epidemic, the organization has been on the frontlines of the fight for equitable access to healthcare by providing support and services for people living with HIV for several decades. Today, TPQC has expanded those efforts by also providing comprehensive sexual healthcare; behavioral healthcare; LGBTQ+ primary care; and gender affirming care. TPQC recently moved to a new home at 4101 John Deere Road, Moline.
• The  Bob Ontiervos/Group O Corporation of the Year:  Arconic. “Arconic created a foundation that partners with nonprofit and community organizations to strengthen its communities by enhancing education through skill-building learning experiences, promoting environmental sustainability, and advancing social equity,” said Ms. Calderon. This award is to an organization that provides extraordinary resources, services, special programs and support to the Hispanic and multicultural community. 

Sponsors of the GQCHCC’s gala included: TBK Bank, Group O, Quad City Service Providers, Rhythm City Casino Resort,  UnityPoint Health-Trinity, IH Mississippi Valley Credit Union, Tyson Foods,  Iowa American Water, ImpactLife,  MetroLINK, Isle Casino Bettendorf, Countryside Community Theatre, Hills Bank, HyVee, City of Moline, The Printer’s Mark, WQAD, Droptopmeg Productions, and East Moline Main Street.