Interviews
Interviews
As the current President of the Northwest Ohio Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (NOHCC), local business owner Gary Johnson has big plans for the Hispanic business community struggling to survive through a rocky economy. Johnson, President of American Flooring Installers, a subcontracting firm in Toledo specializing in placing bids for various institutions, brings over thirty years entrepreneurial experience and even holds the record as the youngest person in the country to receive a direct SBA loan in 1974 to open a Mr. Hero franchise.
Johnson became involved with NOHCC after he realized that he wanted to help improve the Hispanic business community. His duties as president include overseeing events such as the upcoming Expo on October 3rd at Owens Community College, which will include Business-to-Business opportunities to learn how to connect with the Hispanic community, and to provide a job fair for employers and job seekers. Johnson also oversees the Networking Committee, Minority Construction Workers Committee (which finds contracts and relays information to Hispanic workers in order to promote diversity in work bids), a Business Committee to help judge if programs and services are worth the effort and finances, and also acts as the Executive Face of the Chamber. Some other services offered by the NOHCC for its members include development training programs and information about available funding for developing businesses.
Currently, NOHCC membership is around 50 members, but luncheons are held every first Monday of the month at Zia€™s on the Docks at the cost of $15 to promote networking and advertising between members of the Chamber. The cost to join NOHCC for business owners with 10 employees or less is $75 per year, 10-50 employees $150 per year, and non-profit $40 per year (but with no vote). Larger corporations and sponsorships are welcome at special pricing.
The first task Johnson tackled after taking office in September 2008 was to create a budget on limited funds and change NOHCC from a non-profit to a for-profit chamber of commerce. With help from SCORE counselors, Johnson was able to allocate funds more responsibly, cutting out excess expenses and watching the budget more closely. It has taken a lot of work from the volunteer staff of NOHCC, but Johnson states €œthings are turning around.€
Along with providing existing NOHCC members with resources and opportunities for networking, Johnson wants to help professionalize small Hispanic businesses in the area by helping them become more educated and prosperous. He believes that it is important for individuals to understand that many manufacturing jobs have left the area and that the key to gainful employment is knowledge and technology. Large companies will only consider bringing their businesses to NW Ohio if there are educated individuals to create a workforce, and many in-demand occupations require education after high school. For that reason, Johnson is also on the Board of Directors for the Northwest Ohio College Access Program THINK COLLEGE NOW, which makes sure individuals have the access and financing to further their education.
Gary Johnson is optimistic about the future of NOHCC and is looking to plan one more fundraising event in September to celebrate all the Latino heritages present in the community. As the presence of NOHCC grows throughout NW Ohio through public service announcements, luncheons, and fundraising events, Johnson would like to see membership grow 25% over the next two years, and for all businesses in the area to realize the value of diversifying and creating connections to the Hispanic business community.
