The Latin Chamber Of Commerce

By Z.Z. Zorn

The Latin Chamber of Commerce is alive and well in Las Vegas. The installation of Officers and Board of Directors for the year 2000 held at the Island Ballroom in the Mandalay Resort & Casino was a lavish black tie affair. The event began with a cocktail reception prior to the banquet and installation. The hoy-poloy of Las Vegas' society and elected officials were seen mingling and enjoying each other's company. Former governor Bob Miller, Manny Cortez of the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (named top tourism person in the United States by Travel Agent magazine), State Board of Education's Lilliam and Tom Hickey, Mandalay Bay's, Mr. and Mrs. Tony Alamo, Ed Bernstein and wife, Judge Michael Douglas and wife Martha, Isabel Pfeifer, Sandy Peltyn and her sister Isabel and Senator Richard Bryan were among some of the guests. Carmen Mahon who won an award from the Latin Chamber two years ago for best entrepreneur of the year told me she has been living in Las Vegas for 25 years. She is originally from Colombia, South America and owns the Morocco beauty salon. Her son, Kevin Mahon is a broadcaster for NBC in Reno. A large beautiful painting by local artist John Pacheco representing the Latino nations was displayed. This work of art will grace the cover for the new Latin Chamber of Commerce directory.
After the cocktail reception, guests entered the ballroom where a stage had been set up with flags overhead representing the Latin nations. In the center of the ballroom, a grand piano played by Humbert Carrillo was set on a platform filled with collectable Coca-Cola bears. Later on, a person at each table that had a ticket under their plate won one of these Coca-Cola bears.
The program began with a pomp and circumstance presentation of the Colors by the uniformed City of Las Vegas Fire Department. Afterwards Master of Ceremonies, Andras F. Babero, Esq., introduced Nancy Alamo-Borboa, a bilingual school psychologist who did the Invocation. The Pledge of Allegiance was led by U.S. Congressman Jim Gibbons.
A dinner specially prepared for the Latin Chamber of Commerce was served and consisted of French Lentil soup, baby spinach salad, grilled breast of chicken and Rosemary grilled salmon fillet and Vanilla creme Brulee for desert. Excellent wines were served, courtesy of Southern Wine and Spirits.
After dinner, emcee Andras Babero recognized guest dignitaries such as: Councilmen Gary Reese and Lawrence Weekly, Judge Valerie Vega and husband Howard Stutz, Harry Reid, Shelley Berkley and husband Larry, County Commissioners, Yvonne Atkinson Gates, Myrna Williams and Dario Herrera, Dr. Richard Moore, (Henderson Community College President), Judge Bill Jansen, Judge Debbie Lippis, Assemblyman, Wendell Williams, and Supreme Court Justice Nancy Becker.
Edward Cantor and lovely wife Rosalena were seated at my table. He works for the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) at UNLV and is involved with developing models to study the effects of toxic chemicals when the human body is exposed to these chemicals through eating, drinking or inhaling. He also has the distinction of having the two largest California Fan Palms growing in his garden.
The Keynote Speaker Rudy M. Beserra, Assistant Vice-President of Corporate Latin Affairs for the Coca-Cola Company (The Coca-Cola Bears were donated courtesy of Mr. Beserra) was introduced. His career with the Coca-Cola Company began in 1989, after serving as special assistant to President Ronald Reagan on Latino and Small Business Affairs. Mr. Beserra was awarded the Hispanic Community Commitment Award by American Management Association in 1991, a Special Recognition Award by the U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce in 1994, and in 1995, he received the Hispanic Leadership Award from the National Puerto Rican Forum. A native of Albuquerque, he lives in Atlanta with his wife and two children. Mr. Beserra gave an inspiring speech and an extravagant monetary gift to the Latin Chamber of Commerce of Nevada from the Coca-Cola Company.

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