Houston Citizens Chamber of Commerce
2012 NAACP Convention
Access, Advocacy & Awareness
Presented by Eric Lyons
President & CEO
Houston Citizens Chamber of Commerce
Background
HISTORY
VISION
MISSION
Founded in 1935 as the city’s first African-American civic
organization, HCCC has evolved into an active participant in the
City of Houston’s economic success. HCCC is a not-for-profit,
member-driven organization serving the Greater Houston area.
To be the premier business advocate for African-American
business owners, entrepreneurs and professionals in the Greater
Houston Area.
To help African-American business owners, entrepreneurs and
professionals by securing business opportunities and providing
programs and forums to educate, equip and empower the growth
and prosperity of their businesses.
Access
• Business Opportunities
• Bid Information – RFP’s, RFQ’s, etc.
• Business Leads & Referrals
• Collaborative Partnerships
• Port of Houston Authority
• United Healthcare
• Capacity Building
• CEO Circle
• Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Business Initiatives
• Lunch & Learn Series
Advocacy
• Local Level
• City of Houston
• Port of Houston Authority
• Houston Independent School District
• State Level
• Texas Legislative Black Caucus
• State Agencies
Advocacy
• National
• National Black Chamber of Commerce
• US Congressional Representatives
• Department of Commerce
• International
• International Trade Forum
• Global Business Opportunities – Africa, Central
America, Caribbean, and Canada
Awareness
• African American Business Achievement
Pinnacle Awards
• Annual recognition of Outstanding Black Business
Owners.
• Group of Multi-Million Dollar Business Owners
• Buy Houston Citizens Chamber Initiative
• Strategic Economic Development program with
the Houston Chapter of the National Black MBA
Association.
Educational Achievement Scholarship
HCCC Foundation operates an Educational Achievement Scholarship
program that awards scholarships to graduating high school seniors from
the Greater Houston Community.
•2012 is the 36th Anniversary of our Educational Achievement Awards
• More than $500,000 has been awarded to high school students
• Capacity Building Initiative
Chamber Fellows Program
The Chamber Fellows Program:
-Capacity building initiative for college students (skillsets),
-the Houston Citizens Chamber of Commerce (community
impact, economic development)
- Chamber Members (strategic consulting and workforce
development).
Pinnacle Awards
The Pinnacle Awards is the Houston Citizens
Chamber of Commerce’s flagship event
spotlighting and honoring African-American
businesses that have achieved success by
combining vision, determination,perseverance,
and dedication to building strong communities
through business entreprenuership.
African-American
Business
Achievement
Pinnacle Award
• Black-tie gala
• Attended by approximately 800 guests
(corporate partners, political leaders, media and
entrepreneurs)
Historic Organization
• Physical location for
Chamber since 1965
• Received State of Texas
Historical Organization
Dedication in 2010
• Located in Historic 3rd Ward
2010 State of Texas Dedication
Thank You