IA/IL QUAD-CITIES - Acclaimed business leader Nina Vaca has been selected as the Keynote Speaker and Special Guest of the 2013 Annual Gala of the Greater Quad Cities Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (GQCHCC). Vaca serves as Chairman and CEO of Pinnacle; Director at both Kohl's Corporation and Comerica, Inc.; Founding Member of the Startup America Partnership; and Chairman of the Board of the United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.
"Nina Vaca serves as a shining example of how a talented, determined minority individual can play a vital role in the international business community," said Lee Vasquez, Executive Director of the Greater Quad Cities Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. "She is an inspiration to the Hispanic community, and to everyone who believes in the power of diversity. We are truly proud to have Nina as the keynote speaker at our Annual Gala."
The GQCHCC board of directors and staff invites the community to the 2013 Annual Gala, to be held 5:30 pm., Sat., January 26, 2013, at the Quad-Cities Waterfront Convention Center, Bettendorf, IA. The evening is a celebration of the organization's accomplishments, members, and supporters, and will feature entertainment, dinner, an award presentation, a silent auction, and networking opportunities for attendees.
Admittance for the event is $60 for non-members, $50 for members, and $35 for students. Online Registration for the event at
www.gqchcc.com/2013_Annual.html closes
Friday, January 18th. Sponsorships are available for tables.
An Illustrious Career
Nina Vaca founded Pinnacle in 1996 as an information technology services provider to the Fortune 500. Pinnacle provides IT-enabled solutions in the growing area of vendor management via IT Staff Augmentation Services, Professional Staffing and Payrolling services. Under her leadership, Pinnacle has become the fifth fastest growing firm in a $20 billion dollar industry.
In 2005, Nina was featured in Fast Company magazine as one of the Top 25 Women Business Builders in the country. In addition, she has been featured in many other high-profile publications, including Vanidades, Ali, Entrepreneur, Kiplinger, Forbes, Hispanic, KERA CEO Review, and Latino Leaders.
Nina is a recipient of the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year award for Technology and Communications for the Southwest Region. In 2010, she was named one of the 100 most influential Hispanics in America by Latino Leaders. As an international leader, Nina has represented America in numerous transatlantic leadership forums.
Nina is a graduate of Texas State University with a B.A. in Speech Communications and Business Administration. She has been honored as the youngest Distinguished Alumna in university history. She also holds a Doctor of Laws "Honoris Causa" from Northwood University. She is a graduate of the Harvard Business School, Corporate Governance Executive Program.
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ABOUT THE GREATER QUAD CITIES HISPANIC CHAMBER OF COMMERCE:
The Greater Quad Cities Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (GQCHCC) is the only organization in the Quad Cities created to address the specific needs of the Hispanic business community. The GQCHCC serves the Quad Cities and surrounding areas in Illinois and Iowa, including Sterling, Rock Falls, Muscatine, and West Liberty.
The mission of the GQCHCC is to support, promote and enhance the growth and success of local businesses, and to leverage the community's assets, contributions and unique Hispanic cultural identity to generate new business opportunities. The GQCHCC welcomes businesses, organizations, and individuals from any cultural background to join this community-minded organization.
In September 2012, the GQCHCC received national recognition as the winner of the 2012 Small Hispanic Chamber of the Year Award. The United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (USHCC) celebrated three Hispanic chambers from across the nation for their accomplishments, contributions, and commitment to helping the Hispanic-owned businesses in their communities.
