Honoring Jerry Diez, MHCC outstanding founding member
websitebuilder • May 2, 2022
Remembering the great impact Jerry Diez had in the Hispanic Community
The best way to stay true to someone's legacy is by remembering them. Many of our MHCC members have expressed beautiful words about our founding member Jerry Diez. It is an honor for us to share some of them with you, especially with his family and closest friends. We hope these memories inspire us all to follow Jerry's examples of generosity, compassion and hard work to make our communities better.
"During my 20-year association with Jerry Diez, I had the privilege of knowing him as an active member of the Michigan Hispanic Chamber (MHCC) Board of Directors, the organizer of the Chamber's Annual Golf Outing and as a Ford Motor Company steel supplier.
To say that Jerry was a force of nature would be to understate who he was and what he could accomplish. Jerry's drive and generosity were responsible for the growth and sustainability of the MHCC. The annual golf outing that he personally organized spread across five (5) golf courses at its peak and consistently generated over half the operating budget of the Chamber.
The accompanying pictures show Jerry always at the center of the action, one with two high-profile auto industry companions and highly skilled golfers, Tony Brown and Andra Rush.
Jerry was a brilliant entrepreneur and business owner. Crain's Detroit Business routinely ranked the Diez Group as the top Hispanic Business Enterprise. In the economic downturn of 2007-08, unlike many auto suppliers, Jerry came to Ford Purchasing and was forthright about the issues the Diez Group was facing; he had a plan to respond. Jerry won the admiration of the customer by displaying his considerable business acumen.
Knowing of Jerry's Iberian Spanish heritage, I had the privilege of introducing him to Taberna del Alabardero, a highly recognized Spanish restaurant in Washington, DC. Jerry had high standards, so his enjoyment of the restaurant culture and the cuisine made the occasion memorable.
Jerry Diez lived a very full life and he leaves an amazing legacy of accomplishment and generosity that we should all strive to uphold."
Armando Ojeda
Former MHCC Executive Director and MHCC Member
MHCC partners with the National Veteran Business Development Council - NVBDC and the Veteran Owned Business Roundtable this business networking event
The MHCC along the Centro Cultural Hispano joined the Jimmy John's Field to celebrate our Hispanidad!
Bringing together corporate buyers and HBE/MBE in Michigan
In Loving Memory of Isabella Wall
The Hispanic community has lost a tremendous leader, advocate, and friend – Monica L. Martinez
The Michigan Hispanic Chamber of Commerce would like to share its condolences to the Torres family on the loss of Judge Isidore Torres. A long-standing member of the Board of Directors, as well as General Counsel to the MHCC, Judge Torres was an inspirational mentor and leader. ļ»æ Jesse Venegas, Board Chair of MHCC and mentee of Isidore, commented on the legacy of Judge Torres. “Isidore served the Michigan Hispanic Chamber of Commerce with honor and distinction as he did in all his endeavors. I fondly remember him as a person that would engage in conversation with anyone, and always spoke his mind. He is part of a generation of Michigan Hispanics that broke many barriers, and we all stand on the shoulders of his work.” Judge Torres was born in Bay City, Michigan. He received a Bachelor of Arts Degree from Michigan State University and received his Juris Doctor Degree from Wayne State University. Before taking the bench, he co-founded the Torres and Horvath law firm. He later became a Senior Assistant Corporation Council for the City of Detroit where he was involved in major litigation of state and federal cases. Judge Torres became a 36th District Court for the City of Detroit; in 1988, he was appointed to the Detroit Recorder's Court where he heard felony criminal trials until 1997 when the court merged and became the Wayne County Third Circuit Court, Criminal Division. In 1997, Judge Torres transferred to the Wayne County Third Circuit Court, Civil Division. During his tenure, he was the Presiding Judge, the chief settlement judge for the Wayne County Third Circuit Court, Civil Division and sat as a visiting judge for the Michigan Court of Appeals. He retired from the bench in 2010. In 2010, Torres established the Law Offices of Isidore B. Torres. He served as the General Counsel for the Michigan Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and the Chairperson of its Public Policy Committee and Governance Committee. He received numerous awards and acknowledgments recognizing his contributions throughout his legal career.
While the Coronavirus is halting activities or forcing businesses and their employees to operate remotely across our state and country, we want to make information available to our members and communities, seeking to serve wherever and however possible. "We are reaching out to our business partners and stakeholders of Michigan’s Hispanic community, and personally communicating with each one of our members to help ensure they are receiving up to date information and are served during and after this health crisis," said Mark Moreno, MHCC Executive Director. "We want to do our part to help minimize the economic impact that this crisis will have across our membership, communities and state," added Moreno. The MHCC is posting relevant information to its website (mhcc.org) and to its other social media networks (Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram), so its members and associated companies have better tools to withstand the economic crisis due to the spread of the virus. “We want to be another channel to aid HBE’s (Hispanic Business Enterprises) in obtaining updated information regarding state and federal government resources being made available to small businesses and their employees, unemployment options, options for working remotely, etc.,” concluded Moreno. If you have questions about this information or resources, would like help navigating them, or have other concerns, please do not hesitate to email us or call us directly. The MHCC is here to help in this time of crisis and difficulty. Mark Moreno Executive Director 248-230-2935 Dina F Wagner Director of Membership and Programming 248-639-7725 Camilo Suero Sales Executive 248-792-2763 RESOURCES AVAILABLE • State of Michigan Response to COVID-19 • State of Michigan: Coronavirus for Employers and Workers • State of Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity Work Share Program • State of Michigan: Unemployment Insurance Agency Fact Sheet • Small Business Administration: Disaster Assistance Loans for Small Businesses Impacted by COVID-19 • Official CDC Recommendations for Small Businesses • OSHA Guidance on Preparing Workplaces for COVID-19 • A Toolkit for Economic Recovery and Resiliency: Leadership in Times of Crisis • US Chamber Foundation Corporate Aid Tracker • USCC Customizable Workplace Flyer • TechTown Detroit Small Business Stabilization Fund • DTE Suspends Shutoffs / Extends Senior Program in Response to COVID-19 What Can You Do Now? It is imperative that employers maintain open communication with their employees. Employers should ensure that they have updated contact information for current employees and stay informed of the latest news. Encourage employees with acute respiratory illnesses to stay home Separate sick employees Emphasize cough and sneeze etiquette and hand hygiene Always cover coughs or sneezes with a tissue or sleeve Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands Wash your hands often with soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds. Use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol, if soap and warm water are not available Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces (computers, keyboards, desks, etc.) It’s not too late to get your flu shot! ***While the influenza vaccine does not protect against COVID-19 infection, it can help keep you healthy during the flu season.*** Tips and Tricks for Working From Home As more and more companies implement work-from-home policies due to the spread of COVID-19, employees are now tasked with trying to be just as productive without their normal resources and routines. While working from home sounds like a luxury in theory, it's certainly no vacation and being productive is easier said than done. Here are a few tips to try and make working from home as productive as possible. Get Started Early Create a Morning Routine Set Ground Rules with the People in Your Space Schedule Breaks Take Breaks in Their Entirety Leave Home for a Breather Don't Hesitate to Ask for What You Need Keep a Dedicated Office Space Maintain a Separate Phone Number or Email for Work Use a VPN Socialize with Colleagues Virtually "Show Up" to Meetings and Be Heard Get Face Time- your camera creates accountability Take Sick Days if You are Sick Look for Training Opportunities Over Communicate Be Positive Don't be Too Hard on Yourself End Your Day With a Routine
The Michigan Hispanic Chamber of Commerce would like to share its condolences to the Muñoz and Crites families on the loss of their Madrina, Carmen Muñoz. Carmen was a Southwest Detroit Icon, Latina Entrepreneur and community builder. Carmen was born in SW Detroit, educated at Holy Redeemer, and worked in the automotive industry. She worked at a machining supplier and learned all facets of the business for 27 years. Following years of working in the automotive industry, Carmen established her own company, Muñoz Machine Products. Driven to lead, Carmen bought out her business partners and continued to grow Muñoz Machine Products. Her business was known for excellent quality, competitive pricing and developing the communities she operated in. Muñoz Machine Products was recognized with numerous quality awards from companies like Ford Motor Company and General Motors. In 1989, Carmen was one of the founders of the Michigan Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. She was also inducted into the Michigan Minority Business Hall of Fame.
The Michigan Hispanic Chamber of Commerce is excited to introduce and welcome Mr. Mark Moreno as its new Executive Director. In this new role, Moreno will report directly to the governing board of directors. A Michigan native, Moreno comes to the MHCC as an accomplished supply chain executive, specializing in global procurement and supplier development. He is the president and owner of M2 Integrating, LLC, created to help entrepreneurs and visionaries integrate the major functions of their businesses. His leadership provides the mentoring and problem-solving tools needed to take companies to the next level. Prior to starting M2 Integrating, Moreno completed a twenty-one-year career with American Axle & Manufacturing, where he held numerous executive leadership positions in key business and procurement functions. In his most recent role, Moreno was the director of procurement for the driveshaft manufacturing operations, responsible for leading global initiatives on supplier development, contract negotiations, strategic sourcing and productivity improvements. He conducted business in twenty-five countries, supporting supply chain activities and product launches worldwide. Moreno completed two expatriate assignments over six years in Guanajuato, Mexico, with leading roles in procurement, human resources and program management. He also proved instrumental in the company’s board of directors first visit to its Mexican operations, organized and hosted its first Annual Supplier Day outside of the U.S., and was honored to give the commencement address for the University Tec de Monterrey, Irapuato Campus. Moreno began his professional career with defense contractor General Dynamics, honing his procurement and supply chain abilities across government programs in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and Egypt. He would later take his Spanish skills to Condumex, Inc., a subsidiary of Mexican conglomerate Grupo Carso. At Condumex, he led the procurement activities for the alternative energy businesses in Mexico, companies that included Telmex, Nacel, and Industrias IEM. Moreno obtained his Bachelor of Arts degree from Wittenberg University in Spanish and Business Administration. He is the president of the corporation for Grace Church in White Lake, MI, where he has actively served on the Board of Elders for more than twenty years. He and his wife Marcie live in Clarkston, MI and have three grown children. “We are very excited to announce that Mark will be leading the chamber into the next decade! We conducted an extensive search process and had great finalists. Mark’s experience, business acumen and great character will be invaluable to the Chamber and its members. On behalf of all the Board and the Hispanic Business community, please help me in welcoming Mark to the Michigan Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.” said Jesse Venegas, Chairman of the Board of Directors for the MHCC. “I am very blessed and excited to lead the Michigan Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. The chamber has a tremendous thirty-year legacy whose membership reflects the diversity and incredible entrepreneurial spirit of Hispanic owned businesses across the state.” Mark said in a statement. “I’m eager to work with the staff and board to further enhance our value to our members and Hispanic community, as we seek to help provide an even greater economic impact in the state.”
