Latina summit makes debut at Hispanic chamber convention.

• Author: Cote, Mike
• Position: Brief article

The growth of women-owned Hispanic businesses hasn't escaped the notice of the U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, which included a Latina Summit in September when it met in Denver for its 30th annual convention.

Businesses owned by Hispanic women represent more than one third of all Hispanic-owned businesses and have grown by nearly 125 percent in the past decade, according to a report by the Center for Women's Business Research.

"It was important to recognize the powerful influence this segment of our population has on our business community," said Elizabeth Vasquez Gallagher, USHCC vice chair and chair of the Latina Summit, in a statement issued after the event. "After all, it's Latinas who are leading the way in Hispanic small-business growth."

Nearly 5,000 people attended the four-day conference...