FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 31, 2013
Media Contact: Jorge J. Perez
Executive Director
312-666-5910 (office) 773-401-1656 (cell); jperez@haciaworks.org
Hispanic American Construction Industry Association
901 W. Jackson Boulevard, Suite 205 – Chicago, IL 60607
HACIA announces new Board Officers for 2013 term.
HACIA names Ivan Solis as Board President
Chicago, Ill. – The newly elected Board of Directors of the Hispanic American Construction Industry Association (HACIA) has chosen its new Board Officers for the 2013-2014 term.
The following Board Members were elected to serve as Officers for the next one-year term: Board President – Ivan Solis, Solis Construction; Executive Vice President – Javier Diaz, Seven-D Construction; Vice President –Jose Duarte, Blackwood Group, LLC.; Secretary – Rafael Hernandez, DENCO; and Treasurer – Antonio Robledo, BMO Harris Bank.
President of Solis Construction, Inc. Ivan Solis, has served previously as HACIA’s Vice President in 2012 and active member since 2002. Solis said he is honored and humbled to lead the organization and is committed to fulfill the duties and responsibilities as President.
“I am very fortunate to be part of a very professional and dynamic board, who understands that listening, creating partnerships, pooling our resources and working as a team is the best strategy to facilitate and foster the growth of our member firms and to ensure their full participation in the construction industry,” said Solis.
HACIA’s Executive Director, Jorge Perez, along with HACIA’s staff, is charged with carrying out the organization’s mission of providing a forum to improve business conditions and opportunities for all its members through cooperative action and strong leadership within the construction industry.
“I look forward to the upcoming year and working with Mr. Solis in continuing HACIA’s hard work and its 34 years of success,” said Perez.
The five new Board Officers join a 15 member board that oversee HACIA’s mission and purpose that articulates the organization’s goals and provide adequate resources for its members.
Board Officer Biographies
Ivan Solis is President of Solis Construction, Inc., an Illinois company incorporated in 1994. Solis performs General Contractor and Carpentry services. Solis’ clients include owners, management companies, condominium associations, schools, both private and public, and major general contractors. Solis is certified as a MBE/DBE with the city of Chicago. Ivan has been an active member of HACIA since 2002. He has been involved with community organizations where he has performed pro-bono work.
Javier Diaz is CEO and Founder of Seven D Construction Company established in 1994. With over 30 years’ experience in the construction field, he has worked on providing landscaping, concrete, sewer and drain services. Diaz has held various positions at his company including Estimator, Field Supervisor and General Superintendent. He has also won multiple awards over the last two decades including the 2011 City of Chicago Outstanding MBE Contractor Award.
Jose Duarte is Founder and Principal at Blackwood Group, a full service builder/general contractor with design-build capabilities in both residential and commercial areas. Duarte is a licensed Professional Engineer in the State of Illinois with over 13 years’ experience in engineering, program and construction management. In recent years, Jose has managed $25 million dollars of luxury and mixed use residential projects in Chicago. Duarte is also a LEED (Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design) Accredited Professional.
Rafael Hernandez joined DEN Construction Management LLC, (DENCO), a Construction Management and Real Estate Development Company, as a partner in 2005. The company’s projects include The Pilsen Little Village Mental Health Care Clinic, East Side Soccer Dome, Mandarin Oriental Hotel, and a variety of private residential projects. Hernandez was Commissioner of the Department of Construction and Permits (DCAP) by Mayor Richard M. Daley on April 7, 2004 and served as Executive Director of HACIA from July 1999 to April 2004.
Antonio Robledo is Vice President and Senior Relationship Manager at BMO Harris Bank. With over 14 years of experience at the company, Antonio works to support and advise companies with revenue size of up to $75 million in various industries including: contractors, manufactures, distributors and service companies.
Founded in 1979 as an advocacy organization, HACIA provides technical assistance to MBE, WBE and DBE firms with the goal of developing long-term sustainability and capacity. HACIA represents more than 300 companies that include everything from professional service firms to construction related businesses, collectively employing approximately 7,000 workers with an annual economic impact of over $400 million. Also, HACIA provides business management assistance services and training to its members.
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