WASHINGTON, Sept. 12, 2014 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (USHCC) has announced that Kathleen Martinez, Senior Director of Strategic Relationships of BP America, Inc. will receive the Corporate Advocate of the Year award at the 2014 National Convention on Sept. 23 in Salt Lake City, Utah.
The Corporate Advocate of the Year is awarded to an executive who has vigorously championed the cause of minority-owned businesses. This accolade honors those who work diligently to advance the USHCC's mission, and have harnessed the talents of small businesses, local chambers, and major corporations to advance supplier diversity and procurement opportunities.
"The USHCC is thrilled to honor BP's Kathleen Martinez, a true champion of America's bourgeoning Hispanic business enterprises. Her efforts have been instrumental in making the USHCC's vision a reality, and it is thanks to her hard work that BP is tapping into our nation's most abundant and high-yielding resource: small, minority-owned companies," said USHCC President & CEO Javier Palomarez. "Our members have a formidable supporter in Kathleen; she not only realizes the contributions of our business community, but has helped actualize its potential through substantial investments. We are proud to call BP our trusted corporate partner, and look forward to honoring Kathleen with the Corporate Advocate of the Year award at our National Convention."
Over the past three years, BP has spent more than $1.8 billion with Minority and Woman Owned businesses in America. The USHCC has named BP America as the corporate chair of its 2015 National Convention, set to take place Sept. 20-22, 2015 in Houston.
"As our nation's largest investor in energy, BP plays a central role in reducing America's dependence on foreign oil, and Kathleen has done a remarkable job empowering the Hispanic business community to join this important effort," said USHCC Chairman Marc Rodriguez."Through its growing procurement efforts with American small businesses, BP continues to fuel the engines that are driving our nation's economy. Kathleen's service at the helm of these relationships deserves high praise, which is why we have decided to honor her with one of our most auspicious awards this year."
BP employs around 20,000 people and supports more than 260,000 American jobs total through all of its business activities. A leading producer of oil and gas in the U.S., BP provides enough energy to light nearly the entire country. To learn more about BP America's supplier diversity initiatives, click here.
About BP
Over the past five years, BP has invested nearly $50 billion in the US – more than any other energy company. BP is a leading producer of oil and gas and provides enough energy annually to light nearly the entire country for a year. Employing approximately 20,000 people in all 50 states, BP supports more than 260,000 jobs total through all of its business activities. For more information, go to www.bp.com/us .
About the USHCC
Founded in 1979, the USHCC actively promotes the economic growth and development of our nation's entrepreneurs. The USHCC advocates on behalf of nearly 3.2 million Hispanic-owned businesses, that together contribute in excess of $468 billion to the American economy, each year. As the leading organization of its kind, the USHCC serves as an umbrella to more than 200 local chambers and business associations across the nation, and partners with more than 220 major corporations.
For more information, visit www.ushcc.com .
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Ammar Campa-Najjar Associate Director of Communications 619-721-5148
