Governor Jim Doyle has appointed 17 people to serve on the Business Opportunity Advisory Commission it was announced recently.

In September, Doyle announced the formation of this new commission dedicated to identifying new ways the state can procure more products from minority businesses. Since 2003, state spending on products and services from minority-owned businesses has increased by 14%.

"The commission will be integral to advancing opportunities for new businesses and helping minority entrepreneurs grow and succeed," Governor Doyle said.

The Business Opportunity Advisory Commission will be chaired by state Senator Spencer Coggs and Ralph Hollmon, president of the Milwaukee Urban League. Coggs has served in the Wisconsin State Legislature since 1982 and has played a leadership role in promoting minority business development and certification. Hollmon is one of the pioneers of the Wisconsin Minority Business Enterprise initiative that works to increase the opportunity for Wisconsin certified minority-owned companies to sell their products or services to the state.

Additional appointees include:

1. State Representative Barbara Toles of Milwaukee;

2. Charles Vang of Brookfield is the co-founder and president of the Hmong Chamber of Commerce;

3. Gloria Cobb of Lac du Flambeau is the deputy director of Economic Development for the Great Lakes Inter Tribal Council;

4. Enrique Figueroa of Milwaukee is a faculty member, director of the Roberto Hernandez Center and assistant to the Provost for Latino Affairs at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee;

5. Dr. Floyd Rose of Madison is president of Supplier Development Council, which facilitates connections between businesses and minority suppliers;

6. Bobby Dhir of Franklin is president of the Wisconsin Coalition of Asian Indian Organizations;

7. Henry Hamilton III of Brown Deer is the chairman of the NAACP Milwaukee Branch’s economic development committee;

8. Deloris Sims of Milwaukee is president and CEO of Legacy Bank in Milwaukee;

9. Olivia Villarreal of Hartland is co-owner and corporate secretary of El Rey Mexican Products;

10. Chris Swan of Green Bay is president of Swan Corporation 1, a construction firm, and chairs the Swan House Project, which builds homes for families in need;

11. Jane Swan of Green Bay is president of the Entrepreneurs of Color Council;

12. Luis Montoto of Waunakee is founder and program director of La Movida radio in Madison;

13. Tina Kelly-Beckett of Milwaukee is the executive director of the Urban Entrepreneur Partnership.;

14. Geoff Hurtado of Cedarburg is senior vice president of Irgens Development Partners, LLC; and

15. Tyrone Dumas of Milwaukee is the Community Engagement Project coordinator with Milwaukee Public Schools’ Division of Diversity and Community Engagement.
Appointees will begin serving immediately.