PERSISTENCE PAYS FOR LATINO LEADER
New chairman of Latin American Chamber of Commerce excited by Charlotte's possibilities, challenges
By Kerry Hall, Charlotte Observer

Within weeks of moving to Charlotte in 1998, Carlos Sanchez was asking why the region had no Spanish-language cable television channel.

He asked Time Warner Cable. He asked the city. He asked a citizens committee that oversees cable programming.

In one day, he gathered 3,500 signatures from people vowing to watch Spanish-language TV if given a chance.

Soon after, Time Warner began offering Univision, a Spanish-language network based in Los Angeles.

Six years later, Sanchez, 39, hopes to use that energy and love of Latin American culture to strengthen the local Latino business community.

Last month, the Latin American Chamber of Commerce of Charlotte named him to succeed outgoing Chairwoman Astrid Chirinos, who completed her one-year term.

Sanchez takes the helm at a time when the Latino population in Mecklenburg County, and North Carolina, is exploding. And it's growing increasingly diverse as the region attracts immigrants from Mexico, and Latin and South America.

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