In 1985, a dozen forward-looking executives of FORTUNE 500 companies met to explore the tremendous business potential of the rapidly emerging Hispanic market. These corporate leaders saw an urgent need to develop a Hispanic market information network among major U.S. companies. Thus, the National Hispanic Corporate Council (NHCC) was born.

Today, NHCC is a clearinghouse of Hispanic information on Human Resources, diversity, marketing, supplier diversity and community relations and their impact on corporate objectives. It offers training, expertise and counsel in these areas, for its membership, comprised of FORTUNE 1000 and S&P 500 companies.

The 12 founding companies:

Allstate Insurance Company Anheuser-Busch Inc. Arco AT&T Circle K Corporation Coca-Cola Equitable Life Insurance Gannett Co., Inc. JC Penney Company McDonald's Corporation Miller Brewing Company The Southland Corporation