Negocios Now

www.negociosnow.com 10 Octubre 2020 NegociosNow NegociosNow Cesar Santoy: 'Chicago Takes Diversity Seriously' By Rita Rousseau A s an architect and busi- ness owner, Cesar Santoy has a broad perspective on the building business. It's also a deep view; gazing back in time, he is aware of who he can thank for his success. "I entered the industry at a time when diversity programs were already well established," he says. "My business, Stu- dioARQ, is the fruit of the labor of the founders of HACIA back in the late '70s. I can capita- lize on the demand for diver- se contractors, architects and business owners because a lot of men and women fought an uphill battle to open public- sector opportunities for people like me." Santoy has a more intima- te relationship to HACIA than most of its members; he pre- viously worked for the trade group, first as a project mana- ger and later as executive director. HACIA seeks to deve- lop its members' entrepre- neurial skills and guide them through the process of certifi- cation as a Minority Business Enterprise (MBE), giving them a better shot at government contracts. Santoy is all-in on both initiatives. "We're fortunate to operate in a city and a business envi- ronment where MBE certifi- cation and diversity goals are taken seriously, promoted by business owners and state and city agencies," he notes. "It's not like that everywhere else." While MBE certification brings opportunities to bid on projects, beyond the initial con- tract, it's just "a foot in the door," according to Santoy. "Some- times you're utilized because you're an MBE firm; when they don't need that certification, The founder of Architect firm StudioARQ credits the Hispanic American Construction Industry Association (HACIA) Founders for His Success "W e're fortunate to operate in a city and a business environment where MBE certification and diversity goals are taken seriously, promoted by business owners and state and city agencies" they won't be calling. But that just underscores the importan- ce of developing relationships and doing quality work so that people in the industry start to recognize you." Santoy credits HACIA with helping him to realize his goal of business ownership. Twelve- year-old StudioARQ now has a staff of eight, mostly minority. "Attracting talent is vital," he says. "You're playing a long- term game when you build a team, bringing the right people on board to create value for clients. I support my team in whatever they do; if that means moving on to another company, we might later find ourselves working together on other projects." The ARQ part of Studio ARQ, Santoy says, refers to "arqui- tecto," which not only means "architect" in Spanish but also serves as an honorific title. In a Latin American country, he explains, he would be known as "Arq. Cesar Santoy." Styling his firm as "ARQ" is an homage, he says, both to his professional identity and to his Latin Ameri- can heritage. "I entered the industry at a time when diversity programs were already well established, My business, StudioARQ, is the fruit of the labor of the founders of HACIA back in the late '70s. I can capitalize on the demand for diverse contractors, architects and business owners because a lot of men and women fought an uphill battle to open public-sector opportunities for people like me." Cesar Santoy Foto cortesía Cesar Santoy, founder of the architecture firm StudioARQ, based in Berwyn, Illinois.

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