Volvo Rents last week announced that Frank Lopez, former president and CEO of the U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Foundation (USHCC), has been retained by Volvo Rents to oversee the company’s Hispanic franchise business development strategy in the U.S.

Lopez’s association with Volvo Rents marks the company’s first formal initiative to promote franchise opportunities to Hispanic entrepreneurs. During his tenure with the USHCC Foundation, Lopez was instrumental in driving strategic policy development designed to benefit USHCC’s constituents. He pursued an aggressive and targeted national campaign that ensured the successful advancement of Latino entrepreneurship, and Latino-focused small business policy and research.

“Frank’s passion to advance the cause of diverse populations — particularly the Hispanic population — matches our desire to cultivate diverse entrepreneurs,” said Nick Mavrick, vice president of marketing for Volvo Rents.

In addition to attracting Hispanic entrepreneurs to the franchise program, Lopez will work with Volvo Rents’ team to establish relationships with Hispanic trade and industry associations in the U.S; achieve supplier diversity; and attract Hispanic and minority skilled laborers to franchise positions.

“Volvo Rents’ commitment to diversity is honorable, and I hope to increase the company’s presence and credibility within the Hispanic and other minority business communities,” Lopez said. “I think there is a significant cadre of entrepreneurs who happen to be Hispanic who can take advantage of the Volvo Rents franchise program.”

Despite reports of markets trending downward, sub-prime loans defaulting and a slowdown in the construction industry, experts predict the trend will be short-lived. Tim Walters of InfoTech Marketing, a Colorado-based firm specializing in the construction industry, recently told attendees at Volvo Rents’ annual franchise convention to remain positive through 2008, as 2009 looks like a growth year across all segments of the construction industry.

“Housing will be off by 8.3 percent to offset non-housing growth of 3.7 percent in 2008,” Walters said. But after this year, he said, numbers begin to reverse for a healthier 2009. “We can expect a 6.6 percent rebound in 2009 as housing leads a recovery. Housing should grow by 11.9 percent while commercial construction grows by a steady 3.6 percent.”

Based in Asheville, N.C., Volvo Rents, No. 16 on the RER 100, is a division of Volvo Construction Equipment. Volvo Rents operates 79 rental stores in North America, 66 rental stores in Europe and one in Mexico.

Frank Lopez has been retained by Volvo Rents to oversee the company’s Hispanic franchise business development strategy in the U.S.