The U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce has tapped longtime San Antonio Hispanic Chamber of Commerce CEO Ramiro Cavazos as the national organization’s next chief executive officer.
The U.S. Hispanic Chamber serves the interests of approximately 4.4 million Hispanic-owned businesses that contribute more than $700 billion to the American economy every year, according to its website. The business federation also advocates on behalf of 260 major American corporations and serves as the umbrella organization for more than 200 local chambers and business associations nationwide.
Cavazos will succeed Javier Palomarez, who resigned amid accusations of financial and sexual improprieties in February.
Erika Prosper, chairwoman of the local chamber, made the announcement via an email to the board of directors on Thursday, according to a San Antonio Express-News report: “I write to let you know that our very own President & CEO Ramiro Cavazos has been offered an opportunity to take his skills and talent, forged and strengthened right here in San Antonio, to the next level.”
A native of Weslaco in the Rio Grande Valley, Cavazos joined the San Antonio Hispanic Chamber as president and CEO in August 2008. He served as director of economic development for the City of San Antonio, director of research and economic development for UT Health San Antonio, and as the global public affairs manager for the Levi Strauss Foundation in Texas, Mexico, and Latin America.
Cavazos also led a corporate communications company advising entities such as AT&T, H-E-B, and Valero Energy, and taught economic development for the University of Texas at San Antonio. He served as the campaign manager for Bexar County Judge Nelson Wolff when he was elected mayor of San Antonio, which he served as from 1991-95.
Cavazos earned a master’s of public administration degree from St. Mary’s University and holds a bachelor’s degree in government from The University of Texas at Austin.
The San Antonio Hispanic Chamber was founded in 1929. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce recognized the San Antonio Hispanic Chamber as a 5-Star Accredited Chamber in 2014, at the time the only Hispanic chamber to receive that accreditation.
