For four decades, the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Louisiana (HCCL) has championed economic growth and opportunity for myriad locally owned businesses – a personally fulfilling but never-ending effort for this vital organization’s membership and leadership.
And while HCCL remains steadfast in seeking forward-thinking approaches to serve its community, this year has also afforded a brief respite to pause and reflect on the people who brought this thriving economic advocacy group to this point. To re-enforce its principal commitment to grow, develop, and promote Hispanic-owned businesses and associations across the state, the HCCL chose, “Onward: Driving Hispanic Businesses Forward,” as its 40th anniversary theme.
“It’s been 40 years of hard work by a multitude of people to get this organization where it is today,” says current HCCL President/CEO Mayra Pineda. “During my time in this role, with growth and an expansion of the services we provide the community, we’ve seen many new needs arise, as well. (That is) why “Onward” fits so well as an anniversary theme – because with all the positives that have occurred, there’s still so much more to accomplish with our strategic plans and so many ways to expand services as the business climate keeps evolving.”
Pineda says that leadership has purposely spent time this year digging through HCCL archives so that it can properly honor those who charted the path and paved the way for the Chamber. At a Town Hall event in late Spring 2024, HCCL recognized the contributions of all its past chairs, with several of those leaders honored in-person, including Rufino Saavedra, Vinicio Madrigal, Max Moreno, Manny Blanco, and Martha Castillo.
“Bring your efforts together. Make your community be brilliant like the sunshine. Join the Chamber and become a strong networking group. Achieve your goals.”
– Dr. Vinicio Madrigal, past HCCL chair
“The Chamber is alive and growing, and having a good impact in the community,” Moreno says. “We’re trying to form new leaders. We’re trying to promote new businesses. We’re trying to bring tourism and trade to the community and be known. And I think that’s being accomplished.”
In 1984, the “Louisiana Hispanic Chamber of Commerce” was formed by a small collection of Hispanic-owned businesses who partnered together to seek avenues to access capital funding and/or investments, and to share best practices. A handful of years later, a second advocacy group, The Gulf Coast International Chamber of Commerce, was formed with a similar mission. While there was more philosophical and ideological overlap than not between the two advocacy groups, the lack of a singular voice and unified message limited what could ultimately be accomplished collectively.
Noting that, in 1999, the two organizations combined into one and the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Louisiana was born.
The unification allowed for HCCL to continue its micro, face-to-face campaigns to assist and shepherd growth amongst Hispanic-owned Louisiana businesses, but also afford the chance to tackle macro issues like the expansion of trade relations between the state and Latin America.
“I’m very proud, very thankful and very appreciative of all the work done after I served by those who subsequently followed me,” says Saavedra, who served as the first HCCL president after the two original chambers merged. “Through them, I can proudly say, the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce is in a great position to continue to advocate and continue progressing.
“The sky is the limit.”
With just 60 members in 1985, the HCCL now serves more than 800 members. Its reach and representation continue to not only grow in the New Orleans metro area but also expand into vital Louisiana markets like Baton Rouge, Lafayette, Lake Charles, and Shreveport. While the overarching goals of the HCCL haven’t shifted much since the 1980s, how they achieve those goals has morphed dramatically. The organization has taken a thorough and strategic approach toward staying on the cutting edge of business shifts and trends, making sure its members stay abreast of those changes.
“I have seen all the different stages that we have gone through. It has been amazing. It has been incredible. It has been a lot of work. I think as a team we have done and accomplished great things.”
– Martha Castillo, past HCCL chair
As part of its 40th anniversary, the HCCL unveiled its new “Biz Force” program – a strategic small business empowerment initiative that outfits operations with the tools and know-how to thrive in a rapidly evolving business climate post-COVID. To maximize the program’s effect, the HCCL specifically targeted “second stage” Hispanic-owned small businesses that have been in operation for at least 12 months and that generate more than $100,000 in annual revenue.
Over the course of eight sessions, Biz Force participants are introduced and become well-versed in technological advancements that can both positively impact their bottom-line and lessen their environmental footprint. Biz Force leaders examine businesses’ e-commerce capabilities and suggest targeted platforms that can expand their reach, increase sales, and increase their customer base beyond the range of typical brick and mortar businesses. Furthermore, Biz Force emphasizes financial acumen, human resources, and the benefits of reinvesting in their existing workforce through continuing education.
“The Chamber is alive and growing, and having a good impact in the community. We’re trying to form new leaders. We’re trying to promote new businesses. We’re trying to bring tourism and trade to the community and be known.”
– Max Moreno, past HCCL chair
An unintentional plus of Biz Force is that participants often foster relationships that lead to the type of long-term connections needed to enhance and expand their existing operations.
“Unfortunately, for many minority businesses, statistics show sustainability is not in their favor,” Pineda says. “So, Biz Force fights against that trend – to educate, to provide for, and to build capacity for Hispanic entrepreneurs who will be the future business leaders and job creators in our community.
“When you think about that, the goal of Biz Force – to foster emerging micro-businesses to grow in scale, which in turn creates generational wealth – is not much different than it would have been 40 years ago. The only thing that has changed are the methods we’re teaching and the tools we’re providing.”
“I’m very proud … and very appreciative of all the work done after I served by those who subsequently followed me. Through them, I can proudly say, the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce is in a great position to continue to advocate and continue progressing. The sky is the limit.”
—Rufino Saavedra, past HCCL chair
“Hispanics play an incredibly important role in our community. We’re growing
more rapidly than the other segments of the community. Therefore, it is important for the Hispanic Chamber to have a presence as we have now.”
– Manny Blanco, past HCCL chair
