The Fort Worth Hispanic Chamber of Commerce was created when a small group of minority business and community members recognized the need for effective representation in the local business community. The organization was chartered August 3, 1973, as only the fourth Mexican-American Chamber of Commerce to be established in the State of Texas. Among the founding members of the chamber were Dick Salinas, who served as its first president; Pete Zepeda, president-elect; Ron Fernandez, vice president; and Manuel Jara, treasurer.
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The first chamber office was located downtown in the Sinclair Building and the first meetings were held at various area restaurants. However, by 1982 interest in the organization grew enough to support a full suite of offices in the historic Stockyards section of the city. The Articles of Incorporation were amended November 25, 1985 and the name was changed to the Fort Worth Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.
Since our founding, the Fort Worth Hispanic Chamber of Commerce has grown from the initial 30 members to hundreds of businesses and professional leaders.
Today the FWHCC is a dynamic force, promoting international trade, education, opportunity and economic mobility for all and the continuous development of its members. The chamber particularly strives to serve its members through business and professional seminars, workshops, networking opportunities and business procurement assistance through its Economic Development Programs.
The chamber also works to give back to our community through the FWHCC Scholarship fund created in 1991. Since then, it has provided over a million dollars in scholarship awards.
The Fort Worth Hispanic Chamber of Commerce is proud to serve the business interests of the Metroplex community and will strive to seek opportunity for its membership and achieve economic benefit for all.
MEET OUR PRESIDENT and CEO
Anette Landeros
Landeros brings over 10 years of leadership and problem-solving expertise in government and nonprofit sectors to the organization. Most recently serving as Project Manager for the Office of Inspector General for the US Department of Transportation, Landeros lead teams in program evaluations of national transportation projects. She is also adept in nonprofit fundraising from her years of service with the Hispanic Women’s Network of Texas, a state-wide nonprofit organization in which she has served in various capacities for over a decade. Landeros will combine her knowledge of business best practices with her community building and nonprofit service to build the next chapter of the FWHCC.
Meet the Chamber’s Staff
Gilberto Atayde
Director of Business Development
Laura Sanchez Kinkade
Director of Special Events
Isabel Cable
Director of Member Relations
Ximena Arista-Zapata
Marketing and Communications Manager
Ben Lanford
Financial Officer
Dee Lara O'Neal
Main Street Project Manager
Isabella Lozano
Executive Assistant & Office Manager
Cristian ArguetaSoto
Minority Business Enterprise Specialist
Our Mission
