CORPUS CHRISTI: The Corpus Christi Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, known for its advocacy of small Hispanic business and startups, is in talks to merge with the larger Corpus Christi Chamber of Commerce.
In a joint statement Friday, the agencies said the move would leverage their separate strengths and will better serve their members and sponsors.
“The Hispanic Chamber is recognized for our support of small, minority and women owned businesses,” Hispanic chamber chairman Eddie Garcia said in the statement. “Finding the common elements and ensuring that no services would be lost are fundamental in the discussions. Ultimately, it is imperative that the members, our stakeholders, have the final say on this matter.”
Boards of each chamber have signed off on the merger, said Gabriel Guerra, chairman of the Corpus Christi chamber. The Hispanic chamber’s board notified members of its decision in an email Friday afternoon.
Rosie Collin, chair-elect for the 77-year-old Hispanic chamber, said the move would give its 400 members more reach for business growth, and prevents overlap. Many Hispanic chamber members also pay dues to the Corpus Christi chamber, which has roughly 1,000 members.
“This has been an ongoing dialogue over multiple meetings,” she said. “We feel this is the best way for our members to expand their business opportunities.”
Last month, Teresa Rodriguez Bartlett announced she would step down as the Hispanic chamber’s president and CEO after three years. She was named the new chief public affairs and business development officer for the Corpus Christi Convention and Visitors Bureau.
