Vision

To be knowledgeable, strong and influential leaders in advocating the needs, concerns and aspirations of Hispanic business in Maryland and the Mid-Atlantic Region.

Mission

As a regional organization, the Chamber intends to unify and strengthen Hispanic businesses in the Mid-Atlantic Region by:

• Promoting economic development in general, and helping members start,
grow, finance and manage their businesses;
• Expanding training opportunities for present and future entrepreneurs;
• Advocating for increased workforce development in business, science
and technology;
• Providing successful networking opportunities;
• Providing personalized, high-value services to our members in order to
reduce entry barriers that hinder new business formation and to increase
access to new markets here and abroad;
• Facilitating access to capital to start new businesses or to expand existing
ones; and,
• Advancing the overall socio-economic and political interests of the Hispanic
community.

Philosophy

The Mid-Atlantic Hispanic Chamber of Commerce will anticipate and/or listen to the needs of its membership, and will seek to influence the political, economic, cultural, educational, and regulatory environment necessary to ensure that Hispanic businesses have every opportunity to succeed and that Hispanic youth and adult entrepreneurs have every opportunity to prepare themselves for a successful and productive professional life and/or a career in business.

Core Values

We value and love our Nation, our state, our communities, and our members’ entrepreneurial spirit, love for family and community, work ethics and unique heritage.

Goal

To be recognized as the leading voice representing the interests, aspirations, and advancement of Hispanic businesses in Maryland and in the Mid-Atlantic Region.

Strategic Intent

“To build the membership, organizational infrastructure, political influence and financial strength of the Mid-Atlantic Hispanic Chamber
of Commerce.” Board of Directors

Principles

Corporate Gorvernance – The Chamber is committed to the highest standard of corporate governance practice at both the Board of Directors and Executive Management, as reflected in our By-laws and our Code of Ethics, and by conducting business in accordance with the highest legal, ethical and moral standards.

Members – We cherish the recruitment, advancement, and retention of our member companies, and the active participation of the entities and persons that support them.

Communications – We listen to our members, our community, our government, and we speak to our common interests and shared values.

Services – We provide visible, tangible and real-world business benefits to our members through our innovative services, products and programs .

Business climate – We believe in:

• A business-friendly environment that encourages entrepreneurship and
the free enterprise system;
• An environment that supports fair and equal access to government
procurement and to business-to-business procurements;
• Access to our elected officials in order to petition for the implementation of
laws that facilitate the economic development of our small businesses and
the economic empowerment of our community;
• An efficient and effective government infrastructure that promotes commerce,
research and development, and economic development; and,
• Reasonable regulatory and taxation policies that furthers the establishment,
development, and retention of successful Hispanic businesses.

Goverment – We view government, at all levels, to be a partner for progress with Hispanic businesses.

Quality of life – We seek safe and attractive neighborhoods, accessible public transportation, a sound public education where students begin a path of life-long learning and citizenship, decent and affordable housing, and a clean environment in the Mid-Atlantic States and the Chesapeake Bay they all share.

Education – We stand for a quality public education, striving for a 100% graduation rate and earning a college education or a trade as the minimum standard necessary to prepare our children to be the next generation of successful Hispanic business leaders.

Diversity and inclusiveness – We celebrate our ethnic, cultural, racial, gender, religious, and language differences, and we honor and respect the richness and diversity of mankind; and, for that reason, we will oppose any measure or activity that degrades the dignity and right of a person to lawfully earn a living or to be an equal participant in community, civic or government life according to personal interests and abilities.

Change – We embrace change as a prerequisite for the advancement of the Hispanic business community and we seek to promote it in a manner that ensures the constitutional right of every American to achieve the diverse manifestations of the American Dream.

Ethics – We are a “Character Counts! Chamber. As such, we are a transparent, accountable and ethical organization. There is never a justifiable reason to compromise the integrity of the Mid-Atlantic Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, our businesses, or our own personal ethics as Chamber officers or members.

Community Investment – We are a nonprofit organization that must be managed as a business and, at the same time, it must serve the public interest. Being good neighbors is of paramount importance to the Chamber and its members. The Chamber will continue to expand programs such as Boy Scouts, public summer concerts, community fairs, etc. throughout its service area.

Short -Term Objectives

Public Policy

• Research and publish a document on “Hispanics and Hispanic Businesses–
A Profile of the Hispanic Community in Maryland and the Mid-Atlantic Region”;
• Establish quarterly high-level discussions with public officials at the local, state
and federal levels;
• Enhance relationships with the US Small Business Administration and other
economic development agencies at the city, county and state levels;
• Establish a formal process to respond publicly and adroitly to business-related
issues impacting on the Hispanic community;
• Work with the US Congress, particularly the Congressional Delegation from
Maryland and the Mid-Atlantic States, the White House, the US Chamber
of Commerce, the US Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and the National
Federation of Independent Businesses to advocate for an equitable and
comprehensive immigration reform; and,
• Advocate before local and state legislative bodies legislation that ensures fair
participation of Hispanic businesses in government procurement and in laws
that enable the Hispanic community to advance socially, economically and
educationally.

Business Development

• Sponsor value-added chamber events to generate new business opportunities
for members
• Expand Hispanic business education seminars and workshops;
• Team up with financial institutions to create and disseminate throughout the
Hispanic community economic and personal financial information in order to
economically empower them; and,
• Help Hispanic entrepreneurs obtain required licenses so that they may operate
their businesses within the framework of the formal economy.

Local, State and Federal Procurement

• Register Members into Minority Procurement
Databases at the local, state and federal levels
• Conduct 8(a), DBE/MBE, and Hub Zone
certification Seminars and workshops taught
by successful government procurement experts
who “have been there, done that” and assist
member companies to become certified; and,
• Collaborate with government agencies to
provide government procurement forecasts.

Strategic Alliances

• Strengthen relationships with existing strategic partners such as the Better Business Bureau, the Small Business Administration, Maryland Business and Economic Development Department, U.S. Chamber of Commerce, and U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce; and,
• Develop partnerships with the Maryland Chamber of Commerce and the Greater Washington Board of Trade.

Leadership, Infrastructure, and Financial Development

• Identify, recruit, and hire a full-time Office
Manager and additional support staff ; and,
• Expand and continue to diversify the Board of Directors through the diligent
work of the Nominating Committee.

Membership/Communications

• Develop high-quality brochures to promote membership recruitment and
Chamber programs and services;
• Develop a “Membership Card” program to allow members to participate in
special business-to-business discounts;
• Increase paid membership by at least 20%;
• Develop an interactive, next-generation Hispanic Business Portal and
implement an aggressive marketing campaign to increase brand
recognition of the portal in order to make it the preferred online site for
Hispanic business; and,
• Increase the number of Hispanic and Non-Hispanic Corporate Members
by at least 30%.

Special Events

• Hispanic Business Leadership Summit;
• Annual Business Gala Banquet and Awards;
• Annual Maryland Legislative Business Reception;
• Business Education and Networking Conferences; and
• Job fairs to bring together local Hispanic workforce with prospective
employees.