The Glenwood Springs Chamber Board of Directors and staff recently revised our mission to underscore the interconnectedness between a prosperous business community and the overall welfare of our broader community. Additionally, we emphasized the pivotal role our organization plays in fostering the success of both spheres. The resulting mission of the Glenwood Springs Chamber is helping business thrive and community prosper. 

The cornerstone of our mission is helping to sustainably grow our local businesses by providing tools, resources, promotion, networking, and educational support. We also strive to cultivate an environment conducive to the success of both emerging and established companies. However, as we reflect on our organizational makeup, we acknowledge that our current membership may not fully represent the diversity of our broader business community, particularly the vibrant Latino business sector.

In response, we have taken proactive steps to bridge this gap and forge stronger connections with the Latino business community. Recently, we established the Latino Business Advisory Council, a committee within the Glenwood Springs Chamber Board of Directors. Our aim is to foster meaningful relationships and create avenues for collaboration, facilitating business growth and mutual success.  

The advisory council has identified access to business education and resources in Spanish for current and prospective businesses as top priorities. Therefore, we are working to build an online resource hub as well as education and business connection opportunities in both Spanish and English. To officially launch this new initiative, we are hosting a bilingual business extravaganza called Let’s Talk Business/Hablemos de Negocios. The event, generously sponsored by FirstBank, is scheduled for Wednesday, April 17, from 4 to 7 p.m. It will be held at Morgridge Commons, located at 815 Cooper Ave., 2nd Floor in Glenwood Springs.

During the event, we'll be introducing the Glenwood Springs Chamber Latino Business Advisory Council. Plus, we have an exciting lineup of "TED-Style Talks" where three accomplished Latino business owners will be sharing their inspiring success stories. Our speakers include Hugo Munoz, owner of Hugo's Restaurant; Katya Robledo Ortiz, owner of Kumbala Hair Salon; and Mirella and Fernando Ramirez, owners of Specialist Auto Body Repair.

Furthermore, we'll have a panel of local resources available to address any questions from the audience. The business resource expo will highlight available opportunities for both existing and prospective businesses. There will be plenty of time to network and sample food local Latino-owned restaurants. Beverages will be provided thanks to Quality Brands of the Rockies. The event is free and open to the public. A limited number of business booth spaces are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Please visit glenwoodchamber.com or call (970) 945-6589 for more information.

We're thrilled about our renewed mission of helping business thrive and community prosper. We are excited to deepen our connections with the Latino business community, ensuring that we truly reflect the diversity and vibrancy of our entire business community. Let’s Talk Business/Habelmos de Negocios promises to be an enlightening and enriching experience for all attendees. We hope to see you there!

By: Angie Anderson, President & CEO