Press Release

United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Expands National Board to Increase Positive Small Business Impact

Washington, DC — December 8, 2025

Eleven influential business leaders are joining the United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (USHCC) Board of Directors, reflecting the strength of American enterprise and the growing impact of America’s Hispanic-owned businesses.

“These business leaders are the epitome of what America’s Hispanic business community is capable of,” said Jackie Puente, Vice President of External AOairs at Comcast and Chairwoman of the USHCC Board of Directors. “Their deep expertise and broad experience will help the USHCC
accelerate economic growth and the success of America’s Hispanic-owned businesses, creating greater prosperity and resilience for generations.”

The new members of the USHCC board of directors are:

  • Pedro Azagra, CEO of Iberdrola Group
  • David Castillo, President and CEO of the Greater Oklahoma Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
  • Frank Garcia, President and CEO of PERIKIN Enterprises
  • Anita Grace, President and CEO of GRACE Multicultural
  • Juan Hinojosa, Managing Director of Government Affairs at American Airlines
  • Eduardo Parra, Co-founder and CEO of Parra & Co.
  • Heather Philpot, President of Political and Public Affairs at Moore
  • Luis Rodriguez, President and CEO of the San Antonio Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
  • Adriana Martinez, President and CEO of Casa Martinez
  • Bruno Olvera, Head of North America Diversity Supplier Development at Stellantis
  • Michel Zajur, Founder and CEO of the Virginia Hispanic Chamber

 

“America’s five million Hispanic-owned businesses, plus 65. Million Hispanic American consumers contribute $4.1 trillion to our annual economy,” noted USHCC President Ramiro A. Cavazos, “and that economic impact is growing every year at 18%. In fact, one-in-four new businesses in this country are owned by American Hispanics, and these fantastic new board members bring the energy and innovative ideas that are making that possible.”

The new board members will begin their tenure in January 2026, during which the USHCC will host the 47th Annual National Conference, two national energy summits in addition to their annual legislative summit and national conference.

Board Member Profiles

 

Pedro Azagra Blázquez

Pedro Azagra Blázquez is the CEO of Iberdrola Group, a multinational electric utility company serving around 30 million customers. Since joining in 1997, he has driven Iberdrola’s global expansion, leading more than 120 transactions worth $120 billion and guiding entry into markets across the U.S., U.K., Brazil, Europe, and Asia-Pacific. He also serves on the Board of Directors of Iberdrola S.A. and the Executive Committee of the Edison Electric Institute. Mr. Blázquez holds degrees in Business Administration and Law from ICADE (Comillas Pontifical University) and an MBA from the University of Chicago.

David Castillo

David Castillo is president and CEO of the Greater Oklahoma Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, a role he has served for 19 years. A lifelong resident of Oklahoma City, David started his career as a teacher and has been a business owner for the past 30 years. He is a former member of the Oklahoma City Public School Board and is the chair of the Governors Minority Business Council. Mr. Castillo holds a Bachelor of Science in Education from the University of Central Oklahoma.

Frank Garcia

Frank Garcia is president is CEO of PERIKIN Enterprises, a defense contracting firm specializing in professional services and advanced engineering with operations across seven states and an expanding global reach. Under his leadership, PERIKIN was named the Small Business Administration’s Minority Construction Firm of the Year in 2023. Frank is also the founder of the U.S. Small Business Federal Contractors Association (SBFCA), a nonprofit dedicated to empowering small businesses. Mr. Garcia holds a Bachelor of Arts in political science from Texas State University.

Anita Grace

Anita Grace, President and CEO of GRACE Multicultural, is a dynamic leader and trailblazer in multicultural marketing and communications. For more than 24 years, she has led her fully woman- and minority-owned enterprise with a mission to bridge businesses and corporations with diverse communities nationwide. Ms. Grace holds a Bachelor’s degree in Spanish and

Marketing from Northern Arizona University and a Master’s degree in Business from Grand Canyon University.

Eduardo Parra

Eduardo Parra is the co-founder and CEO of Parra & Co, a family-owned civil engineering firm headquartered in San Antonio, Texas. With 25 years of experience, he has managed and designed projects for municipal governments and private developers in the US and abroad, overseeing large multi-year programs exceeding $300 million. He is a Trustee of the San Antonio Water System, Chairman of OPERA San Antonio, an Advisor to the Board of the Brackenridge Park Conservancy, and the Honorary Commander of the Inter-American Air Force Academy (IAAFA) 37th Training Wing at Lackland Air Force Base. Mr. Parra was honored as San Antonio Business Journal’s 2016 “40 under 40″ and received the “C-Suite Award” in 2022.

Heather Philpot

Heather Philpot is President of Political and Public Affairs at Moore, where she leads innovation, growth, and operational strategy for her division. She has crafted data-driven, omnichannel strategies that deliver measurable impact for five presidential campaigns, political committees, and global brands. Ms. Philpot is a former President of the Direct Marketers Association of Washington and a graduate of the University of New Mexico.

Juan Hinojosa

Juan Hinojosa is Managing Director of Government Affairs at American Airlines, where he represents the airline before Congress on aviation policy matters. Before joining American Airlines in 2021, he served as Chief of Staff to Congressman Mike Quigley (D-IL), supporting the congressman’s work on the House Appropriations Committee. Prior to that, he held the position of Director of Federal Government Relations at Strategies 360. A graduate of Indiana University Bloomington, Mr. Hinojosa lives in McLean, Virginia with his wife and two young sons.

Luis Rodriguez

Luis A. Rodriguez is President and CEO of the San Antonio Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (SAHCC), the nation’s first and oldest Hispanic Chamber. A San Antonio native, Luis has played an instrumental role in leading the organization through transformational growth including the creation of a new small business incubator, expanding the international trade missions to five different countries, becoming the first Hispanic Chamber in the nation to receive a Five Star Accreditation designation from the United States Chamber of Commerce. Prior to joining SAHCC, Mr. Rodriguez was the co-founder and CEO of Modern Managed IT, a technology firm supporting medium and small businesses.

Adriana Martinez

Adriana G. Martinez is CEO of Casa Martinez, a salsa company with products available in more than 12,000 stores in the US and globally. Adriana also serves in the Eller College of Management National Board of Advisors and served in the Tucson Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors. She has been recognized as one of the Most Influential Women in the Food Industry by The Shelby Report, Top 100 Latinas in the US and Southern Arizona’s 40 under 40. She was recently recognized as the Hispanic Businesswoman of the Year. Ms. Martinez holds a Bachelors in Business Administration and Masters in Accounting from The University of Arizona.

Bruno Olvera

Bruno Olvera is the Head of North America for Supplier Diversity Development at the multinational automotive manufacturing company, Stellantis. Works proactively with internal business partners to identify potential business opportunities for diverse suppliers. Olvera began his career in Stellantis’s fast-track Purchasing and Supplier Quality Leadership Development Program. He has advanced through a number of North America and Global roles where he has led sourcing, procurement, and global strategy implementation for electrical components. Mr. Olvera holds both Bachelor’s and Master of Business Administration from the University of Detroit Mercy.

Michel Zajur

Michel Zajur is the founder and CEO of the Virginia Hispanic Chamber and the Virginia Hispanic Foundation. He has received the National Conference of Community Justices Humanitarian Award, the Minority Small Business Champion Award from the U.S. Small Business Administration, the Ohtli Award from the Government of Mexico, and the Global Excellence Award from the Virginia International Business Council. Michel has served appointments by Governors Mark Warner, Tim Kaine, and Bob McDonnell and was recognized as “One of the 25 People You Need to Know in the State” by Virginia Business Magazine. Mr. Zajur holds a degree in business administration and management from Virginia Commonwealth University.

About the USHCC

The United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (USHCC) actively promotes the economic growth, development, and interests of five million Hispanic-owned businesses that, combined, contribute over $800 billion to the American economy every year. The USHCC is America’s largest small business advocacy group, representing more than 260 local chambers and business associations nationwide, and partners with hundreds of major American corporations. For more information, please visit USHCC.com.

Media Contact

Juanita Guzman
juanita.guzman@bodenagency.com
(864) 417-6512

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