Summary:
– Founding CEO Martha Isabel Zapata to step down.
– Chamber aims to name new leader by year’s end.
– Organization continues supporting Hispanic businesses.
Tulsa Area Hispanic Chamber of Commerce is seeking a new president and chief executive officer to lead the organization after founding CEO Martha Isabel Zapata steps away from the organization.
Zapata plans to move out of state but will stay in contact with the chamber, board chair Tomas Barrientos said. The hope is to have a new CEO and president in place by the end of the year.
“We are very happy for her and the work she’s done for the chamber these last two years,” Barrientos said in Spanish. “She’s revamped the chamber and made sure the chamber was known here in the city, and we’re very proud of what she’s done as we search for a new CEO.”
Created in early 2024, the chamber supports Hispanic and Latino businesses through advocacy, networking and education. They work closely with the UMA Center, an organization focused on empowering communities through economic development, education and advocacy.
Zapata will continue to serve as UMA’s CEO and president. She declined to comment on her departure.
“The chamber in reality needs its own president, so that’s why the transition is happening,” said Veronica Guzman, a business specialist with the chamber. “It’s basically for the growth of the chamber to have someone who can be dedicated completely, and the chamber to reach its function and get resources to the community and figure out how to help small businesses and meet its goals.”
The chamber is already making plans for the next year, but it’s waiting for approval from the new leader as well as its board of directors.
The Tulsa Area Hispanic Chamber of Commerce has more than 120 members with a mixture of small businesses, medium-sized and small businesses. The chamber was formerly known as the Hispanic Small Business Association, which operated between 2021 and 2023.
The organization is searching for a leader with experience in fundraising, nonprofit or business management, among other requirements.
“We really want more unity and we want someone who really knows our city and really knows the Hispanic business community,” Barrientos said.
The next CEO and president will be responsible for driving the organization’s strategic goals, strengthening partnerships and advancing the chamber’s mission. People interested in the position can send their resume and cover letter to [email protected] for consideration.
This article was produced as part of a partnership between the Tulsa Flyer and La Semana, a Tulsa-based bilingual Spanish-English newspaper serving Latino communities in Oklahoma.
