Girl Scouts Of Michigan Shore To Shore CEO Named Chief Executive Officer Of Michigan Hispanic Chamber Of Commerce

BEVERLY HILLS, Mich., Sept. 16, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Recent Girl Scouts of Michigan Shore to Shore CEO and veteran executive and civic leader Gloria Lara has been named the Chief Executive Officer of the Michigan Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (MHCC), effective September 12. The announcement was made today by the MHCC Board of Directors.

Michigan is home to more than 11,000 Hispanic-owned businesses and nearly 500,000 Hispanic consumers. The Michigan Hispanic Chamber of Commerce serves as the largest and best recognized organization in the state to promote the development, growth and visibility of its growing member base. MHCC is the state leader in developing and growing Hispanic businesses.

"We are thrilled to have an executive leader the caliber of Gloria join the leadership of MHCC," said MHCC Board Chair JoAnn Chavez. "Gloria's strong experience in directing organizations in both the nonprofit and private sector, as well as her incredible success in driving growth, engagement and innovation in a diverse range of organizations make her an outstanding choice to help our members thrive on the state, national and global business stage."

As CEO of the Girl Scout Council for nearly six years, Lara served as advocate and chief spokesperson for Girl Scouting in all sectors of the council's jurisdiction, including to the general public, the corporate community and government at all levels; driving fund development efforts, contributions and grants to the council to a more than 60 percent increase during her tenure.

Lara has top-level experience in finance, marketing, sales and project management earned in executive positions at IBM, Chrysler Corporation, Jervis B. Webb Company, Delphi Corporation, United Technologies Automotive and TRW over her career.

Gloria is a member of the Board of Trustees of the Spectrum Health Hospital Group of Grand Rapids, MI, and also serves on their Finance Committee. She is a member of the Board of Directors of Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park, Grand Rapids. Most recently, she was a member of the Board of Directors of the Economic Club of Grand Rapids and a member of the Rotary Club of Grand Rapids. Gloria was honored as the 2013 Hispanic Businessperson of the Year by the West Michigan Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.

She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in business administration with a concentration in accounting from California State University, Fullerton, and a Master of Business Administration degree from Harvard Business School, Boston, MA.

Lara replaces Camilo Suero, who stepped down as MHCC Executive Director in late August to pursue other opportunities. He will remain as an advisor to MHCC until the end of this year. 

About the MHCC: The Michigan Hispanic Chamber of Commerce promotes economic advancement, growth and sustainability for its members by enabling access to business opportunities and developmental resources through strategic initiatives.

The Michigan Hispanic Chamber of Commerce is the premier gateway to the state's 11,000 Hispanic businesses and over 500,000 Latino consumers.  MHCC serves as an advocate for jobs and economic development by promoting participation in supplier diversity development programs and international trade with Mexico and other Latin American countries. Because MHCC maintains a unique status as home to automotive and other suppliers representing an array of industries with an international footprint, it offers a mix of programs and targeted business services, all aimed at growing member businesses.

MHCC's membership reflects the diversity of Hispanic business enterprises in the state. Its member firms have consistently been ranked among the Top Hispanic-owned firms both regionally and nationally. Members include Hispanic Business Enterprises (HBEs), original equipment manufacturers, tiered suppliers, publicly traded companies in the banking, energy, food processing and office supply industries, and a range of companies and organizations interested in doing business with the state's growing base of Hispanic businesses and consumers.

Established in September of 1989, MHCC is a 501 (c)(6) nonprofit business association governed by a 30-member Board of Directors that represents the business diversity of its membership.

SOURCE Michigan Hispanic Chamber of Commerce