Cathy is the President & CEO for the Sacramento Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, one of the largest and most influential Latino organizations in the region. Cathy is a leading advocate for diverse small businesses and the Latino community. She is passionate in ensuring that the significant contributions and economic impact that Latino/a-owned businesses provide to our six-counties is recognized and that intentional investment in their continued growth is made. As a champion for Sacramento and the Latino community, Cathy was recently recognized by The Sacramento Bee as a “Changemaker” for their Inaugural 2023 Top 25 Latino Changemakers list. She is committed to mentorship and to providing support and opportunities for professional development for the next generation of leaders. She says, “There is more than enough light for everyone. I am happy to be the one cheering others on.” She currently serves on the Boards of Greater Sacramento Economic Council, Cristo Rey High School, and the UC Davis California Aggie Alumni Association. She is an American Leadership Forum (ALF) Fellow, Class XXI. She also serves on advisory and planning committees throughout the region. For her leadership and contributions to the community, Cathy has received recognition from numerous organizations including from the Sacramento Business Journal as a “Most Admired CEO-Association” in 2021 and ‘Woman Who Mean Business” recipient in 2016. From her peers and colleagues across the state, she received the 2021 “Executive of the Year” by the California Hispanic Chambers of Commerce at the annual convention. As an alum of UC Davis, she was especially honored to receive a “Trailblazer Award” from UC Davis Health Office of Health, Equity, Diversity & Inclusion in 2020 and featured as one of eleven alumni making an impact in Sacramento in the 2017 UC Davis magazine. In 2019, the Sacramento Cultural Hub named her an EWOC (Exceptional Woman of Color) recipient. Cathy has been a featured speaker at conferences throughout the region and state. She appreciates the opportunity to share her story and hopes it inspires others to stay true to themselves.
What makes you proud or excited to lead a Hispanic Chamber of Commerce?
I am a storyteller. I love sharing the stories of our business owners and the impact they make on our economy, our community, and our region. I am honored that they trust our Chamber to be a part of their journey. I am so proud of our businesses that are building legacies for their families. Every day, I am excited to lead an organization that is about advocacy, education, people and most of all, heart.
What should more people know about your local community of Hispanic business owners and entrepreneurs?
Hispanic Businesses and Entrepreneurs in the Sacramento region are diverse in the industries they represent, innovative in their business approaches, fearless in growth, and committed to our community. They are amazing!
How can we better support Hispanic business owners and entrepreneurs?
Celebrate and share their stories, growth, and success! Our Hispanic Businesses are the driving force for the economic engines in our regions, and we need to ensure that their contributions are recognized. Investment in our Hispanic Businesses fuels job creation, uplifts communities and creates more opportunities for all.
