By: Gina Dewar
As La Revista Binacional’s editor-in-chief, I had the honor to interview Ramiro Cavazos, President of the USHCC at the National Convention of USHCC 2023 in Orlando, Florida.
It was the last day of the 3-day Convention, and we were a little bit sad and bummed out about it, but still, we were happy to have the time to interview Ramiro.
LARB: Thank you so much for having us. It’s been an amazing event from day one till now, our last day.
Tell us, Ramiro, what do you plan to add to this convention for next year?
With his strong and easy-to-understand voice, Ramiro told us he was looking forward to having more mainstage speakers. Plenaries, as they are called, are what they intend to bring to the 2024 National Convention in Kansas City. High-level speakers that can go for 20 minutes in front of an audience are what the USHCC is hoping to achieve.
I complimented him on the organization and of course, the workshops and training that take place during the convention, and that expands the education for chambers, CEOs, and their staff.
“And then our expo, every year has grown. So, I think the expo is a great place for people to display their services, and their products, and sell and buy from each other. We have a Latina Mercado, which we are very excited about. And again, it’s just in its second year, but we’ve seen where a lot of our members buy their clothes and their jewelry there, and they wear it to the Gala that we’re going to have tonight,” he added.
Ramiro affirmed that the Chamber would keep doing what they’ve been doing, only making it better and making sure feedback is received from attendees to make this convention better every year.
“One of the things that we want to do is have people meet somebody they didn’t know before, learn something new, and then leave with a stronger network for their businesses or the companies that they work for.”
We agreed. As a Latino community from all backgrounds, we can create more solidarity and unify us.
LARB: Ramiro, thank you so much for everything you do, especially for women in our community. We must highlight women, and how they are thriving and speaking up. As a woman, I can tell you that we’re getting in there. But I do want to congratulate and highlight the men who are leading us, and they are taking us by the hand to get to these important positions.
The C-suite is now being filled by more Latinos, and now LATINAS and that is very important to us. This brings me to my next question Ramiro,
What do you, as a man, think we need to do more to, you know, so we can advance more in those positions?
Ramiro promptly answered:
“Well, I know that Latinos really are the true leaders in our community, and in most of the families the woman of the household makes their major decisions, and I think it’s important that they have big dreams also. And I think sometimes where Latinas could do better is to not put their dreams in the back to support the man. I believe that we’re equals, and, in my family, you know my wife has her career, and I have my career, but I would never do anything to sacrifice her career. And for me, women must know that part of a good relationship is an equal relationship. I don’t come from the school of “behind every man is a good woman.” It should be “beside every man is a stronger partner and woman who also has her dreams.”
I enjoyed his answers. As a woman who has been working for a long time, hearing a person like Ramiro express himself towards Latinas in businesses was making me proud to know him.
“We need to do our part, too. I make my bed every day at home, and we need to help do our part because women do most of the hard work when it comes to raising our children.”
He added:
“I’m very excited that most of our board members are Latino women. Most of our staff are Latino women. And it’s not a quota. That’s just the way it works out because that’s where the talent is.”
His words were like music to my ears. As a Latina woman, I know the struggles we face to get where we want to go. Hearing how he supports us women, his board members and staff, and every Latina, and of course, all Hispanics and Latinos is what makes Ramiro Cavazos a Latino Excellence example.
Ramiro is a story worth telling because he is an inspiration and a true leader to the unity of Hispanics in this amazing country.
He is always smiling, and he makes you feel that you belong in every room, whether it’s your first time at a Chamber event or if you’ve been there forever.
That is something that every small business, especially Latino-owned businesses and minority-owned businesses is trying to overcome, to feel that we belong.
Ramiro Cavazos is a true example of a leader who does that.
It was an honor to interview him, and I made sure that La Revista Binacional thanked him for his support and guidance.
