The Latino Chamber of Commerce of Dane County announced the resignation of Mayra Medrano as board chair today, ending her five-year tenure with the organization.
Founded in 2003, the Latino Chamber of Commerce of Dane County represents the Latino and non-Latino business community in the greater Madison and surrounding cities and assists and promotes the interests of its members and community through advocacy and programs that make an overall impact on Dane County’s economic growth. Medrano has been volunteering with the chamber since 2013.
Medrano said in press release today that it was time for her to evolve as a professional in an area which she is passionate about, economic development. She has been accepted to a fellowship program at American University in Washington D.C, where her focus will be in public policy. She will be seeking a Master of Business Administration to gain skills in leadership and economics that will complement her energy experience and allow her to influence positive change within the business development and the energy sector.
“I am pleased to leave the chamber in good hands and in a position for further growth. My move is bittersweet; I will miss Madison, but look forward to the opportunity to grow as a leader in our nation’s capital,” Medrano said in a statement today. “It’s an exciting time for the Latino Chamber, we have new board members and a new executive team which will take the helm in August. Our membership is up, and we have a very successful incubator program. I think we are ready for new energy to step in and take it to the next level.”
Medrano spent 15 years working for Madison Gas and Electric, where she engaged community stakeholders to invest in the Latino entrepreneurship and her leadership was critical for the chamber to continue to strengthen outreach initiatives and educational programs to help ensure that Latino businesses already located in Dane county feel like they have the resources to build capacity here and prosper.
The chamber’s board of directors, under its bylaws, has appointed former school board member and DWD Section Chief, vice-chair Juan Jose Lopez, as new the Chairman of the Board.
“Our community deeply appreciates everything Mayra has done in stabilizing and growing the Chamber,” said Board Chair Juan Jose Lopez in a statement. “She built very deep connections with the Dane County communities and will be a great addition to her new home. Mayra has positioned the Latino Chamber to be as competitive as other Chambers and mobilized us for future success and for that we are obliged.”
