Rick Ortiz, President & CEO, Greater Dallas Hispanic Chamber of Commerce

Invest: sat down with the Greater Dallas Hispanic Chamber of Commerce President and CEO, Rick Ortiz, to discuss the chamber’s key achievements over the past five years, strategic priorities, and various programs aimed at supporting Hispanic-owned businesses in the region, highlighting ongoing efforts in advocacy, capacity building, and partnerships that foster economic growth and opportunities for disadvantaged communities.

Could you share some key achievements and milestones that have supported Hispanic-owned businesses in the region, especially over the past year?

We’ve had a lot of accomplishments, especially in the past couple of years. We’ve launched some impactful small business programs. One of the most significant is the Empowered CEO Hub, where we manage all our programs. As we celebrate 85 years, we also celebrate some recent successes. 

We’ve launched six program cohorts per year over the last couple of years. These are multi-week, cohort-driven accelerator programs. One such program is the Dallas Accelerator Program, which we operate alongside the Black Chamber. We are one of three organizations selected by the city to manage this initiative. Our focus is on helping small businesses, especially those from disadvantaged communities, to build capacity. The goal is to eventually have these businesses become suppliers and contractors for the city of Dallas. By increasing their capacity, these businesses create more jobs, which boosts the local economy.

Another key program is the Scale Up Success Accelerator Program, funded by a $1.9 million grant from Dallas County. This program is similar to the Dallas Accelerator but focuses more on established businesses rather than startups. We run multiple cohorts simultaneously and help businesses with capacity building, access to capital, website development, and grant acquisition. In fact, some businesses receive grants of up to $5,000.

We also have the Blue Wave Program, which is part of the Scale Up initiative. This program focuses on established businesses aiming to become global suppliers for corporate America. These businesses are already generating millions in revenue, and we help them become compliant for global-level contracts.

Could you share your strategic priorities for the Chamber’s next phase of growth and how you envision its evolution over the coming years?

Our strategic pillars focus on three main areas, advocacy, access, and capacity.  

First is advocacy; since 1939, we’ve been strong advocates for the Hispanic business community. Second is access; we act as a bridge between our members and corporate partners, ensuring that our members gain access to vital resources. The last pillar is capacity; building the capacity of small businesses through our various programs. For example, we have a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Department of Transportation, helping businesses become bondable and insurable to compete for federally funded contracts.  

We’ve also partnered with the United States Hispanic Chamber and Office Depot on the Elevate Together program, which awards grants to qualifying businesses. A recent achievement is the equity grant we received from the Dallas Foundation and Community Foundation, which helped launch the Empowered CEO Hub. We’re also integrating the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals into our operations, which aligns with the 2030 agenda.

Given your experience, how do you perceive the current economic and business development landscape for Hispanic-owned businesses in the region?

The challenges remain similar to what they’ve always been, but programs like these, along with strong partnerships, are helping change the landscape. Businesses gain access to not only resources but also opportunities. We’ve seen many success stories, which highlight the impact our efforts are having on the community.

Regarding your advocacy agenda, what’s your plan moving forward? What challenges are still present?

We work across all levels of government; local, state, and federal. Right now, we’re finalizing our public policy agenda, which will be ready within the next month. Our board and public policy workgroup have been working to update our legislative agenda, which is currently available on our website. We’ve held several Straight Talk Series events to discuss both sides of key issues to ensure we make the right decisions for our members.

Can you discuss the importance of networking opportunities and how the Chamber facilitates connections among its members?

Our events are highly informational, helping members understand key issues while connecting them to public policy leaders. We want our members to understand the importance of policy and the impact it can have on their business. They can make a difference and push for change from where they sit.  Business is instrumental in shaping policy, and we educate our members on this. 

We also provide access to resources through partnerships, and networking is a crucial component of our work. If you are in a position to do business and you have no relationships, you will be stagnant. Relationships drive opportunities, and we help our members establish the connections they need to succeed.

Are there any particular partnerships you have in place to support job opportunities, workforce development, or educational resources?

We’ve partnered with the city of Dallas through the Dallas Accelerator Program (DAP), which has been a great success. This program connects businesses to supply chain opportunities, especially in light of the city’s major Convention Center project — the largest in its history. We’re advocating to ensure our members are considered for these opportunities, although there are no guarantees. We want it to represent the demographics of the region.

Given the economic uncertainties like inflation and high interest rates, how are you helping members and entrepreneurs weather these pressures?

We keep them informed and work with finance industry partners to help educate them and provide the tools and opportunities they need. Our partners include not only traditional banks but also not traditional partners such as micro-lenders to provide access to capital. We try to get as many of those partners in front of our members as possible. We’re also working with another partner to help them understand the importance of wealth management and thinking forward. We want them to have the right tools and policies in place to make sure they understand succession planning and future-proofing their businesses so they’re not just reacting to crises.

To round things off, what are your top priorities for the Chamber over the next two to three years?

Our main priority is to continue building the Empowered CEO Hub. We have to be more strategic to make sure we have more sustainable funding to continue to bring these opportunities to our members. We have to diversify our revenue source, not just relying on grants and contracts, but also contributions and donations. In the past we have worked with the Dallas Foundation as our fiscal agent, but we’re also working on launching our own Chamber Foundation, which will be a 501(c)(3) to house funds. We will also continue focusing on our three pillars—advocacy, access, and capacity building.

We’re also excited about our 85th anniversary and our gala at the Hilton Anatole, which will be our signature event for the year. We typically have two signature events, but this year we decided to combine it into one big celebration.