Ramiro Cavazos
Ramiro A. Cavazos is President and Chief Executive Officer of the United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (USHCC), America’s largest business advocacy organization for Hispanics. He is a trusted economic development expert and champion for bipartisan solutions that generate wealth and advance economic opportunity for all Americans.
Prior to his role at the USHCC, Ramiro served as President and Chief Executive Officer of the San Antonio Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (SAHCC), the nation’s first Hispanic Chamber of Commerce founded in 1929. During his tenure, he advocated for the passage of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), achieved recognition as a Five-Star Accredited Chamber, and successfully led trade missions to Spain, Mexico, Canada, Israel, China, Japan, Cuba, and Italy.
Ramiro previously served as Director of Research and Economic Development at the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, driving public-private partnerships that accelerated entrepreneurship, innovation, and technology advancements. He also provided leadership as the Director of Economic Development for the City of San Antonio, overseeing projects that fueled a period of unprecedented business growth, retention, and trade—resulting in the creation of higher-paying jobs in key industries for America’s seventh-largest city. Additionally, Cavazos shared his expertise by teaching economic development at the University of Texas at San Antonio’s Institute of Law and Public Affairs.
Ramiro’s diverse experience has equipped him with a unique global perspective and a deep understanding of the interconnected world we live in. His tenure in the private sector—leading global public affairs and contributions for the Levi Strauss Company and Levi Strauss Foundation—has been instrumental in shaping his vision. Moreover, his 15-year stint as a bank director at InterContinental Bank Shares Corporation (InterCon) provided valuable insight into the financial sector.
As a passionate advocate for small business, Ramiro draws inspiration from his own experience as a public affairs entrepreneur, having served esteemed clients such as AT&T, Valero Energy, and H-E-B. His career in public service has been marked by notable roles, including Director for the Edward’s Aquifer Authority and Alamo Regional Mobility Authority, special assistant to former U.S. Senator and U.S. Treasury Secretary Lloyd Bentsen of Texas, city administrator, and legislative researcher for State Representative Irma Rangel, the first Hispanic woman elected to the Texas Legislature.
Cavazos is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations and was awarded the Royal Order of Isabella the Catholic—a knighthood bestowed by King Felipe VI recognizing his extraordinary service to the Kingdom of Spain. He has been recognized as one of the “101 Most Influential Latinos in America” for seven consecutive years. Ramiro is the immediate past Chairman of the Hispanic Association on Corporate Responsibility, Vice Chairman of the National Hispanic Leadership Agenda, and serves on the boards of LiftFund and the Symphony of the Americas. His commentary has been featured in Fortune, The Economist, Time, Newsweek, Forbes, Bloomberg, CNN, the Associated Press, El Heraldo, El País, BBC, Jerusalem News, The Washington Post, and many other media outlets.
Ramiro earned his Master’s Degree in Public Administration from St. Mary’s University, where he was honored as a Distinguished Alumnus and served as a member of the Board of Trustees. He completed his Bachelor’s Degree in Government from The University of Texas at Austin in three years. A native of Weslaco in the Rio Grande Valley, he is a seventh-generation Texan. He and his wife Christa are the proud parents of two teenage boys.