*Disclaimer: Please note that session topics are subject to change based on evolving policy priorities, speaker availability, or other relevant factors. The United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (USHCC) reserves the right to modify session content to ensure discussions remain timely and aligned with current issues.
Day 01
Your conference experience starts here. Check in, pick up your badge, download the event app, and get ready for the days ahead. Join thousands of entrepreneurs, business leaders, and advocates celebrating the millions of Hispanic-owned businesses driving innovation, creating jobs, and powering America's economy.
Everything is bigger in Texas, including what we’re building together. Kick off the conference surrounded by the dreamers, entrepreneurs, and leaders who prove every day that Hispanic businesses are the powering America’s growth. Let's lace up and connect, juntos!
Day 02
Your conference experience starts here. Check in, pick up your badge, download the event app, and get ready for the days ahead. Join thousands of entrepreneurs, business leaders, and advocates celebrating the millions of Hispanic-owned businesses driving innovation, creating jobs, and powering America's economy.
Artificial intelligence is everywhere, but for small business owners, cutting through the noise to find what actually works is half the battle. This session is for the entrepreneurs who are ready to execute with AI. We will walk through practical applications of AI across productivity, customer engagement, marketing, operations, and decision-making and showcase examples of how business owners are already using these tools to power their businesses. We will also discuss what tools matter, questions around data privacy, cybersecurity, transparency, and bias mitigation so you can implement AI with confidence.
As artificial intelligence reshapes every sector of the economy, Latino leaders have a pivotal choice: be acted upon by new technologies or actively shape how AI is built, governed, and deployed in our communities. This session explores Latino leadership, power-building, and community-centered innovation in the age of AI. Speakers will examine how AI can deepen inequities and unlock new pathways to representation, entrepreneurship, and civic influence.
Artificial Intelligence is no longer the future; it is right now, and it is yours to use. Hispanic-owned businesses are already driving innovation across America, and the entrepreneurs who learn to leverage AI will be the ones who scale faster, work smarter, and go even further. Join us for real tools and practical tips on how to make AI work to scale your business.
In this workshop, we'll provide practical use cases of the latest AI tools that you can use to help grow your business. If you’re just getting started using AI, this workshop will be perfect for you. If you’re already an AI whiz, you might still learn something useful.
Many entrepreneurs have spent decades building something they are proud of, and that legacy deserves to be carried forward. As Baby Boomer owners approach retirement, a once-in-a-generation opportunity is emerging to transfer ownership and create lasting generational wealth within our community. Join us for a conversation on succession planning, navigating the silver tsunami, and empowering the next generation of Hispanic leaders to take the reins and keep what they have built truly unstoppable.
The Plaza Mercado is where business meets culture. Explore a vibrant mix of vendors, discover local businesses, and celebrate the diversity that makes Hispanic-owned businesses so dynamic. It’s a marketplace, a celebration, and a networking opportunity all in one. Join us!
We are proud to debut a first-of-its-kind Hispanic business data index that tells the statistical story of our community. This index will showcase our strength and highlight newly released data around Hispanic-owned businesses. This includes a celebration of Latina-owned entrepreneurs who are the fastest growing segment among any demographic group in the country, fueling the American economy. Join us as we celebrate that growth, launch the index, and showcase what it truly means to power the future of business.
In this main stage fireside chat, Ana Valdez, President and CEO of the Latino Donor Collaborative, joins Victor Arias, incoming Chair of the USHCC Board of Directors, to discuss the latest Latino GDP findings and what they reveal about the growing influence of Latinas, Hispanic entrepreneurs, consumers, and business leaders in powering America’s economic future.
What does it take to lead at the highest level? Three of North Texas’ most accomplished university president sit down to discuss the moments that shaped them, the lessons they along the way, and what it means to lead with purpose. For the first time in the region, the president of Texas Wesleyan University, the University of Texas at Arlington, and Texas Woman’s University all happen to be women, and today they share the same stage to show that leadership has no ceiling.
Every business has a story—but growth requires more than a compelling vision. It takes trust, relationships and the ability to bring others along. In this special live episode of Chief Influencer, Social Driver joins the stage with Latina leaders for a candid conversation about the experiences that shaped their leadership, the obstacles they have navigated and how they have used their voices and influence to create opportunity. Together, they will share practical lessons about leading authentically, building momentum and opening doors for others.
Texas Hispanic chambers have built one of the nation’s most effective statewide advocacy coalitions, and this breakout session spotlights the Texas Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Coalition (THCCC) model for chambers looking to amplify their policy impact. This session covers how chambers align around a shared agenda, coordinate advocacy, and drive results on priorities like access to capital, procurement, and talent. Attendees will leave with insight and practical strategies for building or scaling a multi-chamber coalition in their own state, and lessons on sustaining collaboration across diverse regions while advancing a unified policy platform.
Today's economic landscape is testing the resilience of small business owners across the country and in every sector. For Hispanic-owned businesses driving America's growth, the stakes are even higher. This session will look at the affordability challenges facing both entrepreneurs and consumers, and what they mean for economic competitiveness. We will discuss how investments in energy reliability, broadband, AI, and modern infrastructure can increase productivity and drive down costs. From managing rising expenses to strengthening cash flow and leveraging digital tools, this session gives you the roadmap to do more with less.
Your business is thriving, now make sure your future does too. This session is designed for business owners who are ready to think strategically about what comes next. Led by Erik Almquist, CFP®, ChFC®, CLU®, RICP®, CEPA®, a seasoned financial professional with deep experience working with business owner, this is a practical conversation on how to protect what you have built and accelerate where you are going. Learn how to create financial security that supports the life you want, navigate the unique challenges and opportunities that come with business ownership, and explore transition strategies that align with your goals and vision.
Curious about what it takes to work with Walmart? Join this Procurement Roundtable for an inside look at Walmart’s Road to Open Call initiative, the supplier process, and resources available to businesses. Come ready to learn, ask questions, and gain insights into how to explore opportunities with Walmart.
Unwind from a full day of ideas and inspiration and connect with people who can unlock new doors for your business. Throw on your favorite Texas boots and come ready to network, celebrate, and talk business with the leaders and entrepreneurs who are achieving success and powering America's growth. After all, everything is bigger in Texas, including networking!
Day 03
Conference registration provides access to all official conference programming, including general sessions, workshops, networking events, and the exhibit hall. Registered attendees will engage with Hispanic business leaders, corporate partners, policymakers, and entrepreneurs from across the country for three days of learning, connection, and opportunity.
The financial landscape is shifted, and Hispanic business owners need to be ready for what’s coming. From traditional lending and CDFIs to emerging tools like crypto and the ever-present threat of fraud, navigating capital today requires a real strategy. This session breaks down how you can strengthen your financial position, what lending options are available to you right now, and how to protect what you have built. In today’s economy, the most unstoppable businesses are the ones that show up unprepared.
The financial landscape is changing, and Hispanic business owners need the knowledge and tools to navigate what comes next. In this fireside chat, leaders will discuss today’s lending environment, including traditional financing, CDFIs, and emerging financial tools. The conversation will also address how business owners can strengthen their financial position, identify the right sources of capital, and protect their businesses from fraud. Join us for a practical discussion on building a resilient, future-ready business prepared to seize opportunities and manage risk.
In this session, federal, state, and regional economic leaders join forces with a frontline enterprise founder to unpack how tax incentives, place-based tools, and public capital programs can be intentionally leveraged to open pipelines for small, minority-, and Hispanic-owned firms. Moving beyond theoretical policy, the panel bridges the gap between state-level strategy, regional infrastructure, and the boots-on-the-ground reality of securing and scaling government contracts from the municipal level all the way to the federal.
This session is tailored for chamber of commerce leaders looking to elevate their marketing strategies and expand their reach. We’ll explore everything from pinpointing your target market and developing a compelling brand, to harnessing AI-powered content tools and forming impactful strategic partnerships. The conversation is designed for the realities of today’s digital-forward business environment, and you’ll walk away with practical strategies to build an unstoppable brand and boost your exposure.
Whether you are a corporation looking to strengthen your supply chain or a small business ready to break into it, this session is for you. The strongest supply chains are built on strong partnerships and opportunities for growth. This conversation explores what it really takes to build supplier programs that are sustainable, measurable, and deliver results. Learn how to identify, develop, and grow emerging suppliers, from access to capital to pathways to scale. As AI and shifting market dynamics continue to reshape procurement, you'll leave with practical strategies to stay ahead. Creating opportunities for suppliers to participate and succeed is the first step toward building a stronger, more resilient supply chain.
The USHCC Avanzando Suppliers with Blue Wave is a cohort-based program designed for certified Hispanic-owned and small businesses ready to scale through contracts. This session will celebrate the latest graduates of USHCC's Educational Fund's procurement development program, representing businesses from across the country and a diverse range of sectors. Attendees will hear directly from a former graduate in a fireside chat, who will share how they leveraged Avanzando to grow their business and successfully navigate the procurement landscape. Whether you are a business owner exploring pathways to scale, or a procurement professional looking to engage diverse suppliers, this session offers valuable insights into what it takes to compete at the highest levels.
The Plaza Mercado is where business meets culture. Explore a vibrant mix of vendors, discover local businesses, and celebrate the diversity that makes Hispanic-owned businesses so dynamic. It’s a marketplace, a celebration, and a networking opportunity all in one. Join us!
Texas leads the nation in growth, and now you can hear directly from the leaders shaping development and driving impactful infrastructure opportunities at this General Session Luncheon. From the energy grid serving millions of homes and businesses to the broadband networks connecting communities and the transportation corridors moving commerce across the state, the infrastructure decisions being made today will define procurement opportunities for the next decade. We will discuss investment, expansion, and what Texas' continued growth means for Hispanic-owned businesses ready to grow.
In an era of rapid growth and transformation, the infrastructure decisions made today will shape how communities, businesses, and markets connect tomorrow. This conversation will explore how connectivity, development, strategic investment, and innovation can expand economic opportunity—and how Hispanic-owned businesses can position themselves to grow, compete, and help build the next era of progress.
Texas continues to lead the nation in growth, creating new opportunities for businesses, communities, and entrepreneurs across the state. In this fireside chat, Allen Nye, CEO of Oncor and Oncor Board Member Alice Rodriguez, will discuss the critical role of energy infrastructure in supporting Texas’ expanding economy. Attendees will gain insight into the decisions being made today that will influence Texas’ business landscape for years to come—and how companies can prepare to participate in the state’s continued growth.
Transportation and transit are among the most powerful drivers of regional economic growth, and the contracts that come with them represent real opportunity for small businesses and Disadvantaged Business Enterprises ready to compete. Hear directly from Commissioner Alex Meade of the Texas Transportation Commission and Chris McLaughlin, CEO of DFW Airport, as they share what it takes to win regional transit and transportation contracts. This is a practical, no-fluff conversation on how to position your business, navigate the procurement process, and build relationships that can turn into a signed contract.
Successful businesses don’t just stumble into growth; they often spend time ensuring they are ready to compete and positioned to win. This session will give you the tools to build an ecosystem that accelerates prosperity by landing contracts and breaking into retail. Learn how major retailers evaluate potential suppliers and what buyers are looking for, then understand the operational standards required to secure and maintain those contracts. You will leave knowing how to develop a compelling product pitch, prepare buyer meetings, and build the long-term retailer relationships that turn one contract into many. Be ready for the next opportunity and join us!
The competition out there is fierce! In this session, we will explores how small and growing businesses can stand out in an increasingly crowded marketplace. Cory Mizga will share practical strategies for building awareness, creating memorable brand experiences, reaching customers before they’re ready to buy, and becoming the #1 or #2 brand people think of in their category and community. Attendees will leave with actionable ideas for breaking through the noise, attracting new customers, and driving sustainable growth.
Join ONCOR’s Procurement Roundtable to learn about supplier expectations, requirements, and how to register as a potential supplier. Following a brief overview, participants will connect directly with ONCOR category managers aligned with their areas of expertise and have the opportunity to deliver a brief elevator pitch. Come prepared to showcase your capabilities, make valuable connections, and explore potential procurement opportunities with ONCOR.
Join Aflac for a collaborative discussion on workforce development, employee wellbeing, financial preparedness and the community partnerships driving growth across Hispanic communities. Exchange ideas, build meaningful connections and discover practical solutions you can bring back to your business and community.
Join Verizon during the USHCC Supplier Marketplace to learn about the Verizon Small Business Digital Ready program and other procurement initiatives that support diverse and small businesses. Discover resources to help your business grow, strengthen its digital capabilities, and gain insights into working with Verizon and navigating future supplier opportunities.
Connect with Southwest Airlines for an interactive conversation on how to do business with Southwest, our procurement process, supplier registration, and how you can position yourself for success.
Dust off those networking skills. Gather with fellow leaders for one last hour of connections and conversations before the big celebration begins.
Put on your best outfit and let's celebrate in true Texas style. Join us for an elegant evening honoring the businesses, corporations, and chambers that are powering the American economy and proving every day that Hispanic-owned businesses are truly unstoppable. Once the recognitions are given, the lights will dim and the real party begins, dust off those dancing boots, la fiesta esta aqui.