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About

Our History

""San Antonio is the seventh-largest city in the U.S." said Cristina Martinez, one of the most successful Lesbian Latina entrepreneurs in Texas. So, in October 2007, she started working to establish an LGBTQ+ Chamber of Commerce in San Antonio. By April 2008, Martinez had invited over 40 LGBTQ+ community activists, business owners, and other members of the community to a roundtable discussion aimed at creating the San Antonio LGBTQ+ Chamber of Commerce.
That meeting transitioned into a Steering/Advisory Committee that began identifying and nominating persons with the necessary skills to create the charter board of directors. That Steering/Advisory Committee included Charles 'Chad' Rembacki, Rodolfo 'Rudy' Lozano, Antonia Padilla, Anel Flores, Nelda Hernandez, Dee Smith, Gary Tapp, Cristina Martinez, Roberto Candelaria, Robert Vargas, and Javier A. Flores, many of whom are now either members of the Chamber's Board Directors or Advisory Board. The Steering/Advisory Committee went on to form the Charter Board of Directors in May 2008.

In June 2008, the charter Board of directors and Advisors began meeting and elected its first slate of officers and began creating the foundations of the Chamber. The first committees created were Membership, Media Relations & Marketing (including a Website Subcommittee), and Programs & Events. The Membership Committee reviewed other LGBTQ+ Chambers of Commerce nationwide to develop membership levels, benefits, dues, and standard operations procedures (SOPs). Directors and Advisors quickly reached consensus on embracing available technology and green development by envisioning an interactive website as the hub of Chamber administration.

While Membership began designing membership levels and benefits, Media Relations & Marketing began introducing the Chamber to San Antonio with press releases on its creation and development and creating the website, and Programs & Events began shaping the regular activities of the Chamber. The Chamber held its inaugural event, its signature monthly 4th Friday Mix & Mingle, on September 28 at which the Chamber introduced membership information and started taking applications.
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handshake Our Mission

The Mission of the San Antonio LGBTQ+ Chamber of Commerce is to provide equitable access and economic opportunity for LGBTQ+ owned and allied businesses.

binoculars Our Future

Welcome to the future of the San Antonio LGBTQ+ Community, where LGBTQ+ and LGBTQ+ -allied business owners, professionals, and consumers can direct our economic power - approximately $4 billion a year - to support the businesses that support the LGBTQ+ community.

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Executive Director

Executive Board

Luis Vazquez

Luis Vázquez
Executive Director

Luis Vazquez currently serves as the Executive Director of the San Antonio LGBTQ+ Chamber of Commerce. Prior to joining the Chamber, Luis led the communications and marketing initiatives at the Texas Diversity Council. In 2010, Luis founded Grow with Me Portraits, an established school and event photography business.

As a millennial leader, Luis has demonstrated and sustained commitment to the pursuit of diversity, equity and inclusion in the community and the workplace. Luis became a graduate of the DiversityFIRST Certification Program, giving him the opportunity to work with DEI champions across the country.

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Antonio González-Martínez
Board President

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Antonio is a veteran with over 23 years of military service and he is currently an Associate Director with United HealthCare and serves on multiple ERG committees including the Diversity Equity & Inclusion (DEI). One of his goals is to reach out to the LGBTQ+ military members across all three local installations {Joint Base San Antonio (JBSA) Fort Sam, JBSA Lackland, & JBSA Randolph} and provide them a safe space to grow their entrepreneurial goals. He has always been behind the scenes while serving in the military for 14 out of the 17 years of the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” (DADT) Law and its’ appeal. However, now being able to fully engage our LGBTQ+ military community members by providing them with the education, dignity, inclusion, and sense of belonging that wasn’t afforded to him during his time in service, this mission is extremely important to him. He has dedicated his life to giving back and ensuring that the LGBTQ+ community understand their options and know their rights. He is genuinely here to assist and aid our community to the future and beyond with dignity and respect.

Scott Swank

Scott Swank
Treasurer

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Scott is currently the branch manager at Generations Federal Credit union. He has been in the financial industry for the past twenty years. Scott specializes in Small Business development and entrepreneurial development. Prior to joining the San Antonio LBGT Chamber, Scott served as Chamber board president for the Page/Lake Powell Chamber of Commerce, Founded the Page/Lake Powell Hub 501-C3, established the Page/Lake Powell Visitor center and served on the Coconino Community College Foundation Board. A native to Dayton, Ohio, Scott relocated to San Antonio when he was 10 years old with his family to Kelly Air Force Base. Scott is an avid Cincinnati Bengals fan and in his spare time loves to travel. He looks forward to helping further the LBGTQA+ community to new heights and acknowledgement throughout San Antonio and the surrounding areas.

Kanetra Hights

Kanetra (KiKi) Hights
Administrative Officer

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Kanetra Michalle Hights, also known as Kiki, is the Director of Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion for C.H. Guenther & Son. She has spent over 13 years in the field of implementing DEI programs in organizations with over 10,000 employees and is an advocate to driving success, engaging employees, ensuring that inclusion and equity are implemented in every part of the business, and creating a profitable diversity return on investment. During this time Kanetra also spent years dedicating her career to non-profits such as the National Diversity Council and Goodwill Central Texas to further increasing diversity, equity, and inclusion for underrepresented groups and creating movements for change in the community. Currently at C.H. Guenther & Son, Kanetra oversees the DEI department including all DEI training, Employee Resource Groups, Leadership Team Advising, all International location DEI initiatives, and the Supplier Diversity Program. Kanetra has an extensive Learning & Development background. She is a certified DDI facilitator, Diversity Professional, Diversity Facilitator with several organizations such as Korn Ferry and SDMS 360, and an Instructional Designer with courses such as Generational Differences, Leadership Skills for new and emerging leaders, and Leading Diverse Teams. Kanetra also specializes in facilitating diversity related movie and television discussion groups. Kanetra received a Double Bachelor’s Degree in Communications and Dramatic Media from Texas Lutheran University, then returned and received a Bachelor’s Degree in Education and is a certified teacher for 8 th – 12 th grade for Speech, Debate and Theatre. Kanetra lives in San Antonio and in her spare time enjoys travelling with friends and family, going on random road trips, reading, writing, and watching football.

Board of Directors

Danielle Sheldon-Espinoza

Danielle (Dani) Sheldon-Espinoza
Membership Committee Chair

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COMING SOON!

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Alexandrea (Alex) Rodríguez
Community Engagement Committee Chair

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A seasoned DEI practitioner and consultant, first-generation graduate Alex Rodriguez brings her years of civil rights activism, engagement, and community outreach and development into the forefront of her work. In collaboration with organizations and businesses alike, Alex ensures company leadership, in facilitation with both stakeholders and employees, work to establish a culture built on diverse, equitable, and inclusive practices. A Texas native and legislative analyst working in local politics, Alex is no stranger to navigating challenging dialogue and working with organizations and individuals with diverse perspectives and lived experiences. She has provided DEI training and implemented committee initiatives to varying organizations and political campaigns, most recently including works with campaign volunteers supporting former Texas gubernatorial candidate Beto O’Rourke as well as Congressman Greg Casar. Alex proudly shares her perspective and lived experiences as an openly Queer, first-generation Mexican American facing many paths of adversity. With her lived experiences in tow, she now works alongside varying groups to ensure they understand the impact of every step made through this journey. Alex Rodriguez is a Texas State University alumnus, holding degrees in Political Science, Administrative Law, and Business Management. Rodriguez is a published author, public speaker, and workshop leader. Rodriguez currently serves as the Manager of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at San Antonio Zoo where she leads an award-winning DEI program and works alongside Executive and community leaders to make the zoo a zoo for all. Alex currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Red Cross Greater San Antonio chapter as well as the San Antonio LGBT Chamber of Commerce, where she serves as the Chair of the Community Relations Committee. Additionally, she serves on Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion committees for the Association of Zoo’s and Aquariums, SATX SHRM, and is a member of the Texas Diversity Council.

Jamie O'Neill

Jamie O'Neil
Supply & Diversity Committee Chair

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Originally hailing from Sydney, Australia, Jamie has resided in various cities including Madison, WI, Austin, TX, Kansas City, KS, and now San Antonio, TX. Each relocation has brought about fresh career experiences and opportunities. While working as a project coordinator for an Engineering Firm and part-time at a liquor store in Madison, WI, she ventured into entrepreneurship by establishing her first company specializing in custom wine racks. During her time in Madison, she discovered a passion for playing softball in LGBTQ+ leagues with ASANA and NAGAAA. Upon moving to Austin, TX, in 2014, she met her wife, Ashleigh. Transitioning into a new role as a court clerk and administrator, she launched her second venture, focusing on urban lumber recovery and furniture refinishing. Subsequently settling in Kansas City, she continued to work as a court and judge clerk while seizing a new opportunity to join an EPC company as a project coordinator. In 2021, she and Ashleigh relocated to San Antonio, where she embarked on a new career path selling interior and exterior window coverings. Together, Jamie and Ashleigh have provided foster care for over 85 dogs, ensuring they find loving forever homes. Presently, they continue to foster dogs for organizations such as the Texas Great Pyrenees Rescue and SNIPSA.

Roly Lozano

Rolando (Roly) Lozano
Activity & Events Committee Chair

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COMING SOON!
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