A word from The Executive Director

WELCOME to the Latin American Chamber of Commerce of Charlotte (LACCC)! I am privileged to contribute my skills to the growth and relevance of today’s LACCC in my role as Executive Director. My involvement with the LACCC dates back to 1995 when I was part of its inception board as “Las Americas Business Council” created by visionary Latino and non-Latino entrepreneurs and professionals with its early beginnings at the Charlotte Chamber of Commerce. LACCC obtained its chamber status by the State of North Carolina in 2001. I became Chairman in 2003 and President of the Advisory Board in 2006. This history and experience on my side proved to be an asset. It provided me with invaluable insight and perspective to help facilitate, with our current board, the creation of an inclusive and comprehensive platform of programs and benefits that fulfils LACCC’S mission beyond networking and connections. It provides our members and our Latino business community with necessary mentoring, access to opportunities and resources, retooling, leadership development and empowerment that accelerate integration into our new economy and entrepreneurial growth. We are excited to be rolling it out in its initial phases in 2011.

The census 2010 revealed that the Latino/Hispanic population in the US and in our region has doubled again and that Latino businesses are the fastest growing segment. As entrepreneurs, we know that having a great idea and the burning desire to making it into a business does not guarantee success. It requires discipline, preparation and it is a process of continuous improvement, re-invention, re-positioning and infusion of resources. LACCC’S platform is designed to better help you and us navigate that process, effectively engage in our new economy and contribute to our collective success. Along with our LACCC partners and strategic alliances, we are here to support you in those efforts.

We invite you to register and attend our events and programs to take advantage of the opportunities we offer bridging and engaging as well as conducting business In-Culture and In-language for your growth, the growth of our Charlotte region and the growth of our state! We have no other choice, but to actively participate in today’s more dynamic and competitive global economy. LACCC wants to be your partner in that journey. Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have questions, suggestions or want to share your experiences, needs and concerns as we roll-out our new efforts. Your involvement and success inspire and make us better in fulfilling our mission. GRACIAS… for your participation and support in advance!

Cordially,

Astrid Chirinos
LACCC Executive Director

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Bio
Astrid Chirinos, Founder and Principal of Diverso Global Strategies (DGS) has been providing Multicultural Marketing and Multicultural Workforce Development Strategy to Fortune 500 companies and other large organizations in the Charlotte Region through an integrated approach that includes the Cross-Cultural Competency, the Organizational Readiness and the effective Community Outreach and Action Plans required to retain and increase our fast growing multicultural markets. DGS has provided In-Culture, In-Language Strategy, Event Planning, Public Relations and Community Relations, Current Reality Assessments, Leadership, Skills Training and Development, as well as, Bilingual Support to organizations such as Goodrich,

Lowe’s Home Improvement, Compass Group NAD, Time Warner Cable, Wachovia Bank, The Diversity Council of the Carolinas, The United Way, The Urban League of the Central Carolinas, The US Department of Labor and Johnson C Smith University, La Notice Spanish Language Newspaper, AT&T, The Charlotte Sports Hall of Fame, Compare Foods Supermarkets, Food Lion, Called Cinco Festival and the Hornets’ Nest Girl Scouts among others. She is also a partner at Afina Solutions, a Multicultural Corporate Talent Development and Realignment consulting company and at Calor Energy, LLC facilitating the green culture-shift for an organization through sustainable business practices and renewable energy Calor Eenergy

Astrid is past chair of the Charlotte Mayor’s International Cabinet, The Latin American Chamber of Commerce of Charlotte (LACC), the Latino Pathways Partnership, and past Vice-Chair of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Workforce Development Board. She is currently a board member of other organizations committed to improving the Charlotte’s region and the state such as the Centralina Economic Development Commission eleven County Region, the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Workforce Development Board, the Women’s Intercultural Exchange (WIE), The Knight Foundation, The North Carolina Center for Public Policy Research and the McColl Center  for Visual Arts. Astrid has also served on the boards of the Charlotte Chamber of Commerce, The Levine Museum of the New South, Children’s Theatre of Charlotte and WFAE 90.7 NPR. She served on the United Way Community Investment Council and as one of the 16 members of the Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools System CMS Task Force in 2006.

Astrid has been the recipient of several awards and distinctions in our community.  Amongst those: 2010 Recipient of THE MAYA ANGELOU-WOMEN WHO LEAD; Urban League’s 2010   WHITNEY M. YOUNG JR. ; 2009 NATIONAL PRACTITIONER OF THE YEAR from The National Employment Counselling Association;  2008 SOCIAL CAPITAL AND COMMUNITY BUILDING WOMAN OF DISTINCTION from the Hornet’s  Nest Girls Scouts;  North Carolina’s 2006 BUSINESS WOMAN DIAMANTE;  2006 YMCA SPIRIT OF CHARLOTTE;  2004 CHARLOTTE BUSINESS JOURNAL CATALYST OF DIVERSITY and La Noticia’s  2003 EXCELENTE BUSINESS WOMAN OF THE YEAR award.

Astrid’s country of origin is Venezuela and is an Honors graduate of St Mary’s College and NC State University in Raleigh, NC with a degree in Environmental Visual Design. Prior to starting her own company in 2001, she worked in the Design, Marketing, Corporate Communications and Public Relations fields in Raleigh and Charlotte and was a Financial Advisor at Merrill Lynch. She is a 2006 graduate of the LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT INSTITUTE from the Community Building Initiatives at the Foundation for the Carolinas, a 2006 graduate from the INNOVATION INSTITUTE of the McColl Center for Visual Arts in Charlotte and has been a guest speaker in many panels, radio and TV programs on the topic of Multiculturalism and In–Culture and In-Language Strategy.