Title:
Interim President & CEO at DC Chamber of Commerce
Industry:
Business/Membership Organizations
A: The first thing I do every morning, is a prayer, where I give thanks to the Lord and ask for wisdom and guidance. Then I was always prepare a fresh celery juice and usually go for a walk with my son. Then always a cup of fresh made coffee.
A: To be a unifier and to support people and businesses to grow personally and professionally.
A: The last book I read was The Second Mountain, by David Brooks. The number one take away is that it is okay to be in the valley -in that moment where you stop and we feel there is no movement- since this is the time to connect and reinvent ourselves and get ready to climb the next higher and better mountain.
A: Working remotely. Before, it was challenging for many businesses and people to think that working remotely will for themselves and their businesses. In many cases, it has been a very positive experience and many businesses are considering keeping it that way.
A: Putting together a list of things that need to get done.
A: That if you don’t make decisions life will make decisions for you.
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About Angela Franco:
Angela Franco is the Senior Advisor for the DC Health Benefit Exchange Authority (DCHBX) where she is responsible for collaborating with the Hispanic and business communities as well as local and Federal Government.
Prior to joining DCHBX, Angela was the President and CEO of the Greater Washington Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (GWHCC) from 2009 to 2017. Under her leadership, the organization was strengthened and revitalized as evidenced by its dramatic membership growth from 60 members when she started to 670 members upon her departure. It also experienced a 500% increase in operating revenue during her eight years of service. She led the organization in regaining the trust of its members, partners and sponsors.
The Washington Business Journal ranks the GWHCC among the Top Five Chambers of Commerce in the DC Metro Region. Before Angela’s arrival, it had never even made the list. In 2015, the GWHCC was named Chamber of the Year by the US Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, and in 2013, received that organization’s award as the best midsized Chamber in the nation.
While at GWHCC, Angela pioneered the development of successful membership programs. She promoted business-to-business networking and synergistic relationship building, created training programs for owners of startup enterprises, built a bridge between the DC Metro Region and Latin America, and appeared before numerous government agencies as an advocate for the interests of regional Hispanic and minority businesses. Because of her passion and commitment, more than 70% of the Chamber’s members have grown their businesses and increased their ROI.
Angela has received many prestigious honors for her accomplishments. In March of 2016, she was given the Presidential Ambassadors for Global Entrepreneurship Award. In 2015, she earned the Local Leader Making an Impact Award from the NBC4 Washington television station. That same year, Angela was honored with the American Airlines Extra Mile Award for the positive impact she has made on the economic growth of the communities in which she lives and works.
In 2014, Angela received the NFL Hispanic Leadership Award from the Washington Redskins and Verizon. Earlier in that year, she was recognized as a Champion of Character by receiving the Scouting Vale La Pena Service Award from the Boy Scouts of America for her commitment to providing scouting opportunities for Hispanic American and Latino youth.
In 2013, Angela received the Hispanic Business Community Award for Nonprofit Leadership from the Hispanic Heritage Foundation. That same year, she was also given the DC Illuminator Award from DCTV for demonstrated excellence in business leadership, public service, volunteerism, innovation and education.
The highly regarded Washington Business Journal honored Angela in February 2013 by naming her the 2012 Minority Business Leader. This annual honor recognizes minority business leaders and owners in the Washington, DC area who have exhibited the best performance during the last 12 to 18 months. In 2012, the Minority Enterprise Advocate Magazine named Angela as one of the 50 Most Powerful US and International Business Executives for making headlines in their fields while epitomizing professional excellence.
Angela has served on numerous boards and commissions. She is a Board Member at Large for the United Way Capital Region and the Pan American Development Foundation and an appointee to the DC Workforce Investment Council (by the DC Mayor).
A graduate of Leadership Montgomery and Leadership Greater Washington Angela is also a Board member of the Merit Systems Protection Board of Montgomery County.
Angela’s earlier career in the US includes being a member of the Senior Leadership Team for the Branch Banking and Trust Company (BB&T), and Assistant to the President and CEO of the US Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Foundation.
She is a United States citizen who held other management positions before relocating to the US from Bogotá, Colombia. In Bogotá, Angela was Manager for Special Businesses for the Santander Pension Fund, Manager of Institutional Relations for a division of Banco Popular del Ecuador, and Assistant to the VP of Marketing for the American International Group (AIG).
She holds a Master of Science degree in Finance and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Business Administration. While with BB&T, she was chosen to attend the Branch Banking and Trust University, an 18-month educational program offered only to those recognized as top performers with high potential. She is also a Certified Life Coach, and a John Maxwell certified trainer, coach and speaker.
Social Media:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/angela-franco-2188a5
Company website: www.dcchamber.org
