GLOBAL COMMERCE, LOCAL IMPACT Celebrating 10 Years of Global Chamber® San Antonio
GLOBAL COMMERCE, LOCAL IMPACT Celebrating 10 Years of Global Chamber® By Teresa Chavarria | River Walk Magazine
A DECADE OF GLOBAL CONNECTIONS
In 2025, Global Chamber® celebrates a decade of impact—marking 10 years since it officially launched Global Chamber® San Antonio in 2017 with a mission to connect local businesses to global opportunities. Since then, it has become a powerful platform for expanding trade, investment, and collaboration across borders, helping transform San Antonio into an increasingly international city.
Founded as one of the local chapters of Global Chamber®, an international business organization formed in 2015, the San Antonio office now joins 524 other metropolitan areas in a growing ecosystem dedicated to helping companies “grow from anywhere to anywhere.”
“Global Chamber San Antonio is committed to creating pathways for all businesses—especially those in underserved communities—to engage in international trade and investment,” said Christopher C. Herring, Executive Director and founding leader of the San Antonio chapter.
THE ONLY GLOBALLY-FOCUSED BUSINESS ORGANIZATION IN SAN ANTONIO
While San Antonio is home to a number of chambers of commerce—including Hispanic, Black, Asian, LGBTQ+, and regional chambers—Global Chamber San Antonio is the city’s only business organization focused exclusively on global commerce. The chamber’s mission has become increasingly relevant as San Antonio continues to lag in international business rankings, despite being the seventh-largest city in the U.S.
San Antonio’s international GDP growth remains modest compared to peer metros like Austin, Houston, or Dallas. Challenges such as limited direct international flights, underinvestment in foreign trade infrastructure, and a narrow focus on domestic industries have slowed its evolution into a true global city.
PARTNERSHIP WITH THE U.S. TRADE & DEVELOPMENT AGENCY
In 2017, Global Chamber San Antonio was selected to join the U.S. Trade and Development Agency’s (USTDA) “Making Global Local” initiative, giving San Antonio-based businesses better access to reverse trade missions, briefings, and global project pipelines. The chamber has used this alliance to connect local small businesses to federal export support, infrastructure development opportunities, and global procurement networks.
LEADERSHIP ACROSS CULTURES
Much of the chamber’s success lies in its dynamic leadership. Over the past decade, the San Antonio chapter has been chaired by a distinguished slate of leaders including:
- Dr. Krystal Nerio – Latina military veteran and entrepreneur
- Jorge Canavati – International trade expert and logistics professional
- Monika Prochazkova – European-born businesswoman focused on inclusive health
- Dominique Liu – Global marketing strategist with roots in finance & wealth
- Rachel Trevino – PR and communications executive with global brand experience
“Our events are more than networking opportunities; they’re celebrations of the rich tapestry of cultures that make up our global community,” said Joel Engulu, a chamber board member originally from the Democratic Republic of Congo, who has made San Antonio his home and works to bridge U.S.–Africa economic ties.
The chamber's signature “World Tour Tuesday” and “International State of the Metro” events have drawn diplomats, investors, mayors, and global entrepreneurs from across five continents. At one such event, San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg delivered a powerful message on San Antonio’s international identity, its Sister City partnerships, and the need to invest in foreign trade to sustain the city’s economic future.
“San Antonio is not just a city with a past—we are a city with a global future,” Nirenberg said, as recalled by Herring. “And the future is being built by organizations like Global Chamber.”
BEYOND THE CHAMBER: PUBLIC SERVICE IN ACTION
In 2025, Executive Director Christopher Herring took his commitment to the city even further—running for Mayor of San Antonio on a platform that emphasized ending generational poverty, empowering small businesses, and increasing the city’s global competitiveness. Herring’s experience as a former Chair of the Texas Association of African American Chambers of Commerce and his military service uniquely positioned him to champion both local needs and global opportunity.
THE NEXT TEN YEARS
As San Antonio continues to struggle with geographic economic inequity and a lack of international business presence, the work of Global Chamber® San Antonio becomes even more essential. With a focus on inclusivity, diplomacy, small business development, and international opportunity, the chamber is poised to lead San Antonio toward a more connected and competitive future.
To learn more or to join the global movement from right here in San Antonio, visit:
🌐 GlobalChamber.org/San-Antonio
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