The spirit of community service permeates all that we do in the College of Business. It starts with faculty and staff adopting the ethos as their own, and then introducing the concept to students. But it continues once students graduate, who then go into their respective careers and continue to practice.
Like with Jennifer Anguiano, the Executive Director of the Amarillo Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. The AHCC exists to serve the local Hispanic business community, but is also a bridge spanning the entirety of Amarillo businesses who wish to be engaged with the Hispanic community. That is of growing importance, given that 34% of Amarillo’s population is Hispanic.
It’s just that Anguiano didn’t necessarily expect to find herself with such an important position, especially so quickly following her formal education. She graduated with a BBA in December 2023, following her Associate Degree two years prior from Amarillo College. Earlier, she had become familiar with the AHCC by way of an internship program.
Her family hails from Guadalajara Mexico, and she is first-generation American by birth. Her parents encouraged her to seek college degrees, because they knew it would increase her career opportunities. She is excited to see Hispanic-owned businesses succeed in Amarillo, which includes those owned by individuals whose families have been in the US for many years, to those for whom Spanish is the primary language. Being bilingual helps.
While she was at Amarillo College in 2020, the Office Manager position, and she seized the opportunity. This was a big move for someone who had only graduated high school in 2019. And then the Executive Director stepped down. The Chamber invited Jennifer to step in as Interim Director. “I guess they liked the way I was handling myself, learning, and taking care of the Chamber, and they decided to take a chance on me. I’ve been there ever since,” she said, very politely sidestepping the fact that she rose to such a lofty position before many of her peers could even begin to think of careers.
Juggling her job and schooling meant many long days. “I was an online student,” she added. “My experience at WT was just amazing. There’s no better place than WT.”
With school behind her, Anguiano spends her days helping Hispanic businesses network, as well as grow their businesses beyond only the Hispanic community. As such, the Chamber is a facilitator of relationships, there to provide assistance when needed, but also to help its members further cement themselves within the region. The AHCC does not compete with the Amarillo Chamber of Commerce but rather complements it.
Little did Anguiano know that she would wind up at a very young age being of service to fellow Hispanics, something that extends beyond the obvious to the entire Amarillo region. She embodies the type of community service to which we are committed in the College of Business.
For a program-length visit with Jennifer, check out our BuffSpeak podcast episode from earlier this year.