The Asociacion de Empresarios Mexicanos Expands and Restructures

SAN ANTONIO, TX, January 16, 2013 (Press-News.org) The Asociacion de Empresarios Mexicanos (AEM) is a nonprofit established 17 years ago in San Antonio. AEM is dedicated to helping Mexican Nationals who arrive in the U.S. as investors and entrepreneurs to more easily understand and adapt to American culture and the American way of doing business as well as to helping Americans who want to do business in Mexico.

Since 2011, Eduardo Bravo has served as both AEM Chairman of the Board and President of the local chapter. He aggressively launched new AEM chapters in the U.S. and Mexico; specifically, in Austin, Brownsville, Dallas, Houston, Woodlands, New York City, McAllen, San Antonio, Monterrey and Mexico City.

The successful expansion of the organization is one reason AEM's Board of Directors re-elected Bravo to serve as AEM Chairman of the Board in 2013. "This year, my goal is to open chapters in Atlanta, San Diego, Los Angeles, Miami and Washington D.C. where we are seeing a huge influx of Mexican Nationals as well as Guadalajara, Tijuana and Veracruz where Mexico welcomes the arrival of American investors," Bravo says.

Under Bravo's leadership, AEM's key accomplishment in San Antonio last year was joining forces with the North American Development Bank and the City of San Antonio to hold a two-day conference that brought together over 300 business leaders and members of the administrations of Mexico, Canada and the U.S. to study the 20-year impact of NAFTA and how it can be improved to boost commerce in the three nations.

AEM's Board credits Bravo for 113 events and workshops AEM held in 2012 attended by over 3,800 business persons and 350 Mexican-owned corporations in nine cities; the addition of 650 new members and 100 volunteers; the development of strategic alliances with six major organizations, including the San Antonio Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.

Geronimo Gutierrez, Managing Director of the North American Development Bank in San Antonio, says, "We are proud that Eduardo represents Mexican Nationals who are successful business owners operating in both the U.S. and Mexico and contributing personal time and talent to help other entrepreneurs succeed in both countries."

To run the local San Antonio Chapter, AEM's Board elected Juan Manuel Fernandez as President; Alberto Sandoval as secretary; and Ricardo Chapa as Treasurer.

Fernandez, originally from Mexico, is the founder of CVF Homes, a company that specializes in the development of sustainable, environmentally friendly housing. Fernandez is the winner of the 2012 and 2011 "Going Green Awards" presented by the City of San Antonio.

"We are grateful to Juan Manuel for having accepted to lead the local chapter of AEM," Bravo says. "I know he will devote his exceptional leadership skills, his time, and his energy to take the local chapter of AEM to the next level."

Sandoval, who has committed to serving as secretary, is an executive at Rackspace and is originally from Mexico. Chapa, who will be the treasurer is a CPA and also originally from Mexico.

All previous Chairmen remain on AEM's Board. They include Alejandro Quiroz, Javier Smith, Patricia Pliego Stout, Emilio Espana, Rene Cacheaux, Alfonso Tomita and the presidents of each chapter.

"We have an incredible team of successful business owners and entrepreneurs leading AEM's Board of Directors and the chapters this year, and I've no doubt that as a team we will make incredible things happen!" Bravo says. "Entrepreneurs looking for innovative ways to grow and expand need to consider joining our organization and learning about doing business in Mexico and the U.S. from very successful people."

For more information, or for interviews, please contact Irma Calderon Woodruff at 210-410-1214 or irma@aem-usa.org.