BEGIN:VCALENDAR VERSION:2.0 PRODID:-//ChamberMaster//Event Calendar 2.0//EN METHOD:PUBLISH X-PUBLISHED-TTL:P3D REFRESH-INTERVAL:P3D CALSCALE:GREGORIAN BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART:20250617T170000Z DTEND:20250617T180000Z X-MICROSOFT-CDO-ALLDAYEVENT:FALSE SUMMARY:2025 Build Your Skills: Equity Exchange DESCRIPTION:PRE-REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED\n\n\n\n\n\nIn Partnership With: \n\n \n\n\n \nWe're bringing together leaders from the Gulf South LGBTQ+ Chamber\, Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Louisiana\, and the New Orleans Regional Black Chamber for an insightful panel discussion. Explore topics surrounding diversity\, equity\, and inclusion in the business landscape\, and gain valuable insights. This collaborative event aims to foster learning\, networking\, and inspiration as we work towards building more equitable and inclusive business community. Don't miss this opportunity to expand your knowledge and connect with industry leaders!\n\n Speakers:\n\n\n\nEdward Smith\n\nChairman of the Board of Directors\n\nNew Orleans Regional Black Chamber of Commerce\n\nEdward B. "Coulon" Smith\, born in New Orleans and raised in Angie\, Louisiana\, blends rural and city roots. A proud graduate of Varnado High and Southern University\, he holds degrees in Law Enforcement\, Sociology\, and Social Science\, along with an honorary doctorate in Humanities. He served 18 years with Baton Rouge's Department of Juvenile Services before joining New Orleans Job Corps and currently works with HANO. A dedicated member of Omega Psi Phi since 1999\, he also proudly serves in the Zulu Social Aid & Pleasure Club as the 2022 Witch Doctor. In addition\, he holds leadership roles on several boards including the New Orleans Regional Black Chamber of Commerce (current Chairman)\, the Urban League of New Orleans\, and the Sewerage & Water Board Selection Committee. Mr. Smith credits his mother's love and God's grace for his success and lives by the motto that every dream starts in the heart.\n\n \n\n\nJay Huffstatler\n\nBoard President\n\nGulf South LGBTQ+ Chamber of Commerce\n\nJay Huffstatler is a nonprofit executive and community leader serving as Executive Director of the OnPath Credit Union Foundation\, where he leads efforts to expand financial empowerment\, homeownership\, and entrepreneurship in Southeast Louisiana. He has over 20 years of experience with organizations like CrescentCare\, Habitat for Humanity\, and the American Red Cross. Jay also serves as Board President of the Gulf South LGBTQ+ Chamber of Commerce and sits on several community boards. A Pascagoula native\, he holds a BS in Business Administration and is a graduate of the New Orleans Regional Leadership Institute Class of 2022.\n\n\n\n\nMayra Pineda\n\nPresident & CEO\n\nHispanic Chamber of Commerce of Louisiana \n\nMayra Pineda\, President & CEO\, oversees all organizational matters and reports directly to the Board of Directors. She is responsible for the strategic vision\, overall management\, fundraising\, and leadership of HCCL and the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Foundation. Over the years\, Mrs. Pineda has worked tirelessly to develop strong and long-lasting business relationships between Louisiana\, the Hispanic Community and Latin America. She is a former Consul General of Honduras in New Orleans\, Arkansas\, Tennessee\, Mississippi and Alabama. Mrs. Pineda has been the recipient of the Leadership Award by the New Orleans Hispanic Heritage Foundation\, the High Achievement in Compliance by Subway Corporation\, and Honoree of NOBA's Men and Women of Fashion/Prix de Elegance.\n\n \n\n\nPhotography provided by:\n\n\n\nChamber events are professionally photographed for our marketing purposes. By attending\, you agree to being photographed and that these images may be used in print and digital marketing for the New Orleans Chamber of commerce. X-ALT-DESC;FMTTYPE=text/html:
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​\;PRE-REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED
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\nIn Partnership With: \;\n\n
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We'\;re bringing together leaders from the Gulf South LGBTQ+ Chamber\, Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Louisiana\, and the New Orleans Regional Black Chamber for an insightful panel discussion. Explore topics surrounding diversity\, equity\, and inclusion in the business landscape\, and gain valuable insights. This collaborative event aims to foster learning\, networking\, and inspiration as we work towards building more equitable and inclusive business community. Don'\;t miss this opportunity to expand your knowledge and connect with industry leaders!
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 \;Speakers:
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\nEdward Smith
\nChairman of the Board of Directors
\nNew Orleans Regional Black Chamber of Commerce
\nEdward B. &ldquo\;Coulon&rdquo\; Smith\, born in New Orleans and raised in Angie\, Louisiana\, blends rural and city roots. A proud graduate of Varnado High and Southern University\, he holds degrees in Law Enforcement\, Sociology\, and Social Science\, along with an honorary doctorate in Humanities. He served 18 years with Baton Rouge&rsquo\;s Department of Juvenile Services before joining New Orleans Job Corps and currently works with HANO. A dedicated member of Omega Psi Phi since 1999\, he also proudly serves in the Zulu Social Aid &\; Pleasure Club as the 2022 Witch Doctor. In addition\, he holds leadership roles on several boards including the New Orleans Regional Black Chamber of Commerce (current Chairman)\, the Urban League of New Orleans\, and the Sewerage &\; Water Board Selection Committee. Mr. Smith credits his mother&rsquo\;s love and God&rsquo\;s grace for his success and lives by the motto that every dream starts in the heart.
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\nJay Huffstatler
\nBoard President
\nGulf South LGBTQ+ Chamber of Commerce
\nJay Huffstatler is a nonprofit executive and community leader serving as Executive Director of the OnPath Credit Union Foundation\, where he leads efforts to expand financial empowerment\, homeownership\, and entrepreneurship in Southeast Louisiana. He has over 20 years of experience with organizations like CrescentCare\, Habitat for Humanity\, and the American Red Cross. Jay also serves as Board President of the Gulf South LGBTQ+ Chamber of Commerce and sits on several community boards. A Pascagoula native\, he holds a BS in Business Administration and is a graduate of the New Orleans Regional Leadership Institute Class of 2022.

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Mayra Pineda
\nPresident &\; CEO
\nHispanic Chamber of Commerce of Louisiana \;
\nMayra Pineda\, President &\; CEO\, oversees all organizational matters and reports directly to the Board of Directors. She is responsible for the strategic vision\, overall management\, fundraising\, and leadership of HCCL and the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Foundation. Over the years\, Mrs. Pineda has worked tirelessly to develop strong and long-lasting business relationships between Louisiana\, the Hispanic Community and Latin America. She is a former Consul General of Honduras in New Orleans\, Arkansas\, Tennessee\, Mississippi and Alabama. Mrs. Pineda has been the recipient of the Leadership Award by the New Orleans Hispanic Heritage Foundation\, the High Achievement in Compliance by Subway Corporation\, and Honoree of NOBA&rsquo\;s Men and Women of Fashion/Prix de Elegance.
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Photography provided by:
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\nChamber events are professionally photographed for our marketing purposes. By attending\, you agree to being photographed and that these images may be used in print and digital marketing for the New Orleans Chamber of commerce.
\n LOCATION:Louisiana Public Health Institute 400 Poydras St Suite 1250\, New Orleans\, LA 70130 *Parking is available in the building's garage. Paid street parking options are also available nearby. UID:e.611.21483 SEQUENCE:3 DTSTAMP:20260526T025437Z URL:https://www.neworleanschamber.org/events/details/2025-build-your-skills-equity-exchange-21483 END:VEVENT END:VCALENDAR