Monica Villalobos with Arizona Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
Founded in 1948, the Arizona Hispanic Chamber of Commerce is the premier advocate for more than 125,000 Hispanic-owned small businesses and more than 2 million Hispanic consumers statewide.
Led by President and CEO Monica Villalobos, the non-profit organization provides products and services in the area of market intelligence, capacity building, advocacy and education for the benefit and success of its members, corporate partners and to actively promote the economic growth and vitality of Arizona. 
The Arizona Hispanic Chamber’s annual signature events include the Black & White Ball and Business Awards; the release of DATOS: State of the Hispanic Market; the Arizona Minority Business Enterprise Summit; and the Bud Shootout Golf Tournament—along with more than 60 other workshops, seminars, public forums and business networking activities.
The Chamber also operates Arizona’s only two federally funded Minority Business Development Agency Centers, one of which provides access to contracts and capital for mid-sized companies among the state’s 100,000+ Minority Business Enterprises in search of growth and investment opportunities; while the other is focused on the American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian (AIANNH) grant, Project, to develop trainings, workshops, and provide additional technical support to these communities.
The Arizona Hispanic Chamber is dedicated to promoting the health and prosperity of the state and national economy by serving as a vital link to the growing power and influence of Hispanic business owners and consumers as part of our increasingly diverse global marketplace.
Monica Villalobos was named President & CEO of the Arizona Hispanic Chamber in late 2019 after serving as the Vice-President and Foundation Executive Director for seven years. In this role, she is responsible for the strategic growth initiatives of the chamber.
She is also the operator of the Arizona Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) Business Center, the Native American Business and Economic Development Center (NABEDC), and Ascend Phoenix funded by JP Morgan Chase Foundation.
Her background and experience as a corporate marketing executive and as an entrepreneur result in a unique combination of skill and talent. She is also Editor-In-Chief of 23 research publications over the last ten years including the annual DATOS: State of Arizona’s Hispanic Market (2012-2020), DATOS Tucson (2012- 2015), Minority-, Women-, Hispanic-, Family-owned Business Enterprise Reports (2012- 2013, 2022) and the AZ Supplier Diversity (2012), Employee Resource Group (2013), Sustainability (2014), Global Trade (2015), Minority Business Economic Indicator (2017-18) and Diversity & Inclusion (2021) Best Practices white paper series.
Ms. Villalobos was the founding principal at ResearchByDesign, a marketing research firm specializing in primary qualitative and quantitative research. She worked closely with client partners to develop category specific studies as the foundation for marketing strategy decision-making.
She was selected as the 2015 Latina Style Inc. Entrepreneur of the Year and ASU Entrepreneurship & Innovation Visionary Awardee, 2017 Achieving My Purpose: Celebration of Women award recipient, 2018 Cox Communication Hispanic Heritage honoree, 2018 Phoenix Business Journal Outstanding Women in Business recipient, and recognized as one of the 2020 Most Influential Women in Arizona by AZ Business Magazine.
In 2022, she is a Titan 100 recipient and named a Trendsetter by Trends Magazine as well as a nominee for the Greater Phoenix Chamber Athena Award. Most recently, she was recognized with the Ohtli award, the highest honor bestowed on individuals outside of the country for work to benefit citizens by the Mexican Government.
Ms. Villalobos is scheduled to complete her doctorate at the University of Southern California in May 2024. She completed a Master of Arts in Communications degree at Seton Hall University with honors. She is also a graduate of the University of California, Los Angeles with a double major in Linguistics and Psychology.
Scholastic achievements include a scholarship to the Oxford University Study Abroad program, nomination of fellowship for a summer thesis on Quechua (language of the native Incas), and Dean’s Honors.
Ms. Villalobos is also a national bronze medalist in collegiate Lincoln/Douglas debate and a state silver medalist in team debate. She was also selected by her graduate school peers as the Elizabeth Ann Seton spirit awardee. She is a first-generation Mexican-American and the only child of an elementary school teacher and truck driver.
Connect with Monica on LinkedIn and follow Arizona Hispanic Chamber on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
