Chamber plans series featuring nationally recognized speakers

Mission, RGV – Robert Rosell, the new President and CEO of the Greater Mission Chamber of Commerce, says he plans to invite many national and state leaders to speak.

A case and point is Thursday’s “Buenas Tardes” luncheon at the Cimarron Country Club where Javier Palomarez, President of the U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, will be the keynote speaker. The event will be held from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Palomarez, a Rio Grande Valley native, made national news last week when he quit President Trump’s diversity council in protest at the Administration’s decision to scrap the Deferred Action on Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program.

Rosell said the “Buenas Tardes” series has laid dormant for a year or so, and he has wanted to revive it with very special guests. Rosell spoke about upcoming Mission Chamber events during a RGG LIVE conversation with Rio Grande Guardian’s Mark Hanna on Tuesday.

Rosell also spoke about a decline in the number of Mexican shoppers visiting the Rio Grande Valley. He said he was ready to work with other Valley leaders to get those numbers back up again.

“Unfortunately, we have seen a decrease here in the Mission area. I am sure other areas throughout the Rio Grande Valley have experienced the same thing,” Rosell said.

“Initially, it was some of that turmoil used by our current President,” Rosell said. “But, it is not just that. I think some of the safety concerns, as far as the roads that are traveled by the Mexican nationals over here in the Mission area and throughout the Rio Grande Valley, I think safety is a big concern.”

Rosell said retail sales involving Mexican shoppers is “very, very important” to the region.

“I think on this side of the border, if we can have healthy conversations with the Mexican side of the border and we can ensure safety for these Mexican nationals coming over to our area, I think you will see that increase once again,” Rosell said.