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sa国际传媒官网网页入口 Hispano Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Ernie C鈥檇eBaca plans to retire after nearly 10 years of leading the local business organization.

C鈥檇eBaca announced the decision in a Monday letter addressed to the chamber鈥檚 board staff and community partners, writing that the decision 鈥渨as not an easy one.鈥�

鈥淭his is the best job,鈥� C鈥檇eBaca said in an interview. 鈥淲e bring in such amazing folks here to the chamber and to sa国际传媒官网网页入口 and New Mexico 鈥� it鈥檚 really hard to give up a role like that. But at the same time, I鈥檓 72 years old. I want to spend a little more time with my family.鈥�

The announcement follows the chamber鈥檚 50th year supporting sa国际传媒官网网页入口 entrepreneurs and businesses, particularly in the Hispanic and small-business communities. Community advocacy, economic development, networking and training are among the organization鈥檚 focuses and available resources.

C鈥檇eBaca became the chamber鈥檚 vice president of convention and tourism in 2016, following decades working for the Public Service Company of New Mexico. He previously served as a board member and chair and was drawn to the organization鈥檚 small-business work.

鈥淲e鈥檙e so vital in the community,鈥� C鈥檇eBaca said. 鈥淚 just always enjoyed being around this chamber because we really try to help grow and scale small businesses.鈥�

It wasn鈥檛 long before C鈥檇eBaca stepped into the chamber鈥檚 top role as CEO in 2017.

Looking back, C鈥檇eBaca said the COVID-19 pandemic was the most challenging time for the chamber during his reign as CEO.

Accomplishments he鈥檚 proud of include the quality of the chamber鈥檚 annual awards gala, and bringing events like the World Indigenous Business Forum to sa国际传媒官网网页入口 in 2024 and the United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce鈥檚 2026 Energy Summit to Santa Fe later this month.

Casey Anglada DeRaad, the chamber鈥檚 board chair, expressed appreciation for C鈥檇eBaca and his contributions to the organization on Monday.

鈥淒uring his tenure, he has helped strengthen the chamber鈥檚 foundation, deepen relationships across the business and community landscape, and advance its mission to support economic opportunity throughout our region,鈥� said DeRaad, also the founder of NewSpace Nexus.

With the team the chamber currently has in place, C鈥檇eBaca said he鈥檚 confident his successor 鈥� the board said a search is underway 鈥� will continue the momentum. In his letter, C鈥檇eBaca said he aims to step away from the role at the end of June but is flexible on timing 鈥渢o ensure continuity.鈥�

But C鈥檇eBaca doesn鈥檛 appear to be done working with the community. In addition to spending more time with family, C鈥檇eBaca said his retirement from the chamber will allow him to do a different kind of promotional work for New Mexico.

鈥淚鈥檓 not going away,鈥� C鈥檇eBaca said. 鈥淢y goal is to really expose New Mexico to other folks that may not realize our potential, so I鈥檓 going to work with some other folks in an effort to do that.鈥�

C鈥檇eBaca said that venture is 鈥渘ot fully baked,鈥� so he couldn鈥檛 share more but said it鈥檚 an effort to 鈥済et people from out of state to come here to New Mexico and invest.鈥�

C鈥檇eBaca expressed gratitude for what his time with the chamber offered him.

鈥淚 got to see things in a different light and really enjoy the effort that small businesses take to be successful,鈥� C鈥檇eBaca said. 鈥淚鈥檓 blessed.鈥�

Kylie Garcia covers retail and real estate for the Journal. You can reach her at kgarcia@abqjournal.com.