The El Paso Chamber is proud to welcome Lupe Mares, former Vice President over Community Engagement for LiftFund, as the incoming Foundation Director for the El Paso Chamber Foundation.
She will be the first-ever director of the Foundation since its founding in 1983. This position will give us the opportunity to seek funds outside of our region, ultimately bringing in resources not previously available.
Lupe brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to her new post, and we are excited to be working alongside her to advocate for the El Paso region’s business needs and interests. She works closely with financial institutions, community organizations, non-profits, and municipalities. As Foundation Director, she will be responsible for seeking funding opportunities for businesses across the community, helping to build a more prosperous and interconnected network of enterprises and entrepreneurs.
“Lupe has shown her commitment to the betterment of our business community through her many years of service. We are eager to see what we’ll be able to achieve together!” said Andrea Hutchins, President and CEO of the El Paso Chamber. “Lupe’s passion for the community, and the business community in particular, will undoubtedly drive the Foundation to do a number of new and exciting things in support of the Chamber’s mission to set the conditions for economic prosperity in El Paso.”
The El Paso Chamber has been tackling some of the bigger issues affecting our community today, a fact that encouraged Lupe to join the team. Being at the forefront of advocacy efforts that represent the business community has always been a priority for Lupe, a goal that the El Paso Chamber shares and readily works toward.
Lupe plans to expand the Foundation by seeking opportunities from national outlets with a focus on doing more for the El Paso community. “I am very passionate about helping others and I want to be able to continue to do that through the Foundation,” Lupe stated when asked about what goals she had for her new position. “Beyond supporting the scale-up of small business, one of my goals is to support the military and their families by speaking and fighting for their needs. I would also love to see us implement an entrepreneurship student program. The opportunities are endless, we just need to make sure they fit with the Chamber’s strategic plan.”
Her experience in supporting local businesses speaks for itself. She retired from the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas, El Paso Branch after 34 years of service. She then joined LiftFund, a nonprofit small business lending company, where she was responsible for community outreach and for securing funding opportunities. Lupe serves on the Board of Directors for the YWCA, and she is currently the President of Money Smart Week El Paso, a financial education campaign. She is also a prospective member for Junior Achievement of the Desert Southwest.
