Deepening connections: How the Albuquerque Hispano Chamber of Commerce’s new board chair looks to elevate the Hispanic community

Angela Serrano de Rivera remembers as a child seeing her dad get ready to go to work for ConocoPhillips.

Serrano de Rivera, from Farmington, was always surrounded by people working in the oil and gas industry. By the time she reached high school, Serrano de Rivera worked with the engineers at Burlington Resources, who “really helped inspire me to become an engineer.”

“I’m a gas girl through and through,” said Serrano de Rivera, now an engineer with the New Mexico Gas Co., where she serves as the director of business strategy and projects. “I loved, loved natural gas, but I also knew that there was a component of environment to that.”

Serrano de Rivera’s work with the gas company has seen her lead on hydrogen projects aimed at bringing alternative energy solutions to the utility.

But she’s now leading a different endeavor, separate from her role with the gas company. Serrano de Rivera is the 2025 board chair of the Albuquerque Hispano Chamber of Commerce, tasked with elevating local Hispanic businesses.

“I really see this as an opportunity to honor the legacy of the chamber,” said Serrano de Rivera, citing the chamber’s 50th year as an organization, “to deepen those connections with our members in the community, and just continuing to empower entrepreneurs, strengthen businesses and really help to make them prosperous.”

This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.

You grew up in Farmington but ended up in Albuquerque in the early 2000s. What was your feeling moving to the big city having grown up in a smaller town during your childhood?

I have always loved Albuquerque. When we would leave Farmington and would come to the big city of Albuquerque, the culture here was so vibrant; the people here were so cool. I remember driving down Central and seeing the lowriders. I knew that I loved Albuquerque, so when I got the opportunity to come back here (for work), I jumped on it. It was close enough to Farmington, close enough to be close to family, but it was a big city and it was where I’d always wanted to end up. I had lived in New Orleans and Houston doing internships. But every time I’d come back, there was no place like it. There was no place like the people, no place like the food, the culture. Albuquerque is super unique to everywhere I’ve been.

How did you get involved with the chamber?

I got involved with the chamber in 2020, and I started on the board. I had always wanted to be on the board. So, when I was president of the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers in college, the Hispano Chamber had some sort of leadership speaker series, and one of my professors had invited me to attend. I attended and there was a lady who was speaking, and I just thought she was absolutely dynamic. I knew from that point I wanted to be a part of the chamber. They were so empowering. And they just were uplifting our community. The opportunity to make a difference and see our community grow and the cultural pride — I just knew that was something that I wanted to be a part of.

How do you see the role of the chamber as it relates to Albuquerque’s Hispanic business community?

The chamber, it plays a crucial role. It really does. We know that our members are the heartbeat of the chamber, and we make sure that we provide a wide range of different initiatives and trainings for our community members. We advocate for policies that foster economic growth. We represent businesses at local, state and federal levels; we make sure that they have a really strong voice when it comes to shaping economic policies that impact everybody.

The resources and support that are provided include mentorship programs, training, technical assistance. Our entrepreneurs, they can get guidance in business planning, financial management, compliance — everything that they would need to navigate the challenges to make their business successful. We stimulate job creation and economic development. We are very involved with governmental partnerships. We are interested in international trade and really having a global expansion with our community. The chamber is really committed to fostering that inquisitive business environment and making sure that our minority businesses are supported.

What are the chamber’s priorities this year under your board leadership?

My vision, I’m focusing on advocacy and representation for the Hispanic community — diversity, equity and inclusion, economic development, job creation, innovation, technology integration. … For young Hispanics, letting them know just the power of what they have right now at their fingertips and what they can do with it; how they can take what they’re currently doing in college or whatever that may be, and foster that to make a bigger difference in our community. Their voices are powerful, and they’re going to be our future.

You’re a person of color, you’re a woman and you’re an engineer. What advice do you have for younger people who might see you as a role model?

Being a woman, being Hispanic, I really try not to let that play a role in what I do, and I know that is sometimes hard. But I want youngsters to see me out there being part of the community. I want them to see the community that I surround myself with, and the support that I give to fellow Hispanic women to provide mentorship. My advice: Don’t be afraid to explore different paths and to explore different opportunities. Do what excites you regardless of your color and your sex. Do what excites you and what motivates you, because that passion and purpose, that’s what’s going to (help you reach) your goals.

In one word, how would people close to you describe you?

Charismatic.