Latino chamber plans direction under new leadership

LONGMONT — Long-time Latino Chamber of Commerce executive director Jose Beteta has stepped away from the chamber in order to focus on his next venture — a Denver-based brewery.

Beteta announced on his LinkedIn page over the Cinco de Mayo weekend that he was “closing a very important chapter in my life.” His brewery, Raices Brewing Co., will be strategically located just south of the Broncos Stadium at Mile High parking lots at 2060 W. Colfax Ave. in Denver. Beteta said construction is underway and opening is expected in September. A Latino cultural center will be located nearby.

“The Latino Chamber was a very important platform for me to help my community in partnership with so many talented people and organizations, and a training ground for future projects,” Beteta said. “As an immigrant, who until recently was undocumented for over 25 years, I am very thankful of the opportunity this position provided me by giving me wings to exercise my skills and knowledge without my legal status being a question when it came to me helping others succeed.”

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Meanwhile, the Latino Chamber is under the leadership of a whole new board. Pete Salas, who retired from Boulder County and currently is engaged in multiple community organizing, political and cultural awareness training activities, has been elected to the position of chairman. The chamber held its annual meeting during the Cinco de Mayo celebration in Longmont over the weekend.

Salas said the chamber, which has a presence mostly in Boulder County, has about 30 paid members with a primary objective to grow membership. Salas was among the founders of the organization, which has a Longmont mailing address but no office presence at the current time.

Salas said the organization will continue to support the Colorado Latino Festival this year, which is scheduled for June in Boulder. He also said that the chamber will be involved with a Latino Leadership Summit in October.

“We want to build on the visibility we have and work on programs to support Latino businesses,” Salas said. He said the organization is currently updating its website with more current information.