Andres Hayes

Andrés O. Hayes is the President and CEO of the Airtifae Group an organization that was created to assist local, regional and international entities to " ELEVATE THEIR INTERNATIONAL PRESENCE AND LEVEL OF SERVICE". Most recently, he served as Director for International Trade and Commerce in the Government of the District of Columbia from 2019-2022 and was responsible for attracting foreign direct investment into Washington, DC, strengthening relationships with countries who have expressed interest in investing in DC and want to expand further, increasing exports from small- and medium-sized businesses in the District to other countries, and planning for and carrying out the Mayor’s international trade missions. He is credited with creating and executing the first-ever International Business Strategy for the City and as a result, positioned DC as a hub in the United States for international business and supported dozens of businesses expanding operations to DC. With citizenship in the United States and residency in the UAE, Andres has forged deep relations for Foreign Direct Investment and strategic relations.

Andres Hayes has 25 years of experience in Banking and Hospitality, most of them in the Credit Card Business where he worked for Visa International for 11 years: 7 years in Miami, Florida and 4 years in London, England. As one of the youngest Regional Managers, Mr. Hayes was selected to open the new Operations Center for Central Europe Middle East, and Africa in 1994. After his time with Visa International, he managed two major Card Operations Centers in the Americas and Europe as Senior Vice President. Additionally, he was the Restaurant Manager for B. Smith’s in Washington DC for 4 years and General Manager for The Mansion on O Street for 2 years. Afterward, he opened AH Consulting Firm, a hospitality and tourism firm, as President and CEO.

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Hayes is extremely active in the DC community where he served as a board member of the DC Chamber of Commerce, The Greater Washington Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, the Advisory Board of Carlos Rosario International Charter School Culinary Program, and Raised funds for the Greater Washington Area Covenant House. He is a past President of Skål International Washington DC and current Director of the International Board. Skål is an international organization of Tourism Professionals. He is also a Board Member of Education for Sharing.  An international non-profit organization that forms better global citizens through innovative education based on the power of play.

Angela Franco

Angela Franco is the President & CEO of the DC Chamber of Commerce. Her commitment to support and advocate for Chamber members demonstrates passion and vision to grow the organization. Franco joined the DC Chamber of Commerce in 2020 during civic unrest and a global pandemic and continues to move the organization forward. By working with its executive team and board of directors, Franco creates programs and services that position the Chamber as a valuable resource and leading advocate for businesses throughout DC.

An experienced business leader, Franco has strengthened and revitalized organizations, including the DC Health Benefit Exchange Authority and the Greater Washington Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. Before relocating to the US, Franco held management positions in Bogotá, Colombia. Franco has received many prestigious honors. Most recently, she was recognized with the 2021 Washington Business Journal’s Women Who Mean Business Award. In addition, she is a Board Member at Large for the United Way of the National Capital Region and the Advisory Board of the Pan American Development Foundation, Board Member at Boys Scouts of America, and a mayoral appointee to the DC Workforce Investment Council by Mayor Muriel Bowser. Franco is a graduate of Leadership Montgomery and Leadership Greater Washington and she holds a Master of Science degree in Finance and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Business Administration. She is also a Certified Life Coach and a John Maxwell certified trainer, coach, and speaker.

David Diaz

David Díaz is a bilingual community organizer and leader, experienced with demonstrating success in identifying and accessing new markets and customer bases to support regional minority businesses to become viable and profitable. Originally from San Juan, Puerto Rico, he obtained his Bachelor’s Degree in the field of Education his Master’s Degree in Business Administration from Ana G Mendez University.

Currently, David has served as the Chief of Staff at the Greater Washington Hispanic Chamber of Commerce for over four years and works closely with the President & CEO and Board of Directors to execute the vision of the Chamber within the region. Prior to this position, he served as the Director of Membership and Sponsorship for the Chamber in 2018 where he was charged with engaging with the GWHCC’s robust membership and expanding the reach of the Chamber.

David is passionate about empowering under-resourced and under-represented business owners and community members and has demonstrated results through utilizing his role at the GWHCC and prior position as the Director of Marketing and Promotions for Entravision Communications, as well as his work in the US Small Business Administration, US Postal Service Office of Inspector General, and Employ Prince George’s, Inc (Maryland). He is skilled in improving organizational structures and promoting the continuous improvement of the common good and the quality of life of the community. Due to his relentless commitment and passion to serving the DC-region community, David has been recognized as a leader through many awards such as the October 2020 Covid-19 Hispanic Hero and the El Tiempo Latino and Boost Mobile Latino Leader.

Mohammed Mohammed

Mohammed Ibrahim Mohammed is a Senior Manager of Corporate Sales at DMCC, the world’s leading Free Zone and Government of Dubai Authority on commodities trade and enterprise.

Joining DMCC in 2014, Mohammed is responsible for promoting the benefits of doing business in Dubai and establishing a presence in DMCC. Building strategic relationships is a key focus for Mohammed, and so too is engaging with local and international business communities at key industry events throughout the year.

With over 16 years of business development and corporate sales experience, Mohammed has worked alongside a number of senior figures in both the public and private sectors of the United Arab Emirates. Mohammed earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Management from the American University in Emirates.