2019-2020 Board of Directors

A Message from our Chair

I have had the privilege of serving on the Odessa Chamber of
Commerce Board of Directors for five years. In that time, I have been continually inspired by the spirit and drive of the citizens of
Odessa and the members of the Chamber of Commerce. As a member of the Chamber of Commerce, I have had the opportunity to serve alongside great leaders, businessmen, businesswomen and countless others who have invested their lives in our
community. As I begin my term as the Chairman, I look forward to moving into the future fueled by the uncompromising spirit and passion that sets Odessa apart from every other community.

We are all aware of the impact the economy has had on our
community over the past few years. We experience the impact of a booming economy as we drive, shop, eat, work and go to school in our city every day. The Chamber of Commerce is in the position to play a pivotal role in tackling these issues as we move forward. We must continue to focus on housing, roads, infrastructure,
healthcare, education and quality of life as we move ahead this year to ensure our community not only continues to grow but thrive. We must recognize that these issues are also our greatest opportunities to enhance and grow our community. The people of Odessa are our greatest asset and resource in this challenging time and will be the driving force behind the progress we will make in the years to come.

As I look ahead to the next year, I anticipate seeing great things as community members and leaders work together to provide innovative and progressive solutions to move us into the future. Corporations, businesses, non-profit organizations, community leaders, the City of Odessa, and the Chamber will continue to work together to provide solutions to meet the needs of a growing population and economy. We will see how revitalizing Downtown Odessa will impact our quality of life and how the new Odessa Marriott Hotel and Conference Center will grow the number of visitors coming to our city. We will support our education system and our educators as Odessa College, the University of Texas Permian Basin, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center and Ector County Independent School District work together to provide high quality
educational opportunities to our community. There is much work to be done, but the future is bright.

On behalf of the Odessa Chamber of Commerce, I want to thank all chamber members for your membership and commitment to our community. Your leadership, determination and work will make all the difference for the future of Odessa. This year the Odessa Chamber’s 750 members, 30 members of the Board of Directors, and 17 staff will work with the community to continue the mission of the Odessa Chamber of Commerce: “The Odessa Chamber of Commerce is a volunteer business organization providing leadership to further
develop and market the city of Odessa, Ector County and the Permian Basin.” I am honored by the
opportunity to serve alongside each of you as the 2019-2020 Chairman for the Odessa Chamber of Commerce.

Sincerely,

Gus Ortega
2019-2020 Chair, Odessa Chamber of Commerce