SpeechtotheICCNov2012

TheChamberwasfoundedtopromoteconstructivecommercial,educationalandculturalinteraction betweentheUSandothernations.

AsItraveledaroundSouthandEastAsiaoverthepastdecade,Irepeatedlyheardthesamestory peoplewereambivalentabouttheU.S.governmentbuthungryforthebenefitsandinsightsthatAmerica couldofferonaneconomic,educationalandsociallevel.Ibecameinterestedinexploringwaysto facilitatethatkindofinteractionwithoutgovernmentneedingtotakethelead.In2009,Iwasin WashingtonDCandcaughtupwithafamilyfriend,aprominentAsianAmericanfromAustin, AmbassadorSadaCumber.Asweweretalking,theAmbassadorsaidthathehadseensomethingvery similarduringhistimeasU.S.SpecialEnvoytotheOIC.Webegandiscussingwhatanentitythat couldaddresstheseconcernswouldlooklike: TheresultwastheAlhambraUSChamberofCommerce. Atitscore,AlhambraisbuiltaroundaclassicChamberofCommercemodel.Atthesametime, however,itreinventsthatmodelinthreedistinctwaystoserveitsgoalofpromotingmeaningful internationalcontact: First,Alhambrausesanindirectapproach.Itisaforcemultiplierratherthanadirectactor.Likeall nonprofits,Alhambrahasavisionforabetterworld.But,therealreadyexistmanyindividuals, businessesandotherentitiesworkingforabetterworld.Ratherthanreinventingthewheel,weuseour connections,talentsandexpertisetofacilitatetheactivitiesofothersandsupportthetranslationoftheir visionintoreality...egUteach Second,unusualforachamber,Alhambrasfocusisoutboundratherthaninbound.Traditional chambersleveragethecorecompetenciesoftheircommunitytoattractinboundbusinessand investment.Alhambrainvertsthatmodel,seekingtocreatingglobalopportunitiesandbenefitsforour partners...RedTide

Third,becauseofAlhambrasfocusandgoals,compensationforthemajorityofourservicesis structuredaroundsuccessfeesratherthanthattheflatfeesforservice,oftenchargedupfront,common

tomanyinternationalchambers. Ofcourse,noplanonpaperenterstherealworldwithoutchanges.Inthetwoyearsofitsexistence, Alhambrahasalreadyevolvedinsomewaysthathavesurprisedus. Initially,weconceivedofAlhambraasprimarilyabusinesstobusinessfacilitator,andwecertainly havehadsomeinterestingprivatesectorprojects.Buttheideaofanorganizationactingasa forcemultiplierandprovidingvalueaddedforinternationalprojectshasprovenappealingforhigher educationandNGOs. WehadalsooriginallyenvisionedthelionsshareofAlhambrasworkcomingfrombusinesses,groups andindividualswithinAustin.Whilewestillgivespecialattentiontoclientsinourhometown,fromearly inAlhambraslifecycle,wehavebeensolicitedbyentitiesfromelsewhereinterestedinutilizingour internationalcapabilitiesallowingAlhambratodevelopatrulynationalandglobalnetworkofpartners, providersandfriends. Withourtimetodaylimited,IwantedtopickoutjustafewofAlhambrassuccessstoriesandbriefly sharethemwithyou: PNB FranIndiaandFranchiseConsulting EmbassyUniversityShowcaseandotherMalaysianEvents Afghan&WestBankScholars(mentionwereacceptingsponsors) UniversityofTexaspartnerships SunshineAerospaceandRedTide

OnefinalthingIwouldliketoleaveyouwithtoday,Alhambrahasmadeaconsciousdecisiontomake extensiveuseofinternsinourorganization,helpingprovidesolidexperienceandanaltruisticperspective tothenextgenerationofgloballeadersinbusiness,governmentandNGOs.Ourinternsplaya substantialroleintheoperationofAlhambra:researchingandwritingreports,communicatingdirectly withembassiesandcorporateleadership,organizingeventsandothertasksthathelpyoungmenand womendevelopresponsibility,capacityandconfidence.So,ifyouknowofanyonelookingfor internshipswithaninternationalfocus,weinvitethemtocontactusthroughourwebsite www.alhambrauschamber.org. Thankyouverymuchforyourtime.