Native San Angelo Woman Nominated as ‘Latina of Influence’

SAN ANGELO, TX - A native of San Angelo will be recognized at the 2024 "Connecting Latinas of Influence" series.

The event, hosted by Hispanic Lifestyle, will take place on Aug. 27, 2024, at the Lorenzo Hotel in Dallas.

Mary Ann Kellam, who graduated from Central High School in 1973, has been the President and CEO of the Irving Hispanic Chamber of Commerce since 2013.

Under her leadership, the IHCC has expanded its offerings to include business seminars, leadership seminars, and ongoing training for small and minority-owned businesses. The chamber has been recognized as one of the most involved Hispanic chambers in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, receiving multiple awards, including the United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce’s Chamber of the Year in 2021.

Before joining the IHCC, Kellam had a diverse career, including a significant tenure in the financial services and clothing industries. Notably, she was the top sales representative for a designer she previously modeled for. 

Kellam has also been active in various community leadership positions, including roles in the Hispanic Women’s Network of Texas, MANA de North Texas, and as a mentor at local schools. She has received numerous awards for her contributions, including the Estrella Award by HWNT, the Coppell Woman of the Year award, and the La Cima Award for Non-Profit Leader.

“It’s humbling, to say the least,” Kellam said about the nomination. “I’m proud that it’s recognized that we are doing something right.”

She attributes her success to enjoying the challenges and opportunities that come with helping people and being active in the community.

“When they come in with a situation they need help with, that’s what I enjoy the most,” she said. “We’re always meeting people, always doing events, always in the community. It’s just being out there and supporting people and just getting to meet people and see how we can help.”

The 2024 Connecting Latinas of Influence event aims to honor and recognize influential Latina leaders and will feature panel discussions and presentations by business experts and community leaders.

For more information, visit Hispanic Lifestyle.