A Bridge to Success

30th Anniversary Gala

October 10, 2026The Ralston, San Antonio, TexasBlack-tie

Event at capacity

Join the waitlist See the program Sponsor the gala Add to your calendar

The invitation

Emma Georgina Tello invites you

In just over a minute, the President of the Association lays out what the evening is about: thirty years of history, the AEM Excellence Awards ceremony, and why to be in the room on October 10.

President of AEM1 min 16 s

Representing a company?

Put your brand behind AEM's 30 years, in front of 300+ business and government leaders from Mexico and the United States.

See sponsorships

Three decades

Thirty years building the bridge

From a community of Mexican entrepreneurs in San Antonio to the binational network that connects Mexico and the United States today. This is the story behind the gala.

1996

Founding

Mexican entrepreneurs found the Asociación de Empresarios Mexicanos in San Antonio, Texas, with a clear purpose: to build the commercial bridge between Mexico and the United States.

2000s

Binational expansion

AEM reaches new cities on both sides of the border, weaving the chapter network that today connects entrepreneurs across the United States and Mexico under a single institution.

2010

Established as a binational institution

AEM is formally established as a single 501(c)(6) corporation, with a Board of Directors shared across both countries — not a federation of independent chapters, but one association.

2026

30 years · A Bridge to Success

Today AEM operates as North America's leading binational business network: 13 chapters and representation offices, hundreds of members and thousands of associates. The 30th Anniversary Gala celebrates three decades of building the bridge — and opens the next chapter.

Collective memory

Thirty years, remembered

Three decades of events, gatherings and milestones that built the binational network AEM is today — in photographs taken by the people who were there.

Have photos from these 30 years? Share them with us.

We're opening a submission form shortly — in the meantime, write to us at executivedirector@aem-usa.org.

The program

One full day, two acts

October 10, 2026 in San Antonio, Texas. The day opens in the morning with a binational conference program at the University of the Incarnate Word and closes that evening with the gala and awards ceremony at The Ralston.

Dress codeBlack-tie

Act I

Binational Business Leadership Conference

10:00 A.M. – 12:30 P.M.

Venue: Student Engagement Center | UIWUniversity of the Incarnate Word4301 Broadway, San Antonio, TX 78209

10:00 A.M. – 10:15 A.M.
Opening Remarks
- Carlos EalyAssistant Secretary of State for Mexican and Border Affairs · Office of the Texas Secretary of State
10:15 A.M. – 11:00 A.M.
Business Leadership Without Borders: Building a New Generation of Binational Companies
- Georgina TelloPresident of AEM
- José Medina MoraPresident, Business Coordinating Council
11:00 A.M. – 11:45 A.M.
USMCA Ahead of the U.S. Midterm Elections
- Gerald SchwebelExecutive Vice President · International Corporate Division · IBC Bank
- Ramiro A. CavazosPresident & CEO · United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (USHCC)
- Roberto ArechederraVP of Institutional Affairs · San Diego Chapter President
11:45 A.M. – 12:30 P.M.
AEM Legacy and Impact
- Rafael HerreraFormer President of AEM
- Fernando SepúlvedaFormer President of AEM
- Javier MartínezFormer President of AEM

Interested in attending the conference program? Write to executivedirector@aem-usa.org or call +52 331 857 0118.

Act II

30th Anniversary Gala & AEM Excellence Awards

6:00 P.M. – 11:00 P.M.

6:00 P.M.VIP Cocktail
6:45 P.M.Welcome Cocktail
7:30 P.M.Official 30th Anniversary Ceremony
7:55 P.M.Gala dinner begins
8:15 P.M.AEM Excellence Awards · Part I
8:45 P.M.Dinner and institutional remarks
9:05 P.M.30th Anniversary special performance(Performer and format to be confirmed.)
9:30 P.M.AEM Excellence Awards · Part II
10:00 P.M.Special recognitions
10:20 P.M.Remarks and toast
10:30 P.M.Celebration and high-level networking
11:00 P.M.Event close

* Program subject to change without notice.

The venue

The Ralston

The Ralston · San Antonio Zoo · San Antonio, Texas

A new venue, built for a night like this

Opened in 2025
Indoor and outdoor spaces, with a covered patio and adjacent garden
Views of the San Antonio skyline
Customizable lighting
Self-parking and valet service

Dress code

Black-tie

Get directions

Where to stay

Sleep where the night ends

AEM negotiated a corporate rate at Omni San Antonio for the nights of October 9–11. Two properties less than ten minutes from The Ralston, right on the River Walk — the difference between driving back to your hotel and simply walking.

Host hotel

Omni La Mansión del Río

3.8 mi from The Ralston · 8 min drive

A 19th-century Spanish seminary turned hotel, with stone courtyards and wrought-iron balconies overlooking the River Walk. This is the host hotel: the natural gathering point for guests traveling in.

On the River Walk, with direct access from the hotel
Four Brothers, its restaurant, in the same building
Year-round outdoor courtyard pool
Walking distance to the Alamo and the theater district

Book at the AEM rate View on Google Maps

Alternative

Mokara Hotel & Spa

4 mi from The Ralston · 9 min drive

The sister property, a step up in category: full spa, rooftop pool and downtown views. For anyone turning Gala weekend into more than one night.

Full-service spa, one of the finest in Texas
Rooftop pool and terrace overlooking downtown
Quiet, adult-oriented atmosphere
Ostra, its seafood restaurant, on the ground floor

Book at the AEM rate View on Google Maps

The San Antonio River Walk at sunset, steps from Omni La Mansión del Río

Outdoor courtyard pool at Omni La Mansión del Río

There's no deadline. There are rooms.

The AEM rate doesn't expire on a date: it runs until the available rooms are gone. On an October weekend in downtown San Antonio, that happens sooner than you'd think. Omni shows the current rate and availability the moment you open either button.

The buttons already apply the AEM corporate code (45389962031) and the October 9-11 dates. If you need different nights, change them inside Omni's site — the code carries over.

AEM Excellence Awards

Excellence that builds bridges deserves to be recognized.

The awards ceremony takes place as part of the 30th Anniversary gala. Six binational categories honor leadership, innovation, legacy and impact across Mexico and the United States.

Public Impact & Policy Leadership Award

Impacto Público y Políticas

Hispanic Business Legacy Award

Legado Empresarial Hispano

Binational Innovation & Cross-Border Excellence Award

Innovación Binacional

Global Hispanic Enterprise Award

Empresa Hispana Global

Woman in Business Leadership Award

Liderazgo de Mujeres

Next Generation Leader Award

Nueva Generación de Líderes

Special recognition

Lifetime Achievement Award

Máximo Reconocimiento a la Trayectoria

Special recognition

Distinguished Business Leader Award

Líder Empresarial Distinguido

Joining us

Confirmed sponsors of the 30th Anniversary.

Presenting Sponsor

Gold

Silver

Bronze

Media Partner

Allies

Institutional allies

Organizations standing with the 30th Anniversary through institutional collaboration.

Tickets

Sold out

Event at capacity

All tables and tickets for AEM's 30th Anniversary Gala are sold out. Leave your information and we will contact you if availability opens.

Join the waitlist

Tell us how many seats you need. Joining does not guarantee admission; the AEM team will contact you only if space becomes available.

Sponsorship

Put your brand behind 30 years of building bridges

Sponsorship levels with visibility before North America's most representative binational business network.

Who you reach

300+

expected attendees

80/20

United States / Mexico split

High-profile — decision-makers within their organizations, from the service and manufacturing industries.

Past edition sponsors: IBC Bank · Aeroméxico

Who you connect with

Your brand at the center of a high-level binational network

Business Leaders & CEOs

Business leaders with vision and decision-making power.

Business Leaders & Institutions

Business organizations, chambers and strategic partners.

Government Leaders & Decision-Makers

Direct connection with local, state, federal and binational leaders.

Investors & Strategic Partners

Capital, innovation and alliances that drive growth.

International Presence

Companies and leaders from Mexico, the United States and other key markets.

Distinguished Guests

Prominent leaders from the business, government and civic sectors.

Presenting Sponsor

Confirmed partner

Exclusive — one sponsor only

$20,000 USD

This level has been taken by IBC Bank.

Exclusive title sponsor recognition
Opportunity to run a 30-second commercial during dinner break (upon AEM approval, must be provided by sponsor)
Premium table for 10 guests
Speaking opportunity during the gala
Logo on all event materials and promotions
Full-page ad in event program
Recognition on stage and event screens
Featured in all press releases and media coverage
VIP Cocktail for 10 people

AEM Excellence Award

Premier opportunity

Exclusive — one sponsor only

$10,000 USD

Exclusive AEM Award sponsor recognition
Premium table for 10 guests
Speaking opportunity during the gala
Logo on all event materials and promotions
Full-page ad in event program
Recognition on stage and event screens
Featured in all press releases and media coverage
VIP Cocktail for 10 people

Talk to the team

Gala & Ceremony

$5,000 USD

10 Gala passes
10 VIP Cocktail passes
10 conference passes
Logo, promotion and networking

Talk to the team

Conference Series

$5,000 USD

Unlimited conference access
2 VIP table seats for the ceremony
2 VIP Cocktail passes
Logo on materials and screens
Official recognition and promotion

Talk to the team

Gold

Not available

$5,000 USD

SOLD OUT

Reserved table for 10 guests
Logo on event signage and website
Half-page ad in event program
Social media recognition
VIP Cocktail for 10 people

Silver

$2,500 USD

Logo on sponsor board
Quarter-page ad in event program
Recognition on website
VIP cocktail access for 4 guests
4 seats at the gala

Bronze

$1,000 USD

Logo listing in event program
Recognition on event website
VIP cocktail access for 2 guests
2 seats at the gala

Media Partner

Confirmed partner

This level has been taken by Valkiria Marketing.

SOLD OUT

Recognition as Official Media Partner
Logo placement on event materials
Dedicated recognition during the gala
Opportunity to conduct interviews and cover the event
Inclusion in press releases and promotional campaigns
Complimentary tickets for media representatives

See the full sponsorship package

Interested in sponsoring the gala?

Let's talk about how your brand can be part of AEM's 30 years.

executivedirector@aem-usa.org

A Bridge to Success

30th Anniversary Gala

October 10, 2026The Ralston, San Antonio, TexasBlack-tie

Event at capacity

Join the waitlist See the program Sponsor the gala Add to your calendar

The invitation

Emma Georgina Tello invites you

In just over a minute, the President of the Association lays out what the evening is about: thirty years of history, the AEM Excellence Awards ceremony, and why to be in the room on October 10.

President of AEM1 min 16 s

Representing a company?

Put your brand behind AEM's 30 years, in front of 300+ business and government leaders from Mexico and the United States.

See sponsorships

Three decades

Thirty years building the bridge

From a community of Mexican entrepreneurs in San Antonio to the binational network that connects Mexico and the United States today. This is the story behind the gala.

1996

Founding

Mexican entrepreneurs found the Asociación de Empresarios Mexicanos in San Antonio, Texas, with a clear purpose: to build the commercial bridge between Mexico and the United States.

2000s

Binational expansion

AEM reaches new cities on both sides of the border, weaving the chapter network that today connects entrepreneurs across the United States and Mexico under a single institution.

2010

Established as a binational institution

AEM is formally established as a single 501(c)(6) corporation, with a Board of Directors shared across both countries — not a federation of independent chapters, but one association.

2026

30 years · A Bridge to Success

Collective memory

Thirty years, remembered

Three decades of events, gatherings and milestones that built the binational network AEM is today — in photographs taken by the people who were there.

Have photos from these 30 years? Share them with us.

We're opening a submission form shortly — in the meantime, write to us at executivedirector@aem-usa.org.

The program

One full day, two acts

Dress codeBlack-tie

Act I

Binational Business Leadership Conference

10:00 A.M. – 12:30 P.M.

Venue: Student Engagement Center | UIWUniversity of the Incarnate Word4301 Broadway, San Antonio, TX 78209

10:00 A.M. – 10:15 A.M.
Opening Remarks
- Carlos EalyAssistant Secretary of State for Mexican and Border Affairs · Office of the Texas Secretary of State
10:15 A.M. – 11:00 A.M.
Business Leadership Without Borders: Building a New Generation of Binational Companies
- Georgina TelloPresident of AEM
- José Medina MoraPresident, Business Coordinating Council
11:00 A.M. – 11:45 A.M.
USMCA Ahead of the U.S. Midterm Elections
- Gerald SchwebelExecutive Vice President · International Corporate Division · IBC Bank
- Ramiro A. CavazosPresident & CEO · United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (USHCC)
- Roberto ArechederraVP of Institutional Affairs · San Diego Chapter President
11:45 A.M. – 12:30 P.M.
AEM Legacy and Impact
- Rafael HerreraFormer President of AEM
- Fernando SepúlvedaFormer President of AEM
- Javier MartínezFormer President of AEM

Interested in attending the conference program? Write to executivedirector@aem-usa.org or call +52 331 857 0118.

Act II

30th Anniversary Gala & AEM Excellence Awards

6:00 P.M. – 11:00 P.M.

6:00 P.M.VIP Cocktail
6:45 P.M.Welcome Cocktail
7:30 P.M.Official 30th Anniversary Ceremony
7:55 P.M.Gala dinner begins
8:15 P.M.AEM Excellence Awards · Part I
8:45 P.M.Dinner and institutional remarks
9:05 P.M.30th Anniversary special performance(Performer and format to be confirmed.)
9:30 P.M.AEM Excellence Awards · Part II
10:00 P.M.Special recognitions
10:20 P.M.Remarks and toast
10:30 P.M.Celebration and high-level networking
11:00 P.M.Event close

* Program subject to change without notice.

The venue

The Ralston

The Ralston · San Antonio Zoo · San Antonio, Texas

A new venue, built for a night like this

Opened in 2025
Indoor and outdoor spaces, with a covered patio and adjacent garden
Views of the San Antonio skyline
Customizable lighting
Self-parking and valet service

Dress code

Black-tie

Get directions

Where to stay

Sleep where the night ends

Host hotel

Omni La Mansión del Río

3.8 mi from The Ralston · 8 min drive

A 19th-century Spanish seminary turned hotel, with stone courtyards and wrought-iron balconies overlooking the River Walk. This is the host hotel: the natural gathering point for guests traveling in.

On the River Walk, with direct access from the hotel
Four Brothers, its restaurant, in the same building
Year-round outdoor courtyard pool
Walking distance to the Alamo and the theater district

Book at the AEM rate View on Google Maps

Alternative

Mokara Hotel & Spa

4 mi from The Ralston · 9 min drive

The sister property, a step up in category: full spa, rooftop pool and downtown views. For anyone turning Gala weekend into more than one night.

Full-service spa, one of the finest in Texas
Rooftop pool and terrace overlooking downtown
Quiet, adult-oriented atmosphere
Ostra, its seafood restaurant, on the ground floor

Book at the AEM rate View on Google Maps

There's no deadline. There are rooms.

The buttons already apply the AEM corporate code (45389962031) and the October 9-11 dates. If you need different nights, change them inside Omni's site — the code carries over.

AEM Excellence Awards

Excellence that builds bridges deserves to be recognized.

The awards ceremony takes place as part of the 30th Anniversary gala. Six binational categories honor leadership, innovation, legacy and impact across Mexico and the United States.

Public Impact & Policy Leadership Award

Impacto Público y Políticas

Hispanic Business Legacy Award

Legado Empresarial Hispano

Binational Innovation & Cross-Border Excellence Award

Innovación Binacional

Global Hispanic Enterprise Award

Empresa Hispana Global

Woman in Business Leadership Award

Liderazgo de Mujeres

Next Generation Leader Award

Nueva Generación de Líderes

Special recognition

Lifetime Achievement Award

Máximo Reconocimiento a la Trayectoria

Special recognition

Distinguished Business Leader Award

Líder Empresarial Distinguido

Joining us

Confirmed sponsors of the 30th Anniversary.

Presenting Sponsor

Gold

Silver

Bronze

Media Partner

Allies

Institutional allies

Organizations standing with the 30th Anniversary through institutional collaboration.

Tickets

Sold out

Event at capacity

All tables and tickets for AEM's 30th Anniversary Gala are sold out. Leave your information and we will contact you if availability opens.

Join the waitlist

Tell us how many seats you need. Joining does not guarantee admission; the AEM team will contact you only if space becomes available.

Sponsorship

Put your brand behind 30 years of building bridges

Sponsorship levels with visibility before North America's most representative binational business network.

Who you reach

300+

expected attendees

80/20

United States / Mexico split

High-profile — decision-makers within their organizations, from the service and manufacturing industries.

Past edition sponsors: IBC Bank · Aeroméxico

Who you connect with

Your brand at the center of a high-level binational network

Business Leaders & CEOs

Business leaders with vision and decision-making power.

Business Leaders & Institutions

Business organizations, chambers and strategic partners.

Government Leaders & Decision-Makers

Direct connection with local, state, federal and binational leaders.

Investors & Strategic Partners

Capital, innovation and alliances that drive growth.

International Presence

Companies and leaders from Mexico, the United States and other key markets.

Distinguished Guests

Prominent leaders from the business, government and civic sectors.

Presenting Sponsor

Confirmed partner

Exclusive — one sponsor only

$20,000 USD

This level has been taken by IBC Bank.

Exclusive title sponsor recognition
Opportunity to run a 30-second commercial during dinner break (upon AEM approval, must be provided by sponsor)
Premium table for 10 guests
Speaking opportunity during the gala
Logo on all event materials and promotions
Full-page ad in event program
Recognition on stage and event screens
Featured in all press releases and media coverage
VIP Cocktail for 10 people

AEM Excellence Award

Premier opportunity

Exclusive — one sponsor only

$10,000 USD

Exclusive AEM Award sponsor recognition
Premium table for 10 guests
Speaking opportunity during the gala
Logo on all event materials and promotions
Full-page ad in event program
Recognition on stage and event screens
Featured in all press releases and media coverage
VIP Cocktail for 10 people

Talk to the team

Gala & Ceremony

$5,000 USD

10 Gala passes
10 VIP Cocktail passes
10 conference passes
Logo, promotion and networking

Talk to the team

Conference Series

$5,000 USD

Unlimited conference access
2 VIP table seats for the ceremony
2 VIP Cocktail passes
Logo on materials and screens
Official recognition and promotion

Talk to the team

Gold

Not available

$5,000 USD

SOLD OUT

Reserved table for 10 guests
Logo on event signage and website
Half-page ad in event program
Social media recognition
VIP Cocktail for 10 people

Silver

$2,500 USD

Logo on sponsor board
Quarter-page ad in event program
Recognition on website
VIP cocktail access for 4 guests
4 seats at the gala

Bronze

$1,000 USD

Logo listing in event program
Recognition on event website
VIP cocktail access for 2 guests
2 seats at the gala

Media Partner

Confirmed partner

This level has been taken by Valkiria Marketing.

SOLD OUT

Recognition as Official Media Partner
Logo placement on event materials
Dedicated recognition during the gala
Opportunity to conduct interviews and cover the event
Inclusion in press releases and promotional campaigns
Complimentary tickets for media representatives

See the full sponsorship package

Interested in sponsoring the gala?

Let's talk about how your brand can be part of AEM's 30 years.

executivedirector@aem-usa.org