Hon. Albert C. Zapanta, President and CEO
Mr. Zapanta is the President and CEO of the United States-Mexico Chamber of Commerce and is responsible for operations in 18 regional offices in the United States and in Mexico.
In the private sector, Mr. Zapanta retired as an executive with ARCO for 18 years. He was responsible for negotiations with PEMEX on oil and gas matters. In public service, Mr. Zapanta has held several presidential appointments, including White House fellow, and Senate-confirmed Assistant Secretary of the Interior for Management and Administration. He was also appointed by President Ronald Reagan to the U.S. State Department Advisory Committee on International Trade Technology and Development, and by President George W. Bush as a private sector delegate to the U.S. - Mexico Partnership for Prosperity.
General Zapanta's military record includes the award of the Silver Star, five Bronze Stars for Valor, the Purple Heart and thirty other awards during the Vietnam War. Mr. Zapanta was appointed by the Governor of the Commonwealth of Virginia to the rank of Major General.
He served on the board of Tyson Foods, and currently serves on the boards of various non-profit organizations across the country. In June 2018, he was elected and reelected in 2024 to serve on the Irving City Council, State of Texas for a third term.
Mr. Zapanta was born in Los Angeles, California. He is a graduate of Harvard Graduate School of Business, and the University of Southern California.
Duane Zobrist, Vice President
Mr. Zobrist is the VP of the USMCEF and Honorary Chairman of the USMCOC. He is the founder of Zoblaw. His practice focuses on corporate and business law. He is a former senior partner at Carlsmith Ball, a major Pacific Rim law firm, with offices throughout the Pacific Basin, Los Angeles, Washington, D.C. and Mexico, D.F.
Mr. Zobrist graduated from the University of Utah in 1965 and the University of Southern California Gould School of Law in 1968. He was first admitted to practice law in California in 1969 and was admitted to practice law in Virginia in 2002.
Mr. Zobrist is a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. He has served as the Director of the Mexico City Temple Visitor’s Center, Mission President in Brazil from 1998 to 2003, and as a Stake President’s Bishop, High Councilor and full-time Missionary in Brazil. He was honored for his international service to the Church at the 150th anniversary of the Church in the British Isles.
Mr. Zobrist is fluent in Spanish and Portuguese. He was born in Salt Lake City, Utah. He and his late wife, Sharon, have five children and 16 grandchildren.