A new burst of energy has hit the Napa County Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.

The chamber, which was first formed five years ago to promote Latino businesses and connect more widely among Napa Valley businesses, has elected 10 new directors and is revitalizing its efforts to assist businesses with their marketing plans and perform educational outreach in schools.

New directors including several officials at local banks and financial service companies as well as wineries and small businesses.

“We know the small business owners and know their needs and we are here to provide some valuable help,” Gerardo Martin, president of the chamber, said.

“As an organization we are going to adapt to the needs of our members, like helping with marketing in a down economy,” said Martin, who is district manager of the financial consultancy Waddell & Reed in Napa.

Business networking will be a vital ingredient in enticing people to become members of the Hispanic Chamber.

“We have a vision and purpose, and that is to provide support for the Hispanic (business) community with their marketing plans,” Alfredo Pedroza, chamber vice president, said.

Pedroza, who is assistant branch manager at Redwood Credit Union, emphasized that chamber membership is open to all businesses in the county, pointing out that every organization from small shops to large wineries and from American Canyon to Calistoga are all “intertwined” in sustaining a vibrant economy.

Asked about the relaunching of the Hispanic Chamber, Napa Chamber of Commerce president and CEO, Kate King, said “Great. I think it is terrific to have new leadership.

“I think reaching out to all the other chambers is a good idea. In this day and age it is good for all of us to work together for all our businesses. We will have a presence at their mixer later this month and welcome them to downtown.”

Martin said the Hispanic Chamber has about 50 members now, but that growing the organization is a goal for the new board.

“We have had an influx of applications that haven’t been processed yet,” Martin said.

The chamber hosts a monthly mixer at different locations on the last Thursday of each month.

The cost is $5 for members and $10 for non-members. Membership dues are $100 per year.

“We are here to help our community. We are volunteers and have no paid staff and understand it’s important to be at the table,” Pedroza said.

Borrowing an idea from Sonoma County’s Hispanic Chamber, Pedroza wants to introduce a computer literacy program. The goal is to donate computers to people seeking to gain computer skills, provide training and leave the computers with the students.

Pedroza said the goal of the chamber is simple — “to have a positive impact. At the end of the day, we want the chamber to be better than it was the day before.”

If you go

• What: Napa County Hispanic Chamber of Commerce mixer

• When: Oct. 29.

• Cost: $5 for members, $10 for non-members.

Chamber board members

• Gerard Martin, president, Waddell & Reed

• Alfredo Pedroza, Redwood Credit Union

• Janet D. Llamas, Frank, Rimmerman + Co.

• Mello Masalunga, U.S. Bank

• Annette Fejeran

• Angie C. Canchola, Wine Valley Insurance

• Hector Velazquez, Wells Fargo Bank

• Rafael Rios, Rios Wine

• Marisa Loza, Immigration Services

• Hector Brambila, Napa Valley College