Global Chamber Volunteers

Christopher C. Herring helps businesses find people, information, and opportunities beyond their own market. As Executive Director for Global Chamber® Austin, Houston and San Antonio, he connects entrepreneurs, executives, and community leaders with relationships that can support international trade, investment, tourism, and business growth.

A decorated combat veteran, Herring served more than 20 years as a commissioned officer in the United States Air Force. His interest in commercial leadership was shaped by the late Ronald H. Brown, former U.S. Secretary of Commerce, whom he escorted on business trips to Los Angeles. That experience helped inspire his work as a chamber leader, entrepreneur, and facilitator of opportunity.

A record of business and civic leadership

Herring is a past President and CEO of the Alamo City Chamber of Commerce, where he served corporate partners, small businesses, and collegiate student members. He was twice elected Chairman of the Texas Association of African American Chambers of Commerce (TAAACC) , completing his final term in 2019. In that role, he advocated for more than 250,000 businesses and 23 chambers of commerce, with a focus on helping businesses increase revenue, sales, and access to opportunity.

From 2011 through 2019, he served under three San Antonio mayors as an appointee to the Small Business Advocacy Committee (SBAC). His responsibilities included oversight of subcontracting goals within the Small Business Economic Development Advocacy (SBEDA) program. He also chaired the committee and its Five-Year Contracting Diversity Plan Accountability Subcommittee. During his period of service, San Antonio's SBEDA program received a 2019 Gold Award from the International Economic Development Council .

During his Air Force career, Herring became certified as a Workforce Diversity Trainer through the Society for Human Resource Management. His civic and international service has also included serving as board secretary of the San Antonio Council for International Visitors (SACIV), participation on the Texas committee of the U.S. Global Leadership Coalition, and membership on the Alamo Colleges District International Executive Advisory Committee .

Building intelligence that people can use

In 2026, Herring founded and architected National Data System, LLC , a geospatial intelligence system that connects public records, geography, and research. Its work turns complex information into understandable profiles, comparisons, maps, directories, and decision tools.

His data and publishing ventures help readers move from a broad question to a more informed next step: Which market should we explore? Where are communities connected? What does the local evidence show? He is also President and CEO of River Walk Publishing, LLC and founder of Future CEO of America, an initiative supporting financial literacy among primarily minority youth.

Bringing international leaders to San Antonio

Over a two-year period working with The University of Texas at Austin, Herring sponsored visits to San Antonio for 50 African business leaders from 35 nations. Those visits introduced participants to organizations including Rackspace, the San Antonio Spurs, Brooks City Base, Morgan's Wonderland, Geekdom, Alamo Colleges District, Bexar County, and the City of San Antonio.

That work reflects a practical approach to commercial diplomacy: bring people together, understand what each can offer, and identify a useful next step.