Maria Taxman

MariaT Maria Taxman is the Founder of Brassavola Group, a consulting firm that helps corporations and organizations penetrate the United States Hispanic market and build culturally sensitive consumer connections.  Her entrepreneurial spirit was conceived and nurtured in her native Honduras, where she assisted with her family’s import export business enterprises.  She is a Hispanic advocate and civic volunteer with more than 30 years of experience in international business.

Ms. Taxman serves as Honorary Consul of Honduras in St. Louis, Missouri, since her appointment in 1994 by the President of Honduras.  Ms. Taxman served three 3-year terms as a member of the board of directors of the United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (USHCC), headquartered in Washington, D.C., (1998-2009), and chaired the Chamber’s International Committee.

Mayor Francis Slay appointed Ms. Taxman a Commissioner of the St. Louis Regional Arts Commission, where she chairs the Marketing Committee.  Ms. Taxman was appointed by President George W. Bush to the National Women’s Business Council (NWBC).  Additionally, President Bush appointed Ms. Taxman to the Advisory Committee for Trade Policy and Negotiations, where she served a two-year term.

Ms. Taxman is President of the National Hispanic Professional Organization, (NHPO), St. Louis Chapter. She is also Past Chairwoman of the Board of Directors of the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Metropolitan St. Louis, Past President of the St. Louis Consular Corps, and Past President of the Sociedad Hispano-Americana of Saint Louis.

Ms. Taxman currently serves as Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors of The National Children’s Cancer Society and is a Board Member of the Opera Theatre Company of Saint Louis and Upstream Theatre.

Taxman is the recipient of the 2006 Hispanic Business Person of the Year award from the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Metropolitan St. Louis. In 2002, 2004, and 2005, she was recognized by Hispanic Magazine as one of the “Top 100 Latinas in the Country.”  She is also the recipient of the 2003 U.S. Latin American Friendship Award, presented by Hispanic Magazine.