Dr. Laura Murillo was named as one of the Most Influential and Powerful Women in Texas. Under her leadership and with the support of the board and staff, the Houston Hispanic Chamber of Commerce has set unprecedented records in membership and revenue, becoming one of the most influential Chambers in the nation, a clear testament to her exceptional leadership. The youngest of nine children, Laura Murillo was born to Mexican immigrant parents and was raised in Houston's East End/Magnolia, where she began working at age ten at her family's restaurant. She is the proud mother of Marisa and Mia, both graduates of St. John's School in River Oaks. Marisa earned a mechanical engineering degree from Columbia University, in New York City, and is an astrophysics researcher. Mia attends Georgetown University, in Washington, DC as an honors student majoring in Government.